Return of a Broken Heart

Twenty Four - Mother Courage

Violetta was amazed. She wasn't surprised because she knew her father would do this. What she couldn't understand, however, was how they hadn't even talked about the evening before yet. Everybody was having their breakfast and they were looking longingly at each other from across the room. Why couldn't they just talk to each other?

She nudged her father. He would get the message even if she had to impale him to get it across. Him and Angie would be together.

After they had finished their food, everyone headed up to their rooms. German walked down the hall and Angie strolled on to the suite. German and Angie were not married, and so, they would not stay in the same room. Angie took the executive suite and German took.... the janitor's closet.

The arrangement wasn't all that bad, really. It wasn't like they weren't speaking to each other. It's just that they weren't a couple. That was the problem. Only couples shared suites. Neither of them wanted to admit it, but they couldn't spend a moment apart when they weren't in each other's heads. Despite the circumstances and everything they'd been through in the last year, all of the twists and turns in their (amicable) relationship, they still wanted each other. They still cared for each other. They still loved each other.

It would be now or never. He could make this trip one they wouldn't ever forget, even though it was pretty extraordinary now. There was something he could do to make Angie's heart leap. This time, he would take the chance. He got his wallet and left. He had something to do.

*   *   *

The show was due to start in twenty minutes. German had been trying to find Angie for all this time, but so far a stroke of luck hadn't hit him. Violetta would tell her what he wanted to say just in case he couldn't find her. Twenty minutes was enough time, but sometimes, it took an eternity for two people's paths to cross. He was so lucky to feel this way about someone again. He knew that Maria would be happy. She'd be happy that he was taking care of Angie. He would be taking care of her for the rest of his life.

"Angie!" His daughter had found Angie.

She didn't have time to stop. There were costumes to sort and parts of staging that were missing. It pained her, but whatever had to be said, had to wait.

Well! If Angie wouldn't stop, Violetta would just talk at her. She had to get this message through. "Angie, dad wants to.."

The last thing or person she wanted to hear about was Violetta's father. She wanted to be on this trip without them being considered as the same entity. Could that be done? Not by anyone's standards, seemingly.

German had no luck and Violetta had tried but failed. There was only one way left to get the news out.

A raucous applause filled the venue. The kids were doing wonderfully. It was sold out. They were beaming. Everything was as it should be. Except one thing.

Violetta nodded her head. It was time.

Everyone from the Studio was standing in two rows. Everyone he loved upon that stage, apart from one person. He came on the stage first. Then Angie came on.

In a perplexed expression, she wondered what in the world could be going on. The audience were shocked, as well as everyone behind them, but happy because there was the possibility that what they had been waiting for, the inevitable, was about to happen.

German gave a little speech. Him and Angie were illuminated on the big screen so everyone in the audience could see what was happening. Finally, he got down on one knee. "Angie, will you marry me?"