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Conchita glanced at her and then stared at something over her shoulder. “What do you think it’s like?” she asked.

Aisha sank into the chair and released a breath. “What?”

“You know.” Conchita motioned to her lap. “When we do it.”

Aisha smiled inside, though Conchita was frowning and looked in need of reassurance. “I imagine it’s the most wonderful feeling in the world, like being kissed.”

Conchita’s lips parted, and her eyes widened. “Do you think it will hurt?”

Aisha reached across and took her hand. “I’m sure it will feel warm, and tender, and soft, and—”

“Soft. I thought—”

“I mean, soft inside.” Aisha laughed. “Like his tongue when he kisses you.”

Conchita frowned. “His kisses are firm and rough, and he grazes my cheek sometimes.”

Aisha frowned. “Then tell him to be gentle.”

“Should I?”

“Yes. He is with you to please you, not just to take for himself.”

“I thought that was the way it was supposed to be.”

Aisha shook her head. She knew too well what they’d been told to believe. Conchita might be marrying a man, but she should still look after her own needs. “Well, it’s not. You can tell him what you want, and he has a duty to give to you as you give to him.”

Conchita looked down. “Even that?” she asked.

“Especially that. If he hurts you, you tell him to stop.”

“Have you done it before?”

Aisha shook her head. Gabi hadn’t made any move to undress her or to touch her though she had wanted her to. “I might not agree with all our laws, but I honour them.” She would burn in hell for all the lies, she was sure of it.

“Then how do you know so much?”

Aisha brought her hand to her chest. “Don’t you know it in your heart, how it should feel when you come together through love?”

Conchita sat, wide-eyed, shaking her head. “I never thought about it.”

“Well, maybe you should.”

Conchita picked up the cloth and went back to sewing.

Aisha plotted to visit Gabi, and if Gabi didn’t object, she would like to break the most sacred of all their Gitano laws.

20.

AISHA CLASPED A BAG of sweet treats she’d picked up as she’d walked through the market. She paced around and fanned her face with her other hand. She stopped to knock on Gabi’s apartment door. She giggled with the giddiness, pressed her hand to her stomach, and took three deep breaths to calm her nerves. She tapped on the door and listened, praying that Gabi was in.

“Come in. Come in.”

It was Estrella’s voice, and Aisha felt the pressure release. She opened the door as Gabi’s nana approached.

“Hello, Aisha. What a lovely surprise.”

“Good morning, Estrella.”