Page 57 of The Moon Sister
‘Not until you listen to me. Let’s go somewhere where we can have a private conversation.’
‘Can it not wait?’
‘No, it can’t! We will walk over there.’
The two of them moved to stand together behind one of the nearby wagons.
‘What is it that is so important, woman?’
‘Your son Felipe is in a cell in the town jail. He and Carlos were caught picking pockets by the police at theConcursolast night. Eduardo said three other boys from the village have been caught too. I’ve been told they’ll be sentenced in the next couple of days. Carlos managed to escape, but our poor Felipe . . .’
María gave a guttural sob, and knew she finally had his full attention.
‘Nooo . . .’ José groaned and put his head in his hands. He looked up at his wife, devastation on his face. ‘For all my faults, the one thing I have never done is steal. I believed I had drummed it into my boys too.Dios mío, I cannot believe it!’
‘What will happen, José, do you know?’
‘No, but maybe those who have been in such a situation before could tell us.’
‘Yes, perhaps they can. Eduardo has gone to search for Carlos and to find out more about Felipe.’
‘This is all Carlos’s fault. Wait until I get my hands on him,’ José growled. ‘He’ll have gone to ground in the caves. He’s probably more frightened of what I might do when I find him than he is of the police! So, I’m going now to search the village and I won’t be back without the littlemalparido.’
‘Don’t beat him, José. He’s probably frightened and—’
‘I am his papá and he will get what’s coming to him. What he deserves!’ he shouted, his body shaking with anger.
María watched her husband stride off, then break into a run as he disappeared up the winding path.
‘Wasn’t Lucía wonderful!’ Paola had found her daughter in the crowd and clasped her hands together as she spoke. ‘Our cousins were amazed. You must be very proud.’
‘I am, Mamá.’
‘You don’t look it. You are ashen like a spirit. What is wrong?’
‘Nothing. I am tired from the weekend, that is all.’
‘Tired? María, you are only thirty-three years old and yet you act like an old woman. Maybe you should see Micaela for a potion to bring the light back into your eyes. Now, come and say goodbye to your cousins before they leave.’
María followed her mother over to the group of carts and wagons that would deliver their relatives back to Barcelona and beyond. Each one congratulated her on Lucía and expressed the hope that she and her family would visit them soon. María nodded and smiled by rote, her throat so tight she could hardly speak.
‘Goodbye, señora.’ Chilly was tugging at her skirt, beckoning her down to him. ‘Don’t you worry, help will come. You will not be alone,’ he whispered. He patted her arm like a parent would a child’s, then climbed up onto a wagon next to his father.
Even though her legs were weak with shock and fatigue, María stood with her parents and Lucía, waving off the wagon train until it was a mere speck in the distance.
She somehow gathered the strength to help her mother clear away the detritus left by the guests while Lucía sat on her grandfather’s knee, sucking her thumb and listening to stories of the old days. When she went to collect her daughter to go home, Lucía was sound asleep.
‘Too much excitement for the little one, I think.’ Pedro smiled as he lifted her into María’s arms. ‘She told me she’d received many offers to dance in cafés in Barcelona, but I hope you will not be taking them up until she is much older.’
‘Of course not, Papá.’
‘Are you quite well,mija? You don’t seem yourself.’
Her father gently brushed a wisp of his daughter’s hair back from her face. The tenderness in his gesture made her want to throw herself into his arms and tell him everything, ask for his help and advice, but she knew José would never forgive her if she did.Hewas the head of her family now.
Back at home, Lucía had woken up and went to practise herzapateadoostentatiously outside, clearly hoping to attract more praise from any passing villagers. It was obvious that attention was a drug to which Lucía was already addicted. María kept herself as busy as she could while she waited for José or Eduardo to return home with news of her missing sons. No doubt rumours would be all over the village by now.
As dusk fell, María finally saw José walking along the path. With a sigh of relief, she saw Carlos lagging some distance behind him.
