The children didn't return to the dining room, leaving Maria and Georg
alone. With the rest gone, it was a lot more silent in the room. Even Maria
wasn't speaking as she usually did.
"Maria, you seem so quiet."
"Yes I know. It's this weather, I'm not actually in a good mood."
"I can believe that. But look on the other side, rain is needed once in a while. In fact I started to worry a bit since we haven't got rain in quite some time."
"That's true."
She paused, thinking of something.
"You know, it might sound preposterous, but when it rained, I always ran outside. And absolutely no one could stop me," She joked. "I ran up into the hills and got drenched every time."
"Why do I have the feeling it isn't that preposterous?"
Maria continued her story, sparkles visible in her eyes.
"Oh it was great. If I was angry or in a bad mood or sad, I could let the rain take it all away, while singing at full volume."
"Since you're in a bad mood, I suppose that would be a great thing to make you cheery again, don't you think?" He glanced up at her, while putting a piece of bread in his mouth.
"I would love that, but the children ... I can't give them a bad example, they might get a cold."
"Oh I haven't thought about that yet. Did you ever get a cold?" Georg asked, concerned she may get ill.
"No I didn't, because I was used to it."
He was entirely in for the idea.
"So, we'll just sneak out when they're not looking. I too am not a fever kinda person. We just have to go far enough so that we can sing as loud as possible, otherwise they'll hear."
"I'm still not sure. Is this a wise thing to do?"
"Of course it is. You said yourself it always had helped you."
"Alright. When shall we do it?"
"How about directly after breakfast. The children are upstairs anyway."
She agreed by giving him a smile and then continued eating her breakfast at ease. Both finished about the same time. Then it was time to fulfill their thoughts. As they both stood up, Georg went first to walk out of the dining room. While passing Maria, he took her hand so she'd go with him. Absolutely no one was in the hallway, making the way perfectly clear for them. Quietly they opened the door, stepped outside and closed it, again noiseless. Once outside Georg started running with Maria close behind him. She even ran him by after a few seconds, proving she was really fast as Chris always was supposedly denying. Finally they reached the gazebo, where Maria started singing at the top of her voice. Georg didn't know the song, and just listened while the rain was completely getting him drenched. He didn't care. Maria had been right, running in the rain, while singing or listening to someone who was singing, made you forget all your troubles for a while. It was a short song and Maria stopped, taking a deep breath. Then she chuckled, enjoying all of this. She saw Georg looking at her with the same smile as she had. Maria could tell he was having as much fun as herself.
"I can't believe I just did that." Georg said while walking towards Maria.
"Neither can I. It had been so long since I've done that!"
Both soaked to the skin, sat down in the gazebo, still laughing at all the excitement.
"I really shouldn't wait as long anymore to do this again."
Maria looked jolly again.
"You were right. It's a wonderful feeling, doing something like that!"
"Yes, it definitely is. I had forgotten it myself, until now."
"Okay, let's go back to the house, before we'll actually get a cold."
Both ran back as fast as they could, but stopped when they heard the thunder far away, quickly followed by a lightning high in the sky. Then they opened the door and walked back in, their soaked clothes dripping on the floor.
"I believe we're just in time inside."
"Why? Are we afraid of thunderstorms, sir?" Maria bantered him cheerfully.
"As a matter of fact, we are."
He grabbed her arm, moving his head closer to his body and pretended to shake of fear.
"Please Fraulein, protect me from the nasty thunderstorm!"
Maria burst out into laughing when a 9-year old boy had replaced her employer.
"What? That isn't funny you know ..."
His look changed from fearful to a fake sadness.
"My governess is laughing with me when I'm scared."
After the silly pouting mouth had appeared on his face, Maria was practically rolling on the floor because of the laughing.
"Please stop, my stomach hurts, all because of you!"
She playfully pushed him against his shoulder.
"Alright."
Georg turned back into the adult-him, a little smile on his face.
"We better go and change now."
"I agree, my dear Fraulein. Now I know how Max felt when he had fallen into the water that day."
Both gave a chuckle. Only now the sound of the children's laughing were heard by the 2.
"Okay, so if there's anything you need, I'll probably be in the nursery."
"I'll be in my study in case you happened to need some help with something."
Then they split and went their own way upstairs. Maria went to her room, locked the door and got undressed. She put her wet clothes in the bathroom and chose a new dress afterwards. Hurriedly she dried herself off. She pulled on her dress. Now all she had to do was stay in her room for a little while until her hair was almost entirely dried. To kill the time, she stepped to her window, where she pushed the brown curtains aside. After that she placed her elbows on the window-sill and leaned on her hands with her head. She thought back of the first evening in her room, while looking at the lightning further away. A wonderful evening! She got closer with the children. As for the captain, how angry she was at him! She smiled when she thought how much he had changed, how she had gotten to know the real Georg. A second thought filled her mind. The day when Chris had arrived, that same evening when Gretl had slept all cuddled up against her. That night she felt even more as a mother to the child. And how she was going to give that all up, she had no idea. The next day when Georg had been looking worriedly for his daughter, she knew that his children were his life.
She had sat there nearly 20 minutes, when she remembered her hair had to be relatively dry by now, and that she had to be going to the children. While making her way to the nursery, where the children still were seated, the thoughts of this being a second home to her, never left her mind. She only had known 1 real home in her entire life, and that was her house in her small village with her mother and father. Sure, the convent had became some kind of a home too. But it never was like this, or the one in her childhood.
At last she reached the door of the nursery and walked in. To her surprise all the children were behaving amazingly well. Some of them were actually studying. She looked through the room. Liesl was helping Brigitta and Kurt with maths, while Louisa, Friedrich, Marta and Gretl were occupying themselves with drawing pictures of rainbows in beautiful landscapes. Liesl had seen her come in, and left her siblings behind for a minute, whereas she walked towards Maria who's eyes still were widened with disbelief.
"Fraulein, I've got everything under control, so you can have a day off today."
"Day off? But I don't need a day off."
Friedrich was now standing next to Liesl.
"This is a way to say thank you for everything you've done for us. You deserve a day off."
"If you insist."
She didn't feel right about leaving the children there, but they persisted, making it hard to say no.
-----
Chris finally had gotten up at 10:30. Once in the dining room for breakfast, he saw Max and Elsa eating their first meal of the day.
"Good morning."
He politely said. Only the 3 of them had shared some breakfasts together these last weeks, because the children, Maria and Georg always had eaten before them.
"Good morning Chris."
Elsa added shortly followed by Max. As the most of them were, probably due to the bad weather, Elsa had a bad temper, making her a bit curt. Chris had noticed when he walked in that Max and Elsa weren't cheerfully chatting as always. Both were rather quiet. Though not for a long time. Max decided this was the time to do what the children had asked him.
"So, what are your plans for today, Elsa?"
"Oh nothing special. I wanted to go to that new boutique that has opened in the city, but with this weather ... No, I'll go to it some other day."
Why was Max so interested in her plans? It's not like he actually cared where she wanted to go. A frown appeared on Elsa's face.
"Why?"
"Because I was in the mood for some culture. Theater to be precise. Since I'm in no need to go there alone, I'm asking you to come with me."
"Aha ... well no."
"No?"
It's like he had been sleeping for the past 10 minutes, but now had woken up. He was a 100% sure she would come too.
"No."
"Well why not?"
He asked not believing Elsa had rejected his offer.
"Because, my dear Max, it's raining ... and hard! If I won't go to that new boutique because of the rain, then why should I go to the theater in that same blasted rain?"
"We can use an umbrella. And inside the theater it will be warm and dry. So there's no reason you shouldn't come as well."
"I don't know."
Elsa hesitated. He did have a point.
"Now you wouldn't let a man go all alone to the theater?"
"I'll go with you on one condition."
"And that is?"
"We'll go to that boutique afterwards. It's in the same street."
Now Max was having second thoughts. To the theater, that would be ok, but shopping ... with Elsa, that wasn't a part of the deal. However, a little voice in his head said to think of his good friend. 'It's all for him. Think on how happy he will be again. It's only this once ...'
"Deal."
Chris, who had been eating in silence while watching all of this, was a bit amazed. 'Since when is Max so eager to go to the theater?' He quickly finished his meal and then left the dining room, searching for Maria and the children. Of course they had been ready for this moment. As soon as he walked into the main hall, Marta and Kurt grabbed him by his hands and leaded him upstairs into the nursery, where the rest was waiting.
-----
As Maria wasn't needed elsewhere, she retreated to her room. When she walked inside, the guitar was the center of her attention. Lately she hadn't had the time to use her guitar. Thus she decided to play some songs her mother had taught her, while she sat down on her bed with the instrument in her hands.
The children in the nursery, could hear her sweet voice on the sounds by her guitar, and all fell silent for a minute. They were lucky to have such a warm person as a close friend. But that just wasn't good enough. Just listening at her, made everyone selfish. Maria simply had to be their mother!
Maria really enjoyed playing again after that long time. Music was a part of her, it always had been and it always would be. No one could ever change that. She got all of that from her mother. She too had been extremely musical. The only thing Maria always had been better in, was singing. Together they had made a magical duo. In their small village, friends and neighbours, so everyone in the town, occasionally stopped by to listen to little Maria's singing, while accompanied on the piano played by her mum. Often her mother sang the second voice, which made everything even more amazing. They both had been blessed with a wonderful gift. The gift to touch people with their incredible music. That was what had helped this family too. And Maria deep down knew, that her mother always had been with her while bringing this household back to life.
Georg on his way to the children, also heard these magical sounds. He was drawn by it, forgetting he was going to the children. These sounds brought him to Maria's bedroom door. Without knocking, he just slowly entered her room, still spell-bound by Maria. At first Maria hadn't seen him come in, as she was sitting with her side towards the door. But soon enough she noticed the captain was standing there, totally lost in the music. She stopped playing, while turning her head to Georg who suddenly snapped back to reality.
"Oh please don't stop."
She gave him a little smile and then continued with her song. Georg, completely captivated by this lady in front of him, walked over to Maria and sat next to her on the bed. Maria played the final chords, thinking back of those wonderful moments with her mother in joy.
"That was really beautiful!"
Maria reddened a bit, not really knowing how to respond to the compliment.
"I was just thinking, I have to have my guitar too somewhere. I believe it's someplace in the attic."
"Well, why won't we go look for it?"
"Yes, that's a great idea."
-----
Chris had to admit, he was really having a great time with the children. First he had read them a small book, then the children could choose a game on their turn. Kurt was next. Since they had a big house, with many places to hide, he chose hide and seek. The one who had chosen the game, had to begin with it. So Kurt stood in a corner of the nursery, counting to 25. Nearly all rooms were free to use, except the adults their bedrooms, the attic and their father's study. 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... e-Everyone hurried outside and searched for an excellent hiding spot. Chris in the hall, heading to his hidings place when he bumped into Maria and Georg.
"Oh there you are, Chris."
"Yes, the children and I are playing hide and seek."
"Good." Georg smiled at Chris, glad they had found something to entertain themselves. "We were going to the attic to search for my guitar."
"Ok, so I guess I'll see you 2 later. Cause now I have to find a place to hide myself."
He proceeded his way to the end of the hall, as Maria and Georg had come to the trapdoor in the ceiling. Georg reached up and pulled it down by a cord. A steep wooden stair appeared that resembled a ladder. Georg climbed up first, making sure it still would be safe after so many years. As soon as he was up and the lights were turned on, Maria climbed up too.
-----
... 24 ... 25
Kurt ran out of the nursery starting to look in his own bedroom, with no results. Then he walked in Liesl's room, followed by Marta's room. In Marta's and Gretl's room, he opened the closet, to only find his younger sisters their clothes. But when he looked under the beds, he found Gretl almost asleep.
"I've found you!"
Immediately Gretl had woken up. She crawled out under the bed, and followed her brother in his way to find the others.
-----
Up in the attic, Georg had forgotten how big it was and how many boxes there were all piled up.
"I guess we'll be busy for a while." Maria said as she exchanged a look with the captain.
"You've got that right."
Then they began searching, Maria on one side and Georg on the other.
-----
"Gretl, do you know where the others are?" Kurt asked her, hoping she would tell him everything he wanted to know.
"Kurt, that's cheating!"
"Ok ok, I'll do it myself."
He walked downstairs. First he went to the dining room, where no one could be find, then he stepped into the kitchen, Gretl still following him. Only Frau Schmidt was there, drinking a cup of coffee while reading a book.
"Why hello Kurt, Gretl. Is there something you needed?"
"No thank you. We're playing hide and seek. Have you seen anyone here by any chance?"
Brigitta opened the closet door ajar. Gretl had seen her, and both girls smiled at each other.
"No I haven't seen anyone here."
"Ok, then we'll look further. Thank you Frau Schmidt. Come on Gretl."
The children disappeared again, as Brigitta opened her closet and both she and Frau Schmidt started laughing.
"Oh he's such a cheater." Brigitta giggled while she sat down next to the older woman.
"It was so nice to fool him." Frau Schmidt added with a smile on her face.
-----
"Have you found anything yet?" Georg heard Maria ask while both were surrounded by a huge pile of boxes.
"Besides some cute pictures of the children and an old hat, nothing."
Maria promptly stuck her head above the pile.
"Pictures? Oh let me see them."
Georg walked over to her with the pictures in his hand. He reached out to hand her the photos, since he couldn't walk any further, unless he had to walk around all these piles. When she had accepted them, he stepped back to his searching spot. Maria looked at the pictures in awe. A little Liesl, sitting next to a little Friedrich, while having a baby Louisa in her hands. The next one was of a baby Brigitta. Kurt and Louisa were looking with enormous love in their eyes at their little baby-sister in the arms of their mother. She studied the photo closely. Agathe had long brown hair and blue eyes. 'She was beautiful ...' While looking at her daughter, she had a warm and lovingly smile on her face. 'It must have been hard to loose her.' She continued looking at the other photos. Here was one with the whole family on it. Somewhere outside, in front of a tree, Georg and Agathe sat in the middle. Agathe was holding a little baby, Gretl. While Georg had little Marta on his lap. Louisa had her right arm around her mother's neck and the other around little Brigitta, who was leaning to her mother's arm in front of Louisa. Louisa was looking with a bright smile into the camera, as Liesl and Friedrich were each leaning on one of their father's shoulders. Kurt was sitting in-between of his parents. Maria unconsciously smiled while looking at the photo of that happy family. It was like she was there, taking the photo, like she was a part of that family. She held that picture aside, with the one of Agathe holding Brigitta in her arms. The other pictures were all photos of the children in their early years. Only one other caught her attention as much as the other 2. It was a wedding photo of Georg and Agathe. They both looked so happy. Georg in his sea captain's suit, and Agathe in a long white dress. The veil, attached to her hair in this ribbon covered with beautiful white flowers. Her long brown hair pinned up. Their arms were entwined, as she was holding a bouquet in her hands. They both looked captivating. 'They were made for each other ...' Maria thought while gazing at the photo.
Georg noticed how intensely she was staring at the picture. He only had seen the first one, so he didn't know which ones Maria was looking at. It draw him closer, till he was standing next to her. He looked at this photo and became a bit pale.
"She's beautiful." Maria said, still gazing at the young couple, as she knew Georg was standing there, looking at the picture as well.
"Yes she was."
After some minutes of watching the photo without being able to put it away, Maria gave the pictures to Georg, who clasped his hands around them.
-----
By now, Kurt had found everyone, except Brigitta and Chris. Brigitta was still chatting with Frau Schmidt in the kitchen. Of course Kurt hadn't come back to check again if there really wasn't hiding someone. So when all the others said he better could go back, he only had to find 1 other person. He was sure he had searched the whole house, and yet he hadn't find Chris anywhere! Neither one of the others had seen Chris anywhere, so they split and all took a part of the house under their charge.
-----
Both Maria and Georg were looking again. Being right under the roof, they could hear the wind becoming harder. Howling sounds filled the attic now and then, sometimes drown out buy the blasting sound of a thunder near by. The storm had gotten awfully close. But Maria and Georg were too concentrated on their searching, to really notice. They had been searching for more than an hour, and still hadn't find his guitar. Meanwhile, they had found other interesting things, like more pictures, this time of Georg and Agathe when they were children. Agathe always had been a beautiful girl. When she was about 11, she had her hair cut just over her shoulders. Rather short for her. Because Georg knew, she always had had them up into her back. And Georg as a child reminded Maria a lot of Friedrich, but than with dark hair. He looked like such an innocent child. However, Georg kept telling her: appearances are deceptive.
Other than that, they had found some old clothes, dusty books and an instrument. Not Georg's guitar, but Agathe's violin. Maria always had loved the violin. But her mother didn't know how to play it. What's more, real lessons and the violin itself were to expensive. Maria had told Georg that there had been a man in her village, she couldn't remember his name because this man only had stayed for 4 months as he traveled from town to town. He had taught Maria the basic chords on his own violin before he had left. Besides, the 2 of them had given some town-concerts as he had insisted he could accompany such an angelic voice on his violin. Maria blushed as she had been telling the part of her voice. It had been this man's exact words, but how could one say it without being growing too big. Luckily Georg knew Maria wasn't the kind of person who would show off. The red taint on her face proved his point.
Another thunder had awoken the attention to the storm.
"It's getting really close now."
"Shouldn't we go and see if the children are alright?" Maria looked up to see Georg. She had a concerned look on her face knowing how the children were in this kind of weather.
"I'm sure they're fine. Chris is with them. And if something would be wrong, they would come for us."
"Yes, I guess you're right."
She continued searching again. Suddenly the lights fell out after a thunder at full blast. Immediately, Maria and Georg stood straight again, trying to see where the other was. There was absolutely no light what so ever, so when looking for the other, they had to grope their way via the piles of boxes.
"Okay, now we better should go for the children." There were signs of worry in Maria's voice.
Feeling her way, wasn't her thing, even though she didn't have another possibility. Yet she just walked straight ahead. The captain was still holding his hands in front of him to avoid colliding into one of those huge piles. Little did he know Maria was coming directly at him. It was a matter of seconds before Maria bumped into Georg, as he was feeling sideways instead of in front of him with his hands. Her forehead against his nose.
"Auw!" Both exclaimed, next gently roaming the soar places with their own hands.
"That probably wasn't such a good idea."
Georg chuckled as he heard Maria's voice. He guessed she probably had walked without feeling her way. Then he grabbed her arm, now that they were still close to each other before loosing the other again.
"Okay, at least we have found each other. If we stay close, we both may come out of here alive." He joked.
Maria held his arm tightly while both ducked because it was more safer than walking and searched for the trapdoor with the ladder.
"Why did we close that stupid thing in the first place?"
Georg answered his own question: so Gretl or Marta wouldn't climb up and then by accident fall all the way down.
On one hand and knees, while holding each other with the other arm, they crawled until Maria's right knee crashed into a hard box.
"Ouch!" She cried out. Georg had heard her and as soon as her grip on his arm loosened, he made his way back to her, trying to take her hand in the dark.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I just crashed into something really hard."
By now Maria was sitting, again softly rubbing the soar spot with her hand. Georg pulled her back up. Luckily the pain was just above the spot on her knee where she had to lean on.
"Come, we'll look further. The sooner we're out of here, the better!"
"You don't have to say that twice." Maria said hoping to get away from the attic soon. Who knew, they could've been stuck up there for hours! Fortunately, 2 feet further, they finally found the exit. Georg pushed the ladder down, then climbed downstairs. Both were glad to see some light again. As second, Maria went down, not very easy with her knee. Georg didn't look away, he had to be sure she would come down safely, without falling due to her soar knee. Once back down, they both took a look a the painful spot. A nasty bruise became visible.
-----
As the lights fell out, followed by that enormously loud thunder, all the children screamed. Quickly, everyone gathered back into the nursery. Chris had heard the screaming and thought he'd better could check on the children. The children had been looking in this room, but forgot to look behind the couch in the corner. He hoisted himself up and climbed over the piece of furniture. Then he headed towards the nursery, where he most likely would find them. And indeed he did. All 7 of them sat closely on the couch in this dark room. The light that fell in through windows didn't help much, as the sky outside was amazingly dark gray, making the light seem like twilight in the late evening.
"There you are!" Kurt said while looking at Chris in the door opening.
"Next time, don't forget to check behind every couch, especially when they are placed in corners." He grinned.
Gretl and Marta immediately sprung up and flew into his arms.
"It's pretty dark in here."
He lifted Gretl and Marta up.
"Can you search for some candles? Us 3 are going to the sitting room, meet us there, ok?"
Chris went directly to the sitting room, where he stayed with the little ones, waiting for the others to come back with some candles. Finally the rest of the children came with a box full of them. He placed them all over the room and lighted them one by one. Then he took place at the piano and played some merry tunes to sooth everyone. Not long after that, Maria and Georg walked in. Both we're glad everyone was alright. Georg was holding Maria's guitar in his hand, while walking to sit between Louisa and Liesl. Maria sat down between Kurt and Friedrich. To make room, Gretl stood up and sat down on Maria's lap after Maria asked her to. Louisa took Marta on her lap. They listened for a while to the sounds of the piano. But when that ended, everyone fell quiet not really knowing what to say.
"Music is always nice."
Chris's voice came out of nowhere. Georg liked his idea.
"Yes, why don't we play that song? I'm always chasing rainbows." Georg suggested.
"Ooh I love that song!" Maria exclaimed enthusiastic. "It's kinda appropriate for this weather too."
Chris sat back behind the piano, as Georg took place in an armchair with Maria's guitar. Maria sat down next to Georg. Chris started off, followed by Georg on the guitar as Maria began to sing.
I'm always chasing rainbows
Watching clouds drifting by
My schemes are just like all my dreams
Ending in the sky
Some people look and find the sunshine
I always look and find the rain
Some people make a winning sometime
I never even make a gain
Believe me
I'm always chasing rainbows
Hoping to find a little blue bird in vain
The children were applauding by this wonderfully performed song.
"That was beautiful!"
Just as Brigitta had said that, the lights turned back on. Shortly after that, Frau Schmidt walked in.
"Dinner is served."
The children were already on their way to the dining room, while the 3 adults stayed to blow the candles out. Then they went for dinner as well. The rest of the evening went flawless. The storm had passed by and the sky was even cloudless now.
It wasn't until 8 PM that Max and Elsa had arrived back home. The children thanked Max once more. After that Max and Elsa had to tell the others how the play had been, followed by Elsa showing the others some new clothes.
These last hours flew by, therefore the children, Maria and Chris went to bed. As usual the others stayed up another hour, before returning to their bedrooms too.
----- ----- -----
Okay, this is kind of a big chapter. I had so much trouble with it, not really knowing what they could do on a rainy day. Since I had nothing else to do today, I spent all day writing it and to my surprise, it came so easy today. So here it finally is. Please review since I'm waiting for at least 6 of them to add the next chapter, which is already finished.
"Maria, you seem so quiet."
"Yes I know. It's this weather, I'm not actually in a good mood."
"I can believe that. But look on the other side, rain is needed once in a while. In fact I started to worry a bit since we haven't got rain in quite some time."
"That's true."
She paused, thinking of something.
"You know, it might sound preposterous, but when it rained, I always ran outside. And absolutely no one could stop me," She joked. "I ran up into the hills and got drenched every time."
"Why do I have the feeling it isn't that preposterous?"
Maria continued her story, sparkles visible in her eyes.
"Oh it was great. If I was angry or in a bad mood or sad, I could let the rain take it all away, while singing at full volume."
"Since you're in a bad mood, I suppose that would be a great thing to make you cheery again, don't you think?" He glanced up at her, while putting a piece of bread in his mouth.
"I would love that, but the children ... I can't give them a bad example, they might get a cold."
"Oh I haven't thought about that yet. Did you ever get a cold?" Georg asked, concerned she may get ill.
"No I didn't, because I was used to it."
He was entirely in for the idea.
"So, we'll just sneak out when they're not looking. I too am not a fever kinda person. We just have to go far enough so that we can sing as loud as possible, otherwise they'll hear."
"I'm still not sure. Is this a wise thing to do?"
"Of course it is. You said yourself it always had helped you."
"Alright. When shall we do it?"
"How about directly after breakfast. The children are upstairs anyway."
She agreed by giving him a smile and then continued eating her breakfast at ease. Both finished about the same time. Then it was time to fulfill their thoughts. As they both stood up, Georg went first to walk out of the dining room. While passing Maria, he took her hand so she'd go with him. Absolutely no one was in the hallway, making the way perfectly clear for them. Quietly they opened the door, stepped outside and closed it, again noiseless. Once outside Georg started running with Maria close behind him. She even ran him by after a few seconds, proving she was really fast as Chris always was supposedly denying. Finally they reached the gazebo, where Maria started singing at the top of her voice. Georg didn't know the song, and just listened while the rain was completely getting him drenched. He didn't care. Maria had been right, running in the rain, while singing or listening to someone who was singing, made you forget all your troubles for a while. It was a short song and Maria stopped, taking a deep breath. Then she chuckled, enjoying all of this. She saw Georg looking at her with the same smile as she had. Maria could tell he was having as much fun as herself.
"I can't believe I just did that." Georg said while walking towards Maria.
"Neither can I. It had been so long since I've done that!"
Both soaked to the skin, sat down in the gazebo, still laughing at all the excitement.
"I really shouldn't wait as long anymore to do this again."
Maria looked jolly again.
"You were right. It's a wonderful feeling, doing something like that!"
"Yes, it definitely is. I had forgotten it myself, until now."
"Okay, let's go back to the house, before we'll actually get a cold."
Both ran back as fast as they could, but stopped when they heard the thunder far away, quickly followed by a lightning high in the sky. Then they opened the door and walked back in, their soaked clothes dripping on the floor.
"I believe we're just in time inside."
"Why? Are we afraid of thunderstorms, sir?" Maria bantered him cheerfully.
"As a matter of fact, we are."
He grabbed her arm, moving his head closer to his body and pretended to shake of fear.
"Please Fraulein, protect me from the nasty thunderstorm!"
Maria burst out into laughing when a 9-year old boy had replaced her employer.
"What? That isn't funny you know ..."
His look changed from fearful to a fake sadness.
"My governess is laughing with me when I'm scared."
After the silly pouting mouth had appeared on his face, Maria was practically rolling on the floor because of the laughing.
"Please stop, my stomach hurts, all because of you!"
She playfully pushed him against his shoulder.
"Alright."
Georg turned back into the adult-him, a little smile on his face.
"We better go and change now."
"I agree, my dear Fraulein. Now I know how Max felt when he had fallen into the water that day."
Both gave a chuckle. Only now the sound of the children's laughing were heard by the 2.
"Okay, so if there's anything you need, I'll probably be in the nursery."
"I'll be in my study in case you happened to need some help with something."
Then they split and went their own way upstairs. Maria went to her room, locked the door and got undressed. She put her wet clothes in the bathroom and chose a new dress afterwards. Hurriedly she dried herself off. She pulled on her dress. Now all she had to do was stay in her room for a little while until her hair was almost entirely dried. To kill the time, she stepped to her window, where she pushed the brown curtains aside. After that she placed her elbows on the window-sill and leaned on her hands with her head. She thought back of the first evening in her room, while looking at the lightning further away. A wonderful evening! She got closer with the children. As for the captain, how angry she was at him! She smiled when she thought how much he had changed, how she had gotten to know the real Georg. A second thought filled her mind. The day when Chris had arrived, that same evening when Gretl had slept all cuddled up against her. That night she felt even more as a mother to the child. And how she was going to give that all up, she had no idea. The next day when Georg had been looking worriedly for his daughter, she knew that his children were his life.
She had sat there nearly 20 minutes, when she remembered her hair had to be relatively dry by now, and that she had to be going to the children. While making her way to the nursery, where the children still were seated, the thoughts of this being a second home to her, never left her mind. She only had known 1 real home in her entire life, and that was her house in her small village with her mother and father. Sure, the convent had became some kind of a home too. But it never was like this, or the one in her childhood.
At last she reached the door of the nursery and walked in. To her surprise all the children were behaving amazingly well. Some of them were actually studying. She looked through the room. Liesl was helping Brigitta and Kurt with maths, while Louisa, Friedrich, Marta and Gretl were occupying themselves with drawing pictures of rainbows in beautiful landscapes. Liesl had seen her come in, and left her siblings behind for a minute, whereas she walked towards Maria who's eyes still were widened with disbelief.
"Fraulein, I've got everything under control, so you can have a day off today."
"Day off? But I don't need a day off."
Friedrich was now standing next to Liesl.
"This is a way to say thank you for everything you've done for us. You deserve a day off."
"If you insist."
She didn't feel right about leaving the children there, but they persisted, making it hard to say no.
-----
Chris finally had gotten up at 10:30. Once in the dining room for breakfast, he saw Max and Elsa eating their first meal of the day.
"Good morning."
He politely said. Only the 3 of them had shared some breakfasts together these last weeks, because the children, Maria and Georg always had eaten before them.
"Good morning Chris."
Elsa added shortly followed by Max. As the most of them were, probably due to the bad weather, Elsa had a bad temper, making her a bit curt. Chris had noticed when he walked in that Max and Elsa weren't cheerfully chatting as always. Both were rather quiet. Though not for a long time. Max decided this was the time to do what the children had asked him.
"So, what are your plans for today, Elsa?"
"Oh nothing special. I wanted to go to that new boutique that has opened in the city, but with this weather ... No, I'll go to it some other day."
Why was Max so interested in her plans? It's not like he actually cared where she wanted to go. A frown appeared on Elsa's face.
"Why?"
"Because I was in the mood for some culture. Theater to be precise. Since I'm in no need to go there alone, I'm asking you to come with me."
"Aha ... well no."
"No?"
It's like he had been sleeping for the past 10 minutes, but now had woken up. He was a 100% sure she would come too.
"No."
"Well why not?"
He asked not believing Elsa had rejected his offer.
"Because, my dear Max, it's raining ... and hard! If I won't go to that new boutique because of the rain, then why should I go to the theater in that same blasted rain?"
"We can use an umbrella. And inside the theater it will be warm and dry. So there's no reason you shouldn't come as well."
"I don't know."
Elsa hesitated. He did have a point.
"Now you wouldn't let a man go all alone to the theater?"
"I'll go with you on one condition."
"And that is?"
"We'll go to that boutique afterwards. It's in the same street."
Now Max was having second thoughts. To the theater, that would be ok, but shopping ... with Elsa, that wasn't a part of the deal. However, a little voice in his head said to think of his good friend. 'It's all for him. Think on how happy he will be again. It's only this once ...'
"Deal."
Chris, who had been eating in silence while watching all of this, was a bit amazed. 'Since when is Max so eager to go to the theater?' He quickly finished his meal and then left the dining room, searching for Maria and the children. Of course they had been ready for this moment. As soon as he walked into the main hall, Marta and Kurt grabbed him by his hands and leaded him upstairs into the nursery, where the rest was waiting.
-----
As Maria wasn't needed elsewhere, she retreated to her room. When she walked inside, the guitar was the center of her attention. Lately she hadn't had the time to use her guitar. Thus she decided to play some songs her mother had taught her, while she sat down on her bed with the instrument in her hands.
The children in the nursery, could hear her sweet voice on the sounds by her guitar, and all fell silent for a minute. They were lucky to have such a warm person as a close friend. But that just wasn't good enough. Just listening at her, made everyone selfish. Maria simply had to be their mother!
Maria really enjoyed playing again after that long time. Music was a part of her, it always had been and it always would be. No one could ever change that. She got all of that from her mother. She too had been extremely musical. The only thing Maria always had been better in, was singing. Together they had made a magical duo. In their small village, friends and neighbours, so everyone in the town, occasionally stopped by to listen to little Maria's singing, while accompanied on the piano played by her mum. Often her mother sang the second voice, which made everything even more amazing. They both had been blessed with a wonderful gift. The gift to touch people with their incredible music. That was what had helped this family too. And Maria deep down knew, that her mother always had been with her while bringing this household back to life.
Georg on his way to the children, also heard these magical sounds. He was drawn by it, forgetting he was going to the children. These sounds brought him to Maria's bedroom door. Without knocking, he just slowly entered her room, still spell-bound by Maria. At first Maria hadn't seen him come in, as she was sitting with her side towards the door. But soon enough she noticed the captain was standing there, totally lost in the music. She stopped playing, while turning her head to Georg who suddenly snapped back to reality.
"Oh please don't stop."
She gave him a little smile and then continued with her song. Georg, completely captivated by this lady in front of him, walked over to Maria and sat next to her on the bed. Maria played the final chords, thinking back of those wonderful moments with her mother in joy.
"That was really beautiful!"
Maria reddened a bit, not really knowing how to respond to the compliment.
"I was just thinking, I have to have my guitar too somewhere. I believe it's someplace in the attic."
"Well, why won't we go look for it?"
"Yes, that's a great idea."
-----
Chris had to admit, he was really having a great time with the children. First he had read them a small book, then the children could choose a game on their turn. Kurt was next. Since they had a big house, with many places to hide, he chose hide and seek. The one who had chosen the game, had to begin with it. So Kurt stood in a corner of the nursery, counting to 25. Nearly all rooms were free to use, except the adults their bedrooms, the attic and their father's study. 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... e-Everyone hurried outside and searched for an excellent hiding spot. Chris in the hall, heading to his hidings place when he bumped into Maria and Georg.
"Oh there you are, Chris."
"Yes, the children and I are playing hide and seek."
"Good." Georg smiled at Chris, glad they had found something to entertain themselves. "We were going to the attic to search for my guitar."
"Ok, so I guess I'll see you 2 later. Cause now I have to find a place to hide myself."
He proceeded his way to the end of the hall, as Maria and Georg had come to the trapdoor in the ceiling. Georg reached up and pulled it down by a cord. A steep wooden stair appeared that resembled a ladder. Georg climbed up first, making sure it still would be safe after so many years. As soon as he was up and the lights were turned on, Maria climbed up too.
-----
... 24 ... 25
Kurt ran out of the nursery starting to look in his own bedroom, with no results. Then he walked in Liesl's room, followed by Marta's room. In Marta's and Gretl's room, he opened the closet, to only find his younger sisters their clothes. But when he looked under the beds, he found Gretl almost asleep.
"I've found you!"
Immediately Gretl had woken up. She crawled out under the bed, and followed her brother in his way to find the others.
-----
Up in the attic, Georg had forgotten how big it was and how many boxes there were all piled up.
"I guess we'll be busy for a while." Maria said as she exchanged a look with the captain.
"You've got that right."
Then they began searching, Maria on one side and Georg on the other.
-----
"Gretl, do you know where the others are?" Kurt asked her, hoping she would tell him everything he wanted to know.
"Kurt, that's cheating!"
"Ok ok, I'll do it myself."
He walked downstairs. First he went to the dining room, where no one could be find, then he stepped into the kitchen, Gretl still following him. Only Frau Schmidt was there, drinking a cup of coffee while reading a book.
"Why hello Kurt, Gretl. Is there something you needed?"
"No thank you. We're playing hide and seek. Have you seen anyone here by any chance?"
Brigitta opened the closet door ajar. Gretl had seen her, and both girls smiled at each other.
"No I haven't seen anyone here."
"Ok, then we'll look further. Thank you Frau Schmidt. Come on Gretl."
The children disappeared again, as Brigitta opened her closet and both she and Frau Schmidt started laughing.
"Oh he's such a cheater." Brigitta giggled while she sat down next to the older woman.
"It was so nice to fool him." Frau Schmidt added with a smile on her face.
-----
"Have you found anything yet?" Georg heard Maria ask while both were surrounded by a huge pile of boxes.
"Besides some cute pictures of the children and an old hat, nothing."
Maria promptly stuck her head above the pile.
"Pictures? Oh let me see them."
Georg walked over to her with the pictures in his hand. He reached out to hand her the photos, since he couldn't walk any further, unless he had to walk around all these piles. When she had accepted them, he stepped back to his searching spot. Maria looked at the pictures in awe. A little Liesl, sitting next to a little Friedrich, while having a baby Louisa in her hands. The next one was of a baby Brigitta. Kurt and Louisa were looking with enormous love in their eyes at their little baby-sister in the arms of their mother. She studied the photo closely. Agathe had long brown hair and blue eyes. 'She was beautiful ...' While looking at her daughter, she had a warm and lovingly smile on her face. 'It must have been hard to loose her.' She continued looking at the other photos. Here was one with the whole family on it. Somewhere outside, in front of a tree, Georg and Agathe sat in the middle. Agathe was holding a little baby, Gretl. While Georg had little Marta on his lap. Louisa had her right arm around her mother's neck and the other around little Brigitta, who was leaning to her mother's arm in front of Louisa. Louisa was looking with a bright smile into the camera, as Liesl and Friedrich were each leaning on one of their father's shoulders. Kurt was sitting in-between of his parents. Maria unconsciously smiled while looking at the photo of that happy family. It was like she was there, taking the photo, like she was a part of that family. She held that picture aside, with the one of Agathe holding Brigitta in her arms. The other pictures were all photos of the children in their early years. Only one other caught her attention as much as the other 2. It was a wedding photo of Georg and Agathe. They both looked so happy. Georg in his sea captain's suit, and Agathe in a long white dress. The veil, attached to her hair in this ribbon covered with beautiful white flowers. Her long brown hair pinned up. Their arms were entwined, as she was holding a bouquet in her hands. They both looked captivating. 'They were made for each other ...' Maria thought while gazing at the photo.
Georg noticed how intensely she was staring at the picture. He only had seen the first one, so he didn't know which ones Maria was looking at. It draw him closer, till he was standing next to her. He looked at this photo and became a bit pale.
"She's beautiful." Maria said, still gazing at the young couple, as she knew Georg was standing there, looking at the picture as well.
"Yes she was."
After some minutes of watching the photo without being able to put it away, Maria gave the pictures to Georg, who clasped his hands around them.
-----
By now, Kurt had found everyone, except Brigitta and Chris. Brigitta was still chatting with Frau Schmidt in the kitchen. Of course Kurt hadn't come back to check again if there really wasn't hiding someone. So when all the others said he better could go back, he only had to find 1 other person. He was sure he had searched the whole house, and yet he hadn't find Chris anywhere! Neither one of the others had seen Chris anywhere, so they split and all took a part of the house under their charge.
-----
Both Maria and Georg were looking again. Being right under the roof, they could hear the wind becoming harder. Howling sounds filled the attic now and then, sometimes drown out buy the blasting sound of a thunder near by. The storm had gotten awfully close. But Maria and Georg were too concentrated on their searching, to really notice. They had been searching for more than an hour, and still hadn't find his guitar. Meanwhile, they had found other interesting things, like more pictures, this time of Georg and Agathe when they were children. Agathe always had been a beautiful girl. When she was about 11, she had her hair cut just over her shoulders. Rather short for her. Because Georg knew, she always had had them up into her back. And Georg as a child reminded Maria a lot of Friedrich, but than with dark hair. He looked like such an innocent child. However, Georg kept telling her: appearances are deceptive.
Other than that, they had found some old clothes, dusty books and an instrument. Not Georg's guitar, but Agathe's violin. Maria always had loved the violin. But her mother didn't know how to play it. What's more, real lessons and the violin itself were to expensive. Maria had told Georg that there had been a man in her village, she couldn't remember his name because this man only had stayed for 4 months as he traveled from town to town. He had taught Maria the basic chords on his own violin before he had left. Besides, the 2 of them had given some town-concerts as he had insisted he could accompany such an angelic voice on his violin. Maria blushed as she had been telling the part of her voice. It had been this man's exact words, but how could one say it without being growing too big. Luckily Georg knew Maria wasn't the kind of person who would show off. The red taint on her face proved his point.
Another thunder had awoken the attention to the storm.
"It's getting really close now."
"Shouldn't we go and see if the children are alright?" Maria looked up to see Georg. She had a concerned look on her face knowing how the children were in this kind of weather.
"I'm sure they're fine. Chris is with them. And if something would be wrong, they would come for us."
"Yes, I guess you're right."
She continued searching again. Suddenly the lights fell out after a thunder at full blast. Immediately, Maria and Georg stood straight again, trying to see where the other was. There was absolutely no light what so ever, so when looking for the other, they had to grope their way via the piles of boxes.
"Okay, now we better should go for the children." There were signs of worry in Maria's voice.
Feeling her way, wasn't her thing, even though she didn't have another possibility. Yet she just walked straight ahead. The captain was still holding his hands in front of him to avoid colliding into one of those huge piles. Little did he know Maria was coming directly at him. It was a matter of seconds before Maria bumped into Georg, as he was feeling sideways instead of in front of him with his hands. Her forehead against his nose.
"Auw!" Both exclaimed, next gently roaming the soar places with their own hands.
"That probably wasn't such a good idea."
Georg chuckled as he heard Maria's voice. He guessed she probably had walked without feeling her way. Then he grabbed her arm, now that they were still close to each other before loosing the other again.
"Okay, at least we have found each other. If we stay close, we both may come out of here alive." He joked.
Maria held his arm tightly while both ducked because it was more safer than walking and searched for the trapdoor with the ladder.
"Why did we close that stupid thing in the first place?"
Georg answered his own question: so Gretl or Marta wouldn't climb up and then by accident fall all the way down.
On one hand and knees, while holding each other with the other arm, they crawled until Maria's right knee crashed into a hard box.
"Ouch!" She cried out. Georg had heard her and as soon as her grip on his arm loosened, he made his way back to her, trying to take her hand in the dark.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I just crashed into something really hard."
By now Maria was sitting, again softly rubbing the soar spot with her hand. Georg pulled her back up. Luckily the pain was just above the spot on her knee where she had to lean on.
"Come, we'll look further. The sooner we're out of here, the better!"
"You don't have to say that twice." Maria said hoping to get away from the attic soon. Who knew, they could've been stuck up there for hours! Fortunately, 2 feet further, they finally found the exit. Georg pushed the ladder down, then climbed downstairs. Both were glad to see some light again. As second, Maria went down, not very easy with her knee. Georg didn't look away, he had to be sure she would come down safely, without falling due to her soar knee. Once back down, they both took a look a the painful spot. A nasty bruise became visible.
-----
As the lights fell out, followed by that enormously loud thunder, all the children screamed. Quickly, everyone gathered back into the nursery. Chris had heard the screaming and thought he'd better could check on the children. The children had been looking in this room, but forgot to look behind the couch in the corner. He hoisted himself up and climbed over the piece of furniture. Then he headed towards the nursery, where he most likely would find them. And indeed he did. All 7 of them sat closely on the couch in this dark room. The light that fell in through windows didn't help much, as the sky outside was amazingly dark gray, making the light seem like twilight in the late evening.
"There you are!" Kurt said while looking at Chris in the door opening.
"Next time, don't forget to check behind every couch, especially when they are placed in corners." He grinned.
Gretl and Marta immediately sprung up and flew into his arms.
"It's pretty dark in here."
He lifted Gretl and Marta up.
"Can you search for some candles? Us 3 are going to the sitting room, meet us there, ok?"
Chris went directly to the sitting room, where he stayed with the little ones, waiting for the others to come back with some candles. Finally the rest of the children came with a box full of them. He placed them all over the room and lighted them one by one. Then he took place at the piano and played some merry tunes to sooth everyone. Not long after that, Maria and Georg walked in. Both we're glad everyone was alright. Georg was holding Maria's guitar in his hand, while walking to sit between Louisa and Liesl. Maria sat down between Kurt and Friedrich. To make room, Gretl stood up and sat down on Maria's lap after Maria asked her to. Louisa took Marta on her lap. They listened for a while to the sounds of the piano. But when that ended, everyone fell quiet not really knowing what to say.
"Music is always nice."
Chris's voice came out of nowhere. Georg liked his idea.
"Yes, why don't we play that song? I'm always chasing rainbows." Georg suggested.
"Ooh I love that song!" Maria exclaimed enthusiastic. "It's kinda appropriate for this weather too."
Chris sat back behind the piano, as Georg took place in an armchair with Maria's guitar. Maria sat down next to Georg. Chris started off, followed by Georg on the guitar as Maria began to sing.
I'm always chasing rainbows
Watching clouds drifting by
My schemes are just like all my dreams
Ending in the sky
Some people look and find the sunshine
I always look and find the rain
Some people make a winning sometime
I never even make a gain
Believe me
I'm always chasing rainbows
Hoping to find a little blue bird in vain
The children were applauding by this wonderfully performed song.
"That was beautiful!"
Just as Brigitta had said that, the lights turned back on. Shortly after that, Frau Schmidt walked in.
"Dinner is served."
The children were already on their way to the dining room, while the 3 adults stayed to blow the candles out. Then they went for dinner as well. The rest of the evening went flawless. The storm had passed by and the sky was even cloudless now.
It wasn't until 8 PM that Max and Elsa had arrived back home. The children thanked Max once more. After that Max and Elsa had to tell the others how the play had been, followed by Elsa showing the others some new clothes.
These last hours flew by, therefore the children, Maria and Chris went to bed. As usual the others stayed up another hour, before returning to their bedrooms too.
----- ----- -----
Okay, this is kind of a big chapter. I had so much trouble with it, not really knowing what they could do on a rainy day. Since I had nothing else to do today, I spent all day writing it and to my surprise, it came so easy today. So here it finally is. Please review since I'm waiting for at least 6 of them to add the next chapter, which is already finished.