He stood behind her for a long moment. After arranging himself and his thoughts, he cleared his throat and started speaking, his voice sounding a bit tentative.
"Excuse me Madame, I was wondering if the...." He couldn't finish his sentence. His voice made Maria stop for a moment. "I must be hearing things." She thought and turned around. Her mouth dropped and her eyes grew wide. Certainly it was Georg, still as handsome as he had been 7 years ago.
"Hello Maria." Georg softly spoke.
"Georg?" Maria asked in disbelief her voice trembling.
"Yes, Maria. Do you mind if I sit at your table?" Georg asked in German.
"No, of course I don't. Please!" Maria answered still recovering from the shock. Georg slowly took the chair next to Maria. For a moment Maria avoided any eye contact with him. The look in her eyes made him see how hurt and confused she was. Maria's hand was resting on the table; it took all his will power not to take it into his. The silence that followed was shocking for both of them. None of them knew how to start a conversation, how to explain everything that had happened almost 7 years ago.
"You look beautiful, even more beautiful than you did 7 years ago. You are a mature woman." He said.
"You haven't changed a bit Georg. "She said.
"Maria, I'm sorry..." Was all what Georg could say as silly as it sounded.
"Georg... I..." Maria's words failed. "Tell me about the children. How are they doing?" Maria came up with the topic to break the tension.
"They have grown a lot and all of them are wonderful young people." Georg laughed. "Liesl is graduating from college this summer. She majored in music, and her fiancé is a lawyer." Georg said.
"Her fiancé? Little Liesl is getting married?" Maria laughed.
"Yes, they are planning to get married in the fall. The guy comes from a good family, I like him." Georg said. "And Friedrich, he is thinking about joining the Navy which I highly support. Louisa is going to be a teacher. She loves children. As for Kurt he graduated from high school last year and he is thinking of a career in economics. Brigitta is graduating from high school this year, and of course she wants to study literature. As for the little ones, Marta and Gretl they are still at school, and both do fine in their studies." Georg finished his story on his children.
"I'm sure you are proud of them." Maria said, still a bit shaky.
"Yes, I'm proud of them. Now tell me something about yourself, Maria." Georg said while looking into her eyes.
"About me? Oh there is really nothing special going on in my life. I live in Vermont and I run a small tailor shop. I came to Boston to visit some dressmakers for new designs and materials. What about you Georg?" Maria asked in order to avoid answering Georg's question.
"I'm here to attend a navy conference. You know I'm a teacher now. I train young cadets. It's a good job, something that I enjoy immensely. Maria, what other things happened to you in the last 7 years? Are you married or....and how and why did you come to America?" His words failed.
"I read in the paper that you had left Austria, but I didn't know that you came to America." Maria answered.
"Maria you are not answering my question. Would it be easier for you if I started first? Georg asked. Maria nodded in response.
"Maria, I know exactly what happened and why you left me. I know about the letter and I found the folded telegram in your room. Believe me; I had nothing to do with either of them." Georg said.
"But then how? I mean... tell me what happened...." Tears welled in Maria's eyes.
"Maria, please listen to me carefully now. There is an explanation for everything. Yes I was in Vienna and met this Yvonne von Wittelsbach. I had known her for years; she was one of my "friends" in the upper class. But I was never interested in her and that was a pain for her. On my visit to Vienna I was invited to their house for a social gathering. They started making comments on my plans marrying the governess. Honestly Maria, I didn't give a damn to what they said. I loved you more than anything... you know that.." his voice turned soft. "So she sent you the letter, as well as the telegram because she thought that if I called off my engagement to you, I would run to her for comfort. She got it wrong I have to tell you... Maria, I'm not married." Georg finished and tried to get a hold of Maria's hand resting on the table. Automatically Maria pulled her hand away, the information she had just received was too much for her. It only started sinking in her; the puzzle of her past started being put together. Tears were welling in her eyes and a few made their way down her cheeks. Georg looked at her teary face, and the sight almost broke his heart. He wanted to take her in his arms and comfort her.
"Please forgive me Maria. When you left I thought I was going insane. I went to look for you in the abbey, and then all around in Salzburg and when I didn't find you I filed a report with the police. I wanted to explain everything. First I thought that you left me because of what happened, that you regretted.... "Georg's words failed again, but a slight smile crossed his face as he saw Maria's face blush. "But then when I put together the puzzle, I knew the reason for your sudden leaving. Maria, where did you go? Because the police couldn't find you either." Georg asked.
"I ended up in Innsbruck and this is where they found me Georg. At the beginning of next summer, but by then you all were gone. That's why we had to leave, too. It was one of the reasons." Maria answered.
"We? What do you mean Maria?" Georg asked surprised.
"I stayed and worked for an inn, and the inn keeper was hiding Jews in the basement after the Anschluss happened. We all were in danger, so Helena, the innkeeper, and I had to leave. First we went to Switzerland and then we came to America. She had an uncle who owned a farm up in Vermont, and for years we lived and worked there. It wasn't until 3 years ago when I moved to Waterbury and started my own little tailor shop." Maria answered.
"I'm impressed. So you are a business woman now." Georg laughed.
"Oh, no it's not a real a business. It's a small workshop, and I have only 2 girls working for me." Maria laughed too. Georg reached for Maria's hand and held it in his gently. Maria didn't protest, but in the moment their hands touched Maria felt a jolt of pleasure shot down her spine. Georg looked into her eyes, and enjoyed the moment of holding her hand again. He didn't want to go any further, or to press anything. Her gaze begged him for patience. Maria realised that she had not told him about Alexandra, and she wasn't sure if she should mention her existence, because then Georg would surely demand to see his daughter and she wasn't sure if she was ready for that. But after all Georg was Alexandra's father and he had his right. She took a deep breath before she started speaking.
"Georg, I have to tell you something." Her words came out quickly.
"Yes. Please go ahead... "Georg noticed the scared look on Maria's face. She couldn't go on; instead of speaking she reached for her bag and pulled out a photo from her wallet. Her heart was beating rapidly as she handed the little piece of paper to Georg. He looked at the picture of a little girl about the age of 6. His eyes grew wide as he recognized the resemblance immediately. No long explanation was needed. Tears rolled down Maria's cheeks as she watched him scanning the picture.
"Maria? Is she my daughter?" Georg asked with tears in his eyes. Maria nodded.
"Oh my God... What is her name? When was she born? Maria, if only I had known it..."
"Her name is Alexandra, and she was born in Innsbruck just the day after you left Austria. I read the article in the paper and the shock caused to start my labor." Maria whispered, her voice shaking.
"Maria" He gently touched her face. "You were expecting my child. Why didn't you call me? Why didn't you come back?" He asked.
"Georg, I thought you were going to get married to that woman. I couldn't do that, to appear at your house telling you that we were going to have a baby so you cannot marry the woman you love." Maria's tears became a bit stronger.
"You were the only woman I loved." Georg answered gently. "And this child is the true evidence of that."
"She is just like you Georg. Look at her, a blind man could tell she is your daughter, a real miracle. She helped me through when times were hard on me." Maria said and held Georg's hand tighter. "Georg, I'm sorry. Sorry for not trusting you." Maria's eyes were welling with tears.
Georg looked out of the window and noticed that the rain had stopped.
"Why don't we go for a walk? A little fresh air would do some good for both of us." He suggested.
They took a long walk; all the while they didn't stop talking. Maria talked about her life and Alexandra. Georg was eager to hear every little detail about his youngest daughter. Still it was a bit beyond his belief, that after all those years he was walking and talking with Maria about their past. He wondered if he had a future in Maria's life. She seemed to be comfortable with him, but there was a line between them, a line that was not to cross that evening.
"Maria, it's getting late. May I invite you for dinner?" Georg asked.
"Georg, I'm not really hungry. I'm tired; I might want to go back to my hotel." She answered.
Georg walked her back to the hotel, all the while not daring to touch her. His senses and his heart wanted to kiss her senseless, but his mind told him not to do so. Not yet. Maria obviously was not ready for more than a friendship at the moment.
"I think it would be appropriate if we said good night here." Georg stopped at Maria's hotel.
"Yes... "Maria answered, although she could have walked with him for many more miles.
"So you are going back to Vermont tomorrow. Then I won't have a chance to see you before you leave." Georg said.
"Yes, my train leaves at 11 a.m. tomorrow. Before going home I have to get some present for Alexandra. I missed my duty this afternoon." Maria laughed.
"Oh, I see. I'm staying in Boston for 2 more days before I return home. Wish we had more time." Georg looked into Maria's eyes. They maintained the eye contact for a long moment, during which Maria felt as if she was going to drown in his eyes. Her mind and her heart were fighting for control. For an instance she wanted his lips, to feel his body close to her, but then her mind won over her heart and she stepped back.
"Maria, do you see a chance so that I can meet our daughter? I would love to see her." Georg trailed off what he had wanted to for hours, since the moment he learned about Alexandra.
"Probably. That's all I can say at the moment. I have to go home, see how things are going, and maybe to settle my emotions a bit. Give us some time Georg." Maria begged.
"Alright Maria, but please don't keep me waiting for too long. Here, this is my address and phone number. Please feel free to call me, to write me, and if you need me, please let me know. Let me be your friend for the time being." Georg said and handed her a piece of paper.
"Here. I want you to keep it." Maria replied and gave him the picture of Alexandra. "I'm sure she will be excited to meet you. I promise that you will see her." Maria answered, her voice sounding promising.
"Then I think it's really time to say goodnight. It's getting very late." Georg said softly.
"Good night Georg" Maria said and reached out her hand and took Georg's in hers. Georg leaned closer to her and gently kissed her on the forehead.
"Good night." He said and the two of them parted with hope in their hearts that maybe life and fate had given them a second chance.
Georg stood long in the doorway of the hotel, long after Maria had disappeared inside. Looking downward he noticed a piece of paper lying on the ground. He slowly picked it up to see what it was. He opened the little book and realised that Maria had dropped her address book most probably when she pulled out the photograph from her bag. Georg wondered what he should do, if she should go after her, but then he knew the situation would be embarrassing for both of them, or to keep it and follow the information he had found in it.
"Mommy!" Little Alexandra screamed out aloud when she saw her mother approach the little white house in the main street of Waterbury. She ran to her immediately and Maria dropped all her bags to hug her daughter. She bombarded her mother with thousands of questions, an action that made Maria smile. When they entered the house, Maria gave her the doll she had bought in Boston.
"Thank you, Mommy. This is so cute. Look Godmother, the doll is wearing a navy uniform." The little girl's face lit up and ran to her room.
"And how did everything go while I was away?" Maria asked Helena.
"Alexandra was a good girl, no problem with her. Even in the tailor shop everything was under control. Some new orders have come in..." Helena didn't finish her words because she realized something about Maria.
"Maria? Are you all right? You look so strange. What happened in Boston?" Helena asked curiously.
"Oh, I'm only tired. It has been a long trip." Maria replied.
"Maria." Helena paused. "I know this look of yours. I haven't seen this since... I thought we are friends, you know that you can trust me." Helena begged.
"Helena... I met him in Boston by a coincidence. I'm still in shock; I didn't sleep at all last night." Maria replied in a straight voice.
"Him? You mean Alexandra's father?" Helena whispered.
Maria nodded and her eyes were welling with tears.
"And what happened? Was he rude on you?" Helena asked.
"No, on the contrary. We talked for long hours and it turned out, at least what he said that the letter and the telegram was only a conspiracy of some people from the Viennese upper class. He had never cheated on me." Maria whispered.
"And what's next?" Helena asked.
"I don't know. I'm helpless with this situation. I told him about Alexandra. Of course he wants to see her but understands that I need more time. I feel so weak at the moment." Maria said her body shaking.
"Maria, you are the strongest person I have ever met. Just think, a girl with a miserable childhood being abandoned by her fiancé. You were expecting his child, went through the pregnancy on your own, gave birth to his child and established your life in America. You have been alone for too long Maria... life is giving you a second chance now. Just follow your heart!" Helena said and hugged Maria close to her who was still in the state of shock.
Maria couldn't sleep that night at all. She lay in her bed watching the ceiling and pondering her future, not only her future, but her daughter's as well. She didn't know what to do. Helena's words were echoing in her ears. Was she still in love with him? Was she ever going to be able to trust him the way she did? She was wondering about Alexandra's reaction as well. As small as she was, she was a smart little girl; surely she had inherited her father's intelligence. She recalled the moment when their hands touched or the moment he had kissed her goodnight in front of the hotel. Her skin was still burning after the little kiss. Also, there were 7 other children who she had hurt 7 years ago. She was not sure if all of them would be able to forgive her for leaving them so suddenly. Sitting up in her bed she reached for her robe to put it on. Silently she sneaked out of her room and went to check on her daughter. Alexandra was obviously sleeping tight holding her new doll close. Maria gently arranged the blanket around the girl and placed a little kiss on her cheek.
Slowly she walked back to her room and from the drawer she pulled out a piece of paper. It was the letter, or the note she had wanted to leave to Georg before leaving the von Trapp Villa. Those words were written by her 7-year younger herself out of despair and anger. Her tears fell on the paper. "Is there really a second chance? Is this meant to be?" For 7 years she had been dreaming of meeting him again, but now after the chance had been granted, she didn't know what to do. The answer would be easy if it was only her life and her feelings, but with 8 children being involved in it, the decision wasn't that simple. "I'm going to write him a letter." She determined before exhaustion caught her up and she fell asleep.
To be continued....
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