Yesterday Was Long Ago: Part Two Page 45

  William, only expecting Reinhardts’ friends, was beside himself when he entered with the chaplain to encounter his own friends.

  “You didn’t think we would forget our boys,” he whispered to the surprised and happy William. Both sides of the aisle were now filled, when the organist, who happened to be a WAC played the wedding march from Wagner’s Lohengrin, making it a traditional American wedding.

  Isabella, on the arm of Peter, was equally astonished about the many officers, as at the rehearsal nothing was ever mentioned. But all eyes were on the strikingly beautiful bride followed by two little flower girls, one of them being her niece Gretl, and the ring bearer none other than half-brother Robert.

  Like Verena eighty years before, she caused the same sensation with the wedding dress, which still looked new, like it was sewn yesterday in Victorian style. It was a breath-taking sight, even for Salzburg and Ischl’s spoiled society. But then again, they were the Reinhardts of Vienna as much as Salzburg.

  The chaplain spoke briefly and was inspirational in both languages. William, although listening, had his eyes constantly on his ravishing bride. Both their hands shook just the same as at their civil ceremony in Vienna. Congratulations and photo taking followed, with everyone trying to get a word in edgewise. Many barely remembered Isabella, as she never visited Salzburg for very long unless it was with a horse trailer, which was prohibited the last few years, gasoline rationing being the reason. But all were afraid of mentioning Paul’s name, as he was imprisoned in Russia.

  “And you are all are invited to an American-style buffet dinner, with champagne,” Peter announced with enthusiasm and was relieved that everything went so well.

  “Even us?” a friend of William wanted to know.

  “I said all of you. Why would I leave you brave soldiers out?” He omitted that most of the food was from William’s friends to begin with.

  “You have to follow the horses to our house,” Gaby yelled, amused. “This time it’s our animals against your jeeps.” All applauded.

  “By the way, William, your radiant and charming wife doesn’t happen to have a sister?” his friend asked in jest, while meaning it sincerely.

  “No, Bob. Women like her come only in ones,” William replied, ecstatic, putting his arm around her. “When I saw her, I knew she was mine forever.”

  Little brother Robert, who played soldier in his backyard, even when alone, admired his newly acquired brother-in-law. And Isabella made sure that those well-behaved children were in no way overlooked. Robert pulled William’s sleeve and said sincerely that he might come visit him and Isabella once his father’s work is finished in Russia.

  “I hope you will, Robert, as we have lots of horses too and you can ride them all.”

  “Will I ever get to see any Indians?”

  “If you want to. I can take you to some towns where only Indians live.”

  “Great! Just us two men alone,” he whispered, with the happiest smile of a seven-year-old who had just been told a secret.

  All had a great time and by eleven, only the family was left. “We are all tired but so very happy. The chaplain’s toast with his few words of wisdom will always be with William and me.”

  “Sorry, we didn’t hear it,” said Victoria, who was ready to go to her bedroom.

  “Well, he said, ‘Those who love deeply never grow old. They may die of old age, but they still die young.’”

  “How beautiful. So far, it has worked for all my children. I hope it works for you and your husband too,” she said, embracing each one of them and wishing all a good night.

  ∼

  Isabella decided to take lessons in cooking, after having selected Fanny Hirt as housekeeper until her departure. William was overjoyed.

  Between her lessons, family visits, and time spent with her husband, time just flew. Also, letters arrived to her personally from Kathryn, Don and Bill. Kathryn mailed Christmas gifts hoping they would arrive in time. William sent some wedding photos which were not only welcomed, but greatly admired. Barbara was never mentioned. Neither was the fact that no one in New York knew about William’s recent marriage.

  But Barbara lost no time in writing to William’s APO number that he might have conveniently forgotten that there are much better looking girls back home. He was furious about her jealous assessment and told her so in no uncertain terms. He was looking for high virtues, brains, and great kindness. His wife had all of those qualities, and how fortunate he was to have found her. No answer was ever received, as always when his sister felt defeated. Uncle Bill wrote at least once weekly, mentioned the good bargains in houses, as America was presently in a period of transition. Of course, it never mattered to the McAllisters, and his job was still waiting for him. They would stay in their spacious guest room until they found something suitable.

  Then came the news about Barbara’s rocky marriage, with her husband dating a beautiful young girl. Uncle Bill had no idea if her parents knew, as such private matters were never discussed in front of him. “Now she’s turned from a well-known bitch to a witch,” he remarked casually, not blaming Steve McBride at all.

  By now, William felt he should inform Isabella about his family’s dilemma. “Every family we know has problems,” she shrugged. “When I became a Reinhardt, I read all their diaries, starting with book one. And there were plenty of problems too.”

  “You don’t know my sister.”

  “Not yet, but people who feel they got a raw deal are always very bitter, taking it out on everyone who comes along. You know, William, I feel sorry for her already.”

  “Well don’t. She always was a spoiled brat. However, one wrong look at you and I’ll let her have it.”

  Isabella only smiled, thinking of Stephany’s diary and Otto’s promise. She wished William and she could be just as happy until death takes them apart.

  ∼

  Christmas was almost here, and William had a few packages in his jeep, but his face looked gloomy.

  “What happened, William?” was his concerned wife’s first question.

  “General Patton died after his accident on December 9th. Damn! After all he did on the battle fields … never being afraid to take any risks. There is also another thing, Isabella, which pains me to tell you.”

  “Which is?”

  “General Patton tried to help to get Lillian to America without the quarantine in England. It’s a law and Ian McCain and I felt she would never make it. Patton saved the Lippizaners before the Russians got them. He had a lot of connections in Washington and would have somehow pulled it off. Now that had to happen,” he said, waiting for Isabella’s reaction.

  “Then we just leave her with Peter and Erika. That’s all there is to it. You don’t know how bad I often felt to take Lillian away from those kids when they ride her daily and pamper her like a child. Anytime it’s cold, she sleeps with them.”

  “Where?”

  “Living room. They even have their mattresses on the floor. Of course, Lillian was trained by me and so far, she has never had an accident.”

  “I still don’t believe it,” he stammered slowly.

  “Remember, we let her come in the mansion so the Russians could pet her.”

  “Oh God, yes.”

  “Well, Hannes and Gretl will be happy, and so will Lillian.”

  “And you, Isabella? You are my main concern.”

  “We’ll see about it in the United States.”

  “I can only imagine how hurt you must be,” he said, saddened.

  “Not more than thinking about Lillian in quarantine. I’d rather have her shot than die a slow, painful way. She would never understand. It’s also still very hard to feed an animal. For England, only the bombing is over, not the shortage of food. That goes for animals too.”

  He embraced her strongly, feeling very relieved, with the promise that she would have a chance to pick up a foal to her liking and train it.

  “William, I feel so lucky to have such a sweet husband.”
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  ∼

  Ian and Betty McCain gave a big Christmas party, American style, as the 25th of December was their big day. Every officer was invited and some WACs who worked for Ian McCain’s office.

  “They all were pretty,” Isabella thought, never a hair out of place among other things she liked about them.

  William showed his watch off and Isabella her pearls, as she wore a beautiful oyster-colored dress to give the pearls the perfect color for Christmas.

  “So, you have your Santa Claus coming the twenty-fourth,” one friend of the former Sheila Brown wanted to know.

  “We really don’t have a Santa Claus at all. I imagine it’s an English custom adopted in America,” Isabella replied.

  “I guess so. We are a very generous nation. We just adopt everything and everyone,” she smiled rather cynically.

  “Everyone comes from somewhere, unless one is an Indian,” Isabella voiced impulsively, looking at her nametag which read, ‘Kokovsky’.

  “You are right, Mrs. McAllister. My family is American-Polish. But I was born in Chicago, she replied proudly.

  “Yea, we still call you a Polak … unless you marry me,” Brad jested as usual.

  “And become a spaghetti Italian? You must be crazy. We have too many of your guys in our town already.”

  Brad and Joel, although Majors by now, were still the same. William was convinced that even the rank of a four-star general would not change either one of them unless threatened with a court martial. Isabella was surrounded by many WACs who doubtlessly wanted to assess why the Major left Sheila for her. It didn’t take them long either. She was not only beautiful and rich but everything else a McAllister was looking for in a wife. He never would need money, but all that goes with it to make it worthwhile.

  ∼

  Since Peter and Erika’s children got so many gifts for Christmas, Isabella waited for New Year’s Eve to tell them about Lillian. Both turned white in shock.

  “I will be such a good rider with my new jacket on,” Hannes shouted. They embraced her so hard and kissed her so much in joy that the nearby standing grown-ups were sincerely moved.

  “See, William, it all worked out for the best. Everyone is happy and Lillian will be too.” They decided to have a ‘family only’ New Year’s party, knowing it would be their last one for a long time. They reminisced about all past parties, except the war years.

  “As soon as the ‘Salzburg Reinhardts’ are back, and Paul of course, we will start all over again,” Erika promised, and William had his eyes as always on Isabella, wondering how his wife would like the McAllisters’ American parties. So far, she had adapted quite well.

  1946

  36

  Once leaving Vienna, Ian McCain and his wife would travel with them to Salzburg. He would show his ‘Hon’ all the beautiful locations he had visited while being stationed there. Betty McCain and Isabella had grown very close, despite the difference in age. Both knew about grace, charm, manners, and kindness. Somehow, they also felt they would meet again after the General’s retirement, possibly living close by, as Virginia and Westchester were frequently mentioned. It would be no trouble to find, through the McAllisters’ many friends and acquaintances, a nice piece of land, and have a house built.

  May 2, 1946, was the departure date from Calais, France, for New York, which was supposed to take six days, but the long train ride from Salzburg to Calais was an experience in itself. She was constantly nauseated, keeping the secret that she was pregnant to herself. No telling what William would have done! There was always the possibility he would have asked for an extension to stay in Vienna, but she was ready to leave.

  Once they were on the boat, she started to relax. It was a beautiful French liner called Liberty – what better word to flee Europe. She was not the only ‘war bride’ that was seasick, and was rather glad about it, promenading hand in hand with William across the deck in the afternoons.

  “Don’t worry, Darling. Everyone I encounter tells me about their wives’ seasickness. It’s only normal for the weaker sex,” he jested and couldn’t wait to arrive at Pier Nine in New York, knowing his parents and uncle would be there. He never wasted a thought on Barbara, who was warned well beforehand not to appear ill-tempered.

  Isabella took several suitcases and a trunk of beautiful clothes with her, causing an inconvenience on trains, but with the valuable dollars in tips, many porters were more than eager to help. She carefully studied her mother-in-law’s fashion magazines to make sure she would be well-dressed no matter what the occasion. However, her former wardrobe from Coco Chanel was timeless and elegant, and she had no intention of leaving them behind. Aside from that, William loved her clothes, and to her it was the only thing that mattered.

  She was lounging on the ship’s recliner as it was a very quiet day as far as the sea was concerned. William conversed with anyone who wore a uniform, but checked regularly on Isabella’s well-being. She was looking through different kinds of magazines which were referring to American homes, with some of them for ‘sale’. She was astonished at the ‘cottages’ in Newport or Hyannis Port, among many other places which were not only larger, but more elaborate than some European castles. Of course, she was taught very early in life that a castle, no matter how neglected, had for generations owners who, even if they had not a penny to their name, still had background and breeding. That is something “new money” owners could not achieve, unless with time it became ‘old money’.

  The Liberty arrived at five in the morning and one had to wait for the customs authority to arrive. What a good feeling when those loud engines stopped their noise. The passengers took their last showers, got dressed, ate some breakfast while daylight sat in, and the Statue of Liberty became visible. William took her hand and said, “Welcome to America, Isabella.”

  While the customs men checked their luggage and their passports, there were his happy parents, Uncle Bill, and, lo and behold, his sister, Barbara, waiting. William wondered if his parents made her come, but changed his mind abruptly, knowing a McAllister cannot be made to do anything. Hearty embraces came from Kathryn, Don, and Uncle Bill, who insisted on being referred to by William’s new wife the same way. Barbara and Isabella shook hands cordially, but no one could think of a word to say, even when properly introduced.

  “Like it or not, Barbara, you are now sisters-in-law,” said Uncle Bill while William watched her with his eyes narrowed.

  “Did you have a pleasant trip?” Barbara finally asked.

  “Thank you for asking. At times it was quite stormy, and I think all of us women were seasick.”

  “Well, a few days of rest will do just fine,” Barbara replied smiling, and all present wondered if it was just one of her acts, or if she had taken tranquilizers.

  The men talked about their trunks still being off-loaded, and they would stay together until everything was accounted for. Nothing was left to chance.

  “Why don’t you three ladies drive home and we’ll see you later?” Don suggested and Isabella exchanged glances with both of them. Now she was at their mercy.

  “Good idea, Don, since you have your own car aside from the truck,” Kathryn said and agreed happily, whispering to both girls, “Let’s get out of here.” Kathryn drove a beautiful 1931 Ford Model A Deluxe Roadster which was called ‘Tin Lizzie’ with a combination of black outside and a beige leather interior.

  “I’ll sit in the rumble seat,” Barbara declared, somehow cheerful. “The weather is so beautiful. God made it especially for your arrival, Mrs. McAllister.”

  Barbara smiled and Isabella replied, “Since we are relatives, even in my old-fashioned, formal country, we call each other by first names.”

  “Suits me fine, Isabell. I leave the ‘A’ out to make it more American.”

  “Thank you, Barbara. I like that very much. I, on the other hand, have to keep the ‘A’ on yours.”

  “Now that you mention it…”. All three laughed and Kathryn relaxed for the first time in w
eeks.

  “We do have a house in New York City for the two men to save them travel time during the week since we live in Scarsdale, but we also spend many weekends on our horse farm… the one I told you about. So sorry to hear about your Lillian, but we cannot be selfish and have to do what is best for our animals.”

  “You are right, Mrs. McAllister, but not a day goes by without thinking of her.”

  “If you love an animal, you will always find another one,” Barbara, who leaned forward so as not to miss out on anything, replied very encouragingly.

  “You will have your choice of many horses very soon. But first you must rest in our guest house. Then I’ll give a party to introduce you to our friends, and after that William and you make your own decisions,” Kathryn said cheerfully, turning in the McAllister’s long driveway.

  “I live in Bronxville,” Barbara replied and wondered for how much longer.

  “It’s all so new to me. I have a lot to learn.”

  “William will be glad to help you,” Kathryn replied, having finally stopped the car.

  The lawn and garden were manicured to perfection, with an array of flowers already in bloom. There was also an enormous red tiled driveway heading towards the back and to the two guest houses. An Italian fountain with spouting cupids gave the spacious house a very dignified look as it was white brick with black shutters on the huge windows. It looked positively like a mixture of French and English estate, two stories high with three wrought iron balconies in front of French doors. Ivy was on both ends of what seemed to be brick with wide large doors, possibly their garages. Isabella noticed several Negro servants who smiled in their direction.

  “Ours go home at night,” Kathryn explained, knowing Isabella’s unfamiliarity with their help.

  “But we treat them so much better than those awful southerners,” Barbara joined in, with a certain satisfaction.