“Paulinha, are you awake?” Pêro whispered as he slipped beneath the covers, bones tired from working late.
She lay on her side towards the open window, the full moon poised above the tiled roofs of their neighbors.
Bright light shone on the bedcover. Sleepy-eyed, Pêro gazed at the illuminated wooden cross on the wall at the foot of their bed. A briny ocean breeze floated through the window. He rolled over and draped his arm across her body. From the street below, a cat’s mewing grew from a growl and exploded into a jumble of shrieks and hisses. Paulinha gently wrested herself free from his embrace and turned towards him, her brow furrowed.
“What is it, meu amor?” he asked.
meu amor“My mother’s pewter plate is missing.”
“What?” He bolted upright. “Are you sure?”
“I just noticed it.”
