Page 196 of The Moon Sister
‘Lucía, that is not true. You are the most famous flamenco dancer in North and South America. There is no rush,querida.’
‘The public have a very short memory, and especially now that La Argentinita has passed, every day another new and younger dancer emerges to challenge me for my crown. Besides, I miss it,’ she sighed.
‘What part of it do you miss?’
‘The dancing of course! It is who I am.’
‘You are also a mother now,’ María reminded her as she looked down at Isadora sleeping peacefully in her Silver Cross perambulator in the shade.
‘Yes, so why can’t I be both?’
‘You can, of course you can. So, do you want me to make plans for the three of us to travel back to New York?’
‘Mamá.’ Lucía came to sit in the wicker chair opposite her mother. ‘I remember what it was like, to be a child who was always on the road, going with Papá from town to town, sleeping in wagons or fields, to receive no education, have no place that I could call home.’
‘I thought you thrived on the life of a traveller, Lucía. You always said that you enjoyed the fact you never knew what the next day would bring.’
‘Yes, I did, but I had no choice. Isadora has.’ Lucía paused and looked at her mother. ‘I know you love it here, Mamá, and how much you love Isadora. So . . .’ She paused again before continuing. ‘What if you were to stay here with her?’
María did her best not to let out a sigh of relief, and focused on putting the needs of her grandchild first.
‘And you will go to New York alone?’
‘Sí, but I will return as often as I can to see you both.’
‘But, Lucía, she is so small, she needs her mother. I am no substitute.’
‘Yes, you are, Mamá. You are far more maternal and patient than I will ever be. You know how cross I get when she cries. And besides,’ Lucía added, ‘money is running short. I must go out and earn some. Or at least see Papá to ask him for some more.’
‘How long will you be gone?’
‘The contract is for six months and I will earn enough tobuythis house,’ Lucía laughed, ‘and then we will all be safe forever. Just imagine that, Mamá!’
‘It would be a very good thing, yes, Lucía,’ María agreed, knowing that once Lucía had set her mind to something, nothing in heaven or hell could stop her, so there was no point in arguing any further on Isadora’s behalf.
‘Whatever you think is best,querida.’
‘Good. Then that is settled.’
As Lucía stood up, María saw the expression of relief in her daughter’s eyes too.
*
‘And how could I ever have expected her to give up her dancing? It is who she is,’ María explained to Ramón later that night.
‘But she is a mother now, María. And her baby needs her.’
‘Your girls did well without one,’ María reminded him. ‘As long as babies are loved by someone, I’m not sure it matters who it is.’
‘And where are my girls now?’ Ramón said, his face a picture of misery. ‘Lying dead in a mass grave somewhere in the city.’
‘With my boys, their wives and my grandchildren,’ María added, reaching for his hand.
‘Why did we survive, when it was their world to conquer?’
It was a question both of them asked the heavens every day.
‘I do not know, and neither of us ever will until it’s our turn to go upwards, but at least we can safeguard the next generation.’
