Setting the scene

As Maria walked closer to the villa she could hear seven children trying to sing about their favorite things. She announced her presence by singing with them. They rushed to her for hugs as she tried to keep from being knocked over by them. She was very happy.

"Kurt, how are you?"

"Hungry."

She laughed along with the others. "I have so much to tell you."

The children became quiet. Brigitta inhaled deeply and told her. "We have things to tell you. Father's going to marry."

Then Louisa added. "Yes, to Baroness Schraeder."

Suddenly Maria's smile left her. She stood still and gazed at nothing. The ache in her chest was intense.

Then the very man who made her heart race like a freight train and caused her unable to breathe stood on the veranda and Maria thought. God give me strength.

"Good evening," she heard him say before he sent the children inside to have their dinner. Then he continued. "You left without saying goodbye, not even to the children."

"It was wrong of me. Forgive me."

And lines appeared on her face between her eyes as she developed a scowl. Her eyes glistened and she swallowed hard.

At that moment the Baroness came from the villa and stood beside the captain. Somehow Maria managed to speak.

"Congratulations Baroness, you too Captain. The children told me you will marry."

"Thank you my dear." The Baroness responded rather blandly.

Maria's emotions were about to show; she had real tears in her eyes as she walked briskly towards the door. But the captain had one more question.

"You are back to stay?"

"Only until you find a new governess."

And Maria hurried inside the villa.

Finding Strength

Maria ran down the hall passing the dining room so fast none of the children saw her. She made it to her room where she fell on her bed and cried into her pillow. She stopped crying in a few minutes but continued to lie there.

Now what do I do? She thought.

God answered her.

Trust in the LORD with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your path straight.

And Maria accepted the words of the Psalmist. "God! I will trust you to make my path straight."

With firm resolve she changed her dress; the one she was wearing belonged to a recent postulant. It was too nice for playing with seven children. She decided to wear the dress she had on when she fell out of the boat.

By now the children had finished eating and were waiting outside her bedroom door. She heard them; seven children can make noise even when they try to be quiet. Then one of them knocked on her door. Maria didn't hesitate to open it.

"Fräulein Maria, are you going to be with us for a while?"

"Yes Liesl, until your father finds you a new governess."

"Then, what will you do?"

"Hopefully by then I will have found the life God gave me before I was born."

"Will you return to the abbey?"

"No, that door has been shut. That's enough serious talk. Why don't we get away from the villa and go to the park?"

"We'll go get ready and meet you at the veranda door."

"Perfect children."

Seven eager children quickly used the bathroom and almost ran down the stairs to the veranda door where Maria was waiting. None of them knew they were seen. Georg was in his study. He smiled and thought. Good, they're no longer sad.

His smile was subdued when Elsa joined him. "Our dinner is waiting darling. We can begin to plan our wedding."

"Of course darling, I can finish writing in my journal later."

Now he hoped she wouldn't ask what he had been writing. It had been. My secret is still unknown. Not sure for how long.

Their conversation during dinner was one-sided; Elsa did all the talking. Georg listened. His mind was elsewhere.

In the meantime, Maria and the children had arrived at the park. It had all the usual playground equipment; swings, slides, a seesaw, monkey bars and a playground merry-go-round.

They expended a lot of pent-up energy before returning home. Their father and the Baroness were just leaving the dining room.

"Children you're filthy! I hope you plan on bathing before you go to bed."

"Yes father, but we had loads of fun with our Fräulein. And tomorrow we're going on a picnic." Friedrich answered.

Elsa smiled as she had the evening of the puppet show; it was forced and fake. And she didn't want any more interaction with them.

"Georg, I'm going to my room. We can continue our wedding planning in the morning."

"Very well. Good night, darling."

Maria watched her walk away as she was thinking. I thought engaged couples kissed when they parted for the evening. Then she quickly said.

"Children, say good night to your father; you have baths to take."

Seven children shouted. "Good night Father." And cheerfully went upstairs to bathe and go to bed.

It took the children over an hour to do so. Maria even had to read three stories to Marta and Gretl before they fell asleep because they were so excited she had returned.

Maria prayed the Evening Prayers. May I know the Lord God Almighty. You are the true and never-failing Light. May it shine in our hearts forever.

With that prayer in her mind and heart, Maria gave her worries to the Lord and fell asleep.