Thank you for the reviews. Enjoy Chapter 8!
Chapter 8.
Georg counted the hours until he could leave for Maria's house. His excitement was on top by the fact that finally he would meet his youngest daughter. He had done some errands in town in order to find a little present for the girl. She had never met him and all of a sudden he was going to stand in front of her telling that he was her father. He wondered how Alexandra was going to react. He took a long look at the book he had just purchased for his daughter. The book showed different kind of ships, illustrated for little children. Maria had told him about their daughter admiring everything in relation to ships. His eyes wandered over to the huge bouquet of flowers lying on the table. He remembered how Maria had always liked flowers and he had tried to make a special selection especially for her.
In the meantime Maria and Alexandra were busy in the kitchen preparing their special dinner. "Okay, a few more minutes and everything will be ready." She thought as the real final touches were being done.
"Alexandra, please go and wash your face and your hands. I have put a lovely dress on your bed, please put on that one." Maria smiled at her daughter.
"Yes, mother." Alexandra obliged immediately hiding her excitement.
Maria took a deep breath and sank back on a chair relaxing for a few moments. Noticing the clock she realized she had to get ready as well. She rushed to her bedroom and put on the dress she had thought of earlier the afternoon. She swung in front of the mirror and surveyed her appearance. The light cream color dress softly caressed her curves without revealing too much. She simply brushed her hair and tied it up with a ribbon at her neck. Closing her eyes for a moment she tried to calm down. Inhaling deeply she relaxed a bit.
"Mommy. I'm ready." Alexandra whispered as she peeked in around the doorframe. Maria looked at her daughter and smiled.
"You look beautiful my darling. But let me comb your hair." She pulled the girl towards her. Alexandra didn't protest she was much too excited to be against anything at the moment. Maria noticed how calm her daughter looked; she seemed to be much too quiet for her liking.
"Alexandra?" She turned the girl so that they faced. "What is the matter my sweetheart?" Maria asked in concern.
"Nothing." She whispered. Maria didn't believe it. "Alexandra. Please tell me!" She hugged her daughter.
"I'm afraid that father won't like me." She let out her words.
"How can you think of such things? He loves you very much, more than you think. You are just like him, you have his eyes and also your smile is from him." Maria replied and hugged Alexandra even more. She felt the little girl relax in her arms. They stayed like that for a long moment until the sound of the doorbell ringing made them break their embrace.
"Come, let's not keep him waiting for long" Maria softly whispered feeling her own excitement rising but taking her daughter by the hand and they two walked to the door.
Georg watched as the door slowly opened and for a moment he was breathless when he saw the dark haired little girl standing next to Maria. He gave her a slight smile, but Alexandra immediately hid herself behind her mother holding Maria's waist tightly.
"Hello" He greeted them softly. Alexandra timidly peaked her head around Maria's waist to take a longer look at her father. She gave a shy smile to Georg.
"So you must be the little princess I have heard so much about." Georg told friendly and bent down to gently touch the girl's face. The little girl smiled at the compliment Georg made of her.
"Say hello to your father, Alexandra." Maria softly spoke.
"Hello" She paused. "Daddy." She finished her sentence and Georg felt a few tears in his eyes, so did Maria.
"Hello Maria" Georg stood up and smiled at her. "Hello" Maria timidly answered while taking a hold of his hand. This action didn't go unnoticed by their daughter either, whose face lit up with a smile. She looked up at her parents, her eyes wandering from one adult to the other trying to read the expression on their faces.
"Why don't you come in further?" Maria invited him inside. Alexandra didn't let her mother's hand go. Maria sensed that the girl was still a bit tense.
"Maria, this is for you. If my memory is correct, you like flowers." Georg said and handed the bunch to Maria.
"Oh, they are so beautiful. Thank you." She smiled. "I think I should put them into water right away." She said and left Alexandra and Georg alone for a moment.
"Alexandra, I have this especially for you. I know that you like ships and the sea." Georg said and handed the book to his daughter. She was shy at first, wondering if she should accept it, but then reached out for the book.
"Thank you." She answered timidly. Maria listened to the conversation from inside the room while arranging the flowers. She silently prayed that everything was going to be all right. She took a deep breath before entering the living room and joining them again.
"Okay, I think we should start dinner." She suggested.
"Maria, it was delicious. I never knew you were such a good cook." Georg complimented.
"Oh, thank you. But I couldn't have made it without my help." Maria replied and looked at her daughter. "She is the master in the kitchen." She added proudly.
"So you are a good cook. A ship girl who can cook? You are a unique treasure." Georg turned to her daughter.
"Father? Do you really live out on the sea?" Alexandra asked.
"Not all the time. But yes, I have seen and sailed many seas." Georg answered.
"Alexandra darling, why don't you show Daddy your drawings? I'm sure he would love to see them. And in the meantime I can clean up the table." Maria suggested.
"You have drawings?" Georg asked surprised. Alexandra nodded. "I draw ships, seas and animals." Alexandra answered proudly and grabbed for Georg's hand to lead him to her room.
While Georg and Alexandra spent their time in the girl's room going through the drawings and stories Maria cleaned the kitchen. Doing the dishes she felt tears of joy running down her cheeks as she heard the conversation coming from the girl's room. According to what she heard it sounded that Alexandra started feeling more and more comfortable with her father around. When the last plate was washed and everything was clean in the kitchen Maria went to join her daughter and Georg. A smile crossed her face as she saw Georg sitting on the floor with papers scattered around him and carefully listening to Alexandra's happy chatting about her friends, her school, her teachers and her life.
"Do you mind if I join you?" She asked and took a seat on the floor next to Georg. His fingers gently caressed her back and Maria took a hold of his hand in response.
"Alexandra just told me about her school" Georg said.
"Yes, and I told Daddy about our trip to New Hampshire. Do you remember Mommy?" Alexandra asked enthusiastically. "It was so funny when you fell into the lake from the boat." The little girl started laughing, and the two adults joined in her laughter. But their memories went back to another accident when Maria and the children had fallen into the lake.
"Your mother is good when it comes to falling into lakes." Georg laughed even harder.
"Georg!" She cried and playfully hit him on the leg.
"When did you fall into a lake, mother?" Alexandra asked giggling.
"Oh, you know, your mother together with your brothers and sisters fell into the lake that was behind our house in Salzburg. You should have seen those 8 soaking wet little birds climbing out of the water." Georg's laughter became even harder.
The trio sat on the floor for about one more hour chatting and laughing about the past and present before Maria noticed the clock.
"Alexandra, I think it's past your bedtime now. You have school tomorrow and I don't want you to fall asleep in the middle of your math class." Maria gently instructed her daughter.
"Mommy, just a few more minutes. Please Daddy!" Alexandra begged. Maria rolled her eyes about her daughter's sudden affection to Georg.
"No, Alexandra. I think your mother is right. It's getting late. I should be going soon, too but not before you are put to bed for sure." Georg gently stroked her daughter's face. Alexandra took a deep sigh and obliged to her parents by disappearing into the bathroom.
"Just a few minutes Georg. I shall help her get ready for bed." Maria stood up and followed her daughter. Georg nodded in understanding. He stretched out his legs and sighed in contentment. He had not felt so happy for a long time. The events of the last days were still beyond his belief. It all seemed to be a dream, a dream that he never wanted to wake up from.
"We are ready father." Alexandra reentered her room and climbed into her bed. "Will you tell me a bedtime story?" Maria and Georg exchanged a reassuring look before Georg softly nodded. Maria arranged the blanket around the little girl and gave her a little kiss on the cheek.
"Good night, darling. Sleep tight." She said before she sneaked out of the way to stand in the doorway. Georg took the seat at Alexandra's bedside. Bending down he placed a little kiss on his daughter's face. The girl's hands went around his neck, holding it tightly she whispered, "I love you," into his father's ears. "I love you, too my little princess" Georg responded before he went into a suddenly created bedtime story.
In the meantime Maria retreated to the kitchen to prepare some tea for them. After completing his bedtime story, Georg left Alexandra's room and joined Maria in the kitchen.
"Maria" He softly interrupted her in the duties. "Thank you." He whispered.
"Is she finally sleeping?" Maria asked. Georg nodded. "She is a miracle, Maria. I'm still amazed by her." He finished.
"Did she exhaust you? She can be quite handful sometimes." Maria smiled.
"Oh no, she is wonderful. I still cannot believe that this is happening. I'm so grateful to you." Georg gently said.
"Oh Georg for what?" Maria turned to face him.
"For everything Maria. For giving birth to my child, for being such a wonderful mother to her and for being you." As Georg finished Maria felt a lump in her throat.
"Maybe we should sit down in the living room. We could start a fire in the fireplace." Maria suggested while handing him a cup of tea. Georg followed Maria into the living room where after starting a fire they took a seat on the couch. Sipping their tea they didn't speak for a few long minutes.
"You have a lovely place Maria." Georg broke the silence.
"Thank you. I'm trying to do my best." Maria answered all the while looking into the flames. Another long minute of silence passed.
"And have you told the children about me?" Maria asked to break the silence again.
"No, I haven't. I couldn't. I didn't know how to start. I only knew that I had to come here, to see you and to meet my daughter. But surely I will talk to them when I get home." Georg answered still feeling the tension in the air.
"You know that I still have my whistle that you hated so much." Georg laughed in a hope to break the tension between them.
"Oh you do? Please don't tell me that you still use it." Maria laughed and turned to face Georg. A spark flew across the room in the very moment the two of them looked at each other. Maria felt as if Georg could read her innermost feelings, just the way he had done 7 years ago. They couldn't remove the gaze from each other and Maria felt her heart beating rapidly in her throat. The whole world ceased to exist; they were the two people in it. Georg's fingers gently stroked her cheeks, tracing the lines of her face. His fingers traveled downwards until they brushed her chin. He was lost in her eyes; her gaze was just as clear as it had been on the night in the Gazebo. He slowly started moving towards her until their lips gently touched. The kiss was gentle and light at first but then it became deeper and passionate. When their lips parted Maria automatically put her head on his shoulder and sighed in contentment. His arms went around her back and held her close to him.
"I love you, Maria." Georg said. Maria looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "I love you, too Georg. I never stopped loving you not even for a moment." She answered while a few tears of joy made their way down her cheek.
Georg kissed her gently on the cheek, kissing away her tears before their lips met again. This time the kiss was even deeper, and for a moment Maria felt all her senses giving in to him right there in the living room. He didn't want to stop, feeling her closeness made his body ache for her even more. "Not the same mistake again" He thought and broke the heated embrace between them.
"Maria, you know that we have to stop now, before there won't be a way back." Georg gently told her.
"I know, Georg. But can you just hold me in your arms? Just hold me." She whispered while putting her head to rest on his chest. Granting her wish, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight in his embrace. This is what they had been dreaming of for the last 7 years, and now when the moment arrived, none of them wanted to let the magic go. For the next few hours they just lay there, holding each other, talking and laughing until Georg noticed the clock.
"Maria, I should leave now, although this is the last thing I want. But morning will be here soon." Georg said and stood up from the couch pulling Maria with him. She walked him to the door where they kissed one last time.
"Will you come for dinner tomorrow as well?" Maria asked. "Or even you could even come earlier in the afternoon so that the three of us could spend more time together. We could go for a walk or whatever comes up." She suggested.
"I will be here, Maria. There isn't anything else I would rather do than to spend time with the two of you." Georg answered and kissed Maria gently on the lips.
To be continued.....
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