Chapter 16: The Wives' Ring

Renata's POV

The door opened on Monday night, and Cesare came into my kitchen with his coat still on and told me about Fiora.

I wanted to drive to the Lakeshore and drag her out by the hair.

He put his hand flat on the counter between us and said, "Let her work."

I did not sleep.

At ten on Tuesday morning, the doorbell rang.

I opened the door to the oldest wife, in her church coat, with a covered dish in both hands.

Behind her on the path stood eight other women.

They were captains' wives, in good wool and sensible shoes, and every one of them carried something.

"Renata," said the oldest wife. "May we come in?"

"Of course."

"Don't thank us yet."

They filed past me into the dining room and sat down at the long table.

My father had never once let me sit at the head of it.

I took a chair in the middle, and the dog lay down on the oldest wife's feet.

The oldest wife set the dish in front of her and took off the cloth.

It was an old brass bowl, the kind you keep keys in.

She put a gold ring into it.

It clinked.

"That's my husband's," she said. "I took it off him last night while he slept."

I stared.

The woman beside her opened her handbag and put in a second ring.

"Mine," she said.

"Mine," said the next.

"Mine. He cried."

One by one they went around the table.

Each woman set down a husband's ring, and the clink of metal on brass filled the room.

"What is this?" I said.

"This is how it is done," said the oldest wife.

She folded her hands.

"The men sit at the Table on Saturday. The wives sit at the kitchen on Tuesday."

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