Yesterday Was Long Ago: Part Two Read online

  It sounded almost like a plea. “Gladly, Miss Reinhardt, anytime at your convenience.” There was this jolt in his back again each time he saw her.

  “Well, we’ll talk about it Monday in the office and set a date,” she replied nonchalantly.

  “My God,” he thought. “Since I first laid eyes on her I have worried about a date, and now she asks me for one. How lucky can a man get?” Peter, doubtlessly reading his thoughts, looked at him and tried to suppress a smile.

  The fast thinker he was known for came through in him and he asked without any hesitation, “Miss Reinhardt, the café houses are open Sundays too. Let’s say about four at Sachers?”

  Now Isabella was taken aback and responded almost without knowing why. “Alright, Major. Four is fine with me too.”

  Peter could only imagine what went through William’s mind, but he had to say a word too before the bells rung in the theater and the door opened to their loges. “Major, how about a small evening meal afterwards. Let’s say I’d like to show my gratitude.”

  “That’s not necessary, Doctor. Like I told you, I was more than happy to do it.”

  “At seven,” he ordered. “Make sure, Isabella, that he comes.”

  “Oh, I will,” she stammered, knowing he was doing her a favor. After all, she had confided to Peter, who saw an opportunity to get to know him better.

  When the doors opened, she linked her arm in Peter’s, who got a wink from William. It was a very special wink with a gleam. The loges were far apart and on the same side, so William couldn’t look at her. The concert received many standing ovations, and although he enjoyed the evening the same as the other theater attendees, his own thoughts were with Isabella, who looked breathtakingly beautiful. During the intermission he hardly had a chance to get a glance at her, as the Reinhardts and von Waldens were encircled by their friends. But there was tomorrow. And he would make the best of this God-given opportunity.

  33

  Peter and Isabella had to skip church as an emergency came up and both were needed. Some Russians were in a big fight with each other and, as always, arrived in the emergency room dead drunk. They fought with wine bottles after Gromov and Niemev went to bed and, being used to those events, they did not stop it. Besides, it would not have done any good at all. A drunken Russian knows no rank.

  Isabella was told to get ready by two in the afternoon and instruct the servants what to put on the table by seven. “Thanks a million,” she said, and departed to get ready. Uncle Andreas offered a ride before he started his own shift.

  “Isabella, we all like this American fellow. Even Theresa said what a fine family the McAllisters were. If I were in your shoes, I’d hold on. His gentle, loving looks at you can only come from a man who is sincerely in love.”

  “It just so happens that I am in love too.”

  “That is good to hear,” he said, stopping in front of Café Sacher.

  “Be calm, dear niece,” he advised before he drove off.

  William McAllister, hungry as he had not had lunch, was in the process of eating when Isabella arrived. He got up and both shook hands.

  “What may I order? I have tickets and dollars.”

  “Coffee, and only if they have real American coffee.”

  “They do, but just in case, I always carry my own.”

  He noticed that even in a plain gray dress with white collar and a reddish coral necklace, she looked ‘like a million’.

  “So what would you like to hear, Miss Reinhardt?” he said anxiously.

  “Hmm… well, let’s start with when you first met my mother, brother, etc. Everything, Major.”

  “Then we may have to meet again tomorrow,” he laughed. “as I saw them more than my own parents.”

  “You are joking, of course.”

  “No, but they have seen them too.” he replied.

  Both talked endlessly about everything possible until it was time to leave for Peter’s place, where dinner was awaiting them. William was still awestruck, not only about her appearance, but honesty and openness on any subject as well. Also, that she felt better about staying in Vienna, and taking care of the many wounded than worrying about her own safety by going to Salzburg.

  “But Father insisted in no uncertain terms that the rest of the family had to leave, no matter how much he missed them.”

  He noticed in all their conversations that her father could never be wrong about anything. William found the courage to ask her for another date the following day.

  “I thought we covered everything,” she replied teasingly.

  “We haven’t even begun, Miss Reinhardt.”

  “Alright, you win. But when we see each other in the office, we act very regular,” Isabella urged and smiled.

  “We cannot talk about anything private. Besides, I have lots of work to catch up on. Also, the many new changes will keep me busy. So how about six at the Hotel Imperial?”

  “All right, six it is.”

  Peter was happy to see both arriving joyously. “You should have been at the hospital, Isabella.”

  “No, she shouldn’t,” William protested in jest.

  ∼

  The following day, Isabella and William barely saw each other at the office except for an exchange of a happy wink. Sheila Brown never even addressed William with a ‘Welcome Back’, which suited him perfectly. There were meetings after meetings, each Colonel trying to be more important than the other. William couldn’t have cared less what was said, as his thoughts were, as always, with Isabella. However, he was glad to hear that General Ian McCain insisted that he stayed on as his aide until his departure the following year.

  As luck would have it, a man in his middle thirties was finally qualified to replace Isabella. She always wondered why someone was needed to begin with, as she herself was mostly utterly bored. She missed the fast pace in the hospital, and was glad to return. The Colonel took it on himself to interview him, with Miss Reinhardt questioning his French, English, and Russian. He and his mother fled Russia in 1917 to France after his father got shot, and he enrolled in a good school in Paris where he was taught English. His mother met and married a Swiss school teacher, who died after ten years of marriage and left little money. That’s when Austria came in handy. She took a course as a seamstress, always having the talent and desire to be one. But at the present neither a seamstress nor a teacher for languages was needed. Being of noble birth, they refused to work for black marketers and took any job until they read in the paper about the Americans.

  Colonel Hamilton hired him, as he had the proper papers which stated that neither he nor his mother ever belonged to the Nazi party. Isabella thought that Russian immigrants with the names of Olga and Leonid Arbatov were just as lucky to be alive as her old former teacher, Ballerina Madame Platikova. Leonid Arbatov was hired to start the following day with some translations. Isabella was surprised, as she hardly had any to do. That evening, before her departure, she shook hands with every American she had grown fond of. Of course, she would check in from time to time.

  When she finally came to Major McAllister, both only smiled, knowing Captain Sheila Brown was watching them closely. “Wrong again,” she thought to herself. “I could have sworn this woman with her aristocratic look and social grace might have been just what he was looking for.”

  ∼

  It was the end of October and Erika returned with her two children, Hannes and Gretl. Peter was ecstatic to have a family again. They had no trouble entering the Russian zone, as hardly anyone did. Only the Americans asked the reason for leaving. William and Isabella dated every day, with the exception of Erika’s arrival one evening. That’s when he went to Ian McCain’s and told them of his plans, and also that he was looking for his own little place. They couldn’t have been nicer and happier about it. “Congratulations on your perfect choice,” Betty said sincerely. “but when are you going to tell her?”

  “At the first chance presenting itself.”

  “Good,” Ia
n McCain laughed. “William, now that I am back at the office, there is rarely a guy who doesn’t still talk about her, and Brad told me that many would give their right arm to have a lady like her.”

  “I always knew that and at times had nightmares about it. But when she told me that she dated most guys only three to four times… and she didn’t have to tell me why either … I feel I have a good chance, as so far we are still only holding hands.”

  “After more than two weeks? That’s something, William! Betty and I were married a month after we met.”

  “And I would have married my ‘Honey Ian’ the first day,” Betty exclaimed joyfully. William understood after several visits why Ian McCain loved and needed a wife life Betty.

  “General, will you help me with the necessary paperwork? She has a dual citizenship from Switzerland and was born there of a Swiss father.”

  “There won’t be any problems. We still go by the place of birth.”

  “Great!”

  “Why aren’t you with her today, if I may be so frank?” asked Betty, very curious.

  “Her aunt and niece and nephew arrived this evening from Salzburg. So I took this opportunity to drop in. I hope you don’t mind,” William apologized.

  “Now, we know each other well and long enough. Once you are married, Betty and I will do the same.”

  “I hope so, General.”

  “I wonder if they’ll get married in Vienna or Salzburg?” Betty questioned her husband.

  “We will be there no matter where,” he replied, very self-assured.

  ∼

  Although they had only been apart for one evening, Isabella and William had missed each other terribly and William lost no time in telling her about it. “I went to the McCain’s,” he said.

  They decided to sit on a bench overlooking the city. So far, they had seen either a movie, plays, operas, or musicals. There was never a boring evening. She didn’t know why, but she started to talk about Erika’s happy marriage, and her father’s strong opposition, including Uncle Peter’s arrest in retaliation. William was stunned. That led to Rupert Foster. She gave a full truthful account including his early involvement with the SS, and a ‘no way out’ situation of leaving that outfit unless one likes to be hung or shot.

  “Do the Russians know?” William asked immediately.

  “Absolutely. Uncle Peter lost not a moment of time to tell them about it. You must understand, at that time there were many underground Communists waiting for us so-called Nazis.”

  “And how did a man like General Gromov react?”

  “Uncle Peter opened our secret floor panels and when he saw his own countrymen appearing with a smile on their faces kissing my uncle’s hand, some crying and embracing him, Gromov only smiled and said, “You must have had good connections in order to pull that one off.” William smiled, saddened, knowing what it meant to hide an enemy under ‘Hitler’s time’. “That’s when my Uncle told him everything about Rupert Foster the SS man, his wife Gisela and their children. They were transferred to Berlin and died during an air raid. His poor devastated parents killed themselves shortly before the Russians entered their house.”

  “SS or no SS, if it’s any consolation to you, I would still be dating you even if you were Himmler’s daughter,” William replied seriously, taking her face in both hands and kissing her forehead. “You have no idea how much I love you.”

  “Thank you,” she answered.

  “Now here is my opportunity,” he thought quickly and sighed deeply. “Well, Miss Reinhardt, by now we seem to know each other’s family history, but on the other hand, we seem to get nowhere,” he emphasized, still looking at her.

  She removed herself instinctively and obviously from his position. “Where would you like to go? Or should I rephrase the question with how far?”

  He started to relax and smile, being elated at her reaction. He finally found a virgin! He thought and replied, “To our Officer’s club as to your question of where, and it’s very near your mansion as to how far. Walking distance, I would say. We tried to get the Kinsky palace, but the English beat us to it.”

  She appeared now so embarrassed that he could hear her heart beat. “Oh, well if that’s what you meant,” she stammered. “I don’t see why we cannot go. We have even been in your American movie house strictly reserved for soldiers. Are there or are there not Austrian guests allowed? Because in Kinsky’s palace they are not.”

  “If I couldn’t take you with me why do you think I brought it up?”

  “Then what is your problem Major McAllister? Just a few minutes ago I was moved to tears because you would have dated me as the Henchman’s daughter and now?”

  He didn’t let her finish the sentence, noticing how upset she was, which was a first for him since he had known her. “You got it all wrong, Miss Reinhardt. I am trying to tell you that I don’t like to introduce you as my ‘girlfriend’. Ever since we have gone out together it’s on every occasion, ‘my friend the Major’. I appreciate friendship enormously, but it got to me lately, especially when it concerns you.

  “Then what do you suggest?” she asked seriously.

  “I’d like to introduce you as my fiancée,” he said proudly, looking straight in her eyes.

  “Excuse me, Major. I don’t know about your country’s customs or rules, but in Austria it means that one is sooner or later getting married,” she replied with a serious look in return.

  “Now you excuse me, Miss Reinhardt, but that is what it means in my country too.”

  She looked more confused than ever, doubtlessly searching for the perfect words to save her from another embarrassment in assuming wrongly. “Are you… I mean… are you…” she stammered, almost in a trance. “Are you trying to tell me… that you ask me to marry you?” she finally finished the sentence, shaking.

  “No, Miss Reinhardt. It means that I am begging you to be my wife as soon as possible. And believe you me, I never begged for anything in my life before.”

  She never doubted that, but what to answer a man like him was the question racing through her mind. She could have screamed “Yes!” for the whole world to hear. However, with a handsome and rich man who doubtlessly bedded dozens of beautiful women, one had to be very careful. “When did you reach that decision? It’s so serious for me and comes so unexpectedly,” she asked.

  “When? The very moment I found you sleeping in your mansion’s pantry.”

  “And our Fanny let you see me? She will have a lot of explaining to do,” she sighed, astonished.

  “No, I have. Aside from an apology which is long overdue.”

  “You lost me completely. As a matter of fact, I have been lost ever since we sat down.”

  He related the story between Fanny and him, asserting in detail the challenge after he referred to her Baroness as ‘an old relic’. “You should have seen the look on her face when she finally opened the door. Then she asked very slyly while watching me closely, ‘Are you now satisfied, Major?’ I could have died in shame and she knew it. I only replied, “Very” and Joel and I left. But somehow, we liked each other because she baked me an Apfelstrudel and winked at me. Maybe she felt… never mind. I talk too much.”

  “And how did you feel about the ‘old relic’ when you saw her?”

  “Madly in love.” He turned very serious and took her arms to bring them around his neck. She made no move of any objection.

  “Isabella, I swear to you I will do my utmost to make you as happy as possible. And by the way, Lillian will be with us.”

  “She will?” she replied, elated and stunned. “I also found a cute little villa until we go back. And if for some reason you object, I can re-enlist for four more years. I also talked to your mother in Salzburg about my plans.”

  “You did?”

  “She gave us her blessing, knowing love conquers all.” Isabella was again in awe. “Uncle Peter knows about it too.”

  “I am not surprised at anything,” she smiled. “Only that I was the l
ast to know.”

  “Well, I wanted to be proper,” he smiled sheepishly.

  “The way it looks right now, William, I have little choice but to say yes, which I will with one condition.”

  “Name it,” he said overjoyed.

  “I am not like my step-grandmother, Victoria, of whom I told you about her marriage to Philip, the philanderer. William Grant McAllister,” she emphasized extremely sternly. “One … and I mean one affair and I am gone. I will not live in that humiliation. I can accept a divorce, no matter how hurtful it would be, but a so-called ‘little fling’, no matter how hard you try to justify it, will never do.”

  He held her tightly and only replied solemnly, “You just spoke for both of us. I, too, could never forgive you.” He took a big oval-shaped diamond from a small velvet bag, and took her hand. “Please accept this engagement ring. Just never ask me how I got it, or where or from whom, Isabella. And if you’d like to know about its quality or anything else, just ask Phil Feingold. He knows all about the four Cs.”

  She took a look at the beautiful marquise-cut ring and started to cry while trembling for joy. “Will you please pinch me so I know I am alive?” she pleaded.

  “Why not seal it with a kiss, Isabella? I think we are long overdue.”

  “I think so too,” she muttered, wetting his cheeks with her tears as he kissed her ever so gently. It felt incomparably better than sharing a bedroom with any of his former flames, having casual sex without ever being in love. “How could I have ever stooped so low,” he thought, while still holding her very tight with her not wanting to let go either.

  ∼

  Peter and Erika were relaxing in front of the fire with their usual glass of wine. They expected William to propose tonight and were not surprised when Isabella entered the room with a huge grin.

  “Look!” she shouted. “I am engaged, and William wants to set a date to get married! He said the sooner the better!”

  They admired her ring and her choice of husband. “You know, this fine man asked me upon his return from Salzburg if I minded if he took you some places. But I knew from the very beginning he was in love with you,” Peter acknowledged.