The road not taken
Have you ever wondered what if? Well what if Maria never went to the Von Trapp household? What if a chance encounter changed everything and now 36 years later the fate that should have unfolded years ago decides to unravel itself now… What will happen when a certain someone hires a new housekeeper?
Okay so a few things you need to know before we start:
Maria is 58 and Georg is 72 and the year is 1962 its 36 years later
Leisl Age: 51; children: Amanda 28 –Sandra– 26 –Joseph- 23 - Leisl's spouse – Adrian
Amanda's spouse - Charles
Fredrich age 50; children: Michael – 27 –Peter – 23 - Fredrich's spouse – Lillian
Michael's spouse - Sarah
Louisa age 49; children: Danielle – 26 – Olivia – 21 - Louisa's spouse - Matthew
Kurt age 47; children: Simon - 20 – Alexandra - 18 - Kurt's spouse - Samantha
Brigitta age 46; children: Helen – 21 – Elizabeth 18 – Holly 13 - Brigitta's spouse - Nigel
Marta age 43; children: Jonathon – 17- Jamie 17 – David - 14 - Marta's spouse - Jeffery
Gretl age 41; children: Hannah 16 – Daniel – 12 – molly – 9 - Gretl's spouse - Paul
In total there are 18 grandchildren
Um yep I thinks that's about it! :D
Part 1
"Maria, no! Maria please, think about what you are doing!" Dianne pleaded to her friend of 35 years "You are 58, you can't be traipsing off like this!" she proclaimed as she walked determinedly towards her friend, watching as she continued to pack her cases.
Maria smiled and rolled her eyes "Dianne I have seen older women traipsing to worse places and a lot farther" she replied as she walked over to the bathroom to collect her toiletries.
Dianne followed in pursuit to change her mind whether she wanted it or not "You are a teacher and a good one at that. The children love you, they listen to you and you want to throw that away so you can what? Become a housekeeper?" she exclaimed following her back into the bedroom.
"Dianne…"
"No" she said as she started to take out the toiletries Maria was putting in, but continuing to look at her friend "This person could be a rapist or could have some deadly disease, he could even be a murderer for all you know!"
Maria smiled and in time with her friend put her toiletries back in her cases, it was quite amusing actually "Well then I will just have to take a few precautions in case he's a… any of the above" Maria teased, her aged blue eyes sparkling with mischief.
Dianne's eyebrows flew to the ceiling with her friends teasing as she followed her back into the bathroom "You think this is funny!"
Maria picked up her shampoos and smiled as she turned to her friend "Yes, as a matter of fact I do" her brown and white dotty dress swishing around her legs as she walked past a scowling Dianne.
"You think you're real funny don't you?" her American twang rolling off her tongue.
Maria put her shampoos in and turned to her friend, grasping her shoulders gently "Dianne, please. You have been my friend for so so long. You took me in during the war and we survived through it all together. But now, I just…" Maria breathed out and looked to the ceiling for a moment before looking back at Dianne, her brown curly hair pinned back but not severely so and her eyes brown and kind though aged looking more beautiful than ever "I love teaching yes but I need to... I don't know, take a break, find my way again" she said releasing her friends arms "I once thought god was my future, I thought he was my life… but, things change, somehow the world will give you a sign and you must follow it" she tried to explain.
Maria watched as a sigh escaped from her friend before a small smile crept up on her mouth "Even younger than me you were always the wisest"
"Two years is hardly any difference Dianne" she said as she turned back to her suitcases checking she had everything before she zipped them both shut.
Fetching Maria's cardy she walked back over to her gracefully beautiful friend "Maybe but you're still wiser despite my two years senior"
"True" Maria smiled and took her white cardigan gently "But you got the husband, the children, and the house with the white picket fence and have a grandchild on the way. Somehow I think you fared better than I" she said as she embraced her friend in a final goodbye.
Dianne smiled sadly and hugged Maria tighter "You could have had all that too…" she said quietly as they separated.
Maria fidgeted and nodded gently "I know" she replied trying not to think about her past. How everything could have been. Henry the man she had met months after she had arrived in America had been divine. He was kind, sweet, gentle, smart but not afraid to challenge her either. He was everything she could have wanted. But him, that other man... Not long before she had left Austria and left the nunnery she had found him. Dark hair and blue eyes, he had been walking through the market the same as her when they met. A chance meeting she thought it, a meeting that changed her life.
"Henry was a fine man"
Maria breathed in as she turned to pick up her cases "I know, but i…"
"I know. Him. The man with no name" she teased Maria as they walked towards the door "Write or call me as soon as you're settled and to assure me that the man or whomever you shall be housekeeping for is not a murderer"
Maria laughed and kissed Dianne's cheek "I promise"
-SOM-
Georg groaned as his eldest daughter straightened his tie "I am not a child Leisl!" he snapped as he swatted her hands away.
Leisl rolled her eyes as she checked her complexion in the mirror "No but you certainly do your tie like one" she retorted earning her a glare from her father.
"Just because your 51 doesn't mean you can back chat your father" he barked as he went to get a glass of whisky from his drink cabinet, why did this new woman have to come? He was certainly old enough to look after himself.
Leisl followed him with her eyes "And just because you're 72 doesn't mean you have to act like a grumpy old man"
Georg poured the amber liquid into his glass swirling it around a before downing it and pouring another "Why did that old witch have to die?" he muttered.
"Frau Schmidt died years ago father and you should be thankful that she travelled all the way to America with us" she said as walked over to her father "Now please, don't drive this one away like you have with all the others" she begged as her sibling Gretl walked in.
"I don't need a damn house keeper Leisl! They just get in the way; I can take care of myself!"
Gretl smiled as her father raged with anger. Though he was stern and mostly cold she knew he cared about them. Just before the war hit fully it was like he seemed to change overnight, love and care seeping back into his soul, he had changed his ways and sure enough gotten them all safely into America.
Turning to her older sister she smiled "He complaining again?"
Leisl chuckled "And don't you know it" she said as Gretl's youngest daughter molly at nine years old bounded through the door.
"Grandpa!" she cried happily running over to him.
Leisl and Gretl smiled as the stern old man seemed to wash away and a kind grandfather took over the usually stern features of his face.
"Molly, my little pumpkin" he said as he picked up his granddaughter.
Molly smiled broadly her soft blonde curls cascading down her back as she kissed Georg's cheek "Hello grandpa"
"Where are your brothers and sisters?" he enquired looking for other troublesome three "And your cousins for that matter"
Molly giggled as she bit her fingers.
Georg looked at her, his heart swelling with pride. What a wonderful family he had and so many grandchildren more than he had bargained for but he loved every single one "You know something" he said watching as molly's giggling face tipped downwards.
"Come on tell me" he said his hand going down to her hip where she started to squirm with delight.
"Okay, okay grandpa! Jamie's with his girlfriend. And me and Sandra and Simon and Peter and Auntie Louisa caught them kissing!" she giggled.
"Girlfriend ey?"
Wriggling in her grandfather's grasp she smiled and nodded.
Georg was just about to speak when the running of feet was heard from half way across the house and voice's became muddled and mixed as they got closer. Soon enough all 18 grandchildren and the rest of his seven children had all clambered into the study siblings and cousins pushing and shoving in front of their grandfather making him smile.
Putting Molly down who ran over to Daniel and David the closest to her age he looked at Leisl "And you wonder why I bought such a large house" he stated.
Leisl rolled her eyes "Apart from when we come visit, this house is far too large for just you"
Georg huffed "But you come over most days!" he protested.
"No, If you want to keep this house on you are getting a housekeeper father" She said before kissing him on the cheek despite his protests.
A more than pregnant Amanda walked up to her grandfather, looking the spitting image of her mother Leisl "Please grandpa, I'm sure she won't be that bad" she said before placing her hand on her 7 month swollen stomach "Besides, these two will need the space of this house to play in and no doubt they will cause a mess" she said her eyes burning bright at her twins soon arrival.
Georg knew he could not resist any of his grandchildren and narrowed his eyes playfully "Fine" he said everyone giggling before the doorbell went, everyone straitening up and everyone checking they looked presentable, a routine they had practiced more than once.
Georg looked at his clock reading the time to be precisely 3 o'clock "Well at least she's punctual" he said with distaste.
Authors note: Okay so new story which I hope you will all come to like. I'm not sure if I will be continuing with "A fallen angel" I haven't really had much inspiration and just hope and pray that my mind will continue to flow for this story. I haven't posted much lately as I've had like SERIOUS writers block, but hopefully I'm over coming it!... hopefully lol :D Anyway so please review and tell us if you like it and should I continue! :D Cheers my dears.