It had been four days since his argument with Fraulein Maria and Kurt had been miserable since then. He needed something to occupy the remainder of his time so he went and visited familiar landmarks and places he once knew. He took a long hike over the mountain that he and his siblings sang on and even hummed to himself while walking. He even mustered up the courage to go back to the villa he and his family once lived in. The people that lived there now were gracious enough to let him take a tour. It brought back so many wonderful memories. He got a chance to see his old room and even was able to take a walk among the gardens and yard behind the house. When it came time for him to leave, though, he had to take a minute to grasp the majestic beauty of the mountains he could see overlooking the lake.
And now, her he sat on the train that would take him to the coast, which would then bring him to the ship that he needed to board to go back to America. Sitting alone in his train car, Kurt had a lot to think about. He felt so foolish for the way he behaved in front of Fraulein Maria. What was worse, he didn't even set out to accomplish what he came back to Austria for. My family must be destined to be without a mother then. He though to himself as he could feel tears forming in his eyes. And even though there was no one around, he couldn't bare to let him cry again. He had cried too much over the past week. His father would be tremendously ashamed if he only knew the amount of tears that his youngest son had shed.
Lost in his thoughts, Kurt didn't even hear the train car door slide open and see the person who was about to enter. He figured that it was the conductor collecting his ticket so he reached for it in his breast pocket of his coat. But the voice that escaped the stranger's lips was not the conductor's.
"Excuse me young man, but all the other cars are filled and I was wondering if you'd be so kind as to let me share this one with you. My guitar case is rather big so I need some extra storage room for it."
Kurt didn't even look up. He was too depressed to deal with anyone so he just flatly responded. "I don't mind if you stay here miss. It's fine with me." And with that he made a point to terminate any further conversation with the woman.
Wait a minute….did she say guitar case??? It couldn't be. She had been furious with him the other day. But when Kurt looked up, it was her. Fraulein Maria just stood there silently waiting for Kurt to realize it was her. And when he finally did, it was like seeing her again for the first time all over again.
He stood up immediately and pulled her into a gigantic hug. Keeping himself composed, he allowed himself to rest his head upon her shoulder for comfort and she graciously welcomed it and began rubbing his back as she had done earlier in the week.
"I want you to know that what you said to me the other day was all completely true. I love your father more than words can say. I haven't stopped thinking about him since I left the villa that night. And what's more, I love you and your brother and sisters just as much"
Kurt had to pull away at this and smile. "I love you too, Fraulein Maria. And I want you to know how very sorry I am about the other day. I guess I inherited Father's temper as I grew older." He smiled bashfully as if to add more to the apology.
"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have yelled and denied everything that day. It was wrong of me. Please forgive me." Things were back to the way they should be at that moment. Kurt was one step closer to having a mother. And Maria was that much closer to confessing her love to the one man she wanted to be with for the rest of her life.
An hour went by and Maria and Kurt were just sitting in each other's silence, enjoying the fact that they were now happy with one another. The train ride went smoothly and only a few more hours or so and they would be at the coast, ready to board their ship. The long silence was broken by Maria's voice.
"Kurt…." He turned his attention to his beloved former governess.
"I am very and truly sorry for what I did to you. Can you ever forgive me?"
"I don't understand. We already apologized when you got on the train. What do you mean, Fraulein?"
"Not about the other day. I'm sorry for leaving you the night of the party. You know, all I did was think about what we said to each other these past few days and I couldn't get over the fact of how wise and perceptive you've gotten in your teenage years. I never knew that I was that transparent."
"We may have been naïve and impressionable when we were young, Fraulein. But we weren't stupid." Kurt's comment made Maria smile and even laugh a little. It was true. The whole town could probably see that Maria and the Captain had belonged then. Why hadn't they been able to recognize anything??
"Seriously, though, Kurt. I am extremely sorry for what I've done."
"It's alright. What's done is done. There's nothing we can do to change the past. We just need to learn from it and move on."
"Right you are….Now tell me about everyone back home. How are all they? What is everyone up to?
"Well, Liesl is twenty-three and about to be married next fall. She just finished up school this year..."
"Married! Oh my word!"
"MMhhhmm. Freidreich is twenty-one and attending a local school in Vermont. He's doing rather well. He wants to become a doctor when he finished college. Louisa is twenty and can't stand school at all. She can't wait till it's all over and she can do whatever she wants."
"What is she studying right now?"
"Um, actually she doesn't know what she wants to do when she gets out of school. She's thinking about traveling when she's done, but you can bet how that's gone over with Father." Maria's eyes twinkled at that. "I can indeed see how he would feel. Go on."
"Then there's Brigitta who's seventeen and loves school. She had possibly read every book there ever was written and cannot wait to go to college where she wants to become a literature professor. Marta has just turned fourteen and has become quite the artist. Our lodge in Vermont is covered with her paintings and sketches. And of course there's little Gretl, who's not to little anymore. She's twelve years old and is extremely popular at school. There are several boys that walk her home each day and of course, Father is not too happy with that either."
Maria laughed at that. She could just imagine the Captain chasing away every boy that came within inches of his littlest child. She couldn't even believe that he was letting Liesl get married since she was just fresh out of college.
"You missed someone."
"I did? Who?"
"You. What are you up to these days? Other than bringing back former governesses to America to marry off your father?" That being said, both were now in hysterics at Maria's remark. When their laughter died down Kurt was able to respond to her original question.
"I'm actually about to enter college. The past few years I've become quite interested in politics in America and would love to someday become a senator or some sort of politician."
"Well, that certainly is quite an ambition. And what's your father's consensus on that?"
Kurt's smile turned into a serious expression. Maria could tell that wasn't an easy place in his life at the time.
"Father and I actually talk politics quite often at home and questions me and quizzes me on problems that are going on in the world, but he doesn't believe that I'll make a good politician." Kurt stopped to gather his thoughts and look out the window. "You know how he used to be on issues like that. He's very sensitive when it comes to these things and with me thinking about ideals and values in a different perspective than his, well….it makes him uneasy and it's very difficult for me to be around him at times." Kurt said all this without ever taking his eyes away from the scenery that was passing them by.
Maria could tell that very little had changed in the relationship Kurt and the Captain had. Ever since she had met him, Kurt was forever seeking the approval of his father. And it never seemed like he could get it in any aspect.
Realizing that it was almost time for the train to arrive at the coast, Kurt quickly changed the topic to something peaceful and happy to talk about.
"Oh but you're going to love America. Well, Vermont at least. It's like we never left Austria. The hills are just as lovely and rolling."
And with that being said, Maria could already picture what the Von Trapp Lodge would look like. She knew the Captain and how very dear Austria was to him. So with that in mind, she automatically knew what the scenery in Vermont would look like. Keeping the conversation going, both Maria and Kurt grew very excited about the second leg of their journey back home to America.