Late Summer 1939
Sally smiled as she watched baby Luciano kicking his little legs and cooing and giggling while laying on the beach blanket between her and Luca. “He’s growing so fast!” she exclaimed. “I love seeing his personality developing with each new day,” she continued, while caressing his dark curls of hair and holding Luca’s hand.
“He has your adorable nose, mi amore,” Luca replied. “I see so much of you in him.” “Mother and father are spoiling him as well.” “He is one lucky baby boy,” Luca continued with a chuckle. “The world beyond may be going mad, but here, together with you and Luciano, I am happiest and feel safe and secure,” Luca said with a slight change in his demeanor.
“I know, darling Luca,” Sally replied. “I wish we could stay here forever and lock out the madness of the world beyond too,” she added. “The gentle sound of the sea waves crashing on the beach are so calming,” she sighed contently. “Let’s stay here for a while longer Luca,” she said.
“I’d love to stay here longer too,” Luca replied. “But I’m concerned about Rita and her family,” he continued with a worried look. “She says that she is doing fine after the government fired her from her university research job just because she is Jewish,” he continued. “And she’s continuing her research in her bedroom at their villa in Turin. The fascist government of Il Duce continues to implement new restrictive laws against Jewish Italians with each passing month since last year and continuing throughout 1939. We’ve heard rumors from Jewish friends in Amsterdam, Zagreb city in the Croatian region of Yugoslavia, Poland, and many other countries of even more dangerous actions being taken by governments aligned to Hitler’s Nazi government to target Jews throughout Europe. Now, with fascist Italy formalizing the military alliance with Nazi Germany this year in the Pact of Steel Rome-Berlin Axis, it is only a matter of time before Italy declares war on other Allied countries, and the war will be on our doorstep here in Villa Vittorio,” Luca said gravely. “I know you don’t want to think about it, and neither do I, but we have to plan for what happens when the war comes to our door,” Luca said with concern. “I want to know that you and little Luciano and mother and father are all safe,” Luca sighed.
“I understand, darling Luca,” Sally replied. “We will come up with a plan together to weather any storm that may come our way,” she said confidently. “Little Luciano and I are very fortunate to have you darling Luca, and we will not just survive, but we will come out even stronger as a family,” she concluded. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll reach out to Rita and her family and invite them to visit us for Luciano’s birthday, and again to come down to Villa Vittorio for the Christmas holiday and New Year festivities. That will get them out of Turin and a respite here, safe with us,” Sally suggested. “Rita and I already discussed some possible alternative plans for her and her family to move to their country house outside of Turin if needed, or if that becomes too dangerous, relocate to the home of some close non-Jewish friends in Tuscany,” she added. “Of course, they are welcome to come to Villa Vittorio I’m sure, but from what I gather, she would rather stay farther north if possible. Either way, we will figure out plans together to keep her and her family safe as well as keep ourselves safe should the war come closer,” Sally said with resolve. “If you’d like for us to get more involved to help others, I heard that the Union of Italian Jewish Communities have set up a new organization called the DELASEM (Delegazione Assistenza Emigranti Ebrei) Assistance Organization for Jewish refugees who continue to arrive in Italy fleeing more sinister oppression in other regions of Europe. They currently have many Jewish refugees coming from the Croatian region of Yugoslavia that borders Italy. I can reach out to them and arrange for a private meeting here at Villa Vittorio so that we may volunteer and support their organization and work,” Sally offered confidently.
“What a splendid idea, mi amore!” Luca exclaimed. “That’s exactly what we both need, a sense of purpose to help others in these difficult times,” he added. “I’d be happy to meet people from DELASEM, host them here at Villa Vittorio, and see how we can best support their work,” Luca replied, his somber mood shifting into a smile. “You always know what to say to make me feel better,” Luca smiled, leaning in to kiss Sally gently on the lips as baby Luciano continued babbling and giggling beside them. “Let’s put aside these worries for now, and enjoy this glorious summer day with Luciano,” Luca replied with a wide grin.
“Yes, darling Luca, let’s,” Sally replied with a bright smile of her own, hiding her hidden concerns to stop Luca from worrying too much. She wanted to forget and enjoy the day with Luca and Luciano, and she would do her level best to do just that, at least on the surface. But it was hard to enjoy the safety and security of their cocoon in Villa Vittorio while knowing that people all over Italy and the rest of Europe were being targeted and their lives turned upside down or worse, even threatened, simply for their appearances, race, and ethnicity. It weighed heavily on Sally’s mind, and she tried to go about her day-to-day life and not worry about it, but it tugged on her heart every day, the cruelty of mankind and the lack of humanity and empathy for others who were suffering. She knew that if she discussed this with Luca his soft heart would break and he would do something rash, endangering not only himself, but all of them. So, she kept these feelings buried deep inside and covered them with her warm smile and bubbly personality that defines what everyone expects from Contessa Sally Cavallo, nee Sally Bowles. She widened her smile as she leaned into Luca’s kiss and together, they looked down at their darling son Luciano. With both in her life, Sally had plenty to encourage a genuine smile, no matter how dark the world was outside. For today, they all embraced the warmth and happiness brought by the sun, warm sand, gentle breezes, and the sound of the sea waves cresting on the beach. Sally wanted this moment to never end, but she knew one day soon all could change.
