Stephanie stepped into her blue organza party dress. She crouched as Domenica zipped up the back. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”
Josephine coaxed her silk stocking up her leg. “You will never meet a handsome man and fall in love as long as you stay in this room and scribble.”
“Maybe Domenica doesn’t want to fall in love.”
“I don’t believe it.” Josephine pulled on the second stocking. “I’ve been in love three times. It goes like this: Imagine you’re on the highest mountain in the world and you’re pushed off the cliff. Falling in love is the feeling you have between the time you are pushed and the moment you hit the ground.”
“I’ve been in love once,” Stephanie admitted. “And I hope I never see him again.”
“I’m not ready to be thrown off a mountain. I’d rather sleep on my day off.” Domenica smiled at her roommates.
“I didn’t mean to ruin it for you.” Josephine sat down and snapped her stockings into their garters. “Everyone is different. Maybe when you fall in love it will feel like a warm bath.”
“I didn’t make it sound as wonderful as it can be.” Stephanie spritzed on perfume. “It’s only awful when it ends.” She loaded her evening bag. “The crash is as terrible as the feeling was wonderful. But it’s always worth it.”
Domenica scanned the newspaper. “The Arandora Star is docking tonight. They say there’s a Vanderbilt on board. And maybe the movie star William Powell. Tomorrow, the Avila arrives—all five of the Blue Star Line are coming to Marseille.”
“When they send Clark Gable, lemme know.” Stephanie ran the brush through her hair. “They can keep their lousy ships.”
“I hope they don’t ruin the trains. I want to go home someday,” Domenica said quietly.
Josephine shot Stephanie a look. “You’ll make it home. But you should enjoy your life now. Stephanie and I are worried about you. You should have fun. Don’t use that silly punishment from your priest as an excuse to stay cooped up in the dorm. Sister Marie Bernard said you were free to come and go as you please. The Italian rules don’t apply in France,” Josephine said kindly.
“You could use some fresh air. And that doesn’t mean sitting in the window staring at the sea.” Stephanie pulled the sheers across the open window.
“She’s right. Take a walk. Go see the passengers on the promenade. And let us know what the fancy girls are wearing.”
Domenica waved them off cheerfully. “Va bene, girls.”
“Save me a Vanderbilt,” Stephanie joked.
The ladies left a languid trail of My Sin and Joy perfume in the air. Someday, long after she left it, the scent of gardenias and roses would remind Domenica of France. The Italian nurse had made true friends in Marseille. Maybe their mutual love of nursing bonded them, or the experience of living and working together encouraged them to rely on one another, but whatever the reason, Domenica had found friends she could trust. She kept their secrets and they kept hers. Only Sister Marie Bernard and her roommates knew why she had come to Saint Joseph’s, and they didn’t care. Domenica Cabrelli was far from home, but she was not alone.
21 March 1939
Dear Mama,
I am not homesick any longer. The Sisters keep us so busy. We have to attend Mass—the girls from Africa give Sister Marie Bernard a hard time about it. They are not Catholic, so they don’t see the point. I tell them, go to Mass, put your head down, and think about whatever makes you happy. They’ve come up with some funny scenes! One of the girls spends Vespers making coconut milk in her imagination. You remember Josephine? She almost has enough money saved to go to New York City. She plans on working at Saint Vincent’s Hospital there. The Sisters write letters to place us. Whenever they ask me if I need a letter, I say, Send me home to Viareggio! Stephanie is so funny. She is a good nurse, but when the shift ends, she has to go dancing or else. I am training for emergencies now. Sister Marie Bernard is teaching us about how to care for injuries inflicted in battle, though there is little talk of war in Marseille. She said war or no war, we need to know how to handle emergencies. How is Papa? Please write. Aldo is still training in Calabria. Mama, he sent me a letter. He sounded so grown up! Hope!
Ti voglio bene,
Domenica
The guard was asleep in his chair at his post at the entrance of the dormitory when Domenica dropped the letter to her mother in the out-box on his desk. She tied the ribbons on her straw hat under her chin before going outside.