Chapter 4

September 1961

"You should audit this class, Brigitta," Ella encouraged her older sister. "You would really like it. even Mama is really interested in this class."

"When would I find the time?" Brigitta asked, partially to her younger sister and partially to the air. The demands of Peter's constantly growing business were really taking a lot of Brigitta's time and energy. Still, the idea of some intellectual stimulation beyond seating plans, menus, and Annie's geography homework was very tempting.

"Make the time. There are a couple of married women in the class," Ella replied. "It's 3 hours a week! You don't even have to do the assignments, just read the books."

"I really would like to do that. When I was in school they didn't have a course that focused on female writers like this," Brigitta bit her lip. "I'll talk with Peter about it."

Peter, of course, was not receptive to the idea at all. "You have a college education, why would you want to go back to school?"

"I wanted to haul off and wrap him right in the teeth. That smug look... Did that ever happen with you and Papa? We know he can be stubborn," Brigitta asked Maria as they peeled potatoes for a Sunday dinner later that week.

"Like that?" Maria asked. "No, but he has lost his temper with me many times, many, many times over the years and i with him. We have argued and we have had our share of issues, all marriages do."

"I suppose," Brigitta sighed. "But you do so many things outside; rosary society and choir, the hospital…You do it all and still keep the house and help all of us. Papa is okay with that."

Maria nodded as she reached for another potato. "Yes he is, more so now that all you children are grown up. Rose is engaged, Ella is in school, Johnny graduates this year, then he'll be gone. Also, now your father is retired so there's less of the socialization that comes along with having a husband with a career. I know it's difficult, Darling, but it does happen and these things have a way of working themselves out."Maria gave Brigtta a gentle hug, the water from her hand slightly moistened Brigitta's top.

"Perhaps you have had your troubles," Brigitta replied. "But I've never seen Papa not listening to you, not supporting something that you wanted to do, and I feel as if unless I'm doing what he wants Peter's not happy."

"I am so sorry that's happening to you, Sweetheart," Maria replied. "And there were times when your Father was not as understanding as I would have liked. Still, the relationship I have with your Father is rare. We are best friends and that makes the difference. Not everyone is that lucky."

"Papa is a good man," Brigitta smiled. "And so is Peter, he is just so much different than Peter. I would think because he was a Captain and an old Austro-Hungarian he would be old fashioned."

"I think it helped that your father was married before; he had a chance to work out some of the kinks that come with being a man," Maria laughed. "In all seriousness though, your father realizes that marriage is a partnership, about two people. I want to do some things that make me happy and that's what he wants, he wants me to be happy. I want him to be happy. There are other things I would do, other hobbies I would pursue, however that might take me away from the house even more and it makes your father happy when I'm close by. It's give a little, get a little," Maria explained. "It comes with time and maturity and sometimes people grow at different speeds. Peter is still evolving, his career is expanding. I think when Edit is a little older, then I think.. wait a year or two, he'll settle. In the meantime keep talking to him. let him see what you need him to do. One of my biggest mistakes as a wife earlier on was not doing that and then getting angry at your father for not reading my mind. Just wait a year or two."

Brigitta was quiet for a minute."I'll wait a year or two," she agreed. There was no marriage stronger than her parents. If that worked for her mother, letting her father know what her needs were so he can respond to those needs, she would try it with Peter. Maybe it could work.

Only it didn't.

November 1963

Georg was relaxing in his easy chair before a warm fire when he heard the car pull up. There were some benefits that came with having no children at home anymore, but some drawbacks too. There was plenty of time for the privacy he and Maria didn't have in the early years of their marriage, but as Maria was more active in church and the community then he was, it could get lonely as well.

Georg looked at the clock on the mantle. It was too early for Maria to return home from choir practice. It had to be one of the children. Friedrich and Marta visited unannounced very often, so Georg was surprised when Brigitta walked into the back door by herself.

All Georg had to do was look at his daughter to know how upset she was. He folded his newspaper and stood up. "My God, come here," Georg opened his arms to Brigitta. "Come. Come."

Brigitta practically ran into her father's embrace and buried her face in his chest like she had when she was a little girl. Georg held Brigitta close and gently rubbed her back. "What happened? Is it the children?"

Brigitta pulled back and shook her head. "No, I'm sorry I worried you, Papa. I just didn't know where else to go. Is Mother here?"

"No, still at choir rehearsal. Christmas will be here before we know it," Georg replied. "If I will do…I'll fix you some tea or I have some sherry in the office."

"I'll take the sherry," Brigitta replied, her hands shaking slightly.

"Good choice," Georg replied. "I'll get it. Sit down and warm up by the fire. You're shaking." Georg hated seeing Brigitta in such a state. Kurt and Gretl were the most prone to open emotion.

When Georg returned with the spirits he sat beside Brigitta and pressed the drink into her hands. "Take a sip, take a breath. Where are the children?"

Georg knew better than to assume Peter was alone with all three children.

"At Louisa's," Brigitta replied. "I asked her to keep them overnight, maybe tomorrow too. I knew she wouldn't ask many questions."

"And they are fine?" Georg confirmed.

Brigitta nodded. "Fine. PJ is as outgoing as ever," she added with a touch of Georg's sarcasm.

"So, it's Peter then." It wasn't a question.

Brigitta covered her face and nodded her head. How did he do this? How could her father always know what was wrong before she told him? "I think my marriage is over, Papa," Brigitta finally confessed.

Georg raised his eyebrow then set his glass down and slipped his arms around Brigitta. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry. What is it? Another woman? He didn't hurt you or one of the children, did he?"

Brigitta shook her head enjoying the safety she felt in her father's arms just like she was still a little girl of ten. "No. No, he'd never do anything like that and I don't know about another woman…Maybe, but not that I know about." Brigitta took a sip of her drink. "Papa, I really thought I loved Peter. I wanted to marry him and have babies with him. I have tried so hard to make him happy."

Georg sighed. "Is he cruel in his words to you, Brigitta? Because that is just as bad…"

"No, Papa, " Brigitta insisted. "It's not just one thing, one time. It's been 15 years. Fifteen years of doctors, dentists, coffee making, bed making, laundry, business dinners, spit and polish! No matter what I do he always seems to want more. I keep that house running like a Swiss watch. for what? The whole thing is becoming incredibly hard."

"Well," Georg sighed after accepting that Peter wasn't physically harming Brigitta. "That has a tendency to happen, but that doesn't mean the marriage is over. In my day, well.. My day has passed, I know that. So, your solution is what? Get a divorce?"

"Yes," Brigitta replied. "Yes, I think it's the only thing I can do now. My marriage is a job now, Papa. It's not a partnership, it never has been, not really. That house that I work so hard to make a home is a four-bedroom prison. I'm sick of it! Papa, I'm sick of only being a means to an end."

"Did you talk to Peter about all this? Did you tell him how you're feeling?"

Georg liked to see himself as an enlightened husband that respected Maria as a person beyond her capacity as a wife and mother and Peter being 33 years younger was sure to understand that.

"It's like talking to a brick wall," Brigitta replied. "He doesn't hear me Papa, I'm not sure he even sees me! Brigitta! I'm not sure I do anymore either. I never saw marriage like this. So many of my friends in high school and college said marriage meant a woman lost her identity, that she disappeared into her husband, but that's not what I saw. Mother, Liesl, even Louisa and Margaret Mary, they still have their own interests, their own ideas, but…"

"He doesn't respect you," Georg clarified. "And, my darling girl, if he doesn't respect you and appreciate you after 15 years, he's probably not going to learn overnight. You need to get his attention, make him listen. That's what your mother did, more than once."

Brigitta finished her sherry. "That's different."

"How?" Georg processed.

"Because you actually cared what mother had to say," Brigitta explained. "Peter couldn't care if I up and join the Army so long as I press the sheets first. My husband doesn't love me Papa, and I don't love him. I'm not sure even like him. I'm miserable, Papa. I am sad and angry every minute of every day and I hate that feeling. I deserve better than that and what's more my children deserve better than that. You told me on my wedding day that a good marriage is 100/100 well for the last few years it hasn't even felt like 100/50!"

Brigitta was speaking with a lot of emotion in her voice but no tears. Her eyes were glistening like Agatha often did when she had her mind set. Then, she lifted her chin as Maria would do before they would face off, but what really told Georg of Brigitta's determination was the way she locked her jaw, the same way he did. Her mind was made up. "What do you need from me?" Georg asked. "I might not understand your choice, but it is your choice and I will support you."

"That's all I need," Brigitta replied. "Before I got married, I wanted your blessing. I need that again."

"You have it, my girl," Georg assured her.

"Will mother understand?" Brigitta asked, knowing Maria was much younger than Georg but also much more religious. "The church won't sanctify a divorce on these grounds."

.

"Of course she'll understand.t Brigitta, we only want you happy. Now when and how do you plan to tell him? Do you want me and your brothers there?"

Brigitta smiled. It was adorable how he wanted to protect her even though she was 36 years old. "No, Papa. I'll be fine. I'll tell him tomorrow and I'll come over after. I feel so much better just having said it out loud."

Georg gave Brigitta another hug then walked her to her car. He watched her drive off before going back inside to wait for Maria; this was going to be something he would have to prepare her for.

A/N: in a review for chapter 3, I was asked how old Georg and Maria are in this story. Georg is 73, and Maria is 48. Brigitta had a bit of a gap with her children, yes, Edit was an accident.

Here we see a divergence between He Thinks He'll Keep Her and Quittin Time. However, in the next couple chapters we find out what Maria's secret is and let us just say Brigitta and Peter might not be the only couple "quittin"