Chapter Seventeen

That night was a turning point for Georg. He saw how his injury could bring a little spice into their lives if he just looked on the bright side of it. He still got frustrated, but Maria was wonderful, always finding an opportunity to give or request affection while doing his personal tasks. In return, Georg took the extended time with his wife to romance her. He had Max bring over some flowers and candy, he read to her from Lord Byron and sang to her when they were cuddling trying as much as he could to show her his love and his appreciation.

Brigitta and the children helped Maria with the household tasks so Maria could tend to Georg. The time they were spending together was doing wonders for their marriage and the added responsibility was helping Annie and PJ adjust to their new lives.

The divorce itself was still proceeding. The judge was considering the terms each party laid out, however they were vastly different. Brigitta wanted alimony and child support, while Peter agreed to child support for the girls. He wanted to raise PJ claiming the boy would need a solid, male influence.

Maria and Georg were home alone one afternoon about three weeks after Georg's injury. Maria had fixed lunch while Georg laid out a picnic on the living room floor. Originally, he planned to have made his famous tuna sandwiches followed by some of Maria's favorite cookies and honest to goodness love making, but the plan was changed into a shared endeavor.

Maria settled into Georg's arms and nuzzled him. He placed a kiss on her forehead then settled his hold over her. Maria closed her eyes and leaned into his embrace. "We would never have been able to court like this back in Austria. You can't make a move without a chaperon there."

Georg cocked his head, "The courting phase, the one we had to skip for various reasons, up to and including our very active libidoes, is a little more relaxed if you are staying in public, restaurants, the theater, but I agree an unchaperoned picnic on the Untesberg would have been nearly impossible."

"It's not the Untesberg but it's close," Maria smiled and picked up a finger sandwich. She offered a bite to Georg then finished the rest of it herself.

As they ate and shared memories of the past, they were interrupted by a sharp knock at the door.

"Who could that be?" Maria wondered out loud. "Are you expecting a package or something, Georg?"

Georg shook his head and started to push himself up from the floor. Maria waved him down, "I'll get it."

Maria opened the door to reveal John Hamilton, Brigitta's father-in-law. She squared off her shoulders and kept her tone cool and clipped. "What can I do for you, John?" she asked.

John looked past Maria to see Georg standing in the living room. "I need to meet with Georg, Maria. This whole divorce situation is upsetting to my wife and she wants it over for Peter as soon as possible."

Georg moved closer to the door. "John, you and I have said all there is on the subject. You know there's no way to stop it, Brigitta made up her mind and she has our support."

"I'm aware," John replied. "It is the terms I wish to discuss and try to come to some agreement before we have to get judges involved."

Georg and Maria shared a silent conversation. After Georg lost himself with Peter that day in court, they agreed not to interfere with the divorce any longer. "John, Peter and Brigitta are adults. Surely, if they were to sit down in neutral territory,they could negotiate this on their own. I don't see any benefit from our involvement in their lives. Yes, I am protective of my daughter, but she is a daughter, John. Peter is your son, he boasts of his masculinity in court. I'm certain that he does not need you to fight his battles for him. I wouldn't do for Friedrich, Kurt, or Johann, even with Johann being so young."

John sighed and nodded, "Perhaps they could and should do this on their own. It is just that Peter was always…Matthew is the independent brother."

Maria nodded and spoke up,"It was clear to see that Peter was not a functional husband to Brigitta and clearer now as to why. He was never able to grow up. Perhaps, now he will learn from his failures and find happiness again with another woman more suited to his temperment."

John knew he wasn't going to get anywhere with this. "I'll have Peter reach out to you, Georg…"

"I'm out of it, John. I'm out of this and you needed to stay out too. Let Peter call Brigitta," Georg replied. "And there won't be a word from either of us about it.

My honor on it. Do I have yours?"

John nodded slowly and offered Georg his hand. Georg was able to shake John's hand with his left side, but both Maria and Georg stifled a laugh when John stared at Georg's cast.

"Good day to you," Maria said in a dismissive tone. John turned and stepped away as Maria firmly shut the door.

Georg started to pace and fidget as soon as John left the property. Maria knew the signs and what they meant after 25 years of marriage. "Now Darling, please don't get upset and do anything in haste."

Georg fixed Maria with a firm look, "I will not allow one of my children to be railroaded especially when she is vulnerable! What would you have me do?"

Maria sighed, she knew her answer could lead to a fight between Georg and herself, but she couldn't let him go off the handle again.

"Nothing," Maria replied. "You are right. This is an adult problem for two adults. I know Brigitta is our baby and she is hurting, every instinct I have is telling me to step in and protect her but that will only make it worse."

Georg knew Maria was right. The best thing would be for Peter to be man enough to come see Brigitta, and talk things through. The worst would be if they battled it out in court, and that was the likelihood given Peter's immaturity. His younger brother Matthew, who was pledging the same fraternity as their Johnny had more sense that Peter, and as it seemed to Georg, bigger balls.

"Come, my love, let's finish our picnic. Did you say you wanted to dress for dinner tonight?"

Georg nodded, he intended to propose again, and throw a wedding party in the lodge the likes noone has ever seen. A mix of Austrian and American beauty. He had a night of dinner and dancing all planned out, but now, he truly doesn't have his heart in doing that. They would have their dinner and dancing, and the rest would come or not depending on the mood of the evening.

The mood did not strike Georg that night, at least not to propose. To make passionate love to his wife, that was a horse of another color.

A few days later, while Maria was in town and Georg cleaning up as best he could one handed there was a sharp knock.

Georg put down the dust rag and headed to open the door hoping it wasn't another Hamilton, his daughter and grandchildren, excluded.

No such luck.

"Peter," Georg greeted. "Pretty gutsy of you showing your face around here."

"Yes, Sir," Peter replied. "But I was thinking about what you said the last time we were at court. A man stands up, and I need to stand up, I need to talk to Brigitta. Try to keep this civil for the kids sake. Is she home?"

Georg shook his head, "She's working, trying to save enough money to buy things like sheets and towels and clothes for the children. You gave her nothing. She worked just as hard as you did to make your money, you know?"

Peter, to Georg's astonishment, looked humbled. "When does she get back? I'll come back."

Georg sighed, "I can't speak for her, I won't, but if she is agreeable to seeing you, Maria and I will take care of the children. Come back at 6:30 tonight."

Peter nodded, "Thank you, Sir. I will."

"No promise," Georg reiterated. "She might not want to speak with you, but I will speak to her before you arrive."

Peter left and Georg went to sit in his chair. He knew at first though, Brigitta would be furious with him for even floating the idea, but hopefully between Maria and him they could get her to see the benefit and the potential detriment in letting Peter have the first move in an amicable settlement.

Georg was right.

"How could you, Papa?" Brigitta cried as she paced back and forth in the kitchen. Maria had the children in the main house giving them their dinner.

"Because, Darling, if you do this, if you can both pull it together and act your respective ages, the divorce can be over and done with much sooner than if there's a trial and with a lot less pain. You and Peter only, I say do what you want, but there are three children looking for a hero in this situation."

Brigitta sighed, "And if I don't want to do this, that hero is Peter. Papa, I don't want to even see him, much less talk to him, but if he came here to try to talk to me, and I don't respond…I suppose I have no choice."

Georg reached out and pulled Brigitta into a hug. "No, you don't, but this is the right decision. Talk, meet each other halfway, get the divorce over and let life settle down, hmm?"

Brigitta nodded and agreed it would be best to meet in the guest house for privacy and let Georg and Maria handle homework and bedtime in the main house. Georg knew he had to stay away from this. He knew his own temper and they couldn't afford for him to slug Peter again.

A/N: I hope everyone had a nice holiday and had a Happy New Year. I'm starting to wrap up this story so perhaps only 3 or 4 more updates are left. Then I'll be moving back to more of the Maria and Georg territory. Hopefully, by then the stats are fixed.

As always r/r. Enjoy!