Mother Caridad stared through the windshield.
“I forgot about it.”
“After all these years?” Paloma asked.
“I thought it contained old parish records.”
Esperanza felt the white stone still warm in her palm.
“What was written on the envelope?”
Mother Caridad looked back at her.
“Your name.”
They reached the next village as the church bell rang six times.
Mother Caridad entered the small post office and telephoned the convent.
Sister Lucía answered.
“Everything is fine here,” she said. “The children have eaten, Miguel is asleep, and Tomás has not climbed the fig tree.”
Mother Caridad allowed herself a brief smile.
“Good.”
“Did you find Elena?”
“Yes.”
“And Esperanza?”
“She is well.”
A pause followed.
Then Lucía’s voice lowered.
“Mother, there is something you should know.”
Mother Caridad’s smile disappeared.
“What happened?”
“Sister Beatriz left the convent this afternoon.”
“Left?”
“She said she had been summoned to the diocesan office.”
