A/N: Thank you all for the response! And thank you som04 for all the help with this chapter, both for the prodding and the inspiration at the start! Please let me know what you think to this chapter, good or bad!
Ten: Return Of A Friend
When Maria received her summoning the next day, somehow she knew that the Reverend Mother wanted to speak with her about the particular trip into town. Maria had truly been surprised to see Sister Berthe approach her after the children and she had attended the church service, because since taking up her position as the orphanage teacher, the nun had not spoken a word to her. Maria was fully aware that there was no hostility or malice in Sister Berthe's actions whatsoever, but nonetheless she was surprised.
Sister Berthe had told her in a few short words that the Reverend Mother wished to speak with her later that evening, and since it had now become a regular act each week, Maria simply nodded and thanked her for passing along the message. Maria could have sworn that she witnessed Sister Berthe's lips twitch into a small smile as she enveloped the image of Maria surrounded by the children.
So, once Maria had ushered all of the girls along, and once dinner had been served and eaten later that evening, Maria put them all to bed and headed back into the realms of the abbey.
It was always a trip that caused Maria to think to herself. It seemed that whenever she was summoned, or wished to speak with the Reverend Mother herself, Maria had a lot to think about. An abundance of thoughts always seemed to swarm around her mind, often revolving around the girls themselves, but more recently her relations to Captain Von Trapp. But somehow, tonight, Maria did not feel nervous about the potential conversation surrounding her trip into town yesterday. Since the Reverend Mother had reassured Maria that the role as teacher in the convent orphanage would still be available should she wish to see the Captain more often, she had been calmed and reassured.
Reaching the familiar door and knocking upon it, as she was wont to do these days, Maria was acknowledged and entered immediately.
As was customary, Maria walked across to the older woman she had come to recognise as a mother figure in various different ways and kissed her hand, letting her head linger for a few moments before she stood back up and went to sit down.
"It is lovely to see you, my daughter." The Reverend Mother smiled at her. "I trust everything is well?"
"Yes, everything is wonderful, thank you," Maria responded, blushing slightly. She had been acknowledging to every single thing that might fall into the category of well, and she seemed that included her outing with Captain Von Trapp.
The Reverend Mother smiled knowingly at Maria.
"Did you have a nice outing yesterday?"
Maria found that her cheeks were transforming into a bolder shade of red now. Whereas before she had been simply implying that the Captain and she had enjoyed their time together, now the question seemed not so subtle.
Opening her mouth, Maria attempted to form a response on her tongue, but to no avail. The simple string of words that she was preparing failed to come alive, therefore Maria simply nodded in response to the Reverend Mother's question.
Despite Maria's difficulty in responding verbally, the Reverend Mother persisted with her questions – not through negative reasoning, but because, as always, she hoped to help Maria through all that may be troubling her. In the past, she had often attempted to speak with the girl about her childhood and the trials she may have been through. More often than not, Maria would remain silent and persist in changing the subject of conversation, but the Reverend Mother knew that with prompting, and if Maria trusted that person beyond reasonable doubt, she would speak. It seemed to be the defence mechanism Maria had formed over the years; stability against her outspoken nature.
"And do you think you'll see the Captain again?"
The Reverend Mother noticed that this caused Maria to blush further. Maria was now also attempting to hide the colour of her cheeks with her hands.
"Don't be afraid, my daughter," the Reverend Mother continued. "If you like this man, there is no shame in admitting so."
This comment seemed to stir something inside Maria, and she withdrew her hands. Her eyes had widened slightly, and she lifted them to meet with the older woman's gaze.
The Reverend Mother watched her expression carefully, and saw that her eyes held much more than mere fondness for Captain Von Trapp. But along with the admiration, attraction, adoration, and various other positive feelings possible to feel for another human being, there was also fear present. And although the Reverend Mother was not yet aware of the cause for this fear, she vowed that she would find out and guide Maria away from its clutches.
The older woman smiled fondly at Maria.
Maria then found encouragement from somewhere, and answered the Reverend Mother.
"Yes," she whispered.
"Tell me what happened yesterday," the Reverend Mother spoke, only just hearing Maria answer. She would not have heard had she not been listening so intently, and her heart lifted a little upon hearing the younger woman speak.
The Reverend Mother waited for a few moments, and then Maria responded.
"It was confusing. I felt… I've never felt this way before."
Although the confession was of little quantity, it gave the Reverend Mother motivation to further the conversation. The older woman thought it time to ask the question that had been on the edge of her lips since that first time Maria and she had spoke since her return from the villa Von Trapp – the time where she seemed thoroughly distant and at loss. She knew how difficult this must be for Maria if she did not want to admit it herself, and therefore the Reverend Mother proposed the question for her.
"Are you in love with him?"
The Reverend Mother watched for her reaction.
"I don't– Oh, I don't know. I can't love him, can I?"
Maria then continued to explain all that had happened back at the villa. She spoke of their growing closeness and the friendship that had developed ever since his reconciliation with the children, the times where she would look at him, and found that she could hardly breathe. Although Maria did not go into full descriptions about the moments she considered to be those, she did briefly admit that it was during the moments where he had sang Edelweiss for the children, a time where he had interrupted her reading of a book and had entrapped her in a winding conversation about the storylines within, and also the time when Captain Von Trapp and she had danced the Laendler the night of the party.
"… And then the Baroness told me that I was in love with him – I didn't want to believe it!" Maria continued to reveal to the Reverend Mother about her conversation with Elsa Schrader that night, and then how the Captain had stopped her from leaving the first time. Before she knew otherwise, Maria had told the older woman about the kisses shared between them.
Though her eyes, throughout most of her revelations, were looking down at the floor, she glanced up now, almost anticipating the reaction.
What the Reverend Mother asked her next, surprised Maria considerably. "And how did you feel?"
Maria swallowed nervously, keeping eye contact and attempting to form some justifiable words that would suffice. "I don't know…" That was a lie, she told herself. She had felt so many emotions that she darest not even think about them for fear of being overpowered once again. They were a tumultuous force acting against her, almost wanting to sweep her away and leave her without control. "… But what I do know is that it was wrong. I was there on God's errand, and he was courting the Baroness – to have asked for his love would have been wrong."
"In what way?"
Maria was a little surprised by the Reverend Mother's words, and her expression showed that.
"Well, as I said, he was to be engaged to Baroness Schrader, and I was sent there with yours and God's faith. It would have been wrong – disrespectful – to ask for more than I had already."
The Reverend Mother could sense that Maria was attempting to come to terms with her love for this man – while she would almost certainly know the love she felt, accepting it would become a whole different matter. Recalling something she had heard from others, and had read for herself in that section of the newspaper, she spoke, "But I hear Captain Von Trapp has ended his relationship."
The Reverend Mother watched for her reaction.
Maria's eyes widened, but then she nodded meekly. "Yes, he had told me."
The older woman noticed the hurt in her eyes just then. Her mind began to wander, trying to think of what could be upon Maria's back which burdened her so. Perhaps she felt at fault? Perhaps she felt at fault for loving a man that was to be engaged to another woman? Perhaps she felt at fault because of how Captain Von Trapp ended his relationship? The Reverend Mother realised that Captain Von Trapp himself would have to speak with Maria, and reassure her otherwise, but for now she decided to continue herself.
"Maria, the love of a man and a woman is holy too, you know," she started. This made Maria lift her head. "Just because you love this man does not mean it is wrong. Love cannot be controlled, Maria." Maria was about to open her mouth and interrupt when the Reverend Mother continued. "You have a great capacity to love, and now you must find out how God wants you to spend your love."
Maria began to argue against that judgement, before the older woman rose to that and discarded her attempts.
"Maria, if you love this man, it does not mean that you love God any less. You must find out for yourself," the Reverend Mother finished on a bold statement. It was final, and it was almost written in stone.
"How?"
"Give it a few days, and see if he contacts you. And if not, then you must make that move."
"Oh, you can't ask me to do that."
"Maria, these walls were not built to shut out problems. Nor do they tell you to ignore your feelings. You have to face them, you have to accept them. You have to live the life you were born to live."
During her speech, the Reverend Mother had stood, and she was now only a few paces away from Maria. Taking a step forward, she placed a hand on her shoulder, and once Maria looked up, she began to sing.
Climb every mountain
Search high and low
Follow every highway
Every path you know.
Climb every mountain
Ford every stream
Follow every rainbow
'Till you find your dream.
A dream that will need
All the love you can give
Every day of your life
For as long as you live.
Climb every mountain
Ford every stream
Follow every rainbow
'Till you find your dream.
A dream that will need
All the love you can give
Every day of your life
For as long as you live.
Climb every mountain
Ford every stream
Follow every rainbow
'Till you find your dream.
It was not just Maria that woke the next morning feeling somewhat refreshed. The Reverend Mother opened her eyes that morning, and the first thing she thought about was the talk between Maria and she the night before. Subconsciously, the older woman smiled, knowing that, for the time being, she had been able to give Maria the necessary advice that she should follow the summons of her heart.
The sun streaming through her window that morning told her that it was time to be getting dressed for the day ahead, and she did so. Leaving her sleeping quarters, the Reverend Mother was walking through the corridors, on the way to morning mass. She joined with a few of the nuns on her way, and pleasantries were exchanged between them.
After the service had ended, the Reverend Mother was walking through the courtyard when she noticed a familiar group of nuns speaking with each other. The older woman smiled, remembering a previous instance where the group had gathered here, and then a flustered Maria had come running through after discovering she had, once again, been late. The Reverend Mother shared a private chuckle with herself, before walking nonchalantly across to the gathering.
"Good morning, Sister Sophia, Sister Agatha," the Reverend Mother addressed the two, and then continued with the rest, smiling at them all.
They all chorused back their response, smiling back with equal empathy.
When no members of the newly formed gathering spoke again, one of the sisters took it upon themselves to remedy the situation. From the look across the Reverend Mother's face, she knew they had been discussing something before her arrival.
"We were just considering Maria," Sister Agatha began.
"And her position here," Sister Katherine finished.
"After all, she did go and see Captain Von Trapp the other day," explained Sister Sophia. "And the girls seemed to think it was a date." Sister Sophia was referring to a conversation she had developed with the girls on Saturday during Maria's absence.
The Reverend Mother smiled slightly at them all, knowing that all of them cared for her welfare – as everyone seemed to here at the abbey. Maria's youth, life and spirit had become somewhat of a nuisance at times at Nonnberg Abbey, but nonetheless, most of the sisters would admit to missing it, and had done during the months Maria had spent at the Von Trapp villa.
The Reverend Mother chose her words carefully, not wanting to betray Maria's confidence. "I have told Maria that her position here will remain until she chooses otherwise."
Although the prestigious woman held a straight face throughout this, she began to smile a little afterwards, and from that the other nuns could deduce that she believed Maria would choose another path in life sooner rather than later. Smiles were bestowed upon the lips of all gathered in the group just then, and hearts were lifted as the Reverend Mother led them all away to their morning meal.
"I'm homeeeeee!"
The children, who had all been gathered in the music room, indulging themselves in various activities that would keep their boredom to a minimum and their minds away from the horrid weather outside, all jumped up at the sound of the distinct, masculine voice!
Brigitta, despite never being the fastest person, or the most athletic, in the family, was first to be up and out of the room, and ran into the hall to greet their visitor with open arms. The rest of the children followed mere seconds later, and were then joined by their father who had walked out of the room slower than the rest, a playful scowl across his face.
Once all of the children had finished embracing their favourite Uncle, Georg spoke, "You missed my wine cellar too much, Max?"
A few of the older children looked around at their father and laughed knowingly, whereas the younger children just turned around and laughed, both because of their siblings' laughter and their father's tone.
"Oh not just that, Georg. I missed the long and expensive telephone calls I can afford to make, and also the chance of using all your delightful," he tapped Gretl and Marta on the nose. "Singing voices. My, what you could all do at a festival, or with a record label!"
"Max," Georg warned.
Max looked up at his friend and shot him a small smile and a shrug of the shoulders. "It's always worth a try."
In response he got a series of giggles from the children, as he always seemed to, and although he attempted to hide it, a small smile from Georg.
"So Georg, the children tell me you went on a little outing this weekend."
The two had just sat down each with a glass of whiskey in hand after sending the children to bed. Now in Georg's study, Max finally found it the appropriate time to question his friend about this new relationship that seemed to be developing. Of course, Max had no objections – living in the same house as the two of them during those months, he had noticed their growing closeness, and Georg had mentioned to him the day after the party about some events the night before, although there were few details. That being the day Elsa had also left abruptly, he had deduced that something had happened, and some gentle prompting had caused Georg to speak.
"If you're going to mock, or make inappropriate comments, I'd rather you just remained quiet."
Georg responded boldly as he sat down on the long, comfortable chair in his downstairs study. Frau Schmidt had evidently been in the room some time prior to this, because the fire was beginning to roar, and Georg was pleased to set his eyes upon the dancing flames. The weather had certainly taken a turn for the worst after the lovely sun Salzburg had experienced a few days prior. October had really arrived now and was soon to disappear, and the winter months leading up to Christmas were fast approaching.
Taking a sip of his drink, he heard Max laugh a little.
"You know I'm only curious, Georg. After all, there were times you two could hardly keep your eyes off each other during those months…"
Georg turned his head sharply. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that I haven't seen that look in your eyes since Agathe passed away."
At the mention of his wife's name, Georg closed his eyes for a moment and turned his head back around. The two friends were both sat together on the comfortable chair in his study, although while one friend sat back against its back comfortably, the other was hunched forward, both his hands clasped around the glass.
Georg sighed loudly.
Max watched his friend sadly. The words that were playing on his tongue, he thought, could stir up tumultuous emotions inside his oldest friend, but at the same time could have positive repercussions. Perhaps all his friend needed was the gentlest of pushes in the right direction. "There's no harm in loving her, Georg."
Max could see that he had hit the right spot with his comment. In response, he watched as Georg turned his head and looked into his eyes directly. Over the years, Max had learnt that his friend would turn away and avert his eyes if he felt unable to speak any further.
"There would if she couldn't love me back." Georg spoke in one tone.
"And what makes you think she couldn't? Has she told you that?" Max persisted.
Georg laughed, although it was not a normal laugh. It was a shaky laugh. "Look at me!" he exclaimed, motioning with one hand that he had brought away from the glass to motion to himself. "I'm nearing forty, I'm a retired sea captain with seven child. How could she–"
"Why would she agree to seeing you if she didn't? Why would she let you kiss her again?"
Georg lifted his gaze once more to look at his friend directly. He recalled speaking with Max about that day on the telephone. Georg sighed loudly.
"Exactly," Max lifted his voice triumphantly. "You don't know."
A moment of silence passed between the two friends. The only sounds to fill the room were the steady sounds of breathing, the occasional sipping of fluids and the cackling of the roaring fire.
"Isn't it lovely to have quiet in this house?" Georg asked jokingly.
Max laughed along with it, but then persisted to ask. "Will you see her again soon?"
"If she wants to see me, then yes," Georg answered with a small smile. His head then nodded towards his desk. "I wrote her a letter just this morning, asking if she would like to, but I haven't sent it just yet."
"I look forward to hearing her reply."
Georg's smile widened at Max. His friend could be an incorrigible pain, but deep down he appreciated the constant support and the advice he would be given. He would often shun the advice to his face jokingly, but deep down he appreciated every ounce of support, and knew that he had a friend that cared about him, and would for the rest of his life, and vice versa of course.
Suddenly, Max could not help but stifle a yawn. Georg looked at him in surprise. "A long journey from Vienna, Georg. Perhaps I should retire for the night. I assume my room is prepared?"
"As always," Georg responded dryly, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Max laughed.
As Max stood up to leave the study, Georg did also, putting his glass down. "I think I'll go and check on the children."
Max said nothing, but watched as his friend led the way out of the study, and smiled to himself as he watched Georg head up the stairs. Maria had certainly come from Nonnberg Abbey as Georg's guardian angel – an angel to this entire family – and from what Georg had said, he would hope to see more of her here at the villa in the upcoming months.
Georg approached the smallest room first, the one that belonged to Marta and Gretl. Opening the door and peering inside, he was not so alarmed to find that neither were in their respective beds. He knew whilst downstairs that something was amiss, and after checking Friedrich and Kurt's room and finding neither were in there either, he headed towards the older girls' room and, as he suspected, found all of his children in there.
All seven of his children were in deep conversation, so none seemed to notice their father peek his head around the corner of the door. Georg watched them all tenderly, and with no tendrils of anger. That was another thing that Maria had changed, he thought absently to himself. Since she had arrived, he had become more lenient with their bedtime, and their awakenings in the night whether it be from nightmares or an unexpected thunderstorm.
All of his children had gathered on the three possible beds. Liesl had Gretl in her arms on her own bed, Brigitta and Kurt sat on her bed, while Louisa was sat on her own with Friedrich at the foot, Marta in his arms. He watched fondly at how close all of them were and had become. He smiled fondly.
It was only then that he began to listen to their conversation, though. Before, he had been so preoccupied with the beautiful scene before him, that his ears had not been tuned to their conversation.
"So father likes Fraulein Maria? And Fraulein Maria likes father?" Gretl asked innocently from her eldest sister's arms.
"Of course they do! Do you not remember when they danced at the party?" Brigitta responded, a bright smile forming across her face.
Although Georg was beginning to enjoy listening to his children and their theories about Maria and himself, he thought it time to interrupt the proceedings. Knocking on the door from the outside, seven heads turned sharply to look at him, eyes widened.
Stepping into the bedroom, Georg flicked on the light that had been left off strategically. Deciding to mimic his former stance, he stood with his arms crossed and the sternest "captain face" as he could, or so Maria had nicknamed it some time ago. "Now, last time I checked your bedtime was half past nine."
Georg looked across at the clock, and as he did so did the children. The time read ten o'clock.
But suddenly, Georg found that he could not keep that stance for much longer. Watching the expressions of each of his seven children, he could not help but begin to smile. Brigitta and Liesl were the first to notice, and their mouths twitched into a wide, knowing smile. Then the rest of the children began to smile at him.
Then he cocked his head sideways and, with a hearty laugh, he told them all, "Go on, get to bed."
Four of the children stood up and made their way to the door, Marta and Gretl stopping and kissing their father goodnight whilst the boys received a ruffle of the hair. Once it was just he and the three oldest girls in the room, Georg spoke again, but still in a playful tone.
"Don't think I don't know what you were talking about."
The three girls blushed a little and looked down.
"Will you be seeing her again this week, father?" Brigitta asked, just as he was about to turn and flick the light switch.
Now it was Georg's turn to look down. But he soon averted his eyes and looked back up at his daughters. He smiled at all of their expectant faces, "Hopefully."
Georg swore he could hear sighs of relief.
"Now, goodnight girls."
"Goodnight, father."
The weather had begun to improve considerably, although it was nowhere near the summer sun Salzburg had seen. But it was nearing November, in fact November would be tomorrow, and Maria had told all ten of the girls that as the group had all begun to gather outside for their regular morning break. As soon as the group had gotten outside, the girls seemed to branch off into groups. Eva and Helga went and sat on the grass to talk about something between themselves, Joanna went to sit beneath one of the trees and pulled out the copy of Moby Dick that had been left on the bookshelf by Georg, Sophia, Katharina and Theresa all grouped together with a deck of cards and began to play a game, and Isabel, Christina, Marie and Adda sat on the grass too and began to play with their dolls together.
Maria smiled fondly as she watched over them all, taking a seat on one of the stone benches. The gardens were certainly beautiful here at Nonnberg Abbey no matter what the time of year and, as always, looking at the greenery and the spectacle of the mountains above the walls, brought Maria some peace. She had thought about writing to the Captain over the next few days, just as the Reverend Mother had suggested, but somehow the words had deceived her thus far, and did not want to be formed.
Maria looked down at her lap, noting the grey dress that she had on. After speaking to the Reverend Mother about her feelings for the Captain, the older woman had also suggested that she wear her own clothes from now on. Since Maria knew that she would not become a nun now, she accepted the proposal with a smile, but thought to herself that she would have to begin collecting fabrics and making some new dresses. This dress would certainly not be suitable to wear every day of every week. She thought perhaps a trip into town tomorrow depending on the weather, since she had planned very little to do with the girls, or perhaps on Saturday.
Suddenly, Maria was pulled from her thoughts as a smaller form came and sat beside her on the stone bench. Turning her head, she immediately recognised it to be Adda, and smiled warmly at the girl. Adda mirrored her smile. "What are you up to, then?" Maria asked.
Adda shrugged. "Nothing."
"Do you not want to play with your dolls?"
Adda shook her head, and scrunched up her nose, as if to say that playing with dolls was not really her thing.
"What do you want to do?" Maria asked, lowering her head to the girl's level.
Adda shrugged again.
Maria started suggesting activities. "Cards? Get a drink?" Each suggestion was met with a shake of the head. "Find a book to read?"
Maria watched Adda carefully, and saw that she seemed to contemplate this idea. Then, after a few moments of deliberation, she nodded.
Adda stood up from the bench, but before she moved to go inside and find a book, she reached out her hand for Maria to take. Maria took it willingly and allowed herself to be led inside by Adda.
When they reached the schoolroom, Adda walked across to the bookcase and began to skim through the books there. Maria walked across to join her, and decided to just watch. But Maria noticed that as Adda's finger passed over quite a few various books, she did not seem interested at all in choosing one. Maria's suspicions turned out to be true when Adda began to speak, confirming that she had just wanted to find a moment alone with her teacher.
"Pietr had books, lots of them," she began to say. Adda had stopped moving now, and was just facing the books, away from Maria, and speaking. "In one room, there were bookshelves on each wall going right up the walls!"
Maria watched her curiously. "Who is Pietr?"
Adda paused for a moment, and then continued. "The man I stayed with. He found me, in Vienna, and he asked if I was hungry." Adda turned now and faced Maria, a sad smile across her face. "I was hungry, and he gave me some bread with jam on!"
Maria smiled encouragingly.
"Then he asked me who I was with. I said no one…" Adda looked down at the floor. "Then he said he didn't live there, he lived here in Salzburg…"
As Maria listened patiently to Adda's story, the little girl began to reveal more about her arrival in Salzburg. The old man had taken her into his home after learning that she had no one in Vienna, and had brought her back to Salzburg. From the way Adda spoke about Pietr, she still admired him, and she missed him. It was then revealed that, in February of this year, Adda had learnt that Pietr would not be able to care for her any longer, and that she would be sent here to live.
Adda finished her story, and when she did Maria noticed that her dark eyes were filling with tears. Wordlessly, Maria opened her arms and Adda stepped forward into it, allowing herself to be comforted. Maria pressed a kiss to the top of Adda's head, tightening her embrace, letting her know that everything would be all right.
The embrace lasted until a knock at the door caused them both to turn. Maria still kept an arm across her shoulders.
"My daughter, I hope I am not interrupting you."
Maria began to approach the Reverend Mother, who stood in the doorway, bringing Adda along with her. "Of course not, Reverend Mother. How can I help you?"
The older woman smiled at the two of them. "Well, I wanted to bring you this personally." In her hand was a letter, and one that looked very familiar to Maria – that type of envelope, she had come to recognise instantly as it usually appeared from Kurt's pocket.
The Reverend Mother watched Maria's reaction with a fond smile and handed her the letter.
"Thank you," Maria murmured, looking at the letter in her hand.
"And you must be Adda," the Reverend Mother smiled down at the girl. "I've heard a lot about you."
Maria tore her eyes away from the letter and watched for Adda's response. To her delight, the girl smiled and spoke in a confident tone, "Hello."
Maria squeezed her shoulders comfortingly and reassuringly.
"And how are you doing?" the Reverend Mother asked again.
"Well thank you, Reverend Mother."
Although Adda had spoke in a quite confident tone, it seemed that the last tendrils of her shyness were yet to disappear, and her next movement was to bury her head into Maria's side.
At this action, the Reverend Mother and Maria shared a smile before greeting each other goodbye. The rest of the girls then began to enter into the classroom, complaining that it had begun to rain. Maria laughed at them all, and after setting them some work for the rest of the morning, looked back at the letter.
The envelope was addressed to her. Just the name Maria in his distinct, masculine handwriting. Maria smiled to herself and felt her heart beginning to beat faster with anticipation. Opening it with her trembling fingers, through definite anticipation and not fear, she pulled out the letter and began to read.
31st October 1937
Captain Von Trapp to Maria
Maria,
As always, I hope you and the girls are all well. I know it has only been a few days since we last spoke, but I guess a few days could most certainly change things. I did tell the children that you had eaten your Apfelstrudel, but none did seem to hold it against you!
I know it has only been a few days, but I was wondering if you would like to meet again on Saturday? I will understand if you are unable to, or don't want to with it being so soon.
Max is back for the winter holidays – oh the joys! He actually arrived after I had written this, but since I had not yet brought it to you, I thought I should amend it and inform you about the chaos that has descended upon the villa. Well, chaos may be exaggerating slightly, but he is once again persisting on the topic of the children singing on stage. He may only be joking, but it does become repetitious. He will be with us, I have been informed, until the New Year. But I suppose I cannot complain all the time, because he has offered to look after the children on Saturday for me.
Anyway, I look forward to hearing a response. See you again soon, my best wishes.
Georg Von Trapp.
Maria dropped the letter on her desk and smiled broadly. Letting out a loud sigh of relief as she realised he wanted to see her again, she found another piece of paper and began to form her response, informing him that she would indeed be pleased to see him again this weekend.