Chapter Thirty-Three
"Where are we going, Papa?" Lida asked as Georg headed out of town toward Louisa's.
"Mama and I moved to Louisa's today," Georg explained. "She's not due for about three weeks, and even though Curtis is delivering, we want to be close to the hospital just in case we have to get there…"
"Curtis is delivering?" Lida asked. "I thought you had a specialist taking care of Mama."
"We did," Georg replied. "But your Mama and I have been together for every birth, starting with you, and we decided that if Mama did all right medically leading up to the birth we would have another home birth."
"But you were against that! Cathy told me you wanted the birth in a hospital," Lida replied.
"I did," Georg replied. "The compromise was to have the baby at Louisa's because she lives five minutes from Mary Fletcher. Your Mama and I have always been a team, partners."
Lida nodded, "Well, if you both feel it's okay to try then…But Curtis delivering? You don't even like him, Papa."
"Well, a lot can change in a year, Lida Rose," Georg replied. "If not for Curtis I would be dead. He saved my life when I had my heart attack. He spoke up for me and he protected your Mama. I respect that."
"Good," Lida smiled. "I'm glad that he saved you, Papa. You look very good, but why are you using a cane?"
Georg sighed, "Well, it seems this situation with my heart had been going on for a while and long story short, my legs don't want to work like they used to. I need it for balance. Here we are…"
Georg put the car in park. "Tonight you will stay here with us, but I'm afraid there isn't a lot of room so you can go to the farm and stay or to Montpelier and stay with Uncle Max and Aunt Brianna."
"I still can't believe Uncle Max got married," Lida laughed. "I'm just so glad he's happy."
Georg swung his legs to the side of the car and got up slowly. "Me too. The children will be in bed now so let's just be quiet going in. Your Mama is uh.. She is really big but I wouldn't mention that if I were you."
"Oh, Papa!" Lida laughed again then watched Georg carefully navigate the three steps to the porch. "Do you need help?"
Georg shook his head, "No, I can get along very well. Don't fuss, your Mama fusses enough for the entire family."
Louisa rushed at Georg and Lida as soon as the door opened! "Look at you, you look so good!" Louisa gave her younger sister a hug.
"You too. This is a nice place, really a lot of space," Lida observed.
"With the boys and Maggie I'll need it," Louisa laughed. "Come with me, I'll get you settled for tonight in the den."
"Where's Mama?" Lida asked. Georg was wondering the same thing.
Louisa frowned. "She was exhausted and her back pain was persistent so she went to lie down. She's sound asleep. I'm sorry, Lida, I know how much she has been waiting for this day."
"I best go see her," Georg said softly. "This constant back pain is worrying me. I feel like it could be a trial of labor, but she says the baby's still high so Curtis said that wasn't it."
Louisa sighed, "I thought so too. She just seems to be in pain though, no rhythm. She took a hot water bottle to bed, but she was out before I even finished helping her."
Georg sighed, "Okay, I'll go and check in on her now. Lida, welcome home. You can visit with your Mama in the morning when she's not so tired. Goodnight meine kleine blume." Georg gave each girl a kiss in the forehead. "Goodnight, my Darling. If you need help with the children…"
"I'll help her, Papa," Lida replied. "Tell Mama to feel better. Goodnight."
Georg left to check on Maria leaving Lida and Louisa on their own. Lida fumbled with the sleeve of her blouse a minute then asked, "Can I please make a call before we settle in? Just a few minutes. I'll pay for it."
"Who are you calling that it would be a fee?" Louisa asked with a raised eyebrow.
"The man that runs the orphanage where I was working. He wanted me to let him know I arrived safely," Lida replied, hoping she didn't blush.
If she did, Louisa let it go and showed her where they had the phone.
Georg looked down at Maria. She was on her side, arm draped over her belly, indeed sound asleep. She looked like an angel with the moonlight reflecting off her skin. Maria sensed Georg's presence and stirred a little bit. "Ssh" Georg soothed. "I'm here, my Darling. I'm here, go back to sleep. Go back to sleep."
Maria shifted and took a deep breath. She never remembered feeling so tired with her other babies, she supposed in the state between asleep and awake that was the difference between having a baby at 25 and one at 46, a whole new kind if exhausted.
Maria felt Georg gently kiss her cheek and vaguely heard him start his evening routine before the depth of slumber claimed her once more.
April 4, 1961
Lida and Louisa were working on breakfast when Julia got up. She was still sleepy as she padded to the kitchen in her nightgown and socks.
Lida smiled, "Hey Little Sister," Lifa greeted. "You look pretty sleepy."
"Couldn't fall asleep," Julia replied. "You look…good. You look really good. I can see you didn't lose much sleep over that you put Mama and Papa through."
"Jules!" Louisa replied quickly. Julia was the only one that hadn't forgiven Lida yet.
"It's okay, Louisa," Lida replied. "Julia, I told Mama and Papa both how sorry I am for everything that happened and I feel terrible that Papa's health has been difficult. I never told you though, how sorry I am. You had to deal with so much of it on your own at home. I was horrible, ungrateful, and unfair. I'm sorry."
Julia didn't expect Lida to give such a heartfelt apology. She had felt the brunt of the upheaval that came from all of the arguing and had the hardest time dealing with Georg's heart condition. He was her Papa, her hero, and seeing him in a weaker state was hard.
Lida dried her hands and moved to hug Julia. She wasn't sure if Julia would accept it, but she tried anyway. "I'm so sorry," Lida said again. She held on for a couple minutes until she felt Julia give in and return the embrace.
"We are making Papa a birthday breakfast, do you want to help?" Lida asked. "We are just about to get the coffee going. He'll be up soon."
Louisa was going to host Georg's birthday dinner to take the stress of it off Maria. The other girls would be arriving soon. Debbie was in charge of decorations and Rosemaria, of course, the cake. Max said he would bring the wine, but since Georg no longer drank, that didn't make much sense. Still, Louisa told her beloved uncle and new aunt they could bring the wine.
Georg had stayed in the bedroom even after he woke and got dressed. Maria had been up twice with heartburn and upset because she missed welcoming Lida home. When Maria woke Georg was smiling at her. "Good morning, beautiful," he whispered.
Maria sighed and reached up ti touch Georg's cheek. "Happy Birthday, my love."
Georg played it off as if he didn't recall, "Is it my birthday today? That must be why the house smells like bacon and pancakes. Let me know when you are ready to get up or if not, you stay in bed."
"Nonsense," Maria protested. "I actually feel okay. Pretty energized. If you would be so kind as to help me up, I can give you a proper kiss, and get ready for that wonderful smelling meal."
Georg smiled and moved to help Maria to her feet. He examined her lower leg and ankle, "Swelling went way down, that long rest did you good."
"I still feel like an oversized grapefruit," Maria complained. "How did it go yesterday?'
"Well," Georg replied. "She hesitated a little at first but then she just ran up to me and wrapped her arms around me like she used to when she was a baby. It broke my heart, Darling," Georg confessed. "She actually thought we could stop loving her. Just stop. I explained that wasn't so."
"I will reiterate your point," Maria assured. "How does she look? She's okay?"
Georg nodded, "Yeah, she looks happy. Settled. I think this trip to help those orphans really made a woman out of her. She was not the same person that started calling me Captain and spewing venom to and fro, she wasn't even the same person that came to see me in the hospital. She's grown, Maria and she did that more or less, by herself. I'm proud of her."
Maria put her dress on and fixed her hair. "I'll take a full bath before the family comes tonight. I'm hungry and I want to see my daughter."
Georg opened the bedroom door and dramatically gestured for Maria to leave the room ahead of him. "After you, Dear lady."
Maria could only laugh.
Lida all but launched herself into Maria's arms when she saw her mother. After a long embrace Maria pulled back and surveyed her daughter. " You look so beautiful. I've missed you so much.
I'm so glad you made it home for Papa's birthday."
" Me too! Mama, look at you! If I didn't know better I'd say that baby will be coming tomorrow. When is it again?"
Maria rubbed her belly, "Later this month, about three weeks I'll guess, but the doctor said the baby's high so maybe a little more."
"Well, I will be as close as I can to help," Lida promised. "I…"
"After breakfast, my sweet," Georg spoke up. "Let Mama eat while she is up to it and then you two have a good long talk."
Maria dropped into the chair, the weight of the baby was pressing down on her pelvis while the activity seemed to be under her breast bone. Louisa served the meal the three girls had cooked then instructed her boys in what she expected of them that busy day.
Friedrich was coming to pick Georg up and go out for a bit while the party was set up. Taking him out was the only way to get Georg to not work on setting up his own dinner. Still, Maria hadn't been feeling well the last three days and Georg was hesitant to leave or to have the dinner at all.
"I'll have other birthdays," he said frankly. "I'll be happy with an order from the Polar Bear down the street."
"Georg, if I hear you even stepped into that parking lot I will throttle you," Maria said firmly. "Curtis said no more bad food. The schnitzel we are having tonight is bad enough and we are baking it special. Now, you will go when Friedrich gets here and let us do what we need to do."
Maria has her Baroness Von Ttapp voice on and Georg knew better than to pose an argument with her. He was picked up and gone before noon.
Louisa and Julia started to prepare the dining room, giving Lida and Maria time to talk alone in the kitchen. Neither one ever thought they would struggle to speak with each other like this.
Finally, Lida spoke up, studying her lap. "I need to just say Mama I am so sorry. I am so sorry for what happened to you and sorry that I behaved so badly when you had to tell me the truth about it. You and Papa both didn't deserve my wrath, but all of my compassion. I failed in that and made you feel like failures too. I knew better, I was taught better."
Maria sighed and leaned back trying to find a more comfortable position. "Lida, your father told you and I told you how much we love you. I don't know if you will even understand that until you are a parent too. I do know what it feels like to have your trust violated, and regardless of the reason, we were wrong to do that, I see that now."
"Mama," Lida rushed to comfort Maria as she saw her getting upset. "I do understand. You and Papa never saw me as anything different so when I asked you why I felt that way, for you that was…I wasn't different, I wasn't just your baby, I know that now. Papa didn't have to be a father to me, I realize that now. He had control over all of that, and he chose you. He chose me."
Maria massaged her belly, shifting again at the ache in her back. "He loves all of his children, but you were something special. Your Papa was in love with me before I was really ready for it, then I was raped and he turned into this…whole different person. He was coarse and strict before then, kind…and protective. The only person I could trust."
Maria swallowed and continued. "He protected us. and when you were born, he held you and I swear to you Lida, the look on his face when he held Cathy and Julia was the same. I had a hard time after you were born, bonding with you, but Father, not at all. Not at all. He loved you first."
Lida had tears running down her face. "I love you, Mama. I love you so much. I love Papa so much. All I want now is for him to get well and you and the baby to be healthy before I go back to Pennsylvania. I want things to be good with everyone."
Maria raised her eyebrows, "Go back? You mean you aren't back home for good?'
Lida shook her head, "No, I have uh…I've fallen in love again, Mama. Real love this time, I know it for sure. His name is Andrew Manning and he is the sweetest soul. He runs the orphanage. He loves me too and wants me to work beside him helping children that have no one else. I want to give them as much love and protection as you and Papa gave me."
Maria's eyes misted over. "So, that's it. That's why you seem so alive. You have found the other half of your heart. Is this…"
Maria hesitated.
"Yes," Lida offered. "When things are settled he plans to come here to Vermont and talk with you and Papa."
"Your Papa will appreciate it, but we realize we need to understand, especially your Papa that you, Cathy, and Jules are American girls. You see things differently. In spite of having the same parents, you have different experiences, different dreams than you brothers and sisters."
"I just dream of family now, mine and ours together and happy," Lida replied.
The mother and daughter talked a bit more before Maria struggled to her feet. "We must get going now on the party preparations. Your father and Friedrich will be back soon with Cathy. The others will be here by 5. Help me up?"
Lida gave Maria her arms for balance and a hug for love. Maria sighed, everything was good again, whole again, now her only worry was the safety of her new baby, but she felt in her heart that it would be all right.
By the time Georg and Friedrich returned the entire family including Max and Brianna had gathered to celebrate another birthday for Georg. The food was set up in a large buffet and tables joined together through the spacious dining room. Georg was where he liked to be the best, at the heart of his family.
As supper was ending and Georg and Max were telling old war stories to Brianna, exited to have a new audience, Maria felt the cramping she had experienced for the last few days increasing. She tried to ignore it, it was too early anyway, she still had three more weeks.
Still, as the girls were cleaning up and preparing to serve dessert, Maria knew the birth of her 4th child was now imminent. Her water broke.
"Georg," Maria said softly, trying to get his attention.
"Just a moment, Darling," Georg replied quickly, not breaking his conversation with Max.
Maria tried again, louder this time."GEORG!"
Still, he didn't break his concentration until finally Maria said firmly and loud enough to quiet the entire group, "CAPTAIN!"
Georg broke out od his trance and turned his attention to Maria. When Maria saw she had her husband's eye contacts he told him much more calmly, "I do hate to have to interrupt this party before cake, but, my water just broke."
A/N: I know I am bad with the cliff hanger, but you know I love it. I am almost done writing the next chapter where Maria actually has her baby. There will be 36 chapters and a final short to tie everything up. The short will be