Yesterday Was Long Ago: Part Two Page 22

  They had ridden this way about twenty minutes when they heard some laughter. The voices came nearer as he turned the sleigh towards his friend’s road. Now he could see clearly two girls throwing snowballs at each other. Each of them had a pile beside her, well prepared for a good fight, with the bare chestnut trees serving as shields. Both wore ice skating outfits and their skates and coats were hanging on a limb. Gaby and Isabella were having too good of a time to let the oncoming sleigh interrupt their game, and they kept throwing and giggling until the horses were halted, as the dog planned to catch a snowball too. Bello brought it right to Gaby and Isabella. Before Paul had the chance to fasten the reins and descend, mother and daughter were patting the dog.

  “You are such a handsome and high spirited fellow and want to be playing too,” Gaby said, bending down and scratching his ears.

  “You know I love dogs, don’t you?” Isabella lost no time and walked towards Paul Reinhardt, who didn’t know how to explain his dog’s behavior. He usually only reacted to his master’s commands.

  “I am so sorry, ladies. He has never done this before,” he apologized, shaking simultaneously his finger at him. “Bello, what did you get me into now?” The setter understood this tone of voice and cowered guiltily toward him, putting his head on his master’s boot. Paul smiled at his dog’s old trick, finally looking at Gaby. Whatever he wanted to say, he forgot completely, taken by surprise at her beautiful face. He was convinced it was the same mother and daughter from Locarno, the very same woman he never got out of his mind, although knowing how unlikely it was. After all, she was a married woman with a young daughter. He went back several times to Locarno to find them again never knowing why.

  Gaby, in turn, blushed at the intense gaze of this handsome man, being sure it was none other than Paul Reinhardt, the aggressive boy she hated many years ago. It took both several seconds to recover until he turned his attention towards Isabella, who talked a steady stream in the dog’s defense. “Your dog would have never done it, sir, but he saw me holding the snowball meant for Mother, but sort of in his direction. Please don’t punish him. Mother and I just love dogs, especially setters.”

  By this time, the dog was sitting up, holding his paw to Gaby who shook it gently while saying, “Glad to have met you, Bello. You are a fine fellow.” She took their coats and skates, gave a small nod towards Paul, and walked away. He counted fast the years back to the beach, being completely sure it was the little girl who built a castle and fixed her mother’s long blonde hair before putting their wrap-around dresses on and walking to the restaurant. Getting himself in control again, he finally answered Isabella’s questions.

  “I never punish any of my animals, Miss. Do you have a dog too?”

  “Yes, sir, but she is in Switzerland. We are here for a short vacation.” He felt numb at hearing this news.

  Gaby called for her daughter, and feeling impatient, used her middle name too. Still being beside himself he only heard ‘Marie’.

  “Mother is calling, sir. I better run, but I will be here again this summer.” She smiled, giving Bello a pat on his forehead. “Mother, wait for me!” she yelled as Gaby took fast strides. “Do you know what this man called me?”

  “No, sweetheart.”

  “He called me Miss! Imagine that… for the very first time I was called a Miss.”

  “How nice of him,” she replied, but chided herself for looking too long into his brown eyes. Aside from that, he was too handsome for his own good and he knew it. Like her mother always told her, he was the “almighty Paul Reinhardt.”

  He jumped up on his sleigh and leaned against his fur blanket. There was, once again, silence everywhere, no sign of a human being. Yet he knew the last encounter was not a dream, though he thought of her daily. He smiled at the young girl’s cute French accent when speaking German. Her mother, on the other hand, had a fluent Austrian dialect spoken by the upper class. Of course, the wide wedding band was quite visible when she put her gloves on. He daydreamed of Locarno again and again, not noticing that his horses got restless and the Reinhardts’ priest, Father Sebastian, stood beside the sleigh.

  “Hello, Paul. Are you all right?”

  “Never felt better. I am on my way to the Wilands for a card game.”

  “That’s where I am heading.”

  “Alright, I’ll give you a lift, though walking would do you some good,” he jested, patting his well-rounded belly.

  “By the way, Happy New Year, Paul,” the priest said, looking strangely at him.

  “Same to you.”

  “Paul, is there anything wrong? I mean, other than a few drinks too many?”

  “I barely drank anything. You ought to know that. But please remind me to give Bello a slice of roast beef when we are at my place. You are eating supper with us.”

  “Gladly to the last question, but why roast beef?”

  “Because he deserves some.”

  Father Sebastian looked at him more closely. “So you did have a disagreement with Irene. But how does the dog fit in?”

  “He caught a snowball.”

  “Now I know you are sick.”

  “Not sick, but somehow very happy, though without a reason. No, forget that. Hell yes, there is a reason!”

  “You said ‘hell’, Paul. That’s not you at all. So you did have a quarrel with Irene?”

  “Believe it or not, I barely saw her among the big crowd. I stayed mostly with the Wilands, that’s why we made the plan for the card game.”

  “Well, something has happened to you no matter how you try to deny it. As a priest, I will find it out sooner or later,” he said with a smirk.

  “And I hope you let me in on it, as I am anxious to find out myself,” Paul said, ringing the Wilands’ doorbell. “Two hungry men need breakfast,” he told the servant, who told them they had breakfast ready for ten.

  “Good morning you two,” Vera Wiland greeted as she entered. “What a beautiful party last night, Paul. So sorry we couldn’t even say thank you and goodbye.”

  “Vera, what does it matter? We spent almost the whole evening with the three dozen Wilands who showed up.”

  “All of us came, you just lost count of us,” Ludvig Wiland said, welcoming them.

  “He lost count of his own life. I am telling you, Ludvig, he lost all his marbles. Something has happened to this man since I’ve seen him last.”

  “He may have heard something about the annulment and is not telling us.”

  “I wish it were true, as I am at the end of my rope,” he sighed. “If it doesn’t come soon, I will file for divorce.”

  They ate their breakfast and retreated to one of the rooms reserved strictly for playing cards, but Paul’s heart and mind were somewhere else.

  ∼

  When Gaby and Isabella returned home from skating, the very first thing she told Astrid was, “Grandmother, guess what?” all excited.

  “A nice boy asked you to skate with him.”

  “That too… but a very handsome man on a horse sleigh called me Miss!”

  “I have to hear more about it.”

  “Wait until Mother comes out after changing her clothes.” Then Astrid got the story with both girls talking about their snowball fight and Bello.

  “That was Paul Reinhardt,” Astrid replied, surprised that he talked to strangers that freely. “But then again, his dogs mean more… oh God, much more to him than Mrs. Irene. I told you all about their marriage already. By the way, before you leave, I’ll introduce you to Mrs. Irene as she wants to purchase a villa in Switzerland. After her father’s sudden death, she inherited what I would call a fortune, and wants to leave Vienna as soon as their annulment is legal.”

  “Is she still that beautiful?”

  “Yes and no. She drinks a lot, Victoria tells me, and no one knows where or with whom she spends her time.”

  “And the so-called Almighty Paul?”

  “I’ll tell you more later,” she promised, when Isabella said with a smi
le, “I know I am too young to hear certain stories. Happens to me all the time with grown-ups.” Both laughed and the girl changed her skating clothes, having lost her interest in seeing the promised movie, which would play tomorrow too.

  “Well, Irene tells everybody that Paul is impotent and should have been a priest. Before the Wertheims left for America, they became extremely close. I shouldn’t be surprised if she, too, ends up in New York where they went.”

  “And the Silvermans?”

  “Are going nowhere. They believe, like many Jews, that Hitler will never set foot in Austria.”

  “This is wishful thinking, Mother. I have seen those brownshirts greeting each other openly among themselves with ‘Heil Hitler’. The Rosattis talk only about politics nowadays, and said it’s only a matter of time before he enters Austria. There are so many illegal Nazis and Andreas told me Rupert Foster is one too. But it’s all underground or they’ll get arrested.”

  “Then our helpless Chancellor would have to arrest half of Vienna.”

  “Mother, why don’t you come to Switzerland? I have enough space for you, and we could make up for lost time.”

  “Thanks, but Switzerland could be taken just as easily.”

  “Wrong, Mother. The Rosattis said it’s Germany’s own bank, knowing this mad man wouldn’t respect their neutrality otherwise.”

  “It’s possible. Everything is possible nowadays… but I have my many good friends here and don’t know if they have Christian Scientists there.”

  They stopped their conversation, getting ready to prepare their lunch, when Isabella appeared again and said out of the blue, “I was just thinking, Mother … I wish you would find such a nice gentleman as we met this morning. I really don’t care for the Professor you are dating. He is so stingy.”

  “Isabella and I go to a theater or a restaurant with him and I always pay my own way.” Astrid was still flabbergasted about her granddaughter’s remark, but then again, she was fourteen, possibly knowing more about men than she lets on. Times had changed; girls matured earlier… especially Isabella.

  Two days later, Irene called Astrid to set a date for a short visit with the soon departing Gaby. She wouldn’t keep them long, knowing how valuable time is for a short visit between mother and daughter.

  Gaby was very surprised, seeing her for the first time. She was beautiful and elegant, aside from being highly educated. “No wonder a man like Paul Reinhardt would fall for her … then get possibly tired,” Gaby thought to herself, as she didn’t believe the story about his impotence. The conversation was strictly about Switzerland, where she traveled very frequently, but somehow never made it to Lausanne. “Of course, I am even open for a trip to America. I am just sick and tired of Vienna for personal reasons.” Gaby gave her the name of the finest hotel and invited her for a visit to her apartment whenever she wished to do so, giving her the address.

  They spent almost two hours together without mentioning Paul. The visit would be during springtime, as she was departing for her usual skiing trip to Tyrol. “Do you ski?” she asked before she left.

  “I would say quite well,” Astrid replied for Gaby, who was known to say little on matters relating to her accomplishments. Gaby wasn’t quite sure how to handle a woman like Irene, who was so very sure of herself. But then again, what is a visit once in a while?

  For Astrid, it was a tearful good-bye, but they would see each other at Andreas’ wedding in June or July; the date was tentative depending on his vacation. But the honeymoon would positively be in Switzerland, Theresa having never been anywhere else.

  Paul had a long talk with his mother about his annulment with the possibility of a divorce. By now, Victoria would agree to anything just to get rid of Irene. The last straw was when she told the deeply religious Vera Wiland, who was standing next to her equally religious mother, that she agreed with Napoleon when he said that religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet. Of course, she was quite drunk by then, asking the waiting servant to take her to the castle.

  “Oh God, Mother. As you know, I just came from their place but not a word was said.”

  “Paul don’t get upset. They knew her condition.”

  “But she will hear about it nevertheless, as I made an appointment with Ludvig for a divorce. I cannot wait forever for an annulment. I want her out of here! Father Sebastian is writing another letter and also going to the Archbishop. He may have more power and will mention how much we have done all these years for their institutions without being asked. Now they can return a favor.”

  “Reinhardts have given for generations, Paul, and I am in the mood to write myself that we would put a stop to it, but it would be the poor children who would suffer. Rome doesn’t care!”

  “Mother, I’d like to tell you about my plans this coming February. I made up my mind to visit Elisabeth and try to bring her and the family back for a few months.”

  “That would be really something. It’s been almost twenty years since she left Berlin.”

  “I thought I could be of help to get their many children to come too. Adam would let her go by herself, but when it comes to his children, he is always giving me ten reasons why he doesn’t like for them to travel.”

  “But first you have to get a visa, your shots, and God only knows what else.”

  “It’s already taken care of. I also have very efficient people in the factory who were already with us before the war started in 1914. Can you believe that?”

  “I can,” she smiled. “I will soon be sixty-seven.”

  “You still look better than most at fifty.”

  “Thanks, Paul, but my mirror is not a liar.”

  He only laughed and continued. “Imagine having all our family together again.” Victoria couldn’t help but think of Philip. Paul did too, in a different way… despising him. “I told Peter and Gisela about it and they were so happy for me.”

  “I hope you can pull it off, Paul.”

  He left in good spirits until he reached the castle in Lindenfels. “Mrs. Irene,” he called from his wing on the phone to hers. “come in my office.”

  “I am packing for my skiing trip.”

  “I didn’t ask what you were doing. I have to talk to you. It will only take a few minutes.”

  She came reluctantly, knowing it was about Vera Wiland. There was little doubt his mother had told her favorite child about it.

  “Sit down!” he demanded without greeting. “Before you leave, we have to see Ludvig Wiland about divorce proceedings. If you have planned to leave tomorrow, you will have to postpone it.”

  “Good God! I’ll postpone this trip for a week if I need to!” she smiled cynically.

  “And since you just mentioned God, you will see Vera before you leave and apologize for your unseemly remark about religion.”

  “I knew your mother— no ‘Mrs. Reinhardt’ to me— would tell you about it!”

  “As of today, we only talk via the lawyer. Leave your forwarding address with him.”

  “With greatest pleasure.” She smiled and left, only to come back to ask, “And what time does Mr. Reinhardt want to see me at the Wilands?”

  “Ten-thirty sharp.”

  “Great! My own ‘Happy New Year’ has already started!”

  “Get out!”

  The following day, both signed all the necessary papers and Ludvig mentioned that he would also send a copy to the Vatican. “They may speed up the procedure because I plan to mention the Reinhardts’ contributions to their church.”

  “I appreciate it,” Paul said.

  But Irene stated coldly that she would write a personal apology to Wiland’s wife and explained the reason. “Vera never told me about it,” he replied curtly before she left.

  Paul told him about his planned trip to South Africa by the end of February. “I just have to get away, Ludvig.”

  “I understand only too well. Hopefully you can bring the family back.”

  “That’s the idea,” he smiled.r />
  ∼

  After almost two months of skiing, Irene was back just in time to see Paul as he was packing and ready to leave. But she wanted to make him furious. This time, she made an appointment with his office, knowing just what to say. “I am leaving for Switzerland so here is my address.”

  “What on earth would I do with it?” he said, tossing it aside.

  “It’s for the Wilands.”

  “Get it there yourself. I will be in Africa for several months as I want to wait and see what the Vatican does.”

  “That may still take too long for me!” she snapped. “I thought we signed for a divorce.”

  “I know we did. I’ll take whichever comes first,” he smiled sarcastically, and she saw her opportunity to get even as he never even looked up.

  “I am planning to buy a nice place in Lausanne and leave Austria for good.” A shrug was his only reaction. “Gaby von Walden is helping me to find the right place as she, too, left Vienna fourteen years ago and never looked back,” she mused in delight.

  “Well, well, well. Since you shared the ‘House of Lust’ with my late dirty, old man, any kind of brothel in the red-light district would be the ideal location for a couple of drunken sluts.”

  “You are sick!”

  “Get out!” he demanded, his face reddened, and she only answered, “Gladly.” After all, she got him mad and that’s all she ever wanted before leaving. But she also forged another plan, hoping it would work.

  19

  Gaby and Isabella arrived in Lausanne late at night and took a taxi to their apartment. Both were so tired they fell into bed. The following morning was Sunday. On Monday, Isabella’s school would start. The first visit was to Aunt Ingrid and Uncle Henry, who looked pitiful, having taken a severe cold. They were coughing constantly, and Ingrid suggested leaving the room as it was infectious. She, too, looked worn out, but was happy to have her two girls back.

  After the exchanges of all the news, both decided to see the Rosattis. They were overjoyed but Gaby felt that something was just different in their facial expressions. It didn’t take them too long to reveal their own news. They would leave for Locarno for good, as Alfredo was going on eighty. His wife, Isabella, had suffered for years with severe pain from arthritis and the warm weather would be the best, besides having all those many relatives to look after them. Gaby told them she may have a possible buyer for their house, but they had already sold it to a manager of Rosatti’s Italian Restaurant. Tears were flowing from both sides, begging Gaby to reconsider and come to Locarno for good too. It was such a shock that she turned all colors, promising she would consider all options, but Uncle Henry was in poor health and what about Aunt Ingrid?