She finishes saying grace and I can't help stare at her. Gretl looks at Maria She tells Maria that she never wants her to leave. Elsa starts talking about that boarding school and how the children won't need a governess. All the children stop eating and look at me. I get angry and tell Elsa to stop and we will discuss it later. We will talk about many things later I say to myself.
I look at Maria again and our eyes meet. I want to take her hand and tell her to stay with me forever. I decide to only smile. She smiles back and I know I still have a chance with her.
Franz brings dessert in . I watch Maria again and see how she looks at the children. I can tell how much she loves them and they her. As I watch her with Gretl Elsa starts talking about the wedding. I see Maria looking more and more uneasy until she asks to be excused. She gets up to leave and I stand. I watch her leave.
I tell Elsa I need some air and so I go upstairs to the balcony to get my thoughts in order before I talk to Elsa. As I walk onto the balcony I see Maria walking down the stairs. I watch her intently and wish I was with her. My gaze breaks as Elsa walks up.
"There you are" she says. I know she sees Maria but I say nothing. " I must talk to cook about the wiener schnitzel it is entirely to good for my figure and makes you too quiet at the dinner table or was it the wine? I hear her but my thoughts are on Maria. "Undoubtedly the wine" I answer.
Elsa keeps talking "I am having a hard time figuring what to get you for a wedding present. First a villa but they are hard to wrap" Then I thought about a fountain pen but you have one" She keeps talking and I decide I need to tell her now that I need to break it off. She starts to talk about getting me a boat I say her name but she keeps going. Now she starts discussing the honeymoon.
"Elsa" I say, this time she stops talking. "Yes Georg" she answers.
"Its no use you and I. I am being dishonest to us both" I start. She stops me and tells me she can't marry me. She says I am too independent. I know what she is doing. She wants to be the one to break it off. I let her finish but before she goes she says one last thing that shocks me and makes me realize she knew all the time" Somewhere out there is a young lady that will never be a nun. I look at her and smile and she goes in to leave.
My purpose clear I go in search of Maria. I head to the gazebo. I see her sitting on the bench. I decide to approach her being careful not to scare her.
"Hello, I thought I just might find you here" I say as she looks up.
"Was their something you wanted"? she asked. I said no and I asked her to sit. I sat beside her. She looked away. I could tell she felt awkward and this was the last thing I wanted.
I ask her again" Why did you go back to the abbey and what made you come back? She looks at me and says" I had an obligation to fulfill and I came back to fulfill it"
" Is that all " I ask. She looks at me and says "and I missed the children" Our eyes meet and I say "only the children" I look at her and I want to take her in my arms. She says "no" at first and then "yes" She gets defensive and says "isn't it right that I should have missed them" I agree and say " I was hoping that you would stay, nothing was the same without you and it will be all wrong when you go." She gets defensive and says" I am sure the Baroness will be able to make things fine for you." She stands up and starts to walk away. I call her name" Maria" she stops and I continue " there isn't going to be any Baroness.
I get up and walk next to her. We walk toward the gazebo. She seems confused and says "I don't understand.
"We've called off our engagement" I say as we continue walking. She confuses me by saying she's sorry. I wonder if she heard what I said so I say "you are" We go into the gazebo.
She turns and says "you did" I see now that she has finally realized what I have told her. I decide to tell her my feelings. I look out through the glass and say" You can't marry someone when your in love with someone else" I look at her and say "can you". Our eyes lock and I see all her pain and heartache melt away. All I see now is love.