Chapter 2: A wondrous surprise

He saw a sister moving towards the gate as he nervously held his hat in his quite sweaty hands. When the sister finally reached the gate, the young man began to talk even before she had a chance to begin herself. "My name is Chris. I'd like to speak the reverend mother, if you please."

"Of course." She opened the gate, a little smile on her face as she slowly lead him to the reverend mother's office. When they finally arrived she knocked on the door, with reverend mother's voice as reply. "Come in."

"Please wait here," the sister told the man, before she entered the room, leaving him still nervous behind in the hallway. Would today be the day?

"Reverend mother, there's a young man who'd like to talk to you," the sister began, motioning to the closed door. The reverend mother put aside her books and folded her hands as she answered "Send him in."

The sister nodded and turned around to move back into the hallway. Once there she saw the man, still clutching his hat tightly in his hands. "You may come in now."

The man gave a little smile, and slowly walked in. There he saw the reverend mother, motioning him to sit down in the chair in front of her desk.

"My name is Chris," he began with a somewhat unsteadily voice, "I was hoping you could help me…"

"What is it, Chris?"

"I'm looking for someone. You see, I lived here until I was 16, but then my family moved and I had to leave my best friend behind. I've never seen her again," he paused with a little frown on his face, and then continued, "A few weeks ago I finally had enough money to travel back here. I went searching for her in our neighbourhood. There I came to know she became a postulant here. Her name is Maria Kutschera."

Now everything became clear to the reverend mother.

"Is she here?" The man asked her hopefully.

"No, I'm afraid not."

The hope Chris had was gone. His face which had looked bright for a minute, turned back into despair.

"At the moment she's captain Von Trapp's governess for his seven children."

"Seven?" He asked with the same tone of voice what reminded her so of Maria's first reaction.
"Where does this captain Von Trapp live? I want to visit her right away."

"Seems like we have been gazing up the sky for ages…" Maria let out silently. The children had infected her too with their laziness. She was lying so comfortable on the grass that she almost dozed off. Gretl, Marta and Kurt already had.

"Yes, and frankly I'm getting a bit bored here, Fraulein." Louisa replied sitting up, sighing deeply. She never had been much for being a calm girl.

"Well what would you like to do then, Louisa?"

"Anything but lying here a minute longer." By now she had already gotten up.

"Hmm, same here." Maria sat up, looking at the others. Friedrich and Brigitta lay next to each other, whispering a conversation which was too quiet for Maria to hear, while Liesl lay a bit further, gazing up to the sky, a little content smile on her face and Maria suspected already what the teenager was thinking about.

"Are you coming, Fraulein? I want to make a stroll around the lake or something."

"Sure," Maria responded as she stood up, then turned to Liesl, "Liesl?"

"Yes, Fraulein?"

"Would you mind looking after the others until we're back?" she said as she glanced over the others who were lying there so peacefully.

"Not at all," Liesl answered.

"Thank you," Maria smiled, finally making her way to the restless girl who was now throwing rocks in the lake as she waited for Maria. When Louisa saw her governess coming, the girl practically ran to her, happy to be moving again. They kept near the side of the lake as they were slowly walking away from the garden. In the beginning none of them said something. They both were just enjoying the view and the lovely summer breeze that was swaying through their hair and dresses. After a little while of thinking, Louisa decided to finally ask her governess the question that had in fact been haunting her for days.

"Fraulein…"

"Mhm?"

Louisa hesitated, causing Maria to look away from the lake to see the girl's face and it made Maria curious about what she had to say.

"You won't leave us, will you?" Louisa finally went on.

Maria, who had certainly not seen that question coming, turned her look over to the space in front of her, not really knowing what to say. Their time together was shortening. Leaving that family wouldn't do her any good, but she couldn't stay there for ever.

"I don't know, darling… I don't know."

Maria laid her arm around Louisa's shoulder and she felt Louisa's in her back. Unconsciously she tightened the grip and pulled Louisa a little closer to her side.

"I know you can't stay here forever, but you won't be gone soon, right?"

"Well…" Maria sighed, "I was asked to be here until September…"

Louisa's grip loosened. Apparently this was a difficult subject to her. In front of her was this big tree she could easily climb in. But instead of climbing it, she slowly walked away from Maria and just leant against the trunk. Tears started to form in her eyes.

"Oh darling, what's the matter?" Maria was only inches away from her. By the time she reached Louisa, the first tear rolled over the girl's cheek.

"It's just that… I miss mum so much. And since you came, you've become like a second mother to me. I don't want you to go…"

Her sudden change of mood surprised Maria a bit. Louisa always tried to hide her feelings by being tough. But she knew the girl's problem. Since the very first day she started loving them like her own children, and she would miss them most of all when she would return back to the abbey.
When Maria saw Louisa was crying she had this feeling to embrace and try to soothe her, but she was afraid that Louisa would push her back. So carefully Maria moved closer and took her chances, and to her surprise Louisa even tightened the grip, now sobbing against Maria's shoulder.

"There's no need to worry," she said reassuring with a soft and motherly voice. "Even when I have returned to the abbey, you can visit me any time you want."

"Really?

"Really, and if you wouldn't come, it wouldn't surprise me much if I'd come here again to visit you sometimes."

The thought of that made the girl smile again, she let out a small chuckle and wiped some of her tears away as Maria loosened their embrace to see Louisa's face again.

"Are you feeling a bit better now?"

"Yes, thank you." Louisa looked up at her governess. Suddenly she saw the look on her face change as they both heard a man's voice call "Maria?".

Maria turned around to the sound of her name. Five feet away from them stood a young man, about the same age as Maria. He was pretty good looking according to Louisa's first impression. Auburn-brown hair, blue eyes, a bit taller than the captain. Maria just couldn't believe her eyes. Her best friend who she had missed for so long was standing only a few feet away from her. She thought she would never see him again…

"Chris?"