Rosa took the cloth before Nina could drop it and crouched at her side. “Bend your head between your knees. And let me put the cloth against your neck. There. Doesn’t it feel good?”

“I’m having a baby. I can’t believe it.”

“How is it that you didn’t realize?”

“I’ve never been pregnant before. I mean . . . it never occurred to me. What do we do?”

“Nothing much. Babies take care of themselves for the most part.”

“What about Dr. Pivetti?”

Rosa laughed disdainfully. “That quack? I wouldn’t trust him to help with a calving. No. We’ll call Romilda when the time comes. She helps with all the births in Mezzo Ciel. She was attending another birth when Carlo was born, otherwise my mother would probably still be alive. She’ll take good care of you and the baby.”

“I’m having a baby,” Nina repeated, still trying to absorb the revelation.

“What did you think would happen?” Rosa teased. “You two are like lovebirds, you know. Forever cooing away at one another. I’m only surprised it took this long.” She stood, then helped Nina to her feet. “Are you all right? Are you ready to walk back?”

Nina nodded, and together they returned to the house, Bello ambling along behind them, and as they walked she did one sum after another in her head, and they all led her to the same conclusion: she was a little more than three months pregnant. Four months, and yet she’d missed all the signs. She had been putting on weight, but she’d assumed it was due to her healthy appetite from all the hard work she’d been doing. Never mind that she’d had to move the buttons on her skirts twice already. How could she have been blind to it?

They were almost at the house when Rosa stopped and gave her a quick hug. “I know it’s for you to tell my brother, so I swear I won’t breathe a word. But will you promise me one thing? Make sure he’s sitting down when you tell him. I don’t want him fainting, too.”

WHEN NICO RETURNED, very late on Wednesday night, only Nina and Rosa were still awake, for the electricity had held up all evening and they’d managed, between them, to finish nearly all of the mending.

He was bone-tired from the long walk home and his days in Zio Beppe’s fields, and without his asking Nina knew what he wanted most was a hot bath. So she and Rosa rolled out the tub and filled the big kettle, and only when the water was ready did Rosa excuse herself with a soft good night and knowing smile.

Though his eyes were half-shut, Nico still noticed. “What’s got my sister looking so pleased with herself?”