Chapter Eight: Reunion
July 14, 1938
Even later in the evening:
Wow my hand is really getting tired, but I just have to write because it is too exciting not to. So where was I? Oh yes Maria.
Maria returned and asked us how we were doing. She asked if I was all right. I told her I was okay and I would be happy when school began. I told her no telegrams had been delivered here. She took that as me missing Rolfe and would be happy for the distraction of school. She was only half right because I have been missing Rolfe, but I also have missed her and couldn't wait for school to start to get away from the Baroness. She told me I shouldn't run away from my problems, I should face them. Hmm…is that not what she had just done? Run away from her problems? I would not however call falling in love a problem, but that is just my opinion. I guess it would be a problem for her because she was supposed to be a nun. I also suppose now she is facing her problems so I decided not to mention any of this. Maria went on saying how much she had to tell us. We told her we had things to tell her too.
"The most important thing is that Father's going to be married." Brigitta said. Maria looked stunned.
"Married?" She asked visibly upset.
"Yes to Baroness Schraeder." Louisa said.
"Oh, I see…" She didn't finish. I could tell she was disturbed. She tried not to show it. I knew then that she was in love with Father. That must be terrible. I knew that was the reason she had come back. She thought that he loved her, which he does, but it doesn't look like it at this second. Maria's eyes stared far off. I watched her eyes flicker and turn. I followed her gaze. Father was standing at the top of the stairs. Amidst the shouts of my brothers and sisters that their governess was back, he was staring at Maria.
"Good evening Captain." Was all Maria could muster.
"Good evening. All right, everyone inside. Go and get your dinner." He said. We were all so relieved we got dinner. We ran inside as quickly as we could. I however stopped shortly as I heard him speak.
"You left without saying goodbye. Even to the Children…" I could not hear Maria, but I heard him continue, "Why did you?" Now I realized why he decided to give us dinner. Maria was there. He wanted to be alone with her. Yes! This time I heard Maria.
"Please don't ask me. Anyway the reason no longer exists." She said. She thought it doesn't exist anymore huh? Well she is wrong if she thought Father got over her. Little did she know he was still madly in love with her. I walked forward happy that after her comment he would tell her that he loved her. I decided to leave them alone. Just then I saw the Baroness walk past me. I flew over and tried to block the doorway. She gave me an irritated look and pushed me aside. I really really wanted to tackle her and beat her up. There she was again! In the way interrupting. She did this every single time. I walked into the dining room. Six unhappy faces stared at me.
"What's wrong?" I asked trying to be happy.
"We tried to keep the Baroness inside while Maria and Father spoke." Brigitta said.
"Yea it was going fine until Kurt mentioned Maria was back." Louisa said glaring at Kurt. I laughed at them.
"What did you tell her"? I asked amused.
"We told her that Father needed a breath of fresh air. She was waiting patiently, until Kurt told her Maria was back." Brigitta answered giving Kurt another glare.
"Liesl we really did not lie. You know because Maria really must be a breath of fresh air to Father she smells a lot better than the Baroness." Louisa remarked. We all laughed. Suddenly the entrance of our father, the Baroness and Maria, stopped our laughter. Maria sat down in her normal place at the end of the table. Father sat in his same place as well. The Baroness stood for a moment and Franz brought a chair in and set it next to Father. The Baroness really is not that smart because she didn't think that even though Father was sitting by her he was facing Maria. The whole dinner no one spoke. Well there was the normal please pass me this etc, but nothing more. There was a strange silence. The Baroness tried to break it. She tried repeatedly to talk with father. Father would give her one-word answers and not even glance at her. His eyes were fixed on Maria.
Maria was fine. She quietly tried not to look at him. I could tell she knew he was staring at her. She bowed her head as if she were praying. The whole goal for her that evening I guess was to not look at him. One time she glanced up and their eyes met at the end of the meal. They both looked like deer caught in headlights. They just stared at each other. Father smiled lovingly at her. At that she got up and told us she had to go to her room because she was not feeling well. The Baroness was about to say something when Father told us that he was going to his room for a while. The Baroness stared at us and coldly told us to go and get ready for bed. She was not happy. We obeyed. When we got to our rooms we decided after a long conversation that they were both still in love. We were all excited. Marta and Gretl were upset because Father still hadn't come to tuck them in. I told them he probably would very soon. I left the room and went into my room. Surprisingly a few minutes later Maria was knocking at my door. I told her to come in.
"Liesl, how have you been my darling?" She asked as she sat on my bed.
"I have been okay. We really have not been happy here since you left Fraulein." I told her honestly. "I am glad you are back. You are staying…right?"
"Oh Liesl I am glad I am back too. I missed you all very much. Unfortunately I can only stay until your Father is married. The Baroness can take care of you. You will have no need for me." She answered.
"Oh no Maria! You can't leave us! We need you!" I cried.
"Liesl you have never needed a governess before. Why do you need one now? Anyways it would be awkward." She said.
"I don't need a governess, but you are not our governess. You are like our Mother. Anyways why would it be awkward?" I asked.
"Well he will be married and I will be in the way…of all of you." She hesitantly answered.
"Maria why did you leave in the first place? Are you a nun now?"
"I felt that I fulfilled my duties here so I went back. No I am not a nun yet." She said.
"Why are you not a nun?" I asked. I just had to ask I know it was rude but still. She looked at me.
"I suppose I should be honest with you Liesl. I was in love." She said. Her face told me to leave it at that. I just had to continue.
"Really? Who were you in love with?" Her face grimaced. "I guess you want to take back what you told Father about being honest to children, hmm?" She smiled. Her checks started to get red. Ha I knew that would get her to tell the truth.
"Liesl I came back because I missed you, but also because I was in love…with your Father." She sighed. She looked as if I was about to yell at her and tell her that she deserved father even less then the Baroness.
"I knew it." I smiled.
"Liesl, how would you know?" She asked astonished.
"Fraulien Maria, everyone must have known you two were in love. You have to be a complete idiot not to see it." I answered.
"Oh how embarrassing, you mean one of us right Liesl?"
"What?" I had no idea what she was saying. Maria sighed.
"I left because the Baroness scared me away by telling me he was in love with me. Reverend Mother convinced me to go back since he loved me. Finding out that the person you love doesn't love you is rather embarrassing, let this be a lesson to you Liesl." Maria said. Her checks were bright red now.
"Maria, he does love you though. I know it." I told her.
"Oh Liesl it was very silly of me to even comeback here. I should have known he couldn't fall in love with a nun." She tried to laugh it off.
"Mother he is really in love with you he is just well hiding his feelings…you haven't actually talked to him alone have you?" I asked.
"No Liesl. I don't think we will be talking alone anytime soon. He is getting married and that is just proof he never loved me." She said trying to convince herself.
"Maria I think that is proof he does love you."
"Liesl listen I came in to give this to you and ask you about Rolfe. If you don't mind though I am going to take a walk. Do you want to come along?" She asked and handed me a telegram. I looked at her.
"For me?" I asked. I was stunned I torn it open.
"Yes Franz gave it to me, I believe it is from Rolfe." Maria walked out of my room. "Liesl, I will be up later if you want to talk." Maria, she always knew what I needed. I didn't even have to answer if I wanted to walk or not, she knew I wanted to be alone. I tore open the note. It said:
Dear Liesl,
I am sorry. Stop. Please meet me at the Gazebo. Stop. Tonight at Nine. Stop.
Sincerely,
Rolfe
Hmm…I glanced at my clock and it was about 9:45. Darn! I decided to go down there anyways and if he wasn't there at least I could find Maria. Why did he want to see me? Why was he apologizing? He didn't do anything except not talk to me for a while. My heart was racing as I walked down to the gazebo. My heart stopped when I saw two figures in the gazebo. It was dark and I could not see well, but I saw what looked like a guy and a girl sitting on the bench next to he gazebo. Was he here to show off to me his new girlfriend? The nerve of him! Oh I hate Rolfe. I hated him from the days I laid eyes on him. Then I heard voices. That is when I realized it was not Rolfe, but someone else.
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