The revelation

"Oh, what has he done?", she asked completely stunned, "he must have gone completely mad!"

When she came closer she couldn't believe her eyes. A table was standing under the tree, accompanied by two chairs. It was beautiful decorated with shiny white plates, chrystal champagne glasses, silk napkins and a silver chandelier. She stood there for a moment, completely amazed by this wonderful sight.

Suddenly, the sound of a violin filled the air. She looked up and saw a musician appearing from behind the tree. She looked past the violin player, hoping to see Georg but the man seemed to be alone. She muttered,"What is.........", and then she froze.

She recognized the tune, he played a familiar song.

"Edelweiss", she thought. The man continued playing and Maria closed her eyes to enjoy this wonderful sound.

While she was floating on the melody, suddenly a well-known voice whispered in her ear: "So, you finally made it huh?"

She turned around and tears filled her eyes. Georg was standing there, dressed in casual clothes. His eyes sparkled when he saw her face.

Maria muttered : "Georg! What have you d..."

He pressed his finger on her lips and nodded at the musician. The music stopped and the man walked away. Georg removed his finger from Maria's lips and whispered:

"Don't talk darling. You are more than welcome to yell at me when I'm finished, but I have something to say first."

He stepped back and took her hands in his. Nervously he smiled:

"I practiced all day on this, but now I am hardly able to speak". He took a deep breath:

"Maria, before you arrived at the villa I was a heartbroken man. I didn't now how to live my life, didn't know how to love my children. I knew I wasn't happy but I thought I was doing just fair. I never expected more from life. But all that changed on that wonderful moment when I met you."

He laughed softly and continued, "I didn't know what hit me. You brightened up my world, and turned it completely upside down at the same time. You made me realize that I hadn't been complete the last several years, and you brought music back into the house. I have mentioned already that I forgot all about it. Oh, that special day when we had that big argument, you opened my eyes. I'll cherish that forever. It made all the difference. I found my children again and that was the most wonderful thing anyone has ever done to me. I thank you for that".

Maria wanted to say something, but she couldn't find the right words. A big lump was in her throat and she felt that tears were welling up again. She smiled at him, encouraging him to continue. Gently he stroke her face and laughed:

"So there I was, back with my children, feeling all grateful and happy. I remembered how to be a father again. But that wasn't everything that had changed, although I didn't recognize it straight away. I never, in my wildest dreams, saw it coming. I started to feel more for you than just gratitude and friendship. I discovered that Captain von Trapp, the big naval hero, was in love like a schoolboy! I didn't want to, believe me, but you were too irresistible."

Maria blushed and he grinned at that sight, but a moment later his face became serious again:

"I didn't dare to confront you with it, being afraid to scare you away. There were times when it was almost too difficult for me to handle, like the night that we danced together. And when you didn't show up for dinner I was so afraid that it was me who had scared you away. You can't believe how mad I was with myself."

"But you didn't....", Maria tried to react but Georg interrupted her: "please let me finish. I want you to hear this, it's very important to me". He took a deep breath again.

"I wanted to look you up, to ask you why you had left, but I was too afraid. I decided more than once to go to the abbey, but every time I changed my mind at the last moment. I actually went to the abbey one day you know, but at the gate I turned around. I have to admit, the children are more brave than I am, because when I failed the courage to really try to visit you at the abbey, they actually rang the bell and demanded to see you."

"They did?" she interrupted in surprise.

He laughed: "Yes, they were very determined to get you back."

His expression became serious again:

"I didn't want to take the risk that you were telling the truth in your note. What if I was wrong? What if you really missed the abbey? I couldn't tell you, it would be wrong. In my misery I made the wrong decision: I planned to marry someone else."

For a moment, he stopped talking and glanced over her head into the distance. Maria looked down, reliving that horrible moment again.

After a moment Georg continued: "The moment I told the children about the engagement I knew I had made a mistake. I wanted to make them feel better because they were devestated after you left, but the news of Elsa becoming their new mother seemed only to disturb them even more. And the moment I saw you had come back, everything became clear to me. Right there, right then."

Maria glanced up at him smiling and he looked into her eyes for a second.

"You have no idea how happy I was when I saw you had returned. I hoped you had returned for me because you felt the same. And in the evening I tried to ask you, for I hoped you would confirm my hopes, and though you said you returned because of the children, I sensed that you meant much more than that."

He squeezed her hands and his voice sounded a little hoarse:

"I never thought I could be so lucky that someone like you could be in love with me too. But I knew I couldn't live my life without you, that I had to take my chances. So I decided to tell you the truth. To be completely honest at last. And it worked out for the best because here we are now."

He smiled again and released her hands.

"I know I asked you this question before, but I thought a woman like you deserves the best way possible."

He gestured at the table: "So I decided to bring our two worlds together. The fancy, aristocratic table in the bright, beautiful meadow. And I wanted to ask you...."

He kneeled down and he reached in his pocket. He opened a small velvet box and inside there was the most beautiful ring Maria had ever seen. Her heart poundered and her mouth felt completely dry. He looked deeply into her eyes:

"Maria Augusta Kutschera, will you make me the happiest man on the planet and marry me?"

She trembled all over her body, her hands were shaking and her eyes were filled with tears:

"Yes of course I'll marry you....I love you so much".

He placed the ring on her finger and got up. He wrapped his arms around her and embraced her very tender. She let her tears run free, she couldn't speak anymore. He couldn't and didn't want to do anything else but hold her.

Gently, he pulled himself out of their embrace and placed his hands on her cheeks. With his thumbs he stroke her tears away and when she looked into his eyes she saw her feelings reflected in them. "You're shaking", he whispered and she laughed through her tears:

"Well, can you blame me? I am still in shock!"

"Well, I feel a little shaky too you know", he chuckled. "I'm so glad my plan worked, I wanted to surprise you like you've never been surprised before".

"Well, you succeeded all right. I can't believe you did this for me! I never expected this when I woke up this morning."

He took her hands again and kissed them gently.

"I love it Georg, it's so beautiful!", she sighed looking at the beautiful diamant ring on her finger.

"Good, that was my intention", he said and he stroke her hair, "Well, after all the hard work I put you through I think you deserve a good breakfast!"

He led her towards the table and pulled out a chair for her. "Madame", he nodded and she sat down.