“I’m sorry, Roberto.”
“It’s okay. Just relax and we’ll go at your pace.” He kissed her gently again, and then stroked her cheek. Valeria suddenly felt things she’d never felt before. She allowed Roberto to take the lead as he stroked her in all the right places. She was becoming aroused, and they eventually made love. Valeria experienced some pain but there was mostly pleasure, with the certainty that she loved Roberto.
Chapter 9
A Walk to the Other Side
Nine months later Valeria had a baby girl named Maria. She was named after Roberto’s mother. The hospital sent her home two days after the birth, and she’d felt fine at the time. She’d had a difficult pregnancy with labour lasting almost twenty-four hours. She’d never experienced such pain but the reward was worth it.
A few days after arriving from the hospital, Valeria was lying in bed with Roberto, who was sleeping. Maria slept soundly in her bassinette. Valeria was lying awake in bed thinking about her pregnancy and how she wasn’t ready to be a mother at 19 years of age. She hadn’t had her business for long and wanted to settle in a new country. Her English was improving every day, and she was grateful that the language would help with her career. She had been shocked at the news of her pregnancy when she was tested at the local clinic. Roberto had encouraged her, giving her the confidence she needed to be a new mother, but the self-doubt lingered. However, with help from Roberto, Angela, Marco and her new friends, Valeria slowly came to terms with the pregnancy. Then after Maria’s birth, she felt such a surge of joy and love that no amount of words could ever describe. She realised that love was all she needed to raise her daughter, and that she would be fine. She had all the required domestic skills. She was not alone.
As Valeria felt warmed by her memories, she suddenly felt sick in the stomach. The stabbing pain caused her to moan and she pressed hard on her temple. Then her head was throbbing. Eventually, Roberto stirred and was quickly wide awake.
“What’s wrong?” Roberto asked.
“I’ve got such a bad headache. My stomach’s killing me too.”
“I’ll get you a tablet.” He rose from the bed and headed towards the kitchen.
As Roberto was leaving, Valeria suddenly felt a gush of blood pour out of her and the sheets filled with it. She felt light-headed and was in and out of consciousness. A gentle hand tugged at her. “Valeria—Valeria, oh my God. You’re bleeding.”
Valeria could barely hear Roberto as he rushed out of the room and called out to the others. She was barely conscious when he returned and carried her outside to his car.
“The baby,” Valeria said.
“Don’t worry. Angela will stay here with her. We’re taking you to the hospital.”
Valeria felt dizzy and blacked out.
When she woke up, she realised she wasn’t at home in her own bed, but in some other place filled with noise in the background. She heard scurrying feet and muffled voices, but didn’t know where she was. What bed was she in? She was half-conscious when suddenly she noticed a woman beside her. She was wearing a white old nurse’s hat, and looked angelic and surreal. She had never seen a woman look so lovingly powerful through her presence alone, and it evoked a strong feeling of rightness and love in her. This woman’s energy was so strong, she could barely breathe. The woman approached and stroked Valeria on the face.
“Povera ragazza,” the woman said in Italian. She sat by her side for a few minutes, then left. Valeria found she couldn’t speak. So this was what heaven was like. She must’ve been dead as she felt detached from her surroundings. Everything looked blurry around her, but she felt a sense of pure love inside her. If this was what heaven was like then it wasn’t too bad. She was sure that Roberto would take good care of their daughter, Maria. They would be okay without her, and they had Angela to help. Besides, she knew that Roberto would find someone else to take her place. She wanted that for him. He deserved to have a loving, generous woman beside him.
Some time later, Valeria noticed another woman coming into the room, but this woman looked different. She was wearing a striped uniform but no funny looking hat. She remembered seeing the show The Flying Nun, and that woman she had seen previously wore the same kind of hat. Where was she now? Where did she go?
“How are you feeling, Valeria?” She realised the woman spoke to her in Italian.
“What?” Valeria was confused. “Where am I?” She suddenly felt different. She was more immersed in her surroundings.
“You’re in hospital.”
She struggled to lift her body. “Why?”
“You were taken in by your husband. You were bleeding heavily. We managed to control the infection you caught after you had your baby. I think you were taken home too soon, and your body couldn’t cope.” The nurse was checking her chart.
“So—so—I’m not dead? I’m not in heaven?”
The woman laughed. “No, you’re not in heaven. You’re very much alive—and I’ll be your nurse for today.”
“But what about the other nurse that was here before? She was wearing an old nurse’s hat, almost like a sun hat. She looked quite old too. Where is she?”
The nurse knit her brows. “I’m sorry, but there’s no nurse here that looks like that.”
The nurse left, and Valeria felt cold all over. What was going on here? She was sure the woman was real. Yet, there was that strange feeling of something unreal about her. Was she an angel reassuring her that she’d be fine? Valeria could’ve died, and maybe at that time, she had been close to death. She had certainly felt weightless, like being in another dimension. She realised now that the woman had been sent here to give her the message it wasn’t her time to go yet. It was an amazing thought. She would hold this situation close to her heart.
Valeria’s reverie was broken when Roberto arrived and kissed her warmly on the lips. He brought Maria in the pram and lifted her out so that Valeria could hold her in bed. Valeria stroked her daughter’s cheek and kissed her lovingly.
“How are you feeling, darling?”
Valeria recounted her experience, and Roberto smiled. “You have an angel by your side.”
Valeria’s heart warmed. It had felt surreal and magical. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, but missing you.” He winked. “Anyway, the doctors say you don’t have to stay more than a few days.”
“That’s great. I miss you all so much.”
“And we’ve missed you too. More than you know.” Roberto lay beside her on the bed and they gently embraced.
Valeria looked back over the past year of her life and realised that she’d achieved quite a few things. She thought about how her business was slowly building and how she would eventually need another seamstress to keep up with the increasing orders. Angela was helping out on a part-time basis. Roberto was also starting his carpentry apprenticeship soon, and Valeria was planning to get her driver’s licence. She realised that Australia was her new, cherished life and she would be forever grateful to her parents for the experience.
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