The Sunnyvale Girls (14 page)

Maggie's eyes were glued to the snake and Toni could almost see the memories flashing past. That snake had been something she'd treasured for all these years. Maybe going to find Rocco
was
the right thing to do. For Maggie, for Flick and for herself.

IT
was finally Friday. As usual Father drove into town for the bread, mail and the occasional order they had rung through using the phone at the siding. Maggie normally went with her father – her mother loved going into town but had been sending Maggie because she didn't want her daughter alone on the farm with the Italians. But this week Phyllis accompanied her husband, as it was Maggie's birthday on Saturday and her mother had to get her present. For Maggie, being left on the farm alone with Rocco, Giulio and Charlie was a gift in itself.

Mother had given her a long list of chores to do, no doubt to keep her too busy to visit the men. But Maggie had worked hard and fast to get most of them done in record time. Checking her hair in the small mirror her mother kept in her room, Maggie pinched her cheeks and put on a little lipstick. On her way out from the cottage she saw Giulio carry­ing some sticks towards the copper by the wash house.

‘What are you doing, Giulio?' Maggie looked into the copper to find water heating up, and beside it sat a pile of his maroon work clothes.

‘I boil clothes.' He dropped the sticks by the copper. ‘Make mine like Mistair,' he said.

‘Ah, I see. Is Rocco at the house?' she asked him.

Giulio nodded and smiled. ‘Yes, he smoothing bricks.'

Maggie said goodbye and raced to the house, not wanting to waste a second of her free time.

She found Rocco by the house, using a special tool he'd made for smoothing the mortar. The bricks now reached up to his head height. They'd had to construct wooden ladders so they could finish the rest.

‘Hello, Rocco,' she said, trying to sneak up on him.

Rocco turned and smiled. She lived for these moments and she sensed that he did too. ‘I saw Mr and Mrs Boss head in for town. They gone a while?'

Maggie nodded.

‘I just finish this,' he said, gesturing along the line he was working on. ‘Five minutes.'

‘That's okay.'

She loved to sit and watch him work. One stinking hot day she'd arrived to see Rocco and he'd had his shirt off so he could wet it. Ever since then Maggie had that image with her always: Rocco's strong lean body, shirtless. He'd quickly got dressed when he'd seen her but it was too late, she'd seen him and now she wanted more. If her mother knew of her thoughts she'd take to Maggie with Father's belt.

‘I see Giulio is trying hard to fade his new set of clothes rations,' she said.

Rocco laughed. ‘Yes, Giulio gets them faded then Mr Tweedie come and see them. He gives him new ones. But Giulio want to look like Boss not prisoner so he keep trying.'

Maggie liked it when Mr Tweedie came with the canteen rations. He brought the men new uniforms and boots if required, and they could also get cigarettes, matches and lollies. Rocco always gave her lollies and she loved it. But that was their little secret. He would sneak them to her sometimes when they could find a moment without her mother watching.

‘I bet your mother is nicer than mine,' she said.

Rocco nodded. He was at the end of his row. Once he was done he put the tool down and came to sit by Maggie. ‘I miss my family. My mother, Antonia, is happy woman. She cook . . .' Rocco kissed his fingers. ‘She drive my father —' He gestured with his hands. ‘Ah, the word . . . With her talking, he drive her . . . silly?'

‘Crazy?'

‘Yes,
si
. She talk, talk, talk. But big heart.' He touched his chest and then dropped his head slightly. ‘Like you, Maggie. She special woman.'

‘Thanks, Rocco.' They sat staring at each other for a moment, the wind rustling the leaves in the trees the only sound. ‘It's my birthday tomorrow,' she said shyly.

‘Charlie told me. Come, I give you gift now.' He stood up and held out his hand.

Maggie slid her hand into his. It was the most amazing feeling in the world. Together they walked back to Rocco's little shed. They could hear Giulio singing an Italian song while he boiled his clothes.

‘He sings about the hills of our Italy,' said Rocco as he opened the door to his room. Maggie had never been inside before, even though they'd nearly been here a year. He waited for her to enter, nodding that it was okay.

She stepped inside and was glad he kept the door open so she could run out in case mother arrived home early.

‘Giulio show me how to make this for you.' Rocco turned and she realised he had something in his hands. She jumped when she realised what it was.

‘It not real,' said Rocco. He held up the snake and showed her how it wiggled.

‘Oh, Rocco, you made this? For me?'

He nodded shyly. ‘I not have much. But I make for you.'

Maggie reached out and took the delicate snake. It was over half a metre in length and each piece of wood had been carved perfectly to represent the snake's body, even down to its skinny tail. The canvas centre allowed the snake to move and the timber pieces were curved to allow it.

‘It's beautiful. No one has ever made me anything like this.' It finally made sense: all those afternoons she'd seen Giulio and Rocco sitting on the steps of their room, whittling away. He'd been making this for her.

Moving with her heart, she wrapped her arms around Rocco and thanked him again. He was stiff for a moment, caught by surprise, but quickly his arms engulfed her and they hugged tightly. Rocco bent his head, tucking it towards her neck while she rested hers against his shoulder. He smelt like a man, sweat and dirt, and his arms felt strong and safe. His hand found her hair, his fingers playing with the ends. Neither of them said anything and neither one moved away.

So much had been building towards this moment, all the holding hands and touching feet under the table at dinner. He whispered her name, and it was like music from the heavens. Nothing was more perfect than this moment in Rocco's arms. Maggie tried hard to memorise everything as they stood holding each other for ages. If only time could stand still and she could stay here forever. But Mother would be home soon and Maggie was scared that if she ever found out about this she'd send Rocco back to the prison camp.

A noise outside pulled them apart quickly but it was just Giulio emptying out the copper. They both sighed with relief. But Maggie missed being in Rocco's arms.

‘I'd better tell Mother I got this from the both of you. That way she won't get too upset,' she whispered. She could still feel the hum of their connection in the small room.

‘I get back to house too,' he said, knowing they didn't have long left. He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze, then let it slip away as he stepped out of his room, checking that no one had arrived while they were preoccupied.

‘Go.' He started heading back to the house. ‘Tell Giulio I will start next row of bricks.'

Maggie nodded, holding the snake to her chest as she watched him leave. She wanted to tell him that she loved him but the words didn't come. She was too scared to speak them out loud. Scared her mother would somehow hear them on the wind and take him away.

It was another month before Maggie was able to hold Rocco again. After their embrace, it was as if they had secretly confirmed their affection for each other. Neither of them had spoken about it but their glances meant so much more, and every night for dinner they would rest their feet together under the table. Every touch set her alight with longing. But she was ever so careful to hide it around her mother.

On this particular night in May, dinner was finished, the dishes done, and Father brought in the battery from the Chev 4 ute to run the radio so the family could listen to the news, as was their custom. They gathered around the table in their usual spots while Rocco and Giulio returned to their room.

The prime minister's voice came on. ‘Fellow citizens,' he said. ‘The war is over.'

‘Oh my lord,' said Phyllis, her hand flying to her mouth.

Maggie was elated, but only for a moment. Would this mean Rocco would be leaving? She turned to Charlie.

‘It's over,' he said, grinning. ‘Can you believe it?'

‘Shhh,' said John, straining to hear the report.

Maggie got up quietly and headed outside. No one seemed to notice her departure but once outside she ran to Rocco's room.

He was sitting on the steps in the dark with his small knife and some wood. He dropped both when he saw her running towards him.

‘Maggie, what is it?'

Giulio was just inside the door smoking and quickly stood up. Maggie ran straight into Rocco's arms, not even caring if her mother had followed. She was breathing so hard and was so distraught that she couldn't speak. But with Rocco's warm body against hers and his gentle stroking of her hair, she calmed.

‘The war is over,' she said. ‘It's over.'

‘Madonna!'

Maggie had heard Giulio and Rocco's Italian swear words and she felt like uttering a few of her own.

Then Rocco hugged her tightly and she knew then that he'd realised the same thing she had. How much longer did they have together?

‘I have to get back,' she said, not wanting to move.

Rocco took her face in his hands and kissed her firmly on her lips before letting her go. Maggie walked back to the cottage in a daze and sat on a chair outside the door. She couldn't go back in, not with Rocco's kiss lingering on her lips. Her first real kiss. It had been only quick but it carried so much. Arthur had kissed her once when she was only fourteen, just to see what it was like. Maggie hadn't liked it one bit and had made sure it never happened again. But she craved more of Rocco's kisses already.

‘Maggie, did you tell the boys?' said Charlie as he came out the door.

She nodded.

‘That should make them happy.' He sat down on the ground, leaning his back against the wooden slat wall. ‘Are you thinking about Thomas and George?' he asked.

Maggie felt a bit uncomfortable, realising she was thinking only of herself. But nonetheless she nodded. ‘I don't think we'll see Thomas. I fear he is lost with George, but I know Mother still holds out hope.'

‘I agree, little sister. I can't help but hope she is right though.'

Their father came out. ‘Here you all are.' He leant back against the wall and lit his rollie. ‘They're just repeating the same newscast. Can you believe it?'

Maggie felt a knot grow in her throat over the question she most wanted to ask. Charlie ended up beating her to the punch.

‘What does this mean for Giulio and Rocco, Father?'

John puffed out smoke with his sigh. ‘I'm not sure, mate. No doubt Mr Tweedie will get into contact with us and let us know the situation. I guess they'll have to go back to camp for processing before they can board a ship home.'

A barrel of rocks made a home in her belly. She didn't want Rocco to go.

‘Could they stay on, Father? The house isn't finished yet,' she said, hoping her concern for Rocco and herself was covered by worry for the house.

John chuckled. ‘You sound just like your mother. I don't think they can stay. It doesn't work like that, darling. It would be nice if they could. I'm quite fond of those blokes. Hard workers. I might go have a word with them.'

As her father walked off, Maggie pondered the time she had left with the Italian prisoner who had captured her heart.

FLICK
and Toni arrived back home from their trip to Narrogin and it seemed as if Fella had never left his post. Flick got out and stretched while he danced around her feet.

‘At least someone missed me,' she said, giving him a pat.

‘Can you take my bags in and I'll drop the motor off down the shed?' said Toni.

‘Yeah, no worries.' As always, a trip to town was usually filled with lots of jobs to do like motors to fix and parts to collect. They had to make the most of their three-hour round trip.

Flick lugged their stuff inside and dumped it on the kitchen table to sort out.

‘Good grief, what's all that?' said Maggie, who was stirring a stew in the crock-pot.

Flick laughed and pulled out a new backpack from a plastic bag. ‘Well, this, this is for Italy. And this —' she pulled out a new pair of shorts ‘— is for Italy, and so are these walking shoes. And also these tops and a new little bag for our passports.' Flick kept pulling things out, realising how well she'd done at the shops.

‘I thought you were going to travel light,' said Maggie.

Flick grinned. ‘We are! I even got Mum to buy some cute dresses and nice walking shoes. We actually had a bit of a girly day. Haven't done that for years.'

Maggie held up one of the dresses. ‘I'm glad. You both need that every now and then.'

Flick dropped her shoulders. ‘But I wish you would come with us.' When she'd told Maggie about the trip, she'd seemed excited for them but had refused to go, saying she wanted to stay and help Jimmy with the farm. Flick knew it was also because things were strained between her and Toni, and had let it go, realising she couldn't change her nan's mind.

‘Is it all booked? How long did you decide to go for?' asked Maggie.

‘Yes, it's all sorted. We leave on the twentieth and go for eight days. We can't really afford to go longer with harvest approaching but we really want to find Rocco, so Mum said we could do another trip next year if we need to, and bring you with us.'

Maggie raised an eyebrow. ‘Really, Toni said that?'

Flick smiled. ‘Well, that's what she was implying, I'm sure. Look, Nan, even if we don't find Rocco, we might find relatives for Mum. Wouldn't it be great to have that connection, and travel to Italy to meet them?'

‘Rocco's sister might still be alive,' said Maggie quietly.

‘Exactly. So we'll head over and see what we can find. We still might get a few days of sightseeing in, so it's a win-win situation. It'll do Mum good to have a break before harvest anyway.' Flick reached into her bag and pulled out all their forms. ‘We've booked four days in Montone as our base. The travel agent recom­mended it.'

Flick ran her finger over the picture on the paper. It looked like a castle on a hilltop, much like Hogwarts from the trailer she'd seen for the new Harry Potter movie out next year. It seemed like such a fairytale.

‘
Casa Valdeste is a beautiful late fourteenth-century terrace-style cottage in the medieval village of Montone
,' she read out. The words ‘medieval' and ‘fourteenth century' weren't exactly mentioned much in Australia.

‘We have a two-bedroom villa here in Montone, which is in Umbria, and it's owned by Aussies.'

‘Oh, it looks stunning,' said Maggie.

‘If we find Rocco easily, we can head off and explore some more of Italy. I really hope we can track him down, Nan. For you and for Mum.'

Maggie folded up the dress she'd been looking at and put it in the bag gently. ‘Now, Felicity, don't get your hopes up. Just go and have a great time with Toni. We'll all survive if you come back empty-handed.'

Flick hugged her. No one gave hugs like her nan. ‘Okay, Nan. I'll try. I love you.'

Maggie cleared her throat. ‘I had two calls from Chad again this morning. Anything you want to tell me?'

All her excitement over the trip disappeared in a second. Flick slumped into a chair. ‘That obvious, is it?'

‘I had a feeling things weren't going along so great. You had a fight?'

‘Something like that, Nan,' she said with a sigh.

‘He rang yesterday too. Does he need forgiving?'

‘I don't know if I can. But it's just not what he did, it's everything leading up to it. I've been down this road too many times before and I think it's time I looked out for me. Is that too selfish? Should I give Chad another chance?'

‘Oh, love. Matters of the heart are never easy. As much as we want to, sometimes we can't change people.' Maggie gave her a smile. ‘What do you feel? What are your instincts telling you?'

‘That I don't want to be in a relationship with him any more. I haven't really felt like we've been in one lately anyway.'

‘Well, if you want my two cents, I think you've done the right thing. You're still young and you're beautiful and I think you deserve the very best.'

‘Aw, thanks, Nan.'

Maggie went to the stove, gave the bubbling pot a stir, then switched on the kettle before coming back to sit beside Flick. ‘Must be time for a cup of tea, with all this serious talk,' she said with a grin.

‘I know. Please don't say anything to Mum. I don't want to worry anyone.'

‘I doubt Toni would stay in my presence long enough to let me get the words out.'

Flick reached for her hand. ‘She'll come around. Mum needs time. This trip will help.' Well, that was her plan. As long as it didn't backfire and cause even more of a rift. ‘Hey, Nan, Rocco's papers said he left Australia in 1946. That's a whole year after the war finished, isn't it?'

‘Yes, that's right.' A melancholy expression washed over Maggie. ‘When we heard the war was over, we were elated, but I was devastated at the same time. My heart just ached.'

Flick jumped up and made them both a cuppa while Maggie sat with her hands clasped.

‘By this stage I was already in love with him. He'd been with us a year and we were at a point where we knew something special was going on between us but neither of us had said anything about it.'

‘What do you mean? You didn't talk about it?'

Maggie was staring out the window, no doubt picturing Rocco, young and handsome. ‘Well, now days you kids call it going out or having a boyfriend, but back then we didn't – we just felt it in our hearts. I knew he cared for me in his gestures, the gifts he gave me or the way he held my hand. We were also too scared to talk about how we felt, knowing that it had to be kept quiet. My mother lurked, watching me, and I was afraid to tell Rocco how much I loved him in case the wind carried it to her.' She glanced up at Flick, who passed her a cup of tea. ‘You probably think it was silly but back then times were so different. If it had got out that I was in love with a prisoner of war, well, the scandal would have killed my mother. She would either have sent me away or sent Rocco away and I couldn't do that to him or Giulio. I knew they loved it on the farm, where they felt free and not stuck in the camps. They'd had it really bad in the Indian camps before they reached Australia.'

‘Did you eventually tell him how much you loved him?'

‘Oh, yes.' Maggie took a sip of her tea as Toni came into the kitchen.

‘Kettle's hot,' said Flick. Toni nodded and made a cup while Maggie continued, her voice quieter

‘We had a special spot, hidden in the bush by the new house he was building. It was away from all the tracks so I knew mother wouldn't ever see us. We would meet there sometimes when she'd gone to town, or we'd leave things for each other. Once he left me a bunch of wildflowers and a wooden heart he'd carved. I still have that little heart.' Maggie scrunched up her face as if wondering why she'd kept it for so long.

Flick knew why. Her nan couldn't forget her first love.

Toni was pottering about, pretending she wasn't listening.

‘I guess in my heart I thought I'd run away with him when he came back. But when he never wrote to me . . . eventually I let him go and moved on with Arthur. I grew to love him very much,' said Maggie. ‘I don't want you to think I settled for second best with your grandfather. He was sweet, gentle and caring. He was one of a kind and I don't regret one moment with Arthur and the life we made on Sunnyvale.'

Flick watched her. ‘Do you ever wonder what your life would have been like if Rocco had come back for you, Nan?'

‘I used to. The first few years were very hard but I pushed on. I had Toni and she kept me going. I did care for Arthur, so it didn't take long before it grew into love. He was a wonderful father and a tentative husband in those early years and he'd always loved me.'

‘Would you have left with Rocco if he had turned up?'

Maggie sighed. ‘I don't know, love. That is something I guess we'll never know. And it doesn't really matter any more. The past is the past.' Maggie leant across the table towards Flick. ‘I know you're picturing some great romantic meeting of lost loves but, Flick, so much has passed. I'm old now. Even if he's alive he could be happily married.'

‘But what if he's not? What if he's alive and alone? Wouldn't you want to see him again?'

Maggie shrugged and Toni left the room with her cup.

Flick tried to imagine herself in the same situation. Would she want to meet up with a lost love, or would it be better to leave them in her mind where they'd stay young and perfect forever? For the first time she wondered if she was doing the right thing.