A Life By Design

Chapter 5 Acclimatising

CHAPTER 5

ACCLIMATISING

The next day, Elena woke up and stretched out her arms. Her back ached from the firm and lop-sided single mattress. She pulled herself up and rubbed her lower back with both hands. For a moment, she felt disoriented and wondered where she was. Oh yes, Nunziata’s home. An unwelcoming bull-terrier with a tabby cat. At least she had somewhere to stay.

Over to the side, Emilio slept and snored loud enough to wake the dead. He tossed and turned but didn’t wake up.

Elena yawned and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She bent down towards her suitcase and rummaged through clothes she didn’t put away yesterday. Finally, settling on a peach dressing gown, Elena put it on and headed outside towards the kitchen. Nunziata sat at the table, eating a brioche with a minute cup of espresso. She looked up at Elena and nodded but didn’t smile.

“If you want breakfast you’ll need to do your own shopping.” She rose, grabbed a piece of crumpled paper, and shoved it in Elena’s hand. “Here you go.”

Elena drew back. “What’s this?”

“Details about nearby shops and the board you need to pay. I expect payment every week, and if it’s a day late, you’re out of here. I cannot afford lateness, and there are plenty of other students I can get to live here.”

Elena was almost speechless. What was wrong with this woman? “Sure. I’ll have it to you by the end of the week.”

“Good.” Nunziata looked towards the rusty fridge. “Now, just for today, if you want breakfast, I have a few eggs left, but make sure you replace them. You need to get your own oil and salt too. Remember, I don’t give any handouts. I buy for me and you buy for yourself and your brother. Understand?”

Elena nodded with a sick feeling in her stomach. Some adventure this would be. She headed towards the fridge and grabbed an egg. She searched for a frying pan, opening and closing cupboards until she found a weathered stainless-steel pan. Nunziata got off her seat, drank down her coffee, placed the cup in the sink, and stormed out. Well, how rude. This woman knew that Elena came from the village and that the city was a big change for her, but instead of helping her acclimate to her new home, Nunziata treated her like a piece of rubbish.

As Elena was frying an egg and spooning oil over the yolk, Emilio walked in and rubbed his eyes. He approached his sister and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Morning. How did you sleep?”

Elena turned to him. She set aside the egg onto a cracked plate. “Badly.” She yawned. “Would you like an egg?”

“Sure.” He sat down and looked around the kitchen. “Where’s you know who?”

Elena whispered, “Probably on her broomstick.”

Emilio chuckled. “That bad again, ha?”

Elena scooped up the egg and set it down onto a plate. Then she fried another egg and watched the oil sizzle in the pan. Placing it onto another plate, she handed it to Emilio, then grabbed cutlery from a drawer. No matter how she pushed and prodded the drawer, it wouldn’t close properly. “Worse.”

They sat together, eating their eggs in silence. Elena pondered her day’s tasks. She still had a few weeks before starting her course, but settling into the place meant she needed to scour the area and buy clothes that suited her new role as a student.

“So, what’s your plan for today?” Emilio asked.

“Shopping. I also need to get groceries for us. Do you want to come?”

“No, I’ll be going out later. If you like, I can get the groceries and you can do your clothes shopping.”

“Are you sure? You won’t know what to buy.”

“Just give me a list. Mama gave me some money.”

Elena nodded. “Okay, I’ll do that after I shower.”

When she was dressed and the list safely in Emilio’s pocket, she hurried out onto the street and wandered aimlessly until she found a bus stop. As she stood waiting near an elderly woman and a younger man, the back of her neck prickled. She glanced around, suddenly certain she was being watched. A flash of movement caught her eye, and she turned her head just as a figure disappeared around the corner of a building.

She let out a relieved breath. It was nothing. Just someone hurrying off to an appointment. Her nerves were playing tricks on her, the result of feeling overwhelmed. Who would be watching a stranger in a big city like Milan? Only her imagination, and, as her mother always told her, she had a great one.