Coco Chanel Saved My Life (19 page)

“So, thank god this year is almost ending.”

“We haven't changed. You're still the pessimist! I can't believe nothing good happened to you this year…”

In reality, many beautiful things had happened. But why must one be content with a glass half full, when you can get one full?

“I had my ups and downs. I fell many times, but I've always managed to bounce back.”

There wasn't a more fitting metaphor than this.

“That's the right spirit. Never lose heart! You'll see, everything will be all right.

Isn't it fantastic when people you like tell you that everything will be all right?

“Thank you, Axi. I will let you know if the tarot cards were right…”

“And now what do you think of returning me the favour of posing for a painting? I've asked you for years to be my model for a day!”

She had tried several times to convince me, but my lack of self-esteem always prevented me from accepting… I felt embarrassed, even doing this for a friend.

“You know me. I'm shy.” I tried to reply with my usual excuse.

“Never be ashamed of your body. Beauty has nothing to do with the physical look. It's something deeper and more complicated…”

“I'm afraid I'm not cut out for it, Axi.”

“Let me decide about that.” She headed towards the easel where she had placed a blank canvas. “Come on! Let's give a try…”

Why not? In a period of great change, I would dare to do something different and be the model for a dear artist friend.

Axi placed a small electric stove near the sofa and then she handed me a silk robe, pointing at a screen where I could undress in privacy.

I had never done anything like this! It was a challenge for me. As soon as I was completely naked, I thought of what Cristian would say seeing me in this situation. Being an actor, I'm sure he would have appreciated my audacity.

I smiled and went over to the sofa.

“You are beautiful!” Axi exclaimed with enthusiasm.

“Thanks,” the compliment made me blush.

“Look for a natural position where you feel comfortable.”

She was observing me, to find which pose would best enhance my body. She gave me a few suggestions, and then she began to paint.

It was difficult to stay still, but the heat of the stove was relaxing me.

We took a quick break for lunch, and then we immediately resumed our painting session. She wanted to give me this painting to bring back to Milan with me, so we didn't have much time.

I spent all afternoon naked on Axi's sofa. She was focused on the painting and I let my mind wander… I thought of Cristian and his possible return and, while dreaming of our future together, I fell asleep.

At sunset Axi woke me up.

“We've finished,” she said, showing me the painting.

I was speechless. My stylized figure filled the canvas. I
was
beautiful.

“It's wonderful, Axi! Thank you. I enjoyed my day with you. You always give me unique moments.”

“Tomorrow, before you leave, you'll have the painting. It should be dry.”

I thanked her again and we tightly embraced each other.”

I headed towards the ferry dock. It had been a strange, magical day and I felt relaxed.

When I arrived at my mother's house, I looked up and noticed that all the windows were dark. She must have gone out. I decided to keep walking through the city at dusk. Walking in Venice is unique. I know every corner, every street and square, yet it always keeps surprising me. Its beauty is endless.

When passing by one of my favourite restaurants, I heard a voice calling me.

“Rebecca? Coco? Is it you?”

I turned, trying to focus on the face of the man who called me. There wasn't enough light and I had to come closer.

It was Pietro. My ex-boyfriend. The traitor that I left shortly before meeting Niccolò.

“Hi,” I said, coldly. I hadn't forgiven him yet for cheating on me with a whale and in
my
bed.

“Hi! I thought you were in Milan.” He smiled at me, embarrassed.

He hadn't changed much. Perhaps he had lost some weight and he was especially elegant. He wore a perfectly ironed shirt that made me think someone was taking care of his clothes – something I never did.

“I'm here for the weekend.”

“How are you?” he sounded sincerely interested.

“I'm ok, and you?” I didn't especially want to talk to him.

“I'm fine. It hasn't been easy, you know. But now I feel much better.”

It had not been easy because of him! His fault. Another asshole.

He added, “I'm seeing someone. It's something pretty serious…”

I really didn't want to know anything about his life. Why don't all exes have the good taste to fall off the face of the Earth?

“Good for you.” I didn't like the direction our conversation was taking.

“Well, it's strange… She is Veronica.”

“Veronica? Veronica who?”

“Your friend from high school!” he said, almost irritated by my bad memory.

Was it possible that my girl-friends kept getting engaged to my ex boy-friends?

“Great. I wish you all the happiness in the world.” I turned and walked away without even saying goodbye. Pietro stared at me, there was no time to reply. Then he was swallowed up by the dark.

*

When I finally arrived home, my mother was back and in a very good mood. She had enjoyed dinner with a friend and she must have had a lot of fun. She probably had a more lively sex life than I did!

“How was your day, sweetie?”

“It was great, until I met Pietro. Did you know that he's engaged to one of my high school friends?”

“Yes, I knew, darling. They are already talking about marriage… but I didn't think you cared about it.”

For my mother, once a boyfriend became an
ex
, he could just as well be dead.

“Men have this incredible ability to make a new life for themselves very quickly” I thought out loud.

“Don't even think about it. He's part of your past. One dead man more, one sad woman less.”

“I'm tired of getting hurt by men!” I snapped.

“How did your friend Chanel use to say?
No man can make you feel as safe as a cashmere coat and a pair of black glasses
.”

I smiled. She was right. No reason to suffer again for an idiot I hadn't seen for a whole year and a half! The only important thing now was the future.

*

I spent all Sunday with my mother. We did some shopping at Rialto market, had a delicious lunch at a small restaurant, and later a coffee at a bar facing the Canal Grande. It was a very relaxing day. I forgot about men… it was what I needed, an empty mind.

In the evening I caught a train back to Milan with Axi's painting under my arm.

As soon as I got home I found a little package at my front door. Someone must have received it and put it there… There was my name and address, but not the sender's name.

I entered my apartment, put my suitcase in the bedroom and opened the mysterious package. Enveloped in layers of tissue, I found an elegant coffee table book – an edition of Coco Chanel photographs. Who gave me such a beautiful and personal gift? I looked for a note, but didn't find anything. It must have been someone who knew me very well. I felt gratified by the gesture. Excited, I leafed through the pages, smelling the paper's scent. I had a secret admirer.

“Any news about your secret admirer?” Claudio asked, while straining the spaghetti.

“No, I haven't received anything else in the last couple of weeks, no gifts and no messages.”

“Hmm… very strange.”

I bit into a carrot dipped in a little bowl of oil and balsamic vinegar.

“Perhaps it could be Cristian,” I said hopefully.

“Yes, it could be. It's been a while since I have heard from him…”

“Me too.” This fact saddened me, but I thought he was probably very busy with his tour.

“It's the way Cristian is. He's a busy guy with his head in the clouds. I remember one time he disappeared for like two years…”

Two years was a long time! I wanted to keep in touch with him…

“Is the spaghetti ready?” I was starving and Claudio was a fantastic cook.

“Here it is, mademoiselle. Seafood spaghetti, perfectly al dente for you!”

“How could I survive without you?” I said, attacking the steaming dish.

“Right, you would definitely live on prosciutto sandwiches and cookies!” He laughed and sat down near me.

It had been a quiet Sunday. We spent the afternoon watching a film on the computer, then when Claudio began to cook, I watched TV without a thought in my head.

“It's also been a while since I've heard from Emma.” I said, sucking on a juicy clam.

“Yes, she always seems busy lately…” Claudio confirmed.

In fact, I've called her several times to invite her for dinner, but she was always too tired to come. I was worried.

“Tomorrow I will try calling her again.” I said. “She's acting way strange…”

“Maybe she just wants to be alone for a while. I know you love her, Coco, but you should respect her wishes.”

Claudio was right, and I should stop thinking she had some serious problem.

“And what about the fierce competition at the office?” He asked me, while pouring us another glass of chilly, delicious Vermentino.

“Same as usual. We all work like crazy, with the shrew always looking over our shoulder.” I had a sip of wine and my last forkful of spaghetti. Claudio knew how to lure me with good food.

“And your blue-eyed
boss-errand boy
?” He always laughed when mentioning him.

“He's in Paris now. At least when he's not here, I don't risk making a fool of myself in front of him.” I sighed.

“Also you don't risk nosing around in his private affairs!”

“Ugh! Still that old love letter story… At this point, I really don't know how to return it to him, without making another faux pas. I'll think about that tomorrow. And you? Any news? How's it going with your pretty little journalist?” I asked in a mischievous tone.

“It's going well. I see her often, and I have to admit I like her a lot.”

“Finally – a woman who satisfies our Mr Mastroianni! She must be very special.” Now I was the one teasing him.

“Yes, she's really great: pretty, intelligent and brilliant. I would say she's very close to my
ideal woman.
”

“Well then, I want to meet her right away!”

“But of course it will be done, mademoiselle!” He brought a broiled bass with roasted potatoes to the table.

After eating that amazing fish and finishing the bottle of Vermentino, we decided to go out for a night cap.

On the way downstairs, we met Mrs Leoncini who was wearing one of her eccentric robes and fixing some strange Christmas decorations on her door.

Claudio, amused, said, “good evening!”

“Oh, good evening, darlings,” Sofia answered, trying to glue a huge golden star on the door.

“Are you getting ready for Christmas?” I asked.

“It's my favourite time of the year, Rebecca! I can't wait… actually, I may decide to celebrate it tomorrow!” she said, winking at us.

*

“Winter is here!” I said putting on my wool hat and looking for my gloves in my handbag. “Why don't we walk a bit to warm up?” I proposed, to avoid the subway.

“Ok, let's do it! Unless my feet get frozen…” Claudio laughed.

We walked along the avenue behind Porta Romana until we reached the Bocconi University. There was a small pub in the neighbourhood, very lively, always full of students.

“What do you think about going here?” Claudio asked.

“Are you nostalgic for your college days?” I teased him.

“Maybe. This place reminds me of the beginning of everything, when I was a down and out reporter looking to find my own way.”

We went in. The temperature inside was so hot compared to the outside that all of a sudden our ears turned red.

“At least it's warm here!” I hate the cold. In a perfect world it should always be spring.”

“There is an empty table over there.” Claudio said, pointing to a small table in a corner, near a big group of kids wearing rugby sweatshirts.

As soon as we sat down, I heard a familiar voice, “Rebecca! You're here too!”

I felt a shiver of terror down my spine. I could recognize that voice among a million!

“Valentina, what a surprise!” I exclaimed, trying to hide my irritation. She was at a table not far from us, with a guy who must have been at least ten years younger than her.

“Why are you in this neighbourhood? I thought you lived on the opposite side of the city…” I said, while that silly Claudio began giggling.

Valentina stood up and headed over. She seemed tipsy. She must have had a lot of drinks because she kissed me on both cheeks, as if we were best girlfriends.

“I came to meet Michel,” she pointed to the guy at her table. “Handsome, right? It's the first time we've met and we immediately clicked. But I see you're also in good company. Don't tell me you've decided to lose your virginity!”

“This is Claudio,” I answered, ignoring her crude joke. Yet Claudio seemed amused by the whole situation.

“Finally, you've found a man.” she said, laughing out loud.

Claudio intervened, “I am a friend. Rebecca and I are neighbours.”

“An affair with a neighbour… very convenient! I knew that in spite of your little puritan looks, you were a sex kitten…”

“Don't you have to go back to your friend?” I began to feel seriously irritated.

“Oh, sure! My beautiful knight is waiting for me.” She was definitely drunk.

“Goodbye neighbour, get it on! Our Snow White needs a good fuck…” She winked at Claudio, who was staring at me, completely puzzled.