Maria held her breath and remained hunched over the top of the backdrop of the stage. The children exhaled simultaneously, all filled with relief that their debut as puppet performers had seemed to go by with relative success. Maria glanced over at them, her eyes bright with pride as they heard the laughter and enthusiastic applause coming from their audience of five. Arching her neck slightly, Maria looked over the stage and saw the Captain and his guests clapping merrily, all too eager to congratulate the performers.
The children leapt from the stage, rejuvenated by the warm reception and the adrenaline of a successful performance. Maria heard the Captain's animated praise louder than anyone else's. She hoisted the baby goat puppet upwards, placed it safely on its holder, and looked over the stage again. The children surrounded their father, all beaming as he hugged or kissed each one. Maria smiled to herself, her heart filling at the sight of the happy family.
The Captain looked up for a moment and caught her watching them. Their eyes met and they shared a warm smile. They held each other's gaze for a moment longer before the Captain was pulled away by Marta, who could not contain her excitement at Max's declaration that keeping the puppet show was a reality. Maria smiled at the Captain's gentle laughter with his little girl.
Feeling someone watching her, she looked over at Klauss speaking absently with Markus, his eyes casting glances up at her. She grinned back at him, pleased that he had wanted to attend the first showing of The Lonely Goatherd.
Maria descended from the stage, weary but happy that all the hard work she and the children had done had been worth it. She saw the children follow Max and Markus out of the room, and she looked over at the Captain, who had taken Elsa's hand in his, turning to greet her.
"Maria!" Klauss exclaimed, walking over to her. He took her hands in his and she laughed at the blatant enthusiasm she saw on his face. "That was simply marvelous! All of you were excellent!"
She blushed. "Oh, thank you," she said. "The children worked so hard for the last few weeks. It all came together nicely, I must say."
"Your voice took my breath away," he said more quietly and her cheeks got even redder.
"Klauss, please," she said, embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, I embarrassed you," he said, squeezing her hands. "I get rather carried away. But it's true; you've been blessed, Maria."
"Thank you," she said shyly.
"Well done, Fräulein," she heard the Captain say, and she blinked several times, wondering if he had heard Klauss's comments. He walked over to her, his smile genuinely pleased. "I really am very much impressed."
She shook her head. "They're your children, Captain!" she declared.
He nodded, and again, Maria felt the same inner glow she had felt when their eyes had met when she stood atop the stage. She looked over at the Baroness who had walked to stand next to the Captain.
"You seem to have an endless supply of talents, my dear," Elsa said. She looked at both the Captain and Klauss, and as she returned her gaze to Maria, her smile seemed to stiffen.
Maria nodded awkwardly, not knowing how to react to the inexplicable ice she heard in the Baroness's voice. However, Klauss's laughter filled her head, and she turned to him.
"Will there be any future performances?" he asked.
Maria shook her head. "I'm afraid this show has taken the children from their studies for too long," she said, turning to meet the Captain's raised eyebrows, and the two laughed together.
"Planning a show is a practical lesson," he said. "I think their time has been well spent."
"You see, Georg?" Klauss said, waving his hand back to the stage. "This has been a good investment, has it not? Who knew your children were so talented? But then, you are no stranger to singing either, are you?"
Maria turned to look at her employer, surprised. "Captain, you –"
"That was a rather long time ago," he said quickly. He gestured to her. "And nothing that could hold candle to…"
"You're just like Maria!" Klauss exclaimed, looking between the two. "Much too modest."
The Baroness laughed, looking at the Captain with interest. "And here I thought I knew almost everything about you, darling."
The group walked into the parlor, where Max was regaling to the children his escapades with various musical groups, and how none of those groups were as talented as they were.
"Now Max," the Captain said, sternness mixed with his gentle tone, "don't give them any ideas."
Max looked over at Markus, who shrugged. "You know better than to argue with him, Max," the other said.
Max looked unaffected. "It's only a matter of time, Markus," he said lowly. Looking over at Maria, he added to himself, "Maybe only a matter of influence."
"I'm still in the mood for a concert," Klauss announced, looking over at his friend. "Perhaps a solo from you, Georg?"
Georg's jaw set, but his eyes twinkled. "I don't think so, Klauss."
"Oh, please, Father!" the children chorused.
"No, no, no, no," he insisted, parting through them to fix himself a drink.
"Show us where the children get their talent, Georg!" Markus said, winking at Liesl and Friedrich.
Maria looked at Klauss, doubtful that the Captain wouldn't be swayed in his resolve. Klauss cleared his throat softly and cocked his head to Maria's guitar, which was resting against the wall. She looked over at it and then back at Klauss. Their eyes met playfully, and she silently slipped away to retrieve it.
"Perhaps another night, when I don't have to follow a superb musical act such as The Lonely Goatherd," the Captain said. He looked over at Maria, and felt his jaw drop in betrayal as she glided closer to him, her guitar in hand.
Holding it up to him, she laughed lightly at his wide-eyed expression. "Please," she pleaded sweetly.
Looking at her, her genuine love for anything musical evident on her face, and then down at the eager faces of his children, he realized he could only reply in one way. Stroking Gretl's cheek, he looked up at Maria again.
"Well, alright," he acquiesced, taking the instrument from her.
Smiling in excitement, Maria gestured for the children to sit on the floor. She looked around the room and found all the other places had been taken. Silently moving to the far side of the room, she leaned against the wall, observing everyone from behind.
The Captain sat upon the settee, strumming the guitar and getting reacquainted with the chords of an old but familiar song. Once he was comfortable with the instrument, he began to sing. Softly at first, his voice became stronger as he regained his confidence in his singing ability.
As he sang the words to a simple folk song, Edelweiss, his heart filled as he saw his children's rapt attention around him. Their faces, shining with innocence and love, made him realize that there was still something good in the ever-changing demographics of the world; something that was worth fighting for.
Feeling the need to surround himself in that love, that strong conviction that only a resolute faith could hold, he looked up at Maria, standing quietly in the corner, and saw her face light up as she watched him. She looked wistful and reflective, and he could tell that she, too, was thinking of how much she loved the gentle beauties of their homeland. He looked down at his children again, finding peace and strength in their rekindled connection.
Maria leaned her head against the wall, feeling completely lost in the Captain's soothing voice and the way his eyes sparkled as he looked at his children. She loved watching their reaction to him; it was such a perfect image. The Captain tilted his head for Liesl to join him in the song, and together, their soft voices filled the room. Maria looked over at Klauss's profile, her smile widening as she saw the expression on his face.
He was so happy, watching his friend engage in something peaceful that brought joy to everyone in the room. Maria found herself staring at the slope of his shoulders and how his face brightened as he smiled. Even in his profile, Maria could tell that he was enjoying the impromptu concert immensely. She became mesmerized with the lines of his neck and jaw line, and how his shoulders rose and fell as he sighed deeply, perhaps losing himself in the words of the song.
He must have felt her gaze upon him, as he turned and stared back at her. Maria's breath caught in her throat at how his smile faded into a more serious expression. There was something new in his eyes as he held her gaze, and she felt her heart beat faster. The look on his face combined with the Captain's peaceful voice made her feel a tremendous surge of tranquility. She returned Klauss's smile, finding herself no longer amazed that he was looking at her in that way. Rather, she relished in it, feeling more alive and attractive than she had in her life.
Liesl's voice drifted away, and the Captain resumed singing alone. Maria turned to watch him; her smile, if anything, broadened at the equally serene look in his eyes. He looked up at her again, and she felt the world melt away as he sang the last lines of the song.
As the final note hung in the air for a moment, a restful silence fell upon the room. Maria blinked a couple of times, looking around at the children, all of whom were delighted with their father's song. She glanced over at Herr Detweiler and the Baroness, who also seemed to have enjoyed the moment. Next to them, Markus exhaled slowly, a small smile on his face. Her gaze settled on Klauss again, and she felt her stomach tighten as she realized he hadn't stopped staring at her. He offered a small smile, and she returned it.
The Captain's voice brought her back to reality. "I hope I didn't disappoint," she heard him say. She looked quickly over at him, and found him also staring at her, smiling almost sheepishly.
She laughed. "What do you think, children?"
A mixture of accolades blurred together, and the Captain laughed. "Just don't ask me to be a part of your next puppet show," he said.
"No desire to be a sheep, Georg?" Markus asked, laughing.
Klauss rose and walked over to his friend. "That was very enjoyable, Georg," he said, taking the guitar from him. "You should sing more often; it seems to relax you."
"It's a shame you won't even entertain the idea of your family singing in public, Georg," Max said. "Think of how famous you all would be!"
"And how rich you'd try to become," Elsa added in a quieter voice. She stood and walked over to Georg. "You never cease to amaze me."
Klauss walked over to Maria and handed the guitar back to her. "A worthy user, I believe?" he asked, cocking his head back to the Captain.
She nodded and looked over at her employer. "You're welcome to use it any time you wish, sir."
He nodded, a twinkle in his eyes as he reflected on how easy it was to sing again. He stood and looked at Elsa, taking her hand in his. Turning to Maria, he nodded. "Thank you, Fräulein," he said before looking at his children.
"Thank you, Father," Brigitta said. The others nodded and echoed her enthusiasm.
Markus rose from his seat. "It's getting rather late, and I think the performers are weary from all the hard work they've done," he declared. "I think it's time for us to say good night."
Max laughed. "You mean that Klauss hasn't had a room prepared for him here?" he asked. Looking over at his friend, he laughed a little harder at the other's astonished face. "I mean, it seems I see you as much as I see Georg!"
Klauss pursed his lips and nodded curtly at Max. Turning to Maria and then to the children, he smiled. "I rather enjoy the company here," he said before looking at Max again. "Some more than others."
The other laughed again. Klauss turned to meet Maria's gaze. "Thank you for such a wonderful evening, Maria," he whispered, taking her hand in his. He brought it to her lips, and her pulse quickened. As he released her hand, he straightened; their eyes met, and Maria felt her smile widen.
"Good night," she whispered.
Turning slowly, he nodded to the Captain. Maria looked over at her employer, and felt her smile melt away as she saw the serious expression on his face as he watched them. The Captain nodded curtly at his friend before shaking Markus's hand.
"We shall see you soon, then?" Markus asked, looking at Klauss, then at Maria and back again. "Sooner rather than later, I assume."
He and Klauss walked over to bid the children farewell. Elsa watched Klauss for a moment, and then looked at Maria.
"Klauss seems to have formed quite an attachment to the villa," she said and looked up at Georg. She wasn't sure if she should laugh at his expression or be worried by it.
To be continued…