Eloise woke up earlier than usual for a Sunday morning. Her alarm wasn't slated to go off for another half hour, but she couldn't fall back to sleep. She gathered her robe and quietly sneaked out of her room on the first floor. Looking up the staircase to the second floor, she wondered how Maria and Kurt were doing so she climbed the stairs and went to their room. When she got to the top of the staircase, she found the door to Room 4 completely open and completely empty.
Maria had woken up just before midnight, glancing at the clock on one of the night stands. Her eyes were a bit puffy from crying and her cheeks hardened from being tear stained. She moved to roll over and sit up, but something was preventing her from doing so. She glanced down and saw that Kurt had fallen asleep with both of his arms wrapped around her, one underneath her back and the other lazily resting across her stomach. Maria wanted to savor the moment, feeling the closest she had ever felt to Kurt before. She didn't know if it was because they were literally snuggled closely together or the fact that he had been so silent and understanding as she lay there sobbing uncontrollably till they both fell asleep. She very gently stirred him, not wanting to make any noise. His eyes fluttered open immediately in alarm.
"What is it? Are you okay?" He rolled over to glance at the clock.
"I'm fine. Come get up, we're leaving." Free from his grasp, Maria stood up and gathered her things. They had never really unpacked anything so all that had to do was grab their bags and silently descend the stairs to the door. Kurt stretched and stood up following his mother's lead. They didn't know what to do with the key to their room, so they left it in the lock of the door and propped the door so it was wide open.
Very carefully they crept down the stairs through the living room to the side door. Maria unlatched the lock and the two were out into the cool night air in a matter of seconds, sliding the door shut in place after them.
After they were a safe distance from the house Kurt turned to his mother and spoke, "Now where to?"
As if on cue, church bells clanged through the night at that very moment. Midnight. Maria turned towards the sound of the chimes and saw a church further down the street. "Let's try that church. Perhaps we can spend the night there."
Where in the world were they? Eloise was perplexed as anything. Here she was, in the early hours of the morning expecting to find her new house help sound asleep in their bed, only to discover they had slipped out in the middle of the night. Why, they had never even slept in the bed it was still perfectly made. They had left no note, no sign of ever having been there at all. She searched through the living room and kitchen, but found no trace of them. Eloise felt sorry, she had truly felt sympathetic for Maria and Kurt and did want to help them out. She knew what it was like to feel such heartache and sense of loneliness. When her husband had died years before, she felt like her world had ended. Had it not been for Claire, Susan, and at the time, Claire's husband Peter, Eloise didn't know what she would had done. They had gone into business together and bought the bed and breakfast. But then Peter received his draft letter and was sent overseas to war...and then another letter came delivered by two army officials, saying he had been killed in duty. So it was true, heartache and despair were no strangers to her family.
After Maria and Kurt rushed out of the kitchen, Eloise was too agitated to eat anything else, so she sat as Susan and Claire silently ate then washed the dishes. Afterwards, they gathered in their small sitting room in their suite to read like usual. Susan was very quiet, but Claire sat staring off into the distance. Eloise could tell she was still very angry, but she knew her daughter. Whenever they had had a fight when she was growing up, Claire would always sulk immediately after, regardless if she was right or wrong. Usually, she'd sit by herself and eventually go to her mother and apologize, but just before that would happen, her face would soften, signaling that she realized what she'd done wrong. It was as if all her anger had drifted away and Claire just wanted to restore peace. That's what she looked like now sitting in their quaint living room. Claire had realized her actions toward Maria and Kurt were wrong, but her damn pride was standing in the way.
Time flew by and Eloise could hear her alarm sounding from the other room. 6:30 a.m. - time to get ready for church at 7 then back to make breakfast for the first round of guests awakening at 8. Oh well, we've been doing this just us three for a while now, no use in crying over something that never happened in the first place.
The Winters dressed and made their weekly walk down the street to the Church of the Immaculate Conception and were greeted by the pastor, Father Fitzpatrick. He was a lovely Irish-Catholic with wavy brown hair and a gentle smile.
"Good morning, Eloise, Susan, Claire. How are you on this holy day?"
"Good morning father, God bless you." Susan gave the warm greeting and shook the priest's hand. Claire and Eloise did the same before entering church.
Maria and Kurt had been pleasantly surprised to find the doors of the church unlocked when they got there at midnight. They were the only ones in the dimly lit room and quickly nestled down together on one of the hard benches in the church. They drifted off to a dreamless slumber and were woken up by the morning bells. Maria woke up first and left Kurt snoozing as she dropped to her knees on the kneeler and prayed. She stayed like that until people began filing in for seven o'clock mass. She moved to wake up Kurt and he knelt down beside his mother, making it look like they were just ordinary worshippers on a regular Sunday morning.
And that is where Susan, Claire, and Eloise found them as they took their usual spot in one of the middle pews on the left side. Claire was the first to spot them as people weaved in and out, finding seats. They happened to be sitting two rows in front of their pew. Both Maria and Kurt's heads were bowed down in reverence and they stayed like that until the organ sounded the beginning hymn to start mass.
Claire observed their behavior all through mass. She didn't realize she was even staring at them until her mother grabbed her elbow to sit down with the rest of the congregation. She had been caught staring so long she was left standing while the first reading was being recited from the lector.
When it came time for the congregation to voice back their responses in song, Claire swore she heard the most angelic sound coming from two pews ahead. Maria's voice was heavenly as she sang back with all her heart. Kurt, too, had a magnificent singing voice. It felt wondrous sitting and listening to their voices. Susan and Eloise noticed it too.
Perhaps I was too quick to judge this woman. Lord only knows what she and her son have been through...after all, here I am sitting in God's house, a place where we all will ultimately be judged. Does she deserve a second chance? Am I too late at a chance at forgiveness?
Little did the trio know, however, was that this was the first time in years the Von Trapps had sung. Maria hadn't liked to sing since her miscarriage. She associated her singing with a different time, a time before she experienced a world of pain, and every time she went to sing, she got a sickening feeling in her stomach that made her remember the baby she was unable to save.
Mass went along normally and it wasn't until the recessional hymn was completed and the people began filing out of their rows that Maria noticed the Winters standing behind her. She stopped in her tracks as Kurt let her pass by him out of their pew. He spotted Claire, Susan, and Eloise at that very moment also and was unsure if he and Maria should walk past them or choose a different way out of church. Oddly enough, Claire waved them over. Very hesitantly, Maria led the way over.
"Good morning ladies." Maria knew that all she wanted was to feel contempt for the way Claire had treated her the night before, but they had all just celebrated mass together, it would have been highly unchristian of her to act in such a vindictive manner.
"Good morning Maria, Kurt. We were worried when we woke up this morning to find you gone. Where did you go off to?" Eloise felt it her duty as the matron of the family to restore peace. She would not let her daughter sway her feelings of kindness and charity towards Maria and Kurt.
"We actually came here and spent the night and felt it only proper to stay for mass when we awoke." Kurt placed a protective hand on his mother's shoulder as spoke.
There was more awkward silences as the number of people left in the church became less and less until the five of them were the only ones standing. Claire took a deep breath and decided it was now or never.
"I'd like to apologize. I should have never said the things I did at dinner last night. I was completely out of line and feel terrible." Her eyes bore into Maria's. Maria said nothing with a blank expression on her face. Claire went on.
"If there's any way I can make it up to you, please let me know. I don't know if it was the mass today or just the fact I'd been feeling so awful for my behavior, but I'd like it very much if you could find it in your hearts to forgive me."
Maria stood silently still. Kurt never took his eyes off of Claire. "You said some pretty nasty things, you know. But none of them were really directed at me. If you're looking for forgiveness my mother's the one who's going to have to grant it...pretty pathetic if you ask me the way it took a simple thing like church to make you realize what a rotten person you can be."
At Kurt's last bold remark, Maria's lips twitched into a smirk. Regardless of the situation she knew she could always count on her son to be there for her. She knew Claire's apology was sincere and by the looks on Susan and Eloise's faces she knew they wanted her to go back to the house with them.
"I accept your apology, Claire. I just hope you can find some way to realize that all I said to you and your mother and daughter was one-hundred percent truth. I made none of it up and I have no regrets for any of my actions. I was fortunate enough to find the love of my life and because of him, I was given seven beautiful children. The way you spoke last night made it seem I had done something incredibly wrong by marrying Georg. I'd like to see your reaction after somebody accuses your marriage to be a mockery."
"I understand, but I am truly sorry for my actions."
"I'm not one to judge or hold grudges believe me, so after today I'll forget it ever happened. Kurt and I will be on our way and your conscience will be cleared." Maria moved to continue on out of the church, but Claire moved to block her path.
"I truly meant every word of my apology. And I know how much it would mean to my mother and Susan if you two were to stay as we originally agreed...and it would mean a lot to me too. You'd be surprised how little time this job leaves for a social life. It would be very nice to have a friend around I could talk with. I'd really like to get to know you if you can find it in your heart to see past my faults."
Maria turned to Kurt to see what he thought of it. He shrugged his shoulders signaling it was her decision whether to keep moving or to follow the other back to Shimmering Fountain. Maria chose the latter of the two options.
"I think that if you're willing to get to know us better the least we can do is keep our end of the agreement and come back to help you three out."
"So you'll stay?"
"Yes, we'll stay."
Claire smiled at Maria's answer. Eloise moved and wrapped an arm around Maria's shoulder and Susan and Kurt exchanged happy smiles. If their mothers were to become friends that meant they would too. The happy quintet exited the church together just as the pastor was reentering after shaking hands with the congregation on the front steps. When he noticed the Winters approaching once more he stopped to bid them farewell for the day.
"Ladies, I hope you enjoyed mass today."
"Very much indeed, father. I especially enjoyed today's homily on being more mindful of our actions towards others who are in need of compassion." Eloise's comments held a double meaning for the day perhaps.
"Why thank you, Elli. And who are your friends?"
"These are our new friends, Maria and Kurt. They'll be helping us out at the inn for a while. They're from Austria."
Father Fitzpatrick shook hands with both Maria and Kurt.
"Welcome, welcome. Austria, huh? Both my parents immigrated from Ireland. I was born here, however, but I know how trying times are over in Europe right now. Tell me what brings you both to America?"
Maria didn't quite know how to answer that question, but lucky for her, Kurt came to her rescue again. "It's a bit of a long story, father, but our family's been separated and we're on a constant search for them all."
"That's very noble of you two. Especially coming to mass, praying for them, praying for their safety and well being. God will provide for you in due time. In the mean time, I have a few decent connections with the pastors in neighboring churches throughout New England, I'll see what I can do to help you."
Maria's face brightened at the prospect of some additional help. "Why that would be fantastic of you. Thank you very much." Kurt nodded in agreement.
"Well it was loving meeting you, nice seeing you again ladies. I must be going before mass starts again at nine o'clock. See you later on in the week."
Father Fitzpatrick walked briskly towards the sacristy as the Von Trapps and Winters made their way to the exit finally.
"He's a real nice guy. We usually have him for dinner a few times a week. You'll be seeing a lot of him." Susan casually made conversation as the five of them made their way back down the street towards the inn. "Mmmm...I just remembered about the biscuits we'll be serving for breakfast. I can't wait to slather mine in lots of butter."
"Finally," said Kurt. "A topic of conversation that's really important." He patted his empty stomach, already able to taste the warm, flaky breakfast treats. He moved ahead a little and began walking in step with Susan; the two casually chatting the rest of the way back.
Together, Claire, Eloise, Susan, Kurt, and Maria all rounded the corner to the side door of the house, ready to start their work day. Susan and Kurt bounded up the small porch into the house with Eloise in tow. Claire and Maria hung back together bringing up the rear. Maria liking the relaxed atmosphere with Claire now they had cleared the air.
"Well," Claire spoke, looking sincerely at Maria. "Welcome home."
* I figured Maria and Kurt needed some kindness, so that's why I didn't let the feud between them and Claire go on too long. Especially after what I have written for the next coming chapters - you're all going to hate me. Please review! *