I decided not to describe Maria's and Georg's final escape from Austria in
detail, cause I thought that somehow would be "too much" for the story - so
this is a very "easy" chapter without great happenings.
Nevertheless I hope you like it. Reviews are welcome;-) and of course:
Thanks for all your wonderful reviews in the past.
@ Julie: The name "Gruselfinger" just popped up in my head, LOL. Well - and
it fitted to the "character" of the guy. As I'm from Germany it's not hard
for me to imagine German names;-)
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CHAPTER 7
Maria looked at the sea. The sun had already gone, but the water glittered in the soft moonlight. She enjoyed the silence of the night, after being squeezed in a small cabin with her daughters for almost 9 days. Georg and the boys were sharing another cabin with a few Dutchman.
Fortunately they soon would arrive in New York. Of course Maria didn't know what to expect. But the narrowness of the ship almost drove her crazy, so even a city as huge as New York seemed to be a more attractive abode than the "Nieuw Amsterdam".
Maria sighed. Everything had happened so fast in the last days and weeks, too fast. The happenings were coming and going like flashes. At one moment she returned happily from her honeymoon, at the next she was walking through the Alps out of Austria, just to return and flee again.
After their travel in Baroness Schroeder's wardrobe trunks, a long flight from Hungary to Zurich, Maria and Georg finally had returned exhausted but healthy to the cabin of the old man. Their children had been waiting for them, glad to have their parents back.
Maria was never happier to see them, although she hadn't been sure how to tell them, they were going to have a new member in the family. But as Georg and she had told them the news, the children were happy and excited. Especially Gretl had been glad, that she wouldn't be the youngest in the family anymore, and therefore could give some orders, too.
With the money of Baroness Schroeder it had been possible to leave Europe for America. First Georg didn't want to accept the money, but as Maria had asked him, if he now would return to Austria to give some money back, he had laughed and finally accepted it. Maria smiled, as she thought of her husband - and of their first child. She just hoped that by the time of the birth they would have settled down somewhere.
Since they were on the ship Maria tried to learn as much English as she could. A few of the other travellers taught her the basics and she studied her English-German dictionary as often she had time to do. Maria hoped that she would have learned enough till their arrival - they had to convince the immigration authority to give them a visa, although they had no money or sponsors. Maria didn't know what would happen, if they would send them away.
Besides she was worried how they should earn their living. She could make clothes, yes - but she doubted that she could earn much money with it. And Georg - he had been born into a rich family. Of course he served at the Navy, but next to this, he never had really worked. Maria criticized herself for that thought. Of course he never had worked, but she was sure that he would do everything for his family. "We'll find a way" she said almost to herself.
"I'm sure the Captain will find the way to New York, Mother. It's not the first time he's going there." Suddenly Gretel's voice sounded. Maria looked surprised at her youngest daughter.
"Gretl? What are you doing her? You should be in bed." Maria rebuked her softly.
"I couldn't sleep." Gretl said, while she pulled her arms around Maria, pressing one ear at her stomach. "Do you think the Baby can hear me?"
Maria smiled. "I think so, yes."
"Will it be a girl or a boy?"
"I don't know, Darling."
"I think it should be a girl." Gretl said earnest "You know, a little sister I could play with."
"You could play with a brother, too." Maria answered
"Yes, but boys are so - I just would prefer it to have a little sister. Besides Friedrich and Kurt are thinking it will be a boy and they've never been right with their predictions. Liesl told me that they thought I'll be a boy, too. And I'm a girl."
Maria laughed. "I'm sure if the Baby is here we don't mind anymore if it's a boy or a girl. And now we should really return to the cabin. It's getting cold outside."
Gretl nodded and they walked across the deck towards their cabins. "Mother?"
"Yes?"
"I - " Gretl stopped.
"What is it, Darling?" Maria looked at Gretl. "What are you worrying about?"
Gretl didn't answer, but hugged Maria again.
"Oh come on." Maria got down at her knees, and looked into Gretl's eyes. "Tell me what's bothering you. Please."
Gretl remained silent for a while, just looking into Maria's eyes.
"Nothing." She finally said.
"Nothing? You don't look like nothing."
Gretl took a deep breath. "The Baby"
"The Baby?"
"It's your child. I - I am not", she said almost not audible.
Suddenly Maria realized what Gretl was worried about.
"Oh, Gretl." She took the little one in her arms. "Believe me, even if the Baby is here, I still will love you. Although I'm not you're biological Mother, I love you as if you were my own daughter - You are my daughter."
"Really?"
"Of course, you sweet, little fool. And now come on." She raised Gretl. "It's really time to go to bed."
"Mother?" Gretl said before they entered their cabin.
"Mmh?"
"I love you, too." Maria smiled and kissed Gretl on the top of her head.
Finally lying in her bed, Maria's thoughts were running through her head again. She was grieved that she hadn't recognized earlier that Gretl was afraid she might love her less after the birth of the Baby. And she didn't know what the other children might think of the situation.
But they were happy when we told them, weren't they?
Maria turned from one side to the other, without finding any rest. Finally she got up again, leaving the cabin as silent as possible, walking to the cabin of the boys. Although it was long after midnight, she had to see her husband. Not only to talk to him, but just to feel him close.
"Georg" Maria softly knocked at the door of the cabin. After a few seconds the door opened and Georg looked surprised at her.
"Maria?"
"Interested in a little walk?"
"If you accompany me - always." Georg offered Maria his arm. Clasped in a firm embrace they walked down the corridors of the ship and finally entered the deck.
"Did you only wake me up, because you wanted to go for a walk?" Georg stopped, looking into Maria's eyes.
"Oh No. I hoped I could steal a kiss from you, too." Maria grinned. When she was with Georg she forgot all her sorrows, but at the same time she knew, they would return when she was alone again. Maria couldn't finish that thought, as Georg kissed her soft.
"I miss you" he whispered between two deep kisses while his fingers stroked her cheek and neck. Maria moaned low, wrapping her arms tighter around her husband. A wave of pure happiness surged through her body.
"I miss you, too."
Georg looked at his wife, surprised by the passion in her blue eyes. "You have the most amazing eyes" he said smiling, "Actually you're the most amazing woman I know."
Maria got out of his embrace and sat at one of the benches which were scattered on the deck. "Georg, please. Don't say such things, I'm just an ordinary woman, with ordinary thoughts and sorrows"
Georg sat next to Maria and laid his arms around her again. "I'm sorry, but I don't think so. And I guess the steward who's flirting with you daily shares my opinion."
Maria couldn't help laughing. "You're impossible!"
"Thank you." Both smiled, enjoying each others closeness.
"Georg?"
"Yes?"
"I'm a little worried about the children."
"The children?" Georg asked surprised "What's wrong with them?"
"Well, nothing. That means - Gretl just told me today that she's worried about the Baby. Not about the Baby itself, but about it's, well, existence. She's afraid I might love her less after having an "own" child" Maria sighed and looked sadly at Georg "Of course she didn't use this words, but her eyes did."
"Oh come on. That's nonsense. I hope you told her so!"
"Of course I did. But it's straining me. Why haven't I recognized before that something was wrong with her? I should have recognized it. A good mother sees such things. I mean - I just don't know what's wrong with me. I'm so-"
"- so pregnant." Georg grinned "But seriously: You are a good mother and you will even get better. You managed it to turn my children into new persons in only a few weeks, so how could you be a bad mother? But I know it's not easy for you, for us all at the moment. The whole situation is so bizarre, everything is so uncertain. This isn't the way a woman should experience her first pregnancy. And believe me, if there would have been any other way, I would have taken it. Unfortunately there was no other way."
"I know, Darling." Maria kissed his shoulder. "And I don't taunt you with anything. There are some many thoughts running through my head. What if, what if not - whatever. I'm just confused in these days."
"I can't promise you that everything will be fine tomorrow or in a week. But believe me: By the time the Baby is born, we'll have organized the things. No more confusion, but definite circumstances." Georg hold Maria still tight, preoccupied in thoughts he played with a strand of her hair. He didn't know what to expect from his future, he only knew that he had to make the best out of it.
Somehow they must have fallen asleep, when Georg opened his eyes the first beams of the golden morning sun reflected glittering at the sea. He looked at Maria. She was still asleep; her chest softly rose and fell with her breath. Georg took a deep breath. He had always loved the sea, the smell of the air, the skimming over the waves. Enjoying the matutinal peacefulness, Georg looked at the sea. His eyes were searching for other ships, as he suddenly realized a little figure at the horizon.
Carefully he waked Maria. "Look, Darling" he whispered into her ear and pointed at the horizon "We're at our destination. That's the Statue of Liberty. That's America."
To be continued....
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CHAPTER 7
Maria looked at the sea. The sun had already gone, but the water glittered in the soft moonlight. She enjoyed the silence of the night, after being squeezed in a small cabin with her daughters for almost 9 days. Georg and the boys were sharing another cabin with a few Dutchman.
Fortunately they soon would arrive in New York. Of course Maria didn't know what to expect. But the narrowness of the ship almost drove her crazy, so even a city as huge as New York seemed to be a more attractive abode than the "Nieuw Amsterdam".
Maria sighed. Everything had happened so fast in the last days and weeks, too fast. The happenings were coming and going like flashes. At one moment she returned happily from her honeymoon, at the next she was walking through the Alps out of Austria, just to return and flee again.
After their travel in Baroness Schroeder's wardrobe trunks, a long flight from Hungary to Zurich, Maria and Georg finally had returned exhausted but healthy to the cabin of the old man. Their children had been waiting for them, glad to have their parents back.
Maria was never happier to see them, although she hadn't been sure how to tell them, they were going to have a new member in the family. But as Georg and she had told them the news, the children were happy and excited. Especially Gretl had been glad, that she wouldn't be the youngest in the family anymore, and therefore could give some orders, too.
With the money of Baroness Schroeder it had been possible to leave Europe for America. First Georg didn't want to accept the money, but as Maria had asked him, if he now would return to Austria to give some money back, he had laughed and finally accepted it. Maria smiled, as she thought of her husband - and of their first child. She just hoped that by the time of the birth they would have settled down somewhere.
Since they were on the ship Maria tried to learn as much English as she could. A few of the other travellers taught her the basics and she studied her English-German dictionary as often she had time to do. Maria hoped that she would have learned enough till their arrival - they had to convince the immigration authority to give them a visa, although they had no money or sponsors. Maria didn't know what would happen, if they would send them away.
Besides she was worried how they should earn their living. She could make clothes, yes - but she doubted that she could earn much money with it. And Georg - he had been born into a rich family. Of course he served at the Navy, but next to this, he never had really worked. Maria criticized herself for that thought. Of course he never had worked, but she was sure that he would do everything for his family. "We'll find a way" she said almost to herself.
"I'm sure the Captain will find the way to New York, Mother. It's not the first time he's going there." Suddenly Gretel's voice sounded. Maria looked surprised at her youngest daughter.
"Gretl? What are you doing her? You should be in bed." Maria rebuked her softly.
"I couldn't sleep." Gretl said, while she pulled her arms around Maria, pressing one ear at her stomach. "Do you think the Baby can hear me?"
Maria smiled. "I think so, yes."
"Will it be a girl or a boy?"
"I don't know, Darling."
"I think it should be a girl." Gretl said earnest "You know, a little sister I could play with."
"You could play with a brother, too." Maria answered
"Yes, but boys are so - I just would prefer it to have a little sister. Besides Friedrich and Kurt are thinking it will be a boy and they've never been right with their predictions. Liesl told me that they thought I'll be a boy, too. And I'm a girl."
Maria laughed. "I'm sure if the Baby is here we don't mind anymore if it's a boy or a girl. And now we should really return to the cabin. It's getting cold outside."
Gretl nodded and they walked across the deck towards their cabins. "Mother?"
"Yes?"
"I - " Gretl stopped.
"What is it, Darling?" Maria looked at Gretl. "What are you worrying about?"
Gretl didn't answer, but hugged Maria again.
"Oh come on." Maria got down at her knees, and looked into Gretl's eyes. "Tell me what's bothering you. Please."
Gretl remained silent for a while, just looking into Maria's eyes.
"Nothing." She finally said.
"Nothing? You don't look like nothing."
Gretl took a deep breath. "The Baby"
"The Baby?"
"It's your child. I - I am not", she said almost not audible.
Suddenly Maria realized what Gretl was worried about.
"Oh, Gretl." She took the little one in her arms. "Believe me, even if the Baby is here, I still will love you. Although I'm not you're biological Mother, I love you as if you were my own daughter - You are my daughter."
"Really?"
"Of course, you sweet, little fool. And now come on." She raised Gretl. "It's really time to go to bed."
"Mother?" Gretl said before they entered their cabin.
"Mmh?"
"I love you, too." Maria smiled and kissed Gretl on the top of her head.
Finally lying in her bed, Maria's thoughts were running through her head again. She was grieved that she hadn't recognized earlier that Gretl was afraid she might love her less after the birth of the Baby. And she didn't know what the other children might think of the situation.
But they were happy when we told them, weren't they?
Maria turned from one side to the other, without finding any rest. Finally she got up again, leaving the cabin as silent as possible, walking to the cabin of the boys. Although it was long after midnight, she had to see her husband. Not only to talk to him, but just to feel him close.
"Georg" Maria softly knocked at the door of the cabin. After a few seconds the door opened and Georg looked surprised at her.
"Maria?"
"Interested in a little walk?"
"If you accompany me - always." Georg offered Maria his arm. Clasped in a firm embrace they walked down the corridors of the ship and finally entered the deck.
"Did you only wake me up, because you wanted to go for a walk?" Georg stopped, looking into Maria's eyes.
"Oh No. I hoped I could steal a kiss from you, too." Maria grinned. When she was with Georg she forgot all her sorrows, but at the same time she knew, they would return when she was alone again. Maria couldn't finish that thought, as Georg kissed her soft.
"I miss you" he whispered between two deep kisses while his fingers stroked her cheek and neck. Maria moaned low, wrapping her arms tighter around her husband. A wave of pure happiness surged through her body.
"I miss you, too."
Georg looked at his wife, surprised by the passion in her blue eyes. "You have the most amazing eyes" he said smiling, "Actually you're the most amazing woman I know."
Maria got out of his embrace and sat at one of the benches which were scattered on the deck. "Georg, please. Don't say such things, I'm just an ordinary woman, with ordinary thoughts and sorrows"
Georg sat next to Maria and laid his arms around her again. "I'm sorry, but I don't think so. And I guess the steward who's flirting with you daily shares my opinion."
Maria couldn't help laughing. "You're impossible!"
"Thank you." Both smiled, enjoying each others closeness.
"Georg?"
"Yes?"
"I'm a little worried about the children."
"The children?" Georg asked surprised "What's wrong with them?"
"Well, nothing. That means - Gretl just told me today that she's worried about the Baby. Not about the Baby itself, but about it's, well, existence. She's afraid I might love her less after having an "own" child" Maria sighed and looked sadly at Georg "Of course she didn't use this words, but her eyes did."
"Oh come on. That's nonsense. I hope you told her so!"
"Of course I did. But it's straining me. Why haven't I recognized before that something was wrong with her? I should have recognized it. A good mother sees such things. I mean - I just don't know what's wrong with me. I'm so-"
"- so pregnant." Georg grinned "But seriously: You are a good mother and you will even get better. You managed it to turn my children into new persons in only a few weeks, so how could you be a bad mother? But I know it's not easy for you, for us all at the moment. The whole situation is so bizarre, everything is so uncertain. This isn't the way a woman should experience her first pregnancy. And believe me, if there would have been any other way, I would have taken it. Unfortunately there was no other way."
"I know, Darling." Maria kissed his shoulder. "And I don't taunt you with anything. There are some many thoughts running through my head. What if, what if not - whatever. I'm just confused in these days."
"I can't promise you that everything will be fine tomorrow or in a week. But believe me: By the time the Baby is born, we'll have organized the things. No more confusion, but definite circumstances." Georg hold Maria still tight, preoccupied in thoughts he played with a strand of her hair. He didn't know what to expect from his future, he only knew that he had to make the best out of it.
Somehow they must have fallen asleep, when Georg opened his eyes the first beams of the golden morning sun reflected glittering at the sea. He looked at Maria. She was still asleep; her chest softly rose and fell with her breath. Georg took a deep breath. He had always loved the sea, the smell of the air, the skimming over the waves. Enjoying the matutinal peacefulness, Georg looked at the sea. His eyes were searching for other ships, as he suddenly realized a little figure at the horizon.
Carefully he waked Maria. "Look, Darling" he whispered into her ear and pointed at the horizon "We're at our destination. That's the Statue of Liberty. That's America."
To be continued....