Weeks had passed with no change.
Georg and Maria slept in the same room at least, but they barely spoke once again. Since Maria's almost confession she had distanced herself from her husband more than ever and Georg was at breaking point.
The day had started like any other, Georg woke up to find Maria had already awoken, gotten dressed and headed downstairs to start her day. This wasn't unusual nowadays; Georg often woke up cold and alone. It was just another way his wife had learned to distance herself.
After getting dressed, slower than usual, Georg head downstairs for breakfast. Arriving at the dining room, he was confused when he saw 7 faces instead of 8. His children all sat with pitying looks on their faces, watching as he realised Maria was not in face eating with them again.
"Is your mother on a walk again?" he asked Liesl, already knowing the answer.
"Yes, father." She replied, notes of sadness playing through her voice.
"I see"
Georg didn't speak for the rest of the meal. He couldn't understand what he could do to help his wife. He would continue to give her space, of course, but it was just too much to be so near her yet not have the closeness they used to.
Resolving to make it right, Georg abruptly stood up from his seat and fled the dining room, much to the children's confusion. Heading to his study he felt a stab of melancholy when he saw Maria enter the main hall through the terrace doors. She hadn't seen him.
"And why is it you failed to have breakfast with your family again?" Georg boomed in her general direction, going through some letters he had found on the side table. He didn't mean to be angry with her, but he couldn't stop his feelings from finally bubbling to the surface.
"Darling, you scared me," she chuckled, bringing her hand to her chest. Noticing the anger splashed across his features she softened her tone, "I just haven't been hungry in the mornings, my love, I thought a walk might build my appetite back up" she said with a weak smile, her breath quickening at the anger she felt radiating off her husband.
Georg made a noise of disapproval before opening the door to his study and locking himself away for the rest of the day.
Over the past week Maria had learned several little tricks to avoid spending time with him.
If he wanted to spend time with her in the evenings, after the children retired for the night, she would suddenly have a terrible headache or be awfully tired from their busy day. Many times, he had asked her to join him for a private meal to discuss the future of their relationship, but she had stood firm saying that while the children were at home on school holidays, they should all have meals together. If they were ever accidentally in the same room together, she would suddenly forget something she had to do in another room.
This wasn't the Maria he knew at all.
A knock on his study door broke through his brooding, he knew it wasn't Maria, she wouldn't be caught dead in the same room as him nowadays, except if they were asleep it seemed.
"Enter" he called out, pinching the bridge of his nose and stretching the knotted muscles in his back.
The door swung open to reveal Frau Schmidt, an apprehensive look on her face.
He immediately knew something was amiss, "What is it?" he asked gravely.
"It appears, Captain, that an old colleague of yours is requesting your presence on his new naval base in England, he is on the phone in the drawing room" she said in as professional a manner she could muster. This family had been through enough, she didn't know if they would survive being separated.
"Thank you! I shall take the call on the study line" he said leaving no room for argument, keeping eye contact with Frau Schmidt until she walked out and shut the door. Picking up the phone with an unsteady hand, Georg knew he would be making the hardest decision of his life.
"von Trapp" he said into the receiver.
"Georg, how nice to hear your voice after so many years!" a jovial English voice rang through the speaker.
"I don't believe it, Captain Johnny Daviner. How are you?" Georg said, happiness at hearing his old friends voice overtaking any other emotions in that moment.
"It Admiral Johnathon L Daviner now, old friend!" he chuckled, "Let's cut the chit chat, I have a proposition for you that I am very much hoping you will accept".
Georg steeled himself, ready for a proposal that might just change his life as he knew it. He had already been headhunted by several admirals all over the world and his answer was always the same: no!
"I'm listening!" he said, not betraying any of his thoughts to his friend.
"I am now Admiral of St. Abbey's Naval base in the south of England, and I need some help training my men. Now you are about the best damn U-boat Captain I know, and I would be honoured if you would help me."
His proposal was met with silence. Georg had made enough money in the great war to never need a job again but the prospect of spending time away from Maria was appealing. Of course, he would miss her every day, but he missed her already and they were in the same house. Maybe the added distance would give her a chance to process her past. Georg knew that he was hurting her just by existing right now and he couldn't stand it.
"I accept" he said before he even knew he had made a decision.
"Really?" came the flabbergasted voice on the other end of the phone, "Well that was easy! I hope you're good at quick goodbyes because the train to Calais leaves tonight at 9".
The pair discussed more details and said their goodbyes before hanging up the phone.
Georg looked at the clock, 6pm already, he had two hours to pack up 6 months' worth of clothes and tell his family he was leaving.
Packed and ready to leave, Georg had 30 minutes to explain to his family that he would be leaving and wouldn't return for 6 months. He had asked Frau Schmidt to gather his family and all the staff in the drawing room. Now he had to steel his nerves so he wouldn't back out of his decision when the inevitable sorrow from the children stabbed at his unsteady resolve.
Walking into the salon, he wasn't surprised to see a dozen confused faces staring back at him. He made his way into the middle of the room and with a nervous clearing of his throat he began.
"Maria, Children, Frau Schmidt, Everyone. As you all know, I am a man of the sea and for the past 17 years I have missed it terribly." He happened to glance at Maria who was perhaps the most confused out of everyone. There and then, he decided that if he was going to get through this, he couldn't look at Maria.
"I received a call from an old colleague and good friend today, asking me to join his team for 6 months at a naval base in England. He requires my expertise to help train a team of U-boat Captains. I have decided to accept." he said slowly, making sure that they all heard every single word.
Immediately, the children broke out in huge smiles, hopping up from their seats and chattering a mile a minute.
"Oh, that's incredible father! I've always wanted to go to England" said Brigitta.
"I'm so happy for you, father! Do you think I could come to work with you?" asked Friedrich who had always wanted to follow in his father's footsteps.
Georg didn't know what was worse, this, or if the children had been upset.
Putting an end to their excitement he held up his hand, an action the children knew meant "be quiet!"
"I'm afraid I wasn't clear, darlings. I will be going to England for six months…on my own!" he said, using every ounce of control in his body to keep from looking upset. He had to do this to save not only himself but his wife.
The room erupted in cries of indignation. Georg couldn't bare it. Through the hubbub a small voice pierced through the sadness.
"Do you hate us father?" Gretl said with a sniffle.
His already broken heart had now disintegrated entirely. Picking up his youngest daughter in his arms, he snuggled her into his chest and said, "I love you children more than anything on this earth, I would do anything for you. Do not ever think that I hate you!" looking around at his children, he was content that they believed him.
"Will you miss mother?" came the confronting voice of his eldest daughter. She knew more about the situation than he gave her credit for.
Flabbergasted he said "Of course, I will" and left it at that.
Hearing a barely concealed whimper he turned to face where his wife had been sat on the far end of the sofa, his soul squeezing when he saw her bloodshot eyes and quivering lip.
"Darling…" he began but could say no more when she merely shook her head and left the room.