Maria wasn't sure if Marta's smile could get any broader. The girl had been beaming since the moment her favorite breakfast food, a Belgium waffle topped with strawberries, had been laid out in front of her. Her eighth birthday had been one happy moment after the next, and Maria was thrilled to see the normally taciturn girl so outwardly exuberant.
At the moment, Maria and Georg were placing the presents sent to Marta from distant family and friends on the table. The party itself was smaller than Maria had initially envisioned. Only the family, Max, and a few friends of Marta's had been able to attend, but Maria thought the small crowd suited the guest of honor more. Marta was thoroughly enjoying the excessive pampering from her brothers and sisters.
Maria looked over as Liesl supervised a game of Blind Man's Bluff near the gazebo.
"I'm afraid of what's in this box," she heard Georg grumble. She turned and saw him eyeing a small square package.
He caught her questioning glance. "Louisa."
Maria laughed and nodded. "You don't give Louisa enough credit, Georg," she said. "She asked me last week what she could get Marta for a birthday gift. She seemed pleased with Marta's desire to want anything either pink or ballet-related."
He gave her a side-ways glance of disbelief.
"Honestly," Maria said and crossed her heart. "Everyone has changed so much in the last year, even Louisa."
A slightly melancholy tint came over Georg's face at the statement. "They're growing up so fast," he mused and stared at the children.
Maria walked over to him and put her hand on his arm. "Perhaps," she said and rubbed his arm in a comforting gesture. "But we are happy, and it'll be times like this that will live in their minds forever."
"Not straightjackets and whistles?" he asked, the sadness not leaving his eyes.
"That was last year," Maria said, refusing to let him be upset. "This year is wonderful."
Laughing, he placed the present onto the table and tapped her nose. "This is true," he said, taking her hand. "You are wonderful."
They leaned in closer for a kiss when the sound of bemused laughter came from the patio. The pair looked up to see Max standing overhead, holding a long wrapped package in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.
"It's no wonder you're in delicate condition, Maria," he quipped and descended the stairs. Placing his present on the table next to the others, he leaned over and kissed Maria's cheek, which was still red.
Georg gave him a wry stare as they shook hands. "I would say it's nice to see you again, Max," he said.
"Georg, I'm hurt," the other retorted. He glanced over to the activities. At the sight of all the children, Max's jaw dropped. "Aren't eight enough?"
"They're Marta's friends, Max," Maria informed him and took the glass from his hand.
"Maria, I don't think you should -" Max said, reaching for it.
"And neither should you," she admonished. "This is a party for eight year olds. Not for adults."
"That reminds me," Max said with a dejected expression as he watched Maria dump the drink on the lawn. He turned his attention back to Georg, who had failed miserably at hiding his laughter at his wife's act of prohibition. "When are you going to throw another ball, Georg? It's the season, you know."
"I was thinking of a quieter summer than last year, Max," Georg said and took Maria's hand in his again, massaging it.
"Last summer?" Max repeated. "That was rather quiet."
Maria laughed. "That's not how I remember it! There was the first ball, and then the engagement party, and then the wedding. I went to more celebrations last summer than I have been to in my entire life!"
"Well, how about a Christening?" Max suggested.
"You're going to have to wait until October for that, Max," Maria said and handed him a glass of lemonade.
"Don't you people drink anything else?" he asked as he took the glass with disgust.
Georg opened his mouth to reply when a loud shriek from across the grounds caught the trio's attention. They turned to see Marta, Gretl, and their friends running towards them.
"Uncle Max!" Marta exclaimed, practically jumping into his arms.
"Oh, my dear!" he said and groaned good-naturedly as he lifted her up. "You feel eight years old."
"You're old, Uncle Max!" Gretl giggled.
"I'm not as old as Marta," Max retorted, plopping Marta down and kneeling to the girls' eye level. "Now, who are all your friends?"
Marta shyly pointed to the other children and named them. Max shook hands with each of the girls and smiled gallantly. "I am honored to meet you all. What was the game you were all playing?"
"Blind Man's Bluff!" Gretl announced. "Do you want to go and play with us?"
Georg and Maria shared a grin as the older children walked over to join them.
"Can we eat first?" Kurt suggested his fatigue at following ten younger children apparent.
"Presents!" one of Marta's friends exclaimed, jumping up and down.
"Why do I get the feeling she wants to play with whatever she got for Marta more than anything else?" Georg whispered into Maria's ear.
Suppressing a grin, Maria walked over to Marta, placing her hands on the girl's shoulders. "What does the birthday girl want to do?" she asked.
Marta looked up at her mother, not liking all the eyes on her as she made a decision. "Are you hungry, Mother?" she asked softly.
"Darling, this is your day," Maria insisted, urging the girl to speak up. "What do you want to do?"
Marta searched over the small sea of faces watching her. Her eyes landed on her father, who winked at her and looked up at the sky, acting like he wasn't watching her.
She giggled. "Presents," she declared.
"Presents it is!" Georg announced and walked over to pick Marta up. Swinging her around to a chair decorated with ribbons and balloons, he cocked his head to Brigitta, who immediately walked over to them.
"You're in charge of distribution," he announced, handing her a small package.
"Yes, Sir!" Brigitta said and saluted, laughing.
Georg guided Maria to a bench and stood behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. The ensemble of children gathered around Marta as she opened gift after gift. Georg was relieved to see that Louisa had not, in fact, chosen something unconventional to give to her younger sister. Maria was right in saying that all of their children had changed. He was thankful that the past year had been so joyous for them all, instead of stern and rigid. He absently squeezed Maria's shoulders, and she reached up to pat his hand.
"That's the last one," Brigitta announced after Marta gave a stuffed bear to Liesl to add to the small mountain of toys, books, and clothing.
Marta looked over at her presents happily.
"Can we eat now?" Kurt asked.
"Well, Brigitta," Maria said, and started to rise. "That's not quite true. There is still a gift or two left, I believe."
Georg placed his hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, Maria," he said. "I'll get it."
He walked over to the table that had been holding the wrapped presents, the table cloth reaching the ground. Digging behind it, he produced a good size square box and held it reverently.
Walking grandly to his daughter, he placed it on her lap. "For our little ballerina," he said and kissed the top of her head. Her eyes lit up, and she stared at the wrapped present as if it was gold. Georg returned to Maria and knelt behind her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. Both of them looked eagerly as their daughter opened her gift.
Brigitta, noticing the excess tissue paper inside the box, stepped closer to help Marta with what was obviously a delicate object. Liesl, too, walked over so she could help Marta lift the present from its container.
Marta's gasp filled the anticipated silence as she and Liesl lifted a small statue of a ballerina pirouetting atop a mirrored music box. A serene smile lit the girl's face as she delicately fingered the tiny dancer's hands, dress, and hair. The group of girls sitting afoot Marta collectively sighed at the sight of the present.
"Oh, thank you!" Marta exclaimed, her face bright with mirth. "It's so beautiful!"
"It's a music box," Brigitta told her, trying to peer under it so she could wind it.
"What does it play?"
"Open it first," Maria said, gesturing to Marta.
The girl obeyed and carefully opened the box. She produced an envelope tied with a soft pink ribbon. Brigitta held the music box as Marta opened the envelope. Inside were three tickets. She looked up at her parents, confused.
"What do they say?" Georg asked as Brigitta reached under the music box and turned the key. The quiet music chimed through the air.
"That's Sleeping Beauty!" Marta said.
"Yes, and that's what we're seeing, Marta," Maria told her, gesturing to the tickets. "You, your father, and me."
The girl's jaw dropped. "Just the three of us?"
"Well, there'll be four of us," Georg said and rubbed Maria's stomach. "But only three eight and older."
Marta looked as if she was going to burst.
"When is it?" Friedrich asked.
"What's the date on the tickets, Marta?" Maria asked.
Marta, pleased beyond words, looked at the tickets. "June 23rd," she answered.
"Yes, plenty of time to go shopping for dresses!" Maria said and leaned her head to rest against Georg's. She grinned as she felt him cough in feigned exasperation.
Marta, making sure the music box was safely in Brigitta's procession, leaped up from her seat and ran over to her parents. "Oh! Thank you!" she said and hugged Maria tightly. "Thank you so much!"
"It's our pleasure, my dear," Maria whispered and kissed her cheek. Marta walked over to her father, giving him a huge bear hug. He closed his eyes, relishing in how much he loved his child, all of his children.
"I love you, Marta," he whispered into her ear.
She squeezed her arms around his shoulders even tighter. "I love you, too, Father," she said, tears in her eyes.
They parted, and Marta hugged Maria again before walking over to her chair, staring happily at the music box. She looked at her parents, and Maria gave her an instructive nod.
"Thank you, everyone for your gifts," she said quietly.
"Is that everything?" Kurt asked.
"I believe so," Maria said, looking over at Georg.
"Yes, that's it," he said.
"Good," the boy said, rubbing his stomach. "Now can we eat?"
To be concluded…