Notes: Yes I am almost finished with this! I would really appreciate some reviews everyone!
Chapter 16: Preparations
March 15, 1942
Well I have not written in a while because of all the preparations and busy work we have all been involved in. We have all been preparing for the wedding, which is going to be in early September. Rolfe and I decided to have it in a beautiful Catholic Chapel down the road from this house. It is going to be medium in size, not as huge as Father's because we don't know that many people now. I should be fun though. I invited all my sisters and brothers to be in the wedding. After much thought, I asked Louisa if she would be the Maid of Honor. She responded with an enthusiastic "yes" followed by asking me if she had to walk down the aisle. I laughed at her a little. She reminded me of Mother and how she did not want to walk down the aisle at her own wedding. You would think Louisa would not care, she has sung in front of a ton more people before. She agreed after a little prodding from Mother to walk down the aisle.
Louisa just turned eighteen one month ago. I can't believe she is that old. We are all growing up now. The wonderful thing though is that even though we are all older there are still three little ones running around. Rosemarie, Julia and George are the cutest sibling one could have. Brigitta and Marta are going to carry the little ones down the aisle and we decided Rosemarie could walk. She was so excited and she has been practicing by picking flowers out front and laying them down on the road that leads to our house.
I guess I could give a report of all my sisters and brothers now. Friedrich is going to college next fall and he is very excited about that. Louisa is also going off to college, well actually she is for a few months and then she is going to tour with the family some too. Kurt is fifteen now and is taking lessons in a school around here along with my sisters and brothers. Kurt is still annoying. He still loves to bug Brigitta as well. Poor Brigitta she always seems to be the one picked on the most. She is so completely smart and still loves to read. Marta is very quiet still, at eleven, but she is turning into a wonderful young girl. Gretl is still so extremely cute even though she is nine. I think Mother and I still see her as the "baby of the family," even though there are three others smaller than her. Both Marta and Gretl are very into painting and drawing. They are wonderful little artists. I wish I could draw as well as they can. Gretl has made it a point to teach her younger siblings to sing. Those three may literally be singing before they can talk. Rosemarie is just beginning to walk she is so beautiful. I still have not seen a kid as pretty as she is. Julia and George are both cute. Rosemarie and Julia both get a lot of laughs from tormenting George. Poor little boy, Mother says maybe the baby will be a boy so he can have a playmate. Mother is due in about two months. She is so funny. She will try to help us with preparations, but it becomes so tiring for her she has to go and lie down. This baby has really been taking a toll on her and Father is getting slightly concerned. Other than that things are going wonderfully. The children can't wait to get out of school and have summer began.
May 31, 1942
It's funny how Mother picked today of all days to have her baby. Well of course she did not pick it but you know what I mean. Today was the children's last day of school. I was gone out with Rolfe and Father decided to go to the store to pick up a few things. Mother told us she was fine. She wasn't due for about three more weeks so we had no idea that the baby was coming. I walked in and Father was running around frantically and told me to send for a doctor.
I called for one and the doctor was somewhere out of his office and could not get here fast enough. I told this to Father so he went in with mother to help her. I sat down for a minute and realized that the children finished school ten minutes ago and Mother was supposed to walk over there today. I quickly got on my shoes and yelled at Father that I was going to get the children. I put Julia and George into a stroller and started on my way. I noticed it began to get dark and cloudy. I reached the school and my sisters and brothers came out. Just then it began to rain. Actually it began to downpour. There we were walking back in shorts and skirts in the freezing cold. Freidrich and Louisa held Julia and George and huddled them in their shirts so they would not catch a cold. I held Rosemarie and tried to keep her warm. When we finally made our way back we were all soaked to the skin. Rolfe came out of the house. He chuckled at us.
"Liesl, you forgot to bring a blanket and long clothes for the children hmm?" He smiled. I glared at him.
"Yes as a matter of fact I did forget to bring them blankets, it is not supposed to rain at the end of May, at least I went to go and get them. Is Mother alright?" I asked. Rolfe gave us a grin that said, "ha I know something you don't know." I glared even more at him. He came closer to me and gave me a kiss.
"I would tell you to find out for yourselves, but I think you all should go and take a bath first." Rolfe said. We all moaned as he left to fix some hot water for the tub. We all got cleaned up as quickly as possible. We were all anguish to hear the news. My sisters and brothers ran in a mob to the door of our parent's bedroom. Father opened the door when he heard us. Giving us a warm smile he asked.
"Did you want to come in by chance?" The children practically ran him over and bolted for Mother. In the crib lay not one, but two sleeping babies.
"You had twins?" I cry gazing up at Mother in excitement. She smiled and nodded. Father walked over to Mother's side and hugged her.
"Yes two beautiful girls." Father said. Kurt looked disgusted. I had to laugh at him. He is so funny. At least he got one brother last time.
"Well, children what should we name them?" Mother asked us. Gretl walked over and looked at one of the children.
"This one looks like a Danielle, Mother. Lets name her Danielle." Gretl told all of us. We decided it was a beautiful name. The second one was difficult. We threw out names for a long time. Louisa was the only one not to say anything for a while. Father noticed her and asked her what she thought.
"Well I think the other baby looks like a Kaira." Louisa said. Mother smiled and we all agreed that we loved the name. So I have two new sisters today, Danielle and Kaira. I really like those names. They are beautiful.
Mother is in fine health. The doctor came and told us everything looked well. Father was relived that the reason Mother felt so tired was that she was pregnant with twins. It is really amazing to me how much our family has grown. I have five other siblings now. Mother said maybe we could hire someone to baby-sit during the wedding so Mother and Father can walk me down the aisle.
That is how I wanted it. I told Mother I didn't like the idea of just my Father giving me away. I mean why would the daughters have their Father's give them away when their Mother's have done so much in their lives? That's how I felt anyways. As much as I love Father, Mother has really and truly inspired and taught me to become who I am today. So I asked her if they would both walk me down the aisle. They both responded with an enthusiastic "yes." I couldn't be happier. I wouldn't want it any other way.
June 18, 1942
Well today we finally had a rematch in horseback riding. Father heard Rolfe was a pretty good rider so he decided to ask him to be on his team. So it was those two versus Maria and I. Freidrich and Louisa stayed at home to watch the little ones. Father and Rolfe were talking smack all the way up. Mother and I had fun rolling our eyes at them. They really have quite large egos. The stakes were rather large because whoever lost had to be the others servant for a week. Mother and I talked about how hilarious this would be if both of them had to wait on us.
We arrived at the stables and got our horses ready. Then we began to race. I have to say that this time it was Rolfe who made a mistake. Father was determined to make it to the finish line before he started to celebrate. So he was focused. I think the person he really wanted to beat was Mother so he barley saw me when I galloped past him. Rolfe was already celebrating. Father glanced back to shush him off and didn't notice Mother race by him. We crossed the finish line before both of them. Well they were not happy to say the least.
"Well Liesl it is again proven that woman rule the world! Huh?" She said giving me a hug. I had to laugh and nod my head at her.
"Yes that seems to be proven time and time again." I answered back at her. Father and Rolfe looked at each other in apparent disgust at losing. It must be even more painful to loose to your wife and fiancé! Ha! Ha! Ha! I don't feel the least bit sorry for them. They made many excuses the whole way back. When we got home Louisa asked us who won.
"Well we did of course, Louisa, you thought we wouldn't beat those two big headed people over there?" I asked her. She laughed and told us good job.
"Louisa I give you permission to make Father your slave as well for the next week, actually all of you children be sure to do that." Mother said.
"Father, Rolfe, you guys some girls beat you?" Kurt asked in disbelief. Father smiled at him.
"Kurt those are no ordinary woman. They are both stronger and tougher than anyone you will ever meet." He took Mother in his arms and kissed her.
So that ended all the fun for the day. Well except having those two wait on us.
July 4, 1942
Today is the fourth of July. Independence day! This year we celebrated it by going into New York to see the fireworks. It was very neat. We all visited the Statue of Liberty again. I had seen it before but now I wasn't seeing it as a foreigner. Now I was seeing her as an American. We were all very happy that on this day many years ago, our country gained its independence. The only thing that could make this holiday better is if the War over in Europe would end. I can't wait until it is finished so everything can be peaceful.
August 18, 1942
Two days ago Mother and Father celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary. It is hard to believe they were married four years ago. It really seems like Mother has been my Mother my whole life. Even with all the escaping and living on nothing we had to do for a while these have honestly been the happiest years of my life. Mother and Father left for a day to be alone (well kindov they did take Danielle and Kaira with them). They just seem to plunge further and further in love with each other with every passing day. They are so happy together. I hope I will be that happy with Rolfe. Looking at Mother and Father it makes marriage seem so simple. I know it is not that way with everyone. Honestly though they barley even fight. When they get into a small disagreement it usually ends with a big kiss and then they don't care anymore. It is amazing.
I know that I was young back then but I just really don't remember Father being this in love with Mother. Oh they were in love of course, but I can tell that he loves Maria more than he ever loved my other Mother. Hmm I guess I am off the topic. I was going to write about the beautiful dresses I selected for my wedding today.
When Mother arrived back with Father today she decided it was high time we go and choose a dress for me. Of course I was not going to argue with this. We went out and shopped and looked. We found this beautiful white beaded silk dress. It was very simple and lovely. Then we choose the color of the bridesmaid's dresses. I decided to make them a light blue color. Mother was happy with my choice and she said surely Father would approve as well. I am so excited about my dress. It is so pretty.