The Four Winds

Rose Martinelli shows Elsa to her new room—Rafe’s bedroom; he will sleep in the barn until they are married—while Rafe vows to try to be a good husband. Elsa oversleeps the next morning, waking to find the entire Martinelli family has eaten breakfast and is busy with farm chores. Tony tells Elsa about the importance of rooting oneself to the land, of caring for it and passing it on as a legacy to successive generations. She promises to do whatever it takes to become part of the Martinelli family. Then, Rose takes her into the kitchen and teaches her how to prepare traditional Sicilian dishes.

Elsa and Rafe are married soon after in a quiet ceremony. Elsa converts and learns the Catholic rituals. She is clumsy in the kitchen, but she perseveres, determined to turn the debacle of her life into a success. As she acclimates to farm life, she feels a sense of belonging both to the Martinelli family and to the land. For the first time, she feels hopeful. As her pregnancy progresses, however, Rafe becomes distant. They make love less frequently, and Rafe mostly talks about a life away from the farm, but Elsa hopes he can appreciate how well she has adapted to her new life.