I leaned against the table, savoring the cool breeze. Looking over at the other children, I noticed Menotti wasn’t there. I scanned the crowd and couldn’t help but laugh when I discovered him. He twirled on the dance floor without a care in the world with two girls. Both visions of beauty. Both at least six years older than my son.

My eyes drifted around the crowd of celebrating villagers; the Redshirts joined in the festivities with fervor. However, I noticed that one person in particular was missing, Anzani. There was something different about him lately. Gone was the man we had met in São Gabriel. In his place was a cantankerous imposter.

The party showed no signs of slowing down when José and I decided to retire. Teresita whined and fussed in my arms as her battle to keep her eyelids open was lost. After about ten minutes of searching and asking everyone if they had seen Menotti, we found him asleep under a table. José pulled him out and carried him back to the little house that the village let us use.

After we put the children to bed, José and I climbed into bed, savoring our time alone. The sounds of the party and the scent of wildflowers drifted through the open window on the cool night air. I lay on my side with José’s arms wrapped around me. His hand was flat against my stomach, feeling our baby flutter.

“He’s going to be strong.”

I ran a hand along José’s arm. “We make strong children. Did you see Menotti? He’s taking after you already.”

José chuckled. “Let’s hope we don’t have angry fathers pounding on our door too soon.”

“He has your looks, we should prepare ourselves.”

“You flatterer.” He purred into my ear.

“Isn’t that why you brought me with you?”

José laughed with me, but after a few moments he grew quiet, tightening his embrace. “I am truly happy to have you here.”

“I know, and I am happy to be here with you.”

With the sounds of the fiesta drifting into our room, I worked up the courage to bring up something that had been weighing on my mind. “I saw the blood on Anzani’s handkerchief.”

He sucked in a deep breath. “He’s extremely ill.”

I stared into the darkness, my thoughts racing. “Luisa never told me.”

José shook his head. “I didn’t expect her to. Anzani is doing everything he can to keep it a secret. He doesn’t want the legion to know. He’s afraid it will undermine his authority. Do you know about his lung injury?”

“Yes, that I knew. He was shot in the chest before Tomaso was born.”

“The injury, though not fatal, made his lungs weak. They have been ever since. Until recently he’s been able to treat his lung issues like a challenge to overcome, but they got the best of him. He’s developed the consumption.”

I rolled over to face him. “And Luisa just had a baby.”