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Marta picked out red and orange beads and a gold-coloured cord and started threading them in an alternate pattern.
Aisha watched her tiny hands at work. The beads twisted out of her grip as she tried to slot them onto the string, but her persistence won out. Marta’s smile grew with each small success, and after she added the final bead, she looked up at Aisha and her smile faded.
“She’s not coming back to see us, is she?”
Aisha’s lips trembled as she spoke, and the sadness welled in her eyes. She stroked Marta’s cheek and forced a smile. “I don’t think she can.”
“Why?”
Aisha sighed deeply, and Marta frowned at her.
“Is she a tourist?”
Aisha shook her head. “Not really.”
“Was she your friend?”
Aisha nodded.
“I want a friend like Gabi,” Marta said. “Why don’t you make her a bracelet?”
Aisha kissed her head and collected up green and blue beads and a white string. “I can’t stay too long. My sister is getting married soon, and I have to help with her dress.”
“I don’t want to get married,” Marta said.
Aisha threaded two green beads. “Me neither,” she said.
“But you’re engaged to Nicolás.”
“Can you keep a secret?” Aisha leaned closer to Marta.
Marta nodded and threaded a gold bead. She smiled as she stared at the almost complete bracelet.
“I don’t want to marry him,” Aisha said.
Marta picked up another bead and shrugged. “Then don’t.” She slotted the bead and held the two ends of the bracelet together, and a clasp, and held them up to Aisha. Marta looked beyond Aisha and squealed. She jumped to her feet. “Gabi, Gabi.”
Aisha gasped.
“Can you fix this for me?” Marta asked and held up the bracelet.
Gabi ruffled her hair and fixed the clasp. “There you go. And I’ve got something else for you.”
The other children ran towards Gabi as she walked towards Aisha. They sat in a circle, all the children staring intently at Gabi.
An unease crept through Aisha’s racing heart, making it thunder.
“I have a legitimate reason for being here,” Gabi whispered.
“What’s legitimate?” Marta asked.
Aisha laughed.
Gabi smiled and turned her attention to the children. “You gave me some jewellery to sell, right?”
The children nodded and their smiles broadened.
“Well, I have something for you.” Gabi handed each child a five-hundred peseta note.
