A Greater Love by Rachel Ann Nunes Read Free Book Online Page B

see.”
    “Just try it!” Miguel yelled. When the boys disappeared, he lowered the sack, ignoring the worry in his gut, and started to hum.
    As usual, he stopped at the community spigot for a drink of water before heading to his shack. One of his neighbors was there, a Senhora Claudia Monteiro. A grubby toddler at her feet tried to touch the water. “No, no,” the woman said. “It’s much too cold. You’ll get your coat wet.” She dragged the child away and focused on Miguel.
    “Hello, boy. How ya been? Ain’t seen you around since them lady missionaries left.”
    It was at Senhora Monteiro’s that Miguel and Sara had listened to the lady church workers, especially the one from France who’d been the first and Miguel’s favorite. All of the Monteiros except the dad had been baptised into the church, but Miguel hadn’t heard of them attending the church since the missionaries left. It didn’t make any sense to him to join a place and not show up like you promised.
    Miguel gave a grunt. “Been busy.”
    “That aunt of yours don’t look so good,” Senhora Monteiro continued. “You two might be better off in a home. She drinks worse than my husband.”
    “She’s family,” he said shortly.
    The lady looked thoughtful. “Them homes ain’t so good, I hear.”
    Miguel drank his water quickly and left the woman behind.
    Sara and Octávia were waiting when he arrived at the shack. His aunt had already consumed at least two bottles of the barrel wine. Her temper was particularly foul.
    “What’d ya get?” she asked without preamble.
    “Four contos,” he said, handing them over. “And a ring,” he added in a lower voice, hoping Sara wouldn’t hear.
    His sister frowned, but to his relief she didn’t say anything. Later, when Octávia was gone or asleep she would probably lecture him about not stealing. Miguel almost wished he’d never met those church ladies at all.
    He handed Sara his plastic sack. “I got milk and two fish,” he told her. “And a surprise for ya. I was gonna save it for Christmas, but that’s still a month away. I’ll get ya somethin’ else by then.”
    “Oh, it’s so pretty!” Sara breathed, touching the scarf with a tiny finger.
    “It’s your favorite color.”
    “What is it?”
    “Unfold it.”
    She did, and five pieces of candy he’d received earlier on the ferry fell out. A lady with kind brown eyes had given them to him. Sara’s laugh tinkled like a rolling brook as she wrapped the scarf around her head and neck and scooped up the treats. She hugged him, and Miguel was happy.
    But Miguel had forgotten Octávia. “No way you’re gonna wear that,” the old woman announced. “That red’ll make it seem as though you’re not in mournin’ and then people won’t give us as much money. Nope, black’s all ya can wear.”
    “Can I at least keep it here?” Sara begged. “Maybe wear it out to play in the woods with Miguel?”
    Octávia stalked to the door, her words slurred. “You can’t wear it and that’s final.” She stumbled and nearly fell. Miguel tried to help her, but she shrugged him off. “God knows I’ve done my share,” she muttered in a voice like gravel. “Why does it gotta be so hard?” She left without another word.
    Sara cried into her scarf, and Miguel held her. He could take Octávia’s wrath, but it broke his sister’s heart. Octávia was the only mother she had ever known.
    After a while, Sara’s tears ceased and they set to work building a fire and eating their wonderful fish dinner. Miguel forgot completely about Octávia, but Sara saved her an equal portion. Then she stacked the dishes while he pulled their carpet pieces and blankets closer to the dying embers of the fire. They cuddled close to share the warmth of their bodies.
    Sara passed him one of the candies he’d given her and opened one for herself. “Can I see her picture?” she asked sleepily. It was the first time she’d asked for at least a month.
    Miguel felt for