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Ch. 8: The Choice
Maria awoke the next morning and began to get ready for the wedding. She was absolutely sure that she was doing the right thing. She chatted with Michael yesterday and he had apologized for not telling her that he was Georg's brother sooner. He had asked he nicely if she wanted to postpone the wedding or anything. Through this conversation Maria realized she really did love him. Or so she thought. He was so kind and caring for her. She had kissed her fiancé and told him not to ask her a silly question like that again.
Georg had gone back to the hotel to find all his children sick with the flu. Max decided he would take them home and Georg could meet them the day after the wedding. Even though Georg hated seeing his children sick he was very happy that he would not have to tell them Maria was marrying his brother. She was to be the children's aunt. The thought of her marrying another man angered him. Especially the thought that it was his own brother marrying her provoked him. He decided to go to the wedding so from an outsider's standpoint he would be a respectful brother.
Maria got into her wedding gown. It was much more fancy than she would have liked, but she supposed it would have to do. As she prepared to walk down the aisle she could not help thinking of Georg's voice over and over in her head, 'Do you love him?' It was such a simple question to answer at first. Then last night she looked at the picture of Georg. She just did not know. Confused Maria lined up to go down the aisle.
Georg sat in the front row on the edge of the pew. He stood up and waited for Maria to come down the aisle. He was so angry as he saw Maria began to walk down the aisle staring at Michael. What he would do to be where Michael was standing. He looked at her again and was surprised to see her gaze shift from Michael to himself. He stared at her beautiful face.
Maria continued to walk down. She realized she was staring at Georg and was even slightly walking crooked towards him on the path. She stopped to straiten her path though she still gazed into Georg's eyes. Maria met Michael at the top of the stairs. She glanced back at Georg not knowing what to do.
The priest went on with the ceremony until he asked if there was anyone that did not think Michael and Maria should be wed to speak now. Maria looked into the eyes of Michael and then over at Georg. Georg decided to speak.
"I object." He told the priest quietly. Maria glanced at him again and looked at the love in his eyes.
"I object too." Maria said with a whisper. Tears filled both Michael and Maria's eyes. "I'm sorry Michael I just can't be your wife. Can we go and talk somewhere else?" Maria asked. Michael nodded his head as everyone in the church began to leave.
Georg was shocked and waited for Maria outside of the church. He didn't understand what had changed her mind. Didn't he tell her yesterday that he objected to her marriage? He was lost.
Meanwhile inside the church Maria tried to break the news to Michael in a nice way.
"Michael I do love you, but I realized today I love you as a friend. You are more of a brother to me. I just could not be your wife." She said.
"But you said you loved me." He answered.
"And I do, but as a friend. It would never be fair to you if I were your wife. I can't love you the way you deserve to be loved by your wife." She told him.
"But you could before Georg came back?" He asked.
"I thought I could, but I realize now that there is no one on this planet I love more than him. Please understand he is my match…I love him." Maria told him solemnly. Maria was happy to realize this for herself, but was never happy when she had to hurt people. She knew that was the reason she had gotten into this mess in the first place. She was just too sensitive of people's feeling.
"I understand." Michael said sadly. He pulled her into a hug and told her to go and find Georg. Maria left quickly from the church and saw Georg standing on the steps waiting.
Maria knew she had hurt him yesterday. She knew that he had every right in the world to tell her that he did not love her anymore. He had only asked her a simple question to make sure she would be happy. Why had she not just listened to her heart and told him "yes I will marry you?" Annoyed with herself and nervous she stepped out of the church.
"Hello." She mumbled to Georg. Georg saw her and his eyes lit up. She had changed into a smaller, but beautiful dress. Seeing her gave Georg a sense of nervousness.
"Hello. Maria." He said under his breath. He was not sure what to do. Georg was not even sure what the reason was to why she was not marrying his brother. The most probable possibility was that she was still in love with him. Or that's what he was hoping. Yet in his mind there could have been other reasons.
"Georg…um…" Maria began.
"Wait, Maria this is no place to talk. Why don't we go somewhere to eat and talk? I am sure you are hungry. Does that sound good?" He asked.
"Yes it does." She answered.
"Where would you like to go?" Georg asked. He had an idea of what she liked, but was afraid she might have changed.
"Well how about Chinese Food?" Maria asked. Georg smiled. She hadn't changed that much.
"Chinese Food it is." Georg said taking Maria's hand slowly. She smiled at him and he smiled back thankful for her way of giving permission.
Georg did not know why he was so nervous around her. She seemed so much more grown up to him. It had been a year, but he was sure he had not changed that much. Maybe it was just knowing that she had had experience with another man. It made him angry to think that someone else other than him had kissed her seriously. He just hoped that maybe she hadn't felt the same way with Michael's kisses compared to his. He thought of this and wondered if Maria felt the same way about him. Was she mad because she knew he loved Agathe dearly? Yet he thought that he was mad for a different reason. They both knew that he loved Maria more than anyone. Yet Georg, even with the canceled wedding was not sure if she loved him more than Michael. Besides hadn't it only been yesterday that she had told him she loved Michael more than anything? She had even gone on saying Michael was a better kisser than him. 'Well we will have to fix that,' Georg thought to himself as he opened the door to the restaurant for her.
Georg walked in and went to speak to the waiter at once. Maria did not have a clue what he was doing but would soon find out. Georg then came and sat down with Maria. They talked about what to get then ordered. Then it was time to really talk. They both stared at each other not knowing what to say.