Chapter three late for the Christmas holidays...
Chapter III – Healing
Christmas Eve
"Georg! When you invited me out so late and on this day I wasn't expecting to be here!" Elsa said in a not so subtle whisper.
"Shh, Elsa! My family is performing and since you're so close to them, I wanted you to hear them!"
Oh please. Their concert wasn't even in English. To think she missed a night of midnight madness shopping with the student council girls for this?
She rolled her eyes when Georg looked away but smiled sweetly as he turned back. Maria was helping seat families as an impromptu usher.
Brigitta glanced out of the wings in curiosity. People watching was her hobby, one she enjoyed with relish: the happiness of every child, the solemnity of the nuns, the bored blonde sitting to the right.
"Georg brought Elsa with him." The others made a face. The socialite did not care for them and vice-versa.
"It's time!" Liesl beckoned to them to take their places.
The children performed their songs to wild applause. Afterwards they took their seats beside Georg, Maria, and Elsa as Mass began. The message of peace, humility, and charity reverberated through the readings, homily and songs during the special night.
Liesl looked around trying to find a certain tall basketball player. Rolf was not there! He promised her faithfully he would come specifically to hear her sing. After some subtle questioning from her younger siblings, she found that he had not shown up at all.
Soon the service was over, and the opulent family received many kind compliments on their fluency and great vocal talent.
"It sounded like a professional group!"
"I never knew the sound of music can be so wonderful."
"It's nice to see the Von Trapp family attending this church again."
The entire troop walked to the Von Trapp villa (much to Elsa's horror). She clung as tightly as a leech to Georg's arm. Maria paused at the crossroad between her neighborhood and his.
"Aren't you coming, Maria?" Louisa queried.
Their tutor glanced at the ground. As much as she wanted to join them, she demurred instead. "It's Christmas Eve. It should be a family occasion."
"But you are family," Marta protested along with all of the children.
"And technically it's Christmas Day," Brigitta noted looking at her watch.
The decision was not up to them, however, and 8 pairs of eyes glanced on the eldest male in the group.
Georg pulled away from Elsa's arm to stand in front of Maria. "Would you be spending the time with your uncle?"
In his heart he sought any excuse for her to stay. He wanted her to stay. The family seemed much more jovial with her included.
"My uncle is out of town until after New Year's."
"Oh then you must stay with us!" the others chimed in.
"But I don't have my things!"
"We'll wait!"
All of the children were dressed snugly. Maria's eyes met Georg's calm blue ones. He nodded silently and gave her a small smile in agreement. She grinned back at him. To think she had the great Georg Von Trapp's approval!
"I won't be long," and she sprinted away to pack for a quick stay.
As the others counted (in German) how many families decorated their houses with Christmas lights, Elsa remarked in Georg's ear, "Such charity you give to her! First as a tutor and now you invite her into your own home for the holiday!"
"Please, Elsa." He resisted the urge to rub his ear. "It's only for the holiday break and she's all alone. She already is practically like family and we have more than enough room than we can spare. You're staying too, aren't you?"
The elegant woman smiled happily. She had been miffed that the Von Trapps had already considered Maria, a mere tutor, family after such a short acquaintance. She and Georg had been dating for nearly two years already! Surely that was enough to be considered family.
Their missing comrade came carrying a small overnight bag across her shoulder and the group set off towards home.
"Do you think it will snow?" Friedrich wondered.
"If it gets cold enough," Brigitta answered.
After her remark a chill wind swept through the streets. Maria was cold but she didn't complain. All she had to do was make it to the house and felt complaining about her discomfort did no one any good. Georg had noticed though as she shivered again through her threadbare coat. He shrugged off his own jacket and placed it around her shoulders.
The enveloping warmth which suddenly engulfed her was a relief but her surprise at whose jacket it belonged to was greater. A hint of cologne and something remarkably unique permeated the dark blazer.
"Won't you be cold?" She made ready to take off the coat but Georg simply remarked, "I'll just use Gretl as my jacket." He hoisted his youngest sibling into his arms when he noticed she was flagging behind. Little legs could only go so far. The rest of the party chatted happily.
Liesl, meanwhile, drifted back to Elsa who totted along in high heeled shoes.
"Elsa, do you know where Rolf went for the holiday break?"
"Oh, dear, don't you know? He's in Hawaii with his family. That snobby Katherine Hart was so excited because they're both spending their vacation in the same beach front area."
Liesl's heart fell at these words. Katherine was one of those flirty, attractive girls who often turned any boy, including Rolf's, head.
As Elsa struggled to catch up to Georg, Liesl sadly whispered to herself, "But he said he would be here for the holidays." As they entered the cheery house only Maria noticed the younger girl's tears. The weeping brunette ran quickly upstairs to her room.
SOMSOMSOMSOMSOM
Maria's eyes gaped in astonishment as she gazed upon the sumptuous meal laid before the entire family. The Von Trapps Christmas dinner featured platters with meats, several side dishes, and desserts of epicurean delight. It seemed like a feast set before a king. The others loudly proclaimed what a fine dinner this year's dinner would be.
The hungry bunch quickly set to and soon cleared off many of the dishes amidst laughter and cheerful talk. Most of the gaiety seemed to be directed and coming from their happy German teacher. Even the kitchen staff reflected the change in mood, breaking the employer barrier by congratulating the children on their beautiful singing which they heard when attending.
They too remembered the days when the Von Trapp family used to attend church with their employees. Perhaps the tradition could be renewed in the future years.
SOMSOMSOMSOMSOM
"Maria, do you know any good stories? We're tired of the ones we heard of already," Gretl replied with boredom.
"Who usually tells you stories?"
"Georg does."
The elfin girl mouth hung open in astonishment. Dour Georg Von Trapp, prince of the school, telling stories to his younger sisters?
Maria had never been blessed with younger brothers or sisters, but her exuberant attitude and the help of Louisa and Friedrich soon had the little ones ready and tucked into their beds. The two then claimed to return back to their room for some late night reading.
"Don't you want to listen?" Maria asked. The two youngest scoffed saying their elder brothers and sisters always said they were too old for bedtime stories. The blonde young woman giggled and wished them a happy read as they left.
Their impromptu storyteller immediately launched into a wonderful tale involving lost princesses, magical sorcerers, and exciting swordfights. The youngest Von Trapps giggled and gasped their way through the story. Maria was speaking in a dramatic whisper for a tense scene when a muffled thump near the door's entrance interrupted.
"Come in if you want to hear the rest!"
Sheepishly not only were Louisa and Friedrich listening but Kurt and Brigitta popped their heads in as well. Word must have spread that Maria was putting the little ones to bed. All four found spots on Marta and Gretl's bed to curl up on to finish listening to Maria's epic tale.
As usual, the hero saved the princess and the couple concluded with a happy ending but a glance revealed to their storyteller that everyone was fast asleep in their places. Carefully Maria managed to carry Brigitta and Kurt up to their beds. The older two on the other hand was a problem. Louisa and Friedrich were too heavy and awkward for a small girl like Maria to carry and she certainly couldn't leave them in pink beds too tiny to fit them!
She hated to wake them up so, fretfully, she walked out into the hall for an answer to come to her.
Oomph.
"Maria!"
"Georg!"
Abruptly she clamped a hand over both his and her mouth. Amusedly he looked at her in confusion.
"The others are asleep." He nodded seeing the slumbering bodies. Most amazingly he was surprised to see Louisa and Friedrich. They always claimed to be too old for bedtime stories but Maria seemed to have convinced them otherwise.
She removed her hand but her eyes lit up with an idea.
"You can help me carry them to bed! I already tucked in Brigitta and Kurt."
Georg's eyebrows seemed to disappear into his forehead. Every one of his brothers and sisters stayed to listen to Maria's tale? They always claimed they were too old for his stories. What kind of spell did she have over them?
Together the two entered the room. Maria motioned for him to take Friedrich's feet and she would take his arms. Her employer chuckled softly before scooping the boy up entirely into his arms and carrying him out of the room.
Well, maybe he'll need help carrying Louisa, Maria thought. The girl was deceptively heavy.
The young man returned and likewise slipped one arm around the snoozing girl's shoulders and the other under her knees. Maria couldn't help but be entranced by the slight pull of his shirt against his shoulder blades and the tightening of his biceps as he lifted his burden. She followed him out and watched as he entered Louisa's room to deposit her on her bed across the hall. Closing the door of the youngest girls' pink room silently, Maria smiled at his return.
"Where's Elsa?"
"Asleep. She said she needed her beauty rest for Santa."
A snore sounded through the door and both sets of eyes widened in surprise. Georg rolled his eyes heavenward.
"I forget how loudly Gretl snores. Marta is luckily a deep sleeper."
Maria nearly lost her composure and struggled to hold in her laughter. To think that the youngest Von Trapp could sound like that! His next statement, however, took her breath away.
"Now would you like me to tuck you in?"
She blushed fiercely at his intense gaze but swiftly glared at him when she realized he was joking. His soft laughter trailed after her as she flounced downstairs to retrieve her overnight bag muttering about arrogant men and their insane sense of humor.
I'm ever so slowly slipping in the Georg/Maria moments. Please review.