A twp-chapter excerpt of A Life By Design - Italian Family Series

CHAPTER 1 TWO MINDS
(September 1972)
Elena flicked open the envelope, her heart racing. Her fingers trembled as she slowly pulled out the piece of paper and unfolded it. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and willed herself to take a peek. Was she ready? Had she got in? What if her dream was shattered? Only one way to find out.
Here goes. Summoning the courage, Elena glided her fingers over the letter and read the first few lines. It said,“Congratulations! You have been accepted into Istituto Marangoni in Milan to study our Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fashion Design.”
Elena swallowed, her body frozen in shock. She had finally been accepted to study fashion design in Milan. That meant her days in Laurino were numbered and she’d get the chance to explore another part of the world. Her chance to move away from the family farm. Her time to leave her stifling part-time job at the clothes shop, where every day was just like the one before. Sometimes she thought another day in Laurino would kill her. But now she’d have the life she had always dreamed about.
Reading the rest of the letter, she felt a lightness over her body and drew a hand through her long, chestnut hair. Only recently, she had convinced her father to let her put crimson highlights into her hair, which had made her feel like an adult. At twenty years
of age, Elena dreamed of bigger things than the village. She wanted to spread her wings and study what she loved. She loved reading anything, but she was most inspired by her love of fashion, and read all she could about it. Even her sister Valeria inspired her, sending letters describing the successful dressmaking business she’d started in Melbourne. Valeria had escaped, and now it was Elena’s turn.
Elena watched the backs of her father Enzo, who was drinking a glass of wine, and her mother Graziella huddling over the sink washing dishes. Their small kitchen featured an elongated table with a small bench space, and a wood fire oven. New pots and pans hung above the bench, replacing some rusty and old ones they’d had. The weathered crockery looked ready to be thrown out too, but their limited funds meant they would make do with the old and worn kitchenware. Her mother made the best of her equipment by cooking simple, yet tasty foods made with organic, home-grown vegetables from their farm.
Her father slouched at the table and flicked through the newspaper. He thumbed through the pages and turned to Elena with a curious stare when she cleared her throat. He laid the newspaper down and squinted. “What’s with you, Elena?”
Somersaults in her stomach plagued her. She swallowed and wondered how to broach the subject of moving to Milan. Taking a full breath, Elena drew a shaky hand through her strands. “Mama, can you sit with us? I need to talk to you both.”
Her mother turned off the faucet, wiped her hands on a tea towel, and sat at the table with a frown. “What’s going on, dear?”
Elena picked up the letter and handed it to her father. She waited until he read it, his body flinching,
and his mouth curling downward. He threw it over to her mother with a grunt. Her mother scanned it, then looked up at Elena with a worried glance.
Her father clenched his hands and shook his head. “There’s no way in hell you’re going to Milan. Not while I’m alive, you’re not.”
Elena flinched, but held his gaze. She knew she’d have a fight on her hands, but she wouldn’t give up.
Her mother tilted her head. “Elena, this is far away. You’re only twenty, and this is a place without anyone we know. How can we let you leave on your own?”
Elena braced herself. “Please, Mama. This is a chance of a lifetime. My dream. If I could study fashion in the village I would. But for me to have a real chance at a profession, I have to leave the village. There’s a big wide world out there.”
Her father smashed his hand against the table, sending a tremor through Elena’s body. “Over my dead body! You are not going to Milan, and that’s final. I’ll hear nothing more about it.”
“But, Papa, this is my dream.” She pressed her hands against her sides to keep them from shaking. “This is the only place I can study. Can’t you at least think about it? I am an adult now. You can’t expect me to work on the farm or in the shop my whole life. Don’t you want me to have a future?”
He glared. “You never once complained about your life here. This is just about Valeria leaving, but she had Roberto to marry, and we trusted his family. In Milan, you have no one. This is out of the question.”
Elena’s stomach clenched. “Papa, please. Just think about it!”

Veins popped out on his head. “Enough!” He stood up and stormed out of the house without a further word.
Elena turned towards her mother, who stared into the distance. Elena’s voice seemed to draw her back. “Mama, can you please convince Papa. Please, Mama!”
Her mother clasped her hands together. She reread the letter, and tears streamed down her cheeks. With a wistful look at Elena, she said, “I don’t want you to give up on your dreams, Elena, but I’m frightened for you. This is so far away from us, and you’ll be on your own. How would we know you’d be safe?”
Elena leaned in. “I can ring you every day until you’re sure I’m safe. Until I’ve made some friends. Please, Mama, think about it, and try to convince Papa. I still have time before I make a decision.”
Her mother nodded. “Leave it with me, darling, but I cannot make any promises.”
“That’s all I ask.”
At least now there was a semblance of hope.


CHAPTER 2 A HUGE FEAT
Two weeks had gone by, and during that time, Elena cajoled, sweet-talked, rationalised, and fought with her father over her study trip to Milan. He wouldn’t budge, and she began to form a plan in her mind. She didn’t want to be estranged from her family. There had to be a way for her father to agree to her leaving.
Her mother begged her father to reconsider, but to no avail. With each passing day, Elena’s anxiety rose. How could she work in a clothes shop and on the farm for the next working years of her life? She feared she would fall ill if she kept thinking about her fate.
She was afraid her father would disown her if she left the village without his blessing. He might never let her see her mother again. Oh, sure, she could sneak around and see Mama, but that would make her mother’s life that much harder, and Mama had suffered more than enough in her life. Elena didn’t want to put any extra pressure on her mother when she could resolve this situation herself.
I can stay here, she thought, or I can figure out a way to leave here respectfully and with my parents’ blessing.
There had to be a way to convince her father to agree.
She lay back against the sofa, watching her brother Emilio wander over and plonk himself down beside her. He knit his brows and spread out his hands as if she was giving him the evil eye. At eighteen, Emilio was handsome with his black crew-cut and his
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solid, muscular build. He always complained about his short height, but the girls flocked towards him in spite of that.
“What’s going on, sister?”
She leaned forward and planted her hands under her chin, as a thought formed in her mind. “How would you like to go on a vacation, Emilio?”
Emilio drew back, his eyes widening. “Are you talking about Milan? Has Papa agreed for you to go yet?”
She shook her head. “Don’t be silly. He’s never going to let up. Unless you come with me. He seems to have these double standards, so I think if you tell him you’ll be my chaperone, he might just let me go.”
“I don’t know.” He scratched his temple. “I mean, what am I going to do in Milan? I’ve got my work on the farm here, and I don’t mind doing that.”
Elena rose from the sofa, paced the floor, and stood over her brother. “Just do this for me. Then once you’ve stayed awhile you can come back home. By that time, he’ll have your report that I’m safe and have met people.”
Emilio swung his left leg over his knee and squeezed his calf muscle. He seemed to be processing things, so she wouldn’t rush him. He was always a deep thinker, an interesting trait in a man who loved to work with his hands. “So how are you going to pay for all this?”
Elena thought fondly of Giovanna. Who would have thought the cranky old woman from down the street would turn out to be such a friend to Elena’s family? Their neighbour had felt such a strong sense of guilt after her son, Gregorio, had hurt Valeria that she’d left a portion of her estate to Valeria and her siblings. Since Valeria had refused any payment, the money had
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been divided among Elena, Emilio, and Carla. The only guilt Elena felt was that, because of Giovanna’s gift, Gregorio and his two siblings, Aldo and Daniela, got a smaller portion.
She wasn’t sure if they knew about it, and she hoped they didn’t. Gregorio and Daniela attended Giovanna’s funeral, but Aldo hadn’t even sent his regards. The nerve of him. He’d taken his mother’s money easily enough when she was alive, only to show a complete lack of respect when she’d died. At least Giovanna had her friends and other family in the village pay their respects. Even without Aldo, it was a memorable funeral.
Gregorio had spent quite a number of months in prison for what he’d put Valeria through, and word was, he was a changed man. He was openly despondent at his mother’s funeral and showed warmth towards Elena’s family. He had apologised profusely. But Elena still didn’t trust him. What if it was an act? Maybe he hadn’t changed at all. She hardly knew Daniela at all, even though she’d moved into her mother’s home, refusing to sell Giovanna’s house.
The euros that Giovanna had given Elena would be just enough for her studies, but she would need extra money for living expenses.
However, she might never travel to Milan if she couldn’t convince her father, and soon. She had responded to the letter with interest and explained how she would need more time to possibly accept the offer, but time was running out.
“Earth to sister. Earth to sister.” She came out of her reverie and looked up at Emilio. “How are you funding this trip?”
“Giovanna’s money.”
“It won’t be enough. What about the rest?”
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Elena’s heart sank. She needed Emilio on her side. “I can get a part-time job while I’m studying.”
“It’s not that easy to get work in a strange city. You don’t even know Milan and you don’t have real experience.”
Elena laughed. Her brother was wise to the world, but still immature in some ways. “I have my sales experience from the shop and I know how to work on a farm. I have useful skills, brother.”
Before Emilio could respond, her parents entered the house and greeted them. Her father held a questioning look. He stood cross-armed, as if he knew what she was thinking. He knew her too well to think she’d give up that easily.
“Papa. I have an idea.” She turned towards her brother. “Emilio can come with me to Milan, and then I won’t be alone.”
Her father squared his shoulders and pursed his lips. With a shake of the head, he said, “And here I thought Valeria was stubborn and independent. You are even more so. You’ll be the death of me, Elena.”
In spite of his words, she could tell he was fighting hard to hide a smile as her mother turned towards him.
“That’s not a bad idea, Enzo. She wouldn’t be alone. Then once she’s settled and we know she’s safe, Emilio can come back home. We all win.”
Enzo’s eyes narrowed. “Hmmmm. Let me think about it.”
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