Liesl helped Gretl along their route, feeling her spirits lift with every step. Next to her, Brigitta was twisting some edelweiss together and Kurt was tugging on his pants.
"We'll be there within the hour," Friedrich announced, breaking the amicable and excited silence.
"I can't wait to take a bath," Brigitta said. "I feel all sticky."
"I can't wait to eat a real meal," Kurt said. "Dinner at the Meinhards feels like ages ago."
"Are you trying to grow into those pants?" Louisa asked, and they all laughed.
"Do you think we'll have any problems in Switzerland?" Friedrich asked after a moment, turning to Liesl.
She shook her head. "I doubt it," she replied, looking around to where her parents were walking a slight distance behind the group. "Father believes we'll be safe when we arrive."
The other children turned to follow their sister's gaze. With Marta in his arms, Liesl hadn't seen her father look more peaceful since the day of her parents' wedding.
"You don't think Mother is ill, do you, Liesl?" Brigitta asked fearfully. Gretl gasped and held Liesl's hand tighter.
The eldest Von Trapp frowned and studied her mother. It was true that Mother hadn't been acting as cheerful as she usually did, and her fatigue had been noticed by the entire family. But, as Liesl's gaze lingered a moment longer before turning to resume their trek in earnest, she caught a sparkle in her mother's eyes and the return of her radiant smile as she responded to something Father had said to her.
"No," Liesl said quietly, "Mother will be alright. Father will take care of her."
Brigitta smiled, assured.
"Will we go back to Austria when the Nazis leave?" Kurt asked.
"They might never leave," Louisa said darkly. Liesl looked over and could see a trace of their father's subtle anger on her sister's face.
"I agree with Father," Friedrich declared. "As long as we remain together, we'll be alright."
Liesl nodded and patted Gretl's hand within hers. She started to pick up the pace, feeling her siblings' urgency to finally reach their destination. The town was getting bigger as they approached, and they could make out details of the closer buildings. They continued on in determination when they heard their father calling out to them. Turning, they smiled as their parents walked up to join them.
The family stood together for a moment, the children watching their parents expectantly. Georg shifted his grasp around Marta, who seemed to have become more apprehensive as they approached the town. He looked over at Liesl holding Gretl's hand.
"How are all faring?" he asked.
They all nodded excitedly. Giving Maria a quick glance, Georg inhaled deeply and stepped ahead of everyone. "Well then," he said, "let's go back to civilization."
There were only a few residents in the street as the Von Trapp family walked into the town. A woman banging her carpet against her wall paused and stared at the unexpected and rather unkempt group. Other passers-by also stopped what they were doing to give the newcomers a questioning glance.
Georg nodded to each of them, his happiness barely contained on his face. The fact that they were finally in Switzerland and safe made him feel as if he could breathe properly again. Each and every person who gave them a perplexed glance filled him with more and more joy; an inquisitive gaze was a welcome change from superior or suspicious glares.
The family ambled through the town, all searching for a resting place. Being surrounded by people again also felt rejuvenating. Their trek through the mountains was just over a week, yet it had felt a lifetime since they had left their home.
Sighting an inn in the center of the town square, Georg guided his family through the streets. He clutched Marta tighter in his arms, holding his frightened seven-year-old firmly.
"We'll be fine, darling," he whispered as they entered the inn. She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and burrowing her face into his shoulder, too scared to make a sound.
They approached the front desk where a woman of Eva's age greeted them with a slightly open mouth. "May I help you?" she asked after a moment.
Georg and Maria exchanged a quick glance, and he smiled at the woman. "We'd like three rooms, please," he said. "If it's possible, we'd like the biggest rooms you have available."
The woman looked over the group, seeing their dirty faces, tired eyes, and weary expressions. When her gaze fell upon Gretl standing with her arms wrapped around Maria's waist, she smiled kindly. "Of course," she murmured, looking down into her book. "We have three rooms available, but not our biggest, I'm afraid. We can bring in extra beds for you, if you'd like."
"That'd be wonderful," Georg said exhaling. He set Marta down and looked over at Maria again, who smiled hopefully.
The woman made some markings in her book and then disappeared under her desk. They heard an assortment of jingling noises before she re-emerged, holding three sets of keys. "The rooms are all next to each other, but are not connected."
Georg grinned. "That's even better," he said under his breath, and his smile widened as he heard Maria gasp. The lady held out the keys for him and cocked her head to the stairs to their left. "Rooms eleven, twelve, and thirteen, sir. Room twelve is the biggest, so if I may suggest that the largest group stay in there. There are two double beds and we can have a cot brought up. Rooms eleven and thirteen each have one double bed."
"Thank you," Georg said, his eyes meeting with the receptionist and giving her a grateful nod. He handed a key to room twelve to Liesl. "Marta or Gretl can sleep with your mother and me tonight," he offered. "It'll be less crowded for you."
Liesl shook her head. "That's alright Father," she said, looking at her mother and then back to him. "We'll be fine alone. You need your own rest."
Touched by her kindness, Maria reached over and squeezed her eldest daughter's hand. "Thank you," she whispered. She smiled down at Marta, who, to Maria's relief, seemed less cautious.
Georg held the key to room thirteen for Friedrich. Winking at his son, he whispered, "I bet you're glad there are only two boys in this family."
The boy grinned and nodded. The children were about to dash upstairs to fight for the baths, when the woman's voice filled the lobby.
"If you'll allow me, sir," she said to Georg, "there is a lovely restaurant down the street. I can call and let them know you're coming if you'd like."
Maria's eyes stung and she looked upwards in a silent prayer of gratitude. Georg took her hand and nodded to the woman. "That'd be lovely. Please tell them we'll be there at six o'clock promptly."
Looking over at the children, he nodded to dismiss them. Once he knew they were out of earshot, he squeezed Maria's hand again and looked over at the receptionist.
"I pray that you can do one more favor for us," he said.
The woman, surprised at his serious tone, nodded. "I shall try, sir."
He glanced at Maria quickly again. "Is there a doctor in town that can see us?"
To be concluded…