Page 58 of The Moon Sister
‘Get in there.’ José shoved his son through the cave entrance. Carlos tripped on the step and fell to the earthen floor. José followed and drew back a foot to kick him.
‘No!’ María screamed, putting herself between her son and her husband. ‘That is not the answer, José, even though he deserves far worse. We need his senses intact to tell us where Felipe is.’
‘Oh, I know where our boy is; as Eduardo told you, Felipe is locked up in a cell in the city.’ José bent over Carlos and heaved his cowering son to standing. ‘And with his little brother in jail, this one was hiding in the stable of his friend Raul, like a frightened goat meant for slaughter. He did not even think to come home and tell his mother and father what had happened to Felipe!’
‘Forgive me, forgive me, Mamá, Papá. I was frightened, I didn’t know what to do.’ Carlos’ eyes were those of the child he had once been.
‘You were more interested in saving your own sad skin, and I should march you down to the city jail now and hand you over to be sentenced with your brother and the others. It is no less than you deserve, you pathetic coward!’
‘No, Papá! I will never be so stupid again. It was the other boys’ idea, I swear, and me and Felipe, we thought we could help Mamá to buy some food and perhaps a pretty dress for Lucía.’
‘Shut your filthy mouth,’ snarled José. ‘No more excuses, when we both know all the money you stole would have been tipped down your throat! Never in the history of the Albaycín family has one of us gone to jail. Even when we were starving to death, we may have scraped through thepayobins for what food we could find, but none of us has ever sunk so low as you. You are a disgrace to the Albaycín name! I have a good mind to turn you out of this house and set you onto the streets. Now, get out of my sight.’
‘Yes, Papá. I’m so sorry, Mamá.’
‘You put a foot wrong again, and it will be your own father who turns you in to the police!’ José roared as Carlos slunk away and disappeared behind the curtain into his bedroom.
‘What is happening, Papá? Why were you shouting at Carlos?’ Lucía had appeared in the kitchen.
‘It is nothing,querida,’ María comforted her daughter. ‘Why don’t you go and visit your little friend Inés next door? Perhaps you could show her and her sisters your dance,’ she encouraged as she shooed her out of the cave.
José sank onto a stool, head in his hands. ‘Ay, María, I am so ashamed.’
‘I know, José, and what will we do if one of the other boys names Carlos when they are questioned by the police?’ María asked him.
‘That is one thing I shouldn’t worry about. Honour amongstgitanoswill keep him safe.Dios mío, that boy has a wildness in him that makes me look like a kitten. Perhaps he needs the love of a good woman to tame him.’ José reached out a hand to his wife and gave her a weak smile. ‘Youare a good woman, María. Forgive me for not remembering that as often as I should.’
María took José’s proffered hand and a rare moment of tenderness passed between them.
‘So, what do we do now?’ she asked him.
‘We wait for Eduardo to come back. One of the other boys’ parents went down to the jail this morning, but the guards would not let him in to see his son. The jail is packed with those who had taken advantage of the visitors to the Alhambra. Another gang held apayocouple at knifepoint. They ambushed the carriage and stole their money and jewellery.’
‘If Felipe is sentenced, how long will he get?’
‘It depends on the judge. It will be a busy courtroom tomorrow.’
Eduardo arrived back an hour later with no more news than José had already imparted. He looked haggard and twice his young age, but he was at least relieved that Carlos had been found and was home. Once the children had been fed and were in bed – José had insisted Carlos ate alone by candlelight in his room – María brought her baskets out of the stable and sat down to work.
‘There’s no need to do that tonight, Mia.’
She looked up at José, surprised that he was using his pet name for her. He had not done so for many months. ‘Using my hands soothes my mind. Are you not going out with your friends tonight?’
‘No. You and I need to talk about Lucía.’
‘I think there’s been enough talking today, don’t you?’
‘This cannot wait.’
María put the basket down and watched her husband settle himself into his chair in the kitchen. ‘Then you’d better tell me.’
‘I have had many offers.’
‘So you told me.’
‘Serious offers, which would bring in good money to this household.’
‘And as I said, they are offers that you must turn down.’
