Page 133 of The Seven Sisters
‘How is he?’ Bel asked as she walked inside the house.
‘Still in bed, saying he hasn’t the energy to get up. Shall I tell him you are here, senhora?’
‘No, I will go and see him myself.’
Knocking on her father’s bedroom door, and receiving no response, she opened it and walked inside. The shutters were tightly closed against the bright midday sun, and she could barely make out the shape huddled under the covers.
‘Pai, it is me, Izabela. Are you ill?’
There was a grunt from the bed, but nothing more.
‘I’m going to open the shutters so that I can take a look at you,’ she said, going over to the windows and throwing them wide. She turned and saw her father was feigning sleep, so she walked over to the bed and sat down on it.
‘Pai, please tell me, what is wrong with you?’
‘I cannot go on without her,’ Antonio moaned. ‘What is the point in anything if she is not here?’
‘Pai, you promised Mãe on her deathbed that you would carry on. She is probably looking down on you now from the heavens this very moment, shouting at you to get up!’
‘I don’t believe in the heavens, or God,’ he growled morosely. ‘What kind of deity would remove from the earth my precious Carla, who had never done a single bad thing in the whole of her life?’
‘Well, shedidbelieve, and so do I,’ Bel replied staunchly. ‘We both know there is never a reason behind these things. You had twenty-two wonderful years together. Surely you must be grateful for them? And try to fulfil her wish that you carry on in memory of her?’
Her father did not respond, so Bel tried another tack.
‘Pai, you must know what is happening in America at present? Maurício said last night that they think another crash might happen on Wall Street at any moment. The senate is holding an emergency meeting right now to discuss the impact on Brazil. All the major coffee producers are there. Surely you should be there too?’
‘No, Bel, it is too late,’ sighed Antonio. ‘I didn’t sell the stocks I had when I should have done, believing others were panicking. Yesterday, after you left, my stockbroker called to tell me that the market had fallen and many of my shares were already worth nothing. He says there is worse to come today. Izabela, most of our cash was invested in Wall Street. I have lost everything.’
‘Pai, surely that can’t be true? Even if you have lost your stocks, you own many farms that must be worth a lot of money? Even if coffee doesn’t sell so well now and in the future, you have the properties themselves?’
‘Izabela,’ Antonio sighed quietly, ‘please do not begin to try and understand business. I borrowed money from the banks to buy those farms. And they were very willing to lend it to me while coffee yields and the sale price of the beans was so high. As those prices have dropped, I’ve struggled to keep on top of the repayments. The banks wanted more security and so I had to give them this house as collateral against any default. Izabela, do you understand? Now they will take everything I own to pay off my debts. If my stocks in America have gone as well, I have nothing left, not even a roof over my head.’
Bel listened, aghast at what her father was telling her, and berated herself for her shallow fiscal understanding. If she were more adept in these matters, perhaps there would be something she could say to give Antonio the hope he needed.
‘But Pai, surely it’s all the more reason why you should be at the senate today? You’re not the only one in this position and you’ve told me before that Brazil’s economy is based on coffee production. Surely the government will not allow it to simply collapse?’
‘Querida, there is a very simple equation here: if no one has any money to buy our beans, there is nothing thatanygovernment can do about it. And I can assure you that those in America will simply be thinking about how they can survive rather than the luxury of enjoying a cup of coffee.’ Antonio rubbed his forehead in agitation. ‘Of course, the senate are trying to look as if they are doing something about the crisis. But every one of them knows it is already too late. So, thank you for telling me of the meeting, but I will tell you now that it is a fruitless gesture.’
‘At the very least I will ask Maurício to tell you what was discussed,’ said Bel resolutely. ‘Besides, even if you’re right and you are left with nothing, remember that it is I who owns thefazenda. You will not be homeless, dearest Pai. And I’m sure that given the fact that you made such a generous payment to Gustavo when he married me, he would be prepared to make sure that you don’t starve.’
‘And what would you have me do all alone at thefazenda?’ Antonio asked her bitterly. ‘With no business to run or the company of my precious wife?’
‘Pai, enough! As you said yourself, many will be affected by this situation, made destitute even, so you must count yourself lucky that you won’t be. You are only forty-eight years old. Surely there is plenty of time to start again?’
‘Izabela, my reputation is ruined. Even if I wanted to start again, no bank in Brazil would lend me the money I would need to do so. It is all over for me.’
Bel watched as her father closed his eyes once more. She thought back to only a few months ago, when Antonio had walked her so proudly down the aisle. Even though she’d always hated the blatant way her father had liked to show off his newly gained wealth, she wished with all her heart that she could retrieve it for him. It was only now that she realised his entire self-esteem had been built on it. Add that to the loss of his beloved wife and she could understand why he felt he had nothing left.
‘Pai, you have me,’ she said quietly. ‘And I need you. Please believe me when I say that I don’t care whether you have everything or nothing. I still love you and respect you as my father.’
For the first time, as Antonio’s eyes flickered open, Bel saw a hint of a smile in them. ‘Yes, you’re right, I do,’ he agreed. ‘And you,princesa, are the one thing in my life that I am truly proud of.’
‘Then you will hear me when I tell you, just as Mãe would, that you are not yet beaten. Please Pai, rouse yourself, and together we can work out what is to be done. I will help you in any way I can. I have my own jewellery and Mãe’s, which you know she left to me. Surely if we sold it, that would raise a considerable amount for you to put into a new business?’
‘If there is anyone with the cash left to buy anything at the end of this financial holocaust,’ Antonio said brutally. ‘Now Izabela, I thank you for coming and I am embarrassed that you have had to see me like this. And I promise you that I will rise from my bed the moment you leave. But right now, I would simply like to be alone to think.’
‘You promise, Pai? I warn you, I will call Gabriela later to make sure you have done as you are promising me. And I’ll be back tomorrow to see how you are.’ Bel bent to kiss him and he smiled at her.
