by Alexa Kang
"No." She lowered her face. "He was killed last year."
Anthony's heart dropped. "I'm so sorry to hear that."
"Mmm. But my other brother is here." She led him to two teenagers waiting by a lamp post. The younger one, a girl, looked about fourteen. She had the same curly hair as Sonia but had thinner cheeks. The boy looked about sixteen. He had the kind of pleasant smile that instantly put people at ease.
"Ciao." The boy held out his hand. "I'm Paolo."
"Ciao." Anthony shook his hand. "I'm Anthony. Anthony Ardley. Thank you for inviting me to stay at your home."
"I'm Sophia," the teenage girl introduced herself.
"Sophia. That's a beautiful name. My mother's name is Sophia."
Pleased, Sophia gave him a big smile. "Welcome to Rome."
"Come with us," Paolo said. "We'll take you to meet our parents."
"Our Mama is planning a special supper for tonight," Sophia said to Anthony. "Would you like to join us?"
Would he ever! "Absolutely!" A home-cooked meal sounded divine.
Paolo laughed and started singing. His sisters joined him, and they sang all the way home. The Italian lyrics were lost on Anthony, but to him, there was no better reward for all his efforts in this war than the singing voices of these children.
When Signora Montello saw her children return with Anthony, she gave him a big hug before they were even introduced. Signor Montello, too, immediately came out to greet him. "Welcome! Welcome to our home!" He gave Anthony a hearty handshake and invited him inside.
On entering, Anthony was surprised to see the large group of people who had gathered in the living room. Every member of the Montello family, it seemed, had come to meet the American soldier who the children would invite home. He could not tell at first who was who despite their introductions. When they talked, they talked over each other all at once. But their warm hospitality more than made up for the state of confusion they had thrown him in. Signora Montello ordered Paolo to draw Anthony a bath, and Sonia took his laundry. Signor Montello had a different agenda altogether. He opened a bottle of wine and poured Anthony a glass filled to the brim.
The family passed the glasses of wine, from Signor Montello to his sister, Fabia and her husband Vito, and Vito's sister Mia and brother Sergio, plus Signor Mauricio, Signor Montello's best friend. Unable to follow their fast-paced conversation, all Anthony could make out was that Signor Montello was a professor at the Sapienza University of Rome.
While everyone talked, Anthony noticed a boy sitting quietly by himself. The boy was taller than Sonia, but thinner. His eyes lacked the spirit of the other Montello children.
"Hello," Anthony introduced himself. "What is your name?"
The boy stared at Anthony with large, frightened eyes.
"Sono Anthony," he tried again with the limited Italian he knew. "Come ti chiami?"
The boy only looked at him.
"He can't hear you," Sonia said and joined them. "He's my cousin Rocco. He's deaf. He was ill when he was a baby. When he recovered, he lost his hearing."
"How old is he?" Anthony asked.
"He's thirteen."
Thirteen? The boy looked small for his age. Anthony gave him a friendly smile and patted his shoulder, but the boy flinched.
"He's afraid of you," Sonia said.
"Why?"
"Because you're a soldier. The German soldiers were here before you came. They forced us to put them up at our house. They were terrible to him because he can't hear. One of them used to throw stones at him."
Dismayed, Anthony frowned. For all the atrocities he had seen in this war, the idea of someone hurting a frail, deaf boy was still difficult to take.
"Anthony." Paolo came down the stairs. "Your bath is ready."
Anthony got up. A bath sounded like heaven. Before he left the room, he smiled at Rocco again, but the boy shrank into his seat.
After washing up, Anthony changed into a clean uniform and returned to the living room. Rocco was still sitting by himself. Anthony went up to him again. This time, he brought with him a bag of butter cup candy as a gift. At first, the boy was afraid to take them. Anthony took out a piece and nudged it into his hand. Warily, the boy unwrapped it and put it into his mouth. Then, tasting the sweetness, he gave Anthony a timid smile. He chewed the candy as if it was the best thing he had ever eaten in the world. When he finished, he took the bag from Antony and ate another one.
Watching Rocco, Anthony thought back to his own childhood. He had lived a life of peace and comfort growing up. He never wanted for anything. His parents had seen to that. All the adults he had known were kind and generous. He never had to witness the ugliness and cruelty that Rocco had seen. If the Allies hadn't come, Rocco would still be living in fear under the torment of the Germans. When Anthony thought of this, he had no more doubt about his own role in the war. He would not hesitate to fight if children like Rocco could live a normal life and be able to enjoy their childhood the way they should.
The doorbell rang. Another member of the Montello family had come to join them. This person wore a distinct black robe with a white clerical collar. Anthony guessed he must be Sonia's uncle who was the priest.
"Anthony." Paolo brought the man over. "This is my uncle Lorenzo, Papa's older brother. He's the priest of the Santa Lucia Parish."
"Pleased to meet you, Father." Anthony shook his hand.
The priest nodded. "You must pardon me. I speak very little English."
"No. You must pardon me. I speak hardly any Italian except to say mangiare."
Overhearing them, Signora Montello entered, "Then you're in luck." She wiped her hands on her apron. "Supper's ready."
By the time dinner began, several bottles of wine had been served, and the family had become even more animated as they took their places around the dining table. "How did your family get the wine?" Anthony asked Paolo. The Italians hadn't had enough food for a very long time because of the war.
"I'm not supposed to tell you," Paolo said, "but Papa paid a lot of money he had hidden away. He bought the wine from the black market as soon as the Germans left. He couldn't wait to celebrate with an American soldier."
Sonia took Anthony's hand again and led him to a seat next to her at the table. They stood behind their chairs and waited for Signor Montello, who entered the room last. Before taking his seat, Signor Montello came over and stood next to Anthony. "Anthony, my dear friend." He raised his glass. "On behalf of everyone in my family, thank you. Thank you for bringing us victory. Thank you for coming to Rome. We are happy to have you here. Because of you and your fellow soldiers, we are free today. We salute you and the American army, for your courage, for your sacrifices, and for saving our people."
Everyone applauded. Although Anthony felt he himself hadn't done enough to take credit for the efforts of the entire U.S. Army, he raised his glass out of courtesy and accepted the toast.
"And now, I want to give you this." Signor Montello handed him a small pistol. A Beretta. "This belonged to my late son, Renardo. He carried this with him the entire time he fought with the Resistance."
"No." Anthony tried to give it back. "Signor, I can't accept this. You have to keep your son's memory."
Signor Montello insisted. "Renardo fought for freedom. You're continuing his fight. He would want you to have this." He closed both of his hands around Anthony's. "Keep it. Remember him. Remember what he died for. Remember what you fight for."
The man's words were so earnest. Beneath his words, Anthony could hear his pain in losing a son. It was impossible to refuse the poor father's wishes.
"Thank you." Anthony took the gun.
Signor Montello broke into a huge smile and swung his arm around Anthony's shoulders. "Another toast," said the family patriarch. "To our friend, Anthony. No. Not friend. Family. You are now part of our family. Cincin." Everyone clinked their glasses. Anthony thought his moment in the spotlight was over. But as soon as he sat down, Signora Montello, Fabia, and Mia all came
over and hugged him. They showered kisses on his head and his face.
Yes. Definitely a hero's welcome. His own family would have a ball when they heard about this.
After Father Lorenzo said grace in Italian, dinner began. A light green salad, followed by a pasta dish with brown sauce, which Anthony couldn't identify but found mouthwatering all the same. It was a simple meal, but he knew it was a feast. After being at war for years, food in this country was scarce. People in many parts of Italy were starving. The Montellos must have pooled their rations for this meal—if they had rations—or paid a lot of money to get the food. Tomorrow, he would have to speak to his company's cook and see how they could provide some food for this family.
"Anthony." Sonia tugged his sleeve. "Can I ask you for something?"
"Yes, Sonia. Anything."
"Since Renardo is not here anymore, would you be my big brother?"
Anthony lowered his fork. "Of course. I'd be honored to be your big brother."
Sonia got out of her seat and gave him a big hug. Anthony now felt he was truly a part of this family.
When dinner was over, the family retreated to the living room to continue their conversation. Anthony, however, had something else on his mind.
"Father Lorenzo." He caught the priest before they left the dining room. "May I have a word with you?"
Father Lorenzo smiled at him, ready to offer whatever solace or grace the American soldier needed.
3
By the time the medical convoy drove into Rome, Tessa was seeing a city that was vastly different from the one she remembered.
Years ago, she had come with her father when he wanted to see Rome as part of his preparation for the role of Brutus in his upcoming performance of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Unlike the Rome they had visited, the ancient city today was filled with Allied soldiers everywhere on the streets. She wondered if this scene was similar to Caesar’s triumphant arrival in Rome.
"Will you all look at that!" Gracie pointed at the Coliseum. "I never dreamt I would see anything like this."
Ellie and Tessa exchanged a smile. "It's amazing," Ellie said. "I've never seen anything like this either."
"I'm definitely looking forward to taking a breather." Gracie leaned out to snap another picture with her camera. "I hope we'll have plenty of time to do some sight-seeing. I want to take a lot of photos to send to my friends back home. I can't wait to show them what Rome is like." She retreated back into the vehicle. "Ellie, do you think Captain Milton will give us the rest of the day off? I mean, we just arrived."
"I'm not sure," Ellie said. "We'll probably have to help set up the hospital. The patients could be arriving soon."
"Ugh," Gracie moaned. "I hope we'll at least have a few hours off. I need to look for Jesse and let him know I'm here." Her face lit up when she mentioned his name. "I hope he and I can spend more time together while we're here. Tessa, do you know when you'll be meeting up with Lieutenant Ardley?"
Without answering, Tessa smiled and looked out to the street. Although she wouldn't say it out loud like Gracie, she couldn't wait to see Anthony. Dr. Haley had already told her she could have a three-day pass whenever she wanted while they were in Rome. She intended to take full advantage of it.
They came to an old hospital building which would serve as the 33rd's base. The nurses climbed out of the truck, ready to unload their belongings and to stake out a spot in the hospital quarters to sleep at night. Before they went inside, Brent Doyle approached them with his rucksack over his shoulder. "Hi ladies, need some help? Captain Milton asked me to give you all a hand moving in."
Unsure, Tessa, Ellie, and Gracie looked at each other. Milton didn't normally concern herself with anything but work. She wasn't one who cared whether or not the nurses needed help setting up their personal quarters.
"Thank you, Dr. Doyle," Ellie said. "We're fine. We've done this many times before. Actually, we should be the ones to ask if you need help. You're new to the hospital."
"You got a point there," Doyle said. "What do we do now?"
"We go inside and find our sleeping quarters. I reckon we'll be receiving instructions soon if we have any work to do."
They took their bags and walked toward the building. Doyle followed. "What happens after we settle in?"
"I want the rest of the day off," Gracie said. "I want to explore this city."
"Me too," Doyle said. "In fact, Lieutenant Swanson, Captain Milton said she will give you a day's pass. She said you've been working harder than anyone these last few months. She thought you could use a break. She said I should ask you if you would like to do some sightseeing with me."
The three nurses looked at each other again. Noticing their doubtful expressions, Doyle asked, "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, Dr. Doyle," Ellie said. "Not at all. It's just strange that Captain Milton would suggest for any of us to go sightseeing."
"Why?"
"Because," Tessa said, "Captain Milton usually just wants everyone to work. She never cares about anything else."
"She's a slave driver," Gracie said.
"Really?" Doyle asked. "I don't get that feeling from her. She's been very nice to me." They arrived at the building entrance, and he pushed the door open for them. "Regardless, if we do have the rest of the day off, how about we all tour the city together?"
"That would be lovely, Dr. Doyle!" Gracie said. "But wait, I want to find Jesse first."
Inside, they separated from Doyle and found the nurses' quarters on the second floor. A group of nurses had already laid down their cots to stake out their sleeping area. Tessa, Ellie, and Gracie decided to join them. Afterward, Ellie went to look for Captain Milton to see if she had any orders for them.
In a small room that was once an office on the third floor of the hospital building, Fran picked up a file and checked to see how many patients would be transported to Rome to be under her care. Their medical convoy had arrived only a few hours ago, but she was ready. Her typewriter had been set up. Her files had all been brought to her and neatly stacked on her desk for her review. She knew how to be efficient. It never took her long to set herself up and be ready. All she needed for herself was her cot, which she had unrolled on the floor on the right side of the room. Her mess kit and her toiletries, a simple hair brush and a handheld mirror, lay on top of a wooden cabinet by the window on the left. Everything was simple and practical.
Except for the wooden heart. She took the defective wooden heart ornament that Aaron Haley had carved for a soldier a few months ago from her belongings and placed it on her desk. The soldier had wanted to send a Valentine's Day gift for his fiancée. Aaron had offered to carve a wooden heart for him. He chipped the first heart by accident and made the soldier another one. Later on, Fran had asked if she could have the heart that was chipped, and he said yes.
While she was deciding how to best display the wooden heart, Ellie knocked.
"Come in," Fran said.
"Captain."
"Yes, Lieutenant."
Ellie entered the room. "Captain, I came to ask if you have any plans for us today. If not, Tessa, Gracie, and I would like your permission to take the rest of the day off to explore the city."
Fran returned to her desk. These young nurses. There was so much work to be done, yet all they could think of was play. They couldn't resist excitement and remember their duties as their priorities. Who did they think would be around to set up the hospital and get everything prepared for the patients to arrive?
But of course, Ellie Swanson could use a day off. Fran had special plans for Ellie.
"You can have the rest of the day." Fran adjusted her glasses. "In fact, why don't you take tomorrow off too. I'll grant you a day's pass for tomorrow."
Surprised her request was granted, Ellie started to say thank you, but Fran continued. "I'm afraid Lieutenant Graham and Lieutenant Hall will have to stay. Colonel Callahan is on his way here. I may need help if we are given any new assignments." Fran smiled. No ne
ed for those two to get in the way of Ellie Swanson and Brent Doyle either.
The excitement on Ellie's face disappeared. "In that case, I'll stay too."
"No. Take your time off, Lieutenant. You need to rest. That's an order." Fran opened a file. "And since you have time, could you please see if Dr. Doyle wants to join you?"
"Dr. Doyle?" Ellie asked.
"Yes." Fran softened her voice. "He's new to the hospital. I want him to feel welcomed. I would appreciate your help to get him acquainted."
Although reluctant, Ellie didn't dare to object. "Yes, ma'am."
"Didn't he ask you to accompany him sight-seeing while we're here? I already told him I planned to give you time off. He was very relieved you would be available. He's still adjusting to our new environment here. You wouldn't want a new colleague to feel unwelcome, would you?"
"No, ma'am."
"Good. That'll be all." Fran returned to the file she was reading. "You're dismissed."
"Yes, ma'am." Ellie turned to leave the room. On her way out, she noticed a wood-carved heart ornament on the desk.
"It's very pretty, isn't it?" Fran picked it up to show her.
"Yes, it is. It looks like the wood carvings Dr. Haley makes."
"Of course it does. He made this too. It's a Valentine's Day gift." She put the wooden heart down.
Ellie's face turned pale. She stared at the ornament, unaware that Fran was observing her reaction.
"You may go, Lieutenant," Fran said.
"Yes, ma'am." Looking confused, Ellie left the room.
After she left, Fran picked up the wooden heart again and stroked it with her thumb. She could not deny it. It pleased her to see the hurt and confused look on Ellie's face. It was okay. The hurt would help the girl get over her little infatuation with Aaron, and the sooner she got over Aaron, the better it would be for everyone.
Anyhow, Fran thought, she wasn't lying about the ornament. The wooden heart was indeed a Valentine's Day gift. It was the soldier's Valentine's Day gift to his fiancée back home.
