Chapter 2
Flashback Starts
As the first ray of sunlight made its way into our bedroom I felt a soft kiss on my bare shoulder. I shifted in his arms and gave a light kiss on his lips.
"Good morning darling" I said and laid my head on his shoulder. The memory of the night brought a smile to my face. His fingers gently caressed my shoulder and traveled down on my arm. "You are beautiful Maria in the morning glow." he said and his compliment made me slightly blush. "Come on Captain, you are way too polite. Grandmothers do not receive such compliments." I said. "No, I mean it Maria.... and your beauty is not the only thing that has improved since we are married." He said with a mischievous smile. "You are impossible Captain... isn't there anything else you can think of?" I laughed out aloud while looking into his beautiful blue eyes. "Hey, you didn't blush this time, what happened?" He asked with a slight suprise in his voice. "Oh, I had plenty of time to get used to it." I said with a smile. "And are you used to this?" he asked while rolling me over to my back and covered my mouth with his. As our kiss and embrace deepened we got lost in our love and passion.
* * *
Lying peacefully in each other arms I didn't want the morning to end. I felt so safe and secure in his embrace.
"I'm afraid that we should get up if I don't want to be late for work". He said. "I know, and besides there are two children downstairs who might need my assistance to get ready for school." I said a bit disappointed all the while cuddling closer to him. "Is everything all set for Annie's homecoming party tonight?" He asked. "Oh, yes food has been ordered, it will be delivered by 4 p.m.... Liesl and Brigitta will come over to help decorate the house and prepare everything for the party while I go to pick her up at the airport. I'm sure our daughter will be suprised. I cannot wait to see her." "I'm so proud of her, she did so well in her first college year. She is a miracle, isn't she?" His eyes reflecting the pride that only a father can feel for his daughter. "Oh, yes... she is like the shining sun." I proudly added. "Just like her mother." He whispered into my ear while gently stroking my cheek. "Okay, darling.... now I think it's really time to get up... I have to check on Christine and also assist Daniel to get ready for school." I gave him a light kiss on his lips and slid out of bed.
* * *
"Christine, Daniel... please settle.... finish your breakfast if you don't want to be late for school." I instructed them while taking a sip of my coffee. "Father? Can we go to the beach tomorrow now that Annie comes home tonight?" Christine looked at her father with a pair of begging eyes that her father could never resist to comply with. "We'll see sweetheart, okay? First we have to find out what Annie wants to do tomorrow." Georg tried to answer his daughter's question. "But Annie always liked picnics on the beach... daddy, please! Oh my God, I thought to myself... being called daddy always melted his heart toward her daughters. Christine was always good in approaching her father this way. "I'll see what I can do about it" giving his daughter wink. "Mother?" now it was Daniel's turn to speak. "Yes, darling." I was curious what he was up to. "Can I go to Christel's birthday party?" "Who is Christel? Is she your girlfriend?" Christine tried to tease her older brother. In the corner of my eyes I saw Daniel's face turn into a slight pink color. "It's not your business, okay?" He tried to fight back. "Children, children.... stop it! Now you should finish your breakfast and we'll discuss all the picnic and birthday party issues tonight." I smiled at my children reassuringly.
The morning was a rush just as usual, the same old daily routine. When everyone finished breakfast I walked them to the door, made sure that everyone had everything and bid them farewell. I kissed both of my children on the cheek before letting them go to school.
I reentered the dinning room and joined my husband drinking one more cup of coffee. "Please do not forget to get home in time darling. I should get home with Annie at around 5.30 p.m, so that we can start celebrating. I told everyone to be here around 5 p.m." I said. "How could I forget my daughter's party?". He asked me with a smile on his face.
"Maria, I think I have to get to go now... my lecture is starting in 45 minutes." He said with a disappointed look on his face.
Hand in hand we walked to the door where he took my face in his hands and gently kissed me on my lips. "I love you" I whispered into his ear. "I love you, too." He responded. For a long moment we kept eye contact, but it had to be broken. "Have a nice day and take care" I stroked his face. "See you in the evening", he said and a moment later he was out of the house.
I watched him getting into the car and starting it. I stood in the doorway until he disappeared in the distance. As I stood there I thought my life to be perfect and I didn't even dare to think that soon a terrible accident was going to destroy our happiness turning my life into a living nightmare.
I spent the rest of the morning on getting Annie's room into a welcoming shape. I put fresh flowers into the vase and rearranged the pillows and blankets on her bed. I wanted her summer holidays to start perfectly when back home with us. At around noon I ran to answer the door when I heard the bell ring. My face lit up when I saw Liesl and Brigitta standing in the doorway together with their little children.
"Hello darlings, come in" I invited them inside. "Hello mother" they said in choir and I hugged both of them. I turned my attention to my two grandchildren who accompanied their mothers by kneeling down to hug them close to me. Two pairs of little arms went around my neck and I received a little kiss from the two little ones. "Grandmother, will you sing for us?" little Karen asked me. "Maybe later darling, now we are busy making this house as beautiful as we can until your aunt Annie comes home". I stroked each of the children on their heads and stood up. "Okay girls, did you get everything we need?" I tried to find out if all the materials were available to start decorating the house. "I think so mother. Let's start with the fun!" The three of us with the help of the two little ones started decorating the entrance area. Brigitta prepared the chain of letters which said "Welcome Home Annie" while Liesl and I assisted Mrs. Rogers our housekeeper to get the dinning room in order. They delivered the food and drinks. We were busy but on high spirit in anticipation for the big family reunion. I couldn't even recall when we had such a big family gathering. Guests had started arriving at our house. By 4.30 p.m. the house was packed with our children, grandchildren, daughter and son-in-laws. Happy laughter and good cheer filled the rooms.
"Okay, everyone, now I'll go to pick up Annie." I said excitedly and withdrew to my room. Quickly I changed, made sure that everything was all set and I walked downstairs.
"Mrs. Von Trapp, you have a phone call." Mrs. Rogers stopped me. "Tell them I'm not at home. Who is it?". I asked all the while trying to avoid answering the phone. "I do not know, Madamee, but it sounds like something important, they want to talk to the wife of Captain Georg von Trapp." She said. "Okay, let me see." and I went to pick up the phone.
"Hello?" "Mrs. Maria Von Trapp?" the voice on the other end sounded straight. "Yes, speaking." I felt a knot forming in my stomach. "It's Lieutenant Brook from the police department speaking." My face turned pale upon hearing it. A shocking silence followed his introduction. "What happened? " I asked in shock. "Mrs. Von Trapp, your husband was in a car accident this afternoon and has been delivered to St. Catherine Hospital." I couldn't believe what I had just heard from the male voice on the other end. "What? Oh, no and what happened? Is he seriously injured?" was all I could trail off but I felt that I was going to faint. "A drunken driver lost the control over his car and crashed your husband's car. As far as we are concerned the car is totalled and your husband has been delivered to hospital. I'm afraid that his injuries are really bad." The voice on the other end was straight. "Thank you, Sir. I'm heading the hospital this instant". I said and hung up the phone.
I simply collapsed in a nearby chair. It was like a nightmare, I wished someone could wake up me. There was no one around, the sounds of happy cheer and laughter echoed in the house. My tears started falling like a storm and without being able to compose myself I cried out aloud. My cry caused all the happy sounds to cease in the house. I saw Liesl run into the room where I was.
"Mother, what happened? What happened?" She asked her face turning into pale. I tried to arrange my thoughts before trailing off the terrible news I had just received. "Liesl" I sobbed. "Your father, your father has been in a car accident when on the way home." "What?" she replied. "He has been delivered to St. Catherine Hospital." I sobbed. Liesl put her arms around me while I was clutching on her. "Liesl, I'm going to the hospital this moment. Could anyone go to pick up Annie?" "Yes, mother... I'll go to pick her up, or do you want me to accompany you to the hospital?" Liesl said. "I don't know... I don't know.... Liesl, tell me that it's only a dream." I cried. "Mother, oh mother... shh.... okay, I'll go to pick up my sister, and we'll ask Friedrich to take you to the hospital." She hugged me close to her.
Together we left the room and told the news to the others. The shocking news made everyone's face turn to pale. No words were spoken. Freezing silence, scared faces and teary eyes filled the room.
"Friedrich, can you take mother to the hospital while I go to pick up Annie?" Liesl turned to Friedrich while taking over the tasks of coordination. She must have sensed the shocking effects of the news on me. "Gretl, Marta, can you watch over the little ones?" she went on instructing. "Yes, do not worry, we'll stay here until...." Gretl's words failed.
"Okay, mother can we go?" Friedrich approached me while guiding me to his car.
To be continued..
Flashback Starts
As the first ray of sunlight made its way into our bedroom I felt a soft kiss on my bare shoulder. I shifted in his arms and gave a light kiss on his lips.
"Good morning darling" I said and laid my head on his shoulder. The memory of the night brought a smile to my face. His fingers gently caressed my shoulder and traveled down on my arm. "You are beautiful Maria in the morning glow." he said and his compliment made me slightly blush. "Come on Captain, you are way too polite. Grandmothers do not receive such compliments." I said. "No, I mean it Maria.... and your beauty is not the only thing that has improved since we are married." He said with a mischievous smile. "You are impossible Captain... isn't there anything else you can think of?" I laughed out aloud while looking into his beautiful blue eyes. "Hey, you didn't blush this time, what happened?" He asked with a slight suprise in his voice. "Oh, I had plenty of time to get used to it." I said with a smile. "And are you used to this?" he asked while rolling me over to my back and covered my mouth with his. As our kiss and embrace deepened we got lost in our love and passion.
* * *
Lying peacefully in each other arms I didn't want the morning to end. I felt so safe and secure in his embrace.
"I'm afraid that we should get up if I don't want to be late for work". He said. "I know, and besides there are two children downstairs who might need my assistance to get ready for school." I said a bit disappointed all the while cuddling closer to him. "Is everything all set for Annie's homecoming party tonight?" He asked. "Oh, yes food has been ordered, it will be delivered by 4 p.m.... Liesl and Brigitta will come over to help decorate the house and prepare everything for the party while I go to pick her up at the airport. I'm sure our daughter will be suprised. I cannot wait to see her." "I'm so proud of her, she did so well in her first college year. She is a miracle, isn't she?" His eyes reflecting the pride that only a father can feel for his daughter. "Oh, yes... she is like the shining sun." I proudly added. "Just like her mother." He whispered into my ear while gently stroking my cheek. "Okay, darling.... now I think it's really time to get up... I have to check on Christine and also assist Daniel to get ready for school." I gave him a light kiss on his lips and slid out of bed.
* * *
"Christine, Daniel... please settle.... finish your breakfast if you don't want to be late for school." I instructed them while taking a sip of my coffee. "Father? Can we go to the beach tomorrow now that Annie comes home tonight?" Christine looked at her father with a pair of begging eyes that her father could never resist to comply with. "We'll see sweetheart, okay? First we have to find out what Annie wants to do tomorrow." Georg tried to answer his daughter's question. "But Annie always liked picnics on the beach... daddy, please! Oh my God, I thought to myself... being called daddy always melted his heart toward her daughters. Christine was always good in approaching her father this way. "I'll see what I can do about it" giving his daughter wink. "Mother?" now it was Daniel's turn to speak. "Yes, darling." I was curious what he was up to. "Can I go to Christel's birthday party?" "Who is Christel? Is she your girlfriend?" Christine tried to tease her older brother. In the corner of my eyes I saw Daniel's face turn into a slight pink color. "It's not your business, okay?" He tried to fight back. "Children, children.... stop it! Now you should finish your breakfast and we'll discuss all the picnic and birthday party issues tonight." I smiled at my children reassuringly.
The morning was a rush just as usual, the same old daily routine. When everyone finished breakfast I walked them to the door, made sure that everyone had everything and bid them farewell. I kissed both of my children on the cheek before letting them go to school.
I reentered the dinning room and joined my husband drinking one more cup of coffee. "Please do not forget to get home in time darling. I should get home with Annie at around 5.30 p.m, so that we can start celebrating. I told everyone to be here around 5 p.m." I said. "How could I forget my daughter's party?". He asked me with a smile on his face.
"Maria, I think I have to get to go now... my lecture is starting in 45 minutes." He said with a disappointed look on his face.
Hand in hand we walked to the door where he took my face in his hands and gently kissed me on my lips. "I love you" I whispered into his ear. "I love you, too." He responded. For a long moment we kept eye contact, but it had to be broken. "Have a nice day and take care" I stroked his face. "See you in the evening", he said and a moment later he was out of the house.
I watched him getting into the car and starting it. I stood in the doorway until he disappeared in the distance. As I stood there I thought my life to be perfect and I didn't even dare to think that soon a terrible accident was going to destroy our happiness turning my life into a living nightmare.
I spent the rest of the morning on getting Annie's room into a welcoming shape. I put fresh flowers into the vase and rearranged the pillows and blankets on her bed. I wanted her summer holidays to start perfectly when back home with us. At around noon I ran to answer the door when I heard the bell ring. My face lit up when I saw Liesl and Brigitta standing in the doorway together with their little children.
"Hello darlings, come in" I invited them inside. "Hello mother" they said in choir and I hugged both of them. I turned my attention to my two grandchildren who accompanied their mothers by kneeling down to hug them close to me. Two pairs of little arms went around my neck and I received a little kiss from the two little ones. "Grandmother, will you sing for us?" little Karen asked me. "Maybe later darling, now we are busy making this house as beautiful as we can until your aunt Annie comes home". I stroked each of the children on their heads and stood up. "Okay girls, did you get everything we need?" I tried to find out if all the materials were available to start decorating the house. "I think so mother. Let's start with the fun!" The three of us with the help of the two little ones started decorating the entrance area. Brigitta prepared the chain of letters which said "Welcome Home Annie" while Liesl and I assisted Mrs. Rogers our housekeeper to get the dinning room in order. They delivered the food and drinks. We were busy but on high spirit in anticipation for the big family reunion. I couldn't even recall when we had such a big family gathering. Guests had started arriving at our house. By 4.30 p.m. the house was packed with our children, grandchildren, daughter and son-in-laws. Happy laughter and good cheer filled the rooms.
"Okay, everyone, now I'll go to pick up Annie." I said excitedly and withdrew to my room. Quickly I changed, made sure that everything was all set and I walked downstairs.
"Mrs. Von Trapp, you have a phone call." Mrs. Rogers stopped me. "Tell them I'm not at home. Who is it?". I asked all the while trying to avoid answering the phone. "I do not know, Madamee, but it sounds like something important, they want to talk to the wife of Captain Georg von Trapp." She said. "Okay, let me see." and I went to pick up the phone.
"Hello?" "Mrs. Maria Von Trapp?" the voice on the other end sounded straight. "Yes, speaking." I felt a knot forming in my stomach. "It's Lieutenant Brook from the police department speaking." My face turned pale upon hearing it. A shocking silence followed his introduction. "What happened? " I asked in shock. "Mrs. Von Trapp, your husband was in a car accident this afternoon and has been delivered to St. Catherine Hospital." I couldn't believe what I had just heard from the male voice on the other end. "What? Oh, no and what happened? Is he seriously injured?" was all I could trail off but I felt that I was going to faint. "A drunken driver lost the control over his car and crashed your husband's car. As far as we are concerned the car is totalled and your husband has been delivered to hospital. I'm afraid that his injuries are really bad." The voice on the other end was straight. "Thank you, Sir. I'm heading the hospital this instant". I said and hung up the phone.
I simply collapsed in a nearby chair. It was like a nightmare, I wished someone could wake up me. There was no one around, the sounds of happy cheer and laughter echoed in the house. My tears started falling like a storm and without being able to compose myself I cried out aloud. My cry caused all the happy sounds to cease in the house. I saw Liesl run into the room where I was.
"Mother, what happened? What happened?" She asked her face turning into pale. I tried to arrange my thoughts before trailing off the terrible news I had just received. "Liesl" I sobbed. "Your father, your father has been in a car accident when on the way home." "What?" she replied. "He has been delivered to St. Catherine Hospital." I sobbed. Liesl put her arms around me while I was clutching on her. "Liesl, I'm going to the hospital this moment. Could anyone go to pick up Annie?" "Yes, mother... I'll go to pick her up, or do you want me to accompany you to the hospital?" Liesl said. "I don't know... I don't know.... Liesl, tell me that it's only a dream." I cried. "Mother, oh mother... shh.... okay, I'll go to pick up my sister, and we'll ask Friedrich to take you to the hospital." She hugged me close to her.
Together we left the room and told the news to the others. The shocking news made everyone's face turn to pale. No words were spoken. Freezing silence, scared faces and teary eyes filled the room.
"Friedrich, can you take mother to the hospital while I go to pick up Annie?" Liesl turned to Friedrich while taking over the tasks of coordination. She must have sensed the shocking effects of the news on me. "Gretl, Marta, can you watch over the little ones?" she went on instructing. "Yes, do not worry, we'll stay here until...." Gretl's words failed.
"Okay, mother can we go?" Friedrich approached me while guiding me to his car.
To be continued..
