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بيت / A Winter Without Donna / Chapter 3

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Chapter 3

مؤلف: Tuo
I was flying to London the next day.

I packed the last of my camera gear into padded cases and checked my books and clothes again.

There wasn't much to take.

In ten years of marriage, Luca had bought me plenty of bags and jewelry, but I never felt any of it really belonged to me.

That afternoon, Mark showed up unannounced to pick me up.

"Donna, the Don wants you at the old safe house. We've just upgraded security around the property. He's reopening it to protect someone important to the family."

I hadn't been to that safe house in years.

After the shooting, his family feared Luca was still a target, so they hid him there.

Back then, he wouldn't see anyone except me.

I stayed with him in that safe house until he recovered.

It held his most painful memories, along with our sweetest ones.

After he took over the family again, the safe house sat empty.

I'd thought I would never go back.

Before long, the car pulled up in front of the old safe house.

The iron gate opened, and the lights in the courtyard came on.

Luca stood behind me and said, "Your things are all still here. Take whatever's still useful."

I opened a drawer and found a photo of Luca and me, taken here in the safe house.

Just then, Selina walked in.

Two bodyguards followed her, carrying her luggage.

I looked at Luca and asked him straight out, "Why is she here?"

Luca answered as if it were nothing. "She's in some danger. This is the safest place. I told her to move in for now."

I couldn't let that go.

"You're letting her move in? Here? The place where we used to live? Since when did she become so important to the family?"

Luca frowned and didn't answer.

Selina glanced around. "So this is where you stayed while you were recovering?"

Luca murmured his agreement.

Her eyes fell on the photo in my hand, and she said to me, "What a lovely photo. You two looked so happy back then."

I said nothing. She gave me a faintly challenging look.

"Irene won't mind if I stay here, will she? Luca's just worried about my safety."

Her eyes drifted towards the main bedroom.

"Can I take this one? You said it had the best soundproofing."

Luca walked over and checked the lock for her.

He turned to her. "Take whichever room you want. Security here has just been updated. Don't open the door yourself at night. If you hear anything outside, press this first."

He pointed to the emergency button on the wall.

As I stood to the side, I remembered Luca saying the same things the first time he brought me here, years ago.

Back then, he said this safe house belonged only to us. He said I was the only one allowed into his world.

I gave a bitter little smile. In the end, everything had changed.

I said, "From now on, you two can arrange this place however you like."

Luca handed Selina the keys and told her to keep them safe. Then he added, sounding annoyed, "Irene's been giving me the cold shoulder lately. Don't mind her."

By the time I got home, it was almost eleven.

The confirmation letter from London lay on the table, alongside the divorce papers my lawyer had just sent over.

I picked up a pen and signed my name.
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  • A Winter Without Donna   Chapter 10

    Two years later, I held my first solo photography exhibition in London.It was called Where the Light Doesn't Reach.None of the photographs showed the Romano family or Luca.There was the night-shift cleaner, an old man who gave directions to strangers at the station, an immigrant girl who practiced English alone every night after closing up shop, and a young man relearning to paint with his left hand after an accident.I didn't invent uplifting endings for them. I photographed them as they were.Beside each photo was the subject's name.On opening day, the gallery was packed. Helen stood at the entrance talking with guests, while fellow photographers gathered around several prints to discuss the light and composition.I was busy answering questions. It wasn't until just before closing that I finally had time to stand in the middle of the gallery and look at my work again.I saw Luca.He stood in front of the last wall, wearing a dark overcoat. His right hand still moved a little more

  • A Winter Without Donna   Chapter 9

    Luca didn't come to London again.He still sent me emails.Sometimes they were short greetings. Other times, he just let me know his lawyer had sent documents I needed to confirm.I left all correspondence for my lawyer to handle.A few weeks later, my lawyer told me Luca had agreed to go ahead with the divorce.He didn't ask to meet again, and he didn't add any conditions to the agreement.A month later, the divorce papers arrived in London.Luca's signature was on the last page.I could see that the last stroke had wavered a little, but the line remained unbroken.As I looked at his signature, I didn't feel the relief I'd expected, but I wasn't especially sad either.It was finally over. That was all.That night, Helen sent me the project schedule for next quarter.I printed the itinerary and stuck it up next to my desk.In the past, whenever I planned a work trip, I would first check Luca's physical therapy schedule, his medication, and the family's meetings, worried that if I left

  • A Winter Without Donna   Chapter 8

    Mark called to confirm that Luca had been examined and was out of danger for now.I said only, "Okay."The next day, I went to work at the magazine as usual.Helen handed me the list of people to photograph for the new feature and reminded me the first set of portraits was due by Friday.The project wasn't big, but it was the first time I was in charge of a whole column on my own. From choosing subjects and conducting interviews to selecting the final images, every decision was mine.Helen added, "If it goes well, next quarter's budget is yours too."Don't rush. Go at your own pace."I looked down at the schedule in my hands and nodded. "I'll turn it in on time."Work filled my days.I shot on location, sorted negatives, and discussed layouts with the editors. Sometimes, by the time I got back to my apartment, it was already dark.The work exhausted me, but it also made me feel grounded.At least every part of it was something I had chosen for myself.News from Rome still came every fe

  • A Winter Without Donna   Chapter 7

    When Luca showed up outside the magazine's office, I'd just finished a location shoot.Rain had soaked his black coat. He looked thinner than when I left; his right shoulder was still stiff, and his eyes were bloodshot.When he saw me, he hurried over. "Irene."I stopped on the steps and didn't go any closer.I asked flatly, "What are you doing here?"He was almost pleading."Come back with me and we'll talk."He reached for me.I stepped away.Luca's hand froze in midair. Embarrassment flashed across his face, but he quickly hid it.He lowered his voice. "I didn't come here to fight with you. Don't make a scene here."I answered, "I'm not planning to fight, and I'm not the one making a scene."I glanced at the office building behind me and went on, "You're the one interrupting other people's work. If you need something, we can go through our lawyers."He was silent for a moment, then followed me to the cafe on the corner.Once we sat down, he took out a stack of documents. On top was

  • A Winter Without Donna   Chapter 6

    Even after I landed in London, I didn't turn my phone back on.The magazine sent a car to pick me up.The new apartment I had rented wasn't big. A gray-blue river ran past the window.A coworker helped me carry my luggage into the living room and looked around at the bare walls. "I'm free tomorrow. I'll take you to buy a few things."I smiled."No need. I like it this way."I opened my suitcase.On top were two cameras, a few lenses, and the film I hadn't finished shooting.There was no brace from Luca's physical therapy.No painkillers I had to have ready before every rainy day.Nor was there the heating pad I had kept by the bed or the cabinet full of care supplies I had stocked for him all those years.Only after leaving Luca did I realize how little space my own belongings took up.On my third day in London, I got an email from my lawyer. Luca had refused to sign the divorce agreement and insisted on talking to me directly.I emailed back, "Please handle everything through my lawye

  • A Winter Without Donna   Chapter 5

    As the plane flew out over Rome, I switched off my phone.The city outside the window was hidden by clouds, like an old map finally folded shut.I didn't look at my bare ring finger again, and I didn't think about when Luca would notice I was gone.He would probably go back to the estate first and find that I hadn't waited for him. Then he'd call and tell me to stop being difficult. In a few days, once I'd cooled off, he'd treat it like any other petty argument, just as he always had.Meanwhile, back at the Romano estate, Luca had finally finished dinner.Standing in the entry hall, Selina asked Luca, "Is Irene angry?"She left in such a hurry."Luca undid his cufflinks and glanced at his phone."She's never liked family gatherings."Selina pressed on. "But she looked really sad tonight."Luca only said, "Don't worry about her. She's just tired."Selina lowered her eyes and didn't ask anything more.By the time he got back to the main house, it was nearly midnight. Luca walked into the

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