Page 56

She took a breath, looking into the dark eyes of her son who was staring back at her, soaking up the unexpected passion in her words.

‘We must keep trying to understand him and make allowances, but I don’t believe you owe him anything. However…’ She paused for emphasis. ‘For now, you are a boy, and while you need his roof over your head, you will do as he bids and as I say. You will remain meek – do you know this word?’

Danjel nodded. ‘Like the donkey being led around carrying heavy goods.’

She gave a sad smile. ‘Well, that’s one way of looking at it. But you must behave as I do, do you understand? But that doesn’t mean we are weak.’

He frowned. ‘I think it does.’

‘No, son. It means we are wise.’

‘Why?’

‘Because we’re avoiding getting hurt.’

Danjel looked down. ‘He hurts you all the time, though.’

Report him.

‘Yes, I’m very sorry you have ever had to witness that.’ Like his father before him, Lawrenz probably thought raising a fist to a woman was a man’s right. The old adage that history repeats itself was so true. ‘But you must not raise your voice or hand to him.’

‘I’ll be taller than him soon,’ Danjel said, a tone of warning in his voice.

She nodded. It was true; Lawrenz was not a tall man. She realised her son must have been weighing up his chances for a while now. He had inherited her family’s height; her brothers were both tall, whereas Lawrenz’s family tended towards a squatter frame. Danjel was not only tall but strong; his shoulders already seemed powerful for such a youngster, which likely came from the sport he loved so much. He was teased at times because, as athletic as he was, he also loved to read, to talk about art, even to cook. These last few attributes were another reason for his father to ridicule him, although Lawrenz was quite happy to take the praise for his son’s prowess on the soccer field.

Valentina needed to tread carefully. ‘I know you’re tall for your age, Danjel, but you’re not as strong as him. Not yet. Your father boxed when he was young – I remember it. All his swagger and claims of being able to knock a man out with one punch. Ugh. I know he is vile when he’s in one of his moods. But you must be patient. And you must trust me that there was a time when he wasn’t always so cruel.’

Danjel ignored her attempt to make his father sound even remotely tender. ‘What am I being patient for?’

‘For when you are strong enough… not to use your fists, but to face him down and tell him you don’t need him or his bar, or his money, or his roof, or even his name. When the day comes, I will be the one encouraging you to leave and seek your own path. But you need to be old enough, with your schooling behind you and a means to earn your way. When the time is right, I will help you. I will even plan it for you. But you have to trust me that there are years of life ahead that you must survive first.’

‘When the time is right, we shall both go,’ he said, taking her hand in his.

‘I may not be able⁠—’

‘Mama, it’s both of us, or neither of us. I will not leave you to him. I will look after you, earn enough to buy you a house and give you a good life.’

She stroked his cheek and smiled sadly. ‘Yes. And I look forward to that.’

Her son nodded, then asked, ‘How long is he gone for this time?’

‘Maybe a week, two even, if we’re lucky.’

His expression brightened. ‘Good. I hope he gets delayed and has to stay for three.’

She smiled. ‘I do too, but at least for now it’s just you and me. I’ll miss you while you’re at camp.’

‘It’s just two days,’ he said. ‘And then I’ll be home. What shall we do?’

Valentina smiled at her son’s sweet nature. ‘Spring is such a beautiful time. We can take picnics on the beach, we can do whatever we like. But today I have to get you to the meeting point, and then go and clean the cathedral.’

‘You don’t need to come with me.’

‘I like to,’ she said. ‘But do I make you feel self-conscious in front of the other boys?’

He looked at her aghast. ‘Never,’ he said. ‘The game today will be all right, but I’d prefer to be coming with you to the cathedral. You know I like it in there. I like listening to you tell me about the artworks while you work.’

Valentina ruffled his wavy black hair, unable to resist. He was the light in her dark life. One of his friends called his name, and Danjel ran over and fell into conversation with him, both of them kicking the ball back and forth, as they walked towards the meeting point where the bus would be waiting to take the chosen few to the football competition on the outskirts of the city.