You Must Love Me
Written by: lysimarie
Summary: Christine Kesselman is a teacher asked to become a private tutor in another country for six unruly children. On her journey, she finds happiness, but will that happiness be shattered after a revelation?
Author's Note & Disclaimer: Here is the first installment of You Must Love Me. I hope ya'll like what came to my mind, and I apologize to those that were reading my other story Untitled as of Now. That story died awhile ago, when my computer crashed, and I lost the chapters I had written. Then I lost the love I had for Phantom for a few months, but it was just a small phase, and I am happy to be back in the world of Fan Fiction. Disclaimer: If I owned Phantom or Sound of Music, do you really think that I would be writing about it?
Chapter 1: Excuse me?
Christine laid on her bed, watching a re-run of CSI as she graded her ninth grade class finals. It was late, and the crickets were outside chirping away as she stretched her muscles. "Two more to go. You can do this Kesselman." She said, running her hand through her curly hair.
Then, the phone rang. "This had better be important" she groaned, leaning over to pick up the annoying electronic.
"Christine Kesselman." She said, a small yawn escaping her lips.
"Ms. Kesselman, just the person I wanted to speak with." A familiar voice said.
"Mr. Kerry! What can I do for you?" she asked in surprise at her sudden call from her boss.
He chuckled, "I have just received word that you have been chosen to be a private tutor."
Christine blinked. "What?"
"A once in a lifetime opportunity. Your plane leaves in three days."
"Do I get any information about what is going on? I don't even get a chance to decide whether or not I even want to go."
"Christine, this position is going to define your career. I was told that the Captain would not accept any other tutor than you. You are a wonderful teacher, and it is amazing that someone from another country would recognize that."
Christine sighed. This would be a very good thing for her career as a teacher. Plus, being specifically requested is a nice boost to her ego. "Where am I going?"
"Salzburg."
"SALZBURG?! As in Austria?" Christine exclaimed a little too loudly.
"CHRISTINE? WHAT'S GOING ON IN THERE?" her mother called.
"Nothing!" she shouted back, covering the mouthpiece. "Sorry. I think I just woke up the house."
Her boss laughed. "It's all right. You're supposed to be surprised. I need to know if you will be going."
Christine looked at herself in the mirror. Two bright green eyes looked back at her, and her soft brunette curls trailed down her back. She had only been a teacher for four years, and had just experienced her first few graduation parties of her students. Could she leave that behind? Could she leave her parents and go to Europe?
"Ms. Kesselman?"
"I'll do it."
-----
"Christine, are you sure you want to do this?" Kari Kesselman asked her daughter, who was packing her few bags.
"Mom, I wouldn't have done this if I didn't think it was the right thing to do. I've always wanted to go to Europe, and now, to be able to go and get paid for it, I didn't find anything wrong with it." She said, throwing her clothes into her suitcase.
"Honey, I love you, but have you thought about your life here? What about school? What about your father and I? What about…"
"Mom, stop. I have thought about it. I am only there for the summer, you and dad will be fine, and I'm sure if anything drastic happens while I'm gone, that my employer will understand."
"Christine, please don't go."
"Mom, I have to do this. This is important to me. And because it is, it should be just as important to you." Christine whispered.
"I know sweetie. I know. I guess I'm just overprotective."
Christine laughed. "What?" her mother asked, a confused look on her face.
"Mom, you have my umbilical cord in your purse."
"Don't all mom's?" she asked, hugging her daughter. Christine laughed and returned the gesture. "I'll miss you kid."
"I'll miss you too Mom."
----
Christine sat on the porch rail, looking up at the stars. Her parent's country home was out in the middle of nowhere, and the orbs of fire always looked bright. She sighed softly. This is my last night here looking at these stars. Next time I'll be in Salzburg.
"There you are Sweet Pea."
Christine turned to face her dad, a smile on his face. She laughed and swung her legs around the rail to face him. "Hi daddy." She whispered, as he leaned against the rail beside her.
"Your mother isn't happy."
She shook her head. "I know. But she has to accept that I'm not always going to live here. I'm actually excited about teaching Captain Erik Sevellia's children."
"I'm envious of you." He said after a few moments, looking to the sky.
"Why's that?"
"You get to get out of this god-forsaken house."
Christine laughed and jokingly slapped her dad. "You're horrible."
"Aren't I? Anyway, I hope that you have a wonderful time and that if you need anything while you're there, just call home. Who knows? Maybe you'll find Prince Charming?" he said, walking back inside, leaving her to relax.
The young girl sat on the railing for a moment letting her father's words sink into her. She doubted that she would find her Prince Charming in Austria, she would be too busy taking care of someone's children.
----
The plane was in midair from London to Salzburg. That was when Christine was beginning to question her decision to go. She didn't know any language other than English, she didn't know much about the city, except that it was where Mozart lived and that it was invaded by Nazi's sixty some years ago.
After a while of questioning herself, Christine decided to make the best of it, and slept the rest of the way. She woke up as the plane landed, and took her carry-on luggage as she exited the plane. She went to the terminal, and gathered her duffle bag and went to find who was picking her up.
As she rode an escalator, she saw an older man holding a card that said her name. She smiled and waved to him, who raised an eyebrow at her. Christine thought this was weird and walked over to him. "Hello! I'm Christine." She said happily, a smile on her face.
"I'm the old butler. Herr Reyer." He said, leading her to the car, where he put her bags in the trunk and drove her away from the airport.
Christine thought that this behavior was odd, but she was raised with ex-hippies, so she thought that it had to just be her upbringing of being touchy-feely. She sat in the back, looking at the sights, and smiled at the scenery of the hills and the mountains. It reminded her of Ohio, where her home was, where she believed she belonged.
Suddenly, the car came to be in front of a large villa, painted a soft yellow color, with green shutters. It was beautiful, and the garden in the front was just as breathtaking. She got out of the car when Herr Reyer opened the door, and she went to get her bags. "Please Fraulein, let me get those. Just wait in the main hall for the Captain. I'll inform him of your arrival." He said, pointing to the door.
Christine went inside, and gasped inwardly at the beauty. It was regal, but in a classic way, like the house held every memory since it had been built, and the staircases that led to the second and main floors were extravagantly carved from mahogany wood, stained a deep red color. Christine let her hand slide down the banister to the main hall, loving the feel of the wood. Her father was a carpenter, and ever since she was little, he would make her little toys of wood and when she became old enough, he would let her come to work with him on weekends to help out. She had a real knack for working with her hands, but her favorite thing to do was sing. Her mother had sang to her since before she was born, and almost every memory of hers from when she was little had to do with singing.
A loud bang startled Christine, and she turned to see a man standing in a doorway, his eyes piercing through her soul. On the right side of his face, a white mask laid, concealing whatever lied beneath. His hair was a dark brown, swept to one side, and his facial structure was very handsome. His deep blue eyes stared at her, and Christine found herself smiling. He did not look much like a Sea Captain.
"Why do you look at me like that?" he said, his voice startling her.
She smiled once more. "I'm sorry sir, but you don't look much like a Sea Captain."
He lifted his eyebrow, "And you Fraulein don't look like a Governess."
Christine looked down at her outfit. It was a little unprofessional she thought, but it was what she felt comfortable in. A simple dress she found at a thrift store, with ¾ length sleeves, and a skirt that reached a few inches below her knees. Her ballet slipper shoes weren't horribly used, but they weren't exactly brand new.
"Now, Fraulein…"
"Christine, Sir. Christine Kesselman."
The Captain stared at her for a moment before continuing, "Fraulein Christine, you are the 16th in a long ling of governesses that my children have been able to go through since their mother died five years ago. I hope that you will be an improvement on the last one, she only stayed for two hours."
Christine stared at him like he was mad. "What's wrong with the children sir?"
"It's not the children. It's their governesses."
She nodded, figuring that would be true. "If you'll excuse me sir, I have one question to ask you."
He nodded, "Only one?"
"Do the children speak English?"
"Of course they do! Along with French, German, and Spanish."
"All of them?" Christine asked, a bit surprised.
"All of them." The Captain confirmed.
Christine was a little shocked. She was 28, and had forgotten most of her French that she had taken in High School.
"I guess that dress will do when you meet the children. There isn't time for you to change." He said, Christine feeling a little hurt at this comment.
With that, he found a whistle, and blew it. Christine jumped out of her skin, and moved to the wall behind the Captain as she heard the banging footsteps of children. She didn't know how many there were, and counted only five, but there was a space between a boy about 14, and a girl who looked 6.
The children marched in time with their father's whistle, and Christine thought the whole thing looked like something that would be in a movie. The children stood in a line, the space still there. Then a girl came walking out of a room, a book in her hands as she continued to read. The Captain cleared his throat, and the girl looked up at her father, and handed him her book. Christine smiled at the punishment, a small tap on her rear with said book.
"Now children, this is your new governess. Fraulein Christine Kesselman, and I hope she will stay longer than your last one. Now, when I blow your signals, please step forward and give your names."
The children did as they were told, and Christine liked their names. Adam, Avril, Alexandar, Alana, Amiee, and Arabella. Then the Captain did the unthinkable. He handed her a whistle! "Lets see how well you listened."
Christine shook her head, "No, sir. I can't do that. I would rather use their names, they're all so beautiful."
"Fraulein, this is a very, very large house, and I will not have people shouting. The children will help you." He said, forcing the horrid thing into her hands. "Now, this is what you will hear when I want you."
"Oh No Sir! I'm sorry!" she said rather loud causing the masked man to look at her, anger filling his eyes. "Whistles are for dogs, cats and other animals, but not for children, and definitely not for me."
The Captain pushed his anger down. He may be pushing away his children, but he would not allow himself to explode in front of them. "Fraulein, have you always been this…stubborn?"
"Oh much more Captain." She said honestly. She had never quite grown out of speaking her mind, and she considered it one of her worst faults.
"I see." He said, before turning and walking away.
Christine got an idea, and shrilly blew the whistle he gave her. He stopped immediately, and turned to face her slowly. "Yes, Fraulein?"
"I'm sorry sir, but I don't know your signal." She said, a smile on her face.
He blinked, and looked at her sharply. "You may call me Captain." He said, his voice hard, before turning to continue to leave.
When their father was out of earshot, the children chuckled softly, as Christine looked after the captain. She smiled and turned to the children, who immediately stood at attention. I am going to need to get them to lighten up. Hopefully I can. She thought, looking at them. "At ease." She said jokingly, and was shocked when they actually took the position.
Christine smiled at the children a little nervous. "Would you please step forward and tell me your names again?"
The first boy stepped forward. He was tall, about six foot, and a carbon copy of his father, only his face wasn't concealed by a mask. "I'm Adam. I'm 17 years old, and I've been told that I am impractical."
Christine laughed. "Who told you that Adam?"
"Fraulein Catherine. Five governesses ago." He stated proudly.
The next girl stepped up. She had dark brown hair and brilliant light blue eyes. "My name is Avril. I'm 17 as well, and I don't need a governess."
"Well, I guess we'll just be good friends. Thank you for telling me." I'm not going to fight it.
"I'm Alexandar. I'm 13, and I'm incorrigible."
Christine smiled. Right title for a boy. "Congratulations."
"What's incorrigible?" his curious voice asked.
How do I explain this? "I think it means you want to be treated like a boy." She said, her smile warm. That should do.
The next girl stepped forward, who was late in coming. "I'm Alana, I'm ten, and I think your dress is the ugliest one I've ever seen."
Christine was a little taken back, and was thankful to the oldest sister. "Alana, you should never say things like that."
"Don't you think it's ugly?"
"No. Fraulein Olga's was the ugliest."
Christine felt something tugging at her skirt, and looked down to see a young girl who had to look like her mother, because she didn't have anything in common with her father. "I'm Amiee, and I'm going to be seven on Thursday, and I'd like a pink parasol."
Christine smiled at the girls innocence. "Pink's my favorite color too." She said, rubbing the child's head.
The next girl simply stomped her foot in annoyance. It was apparent she wanted attention. "And you're Arabella."
The girl lifted her hand to show Christine her hand. "And your five years old? My goodness, you're practically a young lady."
Arabella laughed and hugged the new governess. Christine was overtaken by this sudden burst of emotion, and hugged her back. "All right children, outside for your walk, your father's orders." An older woman said, leading the children to the door.
"Hello there Fraulein, I'm Frau Giry. The housekeeper. I'll show you to your room."
Christine followed the older woman, and smiled at her. She was reminded of her own mother, always a good hostess. The door to her room opened, and Christine shrieked in surprise when she saw a rubber spider hanging from her doorway. She laughed and took it down. Frau Giry stood there in shock for a moment. "Fraulein, you find this amusing?"
"I'm used to this kind of thing. I grew up with three brothers, and I was the youngest. I've had a lot of tricks played on me." She said, throwing he rubber spider in her bedside drawer.
The older woman sighed, "Dinner is held at eight o'clock promptly, and the captain told me that you are to not be disturbed, so you may rest for your trip must have been very tiresome."
Christine sighed happily. "Thank you so much. I didn't sleep much because I was so excited." She said, a smile on her face.
"Have a good rest dear."
Christine smiled. She had survived her first trick from the children, she had a good time with the captain, even if he was very stern, and she loved the house she was staying in. So far, Salzburg was great.