Fruit of the Golden Vine (33 page)

“We’ll come with you,” said Adelina. “We’ll help with the rebuilding and the hiring, we’ll dig up the nasty weeds, we’ll clamber on the roof and we’ll chase spiders out of the chimneys.”

“And when you’re settled in and your firstborn has entered the world, Ada and I will set off on adventures of our own.” Silvana plucked a length of grass and tickled Rafael’s cheek with it. “What say you, Brother Sun?”

“Silvie, you have every right to take that money and go live the life you’ve always wanted.” Rafael frowned. “God knows you’ve earned it.”

“You’re damn right I have. But you’re now brother to both of us, and Irena has become my sister too. Your happiness is our own. We will build with you, and though eventually we shall part, we will return someday to grow old beside you.”

Rafael touched his cheek and held his damp fingertip to the sunlight. “Damn you to hell. I’ve made it this far without shedding a tear, and now look what you’ve done.”

Adelina laughed and gave him a playful shove. “It’s all you deserve, you smutty baron.”

“This isn’t fair.” Felise wandered across the grass, Mona held squirming to her chest. “I want to know what everyone is laughing about. Tell me the joke too.” She set Mona down—the pup immediately flopped to the ground—and sat beside her.

“We were laughing at you,” said Adelina. “We were talking of how foolish you look spinning about with that puppy.”

“That’s not true.” Irena pinched Adelina’s forearm. “We were just telling adult jokes, Felise.”

“I’m thirteen,” said Felise. “I want to hear adult jokes too.” Mona rolled to her back, and Felise scratched the puppy’s fat belly. “There was a lot of fuss earlier. All those people about. What happened?”

“Well, it’s complicated,” said Irena. “But the simple story is that Adelina and Silvana will be leaving with me and Rafael.”

“Oh.” Felise lowered her eyes. “So now I’ll have no sisters.”

Adelina slid over the grass and lifted Felise into her lap. “Don’t be silly. We’ll always be your sisters.”

“Will I get to visit you?” Felise glanced at Mona, who had risen to her paws and was tottering away. “No, Mona!”

Silvana swept Mona up and held her wiggling body tight. “I’ll hold her for you.”

“Will you look after my sisters, Silvana?” Felise’s voice trembled, and a sharp pain pierced Adelina’s chest. “Will you make sure Ada doesn’t get lonely?”

“She won’t be lonely. I promise.” Silvana laughed as Mona licked her ear. “This dog of yours is friendly, isn’t she?”

“She’ll be the only person left to play with me. And she can’t tell me stories, like Ada does, or say nice things about my drawings, like Ira does. It’ll be just Mother to scold me and Father to squish my cheeks like I’m a baby.” Felise hugged Adelina’s neck. “Can’t I come with you too?”

“Don’t worry, Lise,” said Irena. “You’ll get to visit us. Maybe not right away, but once we’re ready, I’ll send everyone an invitation.”

“Will you write one for Mona?”

A sad, soft light crept into Irena’s eyes. “Yes, I’ll write one for Mona.”

A warm breeze swept across the plain and stirred the golden grass into motion. The wind carried the scent of summer, a tangled aroma of petals and pollen, and Adelina closed her eyes as she inhaled it. She might never again taste this fragrance, nor bathe in the heat of the plains sun, nor run through the long grass and let it whip against her legs. In time she might even forget the prickle of Father’s beard, the scratching sound of Felise’s pencil, the acrid odor of Mother’s medicines and other such simple memories that had for so long formed the texture of her life. Like a neglected vine, the past would wither, and a new seed would be planted in its place.

“I’m allowed to paint this afternoon.” Felise’s voice pulled Adelina from her thoughts. “Mother said so.”

Adelina stroked Felise’s hair. “What will it be this time? A puppy? More horses?”

“No.” Felise gave Silvana a shy look. “I want to paint a tree.”

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