EPILOGUE
Maria looked back to where Reverend Mother stood behind the gates, flanked on the one side by Sister Margarethe with her reassuring smile, and on the other side by Sister Berthe, who managed to look proud and severe at the same time. One final pang of loss for what she was giving up. One last wistful look, and then the gates clanged shut. Now she would be serving God by marrying her Captain and raising his children.
She turned to where Liesl and the little girls were waiting.
"Mother?" Liesl whispered.
Maria's throat closed at the sound of those two simple syllables. Although things with the children had improved considerably since her return to the villa three days ago, she had nearly given up hope on this oldest one, the one who had been forced to act as a mother herself for four long years.
"Mother, I-" The girl thrust the massive bridal bouquet in Maria's direction, along with a beseeching look.
"Liesl. Darling. I am so proud to have you as my daughter, and so lucky that you will let me share you with your mother in heaven." They shared a warm embrace, and then Liesl turned to tend her sisters.
Maria gripped her bouquet in one hand and nervously smoothed down the heavy white satin skirt with the other. She glanced behind her at the long train, neatly arranged in preparation for her walk down the aisle.
The girls had voted against this gown, preferring something more daring to its modest long sleeves and high neck. But now she was grateful to have overruled them. Because even if no one could actually see the evidence, Maria was only too aware of what was hidden beneath satin and veil: the lingering twinges, and her skin, still tender everywhere he had kissed her. Everywhere.
They had been married late Sunday night, and it wasn't until Wednesday evening that they returned to the villa, sticking firmly to their stories of three nights spent apart, she at Nonnberg and he in Innsbruck. For the next two days, she'd relaxed into the love and acceptance of Georg's family, until last night, when she'd returned to the Abbey to spend one last night under its roof. He'd called her there, just before bedtime, to wish her luck on her long walk up the aisle.
"How long?" she asked, feeling her cheeks turn hot, "How long will it take us to reach Paris?"
"In a hurry to see the sights, are you? To do a bit of shopping?" he'd teased.
Then his voice dropped to a silky murmur that stirred her deeply, a reminder of their three nights together. "It's eight hours, Maria darling, but I think you'll find that the trip simply flies by. Because I got us a private compartment, you see. Nothing but the best for my wife. My life, I mean," and he'd rung off with a laugh.
She loved him now in a way she wouldn't have been able to comprehend, not even a week ago. She loved Georg for the way he had loved her: with tender patience and unreserved passion, all at once. Maria understood, now, why he'd rejected the opportunity for one furtive night in the villa in favor of waiting until they could share three long days and nights together. Because he was right: it had been a little overwhelming at times. After all of his dire warnings, she hadn't been surprised to find herself clinging to him for reassurance.
The real surprise had been how he had clung to her.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a drum roll, the crash of the organ, the soaring voices of the choir. Liesl started the little girls on their journey down the aisle and followed behind at a measured pace. Maria peered toward the altar, searching until her eyes made out the tall, dark-uniformed figure waiting for her there.
Taking a last, deep breath, she stepped forward to meet him.
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I don't own TSOM or anything about it. Thanks for the fabulous discussion! And for the birthday prompt, lemacd!