HAPPY DAYS Chapter 2: ASKING THE CHILDREN
They remained sitting together for more than an hour, until Georg felt Maria shiver slightly in his arms. "What is it," he asked softly, his nose buried in her hair, which smelled of sunlight and mountain air. "I'm cold," she said simply. He felt a bit chilly himself and pulled her toward him, thinking that the best way to warm up was a deep embrace. She responded eagerly to his kiss and for a few moments they held each other, the heat flaring up indeed within their bodies. Maria moved her mouth to his cheek, and through a series of little kisses, she whispered: "I should go to my room." Georg knew she was right. He lifted his hand up to her face and caressed her cheek. He sighed. He didn't want her to go. He didn't want her to ever leave his side again. It would require a lot of his patience to get through the weeks leading up to the wedding, he thought while he helped her get up from the couch. They walked into the hall together where they held each other for a little while longer. "I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow..." one last kiss and Maria slipped out of his arms and quickly moved down the hallway.
The captain watched her walk always with mixed feelings. He knew she was right, but he wanted so much to be near her that it almost physically hurt to let her go. But it would only be for a few hours. He went into his bedroom, freshened himself up a bit, then put on pyjama's and got into bed. Alone. But he had the memory of the evening.
When Maria reached the stairs, she stood still for a second. She felt a bit strange creeping through the house like this in the middle of the night, almost as if she'd done something wrong. She took off her shoes and walked down the stairs barefoot, shoes in her hand, not wanting to make any noise. She reached her room without anybody noticing her. The door of Frau Schmidt's room was closed, and the house was quiet. Quickly, Maria got out of her dress and into a nightgown and bed. She might be alone but she still felt Georg's kisses on her lips and skin. Her head spinning with new thoughts, her body tingling with new feelings, she soon was fast asleep and dreaming.
The next morning, Maria had to hurry to get ready for breakfast in time. She had been dreaming of course... and had woken up too late. She dressed quickly, putting on the white and blue dress she'd been wearing the evening of the party, before she left. She hurried down the stairs, and was pleasantly surprised to run into the captain on the landing of the stairs. He was hurrying, coming from the other side of the stairs and she saw he looked like she felt: glowing, beaming, but also a little nervous that 'something' might show.
"Good morning," she said and smiled a knowing smile at him. With everybody awake in the house she wasn't going to say anything to give their little secret away yet. But she could have a bit of fun... "Did you sleep well?" She tilted her head sideways a little, and looked at him so suggestively that he was surprised, surprised that there was also this mischievous side to her.
"Very well... I have found the perfect way to make sure I am utterly relaxed before I go to bed." His retort came from a straight face, the sparkle in his eye only visible to Maria, not to Franz who was busying about in the hall. Together, they walked to the dining room. They didn't speak, not needing to make any plans. They knew what they were going to do.
When they came through the door together the children and Max were already there, chattering nicely among each other. Until now, Max and Maria had sat on one head of the table, Georg and the baroness on the other head, and the children sat along the sides. The table was set in the same fashion this morning. Of course, Frau Schmidt had not been told yet of the hasty departure of the baroness. Logically, Maria would now take her place next to the captain, but this would require immediate explanations. They decided to play it a little bit longer.
"Good morning everyone," they both said and walked towards their respective places, Maria sitting down next to Max. When Georg appeared to begin prayer, Louisa stopped him. "Father, shouldn't we wait for the Baroness to arrive," she asked pointedly, nodding her head towards the empty seat next to her father. Georg showed how much he had changed over the last weeks by not responding to her to mind her own business, but by explaining to his daughter with a gentle smile that the baroness had left. "She has?" Louisa's mouth opened in surprise. The captain nodded at her. "We decided that we made a mistake, and we called off our engagement." Of course, this caused exited talk to break out among the children. Max only raised an eyebrow at Georg and looked shortly toward Maria. Everybody quieted down as the captain uttered a short prayer and then filled their plates with the lovely breakfast dishes.
The course of mealtimes had changed drastically since Maria arrived. Had meals passed in tense silence before, everybody talked pleasantly, and meals were an enjoyable family experience now as they should be. Liesl asked her father something and got into a conversation with him, the subject of which could not be heard by Maria, but his news of this morning most probably was the reason. She couldn't hear because on her right-hand side, Friedrich was talking loudly to Louisa about a plan of his to row around the lake today. Friedrich seemed to have happily, but unquestioningly accepted the departure of the baroness, whom he detested utterly. Of course he couldn't express how happy he was that she left, so he just took it for a fact and continued with his line of thought from before his father's announcement, which had involved the rowing boat and the lake. Maria grinned. "Friedrich, maybe you should postpone your attempt until you've practised rowing a bit more," she suggested, with a twinkle in her eyes.
Max was the only one not joining in the conversations. He was looking at Maria intensely. Something was different about her. She looked... as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Happy again, not like yesterday when she'd hardly spoken at dinner. When she laughed at Friedrich's insulted face when she suggested he could not manage his rowing plan, she laughed just a little more heartily than the situation was worth. The twinkle in her eyes had been there before, but not like this morning. The moment Maria laughed, Max noticed Georg looking up. He only looked for a split second, but Maria felt his eyes rest on her, and looked up at him for a tiny moment, too. A spark flashed across the table, then both returned to their conversation. Max smiled knowingly. They had found each other.
Looking closer, he wondered what had happened exactly. It was clear that more had happened between Georg and Maria than a simple conversation. Max could only guess now what had taken place the night before. He shrugged, and concentrated on the pile of scrambled eggs on his plate. He would hear soon enough.
Max was right. When everybody had finished their breakfast, the captain cleared his throat. He folded his napkin and placed it on his empty plate. "Uhm, Max, children. Would you please all wait a few more minutes before you go about your business, and come to the salon? I have an announcement that I'm sure you are all eager to hear." He shot a glance at Maria again, and stood up, leading them all into the salon. Murmuring excitedly, the children bustled in after him. Behind them, the maid started cleaning up the breakfast table. This was exactly why Georg had moved his family into the salon; he didn't need any nosy maid around when he broke the news to his children.
Louisa and Brigitta sat down on the sofa, but the other children remained standing, looking at their father questioningly. Max leaned toward the fireplace. He was pretty sure he knew what was coming. Georg motioned that the children should sit down and they did eventually. He remained standing, Maria at his side. When looking around at the apprehensive faces of his children, Georg discovered he was a bit nervous. His children loved their governess and no doubt they would love to have her as their new mother as well. But he wasn't sure how they would take the news at this moment in time. First, their beloved governess ran off without saying goodbye. Then, their father announced his engagement to a woman they all loathed. Their governess returned - but according to her, not for good. Then, the baroness disappeared...and now, their father was about to announce he was to marry their governess. No doubt it would be a bit confusing to the children. Hell, it had been confusing enough to him. He looked at his children, who all looked back, silent, waiting. "Ahem," he began, and fell silent again.
Maria smiled. How could this man, so confident, strong, intelligent, be so lost for words in front of his own children? She decided to save him and spoke first. "Children, we have something to tell you. Or rather, something to ask you. But I need to give a bit of an explanation first, ok? " Louisa and Brigitta nodded fervently in agreement and exchanged a conspiratorial glance. The other children just looked closely at her, wondering what was coming. Maria continued. "When I left you and returned to the abbey, that didn't mean I didn't love you anymore. I did, and still do. But love exists in many ways, and I also felt a love in my heart that I did not understand. I went back to the abbey to run away from it, but then I realized I had to learn to understand it, and that is why I came back."
The children nodded at her. They believed that she still loved them, she had returned, hadn't she? Then their father added a few lines. "While Maria was away I was confused, I didn't understand why she had left. My confusion made me mistake my feelings for the Baroness for love. That is why we got engaged. But when Maria returned, she opened my eyes. It was not the Baroness I loved... but it was Maria." This statement was met by oohs and aahs and again, that glance between Louisa and Brigitta. "Children, how would you feel if Maria was to be your new mother?"
Smiles broke onto the children's faces. Were they serious?? They looked at each other, then at the couple standing in front of them. They saw the hand of their governess seeking their father's, their nervous smiles at each other, and at them. They loved Maria! Never mind the baroness, who cared about her? She was gone!
Liesl was the first to speak. She stood up, walked toward them quietly at first, but then flung herself around the neck of her father and her governess and hugged them tightly. Then followed Brigitta and Louisa. "I knew it! We had seen it in your eyes! This is so wonderful!" they rambled at them, and Georg and Maria looked at each other, their nervousness gone at this reaction of his three daughters. The other children soon followed the example of their sisters and all gathered round, hugging and kissing their father and Maria enthusiastically, all telling them they'd known all along that they must be in love. Even the boys were laughing and joining in the happiness, hugging Maria and kissing her cheeks. What a difference to the last 'announcement' their father had made! "So I assume that's a 'yes'?" asked the captain, a little redundantly. Of course the children chorused "Yes, yes," in return, and continued their family hug.
While hugging their children in return, the eyes of Georg and Maria met frequently. They were so happy, the family that would be theirs was happy, and the moment was perfect.
They remained sitting together for more than an hour, until Georg felt Maria shiver slightly in his arms. "What is it," he asked softly, his nose buried in her hair, which smelled of sunlight and mountain air. "I'm cold," she said simply. He felt a bit chilly himself and pulled her toward him, thinking that the best way to warm up was a deep embrace. She responded eagerly to his kiss and for a few moments they held each other, the heat flaring up indeed within their bodies. Maria moved her mouth to his cheek, and through a series of little kisses, she whispered: "I should go to my room." Georg knew she was right. He lifted his hand up to her face and caressed her cheek. He sighed. He didn't want her to go. He didn't want her to ever leave his side again. It would require a lot of his patience to get through the weeks leading up to the wedding, he thought while he helped her get up from the couch. They walked into the hall together where they held each other for a little while longer. "I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow..." one last kiss and Maria slipped out of his arms and quickly moved down the hallway.
The captain watched her walk always with mixed feelings. He knew she was right, but he wanted so much to be near her that it almost physically hurt to let her go. But it would only be for a few hours. He went into his bedroom, freshened himself up a bit, then put on pyjama's and got into bed. Alone. But he had the memory of the evening.
When Maria reached the stairs, she stood still for a second. She felt a bit strange creeping through the house like this in the middle of the night, almost as if she'd done something wrong. She took off her shoes and walked down the stairs barefoot, shoes in her hand, not wanting to make any noise. She reached her room without anybody noticing her. The door of Frau Schmidt's room was closed, and the house was quiet. Quickly, Maria got out of her dress and into a nightgown and bed. She might be alone but she still felt Georg's kisses on her lips and skin. Her head spinning with new thoughts, her body tingling with new feelings, she soon was fast asleep and dreaming.
The next morning, Maria had to hurry to get ready for breakfast in time. She had been dreaming of course... and had woken up too late. She dressed quickly, putting on the white and blue dress she'd been wearing the evening of the party, before she left. She hurried down the stairs, and was pleasantly surprised to run into the captain on the landing of the stairs. He was hurrying, coming from the other side of the stairs and she saw he looked like she felt: glowing, beaming, but also a little nervous that 'something' might show.
"Good morning," she said and smiled a knowing smile at him. With everybody awake in the house she wasn't going to say anything to give their little secret away yet. But she could have a bit of fun... "Did you sleep well?" She tilted her head sideways a little, and looked at him so suggestively that he was surprised, surprised that there was also this mischievous side to her.
"Very well... I have found the perfect way to make sure I am utterly relaxed before I go to bed." His retort came from a straight face, the sparkle in his eye only visible to Maria, not to Franz who was busying about in the hall. Together, they walked to the dining room. They didn't speak, not needing to make any plans. They knew what they were going to do.
When they came through the door together the children and Max were already there, chattering nicely among each other. Until now, Max and Maria had sat on one head of the table, Georg and the baroness on the other head, and the children sat along the sides. The table was set in the same fashion this morning. Of course, Frau Schmidt had not been told yet of the hasty departure of the baroness. Logically, Maria would now take her place next to the captain, but this would require immediate explanations. They decided to play it a little bit longer.
"Good morning everyone," they both said and walked towards their respective places, Maria sitting down next to Max. When Georg appeared to begin prayer, Louisa stopped him. "Father, shouldn't we wait for the Baroness to arrive," she asked pointedly, nodding her head towards the empty seat next to her father. Georg showed how much he had changed over the last weeks by not responding to her to mind her own business, but by explaining to his daughter with a gentle smile that the baroness had left. "She has?" Louisa's mouth opened in surprise. The captain nodded at her. "We decided that we made a mistake, and we called off our engagement." Of course, this caused exited talk to break out among the children. Max only raised an eyebrow at Georg and looked shortly toward Maria. Everybody quieted down as the captain uttered a short prayer and then filled their plates with the lovely breakfast dishes.
The course of mealtimes had changed drastically since Maria arrived. Had meals passed in tense silence before, everybody talked pleasantly, and meals were an enjoyable family experience now as they should be. Liesl asked her father something and got into a conversation with him, the subject of which could not be heard by Maria, but his news of this morning most probably was the reason. She couldn't hear because on her right-hand side, Friedrich was talking loudly to Louisa about a plan of his to row around the lake today. Friedrich seemed to have happily, but unquestioningly accepted the departure of the baroness, whom he detested utterly. Of course he couldn't express how happy he was that she left, so he just took it for a fact and continued with his line of thought from before his father's announcement, which had involved the rowing boat and the lake. Maria grinned. "Friedrich, maybe you should postpone your attempt until you've practised rowing a bit more," she suggested, with a twinkle in her eyes.
Max was the only one not joining in the conversations. He was looking at Maria intensely. Something was different about her. She looked... as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Happy again, not like yesterday when she'd hardly spoken at dinner. When she laughed at Friedrich's insulted face when she suggested he could not manage his rowing plan, she laughed just a little more heartily than the situation was worth. The twinkle in her eyes had been there before, but not like this morning. The moment Maria laughed, Max noticed Georg looking up. He only looked for a split second, but Maria felt his eyes rest on her, and looked up at him for a tiny moment, too. A spark flashed across the table, then both returned to their conversation. Max smiled knowingly. They had found each other.
Looking closer, he wondered what had happened exactly. It was clear that more had happened between Georg and Maria than a simple conversation. Max could only guess now what had taken place the night before. He shrugged, and concentrated on the pile of scrambled eggs on his plate. He would hear soon enough.
Max was right. When everybody had finished their breakfast, the captain cleared his throat. He folded his napkin and placed it on his empty plate. "Uhm, Max, children. Would you please all wait a few more minutes before you go about your business, and come to the salon? I have an announcement that I'm sure you are all eager to hear." He shot a glance at Maria again, and stood up, leading them all into the salon. Murmuring excitedly, the children bustled in after him. Behind them, the maid started cleaning up the breakfast table. This was exactly why Georg had moved his family into the salon; he didn't need any nosy maid around when he broke the news to his children.
Louisa and Brigitta sat down on the sofa, but the other children remained standing, looking at their father questioningly. Max leaned toward the fireplace. He was pretty sure he knew what was coming. Georg motioned that the children should sit down and they did eventually. He remained standing, Maria at his side. When looking around at the apprehensive faces of his children, Georg discovered he was a bit nervous. His children loved their governess and no doubt they would love to have her as their new mother as well. But he wasn't sure how they would take the news at this moment in time. First, their beloved governess ran off without saying goodbye. Then, their father announced his engagement to a woman they all loathed. Their governess returned - but according to her, not for good. Then, the baroness disappeared...and now, their father was about to announce he was to marry their governess. No doubt it would be a bit confusing to the children. Hell, it had been confusing enough to him. He looked at his children, who all looked back, silent, waiting. "Ahem," he began, and fell silent again.
Maria smiled. How could this man, so confident, strong, intelligent, be so lost for words in front of his own children? She decided to save him and spoke first. "Children, we have something to tell you. Or rather, something to ask you. But I need to give a bit of an explanation first, ok? " Louisa and Brigitta nodded fervently in agreement and exchanged a conspiratorial glance. The other children just looked closely at her, wondering what was coming. Maria continued. "When I left you and returned to the abbey, that didn't mean I didn't love you anymore. I did, and still do. But love exists in many ways, and I also felt a love in my heart that I did not understand. I went back to the abbey to run away from it, but then I realized I had to learn to understand it, and that is why I came back."
The children nodded at her. They believed that she still loved them, she had returned, hadn't she? Then their father added a few lines. "While Maria was away I was confused, I didn't understand why she had left. My confusion made me mistake my feelings for the Baroness for love. That is why we got engaged. But when Maria returned, she opened my eyes. It was not the Baroness I loved... but it was Maria." This statement was met by oohs and aahs and again, that glance between Louisa and Brigitta. "Children, how would you feel if Maria was to be your new mother?"
Smiles broke onto the children's faces. Were they serious?? They looked at each other, then at the couple standing in front of them. They saw the hand of their governess seeking their father's, their nervous smiles at each other, and at them. They loved Maria! Never mind the baroness, who cared about her? She was gone!
Liesl was the first to speak. She stood up, walked toward them quietly at first, but then flung herself around the neck of her father and her governess and hugged them tightly. Then followed Brigitta and Louisa. "I knew it! We had seen it in your eyes! This is so wonderful!" they rambled at them, and Georg and Maria looked at each other, their nervousness gone at this reaction of his three daughters. The other children soon followed the example of their sisters and all gathered round, hugging and kissing their father and Maria enthusiastically, all telling them they'd known all along that they must be in love. Even the boys were laughing and joining in the happiness, hugging Maria and kissing her cheeks. What a difference to the last 'announcement' their father had made! "So I assume that's a 'yes'?" asked the captain, a little redundantly. Of course the children chorused "Yes, yes," in return, and continued their family hug.
While hugging their children in return, the eyes of Georg and Maria met frequently. They were so happy, the family that would be theirs was happy, and the moment was perfect.