Rosalia's Bittersweet Pastry Shop by Rosanna Chiofalo Page A

matter with your father? Having you take men’s measurements and letting you get so close to them?’
    â€œI turned around and beat my fists against Marco’s chest. ‘You pig! Get out! Get out before I call the police!’
    â€œ ‘The police?’ Marco said, laughing loudly before adding, ‘Go ahead. A few of the police officers are my good friends.’
    â€œI couldn’t stand there any longer, listening to him. I ran toward my house, but he ran after me and caught me by the arm, pulling it roughly behind me. I winced aloud in pain.
    â€œHis voice then rose. ‘Why are you making this so hard, Rosalia? Can’t you see I just want to make you happy? Give it some time. You are young and inexperienced. Surely, you will come to see I am the only man for you.’
    â€œI grew desperate and decided to appeal to any sense of decency he might have. ‘Please, Marco, you’re hurting my arm. Let me go. If you truly care about me, you will come back when my family is here and do the respectable thing.’ My voice trembled as I said this.
    â€œHe said, ‘That is what I am trying to do, Rosalia, but you refuse to listen to me. I was hoping to do this differently, but I can see now there is no other way. You are right about your father. He will continue to stand in our way. I was a fool to think I could persuade him otherwise.’
    â€œAnd then I felt a sharp prick in the back of my neck. Before I could realize what was happening, I passed out. When I woke up I was in that horrible cave.” Rosalia stopped narrating her story. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut as if trying to block out the memories that had returned.
    â€œRosalia, you don’t need to tell me further what happened to you.” Madre Carmela reached into the pocket of her habit and pulled out a handkerchief. She wiped the tears running down Rosalia’s face.
    â€œI am all right. I just need a moment.”
    Madre Carmela waited patiently for Rosalia to continue.
    â€œI woke up and had no idea where I was. It was pitch-black, and it felt like I was lying down outside on the cool ground. I screamed, but no one seemed to be near. I crawled, trying to make my way in the dark. Then suddenly, I heard the strike of a match, and Marco was standing before me, lighting a candle.
    â€œI screamed, ‘Where have you taken me? Take me back home! You will be arrested and go to prison for kidnapping me!’ I was hysterical, but Marco remained calm, ignoring me as he proceeded to light several more candles that were in a semicircle on the ground.
    â€œNow that I could see, I was able to make out that he had taken me to a cave. My eyes searched frantically for an escape, but all I could see was a long, narrow passageway, which I assumed probably led to the cave’s exit. I realized then he had taken me deep into the cave, and I feared I would get lost if I tried to make a run for it. For I was certain there must be other passageways, and how would I know which would lead me back outside? I also felt weak. I now realized Marco had drugged me earlier when I felt something sharp prick my neck. Whatever Marco had injected me with had left me feeling groggy and lethargic. No, I needed to wait patiently before I escaped. That was my first mistake. I should have tried to run then. If I had succeeded in getting away from him, that might have prevented what happened next.”
    â€œDon’t punish yourself, Rosalia. There is no way of knowing what would have happened.”
    Rosalia looked into Madre Carmela’s face. “Perhaps.” From her tone, she didn’t sound quite convinced. Sighing deeply, she continued her story.
    â€œAfter Marco was done lighting the candles, he proceeded to show me around the cave.” Rosalia laughed. “Can you imagine that? It was as if he had brought his new bride home for the first time and was proud of where they were living. And that was exactly