Yesterday Was Long Ago: Part Two Page 23
By the time the Rosattis had their moving trucks there, Henry was up and around again, also promising to think about a move to the sunny south. Ingrid didn’t want any part of it, other than visits. After all, she was twenty years younger and loved Lausanne.
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By the end of April, Irene called and Gaby agreed to meet her at the hotel. Both decided on an outdoor café and she talked more openly about her present situation. From the little she had seen of Lausanne, it was ‘positively her kind of town’. Also, her French was perfect and, of course, the money was sufficient to live a good life. Both went to see Isabella’s school and she was introduced to Professor Alain Rousseau, who was the head of the private school. Gaby had seen him from time to time, but mostly in the company of his domineering mother, who liked Gaby and even knew the late Dr. Rosatti, but always made sure nothing serious would ever come of it. So far, no girl was right or good enough for her forty-five year old son. But the truth was, she was a widow and Alain was the love of her life. She just couldn’t and wouldn’t live alone.
Gaby had no intention of getting serious with a man she could never love. In the many years of her widowhood, she had rejected richer and better-looking ones. Aside from his wavy red hair, he was too tall, too thin, wore thick black-rimmed glasses, and had otherwise a long, non-descript face. The Lebruns always considered him unattractive but extremely smart.
Irene, walking mostly by herself to find the right villa, came excitedly to Gaby, excusing herself for coming uninvited, but hoping that she would take a look at her new villa. It was, of course, in the best section of Lausanne and could easily pass for a two-family villa. But if Irene had the money, why not?
“I will also shop for antiques right here, as I am not attached to anything my father had and I sure don’t take anything from the Reinhardts. They would get their lawyers after me for a safety pin, out of spite. So, Miss Gaby, I will start a new life. Of course, I get my own clothes and jewelry once the annulment or divorce is done with. My dear father, God rest his soul, had no idea about my miserable marriage and it was for him that I stayed with that monster all that time.”
“How sad… losing so many years of your life.”
“Well, to be truthful, I did whatever I wanted to do, so it was not all that bad in many ways. I lived in one wing of Philip’s castle, and he never set foot in it, so I could entertain whomever I wanted. Whenever the Reinhardts had their own big parties, I was there just to give an appearance that everything was all right. Of course, many people whispered behind their backs, but why should I care if they did? His brother, Peter, and his wife were always nice; that’s just the way they are to everyone. And his mother, who by the way hates me, loves Erika more than her own daughter, Gisela. Sounds strange, but it’s true. Her husband is with the police, but I never cared what he does. He only looks at me with the greatest disrespect. But like I said, I don’t care anymore. I am buying this house, will find me a nice husband, and live happily ever after.”
“I wish you the best, Irene,” Gaby replied.
In time, both went to play tennis. Isabella and her friends were at the same court but always in the presence of a coach. Irene took Gaby to go shopping for antiques in Lausanne’s best stores and they seemed to enjoy each other’s company. Even the Lebruns were always happy to serve them a good meal. Irene, of course, reciprocated by taking the Lebrun family, Gaby, and Isabella to Lausanne’s best restaurants.
After seeing Gaby’s apartment, she relied on Gaby’s taste with every purchase for her large villa, be it for drapes, rugs or furnishings. Irene didn’t miss Vienna, but by November, a letter arrived forcing her to return to sign some papers. No other detail was given. She asked Gaby to travel with her, as she planned to show that miserable husband of hers what a former ugly brat and a drunken slut looks like.
“How long will we stay?” was Gaby’s answer.
“About a week.”
“Good. I’ll come with you, as at my brother’s wedding in July there was no opportunity to see Mrs. Reinhardt, who had already departed for Salzburg.”
“Don’t tell me you like her?”
“Oh, yes. She and her late husband brought the long feuding Reinhardts and von Waldens together. She was always most kind and generous to us. Now, Mr. Paul Reinhardt was another story. I could and would never come when he was there. But the wedding was only a small family affair and we loved every minute of it,” she smiled. “Then they went to my brother’s and my favorite Jura mountains, with his wife proving herself quite a good and fearless climber. My brother insisted she is very much like me.” They recalled the small party she gave in their honor, with Isabella spending her time in Locarno without her mother for the first time.
Andreas and his wife also met Irene for the first time, the woman one heard so much about. He was rather pleasantly surprised. Gaby also felt Professor Alain Rouseau and Mother should be invited, as they knew the Lebruns very well, so it would be a nice evening. Madame and Alain Rouseau were known for keeping their distance with most people, but once accepting an invitation, they surprised everybody with their dry sense of humor. Gaby still wondered if his mother noticed the exchanging of glances between them.
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The next day was a party in Irene’s new villa. This place compared to no one’s as far as Madame Rousseau and Alain remembered. Both were taken by her wealth and being the perfect hostess. There was no time for another get together. The newlyweds had to leave, though they promised to be back by Christmas. “It’s our tradition, and my wife and I love skiing too.”
It didn’t take long for Madame to inquire about Irene’s marital status. After having been told by Gaby in only a few words that she is awaiting her annulment, Mme. Rouseau looked even further. The two-story villa would serve all three of them well, after having always lived in an apartment. In a good section, of course, but an apartment nevertheless. Neither of the two women had the slightest idea that Irene and Alain were already seeing each other!
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Now both women, Irene and Gaby, were on the train to Vienna, anticipating a two weeks’ stay, as the letter from Ludvig Wiland stated that Mr. Paul Reinhardt agreed to let her stay until December 31, 1937. “You know, Gaby, I won’t stay a day longer than I have to; just long enough to get all my personal belongings out of there and shipped to Lausanne. You could stay in the castle, but given the circumstances, you may prefer your mother’s place.”
Gaby had a smile on her face when replying. “As you suggested, I’d like to see his reaction at the ‘ugly brat from the despised von Waldens’.”
“Don’t forget that we are also ‘drunken sluts’. I have to admit, before my trip to Lausanne, I got drunk on several occasions, just to embarrass him, for one thing, and I was so miserable for another.
“I am very proud of you, Irene. Alcohol gets you nowhere but deeper in trouble.”
They arrived in the evening in Vienna. Irene took a taxi to Lindenfels and Gaby to her mother’s place, who expected her arrival as Gaby had called her from Lausanne. As always, they had a lot of catching up to do and stayed up until the early morning hours. Andreas and Therese also rented an apartment nearby, as the uncertainty of politics and spreading of the Nazis left them quite insecure.
The first thing the entering Irene heard from her trusted servant, whom she took after her father’s death, was that Dr. Elisabeth van Dreesen, her husband, and their five children had returned from South Africa with Paul, planning to stay a year.
“Suits me fine. We’ll pack my things, I’ll sign the papers, and we are out of here in no time. If worse comes to worst, we stay in a hotel in case something is wrong with the paperwork. You are coming with me, Regina. I hope you didn’t change your mind.”
“No, Irene, but I heard from some friends that Switzerland has gotten very strict with their visas.”
“I know that too, but Gaby’s married name is Rosatti and she is a Swiss citizen. You are with her on paper only. Switzerland is always sho
rt on servants. I bought a large villa, and put all my money in their bank, so there will be no troubles. And who knows, I may get married too, but keep it to yourself as only you and I know it.” Regina put her hand at her heart and that was that. Irene could always trust her.
She called Gaby to tell her to enjoy the next few days with her family and informed her about Elisabeth and family’s return, which Gaby already knew through her mother. “Regina and I are busy packing all my personal belongings with the shippers arriving in four days.”
Gaby was relieved, as she was planning a few visits, with the first one to Andreas and Theresa. They were still in the process of getting their apartment ready, Gaby noticing a few things from Astrid as Theresa had a meager dowry, which mattered to no one.
Andreas and Gaby decided to go skating, as he was not sure his Christmas would be spent with Theresa’s family. It was only November, but the snow was knee high and the weather ice cold. “At least the rink is not overcrowded,” Gaby remarked. It was too cold for Astrid to go anywhere, so she sewed on Andreas and Theresa’s bedroom drapes, from velour given to her from Victoria quite a few years ago. Also, the Wertheims had given Astrid many things which only needed to be sewn.
Andreas and Gaby danced to Lehar’s waltz, ‘Gold and Silver’, for the first time in fifteen years, enjoying Vienna’s ice rink. It was not as elegant as Lausanne’s, but Vienna, too, has better ones in the first district.
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Paul’s Mercedes didn’t start, and never one for asking an employee for a ride, he took his usual shortcut, thinking about the annulment and finally getting rid of Irene for good, who in a letter to Victor Wiland wrote that she was not asking for anything but her freedom, and to use her former name of ‘Haas’ again, as no one was permitted to call her Reinhardt anyway. He only confided to his sister, Elisabeth, the real reason for the divorce, and also about his encounter in Locarno, and their short meeting on New Years’ Day. She already called it his ‘bedtime story’ as he retold it so frequently. Needless to say, a man of Adam van Dreesen’s caliber would never understand, and was therefore never informed about anything, let alone finding Paul’s bride on top of Philip. Elisabeth, on the other hand, always knew her father cheated. She claimed it was the main reason she went to study in Berlin, being so ashamed after finding out from a former girlfriend.
Quite a few people looked through the metal fence to watch several pairs taking to the middle of the ice rink. And Paul, feeling relieved after the annulment and in no hurry to walk home, decided to be among the onlookers too. It didn’t take him long to spot Gaby wearing the same bright blue dress he had seen her wearing on New Year’s Day. By staring a bit longer, he felt numb once again. He noticed her dancing partner holding her tight and laughing happily while she was telling him something funny, equally happy. “So that is it,” he thought to himself, unable to walk a step further. It all felt too painful to even give it another thought. When the dance ended, both put their arms at each other’s waist, walking up the bleachers to get something hot to drink while taking a rest. He was now sure her marriage was at least as happy as that of his brother and two sisters. He consoled himself by being happy for a woman to be loved as she deserved. But why was this chance denied to him? He barely knew her, never spoke a word, got a little nod, and yet he felt he had known her a lifetime.
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“Paul, you poor thing. You must be exhausted,” his mother greeted him. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you caught a cold.” The servant brought the food, but he ate little while his mother told him all about her smart grandchildren.
“Where is Elisabeth?”
“Both are with the children reading them a bedtime story.” He couldn’t help but laugh as his sister was always referring to his love story as one.
He also couldn’t wait to catch her alone. “Paul, no matter what you tell me, something just doesn’t make any sense.”
“Which is?” he asked hopefully, not knowing why.
“There is no way on earth two blond people produce, if this is the right word, a black-headed girl with dark brown eyes.”
“Alright… so there we have it again. Either her husband is in Locarno and she has a boyfriend in Vienna, or she is divorced. But this little girl, who is by now about thirteen or fourteen, has many of her mother’s features. Oh God, what now?” he said, forlorn, wishing his sister a goodnight.
“Not so fast, Paul. The skating season just started. You point her out to me, and I’ll find out the rest. In the meantime, I’ll pray for you as hard as I can.” He only smiled, repeating again his goodnight before turning in.
The following day, all the von Waldens were at Theresa Bauers’ for dinner. Paul and Elisabeth looked for two hours in vain. Irene called at the Reinhardts’ place to make an appointment concerning their annulment. Elisabeth answered, telling her kindly she wished to meet her before leaving. And the way she understood it, Victor Wiland would come to the castle in Lindenfels, ‘visiting’ another client too. Irene thought it to be a lie. Those Reinhardts just wanted to make sure she never even took a pen.
The date was set for the tenth of November. Irene knew it gave her two days to make it official, and as for meeting Elisabeth, she was not even interested but left the day open. Maybe the Reinhardts planned to give her an official good-bye party. She laughed when telling Regina about it. She felt a little shiver down her spine and after a severe headache, decided to go to bed early, blaming the last few hectic days for it. Just then, the phone rang. It was Gaby asking when to come, and after hearing from Regina that Irene seemed to come down with a cold, or that she was possibly too upset about everything, Gaby decided to take the next tram to Lindenfels. Paul and his sister were again at the rink.
The signing of the annulment was set now for 8:30 in the morning, as Ludvig Wiland had the next appointment at ten. Due to the heavy snow, Paul suggested he spend the night in his wing, which had more than twenty unoccupied guest rooms. Also, they could look carefully again at all the necessary paperwork, as Irene would soon depart for Switzerland.
During and after dinner, they listened to one of Adolf Hitler’s many long speeches, which were by now heard on every station of Austria’s radio. They talked about the former illegal Nazis who were by now seen quite openly and fearlessly in every district, giving their official salute with a boisterous ‘Heil Hitler’. Even the police looked the other way unless there was a brawl in the making. The jails were over-crowded.
Irene’s cold was worsening. Tea with lemon along with aspirin and bedrest so far had not helped and she was getting desperate. The last thing she needed was a runny nose and eyes while signing the papers. Regina, her fifty-five-year-old maid, suggested a tumbler of Slibowitz, a strong brandy made from prunes which, without fail, helped her late father.
“I am sure there is some of it in the Reinhardts’ wine cellar, but I am too weak to go down myself. Will you go, Regina?”
“Gladly if Mrs. Rosatti goes with me, as I am afraid of mice.” Gaby just came from the bathroom, having washed her hair. Irene told her to sit right next to her while signing the papers, more or less as a witness, but at the same time she would make the remark after Victor Wiland was gone and introduce Gaby as the ‘partner of her brothel’. That would be her last words to him and she had longed for months to punish him for his remarks; now even more so, as she got to know Gaby and her family so well. This was her plan and she would see to it that it would have a lasting effect on Paul.
Irene insisted that Gaby wear her long housecoat which had a warm, lined hood to cover her wet hair, or she would take a cold too, the last thing all three needed. Off she went by herself, knowing what a bottle of Slibowitz looks like, a remedy most families keep in their household. Following the direction of Irene, still being in the possession of the cellar key until the next morning, Gaby knew at once she would be in need of a ladder, which were on each side neatly arranged in three sizes. The cellar was huge and gave the appearance of a fruit and vegetable store;
potatoes en masse on the floor, wrapped cabbage next to it, with apples, pears wrapped individually in brown paper, net bags of dried fruit and all sorts of items hanging from the ceiling. On the shelves were enormous amounts of glass jars of marmalades and more canned fruits and vegetables lined up orderly and ready for use. Big barrels of possibly fat and sauerkraut stood around, just leaving enough walking space to get to every desired item. The wine bottles were laying with the dates and names in crates and Gaby finally found rows nearby which were full of spirits. She finally discovered her desired bottle of Slibowitz halfway to the ceiling. But it meant taking the middle size ladder to get to it. Regina stood at the upper stairs calling several times to ask if she was in need of help. “No, thanks,” was her usual answer, but Regina was her standby anyway, just in case.
Paul habitually took his dog for the last walk of the evening, also letting him run, knowing Bello needed plenty of exercise while he took a slow walk along the castle. Suddenly he saw a glimmer of light from Irene’s wing and by walking toward it, he knew it came from the cellar. His first thought was that she was drinking again, having a passion for their best brandy. His second thought was that she would take a few of his expensive ones to Switzerland, unaware that the packers for her several crates were there already, taking only her clothes and a few souvenirs from her late father’s home. He decided to take the main side door leading to the cellar and with his tall boots with rubber soles to guard against slipping, he sneaked quietly up on her, recognizing her hooded housecoat. He planned to tell her that she could at least have the courtesy to ask for it.