The Sicilian Inheritance

Sara wakes sick from drinking and desperate to piece together her memory of the night before. She remembers Giusy producing a crumpled piece of paper but never showing her what was on it. Giusy explained that she spoke to Rosie when she planned the trip. Giusy is familiar with local law enforcement and often helps people searching for answers in town. Sara remembers going to a club with Giusy and the chief of police and stumbling home after he whispered to her, “Go home, little girl” (99). After breakfast, Giusy invites Sara for a hike and promises to show her the paper. As they are walking, a man passes by on a scooter and whacks Giusy on the butt. Sara is horrified, but Giusy explains the Sicilian culture: Men feel like they can do that to unmarried women.

Giusy leads Sara to the mouth of a cave, where they share a picnic. Giusy inherited the hotel building when her parents died but couldn’t own it because she was a woman. She married Orlando for security and had her children very young, but Orlando was unfaithful and left her. She can’t sell the hotel because it’s in his name.