A New Life by Lucy Appadoo Page B

massive and well kept. She knew that Roberto was an avid gardener and enjoyed outdoor activities so he must've been the one who maintained the garden.
                  As they strolled indoors, Valeria noticed a statue of Jesus lining the mantel piece, paintings of Jesus and Saint Michael hanging on the wall, and a mauve cotton sofa covered with a handmade crocheted blanket. The house had a warm, cosy feel. She felt somewhat at home with the religious items displayed as her mother normally held rosaries in the evenings before going to bed. She wore crosses around her neck as a sign of being religious in her own way. Her mother believed in angels and the divine, and Valeria recalled how her mother had once told her about finding a book about angels that someone must've lost. It described the archangels, Saint Gabriel and Michael, and her mother had drawn strength by praying to them. Valeria grew up believing in the strength of the angels and divine intervention, but she had also realised that the angels allowed free will.
                  During a tour of the house, Valeria noticed a tall bookshelf containing books about Italy, Australia, and some romantic fiction written in Italian. She knew that Roberto liked to read as he had mentioned it in his letters. There was a large living room with a television, venetian blinds that hid the sunlight, two medium-sized bedrooms, a bathroom, and an outdoor patio. The flooring was complete with plush green carpet, and the high ceilings created an illusion of space.             
                  Roberto and Marco walked out to the back garden while Angela started cooking lunch. Valeria settled her suitcase into her room and started unpacking. She looked at the queen-size bed. Her hands shook with nerves and her mind cluttered with thoughts of adjustment. Then she saw a mattress beside the bed and breathed a sigh of relief. Roberto obviously planned to sleep on the mattress. She sat on the bed with clasped hands and closed her eyes, thinking about her new life.  Breaking her out of her reverie, Angela called her out for lunch.
                  After eating a large plate of homemade lasagne, crumbed chicken, and scalloped potatoes, Valeria felt like she was going to explode. She was grateful for the food as her family back home always had little to eat. Her parents had struggled to feed Valeria, her three sisters and two brothers. As they all sat at the table, Valeria discovered that Angela and Marco had only been married for two years, and were planning to have children in the next couple of years.
                  The conversation was halted by a knock at the door. Angela rose to answer and Valeria watched as a young bulky man with a mafia look about him, all powerful and widely-built, entered. Roberto rose and grabbed Valeria's hand. “Hi Luca, this is my bride to be, Valeria, and, aah, Valeria, this is Luca, our neighbour. He's from the north of Italy, and arrived a year before we did.”
    Valeria suddenly felt uncomfortable as she moved forward. “Nice to meet you.” She shook his hand, which lingered.
                  “Likewise,” he said. Valeria encountered his deep gaze and it unnerved her. She averted her eyes and watched Angela prepare a plate of lunch for Luca. They all sat back down at the kitchen table and Luca devoured his lunch while the others watched. Angela then brought out some fruit and walnuts to munch on.
                  “So how do you like Melbourne so far?” Luca asked Valeria.
                  Valeria shrugged. “It seems nice.” His watchful eye seemed to penetrate her soul, continuing to unsettle her.
                  “Wait till Roberto shows you around, you'll love it here. As they say, ‘it is the land of opportunity’.”
                  “So they say,” Valeria said. Her heart couldn't stop