Chapter Ten: Wedding Anxiety
July 28, 1938
Well I have been meaning to write, but we have been doing so much as a family there has really not been time. We have also been planning the wedding. The date is set for August 16, 1938. Funny that is only a month after Maria and Father have been together. Usually it takes years to find someone then get engaged and then marry. I guess they just skipped the dating part. The wedding…it is hilarious to try to help plan this wedding. There has not been any fighting, but there have been plenty of differences of opinions. For instance Maria insisted that father walk with her down the aisle. She told him she didn't want the whole world staring at her alone.
Poor Maria she would have been fine, except she likes little weddings. Father wanted to grant her, her wish of being married in a church with a few people, but because of his name that just could not happen. I think father wanted it small too. He doesn't like big crowds. So we tried to invite just a few of our close family friends. This did not work because soon word spread and people were showing up and giving us telegrams asking why they weren't invited. Father was about to tell them they still were not invited, but Maria sighed and just said to invite them all. I feel terrible and so does Father. Our guest list has about five hundred people on it, while hers has the nuns at the abbey and her uncle, who she hates and probably will not come. The nuns can't even sit in the church they have to wait outside.
It got even worse when we started to talk about the maid of honor. Father had many people begging to be his best man. Maria however asked if she had to have a maid of honor. Father told her it would be a good thing. Maria getting frustrated went and asked me if I would be her maid of honor. I said yes of course I would. I was flattered. She decided that all the girls would be her bridesmaids and flowergirls. She told us even if there was someone who could have been her bridesmaids and flower girls she would rather have us do it.
The house is very calm and peaceful when we are not talking about the wedding. On a typical day we usually do something together and stay together until it is time for us to go to sleep. Father and Maria often tuck us all in and read the little ones stories. Usually Father and Maria go and do something together during the night. I haven't been spying or anything, of course, but I can see the gazebo out my window. They usually go out there to gaze at the stars. It is so much fun to have Maria. I never thought anyone would be able to be more loving than Mother, but Maria is just wonderful.
July 31, 1938
Well today I think Maria was very upset. Luckily it was all settled quickly. Today Elsa's best friends showed up to our door. No I am not kidding. Elsa's best friends along with a couple of other rich snobs. They asked to speak to my Father. Franz went to tell my Father as Maria came down the stairs.
"Liesl I was thinking we could go to the stables today and take care of the horses." Maria's face fell when she saw the ladies. They were very pretty with beautiful dresses etc. "Umm…can I help you?"
"Is that her?" One of them said.
"She is so ugly." Another one said.
"Why on earth is he marrying her? He could have been even richer." Another said. Maria bit her lip and looked at me.
"What is the reason he decided to marry you? Are you carrying his child already is that why he had to marry her?" another one said. Maria looked like she was going to kill that lady.
"I will meet you outside Liesl. Come when you are ready." She glanced up to the ladies. "If you will excuse me please." Well if she was not going to punch these ladies then I certainly was.
"How dare you say that about Maria…" I started when father walked in. He frowned when he saw them.
"Can I help you ladies?" He asked trying to sound like a gentleman.
"Yes we are Elsa's friends…" They stopped waiting to see his reaction. I certainly knew who Elsa was, but apparently Father was drawing a blank. Father glanced back at me for help.
"Baroness Schraeder Father." I answered.
"Oh yes her. What do you need? If you don't mind I have to go and talk to my fiancé she looked very upset when she walked past me…" I knew Father was thinking. He stopped. "Did you say anything to her?" He asked.
"Oh no. We just wanted to talk to you about her. You know there are many people in Vienna and Salzburg for that matter that think you should call off your engagement." The ladies looked like this would have an effect on him. It didn't.
"Oh? Why would I do that?" He asked.
"Well you two just do not match. I mean come on Georg a governess? You can do better than that. The whole town is talking. They do not approve. Why would you want to marry a poor nun anyways? She has no money, Elsa does. We have come to tell you Elsa is going to give you a second chance. We hope you will take it. Elsa said she doesn't mind that your governess is expecting. You must love Elsa more than umm…what's her name?" One of them said. I was about to boil over. How dare these ladies.
"Her name is Maria." I shouted. I came forward I was ready to fight. Father told me with his eyes to stop.
"Please tell the Baroness that I do not accept. Also please tell her that I love Maria and tell her Maria is richer than her and always will be, do you hear? As for you ladies, you have no right whatsoever to tell me what I am to do. Frankly, I do not care what you people in Vienna think about us. I love Maria and am marrying her in August whether you like it or not, understood? As for Maria expecting, wherever you heard that rumor it is a lie. I do not have to marry her I am marrying her because I love her. You are dismissed." Oh Sea Captain voice again. The ladies were frustrated and left mumbling about the mistake he was making. Father was upset, but I really do not think he cared. "Liesl, what did they say to you?"
"Oh nothing Father they were polite to me…they just weren't so polite to Maria." I said cringing.
"Is that why she is upset?" He asked. I nodded my head yes and told him what they had said to Maria. He shook his head and left to find her. I followed him, well actually he followed me. I told him Maria and I were going horseback riding. He decided he would come along. When we got there Maria was brushing the horses. I decided to give them some time so I went to brush another horse. I could still hear them speak. I am starting to feel bad. I really do not eavesdrop on purpose. I just seem to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"Maria, they upset you didn't they?" Father asked putting his arms around her.
"Yes they did, well maybe though they are right…" Her voice trailed off. Father smiled at her.
"No Maria they are not right. They are just rich snobs who are jealous of what I have." He told her giving her a kiss.
"What do you have that they don't?" She asked. He smiled down at her.
"You Maria. See Maria some rich people don't believe in marrying for love, or they are just to bratty and never find love because they were stubborn and distant." Maria laughed.
"Hmm…sounds like someone I know stubborn and distant…now let me think…" Father after about five minutes realized she was talking about him.
"Hey…" He started.
"Liesl, do you know of a rich snobby person who about two months ago was stubborn and distant?" Maria yelled at me. I came over to their stable.
"Well two months ago…I know one person! I think he is standing here with us!" Maria and I started laughing hysterically. Father just shook is head in embarrassment.
"Maria do you insist on turning our children against me like this and constantly reminding me how awful I was?" He asked.
"Well Mr. Sea Captain Sir that is the only terrible thing you have done that I know about and I have to bug you about something, my love" Maria said she stood up strait and saluted him. We were laughing even more. Father found it a little funny after awhile and gave Maria a big kiss.
"Alright my girls why don't we let these horses get some exercise and go and ride them hmm? I bet I can beat both of you on the trail." Well with that we got on and rode. It was fun, but not relaxing. Father used to be good on horses and I used to stink. He would always ride with me and we would race. I would never beat him. While he was gone though Maria had taught me how to ride very well. So we raced. As we neared the finish Father was in first. He thought he had us won. Maria and I looked at each other as we galloped even with Father. He was waving one hand and pumping his fist like he had already won. Well Father's horse freaked out and it came to a stop bucking him off. Maria's horse stopped as well in the heap. I could hear her shouts of encouragement as I finished the race. I glanced back. Maria was off her horse seeing if Father was all right. I galloped over to them.
"Yea! Liesl! You were flying out there my darling! You finally won." Maria came and hugged me.
"Hey why does she get all the love? Maria, your fiancé is hurt over here." He grumbled.
"Oh it is just a little bit of blood, Georg, really. Liesl didn't tell you she took riding lessons, did she? How does it feel to be the loser for once?" Maria asked.
"Where did you teach her to ride like that? I think you two girls cheated. You were riding as a team. I demand a rematch." He said.
"Fine then next time we will just bring Friedrich out as well let him ride on your team." Maria said.
"Yeah lets go out tomorrow and race!" I answered. Maria and I grabbed our horses and mounted.
"Wait a minute, is anyone going to help me?" Father asked. Maria laughed at him.
"Darling you have a scratch on your knee that is bleeding a bit what do you expect me to do carry you all the way home?" She asked.
"Well as a matter of fact I…well Maria it hurts, I fell off a horse. Do you have no pity? I don't want to get back on my horse." He answered. My oh my why was he being so wimpy? This is why I hate it when he loses.
"Darling, honestly Gretl has gotten bigger cuts than that and not complained, but since you are such a wimp you can ride on my horse. Maria moved forward and motioned for him to climb on. She gave him a long kiss.
"That's all I wanted now I feel better." Father cried. Maria and I rolled our eyes and rode home.
That was our excitement for the day. Luckily everything seems to be going fine with everyone in this house, even if our country does not approve of who Father is marrying we all sure do.
August 10, 1938
The wedding is in a week! Everything is in full swing. It has been agreed that Maria will walk down the aisle alone. Father told Maria that he wanted to see her beautiful face come down the aisle and as much as he would love to walk with her he wanted to see her walk down. She agreed. They decided to have the reception at our villa, which pleased Maria greatly. After the reception they are leaving to go to Paris for their honeymoon. Maria agreed to going to Paris immediately. So it is almost all arranged which I am very grateful because after this there will be no more stress.
August 15, 1938
Well just kidding I guess there is more stress after the main wedding plans are all arranged. Father woke me up at four in the morning. He told me he needed help over at the church. I went there googly-eyed from bed.
"Why do you need my help Father? Why did we have to come this early?" I asked.
"So it will be a surprise for Maria darling." He answered.
"What exactly are we doing?" I asked. Well then I saw it. Over in a corner were thousands of small white flowers. Behind them were many small white candles.
"Oh they are beautiful Father! Why though did you not get Friedrich to come and help? He is stronger than me Father." I said.
"I know Liesl, but there are people in this family that can't keep their mouths shut for more than a minute. Also Friedrich has no idea what to do when it comes to design and presentation. So you have to help me make the church look good." He said.
"Yes, but father the church is already beautiful."
"I know Liesl, but it is not beautiful compared to Maria. We have to make it look good so God doesn't curse us." He said. I had to laugh. That morning we decorated the church. Then he got back and told me that there was more to decorate the house with. Ahh! So he told me that tomorrow morning we would be doing this again. Oh well. At least the church will be almost as pretty as Maria.