Page 197 of The Moon Sister
‘Here are we, weeping for our lost children and grandchildren, while a mother plans to abandon hers.’ Ramón shook his head. ‘Does Lucía not realise what a gift she has been given?’
María knew he struggled with Lucía and what he saw as her selfishness.
‘Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and all we can do is accept them for who they are. Besides, Lucía is right; one of us in this household needs to find work before the money runs out.’
‘I am hoping that when summer comes I can go back and work as a labourer,’ Ramón commented. ‘It should be my task to earn the money.’
‘Ramón, you know as well as I that there are thousands returning to Spain who are desperate for work. Will you not try to fight to reclaim your own orange grove?’ María asked him again. ‘It’s so unfair, you paid for that grove – it is yours by rights.’
‘And what proof do I have, except a sheet of paper from the seller naming the figure I paid for it? It isn’t a legal deed, María . . . Me, against Franco’s government, who stole it from me originally.’ Ramón shook his head and gave a hollow laugh. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘But unless someone starts to fight, then nothing will change.’
‘María, I think we have enough battles to fight just to survive. Perhaps you have been away so long you have forgotten who we are; we aregitanos, the lowest of the low. No one listens to us.’
‘Because we neverspeak!’ María shook her head. ‘Forgive me, Ramón, but in America it is very different. Look what Lucía achieved despite being agitano. She was fêted everywhere she went.’
‘Yes, for her talent, for she is unique and special. Me? I am just a simple labourer.’
‘Yes.’ María reached for his hand. ‘And one that I love with all of my heart.’
*
‘So, you have enough money for the next six months’ rent, food, and an extra amount for all the milk Isadora guzzles.’ Lucía smiled as she looked down at her baby, kicking on the floor in her napkin, her little limbs naked. Lucía went to her, knelt down and kissed each foot, each hand and both cheeks. ‘Ah, my love,mi pequeña. Take good care until we meet again.’
‘The taxi has arrived, Lucía,’ shouted Ramón.
‘Then I must go. Goodbye, Ramón, Angelina . . .’ Lucía kissed her on both cheeks. ‘Bye-bye, Mamá, take care of you and my darling Isadora.’
‘I will, and Godspeed on your journey,querida. Be safe until we meet again.’
Lucía blew a kiss as her tiny feet clattered across the tiles in her new leather court shoes. With a last wave, she climbed into the taxi and was gone.
Angelina, standing alone on the terrace, found her eyes filled with tears.
They will never meet again, she thought silently to herself.
33
Over the next few months, even though Lucía’s departure was a wrench, without her constant restlessness, the house became a far calmer place. Ramón – always uncomfortable in front of Lucía because of José – relaxed and unleashed all his paternal instincts on baby Isadora.
Through word of mouth, Angelina’s stream of visitors began to increase, all wishing to consult the angel child, who had spawned a reputation as being the greatestbrujathegitanoworld had seen in a generation. Clients started coming from as far away as Barcelona, and one night Angelina came to sit with María and Ramón.
‘I wish to ask your advice,’ she said quietly, her hands clasped in her lap. ‘Because I am so young and still learning, I do not ask to be paid. People often leave me some goat’s milk or eggs, as you know, but I am wondering—’
‘Whether you should put down a charge for different treatments and remedies,’ Ramón finished for her. ‘What do you think, María? After all, we are using our money buying petrol to take the car up to Sacromonte three times a week so that Angelina can forage for her herbs. We should at least cover that cost.’
‘Do you know what Micaela charged,Abuela?’ Angelina asked María.
‘Not exactly, no. She never refused to treat a patient if they couldn’t afford to pay, but if they could, then yes, she took their money. Especially the wealthypayoswho came to see her.’
‘I don’t thinkpayoswould come to see a child like Angelina and pay,’ chuckled Ramón.
‘Maybe not yet, no,’ María agreed, ‘but that was where Micaela made her proper money.’
‘Next you’ll be suggesting we send Angelina down into the Plaza de las Pasiegas by the cathedral! She can hand out rosemary and a fortune for a few pesetas.’ Ramón raised his eyebrows.
‘You know,’ María commented later that evening, as she took out the box that contained their cash from under the floorboards and opened it, ‘even though you joked about putting Angelina in the plaza to catch the richpayos, soon it may be necessary. We have only enough money for the next three months.’
