She sighed a bit as she awoke, her back in knots from sleeping upon the sofa. It was hard to say what time it was, but she couldn't hear movement, so the children must have still been asleep. She rolled onto her back, jumping quickly as the cat clawed at her feet from the movement of the blanket. She sat up and moved the cat to the floor in annoyance before lying back upon the sofa.
She looked to the floor where she had the boys set up with as many pillows and blankets she could find to keep them comfortable. The girls were in her bed, cuddled up with her blankets made of drapes, which of course made them laugh when they saw. There was a chair she offered to curl up in, but the boys wouldn't hear of it, thus she ended up on the sofa. She smiled as she cuddled closer beneath the blanket for just a moment longer.
It should have felt strange to have them in her home, she was certain, but it didn't. It only felt right, perfect and safe. She loved them as if they were her own, her heart feeling full and happy. She supposed they felt the same, as they stayed up late into the night chatting and sharing stories, laughing and carrying on. She couldn't thank Liesl enough for coming to visit her before her wedding, inviting her back into the family. She owed the young woman more than she could ever say.
Sighing, she looked about the room once more before she stood and folded the blanket, tossing it over the back of the sofa. If there were six children in her home, and one bathroom, she knew she needed to get her shower in before they awoke. Only one bathroom, she supposed her living conditions were primitive in comparison to what they were used to. She wasn't sure they realized exactly how privileged of a life their father had earned them.
After a quick shower, she looked around at the still sleeping children and nearly laughed aloud. She couldn't believe she was the early riser of the group, that never used to happen. She recalled several instances in the past where Gretl had been sent to wake her in the mornings. Smiling at the memory, she walked to her kitchen and wondered what exactly to make for breakfast. She opened the cabinets, the fridge, the pantry…she was only used to feeding herself, after all, and she didn't really need much.
She supposed French toast would do, as she thankfully had just bought extra bread for sandwiches the day before. As she began to cook, the children began to rise, one-by-one joining her in the kitchen. The laughter and the happiness began all over again. She nearly wept at the joy she felt for being surrounded by them.
Suddenly, just as she was handing plates to Gretl and Marta, there was a knock upon the door. Puzzled, she moved her pan off the burner for a moment, wiping her hands upon a kitchen towel as she opened the door. She didn't expect him so early, his face searing her vision as she opened the door to reveal him in the morning light.
"Georg…uh, Captain, I didn't expect you so early." He smiled as she reverted to formality in front of the children, nervous to be there at all, if he were honest.
"Yes, well, I wanted to make sure I picked them up before Mass." She nodded, wishing she didn't feel ashamed by her response.
"I, um, don't go anymore." His eyes widened a bit, but she ignored it. "Please, come in, we're having French toast. Have you eaten?"
"The bigger question is: are you cooking?" He joked as she led him into the apartment, returning to the stove to continue churning out breakfast. The children greeted him in excitement, the younger two smiling as they ate.
"I don't know why all of you make fun, Gretl and Marta like my cooking, yes?" She turned to them for a moment, and they both smiled and nodded excitedly.
"Because we all remember the cookies." The children joined him in laughter, and she feigned offense before joining them as well.
The children told their father about the fun they had with their former governess, and he beamed with happiness. They were animated, alive, much more than he'd seen since she left them, and it broke his heart to think of how changed they had become by her absence. Of course they were, he couldn't have been the only one suffering so.
He looked around the apartment, cringing a bit. It was definitely Maria's space, but it was obvious that many things were not her own. It wasn't messy or dirty, as she kept a good home, but the taste in furniture and decor were simply not what he expected. Clearly she had collected furniture over the years, taking what she needed and could afford, until the place had filled up. It was quite small, but he expected she didn't need much space. His heart hurt a bit at the idea of her struggling financially. Suddenly, he jumped in surprise as the cat jumped atop the counter.
"Ugh, Cat, I've told you…" Maria spun around quickly and moved the cat to the floor before going back to her task. She had almost gotten plates for everyone, making Georg's at the moment.
"What is the cat's name?" Georg tried to make conversation as the children ate at the island, coming to stand next to her at the stove. She could smell his cologne and nearly fainted.
"Cat."
"You named her Cat?" Louisa giggled at his question, having asked the same upon her arrive as well.
"Well, I couldn't think of a good name, and I called her Cat so long it just stuck." He chuckled, and she handed him a plate, smiling. A shiver ran down her spine as he took the plate from her hands, his fingers gently caressing her own for just a moment too long, and she met his gaze. His eyes were looking into her soul, and he left her breathless. He knew exactly how to look at her to make her melt. "Stop that."
"Sorry." She nodded as she turned back to the stove to make her own food, heart pounding in her chest from such a small touch.
They shared a meal together, all propped or seated in various areas of her small kitchen, but all excited to be together. She watched Georg looking around her apartment, likely noting how small and unimpressive it was, though he wouldn't say anything. For as gruff and severe as he came off to others, she knew him to be a gentle and kind man. Seeing him again after a week of tormenting herself with the way they left things felt like coming home again. He didn't seem to hold any anger toward her, for which she felt grateful, but she almost wished he did in a way. It would have made it easier to stand her ground with him, for the logical part of her brain told her to leave him in the past.
As the morning progressed, they sat about and chatted for a bit. The children washed the dishes, for which she was quite thankful, as there were quite a few from their stay. She couldn't escape the feeling of dread she felt in her stomach at the thought of them all leaving. She could tell it would be soon enough, the feeling was in the air. Georg appeared to feel out of place, not knowing what exactly to do with his hands as he stood to the side, helping wipe a counter here and there. She smiled at how silly he looked wiping a counter, a sight she never thought she would witness from the spoiled sea Captain.
As they inevitably began to leave, she smiled brightly for the joy they had shared, even as tears threatened to brim her eyes. Georg noticed immediately, of course he did, and he stayed back while the children hugged her and made their way to the car. He waited patiently by the open door, silently. When the children were out of earshot, he looked into her eyes, and she felt immediately unarmed.
"Don't look at me like that." She wiped her eyes as tears fell down her cheeks, and he chuckled.
"It's not the last time you'll see them. They'll never be out of your hair now." She gave a short laugh as well, the tears unstoppable.
"Of course, I know." He smiled, gently opening his arms to her. She hesitated for a moment, unsure about giving him the wrong impression, before inevitably accepted his embrace, stepping closer and taking in his scent as their arms wrapped around one another. It felt so safe in his arms.
"You're always welcome to come and visit them at the villa, anytime you'd like. My home will always be your home." She pulled back a bit to look into his eyes, blushing at their close proximity.
"Thank you for letting me back into their lives…or letting them back into mine, I suppose."
"I can't believe the happy children I just picked up. Maria, they have very obviously needed you in their lives." She shook her head a bit, feeling embarrassed at his sentiment, but he lifted her chin with his fingertips. "Truly."
"That's kind of you, but…"
"Please accept the compliment." She nodded, smiling a bit.
"Only if you'll accept my apology. I was quite cruel to you last time we spoke."
"No need. We're okay."
"Are we really, though?"
"Yes. We've gotten the past out of our systems. How about we focus on the future?" She shook her head, squeezing him just a bit tighter as they remained in their embrace.
"Maybe just focus on the present? Not past or future, just right now." He nodded, giving her a gentle smile. He wanted to ask if that meant he had a chance at all with her, if she had a change of heart, but he was worried he would ruin the moment. He didn't want to push anything, and he knew he needed to take it slow with her if he ever did have a chance.
"We'll make a plan to talk. I'll see you soon, Fraulein." She smiled, closing her eyes as he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
