Page 208 of The Moon Sister
‘And the Seventh Sister?’
‘No, he said he didn’t find her. There are just six of us.’
‘I am surprised,’ she said.
‘Why?’
‘I . . .’ Angelina opened her mouth to say something, but then shut it again. She shrugged. ‘Sometimes the messages, they are confused. Now, Erizo, would you like to see a picture of your mamá and papá?’
‘Yes, please.’
I watched her rummage in the capacious pocket of her kaftan. She drew out a colour print.
As she handed it to me, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. I stared in wonder at the image.
‘This is them on their wedding day?’ I murmured.
‘Sí. It was the year 1963.’
The couple in the photograph were gazing at each other, the love and adoration shining out from their innocent young faces. The colours had faded to pale imitations over the years, but I saw that the man had tightly curled brown hair and warm light-brown eyes, and the woman . . .
‘You can see you look like her,’ Angelina ventured.
And yes, Icouldsee. Her hair was darker than mine, but the shape of her eyes and the planes of her face were very familiar.
‘Mi madre,’ I whispered. ‘Te amo.’
*
It was past two o’clock already, and I had to be at the airport for four thirty. I had so much to think about but it wasn’t for now. Leaving Angelina dozing in the sun, I went to collect my rucksack from the hotel, then I walked back to the blue door and pulled aside the curtain to bid farewell to her and the most recent arrival to our family. Bear was suckling at Ally’s breast.
‘I’ve come to say goodbye, darling Ally. Take care of yourself and the little one, won’t you? And thank you so much for coming here to find me.’ I kissed them both.
‘No, thankyouand your wonderful relatives for being here withme. What a present I’m taking home,’ Ally smiled. ‘I’ll see you at Atlantis very soon, I hope?’
‘I’m sure you will.’
‘Are you okay?’ she asked me. ‘You’re very pale.’
‘Angelina just told me about my mother and father. And how they died.’
‘Oh Tiggy.’ Ally stretched out her hand to me. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘Well, I suppose it helps that I never knew them. To be honest, I just feel a bit numb.’
‘I’m sure. Well, one day, if you want to, I’ll tell you all about my birth family and you can tell me about yours. But for now, darling Tiggy, go back to Atlantis and get strong.’
‘I will. Bye, Ally. Bye, Bear.’
In the courtyard garden, I woke Angelina and told her I was leaving.
‘Come back soon, Erizo, won’t you? And bring that nice Mister Charlie with you,’ she said as she winked at me and I blushed.
Pepe appeared from inside the cave, holding a stack of CDs.
‘Here, Erizo,’ he said, handing them to me, ‘although you not meet yourabueloMeñique, you can listen to the music he made. You listen, and you feel theduendehere.’ He put a hand over his heart and smiled at me, the corners of his brown eyes crinkling. ‘Vaya con Dios– be safe,querida.’
Both Angelina and Pepe hugged me and kissed me on my cheeks, which were running with tears.
