Chapter fiveApril 1945
Bergamo, north Italy
Within the picturesque, medieval city of Bergamo, a small, gated house attempted to constrain all the noise and chaos of a big family.
Maria’s husband had left for work, and she and her seven children were in the midst of their hectic morning routine when there was an unexpected knock at the door.
That’s odd, the frazzled Italian mother thought.
She swung it open and, to her astonishment, saw well-loved faces she had not dreamed of seeing for a long, long time.
‘Mercy be! Mama!’ she cried. ‘And little sister—Contessa!’ Mother and daughter and then sisters embraced.
‘My, how your children have grown! This must be little Martino …’ she stared at the slight, pale boy whom she had not yet met. He was so thin, but his dark brown eyes were brigh
