Page 112 of The Moon Sister
‘You’re agitana?’
‘I think I might be, yes.’
She narrowed her eyes as she looked at me. ‘You have somepayofor sure, but maybe there is somegitanoblood in you.’
‘Do you know of a family called Albaycín?’
‘Of course! The Albaycín family were one of the biggest in Sacromonte, in the days when we all lived here.’
‘The gyp—gitanosdon’t live here any longer?’
‘Some, but most of the caves here are now empty. Many of us moved into modern apartments in the city. They don’t live in the old way any more. It is sad but true. Sacromonte is like a ghost town these days.’
‘Are you agitano?’
‘Sí, our family has been here for three hundred years,’ she answered proudly.
‘How come you’ve opened this hotel?’
‘Because the only visitors we have here now are tourists who come for the flamenco show in Los Tarantos, or to see the museum of how we used to live in the caves up above us. I think to myself that this street has one of the best views in the world. It was too good to waste it.’ She smiled. ‘Besides, I belong here.’
‘Your English is very good. Where did you learn?’
‘At school and then university. When my mother and father die, I sell their apartment and use money to buy back my old family home to convert this into what they call boutique hotel.’
‘You’ve done a beautiful job. And you’re right about the view – it’s incredible. How long have you been open?’
‘Only a year. Trade has been slow, but everything takes time and I have many good bookings for summer.’
‘Well, I love it here already,’ I smiled.
‘So where is your family?’
‘I was told to look for a blue door on the Cortijo del Aire and ask for someone called Angelina. Have you heard of her?’
‘Have I heard of her?’ Marcella blinked in disbelief. ‘Of course! She is the lastbrujaof Sacromonte. Are you related to her?’
‘I think I might be, yes.’
‘She is old woman now, but when I was a child, I remember the queues outside her door for herbal remedies and fortune telling. It wasn’t justgitanoswho came, but manypayostoo. Now not so many people come, but if you want to know your future, Angelina can tell you.’
‘Does she live close to here?’
‘Señorita, she lives next door!’
A shiver ran through me at Marcella’s words as her hand indicated the hill to her left.
‘Does it have a blue door?’
‘Sí, it does. Many of my guests go to see Angelina when I tell them of her skills. She help our business and we help hers.’
‘I never expected finding her to be this easy.’
‘When something is destined, lifecanbe easy.’ Marcella’s brown eyes appraised me. ‘Maybe most difficult part of journey was decision to make it in the first place.’
‘Yes,’ I said, surprised at her intuition. ‘It was.’ Something ticked in my brain as I looked at her. ‘I heard that my ancestor’s neighbour was a man named Ramón. Is this his cave?’
‘It is!’ Marcella clapped her hands together in delight. ‘I am the great-great niece of Ramón. My great-great grandmother was his sister! I never meet him of course, but I hear stories of Lucía Albaycín practising her flamenco right here.’ Marcella pointed to the path in front of the gates. ‘My grandmother remembers it too. Lucía once the most famous flamenco dancer in the world! Have you heard of her?’
