Chris and Maria had retreated to Chris' room.
"What time will you be leaving?"
"When I called the station yesterday I ordered a ticket for 2:30 PM."
He looked around the room to check if he had forgotten something, but all his possessions were packed in his bag. Maria sat down on his bed.
"So where will you be going?"
"Well, I've been told that old man Ludwig has died several months ago. I was thinking of buying his house."
"What? Oh poor man."
Ludwig was a man who lived only a few houses further in their old little village. He was a very kind man with a huge garden and great trees to climb in. Whenever they had asked him, they could play in his garden. He even would bring them cookies when they got hungry or lemonade. Not to forget that he was a close friend of both their families.
"He had passed away peacefully in his sleep."
"Oh if I had known I would've been to his funeral."
Both Maria and Chris were sad by this unfortunate news, although Chris had known it for some time now.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"To be honest, when I got back from the city that day, I had completely forgotten about it."
Even though Maria hadn't seen the man in 5 years, she couldn't help being taken aback. But to change conversation she started talking about the house.
"Now you'll have his great garden."
"Well, that is if I can buy the house."
Chris took his bag, while Maria stood up. Once they were downstairs, Chris put his bag close to the door.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I want to spend some time with the children before I leave."
He gave a quick smile to Maria before walking outside to the children who were playing tag in the garden. Maria walked further outside to Georg and Max as an idea had popped into her head.
"Georg, those photos you've found in the attic, where are those?"
"I've put them in an album in my study. Why?"
"Would you mind if Louisa and I look at them?"
"No not at all. It's right on my desk. But ... only Louisa?"
"I think it's the best for now. She has had a really tough time. I think she really needs a moment of her own for now. And then if you're ok with it, she can take the album to her siblings."
"Sure."
Maria turned back to face the garden to call Louisa. While getting the girl's attention, she thought back of Georg's whistle and furthermore what he had said with it: 'Fraulein, this is a large house. The grounds are very extensive. And I will not have anyone shouting.' Yet here she was, calling for Louisa without getting an angry captain getting upon her. Louisa ran towards her, wondering what she was needed for.
"Can you come with me for a minute? I have to show you something."
Louisa was expecting something bad, till she saw a little smile appear on Maria's face. Together they walked inside, heading for Georg's study. Once inside they couldn't miss the album. It was a dark brown cover with golden letters on the top. Maria took it and then took place in the sofa against the wall, the same where Georg had proposed to her. She took Louisa's hand and pulled the girl next to herself.
"Here." She said while passing the folder to Louisa.
Maria laid her arm around Louisa, who was all cuddling up against her governess while opening the album. On the first page was Georg's and Agathe's wedding picture. Louisa seemed to gaze at it forever. She didn't know what to say, she was just happy to be seeing her mother again.
As for Maria, the photos fascinated her once again. But the thing that had an enormous effect on her was Louisa sitting so close to her. In the way a mother and daughter did. She just couldn't believe it, soon she'd be Georg's wife and a mother to his 7 adorable children. A dream had come true.
As Louisa went to the second page, she saw the of the whole family sitting outside. She remembered when it was taken, they had had so much fun that day. She studied her parents closely, the way they sat, the way they held their children. This picture had been taken only 5 years ago, yet so much had happened. Another photo which had gotten her attention, was the one where she and Kurt were looking at their little baby-sister laying so peacefully on her mother's arm. Unconsciously she was smiling, as was Maria.
"Your mother was beautiful."
"She was ..." Louisa replied in agreement.
"And you look very much like her."
Louisa moved her head to face Maria.
"You really think so?"
"I really do." She said before casting her a smile.
When the last pages were turned, Louisa laid her head down on Maria's shoulder while she embraced her, which Maria immediately responded to.
"Thank you."
As they parted, a frown appeared on Louisa's face.
"How did you know of those photos?"
"Well, when your father and I were searching for his guitar in the attic, he had found these. I guess he has gone back up there later to get them and put them in this album, because as I recall, I don't think he had anything with him when we had descended the attic."
"Maria, is it alright if I take this outside with me to show the others?"
"Of course it's alright."
With that Louisa jumped up, exclaimed a quick Thank you while leaving the room, and headed downstairs. Therefore Maria got up as well to go back outside.
When Maria had stepped outside, she saw that Georg was the only one who had remained on his seat. Max wasn't there anymore and the children and Chris were enjoying themselves on the grass while looking at the photos. As soon as they had finished watching their photos, they proceeded their game of tag again.
While watching his children, Georg heard someone walking outside. He was seated in a 2-persons chair. As soon as he had seen Maria, he patted on the empty spot next to him, which Maria gladly accepted. She sat down and immediately felt Georg's arm around her.
"Can you believe it? Soon they will be your children too."
He smiled at his fiancée, who didn't think she could become any happier.
"Where's Max?" She asked him, while enjoying to lean against him.
"I don't know. He went back inside not long after you 2. I think he went to the kitchen for that apple strudel. You know how fond he is of that."
"Dear Max ..."
"Maria, I wanted you to ask something."
"Ask away."
"I was thinking of Chris as my best man."
"Oh how wonderful." Maria cheered.
"Yes, but do you think he'll accept? I mean, you know how he feels about you. Don't you think it will hurt him?"
A frown appeared on Maria's face. He did have a point there.
"I don't know ..." She replied honestly. "I guess we'll never know unless we'll ask him."
Some time later, when the children went for a drink, Chris sat down with the couple. He seemed kinda red because of the running and he tried to get his breathing back under control.
Both Maria and Georg decided this was the time to ask him their big question.
"Chris?"
"Hmm?" He replied while taking a sip of his lemonade.
Georg went on.
"We were wondering ... if you would be my best man at the wedding."
Somewhat in shock he put his glass back down on the table.
"You don't need to feel compulsory. If you don't want to do this, we understand completely."
Chris had been listening most carefully to Georg. He knew what they thought, that it perhaps could hurt him to see his love getting married to another man. 'But Maria isn't only the woman I love, she's also my best friend!'
"Oh I'd be honoured!" He exclaimed joyfully.
"Really?" Maria's face brightened visibly.
"Of course, duckie!"
Maria stood up from her seat and walked over to Chris. While she put her arms around him, she thanked him.
"It's my pleasure ..."
The children came running back outside. This time Kurt had a bal in his hands.
"Are you coming, Chris?"
"I'm already there!" He shouted cheerfully back.
He left Maria and Georg and was back with the children, who instantly were explaining the game to him. Georg stood up and gestured for Maria to come with him. She was still standing at the spot were she and Chris were hugging just now. As she was back with Georg, he placed her arm again around her waist.
"Let's take a little walk. The day seems perfect for it."
Georg gazed into her deep blue eyes. He just couldn't wait for her to become his wife.
Maria's smile never had left her face. Then she bended over and placed a kiss on his lips. Soon they were strolling near the lake, as Maria and Louisa had done they day Chris had arrived. Both remained in a comfortable silence. Maria looked around her. Finally she saw the tree Louisa had walked to, where she had told her that Maria was like a 2nd mother to her, about how the girl didn't want Maria to leave. Unconsciously she smiled again. She wasn't going to leave now ...
At 2 PM the children and Chris were exhausted by their running and they just let themselves fall on the grass to restrain some energy. At that moment Georg and Maria had come back from their little walk. They walked straight to the group laying on the ground.
"We don't want to bother you, but Chris, I think it's time we'd get going."
"Aawww!" The children replied disappointed.
Gretl sat up and then crawled to Chris. When she had reached him, she let herself fall gently on him.
"You're not leaving!"
"Oh darling ..." He laid his arms around her and continued. "I have to go now, otherwise I'll miss my train."
"But I don't want you to go."
"We'll see each other again. You can come visit me and I'll come back here occasionally, okay?"
The little girl clenched her arms around his neck. He held her tight and then stood up.
"Bye darling." He gave her a kiss on her cheek before putting her down again. All the other children hugged him once more. As he, Georg and Maria went inside, the children followed them. That minute Max came out of the dining room.
"Oh are you leaving already?"
"I'm afraid so."
Max moved closer. Then he patted him on his back.
"Have a good trip."
Chris first went to say goodbye to Hendrika and Frau Schmidt. After all, they were his friends too. Next the 3 took place in the car. Everyone besides Franz were outside to wave their guest goodbye as they drove away from the house.
Once he had bought his ticket in the station, the couple accompanied him to trail 2 where his train was going to leave in a quarter.
"Well, this is it." He reached out his hand to shake Georg's. "Thank you for letting me stay at your home these past few weeks. I had a marvellous time!"
"My pleasure."
Then Chris shifted his gaze to his dearest friend. Instead of saying anything, both of them just embraced each other tightly.
"We'll send you an invitation for the wedding. And please give me a ring to tell me if you've got old man Ludwig's house."
"I will."
Maria pulled back, leaving her hands on his shoulders. Her eyes started to well up, after all, her best friend was leaving again.
"And don't you dare to wait as long as before to visit me!"
As a reply he shook his head with a slight smile on his face followed by another hug.
"I wouldn't dream of it."
They parted again and Chris made his way into the train just in time. It slowly started moving. Maria held up her hand to wave goodbye, even though she couldn't see Chris anywhere inside the train. While it was moving further out of their sight, Maria and Georg turned around to exit the station.
"I'm going to miss him. I practically spent my whole life with him and we have so many memories together."
Instantly Georg laid his arm around Maria's shoulders. Then he moved his head to face his fiancée with a broad smile on his face.
"Now you'll be making new memories with me."
Maria gazed into Georg's eyes.
"I love you."
"I love you even more." He replied before giving her a little loving kiss on her lips.
"What time will you be leaving?"
"When I called the station yesterday I ordered a ticket for 2:30 PM."
He looked around the room to check if he had forgotten something, but all his possessions were packed in his bag. Maria sat down on his bed.
"So where will you be going?"
"Well, I've been told that old man Ludwig has died several months ago. I was thinking of buying his house."
"What? Oh poor man."
Ludwig was a man who lived only a few houses further in their old little village. He was a very kind man with a huge garden and great trees to climb in. Whenever they had asked him, they could play in his garden. He even would bring them cookies when they got hungry or lemonade. Not to forget that he was a close friend of both their families.
"He had passed away peacefully in his sleep."
"Oh if I had known I would've been to his funeral."
Both Maria and Chris were sad by this unfortunate news, although Chris had known it for some time now.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"To be honest, when I got back from the city that day, I had completely forgotten about it."
Even though Maria hadn't seen the man in 5 years, she couldn't help being taken aback. But to change conversation she started talking about the house.
"Now you'll have his great garden."
"Well, that is if I can buy the house."
Chris took his bag, while Maria stood up. Once they were downstairs, Chris put his bag close to the door.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I want to spend some time with the children before I leave."
He gave a quick smile to Maria before walking outside to the children who were playing tag in the garden. Maria walked further outside to Georg and Max as an idea had popped into her head.
"Georg, those photos you've found in the attic, where are those?"
"I've put them in an album in my study. Why?"
"Would you mind if Louisa and I look at them?"
"No not at all. It's right on my desk. But ... only Louisa?"
"I think it's the best for now. She has had a really tough time. I think she really needs a moment of her own for now. And then if you're ok with it, she can take the album to her siblings."
"Sure."
Maria turned back to face the garden to call Louisa. While getting the girl's attention, she thought back of Georg's whistle and furthermore what he had said with it: 'Fraulein, this is a large house. The grounds are very extensive. And I will not have anyone shouting.' Yet here she was, calling for Louisa without getting an angry captain getting upon her. Louisa ran towards her, wondering what she was needed for.
"Can you come with me for a minute? I have to show you something."
Louisa was expecting something bad, till she saw a little smile appear on Maria's face. Together they walked inside, heading for Georg's study. Once inside they couldn't miss the album. It was a dark brown cover with golden letters on the top. Maria took it and then took place in the sofa against the wall, the same where Georg had proposed to her. She took Louisa's hand and pulled the girl next to herself.
"Here." She said while passing the folder to Louisa.
Maria laid her arm around Louisa, who was all cuddling up against her governess while opening the album. On the first page was Georg's and Agathe's wedding picture. Louisa seemed to gaze at it forever. She didn't know what to say, she was just happy to be seeing her mother again.
As for Maria, the photos fascinated her once again. But the thing that had an enormous effect on her was Louisa sitting so close to her. In the way a mother and daughter did. She just couldn't believe it, soon she'd be Georg's wife and a mother to his 7 adorable children. A dream had come true.
As Louisa went to the second page, she saw the of the whole family sitting outside. She remembered when it was taken, they had had so much fun that day. She studied her parents closely, the way they sat, the way they held their children. This picture had been taken only 5 years ago, yet so much had happened. Another photo which had gotten her attention, was the one where she and Kurt were looking at their little baby-sister laying so peacefully on her mother's arm. Unconsciously she was smiling, as was Maria.
"Your mother was beautiful."
"She was ..." Louisa replied in agreement.
"And you look very much like her."
Louisa moved her head to face Maria.
"You really think so?"
"I really do." She said before casting her a smile.
When the last pages were turned, Louisa laid her head down on Maria's shoulder while she embraced her, which Maria immediately responded to.
"Thank you."
As they parted, a frown appeared on Louisa's face.
"How did you know of those photos?"
"Well, when your father and I were searching for his guitar in the attic, he had found these. I guess he has gone back up there later to get them and put them in this album, because as I recall, I don't think he had anything with him when we had descended the attic."
"Maria, is it alright if I take this outside with me to show the others?"
"Of course it's alright."
With that Louisa jumped up, exclaimed a quick Thank you while leaving the room, and headed downstairs. Therefore Maria got up as well to go back outside.
When Maria had stepped outside, she saw that Georg was the only one who had remained on his seat. Max wasn't there anymore and the children and Chris were enjoying themselves on the grass while looking at the photos. As soon as they had finished watching their photos, they proceeded their game of tag again.
While watching his children, Georg heard someone walking outside. He was seated in a 2-persons chair. As soon as he had seen Maria, he patted on the empty spot next to him, which Maria gladly accepted. She sat down and immediately felt Georg's arm around her.
"Can you believe it? Soon they will be your children too."
He smiled at his fiancée, who didn't think she could become any happier.
"Where's Max?" She asked him, while enjoying to lean against him.
"I don't know. He went back inside not long after you 2. I think he went to the kitchen for that apple strudel. You know how fond he is of that."
"Dear Max ..."
"Maria, I wanted you to ask something."
"Ask away."
"I was thinking of Chris as my best man."
"Oh how wonderful." Maria cheered.
"Yes, but do you think he'll accept? I mean, you know how he feels about you. Don't you think it will hurt him?"
A frown appeared on Maria's face. He did have a point there.
"I don't know ..." She replied honestly. "I guess we'll never know unless we'll ask him."
Some time later, when the children went for a drink, Chris sat down with the couple. He seemed kinda red because of the running and he tried to get his breathing back under control.
Both Maria and Georg decided this was the time to ask him their big question.
"Chris?"
"Hmm?" He replied while taking a sip of his lemonade.
Georg went on.
"We were wondering ... if you would be my best man at the wedding."
Somewhat in shock he put his glass back down on the table.
"You don't need to feel compulsory. If you don't want to do this, we understand completely."
Chris had been listening most carefully to Georg. He knew what they thought, that it perhaps could hurt him to see his love getting married to another man. 'But Maria isn't only the woman I love, she's also my best friend!'
"Oh I'd be honoured!" He exclaimed joyfully.
"Really?" Maria's face brightened visibly.
"Of course, duckie!"
Maria stood up from her seat and walked over to Chris. While she put her arms around him, she thanked him.
"It's my pleasure ..."
The children came running back outside. This time Kurt had a bal in his hands.
"Are you coming, Chris?"
"I'm already there!" He shouted cheerfully back.
He left Maria and Georg and was back with the children, who instantly were explaining the game to him. Georg stood up and gestured for Maria to come with him. She was still standing at the spot were she and Chris were hugging just now. As she was back with Georg, he placed her arm again around her waist.
"Let's take a little walk. The day seems perfect for it."
Georg gazed into her deep blue eyes. He just couldn't wait for her to become his wife.
Maria's smile never had left her face. Then she bended over and placed a kiss on his lips. Soon they were strolling near the lake, as Maria and Louisa had done they day Chris had arrived. Both remained in a comfortable silence. Maria looked around her. Finally she saw the tree Louisa had walked to, where she had told her that Maria was like a 2nd mother to her, about how the girl didn't want Maria to leave. Unconsciously she smiled again. She wasn't going to leave now ...
At 2 PM the children and Chris were exhausted by their running and they just let themselves fall on the grass to restrain some energy. At that moment Georg and Maria had come back from their little walk. They walked straight to the group laying on the ground.
"We don't want to bother you, but Chris, I think it's time we'd get going."
"Aawww!" The children replied disappointed.
Gretl sat up and then crawled to Chris. When she had reached him, she let herself fall gently on him.
"You're not leaving!"
"Oh darling ..." He laid his arms around her and continued. "I have to go now, otherwise I'll miss my train."
"But I don't want you to go."
"We'll see each other again. You can come visit me and I'll come back here occasionally, okay?"
The little girl clenched her arms around his neck. He held her tight and then stood up.
"Bye darling." He gave her a kiss on her cheek before putting her down again. All the other children hugged him once more. As he, Georg and Maria went inside, the children followed them. That minute Max came out of the dining room.
"Oh are you leaving already?"
"I'm afraid so."
Max moved closer. Then he patted him on his back.
"Have a good trip."
Chris first went to say goodbye to Hendrika and Frau Schmidt. After all, they were his friends too. Next the 3 took place in the car. Everyone besides Franz were outside to wave their guest goodbye as they drove away from the house.
Once he had bought his ticket in the station, the couple accompanied him to trail 2 where his train was going to leave in a quarter.
"Well, this is it." He reached out his hand to shake Georg's. "Thank you for letting me stay at your home these past few weeks. I had a marvellous time!"
"My pleasure."
Then Chris shifted his gaze to his dearest friend. Instead of saying anything, both of them just embraced each other tightly.
"We'll send you an invitation for the wedding. And please give me a ring to tell me if you've got old man Ludwig's house."
"I will."
Maria pulled back, leaving her hands on his shoulders. Her eyes started to well up, after all, her best friend was leaving again.
"And don't you dare to wait as long as before to visit me!"
As a reply he shook his head with a slight smile on his face followed by another hug.
"I wouldn't dream of it."
They parted again and Chris made his way into the train just in time. It slowly started moving. Maria held up her hand to wave goodbye, even though she couldn't see Chris anywhere inside the train. While it was moving further out of their sight, Maria and Georg turned around to exit the station.
"I'm going to miss him. I practically spent my whole life with him and we have so many memories together."
Instantly Georg laid his arm around Maria's shoulders. Then he moved his head to face his fiancée with a broad smile on his face.
"Now you'll be making new memories with me."
Maria gazed into Georg's eyes.
"I love you."
"I love you even more." He replied before giving her a little loving kiss on her lips.