When the closed white bridal carriage pulled up in front of the front doors to the Von Trapp villa, the driver stepped off his high seat to open the door for the newy married couple. The groom came out first, then reached out to help his new bride down the step of the carriage. Both of them had dreamy, silly but content looks on their faces – at least, in the driver's opinion. The sound of the wheels rolling, carriage rattling, horses clopping and general sounds of Salzburg prevented him from hearing anything in the carriage he drove. But once in a while, when it got quiet or he stopped the carriage, he would hear low murmurs and the occasional giggle from the bride. All he would do was smile slightly and roll his eyes, thinking, Newlyweds…
As the carriage drove away, Maria and Georg stood before the front doors of their home. The sound of many voices made Maria look inquiringly at Georg.
"No room in the house is big enough to hold everyone comfortably, so everything is set up outside."
"Oh, how lovely!" said Maria.
The groom turned to the bride, and said, "You know, once we go out there, we won't have a moment alone until the sun sets." His tone held regret and longing.
Maria blushed, still on a high from all of the "catching up" they had done in the carriage and only felt her nerves tingle slightly at the prospect of really being alone. "Well, there will be good food, music, the children, and . . ." She paused, realizing that most of the wedding guests were now inside waiting – not everyone from the ceremony was there, for the amount of people that came was astonishing, and those closest and most important had been invited to the reception. But the number was still quite large, and Maria realized that, outside from Max, the children and the servants, she knew no one.
Georg saw the fear cross her eyes and kissed her brow in comfort. "Don't worry, love. Those who are my friends are very eager and excited to meet you, after all I have talked of you. Just be yourself and let your natural charm glow."
"Me? Have charm?" She highly doubted that; charm seemed to be a word that belonged only to the upper class. It hadn't really sunk in yet that she was now part of that class.
"Of course," said Georg, smiling as he opened the front doors. "You'll see soon enough. Now, tradition demands me to do something."
"What?"
He answered by scooping Maria in his arms. "Georg!" she exclaimed, though not unhappily, and giggled as he carried her over the threshold.
Georg took the opportunity to kiss her indulgently, holding her in his arms. At last, she was home, and he was able to kiss her in his house as his wife. But the sound of voices again reminded him that they had a few hours before they would be truly alone. Sighing, he put her down and offered his arm.
Maria looked around the grand hall, and said, "I've missed home." She looked at her husband. "Everything about it."
He kissed the crown of her head. Maria's gaze fell on a mirror in the hallway and she froze at what she saw. Linking arms with Georg's reflection was a woman dressed in a white dress and bridal veil. Her face seemed to be glowing with a radiance she had never thought for herself.
Georg had stopped as well, and saw her almost overwhelmed expression in the mirror at the sight of herself. He smiled, looking into her refletions eyes and placing his hands on her shoulders from behind. His lips brushed her ear as he whispered, "At last you know how beautiful you are. At last your exterior matches your interior. At last, my bride is home."
"Oh, Georg…" she murmured, turning around and holding him to her tightly. Georg embraced her for a while, allowing her to collect her emotions. He looked over her shoulder and looked at the reflection of himself holding his Maria. No more content man was found in the world in that moment.
When he felt her breathing steady, Georg pulled back to look at Maria. Her eyes were a little moist but otherwise all right. "Ready?" She nodded, and he kissed the tip of her nose.
They came to the back doors, and the sound of amiable chatter was louder than ever.
"Stay close to me?" she asked in a small voice.
"Do you really think I would let such a beauty out of my sight after six week of deprivation?" he asked in a mock-offended voice, but his eyes showed her he meant what he said, and she was comforted. Giving her one last, lingering kiss, he opened the back doors wide.
The sound of applause and the sight of many well-dressed people mingling under grand, elegant white tents, drinking glasses of champagne, met their senses. Max's voice could be heard above them all exclaiming like a true Jove, "Presenting the Baron and Baroness von Trapp!"
Of course the bride and groom had to smile at that as they walked down the steps to mingle and be congratulated by the guests. There certainly were quite a few people here, and had Maria been alone she would have felt overwhelmed. But feeling her arm linked with Georg's was like a steady anchor in strong weather.
It also helped that most of the guests seemed genuinely happy for them and glad to meet her. This made her job of smiling, having her hand and occasionally her cheek kissed, shaking hands and showing gratitude extremely easy. There were a few women, however, who would give her close, almost appraising looks through their congratulations. She showed no sign that she noticed this, but she had. Georg did as well, for whenever one of these people came, he would cover the hand that was in the crook of his elbow protectively, almost daring anyone to be impolite.
Coming upon the children near the gates of the lake, their faces broke into the most genuine of smiles. The little ones rushed forward: Georg lifted Gretl into his arms and Marta hugged Maria around the waist.
"Well, hello there!" said Georg merrily, settling his baby girl on his hip. "What's this party for?"
"For you and Fraulein Maria!" said Gretl indignantly, surprised her father had asked such a stupid question.
"Ah, yes, that's right!" exclaimed Georg, hugging Gretl to him. Maria smiled at the sight; it warmed her heart to see the father she had seen him become from the stern naval captain she had first met.
"Fraulein Maria?" came a small voice from below her.
"Yes, Marta?" said Maria to the seven-year-old."
"May I call you Mother?"
The whole family had heard Marta's question, and looked to the bride. Maria felt that nearly overwhelming feeling she'd felt when she'd seen herself in the mirror, but this was more genuine. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked down at her daughter. "That would make me very happy, sweetheart."
She then proceeded to hug all of her children, who each murmured "mother" in her ear. Georg watched this touching scene, smiling serenely, a very happy man indeed.
"Oh, I'm getting choked up!" came Max's dramatic voice from nearby. Everyone turned to see him standing nearby with a camera. "Everyone gather around for a family portrait!"
Georg rolled his eyes, but Maria took his hands and he smiled. The family gathered together in front of the lake and smiled as Max took a picture. "Perfect! Now just the bride and groom!"
"Max," said Georg, almost groaning. "Please not too many."
"Don't worry, just this one left," said Max airily, so the happy couple complied before rolling their eyes and going back to the guests.
Maria found herself having a very good time, despite being with so many people her head was spinning at times. But Georg, true to his word, never left her side. Dinner was scrumptious and everyone was satisfied. The Von Trapp family, plus Max, sat at the main table with all of the other guests at nearby tables.
When everyone had finished tucking in to their delicious desserts, Max rose from his seat and went to the musicians to give them their cue. They began to play a slow, intimate waltz. Georg now rose from his own seat and held his hand out for his bride. "I believe that is our cue."
Maria smiled, placing her hand in his and allowed him to lead her to the middle of the stone-floored clearing to share their first dance as a married couple. He pulled her close to him and placed his free hand on her waist. Maria could feel the heat of his touch radiate through the material to her skin as she placed her own hand on his shoulder. They danced, and his eyes held her captivated. Maria enjoyed this for all it gave her: the chance to look at him, to be so close to him, to inhale his scent, and allowing the lovely music to carry them to another world. By the end, her head had found a place on his shoulder, and he ended the dance with a featherlight kiss on her lips.
Applause brought them back to reality, along with a change of music to a more lively waltz. Georg felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Max and Liesl. "We would like to dance with the bride and groom," said Max merrily.
Georg rolled his eyes but still smiled, graciously stepping aside and offering his hand to his oldest daughter. Max, in his turn, swept up the bride into a lively waltz. "I do hope the sailor is behaving himself," he said jokingly.
Maria laughed. "When have you ever known Georg to be anything but a perfect gentleman?"
"Oh, don't get me started down that path, for I have stories from our days off in the navy that would make a courtesan blush!"
Now Maria blushed, very red. Max immediately regretted this, and spoke in a genuine voice, which with him always sounded refreshing.
"I'm sorry, my dear, that's all deep in a past both of us would rather forget," said Max. "I hope I'm not scaring you away."
Maria shook her head. "How could I judge anyone, much less Georg, by what's in their past? That's all done and gone, never to come back. All that remains is the present and the future, which I hope to spend with him."
Max couldn't deny the relief that flooded through him, but didn't focus on that but what Maria had said. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to him, you know. You brought him out of such a dark place. I'd almost lost hope he would ever even laugh again before you flew into his life like a phoenix."
Maria didn't know what to say to such a genuine compliment. "Max, I . . . Thank you."
Max smiled, understanding, and kissed her cheeks. "Just let me give you all of my gratitude, Maria. You really did save his life."
Meanwhile, Liesl and her father were having a heart-to-heart. "You look so lovely, Liesl," said Georg, looking down at his firstborn. "I swear, you look more and more like your Mother each time I see you." He saw her smile at the compliment, and continued. "I know that once made me push all of you children away, but no more. I can think of your mother happily now, knowing that now I am keeping my promise to her: to love our children and to find love again."
Liesl got a tear in her eye. "She would be proud of you, Father, I'm sure of it."
"She is proud," confirmed Georg. "Of all of us. We spent too much time not living, especially me. She must have been ashamed of us. Sometimes I like to think that she sent Maria to us in order to save us all."
"You know, I've been writing to Fraulein Maria – I mean Mother – all this time, too. She's so easy to talk to. In one of her letters she told me that just because she would be marrying you did not mean she wanted me to forget about my mother. That really helped me, and all of us. Now I can't imagine a happy life without her."
Georg smiled, so glad that though Maria was young and naïve, she had a wisdom beyond her years. "I'm so proud of you, Liesl. For everything."
The father and daughter exchanged a hug before the partners changed yet again.
The sun was setting and cast a beautiful glow on the outdoor tents and celebrations. Several colored lanterns were lit and made the entire area extremely pretty. And the couple really were having a lovely time, and it seems that the guests and the children were as well. Beautiful weather had been a blessing.
There was only one moment in the evening where Maria felt extremely uncomfortable. While Georg was dancing with Brigitta, Maria was walking with the little ones hand in hand. Gretl and Marta had fun pretending a different fairy lived within each colored lamp.
Suddenly, two of the upper class women she had met earlier came up to her – nearly bumping into her.
"Oh, the beautiful bride!" said a woman in a royal purple dress suit. Her arms were linked with another woman who wore a similar lime green suit. Both had semi-full glasses of champagne, were distinctly red in the face, and had slurs in their voices.
"Uh, Liesl?" said Maria, aware of the two little ones clutching her hands. "Look after your sisters?"
"Of course, Mother," said Liesl, who immediately understood the situation and snatched her two sisters away like a hawk.
"My dear, your gown is exquisite!" said Lime Green. "You have no idea how much I hate those modern wedding gowns that show as much skin on top that's deemed appropriate."
"Well, I'm just not that kind of woman, I suppose," said Maria, smiling politely and battling her inner urges to giggle and run away.
"Good for you!" said Royal Purple. "And how beautiful you look! Your husband is positively going to jump you once you're alone!"
Maria cheeks went red. "Well . . ."
"Don't worry, dear, it'll be over before you know it," said Lime Green, swaying a little on the spot and enunciating every word. "All husbands are after one thing, so it will be quick. Just lay still while he impales you and – this is the key – think of something happy."
Now Maria wanted nothing more than to run as fast as she could away from these women with alcohol on their breaths. But they weren't finished yet.
"Oh, look at the color of your cheeks! To think you were his little plaything . . . well, that's obviously not true! You wouldn't be so embarrassed now if you had been."
Of course she must be blushing, her face felt like it was on fire, and so did her eyes. Her voice seemed to disappear as anger and humiliation battled over it.
Thankfully, she felt a familiar warm hand being placed protectively on her waist and a soft voice that spelled warning to even the dimmest of creatures under alcoholic influence. "That's quite enough, ladies."
They got the message, and immediately left with hurried and slurred apologies. Maria immediately felt relief at seeing them go, and an unspoken security with the person next to her. But a seed of fear had now been planted in her tree of emotions for this man, though she did not realize it yet. For now, she let Georg kiss her temple in comfort and say, "It's about time to put the children to bed."
He nodded his head in the direction of their table and her heart melted. Gretl and Marta were practically sleeping with their heads on the tables. She smiled and nodded. Both moved forward and went to their small daughters. Georg picked up Marta, and Maria picked up Gretl.
Georg led Maria to the middle of the party and called for the music to stop. All attention turned to them. "Ladies and gentlemen, Maria and I would like to thank you all for coming and sharing in the happiest day my family has seen in a very long time. But as you can plainly see," he paused so the guests could "aww," at the sight of the little ones in their arms, "it's past someone's bedtime."
The Baron and Baroness Von Trapp led – and carried – their children upstairs. Everyone was tired out from the excitement, even the oldest ones, so putting them to bed was not very difficult. The goodbyes were a little more heart-wrencing. After all, they would be away from their children for over six weeks, leaving them in the capable care of Frau Schmidt and Uncle Max. By the time Maria and Georg were done, the most loving wrinkles from tight hugs were on their garments, and they were happy for it. Maria moved to discreetly wipe a tear off her face – Marta had murmured, "I love you, Mother," before falling asleep – but Georg caught it first, then kissed her cheek.
A smiling Frau Schmidt helped Maria change out of her gown and bridal veil and into an elegant ivory skirt, blouse and blazer for the train ride. She looked around her old governess's room, and spoke to no one in particular, "How different my life has become…"
Frau Schmidt smiled in understanding. This certainly would be overwhelming for everyone, but especially this extraordinary young woman. She squeezed Maria's hand in comfort. "Life often does that, especially when we least expect it. But I think I speak for the family when I saw they are most grateful your life changed in this way."
Maria smiled at the older woman. "So am I. You will take good care of them, I know."
"You can count on us, Baroness," reassured Frau Schmidt. The two women embraced before Maria picked up her carry-on bag and went to meet Georg at the top of the stairs. He was now dressed in a grey suit and black tie, looking as handsome and more happy than ever.
They descended the stairs with linked arms, and the remaining guests applauded and wished them well. Max waited by the door to drive them to the train station.
Looking behind her, Maria watched as the villa got smaller and then disappeared entirely. It was nearly dark outside, twilight. Maria, whose fingers were laced with Georg's, rested her heavy head on her husband's shoulder. The exhaustion of the day was catching up with her, and she thought over every detail . . . along with the nervous, almost fearful, knowledge that each minute brought closer the moment when they would be totally and completely alone . . .