Chapter twelveJanuary 1947
Fiume, Italy
Lena packed hurriedly. Vittoria watched on curiously, confused at the commotion.
‘We’re going on a trip,’ she told her two-year-old daughter. ‘So we must pack your clothes and your doll, yes?’
‘Yes,’ the girl agreed.
Rico entered the bedroom. ‘I have submitted the paperwork at city hall. We are to go back tomorrow to pick up the pass-outs.’
‘Okay, I’ll wear my best dress for that,’ she said, thinking aloud.
‘You don’t have to. You always look a picture.’
‘Thank you.’ Her laughter rang high and thin. They were both terribly nervous about leaving Fiume, but didn’t feel they had a choice. They couldn’t move to Belgrade.
The next day, the couple visited city hall as required, to see if their application had been processed.
‘What name?’ the slee
