Chapter Twelve

Maria fixed her lapel and attached a ruby broach Georg had given to her on their 10th anniversary. He was always fond of big gifts, expensive gestures. That was one reason the flowers gracing the table in Liesl's guest bedroom meant so much to her.

The doorbell rang just as Maria sprayed her perfume. She realized she had never been "picked up" before as her daughters had. She had never had a "date". Georg had been right about that. Maria still didn't know why Georg felt that this was the best way to resolve their issue, but it would be an interesting ride.

Maria headed for the stairs and started to walk down. At first Georg could only see her shoe, a shiny patent leather, black pump. He fixed his eyes on that. Then there was her slim, stocking covered ankle and delicate calf before her legs disappeared under her skirt. The dress was blue, Georg loved Maria in blue. It had a full skirt, cinched waist, and fitted v neck bodice. She was dressed beautifully, simply, the only jewelry was her ruby broach, understated earrings and wedding ring.

Georg took a deep breath as Maria reached him. He held a small box in his hand which he held out to Maria. "Fraulein, you look breathtaking."

Maria blushed, Georg truly was trying very hard to woo her. She could feel Liesl and her girls watching from the living room. Georg was being so sweet and gentle. She loved this side of him. "Thank you," Maria replied. "You are quite handsome yourself, Captain," Maria said as she accepted the small box. "Can I open it now?"

Georg nodded, "Please. Please…"

Maria opened the small item and revealed a small package of her favorite candy, a chewy fruit candy called Chuckles. "Thank you, these are my favorites."

It felt awkward calling her husband of 25 years Captain and blushing like a schoolgirl, but that was exactly what she was doing. "Shall we?" Georg offered Maria his arm. Then he said over his shoulder toward Liesl, "I won't bring her back too late."

The older couple stepped out the door into the misty evening while Liesl beamed with happiness at how adorable her parents were in this. "Mom, why is Grandma calling Grandpa, Captain? Is she mad at him? He just gave her candy."

Liesl shook her head, "She's not angry with him. Aggie. They are courting, they had a fight and this is how they are going to make it up. Take a good look, honey, you don't see that everyday. Maybe not even once in a lifetime."

"See what?" Aggie asked. "True love? Like you and Dad?"

Liesl nodded, "Like me and Dad. Come on, let's have some hot cocoa and watch TV. Your Dad and brothers won't be home until morning." The men in Liesl's house were out camping leaving the women at home for a girl's night in.

Aggie laughed, "Can we ground Grandma if she's late?"

Liesl joined in the laughter glad to see her parents had the desire at their ages to strive to work things out

Georg had reserved a corner, candlelit table at a fine Italian restaurant. They ordered a bottle of wine and a few appetizers then started to talk. Georg held Maria's hand in his own and rubbed the back of it with his thumb.

"Georg, I am just so sorry, I just need to say that again," Maria said, desperately. "I know that I hurt you when I told Brigitta I had considered leaving our marriage seriously enough that I sought advice about it, but…"

Georg was shaking his head. "No, Darling. Learning that was not in fact, what hurt. What hurt was finding out about it 20 years later and not when it was happening. What hurt was that at some time in our marriage, you didn't trust me enough to talk to me and tell me how you felt."

Maria looked down at their joined hands. "I didn't know, then, what I felt, Georg. That's what I've been trying to explain. I had just given birth to Johnny, you got the promotion and were gone so much…I felt so much and understood so little. I was drowning in so much emotion and what was I supposed to tell you? I'm overwhelmed and I don't understand why?"

"Yes," Georg replied. "Yes, exactly. That's exactly what you could have said. I could have helped you, we could have worked it out together. When weren't we able to do that before?"

"We had always been able to do it before," Maria replied. "Because before that I was always able to identify why I was upset. It was like after Johnny was born, all the joy and happiness I should have felt was just the opposite. I couldn't tell you because…"

"Because you didn't understand it yourself," Georg sighed. "Maria, through everything you have been my strength. When we had to leave Austria, I had to lean on you, I couldn't have made it through without you. I was angry, I was confused, so many emotions and you were able to guide me through. You did that, and when you were hurting and lost and needed me the most, I didn't even realize I needed to help you."

"I didn't realize I needed it," Maria comforted gently. "Until one day when I was in town with the youngest five kids, Gretl was angry about something, Johnny was screaming…and I looked to my left and to my right and all around…and I was alone. That night…"

Georg swallowed. This was harder to hear than he anticipated. "That night when you got home, very late, I tried to talk to you. You said that you needed to leave the next day, another trip away, and I did try to tell you that I wanted you to stay home, that I…"

"No," Georg hissed as if she burned him. "Oh, no…Tell me I…How could I have not realized it?'

1943

Georg got home after 8pm. He was exhausted. His back ached, his eyes burned.. It had been a dreadfully long day. There was a hot plate on the stove covered in foil. His supper. He sighed. His dear Maria. How he missed spending time with her, but this work was important and there was no flexibility.

When he had been approached about helping the Allies improve their subnets and torpedo accuracy, he hadn't wanted to accept deeming the job too risky with a still growing family in a new homeland. However, the war in the Pacific wasn't going well for the Americans and the War Department contacted him again. He felt compelled to agree.

From then on there was constant work. Teaching during the day, meetings at night. To beat that, his war department contact was a young, rather worldly woman. If Maria found out any of this, with the baby so small…Besides, it was a secret consultation. He wasn't permitted to tell anyone. How did he continue to explain his absences? He had to tell Maria he was going away again tomorrow for a few days at least. The last time she had seemed upset with him, but what could he do?

Georg ate his supper then went into the bedroom. Maria wasn't in there, she was probably feeding Johnny before putting him down for the night. Georg got ready for bed, got his satchel out of the closet and packed a few things, put on his glasses and started reading over the essays and battle plans he had given out as assignments.

When Maria entered the bedroom, she saw Georg was home. She had spent the last two hours walking back and forth among the children's bedrooms, watching her babies, trying to figure out what she was going to do. She felt so lost, she hadn't ever felt so lost before. What was worse, any time she had felt the slightest bit of emotional discomfort before this, Georg was able to tell right away, without a word. Now, it seemed Georg had no idea, that he had disengaged from their marriage entirely. There was very little cuddling, almost no conversation…the feeling of loss was deep and it hurt.

Maria slid into bed beside Georg and curled into his side. "Did you eat?" she asked quietly as she spied the satchel in the corner. No! Not again!

"Hmm," Georg replied. "Thank you, it was delicious." He waited a beat then, "Maria, I need to go with the cadets on exercises for a few days. I'll be gone through Sunday, I suspect "

"No!" Maria wanted to scream. She could not bear this alone for another second, she could not. She took a deep breath. She could ask him, she could just ask him and he would stay with her. He would help her.

"Georg, I really…" Maria began but Georg started to speak again.

"I know it is a lot of time away, but we really need the money from this promotion. We really do. It won't be too long."

Georg gave Maria a kiss on the cheek, turned off the lamp and took his glasses off. "My train leaves at 7am. We need to get some sleep."

Maria put her head in her hands. Georg was a foot away from her and she had never felt so alone. What was the point of being part of a team when she was constantly alone? She would rather be lonely alone.

"It probably didn't help I wreaked of stale perfume a lot of the time either, " Georg sighed.

"That never once crossed my mind, not once. I never thought that you would step out on me. Never."

Georg sighed. It was a new beginning, so it was time to level with Maria and reveal the truth.

Georg withdrew his hand and looked down at his place. He took a long sip of wine and sighed. "That's true, Maria. I have never loved anyone more and I would never have become involved with anyone else. But I was not being honest with you back then. I realize now I should have told you, helped you understand, but…I didn't. I wasn't able to."

Maria looked at Georg and held his gaze. This was serious, she could tell. What didn't he tell her? Did he have a secret buried as deeply as she had? Could she manage to have a better reaction to whatever it was than Georg had to her outburst.

Maria bit her lip and held her breath.

A/N: Little cliffhanger here, what was Georg up to? And how about our romantic Captain hmmm? As always favorite and follow and let me know what you think about this update in the comments. Have a great day. Be sure to check out the latest Snapshot - Georg's Thanksgiving Prayer.