~* Prologue *~
New England, 12-7-1948
Dear Maria,
I know it must be strange for you to receive a letter of me after almost 10 years of silence.
However, under the circumstances of our leaving and with the war, it wasn't possible to contact you and later I couldn't find the courage.
The happenings of the last weeks gave me finally the courage – and a reason to write to you.
I don't know how much you know about our escape from Austria, but as Salzburg isn't that big, I suppose you know why we had to leave. I always regretted that we weren't able to see you again. I tried it a last time the night before we left, but they told me you would have your ordination the next day and therefore mustn't see anybody.
After our arrival in America, we spent a few months travelling around, watching all the cities and landscapes of our new home. Soon we got tired of it and Father bought a little villa in New England, although Mother would have preferred it to stay in a city like New York or Boston. He didn't give in, as New England reminded him a lot of Austria, which he's still missing – as we're all missing it. Nevertheless, to our own surprise, we started to feel at home in America.
The years passed by and now, I am not 16 going on 17 anymore, but 26 going on 27. Moreover, I am not the teenager anymore who is in love for the first time, but an engaged woman.
My future husband is a teacher for music, as I am. We met each other at the college and felt in love. I told him how I started to love music, that you taught me to love music and he always wanted to meet you – Because if you had not told me how to sing, I never would have decided to study music and therefore never would have met him. I know this must sound odd to you, but that is just the way my fiancée and I are feeling about it.
After he asked me to marry him, during all the preparations for our wedding, I often thought about you and the feeling, that I wanted you to be a part of this day grew.
I don't know if it'll be possible for you to leave the convent and I know it would be a long travel, but please, if it there would be any possibility for you to come to my wedding, I would be the happiest bride on earth.
Yours,
Liesl
~*~*~*~
----October 1948----
Maria looked at Liesl, who was wearing a white wedding-dress. After she had received Liesl's letter she first hadn't been sure if she really should go to the wedding, but then she had realised that she still missed the children after all these years.
"How do I look?" Liesl asked nervous.
"Wonderful, you're the most beautiful bride I've ever seen." Maria smiled. She was so glad to have the children back, although she couldn't call them children anymore.
Liesl was going to be married today, Friedrich had joined the Navy, Louisa was studying Psychology, Kurt worked in a bar, Brigitta visited dozens of courses, trying to find out what she wanted to do, and the little Ones enjoyed their High-School life. Maria slightly shook her head, she certainly couldn't call them little anymore, they had become two young, beautiful woman.
Maria stepped towards Liesl and ordered her veil. The two women looked at each other in the mirror.
"Maria, may I ask you something?"
"Of course, everything you'd like to"
"Why did you leave us?"
Maria was surprised upon this question. "I left you a letter explaining everything, Liesl."
"It said that you missed the Abbey."
"I did, Liesl. You see, the Abbey was my home – is my home."
"But couldn't you have staid till September? Didn't you like us at all? You just left without even saying good-bye"
Maria swallowed. "Oh Liesl, you know I loved you children, I still do."
"So why didn't you stay? I just cannot imagine you missed the Abbey that much. At least you never seemed to miss it to me."
"I –" first Maria didn't know what to say, but as she looked into Liesl's face she decided to tell her the truth. "I had to leave, because I was, because I thought I was in love with your father –" The sound of shattering glass interrupted Maria, startling she turned around.
"Captain von Trapp……"
To be continued