Thank you for all the feedback you guys have left on Chapter 1. Enjoy
Chapter 2!
Chapter 2
Rested up fully Maria woke up the next morning. Just when she was about finishing her breakfast Christine arrived.
"Have you eaten yet my daughter?" Maria looked up from her plate.
"Yes mother, I have." She smiled.
"Oh, I have almost forgotten how delicious the Austrian pastry is. These rolls and different sort of dark bread." Maria responded with stars in her eyes.
"Mother, this room is splendid." Christine stated while looking around.
"I told you, you see. There are wonderful memories connecting me to this place and make it very special for me." Christine understood what her mother tried to point out.
When Maria finished breakfast Christine helped with her luggage and she was happy to finally drive her mother to their house.
"Hedwig and Erica are very excited. They were a bit disappointed last night, but I told them that you were staying with another friend in town". Christine said.
"Thank you, and also for understanding me.... Christine, will you have some time while I am here? There are a few places I want to show you..." Maria smiled.
"Of course, mother. I cannot wait to explore those places with you." Christine responded eagerly. She was indeed interested in the places that used to be her mother's favorite. Oddly, she had been living in Salzburg for almost 20 years now, but part of the town, and part of her family's history was still unknown and untold for her. Now she could take a chance of getting to know all the missing information to fill the gaps.
Maria took in as much as she could from the scenery and the landscape during the one-hour drive to her daughter's house. They were passing lakes and green meadows surrounded by gorgeous mountains. Maria didn't say a word, just enjoyed the view she was receiving.
No sooner had they arrived at Christine's house before Maria's two granddaughters aged 16 and 12 had flown out of the door followed by their father Hans.
"Grandmother, you are here. You are here." They screamed and threw their hands around Maria's neck. Tears welled in Maria's eyes as she hugged both girls close to her. She had missed them so dearly. Throughout the years she hardly had a chance to spend a longer period of time with them. Once in a while they had come to visit the rest of the family in the US, but for Maria it was the first time she had visited them. She took a long look at both of them.
"Oh, how much you have grown... and how pretty you are." She said still in tears while gently stroking their faces.
"Hello Maria" Hans slowly approached the trio. "It's good to see you... you look great".
Maria smiled at her son-in-law's compliment and gave him a big hug.
"It's good to see you son." She said while softly patting his back. In the meantime the two girls approached their grandmother again.
"Grandmother, I would like to show you something." Hedwig said and took Maria's hand to pull her into the house.
"Why, you first? I want to show her something, too." Erica interrupted them getting a bit upset at her older sister.
"Girls, girls, grandmother is staying with us for two weeks. Let her settle first, and I'm sure there will be time for everything." Christine went to save her mother from her daughters' storm.
"Yes, sweethearts, I am going to be here for two weeks, and I cannot wait until you share all your stories with me." Maria looked at the two girls with a twinkle in her eyes.
Finally the family managed to get Maria's luggage inside and let her settle in the guest room. Christine showed the house to Maria accompanied by the two girls who tried to give more explanation on every single detail. Maria found it rather amusing how the two girls were so full of life. For a moment she stopped and smiled. "I wonder who they take after in the family."
The first days of her stay in Austria went by quickly. They had so many things and stories to share. Christine wanted to know about everything going on in the US, what her brothers and sisters and other family members were up to. She had never regretted her moving to Austria, but she missed her family very much. Maria paid attention to every single detail and informed her daughter about all the family members' stories. Christine enjoyed this time immensely and was more than happy to hear that all her brothers and sisters were doing fine, so were her nieces and nephews. Maria's two lively granddaughters were also eager to share every single details of their life with their beloved grandmother.
"Christine, when do you think we can go to our little tour in town?" Maria asked when she thought it was time to share with her daughter all the places and things she wanted to.
"What about tomorrow? Do you want to take the girls with us, or would you prefer a time with only the two of us?" Christine asked excitedly.
"Oh, well.... will they get upset if it was only the two of us, darling? Not that I had anything to hide, but still I think I would feel more comfortable to share these things only with you. As for compensating them, what about a picnic with them the day after?"
"Oh mother you will never change... but it's a good idea indeed. I'm only afraid I won't be able to join you. I'm sure the three of you will make the best of it." She laughed knowing her mother and her two daughters very well. The two girls obviously inherited some of their grandmother's spirit.
"Do you know what I really would love to visit tomorrow? I have been dreaming of this ever since we left Austria... our villa in Aigen. Do you think they would let us enter the property?" She asked in a longing tone.
"I don't know. I have tried to visit the house, but they didn't let me in. I tried to explain them who I was, but they didn't care. All I know that the house now belongs to the University of Salzburg." Christine replied.
Maria's eyes opened wide. If the property belonged to the University, then there should be a contact person they could turn to and explain the situation. There must be a way to get in. She was very much set to make this visit, even if it was for a short time and maybe limited to the garden.
"Okay then, please get me the phone number of the University. I will call them and surely I'll get an appointment from them." She instructed.
Without contradicting her mother Christine complied. She knew that if her mother set her mind on something, there wouldn't be a way to stop her even if her ideas were of the weirdest kind. But the prospect of seeing the villa was tempting for her too. She had heard so many things of the property, and had seen the house from outside but never got a chance to fulfill her curiosity about the interior. She quickly got the phone number and handed it to her mother. Maria took it with urge and went to make the phone call.
After a few minutes Maria emerged again with a huge grin on her face.
"They are expecting us tomorrow at 11 a.m." she said. Christine was rather suprized but also excited about tomorrow.
"Mother, how did you? I mean what did you tell them?" She asked in disbelief.
"Let's just say that I had my ways" she smiled. Christine wasn't surprised at all for her mother having her ways.
"I cannot wait." She said and her face lit up in anticipation of what the day would bring.
Thank you for reading. This chapter was supposed to be a bridge between Chapter 1 and Chapter 3, which I hope you will like very much.
Still, I would be happy if you could leave a little feedback on this chapter as well. Thank you!
Chapter 2
Rested up fully Maria woke up the next morning. Just when she was about finishing her breakfast Christine arrived.
"Have you eaten yet my daughter?" Maria looked up from her plate.
"Yes mother, I have." She smiled.
"Oh, I have almost forgotten how delicious the Austrian pastry is. These rolls and different sort of dark bread." Maria responded with stars in her eyes.
"Mother, this room is splendid." Christine stated while looking around.
"I told you, you see. There are wonderful memories connecting me to this place and make it very special for me." Christine understood what her mother tried to point out.
When Maria finished breakfast Christine helped with her luggage and she was happy to finally drive her mother to their house.
"Hedwig and Erica are very excited. They were a bit disappointed last night, but I told them that you were staying with another friend in town". Christine said.
"Thank you, and also for understanding me.... Christine, will you have some time while I am here? There are a few places I want to show you..." Maria smiled.
"Of course, mother. I cannot wait to explore those places with you." Christine responded eagerly. She was indeed interested in the places that used to be her mother's favorite. Oddly, she had been living in Salzburg for almost 20 years now, but part of the town, and part of her family's history was still unknown and untold for her. Now she could take a chance of getting to know all the missing information to fill the gaps.
Maria took in as much as she could from the scenery and the landscape during the one-hour drive to her daughter's house. They were passing lakes and green meadows surrounded by gorgeous mountains. Maria didn't say a word, just enjoyed the view she was receiving.
No sooner had they arrived at Christine's house before Maria's two granddaughters aged 16 and 12 had flown out of the door followed by their father Hans.
"Grandmother, you are here. You are here." They screamed and threw their hands around Maria's neck. Tears welled in Maria's eyes as she hugged both girls close to her. She had missed them so dearly. Throughout the years she hardly had a chance to spend a longer period of time with them. Once in a while they had come to visit the rest of the family in the US, but for Maria it was the first time she had visited them. She took a long look at both of them.
"Oh, how much you have grown... and how pretty you are." She said still in tears while gently stroking their faces.
"Hello Maria" Hans slowly approached the trio. "It's good to see you... you look great".
Maria smiled at her son-in-law's compliment and gave him a big hug.
"It's good to see you son." She said while softly patting his back. In the meantime the two girls approached their grandmother again.
"Grandmother, I would like to show you something." Hedwig said and took Maria's hand to pull her into the house.
"Why, you first? I want to show her something, too." Erica interrupted them getting a bit upset at her older sister.
"Girls, girls, grandmother is staying with us for two weeks. Let her settle first, and I'm sure there will be time for everything." Christine went to save her mother from her daughters' storm.
"Yes, sweethearts, I am going to be here for two weeks, and I cannot wait until you share all your stories with me." Maria looked at the two girls with a twinkle in her eyes.
Finally the family managed to get Maria's luggage inside and let her settle in the guest room. Christine showed the house to Maria accompanied by the two girls who tried to give more explanation on every single detail. Maria found it rather amusing how the two girls were so full of life. For a moment she stopped and smiled. "I wonder who they take after in the family."
The first days of her stay in Austria went by quickly. They had so many things and stories to share. Christine wanted to know about everything going on in the US, what her brothers and sisters and other family members were up to. She had never regretted her moving to Austria, but she missed her family very much. Maria paid attention to every single detail and informed her daughter about all the family members' stories. Christine enjoyed this time immensely and was more than happy to hear that all her brothers and sisters were doing fine, so were her nieces and nephews. Maria's two lively granddaughters were also eager to share every single details of their life with their beloved grandmother.
"Christine, when do you think we can go to our little tour in town?" Maria asked when she thought it was time to share with her daughter all the places and things she wanted to.
"What about tomorrow? Do you want to take the girls with us, or would you prefer a time with only the two of us?" Christine asked excitedly.
"Oh, well.... will they get upset if it was only the two of us, darling? Not that I had anything to hide, but still I think I would feel more comfortable to share these things only with you. As for compensating them, what about a picnic with them the day after?"
"Oh mother you will never change... but it's a good idea indeed. I'm only afraid I won't be able to join you. I'm sure the three of you will make the best of it." She laughed knowing her mother and her two daughters very well. The two girls obviously inherited some of their grandmother's spirit.
"Do you know what I really would love to visit tomorrow? I have been dreaming of this ever since we left Austria... our villa in Aigen. Do you think they would let us enter the property?" She asked in a longing tone.
"I don't know. I have tried to visit the house, but they didn't let me in. I tried to explain them who I was, but they didn't care. All I know that the house now belongs to the University of Salzburg." Christine replied.
Maria's eyes opened wide. If the property belonged to the University, then there should be a contact person they could turn to and explain the situation. There must be a way to get in. She was very much set to make this visit, even if it was for a short time and maybe limited to the garden.
"Okay then, please get me the phone number of the University. I will call them and surely I'll get an appointment from them." She instructed.
Without contradicting her mother Christine complied. She knew that if her mother set her mind on something, there wouldn't be a way to stop her even if her ideas were of the weirdest kind. But the prospect of seeing the villa was tempting for her too. She had heard so many things of the property, and had seen the house from outside but never got a chance to fulfill her curiosity about the interior. She quickly got the phone number and handed it to her mother. Maria took it with urge and went to make the phone call.
After a few minutes Maria emerged again with a huge grin on her face.
"They are expecting us tomorrow at 11 a.m." she said. Christine was rather suprized but also excited about tomorrow.
"Mother, how did you? I mean what did you tell them?" She asked in disbelief.
"Let's just say that I had my ways" she smiled. Christine wasn't surprised at all for her mother having her ways.
"I cannot wait." She said and her face lit up in anticipation of what the day would bring.
Thank you for reading. This chapter was supposed to be a bridge between Chapter 1 and Chapter 3, which I hope you will like very much.
Still, I would be happy if you could leave a little feedback on this chapter as well. Thank you!