Page 91 of The Seven Sisters

I looked at Floriano again through new eyes, and realised this man never ceased to surprise me. It also made me ponder how empty my own life was in comparison to the complexity of his.

‘Do you have children, Maia?’ he asked me.

‘No,’ I said abruptly.

‘Any plans for them in the future?’

‘I doubt it. I don’t have anyone special to provide me with any.’

‘So, have you even been in love, Maia?’

‘Once, yes, but it didn’t work out.’

‘I’m sure someone will come along. It’s hard being alone. Even though I have Valentina, I still struggle sometimes.’

‘At least it’s safe,’ I murmured before I could stop myself.

‘Safe?’ he said as he shot me an odd glance. ‘Meu Deus, Maia! My life has had considerable moments of deep pain, especially when my wife died. But “safe” is something I’ve never aspired to.’

‘I didn’t mean it like that,’ I backtracked wildly, blushing with embarrassment.

‘You know, I think youdidand I find it very sad. Besides, hiding away from the world never works, because you still have to meet yourself in the mirror every morning. You’d make a terrible gambler.’ He smiled suddenly, sensing my tension and wanting to ease it. ‘Now, what is the plan when we get to the convent?’

‘What do you suggest?’ I asked, shaken from our previous exchange.

‘We ask if your grandmother has been admitted, I suppose. And take it from there.’

‘Okay.’

The rest of the journey passed in silence, with me still regretting my instinctive comment and smarting from Floriano’s reaction to it. I glanced out of the window at the view as we drove away from the city and the road began to climb upwards.

Eventually, we turned along a winding gravel track and arrived in front of a large, austere grey stone building. The convent ofSão Sebastião, the patron saint of Rio, had been built two hundred years ago and, from the look of it, not modernised much since.

‘Shall we?’ he asked me, then gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

‘Yes,’ I replied, as we both climbed out of the car and walked towards the entrance.

We went inside and found ourselves in a large, echoing hallway. It was completely deserted, and I looked at Floriano askance.

‘As this is a functioning convent, rather than just a hospice, it probably has a hospital wing on the side of it. Ah, here we are,’ he said as we came to halt in front of an old-fashioned Bakelite buzzer mounted on the wall near the door. He pressed it and a loud ringing emanated from somewhere inside the building. A few seconds later, a nun appeared in the entrance hall and walked towards us.

‘Can I help you?’

‘Yes, we believe that my wife’s grandmother has admitted herself to the convent,’ said Floriano. ‘We weren’t expecting her to come here so soon and we’re obviously concerned for her state of health.’

‘What is the name of the patient?’

‘Senhora Beatriz Carvalho,’ Floriano replied. ‘She may well have come here with her maid, Yara.’

The nun surveyed us, then finally nodded. ‘Yes, she and her maid are here. But it isn’t visiting hours for relatives at present and Senhora Carvalho has requested that she be left in peace. You will obviously know how sick she is.’

‘Of course,’ Floriano agreed calmly. ‘We do not wish to disturb Senhora Carvalho, but perhaps it’s possible for us to speak to Yara, her maid, to ask if there’s anything she needs from her home? We would be happy to go and get it for her.’

‘Wait here, and I’ll see if I can find Senhora Canterino.’

The nun turned and walked away from us and I looked at Floriano in admiration. ‘Well done,’ I said.

‘Well, let’s see if Yara will talk to us, because I’m telling you now, I’d prefer to face a gang of armed bandits than I would a group of nuns who are protecting one of their flock in her last days on earth.’