Page 198 of The Moon Sister
‘Lucía promised to send some more, didn’t she?’
‘Yes, but it hasn’t arrived. What if it got stolen on its journey? It is a long way from America to Spain, and many hands will have fingered that parcel. How many hungry people are there at the post office in Granada?’
‘Lucía is not stupid,querida. She would disguise it well. What is it, María? You are not yourself.’
‘No,’ María sighed. ‘I may not be abruja, but I just have a bad feeling, that something is going to go wrong.’
‘This is not like you at all.’ Ramón frowned, then took her in his arms. ‘Remember what both of us have already survived. Together we can face anything. I promise.’
‘I hope so, Ramón, I really do.’
*
A week later, a car that María did not recognise came sweeping up the drive. It parked in front of the house and apayowoman with a sleek black bob and an oversized pair of sunglasses stepped out.
‘Hola, señora,’ María smiled as the woman climbed up the steps to the terrace. ‘How can I help you?’
‘Are you Señora Albaycín?’ the woman asked.
‘Sí, I am. And you are?’
‘Señora Velez.’
‘Ah! Alejandro’s sister. Please, come in. I am very happy to meet you. Can I get you something to drink?’
‘No, señora. I am afraid I have come here because there have been complaints in the neighbourhood about you and your family.’
‘Complaints?’ María looked around at the olive and orange groves that stood on either side of thefinca. ‘But we have no neighbours.’
‘I have heard that one of your family is using this house as a place of work.’
‘Sorry, señora, what do you mean?’
‘She tells fortunes and brews herbs into potions, which she sells. Is this true?’
‘I . . . yes, that is, my ten-year-old granddaughter helps people if they are sick or need advice. She is abruja, señora.’
‘You say this business is run by a child?’ The woman took off her dark sunglasses to show a pair of heavily made-up, hard green eyes.
‘Yes, and you are right that recently more have heard of her gifts and have sought her out.’
‘Did you know it is illegal for children to work, señora?’
‘It isn’t work, she does not get paid for doing it—’
‘Señora Albaycín, I am sure you can understand my brother and I rented this house out to you in good faith. My brother assured me you and your daughter were respectable women. He did not realise that you kept company with the kind of people who are now visiting. Nor does my brother realise that our home is now housing a business and using child labour at that.’
‘Señora, I have told you that my granddaughter does not take money for her services and the people who come here are—’
‘Gitanos. I suppose we must count ourselves lucky that you have not moved in your entire clan!’
At that moment, Angelina appeared, holding Isadora in her arms.
‘Hola, señora,’ Angelina smiled at the woman. ‘How can we help you?’
‘Is this the child who tells the fortunes?’
‘Sí, señora,’ Angelina answered. ‘Shall I tell you yours?’
