Chapter 10.

Georg felt exhausted after the long trip back to New York. He slept for long hours before walking downstairs to grab a cup of coffee. Sipping his coffee at the table his thoughts wandered over to the last few days. A slight smile crossed his face at the memory of the coincidental meeting with Maria in Boston, then their reunion in Vermont and the first moments of seeing his youngest daughter. Maria had impressed him more than before, now that he knew what the young woman had gone through. He was ready to give her everything within his power to compensate her from all the pain and the misery. Taking a deep sigh realised that he was much more in love with her now, than ever before. "Just a few weeks, and we'll be together forever."

"You slept for a long time, father." Liesl said entering the kitchen, seeing her father sit at the table, obviously being deep in thought.

"Hello my daughter. Yes, the trip from Vermont took at least 8 hours, and it has been very long." Georg replied.

"Father, what did you do in Vermont? You simply disappeared for days, and we had no idea where you went." Liesl said while noticing something different about her father.

"Liesl, I will explain everything." He smiled and tapped her on the shoulder. "Tonight at dinner, just make sure that all your brothers and sisters are present." He said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Her father's behavior brought a smile to Liesl face. She couldn't guess what had happened, what announcement her father was going to make at dinner.

Liesl gathered her siblings and made sure that all of them were at home at dinnertime. The dinner table was set and all of them were eagerly anticipating Georg's announcement. During the day all of them had noticed something about the Captain. His behavior made them smile but also wonder. Their father had obviously changed in the last few days, but they couldn't guess the reason. When they were sitting at the table they all looked at their father with questioning look. Georg arranged his thoughts; clearing his throat he started speaking.

"Children. I have a big announcement to make." He started with a smile. "I'm going to get married." He didn't say anything more, but waited for the children's reaction. All the 7 were left speechless for a moment, and their eyes grew wide in surprise.

"Married? What do you mean?" Brigitta asked curiously.

"What do I mean? Oh, well... you know what a wedding means... when a man and a woman who love each other decide to walk life's path together..." Georg hardly could suppress his laughter.

"But father... who are you get married to? Do you have a girlfriend?" Friedrich asked.

"A girlfriend? Oh it's not the right word to talk about the woman who is going to be your new mother." Georg answered but now he couldn't help laughing.

"Okay children... okay. Let me tell you the story by putting aside the joke." Georg's voice turned serious. "When I was in Boston last week a real miracle happened to me. On a rainy afternoon I ran into a café to escape from getting soaking wet. As I was sitting there I saw a beautiful woman sitting at the table next to my own. First I thought it was only a vision, a dream, but then the woman made her order and her German accent caught my ears. Not only the German accent, but also her voice sounded so familiar. I turned around and for a moment I thought I would faint right there. Children, it was Maria... "His words failed and a few tears fell down his face. All the children were listening with awe, and for a moment they didn't believe what they had just heard. They all gasped in surprise. "So I approached her, and there she was sitting right in front of me and looking at me. We started talking, actually we talked for hours and finally I had a chance to explain terrible misunderstanding to her." Georg stopped for a moment.

"But father... you say that you are marrying her? Then it means that she is still single? And what is she doing here in America?" One question followed the other by the children.

"Yes children, she is still single, and she lives in Vermont. She left Austria for the same reason as we did. She has been here in America for about 6 years." Georg replied and looked at his children whose faces reflected surprise, happiness and wonderment.

"And also children,"He paused to reach into his pocket for Alexandra's picture. "You have a little sister. Her name is Alexandra and she is 6 years old." He paused again and waited for his children's reaction. That came more than a surprise to them. They gasped but didn't find the right words to express what they really felt at the moment.

"Here, please pass this picture to everyone. This is Alexandra, your sister." Georg handed the photo to the first child sitting next to him. The picture went from one child to the other, all of them smiling at the little girl in the picture.

"She is beautiful father and has inherited your eyes." Liesl said smiling all the while hiding her amazement.

"Yes, she is a real miracle, just like her mother. I spent a few days with them and Maria and I agreed to get married. I love her, and she loves me. Our separation was caused by a silly misunderstanding and now life has given us a second chance." Georg said.

"Father, it's amazing. I cannot tell you how happy I am... I mean for Maria and you. You are meant for each other, this is what I have always prayed for." Liesl said while standing up and hugging her father. All the other children followed her, now everyone overwhelmed with happiness.

"Hey, then I won't be the youngest one anymore." Gretl laughed. "I cannot wait to meet my little sister." She added.

"Then do we have your blessing?" Georg asked smiling.

"Yes" the children said in unison.

"So if you don't mind, Maria and Alexandra will come to visit us at the beginning of the summer, so that we can start planning our wedding. So Liesl, you won't be the only one getting married this year." Georg smiled.

"Father, and what is Maria doing up in Vermont? How is she?" Louisa asked.

"She hasn't changed much, but she has long hair now. She is still beautiful, a mature woman and a wonderful mother. She lives in a little house with our daughter, and she is running her own tailor shop. She is truly amazing." Georg said with amazement. "And she asked me to give her love to you. She has missed you so, and she hopes that you can forgive her." Georg turned to his children.

"We have never been angry with her father." Kurt said. "We all have been missing her terribly and it hurt when she left, but you clearly explained the situation." He added.

"Okay, now I think I will give her a call to tell her that we have your blessing."

Maria ran to answer the phone when she heard it ring. Her heart was beating with anticipation, longing to hear Georg's voice, his report on the children's reaction upon hearing the news of their engagement.

"Hallo." She answered it, her voice trembling.

"Hello Maria."Her heart skipped a beat. Maria gave a sideward glance to her daughter who immediately knew that the call had been from her father.

"Father, father!" She started jumping around in the room. "I want to talk to my Daddy." She asked her mother.

"Ssssh, just a minute, sweetheart." Maria tried to calm down her daughter.

"Maria?" Georg asked not really understanding what was going on on the other side of the line.

"Oh sorry, it's just Alexandra. She wants to talk to you."Maria laughed. "So?" Maria asked.

"I have talked to them. And they are happy and excited about our engagement. We have their blessing. And besides, all the 7 are lining up here to talk to you." Georg laughed.

While Maria tried to talk to Georg Alexandra didn't stop begging her mother until Maria gave up.

"Okay, now talk to your father." She said and handed Alexandra the receiver.

"Daddy, I love you." Alexandra trailed off, and her honest confession brought tears to Maria's and Georg's eyes as well.

"I love you my princess." Georg said while noticing his children's smile at how he had addressed his youngest daughter. "Now can I talk to your Mommy for a moment?" Georg asked.

"Maria, are you ready to talk the children? They are all excited." Georg asked. Maria felt tears welling in her eyes, but said, "Yes." Georg waved to his children that they could come to the phone one by one.

"Hello..." Maria said a bit timidly.

"Maria? It's Liesl." She said excitedly.

"Oh Liesl, how are you doing darling? Maria felt a lump in her throat.

Liesl handed over the phone to Friedrich then to Louisa until they reached Gretl. Maria talked to all of the children, exchanging a few kind words, also recalling some past events with them. After talking to the children it was Georg's turn again to talk to Maria.

"Thank you Georg. I'm still overwhelmed with joy that I could talk to them. I love them all so dearly." Maria said.

"And they all love you so much, we all love you. Your place is here with us. Please kiss our daughter goodnight for me and soon we'll be together forever." Georg finished.

"I will Georg. Goodnight my love." Maria whispered.

"Good night Maria. I love you." Georg said and put down the receiver.

Maria placed back the phone and reached out for her daughter.

"Come here to me" She whispered and put the girl to sit in her lap.

"How many days until we go to New York?" She asked curiously. "I want to count the days."

"Wait, let me see... your school will finish in less than a month. Then it's about 20 days." Maria answered and hugged Alexandra close to her. "20 days, how will I do it until that?" She thought. "But then we'll never have to be apart, never."

To be continued...

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