Chapter 22: The Woman Who Sold the Future
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Grace visits a small grocery store where she notices a tattoo on the shop assistant’s arm: a circle and line forming the symbol of Tanit, the Punic goddess of the moon. The assistant, Rosella, immediately identifies Grace by name because Christina had foretold her arrival. Rosella explains that Christina worked as a psychic at Las Dalias market, selling “the future” to tourists. She also reveals that Christina had been married to a Dutch hippy named Johan, with whom she had a daughter, Lieke van der Berg. Now a hugely successful DJ in Amsterdam, Lieke performs at the Amnesia club and is pictured on a billboard across the street. Despite her fame, Christina and Lieke had grown apart, and Christina had tears in her eyes when speaking of her. Rosella encourages Grace to try diving, saying Christina believed Grace would love it, but warns her to avoid Atlantis Scuba because it is run by “a madman” named Alberto Ribas, the same place where Christina had her accident. Grace, burdened by the memory of her son’s funeral and her husband Karl’s grief, leaves the shop unsettled by the coincidences and questions surrounding Christina’s death.
Key Events
- Grace notices Rosella’s Tanit tattoo, symbol of the Punic goddess of the moon.
- Rosella reveals that Christina told her Grace would be coming to the island.
- Grace learns that Christina worked as a psychic, selling the future at Las Dalias market.
- Rosella tells Grace about Christina’s ex-husband Johan and their daughter Lieke, now a famous DJ in Amsterdam.
- Christina and Lieke were estranged; Christina had tried to contact her daughter without success.
- Rosella suggests Grace try diving, claiming Christina thought she would love it.
- Rosella warns Grace against diving with Alberto Ribas at Atlantis Scuba, calling him a madman.
- Grace reflects on her son’s funeral and the painful memory of Karl’s accusation.
Character Development
- Grace becomes increasingly aware of Christina’s hidden life, including her work as a psychic and her estranged daughter. Grace’s own grief surfaces as she recalls her son’s funeral and the rift with her husband Karl.
- Rosella is a warm, observant character who serves as a conduit of information about Christina’s past. Her familiarity with Christina and her warning about Alberto Ribas add an element of caution to the narrative.
- Christina is further revealed as a complex figure: a former singer, a psychic, a mother, and a woman who seemingly prepared for her own death by leaving instructions for Grace.
- Lieke van der Berg is introduced indirectly as a successful DJ who has grown distant from her mother. Her existence raises the question of why Christina left the house to Grace instead of her own daughter.
- Alberto Ribas appears as a potential antagonist—the “madman” running the dive shop where Christina had her accident.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Tanit Symbol: The tattoo of the Punic goddess Tanit, associated with the moon, fertility, and protection, links Christina’s spiritual side to the ancient mysteries of Ibiza.
- Psychic Fortune-Telling: Christina’s new career as a psychic reinforces the theme of hidden knowledge and the idea that she might have foreseen her own death.
- Diving as Escape: Rosella describes diving as a way to forget everything, echoing Grace’s need to escape her grief and suggesting Christina found solace underwater.
- Family Estrangement: The strained relationship between Christina and Lieke mirrors Grace’s own fractured family history (her deceased son and distant husband), highlighting the pain of broken bonds.
- Grief and Memory: Grace’s flashback to her son’s funeral and Karl’s accusation shows how grief continues to shape her present actions and perceptions.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 22 is a turning point in the mystery surrounding Christina’s death. It reveals that Christina worked as a psychic, implying she may have known her fate, and introduces her estranged daughter, casting doubt on why Grace inherited the house. The warning about Alberto Ribas and his dive shop sets up a clear source of potential danger, while Rosella’s encouragement to try diving foreshadows a key activity that Grace may undertake. The chapter deepens Grace’s emotional journey by confronting her with unresolved grief and a new set of questions about Christina’s past.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the significance of the Tanit tattoo, and how does it connect to Christina?
The Tanit tattoo is the symbol of a Punic goddess associated with the moon, rain, fertility, and protection. Rosella explains that the ancient people believed Tanit protected the island. The tattoo connects Christina to the spiritual and mystical side of Ibiza, and Grace later learns that Christina worked as a psychic, suggesting a link between the goddess and Christina’s own fortune-telling abilities.
2. Why might Christina have left her house to Grace rather than to her daughter Lieke?
The evidence does not give a definitive answer, but the chapter shows that Christina and Lieke were estranged—Christina had tears in her eyes when speaking of her daughter and had tried to contact her without success. By contrast, Christina told Rosella that Grace was “special” and would be coming to the island. It is possible that Christina wanted to pass on something meaningful to someone outside her family, or that Lieke’s fame and success meant she didn’t need the house.
3. What warning does Rosella give Grace, and why is it important for the plot?
Rosella warns Grace not to dive with Atlantis Scuba, run by Alberto Ribas, whom she describes as a madman. This is the same dive shop where Christina had her accident. The warning creates suspicion around Alberto Ribas and suggests that Christina’s death may not have been a simple accident. It also foreshadows that Grace might eventually seek the truth by diving herself, despite the warning.