Elsa knocked quietly on the door to Georg's study. She wasn't sure that he was there- it had been a long day and the study was unusually silent; he may have turned in early. Perhaps it was for the best if he was asleep. This was not necessarily a conversation she wanted to have, but she had to know where the two of them stood, especially after two days so focused on his children. Just as she was about to head to her own room, she heard Georg invite her inside. She subconsciously smoothed her skirt before entering.
"Elsa, what can I do for you?" He greeted, giving her a small smile and inviting her to sit with a small wave of his hand.
As she moved to one of the empty chairs across from Georg's desk, Elsa suddenly felt unsure of herself. All day, she had rehearsed her monologue in her mind, running over the key points each time: Why did you bring me here to meet your family if we are not really a couple? I don't need you, but I would like to take our relationship further. I don't know if I can ever adjust to a life with seven children. We could be happy. Was Max correct earlier when he insinuated that you have feelings for Fraulein Maria?
As she sat down, her mind went blank with nerves. She could feel his eyes on her, waiting for her to say feeling made her uncomfortable, and all she wanted to do was put an end to her anxiety. Her rehearsed speech could wait; if she could get one straight answer from him, it would be enough. To ease some of her discomfort, she decided to be straightforward and hopefully receive an equally straightforward answer, avoiding the deflection Georg was so skilled at.
"I was wondering why I came here, Georg," she began, smoothing her skirt again. "I have met your children and seen your home, yet we are not really a couple. Is that going to change?" She forced herself to maintain their eye contact as she waited for his response.
"Would you like it to change?"
"I asked you first."
Georg snorted then. "That is an infantile evasion," he smiled. "But all right." He clasped his hands together and placed them under his chin, thinking for a moment before continuing. "I have been working on... moving on from the past this summer, and the idea of a committed romantic relationship does not sting the way it used to. If you would like to, perhaps we could begin to date officially. The children already consider you my girlfriend, and you have been getting along with them, but could you really picture your life with seven children constantly around you? If our relationship were to last for a long time, they may become attached to you. Could you handle that?"
"I don't know," she admitted softly, looking down at the hands still fidgeting with her skirt. She hoped that her honest response would encourage him to be direct with her, even if it wasn't what she wanted to hear.
"I've never been in this position before, I've never introduced a new woman to my children in this way…" Georg sighed, rubbing small circles in his temples. "I don't know if I could expect anyone else to love them as their own, and I don't think I could expect them to love anyone else in a motherly fashion after Agathe." As he said the words, Georg's mind flashed back to the picnic with Fraulein Maria, and how content she and Liesl had looked lying next to each other. He knew that she loved his children, and he knew that he had feelings for her- these recent revelations were holding him back as he considered the potential of a real relationship with Elsa. His eyes flicked down as he considered how on earth he could move forward with Elsa while he was coming to terms with his feelings for Maria. Didn't he owe it to Elsa, who had pulled him out of such a dark place, to at least try?
Elsa nodded in agreement- she had already recognized that she did not have the capacity to love the children as her own. Whether or not she had the capacity to love them in any way, if she could raise them at all, she was still unsure of.
"I also don't know if I could ask all that of you," Georg finished, looking up at her finally. "To consider taking on a life with seven children who won't always be easy to manage."
"Surely Frau Schmidt can help me manage them!" Elsa said, trying to maintain an air of confidence after her previous admission. "Besides, they will be in school for most of the year and have tutors in the summer. Look how much help Fraulein Maria has been!" She would put up a fight if Georg wanted Fraulein Maria to be their tutor every summer, but that could be dealt with later. One summer of analyzing all interactions between the two of them would be enough for her.
"Well, I wasn't planning on having a tutor after this year. We haven't had one the last two years and things have still run smoothly in the summers." Immediately, Georg regretted his words. Not only did it risk sharing Fraulein Maria's heartbreak, but it had clearly made Elsa upset. He had only meant to assure her that the children could behave themselves. Quickly, he continued:"But we can cross that bridge when we get there, if we get there, in the future." He tried his best to make his tone definitive, hoping that Elsa would not ask further questions about why Fraulein Maria was the exception. The answers to her questions would certainly make their way to Max, and that was the last thing Georg wanted.
"Will we get there, Georg?" Elsa asked quietly. When he let out a little laugh in response, she began to worry, but he quickly explained himself.
"I think two young widowers would know better than to make such promises, Elsa," he remarked, glancing at her knowingly. Georg wasn't sure why, but he found himself trying to delay labelling or promising anything. "May I have some time to think about things before we decide anything?"
"Of course, we can take some time. I've been meaning to return to Vienna for a little while anyway- I have some prior commitments that I can't avoid," Elsa explained. "If you decide that we should make things more serious, we can just take things day by day, and see where things go. I don't think either of us expect to fall passionately in love with one another, but we could be comfortable, Georg," Elsa suggested.
"That sounds like it could work," Georg nodded. He put a hand to his chin, attempting to think about what she had just proposed. It was a reasonable idea; his only worry was the shock earlier of realizing he may have feelings for Fraulein Maria. That would end soon enough, wouldn't it? When the summer ended, he wouldn't see her again with the exception of the odd school function. If he and Elsa could continue things as they were now until the summer ended, things would be smooth sailing from there.
In the back of his mind, Georg knew there was no way things could work out so easily. Life was far too cruel to allow it. On the other hand, he was sure that he could keep his feelings in check for the next couple months. Either way, he was reluctant to make any promises. "If we don't expect anything from one another, and just live our lives as we have been, it may work. Though I would like it if you could continue to make an effort with the children- I appreciate all that you've done already." He rewarded her with a genuine smile, then. It had not gone unnoticed that Elsa had spent the last two days participating in Brigitta's birthday celebrations, even if it had only been as a passive observer.
His comment reminded Elsa about the envelope of money still burning a hole in her pocket from the day before. She had brought it with her to give back and had forgotten all about it. "Oh!" She exclaimed. "That reminds me, Georg. Fraulein Maria gave this to me yesterday after I purchased that little headband for Brigitta, but I don't need it." She handed him the envelope, smiling to herself at her triumph. He had committed to a relationship with her! This good deed was just the icing on the cake.
"That was you?" Georg's interest was piqued. He really hadn't thought that Elsa would actually help his children shop! "I must thank you, then. She thought it was very beautiful, and it was nice to break up the monotony of her opening all those books!" He laughed at the memory of earlier that day when his middle daughter had happily opened each book as if it was a precious treasure. She could have sat uninterrupted for hours inspecting them and agonizing over which to read first!
"Yes, well, Fraulein Maria helped me choose a book to give her, and the poor woman felt so out of place shopping for jewelry! Not quite her style, is it?" Elsa knew her tone had more bite to it than intended. She hadn't meant to put down Fraulein Maria- in fact, she knew that the potential for her to ever win over Georg's children likely depended on her getting along with their favorite tutor. Their first tutor in two years, apparently.
"No," Georg replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. He could only picture how out of place Maria felt in any store that Elsa frequented. If Max still struggled with feelings of inferiority while shopping with Elsa, Fraulein Maria must have suffered similarly. He appreciated that she had pushed those feelings aside for his children. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I do need to yell at Max for interrupting my daughter's favorite film."
When Elsa only smiled in response, Georg fought the urge to heave a sigh of relief. If she didn't have any comment about Max's scheming, perhaps she had been oblivious to it. She hadn't looked up during the film once, at least until she broke up his argument with Fraulein Maria. While he normally found himself irritated at the way she could become lost in her screen and ignore the world around her, Georg was suddenly thankful for her obliviousness that afternoon.
"I do believe that Max was chatting with Fraulein Maria in the family room before I came in here," Elsa informed him. "I'll have him drive me to Vienna in the morning. Goodnight, Georg," she said softly, leaning in to kiss his cheek softly before leaving the study.
"And I'll bravely tell you, but only when we dream again..." Maria sang softly as she sat comfortably in the family room. The rain that had prevented them from going outside earlier in the day had turned into a rather nasty thunderstorm just after the youngest children went to bed. She had been sitting at the small desk in her room while Liesl sat on the bed, asking for advice about Rolf, when the first clash of lighting shone through her window. By the fourth roll of thunder, all seven von Trapps were in her room seeking comfort. It had warmed her heart to see them all placing their trust in her.
Thankfully, the thunder and lightning hadn't lasted long. It had ended just before nine o'clock, the bedtime of Brigitta, Kurt, and Louisa. She had successfully ushered some of the children back to their rooms, reminding Friedrich and Liesl that they still had an hour to do as they pleased, before returning to her room. Gretl, Marta, and Brigitta, all worn out from the day's events, were sleeping so peacefully on her bed, and she didn't have the heart to wake them. Instead, she had decided to take her laptop to the family room and work there for a while.
The family room had been a wonderful choice- she had opened the windows, inhaling the smell of the rain and enjoying the breeze that entered from the outside. She wouldn't let the pull of nature distract her, however; it was late, the children were all in bed, and she had a good amount of work to do. She had neglected to grade the essays she had assigned Louisa and Friedrich last week in order to prepare for Brigitta's birthday, but she knew they were wanting to know how they scored. She had just gotten through Louisa's introduction when Max had sat down beside her, wanting to know if Brigitta had liked his gift.
"Well, she just told me it's the thought that counts. And we all know how you struggle with thoughts sometimes," Maria had teased. All too quickly, they had gotten caught up in debating which book Brigitta would like best, whose gift would be the most successful, and before long Max had been bidding her goodnight.
"I'm not as young as I used to be, Mia! Now I'm the one with a strict bedtime!" He had laughed, kissing the top of her head as he left to go upstairs.
Free of Max's distracting discussions, Maria had turned back to the glowing screen of her laptop. She needed to stay on top of her grading at the villa as the school year neared. In the next week she would have to begin scheduling auditions for her advanced choir and selecting the pieces to be performed by both choirs at their winter concert. She didn't think that taking two days off for auditions would be a big deal to the Captain- in fact, she had a feeling that at least two of his children would be auditioning for her! Still, she wanted to get the auditions on the calendar as soon as possible to help him plan activities for the children on the days she would be gone.
Maria continued to hum to herself as she read through the rest of Louisa's essay. She found herself impressed at the way in which Louisa wrote; it was clear, concise, and had more maturity than Maria expected of any thirteen year-old.
"Still singing The Music Man, Fraulein?" The sound of the Captain's voice made Maria look up from her computer. He was leaning on the door jamb, a small smirk on his face.
"I can't help that it's catchy!" She laughed for a moment before her face grew softer. "Did you want this room, Captain? I can leave."
"Hmm? Oh no, no, please stay." Georg walked into the room, waving his hand in a gesture telling her to stay seated. "I was just looking for Max."
"You just missed him! He went to bed about ten minutes ago."
Georg sighed and began to turn around when a breeze from the open window came through the room. The night air felt wonderful, and he suddenly felt that his study would be too stuffy to return to. Turning back to Maria, he decided that a little reading before bed wouldn't hurt.
"Do you mind if I join you? I'll just be reading, but I don't want to distract you from your work." He took a seat when she shook her head and invited him to sit down. Picking up his book from the small table beside the sofa where he had left it earlier, he shot Fraulein Maria a small grin.
Maria was surprised at his kindness, and for a moment she was transported back in time to the nights she had spent grading and studying scores while Charlie had played video games with his friends talking to him through his headset. She had always asked him to turn down the volume, or speak a little quieter, so she could get through her work, but normally he would only grunt in response. It was as if he heard her, but he wasn't really listening. Most nights, she would leave unnoticed and finish her work in their bedroom. Yet here the Captain was, worried that the rustling of pages would distract her from the work she was doing in his home!
"Not a problem at all, sir," Maria replied, leaving her brief daydream and returning to the comfort of the family room. "In fact, what is that you're reading? I really don't want to focus on these essays, and I still have another day before I promised to have them graded." She gestured to the laptop in front of her before pushing it away, turning to face the Captain.
"My, Fraulein, you procrastinate more than Kurt!" He laughed. "Are you sure I won't be distracting you?" His eyes were twinkling, and Maria couldn't help noticing how they seemed to come alive when he was genuinely relaxed.
"On the contrary, sir, I know you are going to distract me, and I welcome the opportunity to ignore these papers for just a little longer. That being said, what are you reading?"
"Brigitta's birthday present," the Captain responded, rolling his eyes.
"I'm afraid I don't understand," Maria frowned. Had he also decided that the birthday gift she had purchased Brigitta was inappropriate? Was he reading it to make sure it was suitable? She was not up to arguing again over her selections for the children's reading.
"It's Jane Eyre," the Captain grimaced. "I have been trying to get her to take just one book recommendation from me, and she refuses until I read the entirety of this book and have a discussion with her about it. Her only birthday wish for me was that I read this damn thing." Maria laughed as his face grew more and more displeased while he spoke.
"It's not a bad novel, Captain, even if it's not what you would normally read."
"Oh-ho, that's the worst part!" The Captain chucked. "I'm finding I don't mind it at all!"
They discussed the work of Charlotte Bronte for a few minutes, laughing as they debated the merits of the Bronte sisters and of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. The conversation evolved from there, and soon they were trading book recommendations with one another. Maria wracked her brain, thinking of an author the Captain would like. As she recalled more and more of her favorite classic books and authors, she began to make a mental list of the ones she would recommend to Liesl, Friedrich, Louisa, and Brigitta. When Maria told the Captain that she expected him to like Hemingway, he had scoffed.
"I have never read an author who needs so many words to establish the fact that he is a raging misogynist," he laughed. "If I wanted to read a book that was much too wordy, I'd stick with Dickens."
Maria had discovered that the Captain did like some classic literature, but he preferred exploring new authors and novels to re-reading classics. She had told the Captain she was still a young, naive girl at heart, and her mind was most enthralled by romances like Jane Eyre, though she did want to expand her horizons and try to read a bigger variety of novels.
"How good is your English, Fraulein?" He asked suddenly, causing her to raise an eyebrow, silently asking why he needed to know and why he doubted her abilities. He raised his hands in mock surrender, laughing. "I know you are fluent, Fraulein, and you are helping the little ones with their reading and writing. I don't doubt that you are more than capable of reading in English. I have a book I think you would like, but it is in English and relies heavily on phonetics and a little slang," he explained.
"I am always up for a challenge, and I can look up any slang terms I don't recognize," Maria responded, giving him a smile that shone with pride and defiance.
Conversation with him was so effortless! Beyond that, it was stimulating and a good exercise for her mind. Just as soon as she had finished talking about one author, he was talking about another, and they were discussing the themes of all their favorite books and plays with ease. Jane Eyre and Friedrich's essay long forgotten, they sat across from one another, delighting in the realization that they had found an intellectual match in each other.
Conversation like this hadn't happened much with Charlie. He had been a great talker, but a terrible listener. With Charlie, Maria would normally get in a few sentences about her day at school before he would interrupt with a complaint about his day- his boss, his coworkers, anything- and he wouldn't stop complaining until dinner was on the table. She had always wondered why he stayed at a job he hated so much, but it had paid the bills, and she hadn't said a word about it. Any conversation in which Maria tried to be an active participant or show her expertise had felt like pulling teeth. Without realizing it, Maria let out a sigh at the thought.
"Is everything alright, Fraulein?"
"Oh, yes," she blushed. "I'm just thinking about how much my life has changed recently."
Georg could see that she felt troubled, and his heart went out to her. Leaving a stable living situation to live out of a motel, then moving in with such a large family would be overwhelming for anyone. Dealing with all that turmoil on top of the internal chaos that comes with the end of a long-term relationship had to be taking a toll on her.
"I hope things haven't been too rough for you- how are you holding up?" He asked cautiously, not wanting to overstep his boundaries. This was such a gray area to him- asking about her feelings was surely crossing a line, but he had been there on that first night in the bar and was likely one of the only people who knew what happened. The thought gave him a sense of pride.
"I'm feeling just fine, thank you," Maria responded, giving him a small smile. "I'll admit it has been nice to have Max around again. He's given me some sorely needed perspective." Her smile grew at the thought of having her old friend back, only to shrink and return to a thin line as she thought about the few conversations she had managed to squeeze in with him. His advice had made her rethink a great deal about her relationship with Charlie and look back on their time together with new eyes. It was only with Max's help that she had admitted to herself she and Charlie would never have worked out in the long run. Even if they had gotten married, neither of them would have been happy.
Georg, mistaking her pensive state as a reaction to intense heartbreak, decided to end the conversation about her ex. It was clear to him that she was deep in thought and reflecting on her relationship. How stupid was he to have thought, even for a moment, that Fraulein Maria would have any sort of feelings for him? Her wounds were much too fresh.
"Don't tell Max, but I enjoy his company, too," Georg laughed, happy to see her face lift a little at his joke. As Maria turned back to her laptop, he pulled out his phone and composed a message to Elsa. He only paused briefly before hitting send- he had been the one to ask Elsa for time to consider their situation, and agreeing to a formal relationship so soon after that request might seem odd. After a few seconds, he reminded himself that he was not one to perfectly time his messages and responses in order to appear to feel a certain way.
I think we should try to make this work. (10:49 PM)
Her response came quickly:
I'm glad you think so. I'll let you know when I arrive in Vienna. (10:50 PM)
This was what he needed to do. He had to push aside his small crush on Fraulein Maria for the rest of the summer in order to maintain his chance at normalcy and comfort with Elsa. Letting his attraction to Maria grow would only hurt him and his children in the end. If he pursued her, and she was scared or hurt, it could impact her relationship with the children. He would not deny them the relationship they had with her; it was as close to a mother figure as they would ever get again. Elsa, as hard as she may try, would always maintain an air of detachment with them- he had realized that days ago- but the effort she was putting in to get along with them was promising.
"I hadn't realized how late it was, Fraulein!" Georg exclaimed, standing from his seat on the sofa. "I will grab that book for you and then be off to bed." He strode out before Maria could say anything, and quickly returned with a well-loved paperback. It was clear the Captain had read it more than once.
"Thank you, Captain," Maria said as she extended her hand to take the book from him.
"It was a favorite of my wife's, but I think you will enjoy it just as much, if not more," he smiled. "Goodnight, Fraulein."
Once again, he was out the door before Maria could respond. She wasn't sure she could have responded- he had mentioned something dear to his wife, lent it to her, and left the room with a genuine smile on his face. It had been the first time she hadn't detected a hint of discomfort when he mentioned his wife.
She looked down at the book in her hands: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. She had never heard of it before, but she was eager to read something the Captain clearly cherished. And, though she hated to admit it to herself, she wanted to impress him. Making her way up the stairs, she resolved to begin the book tomorrow- it wouldn't do her any good to begin so late at night and forget everything by the morning.
If only she really could forget everything overnight- the way the Captain's eyes seemed to look both at her and through her, straight to her soul, the way his voice softened when he showed concern for someone he cared about, the way he smelled... Everything would be so much easier if she could forget that she was still hurting, even if she was healing from Charlie's betrayal, and forget that the Captain had the potential to hurt her, too. That was the thought she could not shake from her mind.
A/N: I do apologize for the delay in updating! Hopefully I will get back to a consistent update schedule after this little blip. Thank you all for your wonderful reviews in the meantime! Reading them is such a source of inspiration.
Like everyone else, I was shocked and deeply saddened by the loss of Christopher Plummer. There are some people who you just expect to live forever. His death reminds us to tell our loved ones how we feel while we can- the next minutes, hours, and days are always full of the unknown.