The Crimes of Love and Hate

Chapter 7

SERAFINA-

This girl was perfect. She was beautiful, kind, and yet, had an edge. She had long and dark auburn hair, and she carried herself with dignity and grace. Her small, elegant features were kind and soft. I knew that I didn't want to marry a man five years my senior, but it was Poppy who first made me question whether I wanted to marry a man at all.

She and I seemed in sync, with each word we said painting a larger picture of two very similar people. With her, the anger and loss I had felt since my mother died seemed to fade. We had both lost parents, and both essentially had raised ourselves. She seemed responsible, and the way she talked about her brother reminded me of Matteo's respectful and adult manner.

I had never felt any romantic love for anyone. I was tutored at home, and did not meet a lot of children my age, and so I attributed my lack of interest in boys and romance to a lack of exposure to either, and maybe the urge to be defiant. The few friendships I had had outside of Matteo and Giovanni were usually girls of about my age, and they gossiped and joked about who they would marry, leaving me to feel confused. There was no way what I felt for Poppy was romance, right? That didn't happen between two women, and two strangers at that. There was no one I could ask, no one I could tell about this feeling, except maybe Giovanni. He wouldn't tell anyone, because he hardly talked to anyone. Better to ignore this particular feeling, though, to suppress, until it faded away.

As we walked towards the street where she said her brother might be, I had an idea. Now, I am not known for my good ideas. I have been known to act rashly, immaturely, and at times, very impulsively. At the best times, my ideas have been harmless, funny. At the worst, they have been downright stupid and self-destructive. This idea grew from a small, fleeting thought, to a crazy, foolhardy plan.

Poppy's excited voice woke me from my delusions. A tall, gangly boy who looked about fourteen, with a genuine smile and Poppy's brownish hair ran up to greet us. His demeanor reminded me of a puppy, but there was still sadness to him that I sensed in Poppy.

"Hi Poppy, you're home early," he remarked. 'Home'. And yet, I knew they had no building to sleep in, no place to live. Still, it shocked me that this well kept children lived in alleys. Now I had to act on my idea.

"Hello," Seamus turned to me, "Pardon my asking, but who are you?" He questioned.

"She's a new friend I met on the way back to the dock," Poppy answered for me, "Her name is Serafina." I pulled Poppy aside for a second.

"Poppy- I have an idea. I know you can't be happy here. I know that everyday life must be very difficult for you and Seamus, and I also know I just met you. But I want to help. My father-" I paused. "My father is not a kind man. He is very involved in dangerous business, in the mafia. But it pays well. We have room for you, a nice house. Please, Poppy. Come be my maid in waiting, my tutor, anything! I don't care if you're not qualified. Come live with us." I said, almost pleadingly.

Poppy chewed her lip, her eyes widening in shock as she processed the very idea. "Thank you for the offer," she started tentatively, and my heart fell. Would I lose this perfect girl before I even had the chance to get to know her? She continued, "I need to talk to Seamus. I trust you, but I hardly know who you are. On the other hand, I need work, and Seamus needs a safe place to grow up," She said, walking over to where Seamus stood, talking to a shopkeeper Poppy called Mr. Morganburg. She said something to him that I couldn't hear, and I was struck by how alike the two looked when they were shocked. He looked at me, mouth agape, as Poppy continued to talk quietly to him, the two seemingly weighing their choices. My pulse quickened as the pair grew closer to where I stood.

"Thank you so much for your generosity. We're in."