HAPPY DAYS Chapter 3: A WET ROWING TRIP
When the storm of hugs and kisses calmed down a bit, Maria made a suggestion. "Children? Children, listen up," she tried to catch their attention over their murmur amongst themselves. They quieted, and looked at her to hear what she had to say. "Why don't you all run up to the boathouse and row the boat to the edge of the terrace? I think we should go for a little outing together to celebrate!" "Oh yes, " cried Friedrich enthusiastically. "I can row you all around the lake!" This was met with laughter and teasing remarks from his brothers and sisters. "Yes, well, we'll have to se about that one. Go on then, your father and I will be outside soon. You go ahead!" Maria shooed them out of the salon. Of course, the children needed no more encouragement, and excitedly ran outside. "And Friedrich," Maria yelled after them, "Just from the boathouse down to the terrace, remember!" Then she laughed, a hearty, full laugh, and Georg joined in.
During all of the excitement, Max had remained standing at his spot near the fireplace, looking at the goings-on with an amused expression. Now that the children were gone, he walked toward Georg and Maria, looking at them with that knowing smile again. He took Maria into his arms and kissed her cheek. "I'm sure you will make him very happy. Just look at the improvement he's made since you arrived here!" She let out a relieved laugh, glad that Max was so obviously happy for them. Max took Georg's hand and shook it fervently. "I'm glad you came to your senses," was all he said to him. Georg tried to look insulted, but couldn't suppress a grin. He was a little bit surprised, though. He knew Max had liked Elsa. Or at least had liked her money. Well, in the end he probably knew that Maria would be better for him. And even though Max was a self-proclaimed "sponge", even to Max Georg's happiness was ultimately more important than money.
The three of them slowly followed the children out of the house, Georg and Maria arm in arm, Max next to them. The weather was beautiful and when they walked out onto the terrace they could hear the children's laughs and exited cries in the distance. Soon, the boat came into sight, Friedrich and Kurt rowing, Liesl minding the two youngest girls to make sure they wouldn't fall into the water... again!
Maria walked to the edge of the water and gestured at the captain to join them, too. He looked doubtful. He hadn't been out on the lake since.. he couldn't remember, so long ago it was. But Maria looked at him imploringly, as did his children. "Oh come on father, it will be fun!" they yelled at him. He could not resist such pressure, so he gave in, and Maria and he climbed into the boat. He took the paddle form Kurt and joined in with Friedrich. Kurt had been a little clumsy, but Friedrich actually did row quite well, so together with his father they gathered up a nice easy pace for the boat.
Georg looked at Maria, who sat with Liesl and the little ones. Her eyes sparkled, everybody's cheeks were red from the sun and fresh air, he looked at the beautiful view of the lake and the mountains around it, and he suddenly wondered what had happened to him. He used to enjoy things like these, but he'd forgotten how to... and then Maria had arrived and reminded him of how to love, but also, how to have fun and enjoy these moments. She had actually saved him.
Of course, Maria brought up a song, so they rowed for a while singing happily and noisily together.
They brought the boat to the waterside near a nice, shady patch of grass under a few trees. They all got out and sat down near the water, but soon the children got tired of sitting and started playing a game of hide and seek. Maria and Georg got up and walked for a bit along the waterside. He took her hand in his and squeezed. "Thank you," he said. She looked at him with those big blue eyes. "For what?" "I think I've told you before... you've brought music back into my life. And I don't mean just the kind of music you can hear when people sing, but the music of life itself, the ability to enjoy the little things, have fun with my children..." He stopped, not quite knowing how to put it. But Maria understood. "I didn't do that," she said. "You've allowed yourself to see and hear it again. Maybe, it was just the right time for it to come back."
He stopped walking and turned her face towards his own. "Maybe. But I'm glad you came along at the right time, too." He kissed her forehead and pulled her towards him. They stood for a while, not saying anything, just holding each other close, not aware that Liesl, who hadn't joined in the game, was watching them from a distance. She knew just a little bit about love, was just beginning to know... but she was wise enough to know that this was for real. She knew how important Maria had been to help bring back the father she remembered and loved, and she loved Maria even more for it. She turned around, not wanting to intrude on their privacy any further, and went to help Marta find the last of her brothers and sisters in their hiding places.
After half an hour they had gathered enough breath to row back to the house. The sun was burning warmer and they didn't have the energy for more song, so they just sat quietly in the boat. Marta and Gretl were sitting at the back, hanging over the edge, trying to touch the water with their hands. They could just reach it and splattered some of it at Kurt, who didn't mind at all, because it was lovely and cool on his sun heated face. They were a bit disappointed at his lack of reaction, but splattered at each other instead. Maria kept a close eye on them, but they weren't hanging over too much, so it didn't look like there was any danger of them falling in.
They reached the terrace and stood up, getting out of the boat one by one. Kurt was one of the last getting out, only Maria and the little girls were still in the boat behind him. But when he tried to get out, his foot hooked behind a paddle, he stumbled, and fell back into the boat, making it rock wildly. Marta and Gretl were already standing to get out, so of course the wild movements of the boat sent them toppling right over the side... Maria, who had still been sitting, managed to keep her balance. But knowing that neither of the girls could swim very well, she didn't hesitate and jumped in after them. The lake wasn't very deep here, and the girls should be able to stand, but in their confusion they both went under. Maria quickly pulled them both up though, setting Martha to her feet and holding Gretl on one arm. They hiccoughed and sniffed a bit, but soon managed to see the fun in falling into the lake for the second time this summer. Maria handed Gretl over to the captain, who was kneeled at the waterside, and helped Marta out before climbing out of the water herself.
By now, Kurt had managed to get out of the boat, and he stood looking guiltily at his two wet sisters and Maria. He rubbed his behind with both his hands, because he'd fallen quite uncomfortably on a bench inside the boat. He eyed his father, looking a little scared, waiting for the same sort of reaction they'd gotten the previous time they'd fallen in. But he saw his father looking with a blank face from Kurt, to his two wet little daughters, to his fiancée in her soaked dress... and when the captain and Maria made eye contact, he saw the corners of Maria's mouth twitch in a hardly covered laugh, and suddenly everybody laughed out loud, including the captain! Kurt laughed with them, relieved that apparently, he wasn't going to be blamed or punished for what happened.
When they'd stopped laughing and teasing Kurt with his clumsiness, Maria shoved the two girls in Liesl's direction.
"Will you take them upstairs, dry them up and help them change? I'd do it, but I'd like to get into something else, too..." she told Liesl, who smiled and answered that she didn't mind to. With a dripping little girl on each hand, still giggling, they walked back to the house.
Maria looked at the four remaining children.
"Do you think we can possibly trust you to bring the boat back to the boathouse without anybody else going for a swim," she asked with a bright smile on her face. The four nodded hard, Kurt exclaiming, "Oh yes, we'll be careful," eager to make up for his blunder and carefully do as Maria asked. She looked at Georg, then nodded at the kids. 'You go off then, but careful!" She looked on smiling as Friedrich, Louisa, Brigitta and Kurt slowly got back into the boat and sat down calmly. The boys took the paddles, and off they went, leaving Maria and their father standing alone on the terrace.
Georg walked towards her and smiled at her. "I've told you before that you're repetitious, haven't I...?" She laughed. 'Yes, well, sometimes practice makes perfect... Are you going to send me back to the abbey again this time, too?" He looked at her, standing there in the sun, the water from her hair dripping onto her face, standing in her own private puddle of water, which was getting bigger all the time. Somehow, she looked gorgeous. No way was he going to send her anywhere! The wet dress clung to her and he let his eyes drift over her body. "Are you cold," he asked, looking suggestively at her, and, assuming she wouldn't mind if he warmed her up a bit whatever the answer was, wrapped his arms around her. She protested weakly, pointing out to him that he'd get all wet, too, but when he smothered her protests with a kiss, she gave in and kissed him back passionately.
She pulled away from the kiss after a few minutes. "I should go change...and so should you by now, " she said looking at his shirt, the front of which was also soaked. He kissed the tip of her nose as an answer, put his arm around her and led her back to the house. They each went in a different direction when they reached the stairs. "Don't be long,' Georg warned her. He didn't want to be away from her any longer than necessary. Grinning, they split up.
When Maria entered her room she walked straight to the bathroom and got out of her wet clothes as soon as possible. She had indeed gone cold from the soaked dress clinging to her skin and she stood hesitating for a second, trying to decide what to do. After short deliberation she dumped the bundle of clothes in the sink, thinking that she'd take a hot shower first to get warm again, and then wash the dress out in the tub when she was finished with her shower. She turned on the tap and soon stood under a wonderful hot spray of water. She washed her hair and let the water flow over her head, face, her back, warming her up again. She stood unmoving for a while, enjoying the feeling.
With a sigh of regret she opened her eyes, realizing she couldn't stay under the hot spray forever. Everybody would be changed by now and they'd be wondering why she was taking so long, and lunch would probably be ready soon. She turned the tap off and got out of the tub. She looked around, saw her wet dress in the sink, so turned the tap over the bathtub on again and laid the dress out in the tub. Then she looked around and realized she'd forgotten to get clean clothes in her haste to get out of the wet dress, so she wrapped the towel around herself and walked towards the bedroom door.
When Georg stepped out of his bedroom wearing a dry shirt, he saw Liesl emerge from the nursery with Marta and Gretl, dried up and in clean clothes, so they walked back to the garden together. They were joined on the terrace by the rest of the children, and Max, who was sitting there reading the morning papers. He'd seen some of the action from a distance and now was told the details with enthusiasm by Kurt, who'd promoted himself from klutz to star of the day.
Everybody was back, but Maria was still upstairs. The children spread through the garden, and Max and Georg sat down quietly together. After a while, however, Georg got restless. Max noticed him fidgeting in his chair and teased him. "Don't worry, she'll come back. I assume you didn't send her back to the abbey, like the last time she fell in the lake?" Georg smiled, as Maria had said exactly the same. "No, I did not, and I'm not wondering where she is at all," he lied. "I just think it is a waste of a beautiful day to sit here and do nothing, so I think I'll go for a little walk around the garden." Max watched his back as he put the deed to the word, and concluded that Georg was the worst liar he'd ever met.
The captain walked around the house to the front door, actually believing that Max had bought his story and not wanting to see him enter the house. He checked the salon and dining room to be sure Maria wasn't in there, but she was not, as he had expected. He walked up the stairs and stood at her door, hesitating for a second. What would he say? "Hi, I was afraid you'd drowned in your bathtub, so I thought I'd check on you?"
Suddenly he felt a bit silly. She'd come downstairs when she was ready, so why was he here? But he wanted to know what was taking her so long, so his curiosity got the better of him. He knocked on her door, waited, but got no answer. He listened closely, but he didn't hear any sound from inside the room. He knocked again, and when he didn't get an answer for the second time, he opened the door and looked into the room. He didn't see Maria, and not knowing what to do now, he stayed on in the door opening for a while, wondering where she'd got to. At that exact moment the bathroom door opened and out came Maria, only wrapped in a towel, still wet from her shower. His breath caught in his throat at this unexpected, but delightful sight! Maria turned her head to him, startled. "What..." she began, but Georg interrupted her. "Maria, I'm so sorry," he stumbled. 'Excuse me", and he turned around back in the hall at high speed, shutting the door behind him. Maria remained still, just staring at the door, her face flushed. She looked down at herself; reassuring herself that the towel was large and thick and covered her from under her arms until just above her knees. When she got over her surprise, she shook her head and broke into a smile. Quickly, she started drying off and put on a clean dress.
Georg stood just outside her door, leaning against the wall. He shook his head in amazement at his own stupid action. He could have walked in on her completely naked! Mmm, that might not be so bad - he shook his head again, to clear that thought from his mind. He felt stupid for acting without thinking and was glad he hadn't embarrassed her more. The image of her, her bare shoulders wet, and wrapped in that fluffy blanket kept coming back to him, and he concentrated on trying to think of something else. He was just getting back his composure and wanted to start walking downstairs, when he heard Maria's door open behind him.
"Hello," she said, looking at him only half.
"I eh, I wondered what was taking you so long... the others finished changing 20 minutes ago..." She smiled at seeing him this uncomfortable. She didn't think there was anything that could shake Georg's calm exterior, but he was obviously a bit thrown off balance by the way he'd found her. "I'm so sorry for walking in on you, I had no right to come into your room like that." Maria shook her head a bit in a don't-mention-it way. "That's all right. I was decent. more or less anyway." Still not really knowing what to say, he took her hand, and they walked back downstairs together. Halfway down, they both looked sideways at the same time - their glances locked - and they both broke into a laugh, which solved the nervous tension that had just grown between them. Georg quickly pulled her toward him and stole a last passionate kiss, before returning to face the children.
When they appeared at the door of the dining room, again they were the last ones to arrive. The children didn't think much of it, except Liesl, who looked at them with that investigative look of hers. Max, of course, looked at them too. He noticed Liesl and wondered how much she knew, what shé thought had been going on. Looking at the sparkling eyes and flushed faces of Georg and Maria, Max wondered what exactly had been going on. For a short moment he envied Georg. Max knew a beautiful woman when he saw one and Maria's pretty face, lovely slim body and spunky playfulness hadn't gone unnoticed. The flash of jealousy ebbed away quickly enough. But with more than average interest, he watched the meaningful looks that were exchanged between the two lovers, and tried to imagine the exact meaning.
When the storm of hugs and kisses calmed down a bit, Maria made a suggestion. "Children? Children, listen up," she tried to catch their attention over their murmur amongst themselves. They quieted, and looked at her to hear what she had to say. "Why don't you all run up to the boathouse and row the boat to the edge of the terrace? I think we should go for a little outing together to celebrate!" "Oh yes, " cried Friedrich enthusiastically. "I can row you all around the lake!" This was met with laughter and teasing remarks from his brothers and sisters. "Yes, well, we'll have to se about that one. Go on then, your father and I will be outside soon. You go ahead!" Maria shooed them out of the salon. Of course, the children needed no more encouragement, and excitedly ran outside. "And Friedrich," Maria yelled after them, "Just from the boathouse down to the terrace, remember!" Then she laughed, a hearty, full laugh, and Georg joined in.
During all of the excitement, Max had remained standing at his spot near the fireplace, looking at the goings-on with an amused expression. Now that the children were gone, he walked toward Georg and Maria, looking at them with that knowing smile again. He took Maria into his arms and kissed her cheek. "I'm sure you will make him very happy. Just look at the improvement he's made since you arrived here!" She let out a relieved laugh, glad that Max was so obviously happy for them. Max took Georg's hand and shook it fervently. "I'm glad you came to your senses," was all he said to him. Georg tried to look insulted, but couldn't suppress a grin. He was a little bit surprised, though. He knew Max had liked Elsa. Or at least had liked her money. Well, in the end he probably knew that Maria would be better for him. And even though Max was a self-proclaimed "sponge", even to Max Georg's happiness was ultimately more important than money.
The three of them slowly followed the children out of the house, Georg and Maria arm in arm, Max next to them. The weather was beautiful and when they walked out onto the terrace they could hear the children's laughs and exited cries in the distance. Soon, the boat came into sight, Friedrich and Kurt rowing, Liesl minding the two youngest girls to make sure they wouldn't fall into the water... again!
Maria walked to the edge of the water and gestured at the captain to join them, too. He looked doubtful. He hadn't been out on the lake since.. he couldn't remember, so long ago it was. But Maria looked at him imploringly, as did his children. "Oh come on father, it will be fun!" they yelled at him. He could not resist such pressure, so he gave in, and Maria and he climbed into the boat. He took the paddle form Kurt and joined in with Friedrich. Kurt had been a little clumsy, but Friedrich actually did row quite well, so together with his father they gathered up a nice easy pace for the boat.
Georg looked at Maria, who sat with Liesl and the little ones. Her eyes sparkled, everybody's cheeks were red from the sun and fresh air, he looked at the beautiful view of the lake and the mountains around it, and he suddenly wondered what had happened to him. He used to enjoy things like these, but he'd forgotten how to... and then Maria had arrived and reminded him of how to love, but also, how to have fun and enjoy these moments. She had actually saved him.
Of course, Maria brought up a song, so they rowed for a while singing happily and noisily together.
They brought the boat to the waterside near a nice, shady patch of grass under a few trees. They all got out and sat down near the water, but soon the children got tired of sitting and started playing a game of hide and seek. Maria and Georg got up and walked for a bit along the waterside. He took her hand in his and squeezed. "Thank you," he said. She looked at him with those big blue eyes. "For what?" "I think I've told you before... you've brought music back into my life. And I don't mean just the kind of music you can hear when people sing, but the music of life itself, the ability to enjoy the little things, have fun with my children..." He stopped, not quite knowing how to put it. But Maria understood. "I didn't do that," she said. "You've allowed yourself to see and hear it again. Maybe, it was just the right time for it to come back."
He stopped walking and turned her face towards his own. "Maybe. But I'm glad you came along at the right time, too." He kissed her forehead and pulled her towards him. They stood for a while, not saying anything, just holding each other close, not aware that Liesl, who hadn't joined in the game, was watching them from a distance. She knew just a little bit about love, was just beginning to know... but she was wise enough to know that this was for real. She knew how important Maria had been to help bring back the father she remembered and loved, and she loved Maria even more for it. She turned around, not wanting to intrude on their privacy any further, and went to help Marta find the last of her brothers and sisters in their hiding places.
After half an hour they had gathered enough breath to row back to the house. The sun was burning warmer and they didn't have the energy for more song, so they just sat quietly in the boat. Marta and Gretl were sitting at the back, hanging over the edge, trying to touch the water with their hands. They could just reach it and splattered some of it at Kurt, who didn't mind at all, because it was lovely and cool on his sun heated face. They were a bit disappointed at his lack of reaction, but splattered at each other instead. Maria kept a close eye on them, but they weren't hanging over too much, so it didn't look like there was any danger of them falling in.
They reached the terrace and stood up, getting out of the boat one by one. Kurt was one of the last getting out, only Maria and the little girls were still in the boat behind him. But when he tried to get out, his foot hooked behind a paddle, he stumbled, and fell back into the boat, making it rock wildly. Marta and Gretl were already standing to get out, so of course the wild movements of the boat sent them toppling right over the side... Maria, who had still been sitting, managed to keep her balance. But knowing that neither of the girls could swim very well, she didn't hesitate and jumped in after them. The lake wasn't very deep here, and the girls should be able to stand, but in their confusion they both went under. Maria quickly pulled them both up though, setting Martha to her feet and holding Gretl on one arm. They hiccoughed and sniffed a bit, but soon managed to see the fun in falling into the lake for the second time this summer. Maria handed Gretl over to the captain, who was kneeled at the waterside, and helped Marta out before climbing out of the water herself.
By now, Kurt had managed to get out of the boat, and he stood looking guiltily at his two wet sisters and Maria. He rubbed his behind with both his hands, because he'd fallen quite uncomfortably on a bench inside the boat. He eyed his father, looking a little scared, waiting for the same sort of reaction they'd gotten the previous time they'd fallen in. But he saw his father looking with a blank face from Kurt, to his two wet little daughters, to his fiancée in her soaked dress... and when the captain and Maria made eye contact, he saw the corners of Maria's mouth twitch in a hardly covered laugh, and suddenly everybody laughed out loud, including the captain! Kurt laughed with them, relieved that apparently, he wasn't going to be blamed or punished for what happened.
When they'd stopped laughing and teasing Kurt with his clumsiness, Maria shoved the two girls in Liesl's direction.
"Will you take them upstairs, dry them up and help them change? I'd do it, but I'd like to get into something else, too..." she told Liesl, who smiled and answered that she didn't mind to. With a dripping little girl on each hand, still giggling, they walked back to the house.
Maria looked at the four remaining children.
"Do you think we can possibly trust you to bring the boat back to the boathouse without anybody else going for a swim," she asked with a bright smile on her face. The four nodded hard, Kurt exclaiming, "Oh yes, we'll be careful," eager to make up for his blunder and carefully do as Maria asked. She looked at Georg, then nodded at the kids. 'You go off then, but careful!" She looked on smiling as Friedrich, Louisa, Brigitta and Kurt slowly got back into the boat and sat down calmly. The boys took the paddles, and off they went, leaving Maria and their father standing alone on the terrace.
Georg walked towards her and smiled at her. "I've told you before that you're repetitious, haven't I...?" She laughed. 'Yes, well, sometimes practice makes perfect... Are you going to send me back to the abbey again this time, too?" He looked at her, standing there in the sun, the water from her hair dripping onto her face, standing in her own private puddle of water, which was getting bigger all the time. Somehow, she looked gorgeous. No way was he going to send her anywhere! The wet dress clung to her and he let his eyes drift over her body. "Are you cold," he asked, looking suggestively at her, and, assuming she wouldn't mind if he warmed her up a bit whatever the answer was, wrapped his arms around her. She protested weakly, pointing out to him that he'd get all wet, too, but when he smothered her protests with a kiss, she gave in and kissed him back passionately.
She pulled away from the kiss after a few minutes. "I should go change...and so should you by now, " she said looking at his shirt, the front of which was also soaked. He kissed the tip of her nose as an answer, put his arm around her and led her back to the house. They each went in a different direction when they reached the stairs. "Don't be long,' Georg warned her. He didn't want to be away from her any longer than necessary. Grinning, they split up.
When Maria entered her room she walked straight to the bathroom and got out of her wet clothes as soon as possible. She had indeed gone cold from the soaked dress clinging to her skin and she stood hesitating for a second, trying to decide what to do. After short deliberation she dumped the bundle of clothes in the sink, thinking that she'd take a hot shower first to get warm again, and then wash the dress out in the tub when she was finished with her shower. She turned on the tap and soon stood under a wonderful hot spray of water. She washed her hair and let the water flow over her head, face, her back, warming her up again. She stood unmoving for a while, enjoying the feeling.
With a sigh of regret she opened her eyes, realizing she couldn't stay under the hot spray forever. Everybody would be changed by now and they'd be wondering why she was taking so long, and lunch would probably be ready soon. She turned the tap off and got out of the tub. She looked around, saw her wet dress in the sink, so turned the tap over the bathtub on again and laid the dress out in the tub. Then she looked around and realized she'd forgotten to get clean clothes in her haste to get out of the wet dress, so she wrapped the towel around herself and walked towards the bedroom door.
When Georg stepped out of his bedroom wearing a dry shirt, he saw Liesl emerge from the nursery with Marta and Gretl, dried up and in clean clothes, so they walked back to the garden together. They were joined on the terrace by the rest of the children, and Max, who was sitting there reading the morning papers. He'd seen some of the action from a distance and now was told the details with enthusiasm by Kurt, who'd promoted himself from klutz to star of the day.
Everybody was back, but Maria was still upstairs. The children spread through the garden, and Max and Georg sat down quietly together. After a while, however, Georg got restless. Max noticed him fidgeting in his chair and teased him. "Don't worry, she'll come back. I assume you didn't send her back to the abbey, like the last time she fell in the lake?" Georg smiled, as Maria had said exactly the same. "No, I did not, and I'm not wondering where she is at all," he lied. "I just think it is a waste of a beautiful day to sit here and do nothing, so I think I'll go for a little walk around the garden." Max watched his back as he put the deed to the word, and concluded that Georg was the worst liar he'd ever met.
The captain walked around the house to the front door, actually believing that Max had bought his story and not wanting to see him enter the house. He checked the salon and dining room to be sure Maria wasn't in there, but she was not, as he had expected. He walked up the stairs and stood at her door, hesitating for a second. What would he say? "Hi, I was afraid you'd drowned in your bathtub, so I thought I'd check on you?"
Suddenly he felt a bit silly. She'd come downstairs when she was ready, so why was he here? But he wanted to know what was taking her so long, so his curiosity got the better of him. He knocked on her door, waited, but got no answer. He listened closely, but he didn't hear any sound from inside the room. He knocked again, and when he didn't get an answer for the second time, he opened the door and looked into the room. He didn't see Maria, and not knowing what to do now, he stayed on in the door opening for a while, wondering where she'd got to. At that exact moment the bathroom door opened and out came Maria, only wrapped in a towel, still wet from her shower. His breath caught in his throat at this unexpected, but delightful sight! Maria turned her head to him, startled. "What..." she began, but Georg interrupted her. "Maria, I'm so sorry," he stumbled. 'Excuse me", and he turned around back in the hall at high speed, shutting the door behind him. Maria remained still, just staring at the door, her face flushed. She looked down at herself; reassuring herself that the towel was large and thick and covered her from under her arms until just above her knees. When she got over her surprise, she shook her head and broke into a smile. Quickly, she started drying off and put on a clean dress.
Georg stood just outside her door, leaning against the wall. He shook his head in amazement at his own stupid action. He could have walked in on her completely naked! Mmm, that might not be so bad - he shook his head again, to clear that thought from his mind. He felt stupid for acting without thinking and was glad he hadn't embarrassed her more. The image of her, her bare shoulders wet, and wrapped in that fluffy blanket kept coming back to him, and he concentrated on trying to think of something else. He was just getting back his composure and wanted to start walking downstairs, when he heard Maria's door open behind him.
"Hello," she said, looking at him only half.
"I eh, I wondered what was taking you so long... the others finished changing 20 minutes ago..." She smiled at seeing him this uncomfortable. She didn't think there was anything that could shake Georg's calm exterior, but he was obviously a bit thrown off balance by the way he'd found her. "I'm so sorry for walking in on you, I had no right to come into your room like that." Maria shook her head a bit in a don't-mention-it way. "That's all right. I was decent. more or less anyway." Still not really knowing what to say, he took her hand, and they walked back downstairs together. Halfway down, they both looked sideways at the same time - their glances locked - and they both broke into a laugh, which solved the nervous tension that had just grown between them. Georg quickly pulled her toward him and stole a last passionate kiss, before returning to face the children.
When they appeared at the door of the dining room, again they were the last ones to arrive. The children didn't think much of it, except Liesl, who looked at them with that investigative look of hers. Max, of course, looked at them too. He noticed Liesl and wondered how much she knew, what shé thought had been going on. Looking at the sparkling eyes and flushed faces of Georg and Maria, Max wondered what exactly had been going on. For a short moment he envied Georg. Max knew a beautiful woman when he saw one and Maria's pretty face, lovely slim body and spunky playfulness hadn't gone unnoticed. The flash of jealousy ebbed away quickly enough. But with more than average interest, he watched the meaningful looks that were exchanged between the two lovers, and tried to imagine the exact meaning.