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She could live aers unwanted; invisibility was a skill she’d learned What mattered noas the baby

She pressed a hand to her sto, You, you, little one, you will be loved by me and love me in return

Nothing else mattered

I will be a mother

For this child, Elsa would marry a man who didn’t love her and join a family who didn’t want her From now on, all her choices would be thusly made

For her child

“Where should I put s?”

FIVE

Mrs Martinelli walked so fast it was hard to keep up with her

“Are you hungry?” the diminutive woman asked as she bounded up the steps and strode past the collection of mismatched chairs on the porch

“No, ma’am”

Mrs Martinelli opened the front door and stepped inside Elsa followed her into the house In the parlor, she saw a collection of wooden furniture and a scarred oval cocktail table Crocheted white doilies hung on the backs of chairs There were large crucifixes hanging on two of the walls

Catholic

What did that mean, really? What had Elsa promised to become?

Mrs Martinelliroom and went down a narrow hallway, past an open door that revealed a copper bathing tub and a washstand No toilet