Chapter 5: More Improvements
~ At the Villa ~
" Father? is Mother home again? " asked Marta, looking at her father.
" Hum? Why don't you go see for yourself, Marta. " said the Captain.
" So is there still going to be a wedding, Captain? " asked Frau Schmidt.
" Not at this moment. Hopefully, in the near future. I wouldn't count it out. " said Georg, with a smile.
" I see the old, warm and caring Captain has returned. It's a pleasant welcome to have back in the villa, Sir. " said Frau Schmidt.
" I think everyone agrees with that, Frau Schmidt. Hopefully, this time, it will be permanent. Did you have any luck, Marta? " said the Captain.
" Yes. When did Mother return, Father? " asked Martha.
" Late last night, darling. Anymore questions, or are you saving them for Brigetta? " smiled the Captain.
" Will Mother be staying this time or will you be telling her to leave after a while only for Baroness Schrader to make another return? " said a still mad Louisa.
" Louisa, I understand your still mad about what happened and I'm not expecting you to forget about it anytime soon. Your Mother is not going anywhere anytime soon." said the Captain.
" Father, I'm mad at you. I just don't understand what wrong. Like the rest of us. " said Louisa.
" I'm surprised your all still talking to me. " said the Captain.
" We would never stop talking to you. We were just angry with what happened between you and Mother. " said Louisa.
" Then were is Baroness Schrader anyway? " asked Gretl.
" She returned to Vienna last night. " said the Captain.
" Is that why you weren't here to sing me ? " asked Gretl.
" Yes, Gretl, that is why I wasn't here to sing to you last night. " said the Captain.
" If you weren't here last night then, then where were you? " asked Marta.
" Your Father was with me last night. " said Maria, entering the living room.
" Why? " asked Marta.
" There were still things that needed to be talked out, darling. And I'm sure when the time is right, we'll both explain them to all of you. How about a picnic? " said Maria.
" Could we? Oh please, Father? " whined Kurt.
" Oh, alright. Enough with the whining. Go get cleaned up and into some play clothes and come back down here. " said the Captain.
" Yeah. " came a chorus from the children, even Lisel.
" You really do know how to spoil them, Maria. " said Georg, glancing in her direction.
" We're ready. Except Kurt, who seems to have gotten stuck in his shirt. " laughed Louisa.
" How in the world could your brother have gotten stuck in his shirt? " laughed Maria, as she tried to hide her giggles.
" Considering it's Kurt we're talking about here, I don't highly doubt it. Louisa, were is your brother right now? " said the Captain, also trying not to laugh.
" Behind the door frame. " said Louisa
" Kurt, come here. " said Maria.
" No, I already look stupid as it is. " said Kurt.
" What if I told you that your father has gotten stuck in his shirts just like you are right now? Would you come here then? " said Maria.
" Hey, I resent that. " objected Georg.
" You may object to that but you have gotten stuck in your clothes, darling. And not just your shirts either. " laughed Maria.
" You have? " said Kurt, walking over to Maria.
" Yes, he has. Now hold still so I can fix your shirt. Next time, just come and find your father or me and ask for help." said Maria.
" I'll look stupid then. " said Kurt.
" No you won't. Who says you'll look stupid? " said the Captain.
" Can we go on our picnic now? " said Brigetta.
" Lead the way, Brigetta. " said Maria.