Winter 1938
“Be careful walking in the snow!” Luca chided as Sally frolicked in the fresh fallen snow outside Villa Vittorio. “I haven’t seen snow in a long time!” she exclaimed with childhood glee. “I thought it never snowed in southern Italia,” she added.
“It doesn’t,” Luca replied. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen snow in southern Italia,” he continued. “Perhaps this and the baby are signs that 1938 will be full of happy surprises,” Luca said while taking Sally into his arms and kissing the snowflake from her button nose while patting her growing belly. “Our baby has the most beautiful mother,” Luca said while kissing Sally passionately on the lips as the snowflakes danced around them on the lawns overlooking the sea. “Let’s go back in now to warm by the fire with some hot chocolate,” Luca said.
“That sounds divine!” Sally replied as they walked hand-in-hand through the snow back to the villa. “I don’t mind being pregnant through these winter months,” Sally said. “But I do dread the summer months here! I won’t be able to wear a bathing suit or go swimming by then because I’ll be enormous,” she said pouting.
“Mi amore, you can wear any bathing suit you like and swim in our private pool and beach location with only you and I around ,” Luca replied. “Besides, it doesn’t matter who sees you. I see your pregnant body as a beautiful masterpiece giving life to our child, and what could be more beautiful mi amore?!” Luca exclaimed with a smile.
“You are so sweet Luca darling,” Sally replied. “I could never look bad in your eyes I know. But it isn’t you I’m worried about. It is the gossiping staff or others outside of Villa Vittorio that may think badly of me for wearing a bathing suit or going swimming while I’m pregnant,” she said with concern.
“Don’t worry what others may think Sally. You live your life for yourself and for us and our child and let what others think or say fall to the side,” Luca replied. “You know who you are and your worth, and don’t let anyone ever tell you or make you believe otherwise,” he advised. “Let your true beauty shine through however you deem appropriate mi amore,” he concluded with his constant positive outlook and smile.
Summer 1938
Sally sat on the chaise lounge by the pool overlooking the Adriatic Sea in the distance. Lost in her thoughts of the whirlwind of the past year as the warm August sun of southern Italia in the Puglia region combined with the gentle sea breeze comforted her like a familiar blanket. Sally rubbed her enormous round 9 months pregnant belly with joy and anticipation to finally meet their darling baby. She will love their child no matter what gender, but she longed for a little Luca and dreamed of what he would look like. This past year was unbelievable for Sally. After many years of dating, Luca and Sally finally were married, and she was welcomed with open arms into the Cavallo family! She was now a titled lady, Viscontessa Cavallo! Sally still pinched herself to confirm it was real and not a dream.
Sally also couldn’t believe the amazingly talented and independent women she had met in the past year, including Ambassadress, businesswoman, and socialite Majorie Davies (nee Post), scientist Dr. Rita Levy Montalcini, and haute couture Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli! Not to mention, her very independent and intelligent new mother-in-law, Contessa Isabella Cavallo! Sally smiled at the thought of so many strong independent women as mentors to learn from as she stepped confidently into her new life. It was amazing to Sally how quickly things can change for her in such a short time as eight years since she last saw Christopher while she was dancing and singing in the Kit Kat Club cabaret of Berlin. The world had changed so much since then, but in a darker direction across all of Europe. Sally shuddered a bit at the chill of the sea wind thinking of the warning signs all over Italia and Europe. But she brushed it aside and focused on the warmth of the summer sun and the happy thoughts of their baby arriving soon.
As Sally closed her eyes to let the warmth of the sun envelop her, she felt a slight shadow come over her. Just before she opened her eyes, she felt the gentle kiss on her cheek from Luca. She opened her eyes to see Luca standing beside her with freshly squeezed chilled juice in tall glasses. He smiled his adorable smile as Sally took in the handsome tall physique of her adoring husband in his well-fitted stylish blue and tan swimsuit that framed his chiseled abdomen with the wisp of hair stretching down from his bellybutton into his swimsuit to destinations of desire and framing his thick muscular thighs covered in the soft thick downy hair.
Luca tossed his luxurious dark locks of hair out of his eyes as he offered the drinks to Sally. “I thought you might enjoy some refreshments.” Luca said with a smile as he offered the juice to Sally. “It is such a beautiful summer day,” he continued while looking out towards the sea. “And you look just as beautiful mi amore,” Luca added, turning his gaze back to Sally.
“Thank you, darling Luca.” Sally replied. “I do feel beautiful with my pregnancy,” she added. “There’s something so beautiful about seeing my belly and know there’s a new life growing inside of me, and we will meet our darling baby soon,” she said with a sigh of happiness.
“Since you are so close to giving birth, mother has suggested we stay here at Villa Vittorio for now,” Luca said while taking the lounge chair next to Sally.
“I think that’s wise too,” Sally replied. “Especially since your mother and father insist on me having the baby at the nearby modern urban hospital, which I’m most happy to do,” Sally continued. “I saw way too many difficulties with childbirth by older women when I was growing up in England as well as in Berlin in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s,” she said with concern. “I feel very lucky to have access to a modern hospital and doctors here to ensure our baby is born safe and healthy,” Sally said thankfully.
“The baby will be here soon,” Luca said happily. “And our lives will be forever changed, albeit for the better. Soon, we will no longer be just the two of us, but instead we will be three,” he smiled. “But for now, it is just the two of us. So, let’s enjoy this peaceful moment together just for us, mi amore,” Luca said as he reached for Sally’s hand while they lounged basking in the warm summer sun.
Luca and Sally had just entered Villa Vittorio and were about to go up the grand staircase to their room when Sally stopped suddenly from a wincing pain.
“Are you alright mi amore?” Luca asked with concern.
“I think so,” Sally replied. “Maybe I overdid it with time in the sun and need to lay down and rest before dinner,” she added. Just as Sally stepped up on the staircase, another sharp pain shuddered through her body, and her water broke. “Oh my! Luca! This is my first time, but I think the baby is ready to arrive now!” Sally shouted through the birth contraction pain.
“What is the commotion?” Isabella called from the second-floor landing.
“Sally’s going into labor now mother!” Luca shouted.
“There’s no time to lose,” Isabella called out while ringing the bell for the doorman who arrived promptly.
“The Viscontessa is going into labor now. Please summon the car to take her to hospital. And I will call the doctor to meet there,” Isabella directed.
Luca eased Sally out onto the veranda as the labor pains came in waves. The automobile arrived shortly, and Luca and Sally were whisked inside quickly. Contessa Cavallo gave instructions to the driver for the quickest way to hospital while then turning to Sally saying comfortingly, “Everything is going to be alright my dear. You have the best doctors. We will follow behind shortly in a separate car and meet you at the hospital. Now, no more talk, just drive,” she said firmly to the chauffeur.
The next day, Sally awakened to see her beautiful new baby son lying beside her in the hospital. She was still tired but somewhat recovered from the hard hours of labor the day before, so thankful for giving birth in the hospital. Luca slept in the chair beside Sally’s bed, his hair wet with perspiration and tangled from sleeping in the chair and no bath.
Luca felt Sally looking at him longingly and blinked softly opening his eyes, “Good morning mi amore! You did well!” Luca beamed with pride while standing up to come over beside Sally and looking down at his beautiful wife and newborn son. “What shall we call him?” Luca asked as he took the tiny hand of his son.
“How about Luciano?” Luca asked as the baby smiled widely at him. “His smile looks like a ray of light and Luciano means light,” Luca explained.
“I love it!” Sally replied. “Our little light, our little Luciano!” she exclaimed while taking the baby’s tiny hand in hers gently. “He has your dark hair, darling Luca,” Sally said with a smile.
“And your button nose and cheeks,” Luca responded. “The best of both of us combined in this beautiful baby boy, Luciano,” Luca beamed as a proud father. “Mother and father are just outside and ready to see you and greet Luciano whenever you are ready mi amore. But no rush if you need more rest.”
“Oh, I’m well rested now,” Sally replied. Please let your mother and father in. I’m sure they are excited to meet their first grandchild,” Sally said.
Luca stepped outside the door and quickly returned with Isabella and Vincenzo Cavallo, the proud new grandparents who were smiling from ear to ear when they first saw their darling grandson. “Bello! Bello!” they both exclaimed. “What a beautiful baby boy!” Vincenzo shouted. “He looks so much like you as a baby Luca with all of that hair!” “And I can definitely see your features in him as well Sally,” he continued. “We are so proud of you both! Have you decided on a name?”
“Yes, papa, we have decided to call him Luciano,” Luca said with pride.
“Luciano! Our new baby boy of light!” Isabella exclaimed while reaching down to touch his newborn cheek gently as Luciano smiled at his grandmother for the first time, melting her heart. “Oh, Dio Mio!” she gasped with delight. “He smiled at me so big. Now, I see why you chose to call him Luciano.” “May I hold him, Sally?” Isabella asked politely.
“Of course you may,” Sally replied with a smile. Isabella gently took Luciano into her arms and held him up between her and Vincenzo, both proud grandparents smiling happily with their first grandson between them. As they looked up at Sally and Luca, they both said, “Our family is so blessed! Thank you, Sally and Luca, for bringing this joy and light into our family and world. And welcome Luciano! We have been waiting for you with great anticipation!”
