He took in the rejected young woman and the aroma of her cooking healed his empty home.

Chapter 2

Before the first rooster crowed, Lucía was already on her feet. Her clothes were still damp, but her hands wouldn’t stay still. She stirred the fire back to life, opened the window to let the old smoke out, washed the wooden spoons, swept the ash, and put water to boil, finding soaked beans, a bit of lard, and cornmeal without anyone showing her where to look.