A day had passed and tension loomed in the air of the apartment. While the children could escape to their room they still couldn't escape the looks of fear that passed between their parents.
The children all still had to share a bedroom and they often sat in there anyway, but it had become a haven in the past 36 hours.
"Why do we have to go back?" Asked Gretl from her bed.
"Because the papers that allow us to stay here don't work anymore" Liesl tried to explain as she sat next to her little sister.
"But I thought they were good for a whole year?" Brigitta was sitting on the other side of the same bed and stopped playing her recorder.
"I guess not. I bet Samish didn't tell us the whole truth" Friedrich rolled on his eyes as he leaned back on the new bed he and Kurt shared.
"But why wouldn't he just drop the extra two and half months? It's not that uncommon to round out a visa" Brigitta inquired
"But nowadays everyone wants to come here. Men are trying to pull more strings and cut corners to get them here because it means more business" Liesl sighed
"They're money hungry. Typically visas round out like Brigitta said, I'll bet he phrased the contract in a way that created a loophole" Louisa added
"But why not just be honest?" Marts shrugged from her spot next to Friedrich
"Because to one who's greedy is honest" het pat Marta's innocent head
"Why does money make people mean?" Gretl asked. "The baroness wasn't nice, the mean men in Europe weren't nice. Does money make people bad?" She looked between Liesl and Louisa
"No of course not, mother had a lot of money and she was very generous" Liesl told her "she was always helping people out, donating to charities and the poor"
"And Mrs. Hammerfield is very nice, and she's rich" Kurt added
"Kurt, Kurt.." Brigitta held up a hand to quiet her brother "Mrs. Hammerfield!"
"What?" He asked
"Father!" Brigitta shouted as she hopped off the bed and dashed from the room
"I know what she's thinking and we better make sure she doesn't ruin it" Louisa rolled her eyes
"Shh" Georg got up from his chair and held a finger to his mouth "your mother is trying to put the babies down"
"Sorry" Louisa entered
"What is it?" He asked Brigitta gently
"Can we go see Mrs. Hammerfield?" She asked
"Why?" He was genuinely confused, just then Maria entered the room
"Brigitta, why in earth would you want to visit Mrs. Hammerfield?" But as Maria was asking she got the same idea
"It's just that we would like to say bye to her and thank her for her help" Louisa did her best to give a valid excuse
"Georg, I think we should go" Maria moved behind the girls to face him
"What?" He was surprised his wife agreed
"She could help us, you know she could. She knows everyone and would be heartbroken to hear that the children have to go back to Europe during a war, especially now that we have Rudi"
"Are you serious?" He thought his wife was mad. Sure he had Elsa help when they needed money, but right now they needed a miracle.
"We've go no other choice. You know we can't go back" Maria walked closer to him and put a hand on his shoulder "the girls are right" she looked at them
"Ok we'll go later tonight, but let me do the talking"
"Can we get Carl to drive us?" Liesl popped her head out the door "after all we can all fit in the van" she raised an eyebrow
"I've pushed aside common sense for a while now, no sense going back to normal now" Georg shrugged. "Go get ready, we'll leave after they wake up, they could help us" he smirked.
___________________
The family made their way to the auto shop and Carl happily agreed to drive the family to see Mrs. Hammerfield, deep down worried that it would be the last time he would see Liesl. The ride was a silent one, even the little ones were quiet as church mice.
They arrived in front of the building and once they got to the penthouse they were escorted by a tall butler to a large drawing room that had a green color palette with accents of gold. Mrs. Hammerfield was delighted by the surprise visit and was thrilled to meet the new baby. The family relaxed, chatting casually in order not to jump out and say it. The old woman was holding Rupert and enjoyed hearing tales from the tour.
"But..." Maria sighed after telling the story of Johanna running amuck. "We can't perform anymore"
"Why?" The older woman gasped "Why on earth not? Don't tell me after all that Harris didn't renew your contract?"
"Oh no" the Captain waved his hands "no, he was more than willing. But you see our visas have expired early that we were told and we have five more days until we have to return to Europe"
All of the children's smiles faded and as mentioned Gretl put on her best pout.
"When were you told they would expire?" Mrs. Hammerfield held the baby tighter, terrified of the tiny human boarding such a large boat.
"A full year so next March" Liesl replied
"Wee had found some land in Vermont and my plan was to get the paperwork sorted out while preparing to move there in the new year" the Captain explained
"Oh no, that won't do. You all must stay here. Elsa has told me things have gotten worse in Austria. She herself was planning to come here during the summer and actually bring one of your mutual friends..umm...Max, I think it was. She said they were considering moving here due to the turmoil" Mrs. Hammerfield explained
"That's news to us" Friedrich shook his head in surprise
"It was meant to be a secret to you all but I just got so upset it slipped. Anyways, it's no place to raise a family right now" the older woman nodded at Maria who had Johanna in her lap and Brigitta and Kurt on either side of her on the sofa.
"We were wondering if perhaps you knew of someone that could be of any help?" Maria pleaded
"Oh darlings," the woman sniffed "I would never let you go back there, let me fetch my husband and let him make a phone call, Hans!" She yelped
The older man the family had seen the night of the gala came rushing un, messing with his tiny glasses and lowering to meet her gaze "yes dear"
"Get Michael Stevenson on the phone" she turned back to the family "he is a top agent and sponsor as well as a great negotiator. I'm sure he can get your paperwork done first class" she smiled and it was beginning to be visible how she and Elsa were related through their smiles.
"We can't thank you enough" Georg nodded
"Of course dear, but I expect front row tickets whenever I want" she winked but was completely serious
"Yes ma'am" Kurt smiled
Hey y'all! Finally not a super short chapter! I know it was resolved quickly but I told ya i felt obligated
Thanks for reading!
YOU ARE READING
The Sound of Music: What happened next (Complete)
Fanfiction(sequel to "the sound of music: the other side of the story. After the escape and a quiet year in Switzerland, a suggestion from Max sends the von Trapps to America where they have to figure out how to truly start over. multiple points of view as th...
