Happiness

By the time the Stormtroopers appeared at the farm, the farm was empty. The Kellers had left only a few minutes after Sidney did; they went west in the direction of Switzerland.

Sidney drove as fast as he could off the property. Their direction was east for many miles before they arrived at the road which went north towards Salzburg.

The car was silent for most of those first miles. Georg had resisted sitting in the back with Maria. It was just as well; Maria was deep in thought. She was wondering if the children would be glad to see her. She knew it had been wrong to leave without saying goodbye.

Georg soon took that thought out of her mind. He turned slightly so Maria could hear him. "Maria, you better be prepared to stand your ground when the children see you."

"Do you really think so?"

"I know so. And Sidney, there's no need for you to stay at the hotel. My children will be happy to see you."

"Then I'll drive to the hotel and check out."

It wasn't very long before they arrived at the Bristol Hotel. "Give me a few minutes, Georg and I'll follow you to your villa."

While Sidney checked out, Georg got in the driver's seat. "Maria, when we get to the villa, we'll know the children are outside; they're very boisterous when they play.

"I think you'll be able to sneak up to your room. Isabel kept the door closed; you should do the same. Listen for the children and begin to sing one of the songs you taught them."

"So you want me to scare them."

"I suppose; but it will be a happy scare."

By this time, Sidney had driven from around the back of the hotel and was now behind Georg. And Maria had relaxed and was anticipating seeing the children. The two cars pulled into the street which took them east across the Salzach River before turning south on the road to Aigen.

When they arrived, they both parked in the circle. Georg, always a gentleman, opened the back door for Maria. All three of them heard the children playing. Georg cautiously opened the front door; not even Franz was near-by. Maria hurried up the stairs and hid in her room.

Georg and Sidney entered the villa and walked towards the veranda door. They both leisurely walked to where the children were playing. Seeing Sidney with him didn't elicit a question from the children.

It was an excited Gretl who asked a question. "Did you find a farm with kittens?"

"I did. Uncle Sidney helped me. On this farm were children just like you Gretl; children who sang some of the same songs you know."

"Did they sing about their favorite things?"

"I believe they did. Why don't you go get cleaned up; it's lunch time."

They did run into the villa and were quite noisy when they passed the governess' room. Maria had heard them and sang loudly the line …don't feel so bad. The children stopped dead in their tracks.

"Did I hear singing?"

"All of us heard it, Gretl."

"Maybe it's a ghost."

"Ghosts don't speak."

"Then what could it be?"

"There's only one way to find out. I'm going to open the door."

"And I'm going to hide behind Liesl."

Maria heard the conversation; she knew it was Friedrich who was opening the door. She saw the doorknob turn and then the door pushed open very slightly.

Friedrich hesitated; he took a deep breath and then pushed the door so hard it slammed against the wall.

Maria was sitting Indian style on her bed almost holding her breath.

"I knew it. It's Fräulein Maria."

"Let me see if you're telling the truth."

Friedrich barely got out of the way as Gretl came running from behind Liesl. She saw Maria and ran faster as Maria prepared to help her up on the bed. Once she was, Maria gave her a bear hug as all the others children joined them. If she had been standing, they would have pushed her down to the ground.

Then the questions began. "Why did you leave? Where have you been? How did you get here?"

Their father answered. "I brought your Fräulein home."

"Were you living on a farm?"

"Yes, the very one your father found."

"It's lunch time, children. There will be lots of time to answer all those questions."

All the while, Georg was remembering Harold's warning. He knew he had to leave Austria very soon. He also knew he must disappoint Gretl and the others about visiting a farm.

What Georg didn't know was that everyone would help him tell them about needing to leave Austria. Gretl began.

"Fräulein Maria, tell me about the kittens on the farm."

"Gretl, the kittens were not very old. Two were all black and the other two had white bellies. And one of the children who lived on the farm was very concerned about them.

"You see, she and her brothers and sister knew their mama and papa had given their horses, cows and chickens away because they had been told they were moving to Switzerland.

"She was so very happy to hear her papa tell her he had them and their mama all in a basket ready to be placed in their car."

"So we won't be able to visit that farm."

"No Kurt, we won't. You see, this farm wasn't far from the border with Germany. The owner knew soldiers from that country's new army might come there and frighten his children."

"And Father, I remember hearing two men talking at the party; they were rather loud. I could hear them from the courtyard. They didn't like the fact that you hung your flag in the hall. One of them laughed when he said. The Captain doesn't know the flag won't protect him from the inevitable. Father, what was he talking about?"

Now Georg was angry; he took several deep breaths. But Sidney spoke first. "Liesl, I doubt you and your older brother and sister know much about the new leader of Germany. He has aspirations of having a big empire; he wants Austria in his empire. There are many Austrians who think it is a good idea."

Liesl had a flashback to the day Elsa left. She remembered her conversation with Franz and Kurt's comment. The world sure is complicated these days. She chose not to speak but Sidney continued.

"You and Friedrich both know your father was decorated by the Empress; he's very proud of his service to Austria. Hanging his flag was his way of telling his guests he would always be loyal to Austria.

"Sadly, my lodge was like Maria's farm; it too is very close to the border with Germany. I already had its soldiers coming across the border. They chased all my guests away. So I gave it to the near-by seminary. When your father asked me to help him find a farm you might be able to visit, I didn't hesitate to go with him."

Friedrich knew his geography. "Isn't Salzburg close to the German border too?"

"You are correct."

"Father, are we going to leave Austria? All of what you told us doesn't sound good."

"Friedrich, you're very perceptive. Now please don't be alarmed. The answer is yes; we do need to leave Austria."

Georg heard the adults all gasp as their facial expression changed. All of them had that look of shock, eyebrows went up and their mouths opened. The older children looked the same. The younger three stared at their father with big eyes.

"Everyone, I'm sure we are not in immediate danger. The farm where Maria was living was very close to the German border. It worried the owner so much he knew it was time to leave there.

"If some of these soldiers came across our border, they would probably take over the airport. It is extremely close to the border. Our home here in Aigen is a good distance from the border.

"We have time to pack our clothes and other things we want to take with us. And we have the train station behind the pasture where we can board a train without being noticed."

"Fräulein Maria, I'm so glad father found you. We would have been terribly sad to leave Austria without you."

"I'm glad too, Liesl. I'm also sorry I left without saying goodbye. But I believe it was all part of God's plan. The Reverend Mother told me and the other postulants we had to be sure being a nun was God's plan for us.

"Everyone has to find the life they were born to live; that includes your father and Sidney too. That's why your father was able to find me. We both need to live the life God has known for us since before we were born."

"Your Fräulein is right. Why don't you read for a while and let your food digest, then we can all play some games."

The children ran off; leaving all the adults sitting at the dining room table. Isabel asked. "Georg, do you want us to pack up the house?"

"No, I plan to give it to the church. I'm sure Father Stephan can find a use for it. And Stefan and Phillip, can you locate the children's school backpacks and enough travel bags for everyone except the little girls. Their things can be distributed among all of us."

"And Georg, I'll help them decide which toys they can take with them. I know they will both want to carry their dolls."

Georg's head turned when he heard Maria use his first name. He instinctively gave her a wink. And he noticed the demure smile she returned to him. She didn't turn her eyes away. Their gaze was fixed for a few seconds before Georg spoke again.

"And I have all the photographs I could find as well as the pieces of Agathe's jewelry I saved for the girls. And in a portfolio I have all our important papers and money for our travel."

Stefan and Phillip stood. Neither man had much to say. It had only been since Maria left had Georg invited them to eat with the children.

Georg always knew he would give all of his house staff the opportunity to come with him. He already knew that the German leaders were evil; nothing would stop them from finding him, including taking hostages. He would speak to Franz later. And would ask Max about his plans.

Stefan told him. "I'm sure we'll find everything in the attic. We'll go there and bring everything to the bedrooms."

Isabel and Katia left the dining room as well. The two of them would prepare the kitchen; they would see that everything was properly stored.

"Maria, we should find the children. I'm sure they're ready to play."

They were waiting for them on the veranda. For the next couple of hours they engaged in active games. First it was Freeze Tag they played and then Georg, Sidney, Friedrich, Kurt and Louisa played kickball; even Katia joined them. All the others played badminton with Maria. Isabel watched.

When Max returned home late that afternoon, Franz spoke to him. He wasn't surprised at what he heard. He would speak to Georg later.

After dinner, the group played quiet games and the children sang their favorite songs before they went up to bed. Georg and Maria both had gone up to say goodnight to them. They didn't go to bed.

Instead they went back downstairs where they found the sitting room empty; they sat there and talked.

"Maria, I know you don't know I went to Vienna in search of you. The Reverend Mother suggested I should look for you there. I did speak to the owner of the dress shop. She told me you left Vienna after you saw the boy Liesl knew."

"Yes, I did. He was wearing a uniform. I wondered why he was in Vienna."

"I wondered the same. Did you see him again before you left Vienna?

"I did, not only him but he had three of his friends with him."

"Something tells the rest is not good."

"It wasn't terrible, Georg. Yes, they surrounded me and forced me to go with them. I knew better than resist. I thought Rolf had a gun in his pocket. They took me to an apartment building. There they took me to the basement where they locked me in a room. Rolf told me I was bait for you. A man named Zeller would be in Vienna in the morning to get me. Who is he?"

"He's a man who has sold his soul to the devil. And I know now neither you nor I can go into Salzburg. I'm sure you would like to see the Reverend Mother but we can't take a chance. Maybe you could talk to her on the telephone."

"Yes, I do want to speak to her. She's usually in her office after morning prayers."

"Then we'll call her in the morning. Now tell me how you escaped."

"Georg, I soon discovered I was in the room with the coal bin. I was able to exit through the opening for receiving the coal. I knew where I was and made it back to the boarding house where I bathed, packed and with my guitar I headed for the train station. I boarded a train headed for my home in Tirol. Now may I ask you a question?"

"Of course you may." Georg smiled as he wondered what she would ask.

"When we danced the Laendler together and our faces were so close, and our gazes were fixed, did you feel sparks which seemed to make everything around us vanish?"

"I can remember my feelings like it was yesterday. I knew then what I wanted to say."

"Please tell me."

"Maria, I began to fall in love with you almost from the moment we met. It was your innocence, your respectful way of questioning me, to your blowing your whistle at me; and many more examples I could share. But when you brought me back in touch with my children, I knew for sure.

"Yes Maria, I love you. I surmise a certain baroness told you this and you were frightened and ran away.

"Yes she did. I didn't want to believe her. She kept giving me examples. When she suggested I wear the dress from the puppet show, I remembered the feelings I had when you looked at me when you sang Edelweiss. I thought it was wrong to have those feelings. I knew I couldn't stay."

"So you ran away."

"I had to. Besides, Frau Schmidt had told me you would marry the Baroness before the summer was over."

"Did she sound happy about it?"

"No, in fact she was hesitant about telling me. It was my gleeful response that the children would have a mother again which changed her demeanor. I remember thinking it was odd."

"Isabel knows me well. She knew Elsa was not at all like Agathe. I still don't know what possessed me to ask for her hand in marriage. But when she screamed at the children I knew I had to break our engagement. I also learned she sided with the Austrians who want Austria to become a part of Germany. She had no concern for me.

"Maria, have your feelings returned? "

"Georg, I'm so naïve. As I told you, I thought my feelings were wrong for me to have. I had pledged myself to God. Before I came upon Harold lying on the ground in terrible pain, I had stopped in the village where I grew up.

"I sat beside my mama's grave. Georg, I hardly knew her; she died when I was two."

Georg knew that but he didn't respond; he listened.

"But I do remember my father telling me how much she loved me. That day I talked to her as any child would do. I told her what I had been doing; about all the hiking I had done and how I had decided to give my life to God.

"And about the time I had spent with your children. I even told her about our argument; and then all about your reaction to hearing them sing. I also told her about my feelings I had had when you sang Edelweiss. And then my mind seemed to be filled with her words.

Your feelings aren't wrong. God has given us all a capacity to love. And perhaps God wants you to share the love he gave you with this man. It may be the same for him. Don't be afraid; this may be God's plan.

"Now, I know she was absolutely correct. You just told me you love me and I believe you. I'm not afraid. The Reverend Mother often told me I had a great capacity to love. I now know how God wants me to spend my love.

"There's a song I know. The last line is about love. It follows ones that say you don't hear a bell until it's rung or a song until it's sung. You also don't know love until you give it away."

Georg looked expectantly at Maria for what he would hear next.

"Georg, I give my love to you. I love you with all my heart. I know now how to spend my love."

"My darling, my beautiful Maria, your words have touched my heart. Maria, since we both have declared we love the other. When we get to Switzerland, will you marry me?"

"Georg, of course I will. It's the only way to truly give you my love."

"Take a walk with me down to the lake." Georg held out his hand for Maria to hold.

"Why there? I'd like to forget what happened there."

"I have a plan to help us change that."

"Georg, what are you up to?"

"You'll see."

Georg walked to the gate by the lake.

"Maria, I'll always remember what happened here because it was the turning point in my life. Now I want this place to hold a special memory for both of us.

"There was something I really wanted to do when we danced together and our faces were only an inch or so apart. This is the perfect place for me to show you the love I have for you."

Georg brushed Maria's cheek with his fingers; then rested them under her chin. Gently he pulled her face close. Maria didn't move away. Instead she closed her eyes as she felt his breath on her face.

And then she felt his lips brush hers; she felt sensations so pleasant she leaned into him and he firmly placed his lips on hers that she moaned in pleasure. His lips left hers and kissed her all along her jaw line all the way to her temple.

Maria fell against his shoulder; Georg soothed her by gently rubbing her back. Neither spoke. They both knew they would remember this place and their first kiss forever. As their breathing returned to normal, Maria found enough breath to say.

"How am I ever going to get to sleep tonight?"

"You will darling. You can dream about all the kisses we will share for as long as we both shall live."

"Then we should return to the villa so I can begin to dream myself to sleep."

The very much in love couple shared another kiss at the foot of the stairs. Both smiled all the way to their bedrooms.