Luca arrives back from school and stands in the doorway, staring at me. I want to ask him all about Miss Iliescu and my essay and Maria, but he speaks first. ‘Where is he going to take you?’ His voice is angry. I look at Mama, who shakes her head. ‘It better not be the same place as Nina.’

I hear these words, but try to pretend to myself I have not. Mama bangs things around the kitchen. Luca goes to the kitchen table and drags a chair heavily out from under it and sits, like an old man.

‘Your father would never let that happen to Nico. And anyway, Nina was old enough to look after herself.’

How I wish Luca had not said her name. An icy breath haws on my neck.

‘He has been telling the men in the village how pretty she is.’

‘Enough, Luca. Please … Nina had no parents to look out for her.’

Nina’s family were too ashamed to talk about what happened to her, although her brothers bought more chickens for the farm after she left.

Papa comes back into the kitchen, which feels too small for us all. He tells me how lovely I look, that my eyes are the colour of the sea in this dress. My eyes are blue, not black, Papa.

Luca tightens his hand into a fist and punches down onto his thigh. ‘She’s too young,’ he says.

Something I have never felt before lands in me.

‘Your mother was the same age when I married her,’ Papa says.

‘That’s not true,’ Mama says. ‘It happened to her very early.’

‘Well, it’s a sign isn’t it? If it’s not a sign that she’s ready, then what is?’

‘She’s too clever not to finish school.’

‘This man has promised she can continue her education.’

‘She is too young, Nicolae, you know this. This is not allowed. What will the school say?’

‘She is my daughter and I say what is allowed.’

‘Papa, I am at the top of my class. I must finish school first.’

‘You will go to a better school, Nico. I only want what’s best for you.’

I want to say I am afraid but am too afraid to say the words.

‘I don’t think it’s right, Papa. I don’t want her to go,’ Luca says.

‘Want her all to yourself, do you, BOY?’

I wish I could throw my arms around Luca and say, Yes, let me stay, you can protect me, but Papa has put something poisonous into the air that hangs there between us all, and I know Luca has to act like he doesn’t care.

6. Sammy

6

Sammy