“He was . . . he was a good man. Always so kind to me. Forever coming by the farm to help me with my work, even though he had his own chores to do at his parents’. I was so angry at him afterward.”

“After he left for Africa?” Nina asked, remembering a little of the story.

“After he was killed. I wanted to scream in his face—why did he listen to Marco? Why didn’t he stay here where he was safe? Silly of me, I know. None of us can change the past.”

“No, Rosa. It wasn’t silly at all. Are you still angry?”

“Not anymore. And I still have my memories.”

“You don’t think you’ll ever find anyone else? You’re young still—you could have children of your own.”

“I could,” Rosa conceded, “but I’m happy here. And if I can’t have Luca, why should I settle for some man who’ll always be a stranger to me? I knew my Luca as well as I knew myself. Turning to someone else . . . I can’t bear the thought of it.”

“Of course. I didn’t mean to—”

“I don’t mind your asking. I mean, I’ve asked myself the same question more than a few times. I know my life with him wouldn’t have been perfect. We’d have had our share of bad days, same as anyone. But I think—I know—we’d have been happy together.”

“Are you happy now?”

“You and your questions! I don’t know, not really. For certain I’ve been happier than I am now.” She laughed, and there was even a little humor in the sound. “One day life will be better. Perhaps it will even be easier once this war is done.”

“When I first came here, you were upset with me. With Nico, too. And I’ve meant to tell you this for ages, but I’m sorry for it. I’m sorry we hurt you.”

“You didn’t hurt me. Not really. It’s only that I was disappointed to see him give up his fine education. And, well . . . it was hard to find out he’d been keeping secrets.”

“Oh,” Nina said, and tried not to think of all the other secrets they were still keeping.

“Nico and I had always been close,” Rosa went on. “Even after he went away to school, he wrote to me all the time. He used to tell me everything, you see, and when I realized he’d known you for months and months, but hadn’t said one thing to me about you, I was so hurt. But I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

“I don’t blame you at all. I never did.”