Cecilia's Secret

by Patricia Gallinetti

  “I have come to take you back to your ward. My name is sister Chiara.” The young nun looked at Cecilia and noticed she had been crying, to cheer the patient up she decided to take her outdoors and get her some fresh air, as they emerged onto the grass, Cecilia sighed.

  “Oh, it’s so pretty out here Sister, can we go down to the bottom of the garden? I promise I will go back to the ward and I will try and not be so grumpy all the time.”

  Chiara pushed the chair down to the outskirts of the small garden and sat down on the bench, they talked about a lot of things. Chiara told Cecilia about her family, how she missed them, however she was very happy in her vocation, doing God’s work. She said.

  “I enjoy tending to the ill, but this war has really been a trial,” she shook her head sadly. “It seems to be going on forever.”

  Cecilia found she couldn’t bring herself to talk about Bernard, but she did tell Chiara that she was from Australia, she hadn’t heard from her mother and sister since September 1939, she didn’t know if she would ever see them again. Suddenly she remembered. Ida, where was Ida? She gasped in horror. How could she have forgotten Ida? Cecilia remembered Ida had been next door in their apartment. Nobody had even mentioned her to Cecilia, her shoulders drooped, another loved one she had lost. If Ida had gone back to Australia she would be alive now.

  Cecilia then heard a familiar drone, it was coming nearer and nearer, her eyes grew large with fear, God, she had heard that terrible sound before. Was it the tanks again? She looked at Chiara who hadn’t heard anything, maybe it was just her imagination, no - the humming was increasing in volume.

  “It’s happening all over again.” She whispered to the nun. Chiara placed her hand on Cecilia’s shoulder she still hadn’t heard the planes approaching. Cecilia thought. Is it my imagination?

  “Hush Cecilia, calm down - it’s alright.”

  The nun was going to say more when she jerked her head up and looked towards the sky, planes appeared above them - and as they both looked up they saw the bombs hailing down, making a weird whistling as they descended, the evil sound getting louder and louder, there was a terrible explosion and the hospital received a direct hit. Debris and bits of roof tiles and shrapnel were raining down on to the two women; they threw their arms instinctively over their heads. Cecilia had tumbled out of the wheelchair and was making her body into a ball, she was trying to vanish into the ground, the planes were disappearing through the clouds, leaving absolute devastation behind. Cecilia looked around fearfully for Chiara, lifting her head she saw the nun lying prone next to her.

  “Oh God Chiara,” she was scrambling towards her companion. Cecilia screamed

  “Help, we need help here.” nobody heard, there was too much noise coming from the building, pandemonium, screams, shouting, people running. She would have to try and lift Chiara into the wheelchair; maybe she had enough strength in her legs to push the chair to the hospital.

  Chiara groaned. She had regained consciousness and was holding her head. Cecilia noticed there was a big lump on the nun’s forehead and a slight gash just below her eye.

  “Chiara, can you get into the chair and then I can push you up to the hospital.” Said Cecilia.

  Before she had finished speaking Chiara was shaking her head

  “No, you do no such thing, just give me five minutes and I will get you up to the hospital, I have to go and see what help I can give,” She sighed, “There must be so many injured. I cannot afford to be sitting here doing nothing; it is just a bump on the head.”

  When they arrived at the building, it was absolute hell, people rushing around trying to help, some just sitting gazing dazedly into space. Cecilia averted her eyes from the bodies sprawled around. Chiara took Cecilia to her ward which had thankfully escaped destruction and Cecilia told her to go ahead and help others, she could help herself. The next day they were all told that it was the Germans who had done the bombing, ironically this attack proved to be one of the last as it was learned that the Germans had pulled out of Florence. Sister Chiara came in to visit them and sat talking for a while serving them tea and biscuits and cheering them all up. Cecilia was thankful to see that her little friend was alright, although she did still have a large bump on her forehead and a black eye. Cecilia asked Chiara if there had been any deaths, but the little nun shook her head and wouldn’t answer.

  Later that day Sister Chiara came to ask if Cecilia would talk to a War Correspondent, he couldn’t speak Italian very well and had asked if anybody could speak English as he wanted to do a report on the bombing as well as get a personal experience from a patient. She was reluctant to talk about anything that had happened and she very nearly declined. Then guiltily Cecilia realized the world needed to know of the horrors, she said to Chiara.

  “Of course, I will tell him anything I can.”

  As the man walked into the ward, she looked up at him and her eyes widened in wonder and surprise. “Patrick?” she gasped “How on earth?” She could see he didn’t believe it was her here and as he looked down at her he said.

  “My God, Cecilia, this is the last place in the world I ever expected to see you; I thought you were safe in Australia.”

  Cecilia was crying with joy and amazement now and she reached up and put her arms around him, he gave her a gentle hug and kissed her on the top of her head.

  “Oh God Patrick, I thought I would never ever see any of my friends or my family again.”

  He was looking at Cecilia in amazement, grinning from ear to ear...

  “Cecilia, I haven’t heard anything at all. Eloise told my mother that you had married Liam,” Patrick frowned, puzzled. “You know, Liam turned up in South Africa, he said he was looking for you,” Patrick glanced at Cecilia. “He arrived at Eloise and Frank’s place. He claimed you were ill and that you had disappeared and the family were looking for you.” Patrick shrugged “They didn’t know where you were, they didn’t even know you had left Australia or if what Liam was telling us was true. None of us knew anything,”

  Cecilia was listening to Patrick, she couldn’t believe that Liam had followed her to South Africa. Patrick sat on her bed, gingerly asking if it was alright to do so, she nodded. “Everything was in chaos because then war was declared and we weren’t getting much news from anywhere,” said Patrick. “I wasn’t worried because, like South Africa, Australia seemed to be safe, although I did hear later that a place called Darwin had been bombed by the Japanese.” Patrick couldn’t take his eyes off her. Cecilia felt nothing more would shock her she had been through too much. She began telling Patrick everything, she never left anything out, when she got to the birth of her baby, she couldn’t go on for a while, Patrick put his hand over hers.

  “You don’t have to go on if it’s too painful, my darling,” He hesitated a moment and then he decided to tell her. “When I was asking if there was anybody who could speak good English, they told me that there was somebody who had lost their whole family in a bombing including her child, said this person may have quite a lot to tell, I am so sorry Cecilia,”

  “Oh Patrick, I can’t believe you are here with me, I have been so desolate and lonely. I want to get out of Italy, I want to go home. I have missed everybody. I also want to know if my mother and Helena are safe” she sobbed. “Oh God, it’s heaven to see you Patrick.” She continued “I have had no news from Mama or anybody in five years; they must think I am dead.”

  She told Patrick what else had happened to her and it seemed to help her to talk to him about her baby. Francesca, Giorgio and Piero, and dear Ida. All gone. She had been told that Piero passed away.

  Patrick stayed for over an hour and then informed Cecilia he had to get back to headquarters, he was determined to see her the next day. Later that day Cecilia heard that over 200 people had died in the bombing of the hospital.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Italy - 1944

  F rancesca had not slept too well she was worried because she had no money or papers. Rina entered and c
ame over to their corner, she said.

  “Come on Amica, let’s get something to eat for everybody,” then she paused. “I met a man outside looking for you.”

  Francesca was puzzled. “For me? Who?” She became afraid. What if it was the authorities come to take Bernard away?

  Rina shrugged “I do not know, he said he would come by later as I said you were asleep,”

  After they had all had a big bowl of hot porridge and the children were sent to play, Francesca offered to take the bowls back to the food tent. On the way, she saw the gentleman she had spoken to the day before, coming towards her, he smiled tentatively and said

  “Good morning Signora, may I speak with you a moment please?”

  “Si Signore, of course.” She answered.

  He had his hat in his hands and was twisting it around and then looking at Francesca he said.

  “I want to apologise for not helping you yesterday.” Francesca was already holding up her hand and shaking her head.

  “There is no need, everybody was in a daze after what happened, I understand.”

  “No,” he said, “I should have been more helpful,” He smiled. “I have found a friend who will take me home and I wondered if you would like to come with me, he has enough petrol to get me almost to my farm and enough for his own needs. But, he is not going to Siena he is living the other way,” He hesitated. “My friend says he has heard there is quite a lot of fighting in The Maremma, but he doesn’t think they are near my farm,”

  She gasped, was this man offering her a way out of her predicament?

  He cleared his throat. “It may be just as dangerous to accept this lift, the choice is yours,” He hesitated again, then said. “If it is to your liking I can take you to my home and when it is convenient maybe I can find a way to get you to your family in Siena.”

  Francesca smiled. “Well, that would be so kind of you, I accept.”

  He grinned and said.

  “You did not even ask where I live, you are very trusting. Let me introduce myself, I am Marco Mosca, I know you are Francesca Raimondi.”

  She shook his hand and giggling she said,

  “Very pleased to meet you Signore,” then she said mischievously “I will ask you if you like Signore, where is your home?”

  He grinned. “I have a small farm, it is in The Maremma. I grow my own vegetables and make a small profit on wine and olive oil and I also breed Maremma dogs.”

  Francesca smiled happily, she was so relieved.

  “When do we leave Signore?” she asked him

  He looked at Francesca and said. “If you are ready we will leave immediately.”

  She quickly took the bowls back to the food tent and ran to tell Rina that she was getting a lift.

  “That is so good Francesca, my friend, I was worried about what we could possibly do to help you.”

  Marco’s friend had an ancient truck and they all had to sit in the back, as there was no room to ride in the front. Marco also put Francesca’s dilapidated old bike onto the truck.

  It was getting dark when finally, Marco informed her they had nearly reached their destination. Francesca looked at Bernard who was sleeping curled up next to Giorgio, as usual the baby was clutching his little blue bunny. What was its name? Pete? Her eyes filled with tears, Cecilia had sat night after night, completing the little toy and Bernard had never let it out of his sight once. It was very dirty, she would have to wash it when she had the time. She could hardly see outside now, they were driving slowly down a very narrow bumpy dirt road. Eventually Marco’s friend stopped the truck and explained apologetically, he could not go any further, he had still a long journey before reaching his home and he knew there were troops from both sides in the area, it was dangerous as he had to drive with the truck lights off. They all climbed off the back, Marco helping her to lift the children out and Francesca walked to the driver’s side and held out her hand.

  “Grazie, Grazie.” She said to the driver.

  He replied. “Prego,” and turning his vehicle around called softly “Caio.”, the whine of the engine slowly growing faint.

  “Bene,” said Marco “I will put the little one in the basket and Giorgio can ride on the cross bar, Francesca we will have to push the bike, it is not too far now about another one and a half miles.” He switched on his torch and they set off, walking slowly, it was very dark and looking around she could not see any lights.

  Francesca thought. Have I done the right thing, can I trust this man? she shrugged. Too late for regrets now, she was so tired, she couldn’t think straight.

  “Ecco” announced Marco, (Right.) here we are, just a few more steps and we are home.”

  “Marco,” she queried. “Do you live alone?”

  He replied. “Yes, I was married, my wife died five years ago, we had no children,” Marco was silent while he opened the gate and told Francesca to stay outside while he found the lamp and in a few minutes, he was back with the dim light.

  “Hmph” he grunted “It’s safer to stay in the dark.” He gestured for Francesca and the children to enter, and indicated for them to sit at the table. “I am going to make the lamp a bit brighter,” he said closing the door. “Then I will get the fire going in the big stove, we all need something to eat and a hot drink.” Marco glanced her way. “I don’t want to frighten you, there have been German patrols past here from time to time,” He sighed. “They have taken a lot of my chickens, they also wanted to take my horse, but thankfully he roams around on his own and they couldn’t find him,” He continued. “They were led by a Lieutenant Otto Schnieder. He seemed to be more human than most Germans I have met.” Marco was talking while walking around the kitchen gathering cups.

  “That name sounds very familiar,” she said to Marco with a frown and then she gasped. “Yes, he came to our house once in Tavarnelle to inspect our papers. He seemed to really like Cecilia. At first, he was very ‘German,” She smiled “But then Cecilia offered him a cup of coffee and he became friendlier,” She sighed thinking about Piero, Cecilia also Ida. She had lost them all. “Is there anything I can do Marco?” Francesca eventually said tiredly.

  “No, no” he said, “I am familiar with everything, just sit there and I will get something warm for you all to drink.”

  She sat down and Bernard crawled into her lap clutching his bunny, he put his thumb in his mouth and was soon fast asleep.

  “Poor little baby, he must be so very tired.” She murmured, kissing the child on the top of his little head.

  Marco had firewood next to a huge stove in the corner of the kitchen and he lit the fire, it would take a while to warm up, but he had a little portable stove on the side which he lit and placed a battered old saucepan to boil up and eventually he put a steaming cup of black coffee in front of Francesca.

  She said tiredly. “Don’t worry about the little ones, if you can show me where to go, I will put them to bed and we can think of what to eat in the morning, I am not hungry, just need to rest,” she continued. “And Marco? I want to thank you so much for doing this for us, I don’t know what else I would have done.”

  Marco led the way to a bedroom, there was a double bed in the room and Francesco told Giorgio to get in the bed next to Bernard, they both snuggled down and she looked at them enviously. I am so tired, she thought I just cannot stay awake any longer. She climbed into the bed fully clothed and was soon oblivious. She forgot about her coffee cooling in the kitchen.

  Francesca sleepily opened her eyes and leisurely stretching her arms above her head yawned loudly, she turned her head and stiffened, where were the children?

  “Giorgio, Bernardo?” she called, jumping out of bed, prepared to run out of the bedroom to look for them, as she passed the window she glanced out and gasped, there were magnificent rolling hills, Olive trees, grapevines and a glimpse of the sea in the distance. But she couldn’t stand here and admire the view, her boys were missing. Just then she noticed a movement far away at the bottom of the hill, lifting h
er hand to her forehead and squinting her eyes, she tried to make out what it was. It was Marco with the two boys walking towards the house and on either side of the little group were two huge white dogs, she gasped and turning on her heel she whirled down the stairs racing across the field to meet them all.

  “Marco, Giorgio, Bernardo,” she called as she drew near. “Thank goodness you are alright,” she looked at the two dogs, “They are so big, are they your dogs Marco?” Marco grinned and nodded.

  “Si Francesca,” he pointed to the bigger dog. “This is Achille and touching the smaller dog on the head affectionately he said. “She is Diana, the neighbours have been looking after them, I am glad to see they are alright, I didn’t plan on staying away from them such a long time,” He explained. “They are called Maremma dogs, are they not magnificent?”

  She was amazed to see Marco so happy, he must love his dogs. The two little ones were hugging the dogs and laughing, she was glad to see they were looking rested and almost back to their lively selves.

  Marco said, “Come on let’s go and get some breakfast and a nice hot cup of coffee, I have borrowed milk, eggs, and a little sugar for the boys,” he grinned at Francesca. “Did you sleep well and did you not get my note, telling you I was going to take these two with me? I pinned it on your pillow.”

  She shook her head guiltily.

  “No, I was too worried when I couldn’t hear or see them.”

  When they had finished their meal, they went outside each with another cup of delicious coffee and sat on some chairs on the veranda. Francesca looked out over the hills, it was all very peaceful and serene.

  “Marco, I did not know your house was so close to the ocean. How far is it?”

  He replied. “It’s about four kilometres, not too far. Sometimes you can hear the waves on the shore, especially when there is a storm. But I very seldom go there, I am always too busy.”

  They sat silently for a while and then Marco cleared his throat.