“Why?” repeated Vanna. “I myself don’t know why. When I came I hadn’t even been married a year. I never thought it would always be like that. Write? A thousand times I was on the verge of writing! But then I saw the reason for my unhappiness vanish. I couldn’t find the words to explain myself. Really, what would I have complained about? What do I expect? That he feel sorry for me? That he love me just a little? You don’t ask those types of things. It isn’t his fault, and it isn’t my fault. He was deceived. He needed a different kind of wife. Rich. Well educated. I’m nothing but a weight around his neck. Why are you looking at me like that? It’s the truth. Don’t be frightened. I’m calm. I was upset, but now I’m fine. You see, I didn’t even bring him a small dowry. And yet with a little capital in his hands, he could have started the newspaper. It’s the truth.”

“The newspaper?”

“Didn’t you know? It’s one of his lifelong dreams. Just leave me in peace, Maria. Why does it matter to you? Look at the sea—it’s so beautiful! You don’t know what it’s like, this longing for the sea. I could smell the scent of algae in the letters all of you wrote to me. You don’t understand anything, my little Maria.”

Maria sighed and exclaimed in a low voice: “And Viola? And Remigia? There are too many of us!”

Vanna wasn’t listening to her. With hands clasped behind her neck she was staring at a sailboat passing into the rosy horizon. Below the terrace a fisherman was running barefoot, balancing across his shoulders two baskets that left behind a strong odor of fresh fish.

Vanna felt that all this was enough. She enjoyed the company of Maria, her sweet sister-in-law who had arrived so many years ago in their home, welcomed like another daughter, like another sister.

She was small and dark, like herself. And she reminded her of happier days when she was younger.

No, Vanna didn’t like her other two sisters-in-law, it was true. She admired them because they were strong and shapely, but she knew she would never love them.

While Vanna talked on the terrace, you could hear their imperious voices calling Ninetta and giving orders to the maid. They alone were in charge of the house. They kept the keys and took care of all collective business. Their own in-laws were accountable to Remigia and Viola. The two of them always agreed, even when contradicting others and especially Maria, who had a meeker nature. They were difficult because their authoritarian spirit demanded it.