The Sicilian Inheritance

With the promise of finding wealth in the US, all the young men leave Sicily, leaving the villages full of women and older men. Gradually, the women take over the jobs, and when goods become scarce, the Mafia buys and sells them for enormous profit on the underground market. Serafina’s children grow, and she lives comfortably with the money Gio sends, but there are no safety guarantees for women left without their husbands.

Marco becomes the mayor of Caltabellessa, and he and Cettina continue to live like brother and sister even in their marriage. Cettina names Melina’s baby Liuni, and though he remains weak, regular treatments from the witch help him grow stronger. One day, when Cettina is sick, Serafina takes Liuni to the cave for treatment. Marco walks with her, and when they part, he kisses her cheek. Serafina feels a strong attraction to him. The witch shows Serafina how to mix and apply a salve to massage into Liuni. Watching her work, the witch proclaims Serafina a “natural” and asks to train her to become a healer.

Serafina trains with the witch, learning about tinctures and treatments and assisting in births. One day, Serafina asks the witch how she acquired her knowledge. She explains that most of her knowledge was passed to her by other women. When she was young, her parents sold her as a servant to a doctor in Palermo. As she matured, he taught her medicine and eventually took her as a lover. After his death, she became an outcast since she was unmarried, and she chose to live alone and practice her healing. The witch’s name is Rosalia. Serafina responds, “The little saint who lived and died in a cave? The patron saint of those infected by the plague” (118). Serafina cherishes her days of learning with Rosalia, and later, she wishes she could return to this time.

Giusy assumes Sara is in Caltabellessa to solve and avenge Serafina’s murder. Though Sara is horrified at how Rosie’s mother died, she isn’t interested in solving the mystery and only wants to see if the land sale will bring enough money to solve her problems. Giusy is disappointed in Sara, claiming she should follow Rosie’s wishes and solve the murder. Even though the murder occurred 100 years ago, people in town still discuss the case because Serafina was considered a witch and an unfaithful wife. Her legacy remains, and Sara will never sell the land if she doesn’t clear the family name. Sara claims that Giusy must have the wrong person because the family always described Serafina as a saintly mother. Giusy says she is wrong and calls her “ungrateful” and an “asshole” (123) for not being willing to listen to the truth. Giusy also has a vested interest in the issue because Rosie promised her a small portion of the profit from the land sale, and she needs the money to pay off her debts and sell the hotel. Sara promises to think it over.

On the return to her room at the hotel, a man rushes past her, and she realizes he burglarized her room and stole her passport. Giusy takes her to the roof, where she can get cell service to call the consulate to report her lost passport. Sara checks her messages from Sophie and calls Carla for moral support. Carla is in a meeting and can’t talk, and Giusy leaves to return to work, leaving Sara alone on the roof. Feeling lost, confused, and alone, Sara considers jumping from the roof. She admits that in the chaos of recent events in her life, this isn’t the first time she’s thought about death. As she stares over the edge, someone pushes her from behind.

As more men leave for the US, Serafina becomes the town doctor and veterinarian. After performing an emergency cesarean section on a horse, some of the villagers call her a witch. Marco tells her that the children in Sciacca have rashes and need her help. Serafina begins dreaming about Marco and relishes spending time alone with him. After examining the children’s rashes, Serafina knows from Rosalia’s books that it isn’t an illness but an infestation of tiny bugs that travel on ships and burrow beneath the skin. She instructs the women to burn all their clothing and linens, and while Marco visits the local church for help in replacing their clothes, Serafina bathes the children and dresses their wounds.

After seeing her work, Marco declares Serafina a “doctor,” which makes her blush. On the drive out of Sciacca, Marco accidentally hits a bicyclist named Enzo. The boy isn’t injured, but Marco’s car won’t restart. Enzo insists they allow his father’s friend to repair the vehicle and that they stay with his family overnight. After a delicious meal and wine, Marco and Serafina retire to separate rooms. Though she hoped for more, Marco bids her goodnight with a chaste kiss. Serafina notes that after that night, she is called not just “witch” but also “whore.”

Though Sara is certain someone or something is trying to push her, it’s only Giusy pulling her back from the ledge. Giusy arranges a meeting with the notaio to discuss the land deed. They will also visit the police department to report the stolen passport. Giusy explains that crime has been increasing since the local Mafia lost control of the drug cartel to foreign dealers. She also explains that there is no grave for Serafina: Since she was accused of being a witch and adulteress, she couldn’t be buried in sacred ground.

Giusy has already sent the land deed to Signor Raguzzo and has a photocopy of Sara’s passport. All this makes Sara wonder if she can completely trust Giusy, but she has few options. Raguzzo explains that farmers nearby use the land, citing squatters’ rights, since it has been vacant for 100 years. The farmers aren’t happy Sara is inquiring about reclaiming the land in town. More importantly, Raguzzo reports that a group of wealthy men from Gulf states are interested in purchasing the land for a resort and golf course. He estimates the land is worth $300,000—a staggering number for Sara as it would solve much of her financial stress. The news encourages Giusy, who says, “Sicily is still the sadly forgotten stepbrother of Italian tourism” (158) and welcomes bringing in more tourists.

Sara is eager to sell, but Raguzzo states many roadblocks, including how Serafina got the land. The deed states that Marco gave it to her to open a clinic, but many in the village believe she coerced him, perhaps with sorcery. Sicilians still aren’t keen on women owning property. Raguzzo encourages Sara to replace her passport, set up a local bank account, and wait for the town council to meet to discuss the land transfer. Raguzzo will also help Giusy get her husband’s name off the deed to the hotel. At the police station, Sara answers the woman officer’s questions regarding the theft. She realizes that Giusy knows Raguzzo, who helped her obtain the police report detailing Serafina’s death. The officer tells Sara that her arrival in town has reawakened an old, unresolved conflict, and that Sara is unsafe there.