Revealing
Georg knew he loved Maria; if he would be truthful with himself it was since the first day he met her but definitely when he apologized after their argument.
The weekend wasn't the time or place to tell her; he had a plan, just as Lily had told Oscar. He only wished it could be sooner than next Monday but he needed that time to arrange his surprise for her.
Lily spotted Maria sitting on the balcony simply gazing, not really focusing on anything. "Why such a starry-eyed look Maria?"
"Good morning Lily, I'm just thinking about our wonderful weekend."
"Not only the weekend, one special person."
"You're right Lily, I am."
"You love him. Am I right Maria?"
"Yes Lily, I do. I wanted so much to tell him but it didn't seem to be the right time."
"He's loves you too Maria, it's very obvious; as I told you before, it will happen when you least expect it. When will you see him again?"
"Not until Saturday, he needs to get the children all settled in their schools." Lily thought to herself, He's planning something.
"Maria, our heads need a good scrubbing after all that salt water and sand. I'm sure the Beauty Shop isn't busy today, let's walk there after breakfast."
The hairdresser asked Maria. "May I trim your hair; it's very uneven in spots?"
Maria wasn't about to tell her a nun had cut her hair.
"Of course, I'm trying to let it grow longer."
Lily kept Maria occupied; shopping and even going to the movies.
Ever since they had moved into the apartment Georg had been looking for a real home. Everyday he scoured the For Sale ads; one ad seemed to be so perfect Georg was worried the ad was too attractive to be real. But he inquired anyway; he told no one, he wanted to keep it a surprise.
After walking with his children to their schools that Wednesday, he stayed in town. He stopped at Charlie's for a cup of coffee as he waited for the businesses to open.
His first stop was the bank. "I'm Georg von Trapp; I'm here to check on a deposit."
"Come this way, the Chief Financial Officer will see you."
"Sir, what can I do for you?"
"I'm inquiring about my transfer of funds from the Bank of London."
"Give me a minute and I will check." Georg patiently waited for him to return. He brought with him a document for Georg.
"As you can see, your money has safely arrived and you can use it at anytime. Anything else I can do for you?"
"Not at this time but maybe in a few days."
"Very well sir, have a good day."
"Thank you, good day."
Georg went on to his next errand; a lawyer's office to sign papers to complete a transaction. On his way home he stopped at the market for a few things. And then it was time for school to be out; Georg went to walk them home.
On Friday Georg went back to the lawyer's office to pick up the surprise for Maria; but he would keep it a secret until Monday.
Saturday came. "Maria, Joseph is waiting out front to drive you to Georg's apartment."
"It's very early Lily."
"I know Maria. Maybe it's time for you to find out if the Captain and Liesl really do cook together."
"I've wondered that too."
Maria rang the bell. She heard the Captain. "Friedrich please see who is at the door."
Everyone in the apartment heard him. "It's Fräulein Maria." Georg dropped the pan with the scrambled eggs back onto the stove. "Maria, it really is you; well you're just in time for breakfast."
"Can I help?"
"No Maria, Liesl and I have it all under control."
"Sit with us Fräulein Maria," the others told her; "we've missed you."
"I've missed all of you too."
The children were especially eager to tell her all about school. "We were all scared at first," Louisa told her. "All the teachers were so nice and patient with our poor English."
"I'm so glad to hear that. Gretl what did you do?"
"I got a very good on all my papers." She showed Maria her papers where she had matched correctly the picture to the English word.
"Very nice Gretl."
"Alright everyone, breakfast is served."
"This is very good Captain."
"See Maria, I do know my way around the galley." He gave her a wink; that almost said I love you. Quickly she asked. "Captain what are we going to do today?"
"I thought we would take a trip to the zoo; it's only a half-hour ride by bus." The trip to the zoo occupied most of the day; Joseph picked up Maria shortly after dinner.
Maria met them at church the next morning; afterwards they stopped at Charlie's for brunch. They made it home just before the heavens let loose with a downpour. The remainder of the day was spent playing board games. Thank goodness the children were always around them; they were both finding it most difficult to keep their feelings in check.
Georg and Maria were waiting on the porch for Joseph to pick her up. "Maria, will you come here right after breakfast tomorrow? I want to show you something."
Maria noticed his smile, just like the day when they met at the theater. "What are you up to, Captain?"
"You'll see, good night Maria."
"Goodnight Captain."
The next day Georg and Maria walked to the bus stop. "Up you go Maria;" Georg gave the driver the correct change. "Where are you taking me?"
"It's a surprise Maria."
After a thirty minute ride, they got off in a suburb of New York City called Sunnyside. They took a short walk into a neighborhood of large homes.
"Captain, this is beautiful."
"I thought you would like it." They walked up the driveway of a house and made their way to the front door. Georg took a key from his pocket and opened the door.
"This is our new home."
"OUR new home?"
"Yes, ours, I don't know why we've both been so hesitant to tell the other their true feelings."
"What are you saying?"
"Something I've wanted to tell you since they day I saw you at the puppet show. I love you Maria."
"Oh Georg, I hoped one day I would hear those words. I've wanted to tell you the same but I was afraid."
"Then say it Maria."
"I love you Georg. I want to live in this house with you and your children."
"Then you'll marry me?"
"Yes, Georg, I'll marry you and to think we haven't even kissed."
"Maria, a kiss seals what is already in your heart. First a person's being seems to find its way inside you; sometimes you feel like you can fly you're so happy; you want and need that someone with you all the time. Some people have been known to fall deeply in love only through letters; and some don't kiss until they marry."
"No Georg, I don't want to wait that long."
"Neither do I."
"I love you Maria."
"I love you Georg – kiss me."
Tenderly he brushed his lips over hers; then went back and lingered; fulfilling Maria's first experience of a kiss; one she didn't want to end. Instinctively her arms went around his neck; not wanting to break away; but Georg did.
"We'll have lots of kisses Maria."
"Georg, I feel like I'm floating in air." He picked her up and twirled her around and around. "Now you really are floating." He set her down gently and kissed her between her eyes.
Georg took her hand, "let's look around; upstairs first."
"How many bedrooms Georg?" "
"More than enough, one for Marta and Gretl, Brigitta and Louisa will share one and of course one for the boys. There's a small room I thought Liesl would like; she is becoming a woman, like someone told me."
"I did, didn't I?"
"I needed to hear all you had to say that day; no one else would tell me. It took the black sheep of the Abbey."
"I did tell you that one night when we talked; you remembered."
"Only because I don't consider you a black sheep; you're a loving, giving and beautiful young woman, who captured my heart a long time ago."
"It has been that long for me too Georg. Is this our room? It's so big; my goodness, look at the closet. My clothes will get lost in there."
"There's one more room Maria; maybe one day it will be a nursery."
"I hope so Georg."
"This is so nice. How did you find it?"
"I read an ad in the paper. I was surprised to find a furnished house; the couple was going to travel for a few years and didn't want to put any of it in storage."
"That's nice for us."
Going down the back stairs; they found a furnished kitchen, a huge living room with a piano and a dining room. "Maria there's also a small bedroom suite for guests.
"I plan to have a housekeeper come once a week to clean and once to do the laundry; a cook for dinner. We can handle breakfast and packing lunches for the children."
"We should go; we need to be home before the children get out of school."
"When are we going to tell them?"
"At dinner tonight."
"You know Lily told me you were in love me. It was very obvious to her and Oscar this past weekend."
"I wanted to tell you then, I knew I should wait; but it was very hard not too."
"I like this way better."
Maria felt like she was on a cloud; she had never felt this happy and content – never in her life.
The two lovers were sitting on the porch swing together; his arm around her. "How do you feel Maria?"
"As the song says, 'happy as a lark.'"
"Let me go meet the children, you stay right here." Before getting up he reached for her face, "I need a kiss first."
"That will last me until you return." It didn't take him long.
"Fräulein Maria," the children spotted her and ran to her and started telling her all about school.
"I got an 'A' in math. My story was the best in the class. My picture is on the bulletin board." Maria heard something from every child.
"Put your things away and get washed up, we're going to dinner soon."
"Where Father?"
"Charlie's of course."
"Charlie, mind if we use the dining room tonight?"
"No not at all,"
"Also need seven glasses of kid's wine and two glasses of real wine for Maria and me."
"Coming right up."
"Father, what's going on?"
"You'll see Liesl."
They never had to order, they always ate the same meal every time; so Georg had plenty of time.
"A toast to your new mother," they almost dropped their glasses.
Almost loud enough for everyone in the restaurant to hear, Liesl announced, "You and Father are getting married."
"Cheers everyone, I hope you children approve."
"Father, of course we approve. God opened a window."
"Yes, He did. I love your Fräulein very much."
"And I love your Father very much."
Charlie brought in their dinners. "Congratulations, I couldn't help but hear."
"Thanks Charlie, will you come to the wedding?"
"I'd love to. Just let me know when."
"We will."