When Genet woke up the next morning, the day after Christmas Day, she was alone in the bed. It was quiet. Most likely Roberto had already left. She sat up for a few minutes.
Sun streamed through the windows. She climbed out of the bed, pulled on a dressing-gown and left the bedroom. She was right. Roberto was gone. She must have been in a deep sleep because she hadn’t heard him get up.
He had probably left early, maybe before the sun rose. She stood at the window and wrapped her arms around her as she thought about what happened last night. For a long time, they stood in the foyer kissing like crazy and then, she broke it off long enough for them to go to her bedroom.
As soon as they got there, they quickly stripped, their clothes discarded on the floor. Then, he was lying on his back on the bed and she was covering every inch of him with hungry kisses, driving him wild. His stomach contracted when she pressed her mouth against it and he moaned when she grasped his shaft in her hand and her lips closed over it. His moans filled the room and then, she felt his hands grasp her head and the next thing she knew, she was lying on top of him and they were kissing. Against her stomach, she felt his arousal. His hands left her head to grasp her buttocks, eliciting a deep groan from her.
She had no idea how long they were kissing but it seemed like it was for while before she drew back to straddle him. His hands gripped her legs as she began to move up and down. She watched him as he lay there, his face flushed, his eyes on her and his lips slightly parted. Then, he closed his eyes. She continued to watch him and then, she threw her head back and closed her eyes as waves of intense pleasure washed over her.
The lovemaking lasted for a time and then, they both came. She collapsed on him and buried her face in his neck. They lay there, breathing heavily. She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, it was morning and she was alone in the bed.
Turning away from the window now, she changed the coverlet and made up the bed. Then, she took a quick shower and fixed herself breakfast. Today was St. Stephen’s Day–a national public holiday in Italy. She wondered how she should do to spend the day. Perhaps, she could visit various nativity scenes at Santa Maria Maggiore, Santa Maria in Aracoeli, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Church of Saints Casma and Damiano. Last year, she had stayed home, preferring to relax and watch the movie, The Acts of the Apostles and then finish reading Treasured Grace by Tracie Peterson.
As she had her simple breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast, tea and half of a grapefruit, she wondered what Roberto was doing at that very moment. Was he having regrets about last night? Would he write her another letter telling her that they couldn’t see each other anymore? Was he going to spend the entire day at the parish or would he visit the nativity scenes? Should she text him and ask him if he would like to spend the day with her? Or should she give him some space? No matter what happened, nothing could change the wonderful fact was that he loved her.
She finished having her breakfast. After washing up, she went and brushed her teeth. She had just finished wiping her mouth and hands when she heard the doorbell. Wondering who that could be, she hurried to answer it. It was Fabrizio. “Good morning,” he said.
“Good morning.”
“I hope you didn’t mind that I asked Roberto to bring you home last night.”
“Would it have made a difference if I did?”
“Of course, it would have. If you had told me that you didn’t want him to bring you home, I would have done it and then go back to my parents’ house.”
“I didn’t mind.”
“Does that mean that you two have kissed and made up?”
Genet pursed her lips. “We’re on speaking terms again if that’s what you mean.”
“Good.”
“Is that why you’re here? To find out how things are between Roberto and me?”
“No. I was thinking that you and I can check out the Christmas Markets, have lunch, walk about Rome, visit the nativity scenes in Piazza del Popolo at then, at 5:30pm, we can go and listen to The Brooklyn Gospel Harmonettes at Auditorium Parco della Musica.”
“Is this a date?”
“No. Just two friends spending the day with each other. What do you say?”
“All right. I’ll go and change.”
Sources: Time and Date; Auditorium; Lovely Stay in Rome
Notes to Women 