Blue

Chapter Two

"She isn't that beautiful..."

Ilaria could imagine Leslie, at the other end of the phone, staring at Natalia Osipova's pictures from Google images. She would cross her hands over her chest and sit in her green leather armchair, with the laptop on her lap, thinking whether to ask Ilaria about Sergei or about the house and the mysterious legacy. Almost laughing, she realized she could hear the wheels spinning around in her best friend's mind attempting to take a decision so, the moment Leslie spoke again, Ilaria knew the question before even hearing it.

" How hot were you saying he is? " 

Ilaria chuckled.

" Have you seen the pictures with him? "

"Yes... "sighed her bestie.

"Well, they don't do him justice. "

"What do you mean?"

" In those pictures he's just the definition of sexy-ness."

"Yeah, just that... And in real life?"

"He is hotter than like hell. His eyes are so blue and his gaze is so intense... damn it ... he's like Hell and Heaven in a Greek sculpture possessed by a demonic angel."

"Ilaria Wilson, if you don't stop right now I'm gonna think you've fallen in love.

At this thought, Ilaria stopped suddenly.

"What? No. That's absurd.”

" Love at first sight is absurd. "

"It's not love at first sight. It's more like "I wanna jump on you" at first sight."

Leslie sighed again, this time a bit irritated.

"You know, you are pretty cynical for a writer. "

" I did love Conner. You have seen what that brought me."

"Connor was an asshole. I told you that from the beginning."

" Yeah, he was. But he was my asshole..."

" Now, now...screw him. You know, the best way to get over a guy is to get under another one."

"Leslie, I appreciate your support, but I just can't get over it yet. I am trying to, but I'm just not there yet. Him and Monica... I never would have thought..."

"You can't be sad forever because of that bloody bastard."

" And I won't. But right now I feel like one of those broken things you just can't fix... I just... I guess I need more time..."

For a few seconds, it was quiet, Leslie giving up on persuading Ilaria to share the few minutes with Sergei. So instead, she went for the other topic.

"So, how's the house?"

"Nice. Actually, larger than I’d expected. And completely furnished. "

"You must send me pictures then. Tell me you have a swimming pool and I'll move there!"

"I do have a big tub. With enough imagination I can turn it into a swimming pool, " Ilaria laughed.

" Then I guess I'll stick to old New York for a while longer."

Ilaria chuckled again.

"It's really pretty, you know?"

"Sergei? It's more than pretty..."

"No, f**k him. I'm talking about the house."

"Yeah, you wish..."

" I am serious. I was talking about the house."

"And I was talking about you f*****g him."

"Then you are right. I wish" Ilaria's chuckle turned into laughter.

" And why don't you?"

" What?"

" He asked you out. Go drink that coffee, eat a muffin and enjoy him afterwards."

" It's not that simple."

" It is that simple. A few seconds before you were complaining about feeling broken. Fine. Grieve for that asshole, but don't turn yourself into a nun. I'm not telling you to fall for Sergei Polunin; this would be one of the worst pieces of advice I could give you, because he is trouble. But I am telling you to have some fun as he's right there and as hot as a summer day in the Sahara Dessert, I think you should take advantage of it."

Ilaria bit her lower lip, turning her friend’s advice on both sides, trying to figure out what to say.

" I don't know...I just think..."

" You should stop thinking.  Let it go. Enjoy the town and the house. Go meet new people. Sleep with Sergei. Cross your boundaries and the hell, you will have the best holiday ever and who knows, maybe a second book by the end of it. Either way, you'll definitely be a different Ilaria than the one who left New York, all broken hearted and full of frustration."

" Look, Leslie, I have to go."

" Fine, but promise me you won't isolate yourself for the time you'll be there, or I'll have to book a flight and come to Yachats myself."

" I promise."

" And call me after breakfast tomorrow. I would feel really devastated to know you don't think about me. Unless you'll be in bed with Sergei. Then don't think about me, because it would be weird."

Illaria chuckled. With a friend like Leslie, this thing seemed to turn into a habit.

" I will call you and I'm sure as hell I won't be in bed with him."

" Yet."

" Bye, Lesile!"

" Fine. Ignore me. But take care of yourself. And wear nice lingerie tomorrow, just in case!"

Illaria laughed while ending the call and letting her phone drop on the couch. She casted an eye to the laptop, but decided to quit stalking Sergei's ex. She had seen enough to know Natalia was beautiful and nothing at all like her. Unpleasant as it was, she had other things to do, including unpacking three whole suitcases and some groceries. That if she would be able to find the market.

One hour later she had every suitcase unpacked and all the things nicely placed. She could get used with this; the house, the new arrangements. The clock was showing five minutes past six in the afternoon and outside there was still enough light to go for a walk. The market must have already closed, but getting to know the surroundings sounded like a good idea. She opened the door just in time to see a hand about to knock.

"Oh, hi there!"

" Uhm, ah... hi" answered Ilaria, trying not to look at the very revealing top of the red-haired girl in front of her. The fact that the cake she was holding was at the same level as her chest, made it a bit less obvious that she was staring.

" You must be the new neighbor. I live just across the street; in that blue house over there. I'm April, by the way."

" Ilaria. Ilaria Wilson."

" Well, Ilaria Wilson, I baked you an apple pie as a welcome to our neighborhood gift or whatsoever."

" Thanks." The girl was so resilient and positive that it left Ilaria speechless. " Want to come in?"

Inviting her in seemed the right thing to do, especially when she wasn't expecting such a warm welcoming. So when April nodded, she showed her to the living room, passing through the kitchen to get two plates and teaspoons.

" Wow, I love what you did with this place. It doesn't look like old rusty Auntie Maggie's lair."

Too much information stroke Ilaria at once. First, she was astonished to find out that, after being left as an inheritance to her, the house had been redecorated and, judging by April's expression, it hadn't been just a bit changed. Secondly, the red-haired girl seemed to know very well the house, as well as her formed inhabitant, which could be very helpful in solving the inheritance mystery. Deciding to take it slow, Ilaria started with a question that, she hoped, wouldn't let the other girl see how completely unknowing was she.

" You knew the woman who lived here before? Margaret Simpson?"

" Yes, well, we were calling her Aunt Maggie. She was nice. Baked a lot. Muffins especially; you know, that sort of fluffy things with lots of blueberries on the top?"

April was talking too much, but she was nice somehow and, even though she was a bit dazzling with all those words coming out her mouth, Illaria thought she was worth having as friend. Besides, she needed to surround herself with people to keep her promise to Leslie. The girl in front of her was a very good start.

" Yeah, they are my favorite."

" I guess it must be from the place. They were Maggie's favorite as well. So, what brought you here?"

" I had some free time. And Ms. Simpson "-calling her Maggie, like April did, felt wrong-" left me this house as inheritance."

" Ms. Simpson? That just sound weird. Everybody called her Maggie. So, what's the deal with you two? You don't actually seem to know her, yet she left you all this!"

Ilaria started to cut the apple pie and placed the two pieces on the plates, then offered one to the other girl. Now, that was a tricky question. Admitting she had no idea what exactly was she doing there sounded too crazy to be spoken out loud, especially in front of a stranger. Avoiding the question was also kind of impossible. What other options?

" It's a mystery."

The words left her mouth before having the chance to stop them. 

April stopped eating for a moment and glanced at her, analyzing her from head to toe, stopping a bit more on her face. She put the spoon down, and gave her a small smile.

" Good thing I love mysteries!"