Chapter 1
Unchartered Territory
Valeria Allegro boarded the Alitalia flight wearing a black shift dress that shaped her slim physique, a matching jacket, and a pair of cheap flat shoes inherited from her mother. Her heart skipped a beat, as she thought about her upcoming journey to Australia. The year was 1965,and Valeria had left her family behind in Piaggine, Italy. Was it her choice? Partly yes, because she wanted to leave the struggle of farm work, and partly no, because she was meeting her future husband Roberto Morandi, whom she had yet to meet. An arranged marriage had been organised by her parents and Roberto's aunt in Italy. Her lack of proficiency in the English language and lack of job didn't help matters.
Valeria was ambivalent about marrying a man she'd only exchanged letters with, but was hoping to establish freedom in a new country; a world filled with opportunities and possibilities.
Although, what did an 18 year old know about city life? What did Valeria know about relationships when her father had forbidden her to have one of any kind? It was only proper to have a husband rather than a boyfriend, in her dad's eyes. Her father had always been strict and domineering, hardly ever listening to what she had to say. She'd never had a voice, and it saddened her to think they weren't close. He had beaten her several times just to prove he was the boss, and Valeria had developed a hatred towards him because of it. She couldn't express any anger, as that would propel him further into discipline. How she wished that things could have been different with her and her father.
Her mother and Valeria were close, and her mother was submissive. Valeria's heart broke, thinking how she'd wished her mother had defended her against her father. It was a blessing that she had taught her domestic and farm-hand skills, and nurtured Valeria.
Valeria was close to her siblings, but she was closest to her oldest sister who had defended her during her father's anger episodes.
Valeria rested back against her seat and sighed. Drawing a hand through her short auburn waves, she thought about her new life in Melbourne and shuddered slightly with fear. What if it didn't work out with Roberto? What if he was like her father; demanding and controlling? She cringed at the thought of marriage, and didn't expect much from the impending marriage as all she really wanted was the independence to start a career in dressmaking. She couldn't have that independence in Piaggine, but sewing was a passion, which had been taught to her by her mother. She wanted a better life without enduring further poverty as she had in Italy. She only hoped that Roberto would respect her wishes to be her own woman. Her mother had taught her that there was nothing she couldn't tolerate and nothing she couldn't conquer.
Valeria had communicated with Roberto via post and had seen photo of him. He seemed friendly enough. It would be a marriage of convenience, a marriage in name only, and she was fine with that. She had no expectations other than freedom and meeting her basic needs for survival. In Italy, she had never had much of a childhood with all her responsibilities on the farm and at home. She never had the chance to have fun or be with friends. It had been all work with little time for much else, and she needed to make a new life for herself. She needed to discover who she was away from her family.
Breaking out of her ponderings, Valeria arrived at Tullamarine Airport and went through customs. The pitter-patter of feet, the indecipherable voices over loud speakers, the array of scents, and the congestion of people caused her anxiety. She had never been in such a hectic space before, having always surrounded herself
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