Yesterday Was Long Ago: Part One

by Hedy Thalberg James

  “I am so sorry, George. So very, very sorry,” Karl said ruefully, with Robert unable to speak, only shaking his head in sorrow.

  Now Colonel Essler tried to break the silence saying, “There is possibly a truce in the making. Napoleon III has now become involved to spare us more humiliation. Prussia is retreating. I can truly say the worst is behind us.”

  “Wouldn’t you say it’s about time? After losing every battle, not to mention the fifteen thousand men killed in Königsgrätz alone, aside from more than the twenty thousand prisoners. All that just in one place! The Emperor just doesn’t care! And why should he?”

  “Yes, why on earth should he?” George repeated. “His son is only eight years old and his wife, the Empress, on permanent vacation away from the family and the war.” The Colonel was slightly taken aback at George’s loud outburst. It was so unlike him, but then again, how would he react if Kurt was missing or wounded. Cold chills ran through his spine. It was not easy to look at his friends with all their sorrows and he thought it was best to leave, but not before telling Karl that he hoped his son’s wounds would heal quickly and George’s son would be soon released. They all knew he was very sincere.

  ∼

  “I can’t believe all those bandages on my son’s face!” Karl said aloud, taking a few steps back. “Please Hannes, tell me it’s a mistake. I cannot even see his nose.”

  “It’s no mistake, Papa. I bandaged him myself. Slowly it will start healing and he will look much better.”

  “Never mind slowly, Hannes! How much time will it take?”

  “It’s hard to say. It all depends on the process of healing, and each one is different. But Papa, before you get more upset, permit me to tell you that Alex was one of the lucky ones, not only to be found, but—”

  “It looks to me like he was thrown from a horse!” Karl interjected.

  “But to be transported so fast back to Vienna! Most of them stay back, screaming themselves to death and rotting away. I am sure Colonel Essler had a lot to do with it, as he gets the notice of every tag found from a wounded or dead soldier.”

  “If that is the case, I have a lot to be grateful for. I know he tried to hold Alex back from going to war in the first place. Listen, Hannes, as soon as the bandages are taken off and you think I am able to handle it, come and get me. Right now, I feel like fainting.”

  “I know, Papa. You always have been squeamish about seeing blood.”

  “Thanks. But in the meantime, find the best hospital with the best doctors and nuns, the best of everything.”

  “Of course, Papa. That’s why you sent me to the medical school to begin with. I am not the best yet, but I know who is.” He smiled.

  “Are we talking about Wilhelmina’s hospital, Hannes?”

  “No, not that it is not one of the best, but I was thinking of St. Joseph’s, as I know the dedication of all the doctors and nuns.”

  “All right, Hannes. Your will be done. Thank you, son.”

  With a somber embrace they departed, with Hannes shouting, “Tell Verena I will be late.”

  Karl only turned around and smiled with a wave. What a blessing that both still resided at their home. Poor child would be so lonesome, and so would he and Stephany, as Robert would, in time, buy his own place.

  ∼

  Two weeks later, with Alex already transferred to the promised St. Joseph’s Hospital, Hannes decided to take a chance with Karl, who became more impatient as time went on. Whomever he had a talk with lately had seen Alex by now, including Countess Frieda von Dorn, who like Anette visited on a daily basis. The Countess told Karl her only retarded daughter was buried two months ago, and as a lonesome widow, she too visits hospitals. Karl, who knew of her sad situation from their many social get-togethers, expressed sympathy and thanked her for looking after the wounded ones.

  It was a different situation with Lillian and Kurt Essler, who left just moments after taking a look at Alex, feeling very sorry for Karl. “He will never be the same,” Kurt muttered, taking Lillian’s hand in a hurry to leave, as Lillian, too, was about ready to faint. Stephany and Elsa, who had seen much worse by now, came at times for a short visit, always repeating that Karl will have a hard time accepting it. Both were surprised at Anette’s stoic behavior, while she in return talked about becoming a nurse.

  “I may even be able to take care of your grandson,” she stated grandly, though Stephany felt it was likely to be another of Anette’s many unfulfilled plans.

  ∼

  “I absolutely refuse to believe this is my son Alex!” Karl shouted, noticing Anette’s stunned face as she stood nearby. “With so many wounded men, it’s nothing short of a mix up.” He sighed before continuing. “He doesn’t even resemble him.”

  “I knew him right away, Mr. Reinhardt,” Anette replied calmly.

  “Come on, Papa. Papa, please let me explain something,” Hannes repeated after taking a look at Karl. “He looked much, much worse when we got him. I am astonished at his speedy progress.”

  “You are kidding, Hannes.”

  “You would not think so if I took you to some other rooms.”

  “Spare me, please!”

  “Right now, his face is still somewhat swollen, but the dark spots are from gunpowder and his hair has already started growing back. But this is the least of my worries,” Hannes sighed.

  “Then what else is there? I beg you to be honest with me,”

  “Alex may be brain-damaged. However, he is responding to food and swallows quite well,” Hannes replied, intending to be comforting, but Karl only winced in despair.

  “Are you sure he is in the best hospital with the best doctors?” He paused. “I know I am talking nonsense at the moment.”

  “I understand.”

  “Thank you, Hannes, but please take me outside. I think the stench is too much for me, aside from seeing Alex in that horrible condition...if this is my son!” he added, still doubtful.

  “Papa, I only brought you here at your insistence.”

  “Would I only have known,” he moaned, shaking his head.

  Anette was right behind them as they departed from the room. “Mr. Reinhardt,” she addressed him cheerfully. “I am here every day to make sure he is well taken care of.” Karl didn’t know whether he should laugh or cry. “He has improved so much since I first saw him,” she continued. “and the nuns let me do some work to give me an idea of what a nurse has to do. I told your mother I have decided to enter nursing school.”

  Karl was stunned once more, neither seeing nor assuming that she was madly in love with Alex, and as of now he would belong to her, and to her alone as long as he lives! Neither his looks nor his damaged brain mattered to her at all.

  “Well, Anette, if it makes you feel better, go right ahead. I admire everyone’s bravery,” he replied before he left, leaving Anette with Alex again and letting Hannes continue with his work, doubtlessly another surgery. While on his way home, Karl was deeply distraught and lost in his thoughts, when Franz-Xavier called his name from across the street.

  “What a coincidence!” Karl acknowledged. “I just thought about paying you a visit. I need someone objective to talk to.”

  “And I was on the way to perform some last rites, visit Alex, and then see our family.” He smiled, but quickly turned sorrowful. “I came to tell all of you that Mother Superior passed away.”

  “Oh, no!” Karl muttered. “I had her so much on my mind and wanted to talk to you to get the news about Alex to her.”

  “I’m afraid it’s too late now. I just got the message from the Archbishop to tell our family!” What a cruel world, Karl,” he sighed.

  “There we support many orphanages and medical centers and are forbidden to talk to the nuns.”

  “Only the orphanages have those strict rules, Karl, with very good reasons.”

  “So one is not able to see those neglected children,” he replied harshly.

  “Those children are taken on a one hour walk every day
for fresh air, which is more than other kids get.”

  “What did Mother Superior die of?”

  “Kidney failure. Karl, you shouldn’t complain too much. After all, those orphans came every year at Christmas to sing carols with Mother Superior standing right next to you.”

  “Only because I made a deal with the Archbishop,” he replied with finality, omitting how much more money he gave afterwards to the orphanage.

  “Well, at least she got permission for those special occasions,” Franz-Xavier replied proudly. “She had Christmas and last year’s wedding, which is more than any other nun gets.”

  “To be honest, I am glad she didn’t see Alex in this condition before dying. She had only memories of a handsome young man in uniform.”

  “Aside from that, Alex had all his faculties,” Franz-Xavier consoled him, feeling very happy that Karl had a chance to see a different side of his son, never mind the circumstances. He departed then, promising Karl that he would see him after his visits to the hospital.

  Karl was still saddened at the news of Mother Superior’s death as he took a long walk home. As he walked up the beautifully manicured driveway with multiples colors of flowers in bloom, he noticed the doorman open the door before he could knock. Just then, he overheard a lot of joyful noises turning in to louder screams, and hoped he had even heard right after his distressing afternoon. Robert was the first to greet him. “Hello, Grandfather Karl. You have a beautiful and healthy grandson!”

  “Oh, no! Already? You must be kidding! He is a week early!”

  “Today is the 3rd of August, but never mind that. I wanted to be the first to congratulate you.” With a hearty handshake and embrace, Karl smiled. “After a day like this I feel honestly I deserve some good news! It is selfish, of course, but do I feel guilty about it? No!”

  Karl ran up the staircase, only to be told that the baby was not quite cleaned and ready. His thoughts immediately went back to his late wife, Louise.

  “But there is nothing wrong with my grandson?”

  “No, no, Mr. Reinhardt. Your daughter had a very easy birth and is all smiles.” The reply came from a midwife holding an empty pitcher. “Got to get more water, sir,” she said, excusing herself when his mother appeared in tears.

  “Karl, these are tears of joy! God only knows when I had them the last time,” she stated. “You are now officially a grandfather.”

  “Which makes you a great-grandmother!” he retorted, lifting her up. “Do Verena and Hannes have a name for him already?”

  “Of course, they do! They went back to a 1509 gravestone. The first Reinhardt was Philip Johannes, Karl.”

  “What a coincidence,” he smiled. “I shall return to the hospital and get Hannes home in a hurry. But first, I’ll go in Verena’s room to see if everything is all right.”

  There was Verena, glowing with pride, sitting up and holding Philip in her arms. Karl felt momentarily that all the sad news about Alex will have to be put aside—for a while anyway—as the joy was too overwhelming.

  “Take the baby, Papa!” Verena smiled. “You are the first one to hold him. Now, get our new great-grandmother in and then please fetch his new father.”

  “All those titles,” he jested. “I wouldn’t trade them in for a principality! I planned to get Hannes anyway, but had to make sure that everything was all right first,” he said, kissing her gently.

  Hannes was washing his hands when he heard the great news. Two minutes later he left the hospital shouting, “I got a boy! And I won’t be back for at least a week!” They were all overjoyed but doubted his prediction of a long absence.

  ∼

  Austria’s short and bitterly fought battles were finally over. On August 23, 1866, a peace treaty was signed in Prague and, despite Italy’s poor performance, they received Venice as a gift, with compliments from Otto Bismarck. It was strictly for being on Prussia’s side. Though it was referred to as the seven-week war, for countless families like The Reinhardts and Auersbachs, it would take a lifetime to recover.

  “The Prussian Journals reveled once more in their latest triumph over their ignorant enemy, who seems to thrive on losing wars,” Verena read aloud to her family. “Most of those soldiers have no stamina and fell over like flies. Prussia is highly amused.” Karl and Stephany’s bitterness was beyond comprehension. Verena, who gave her family their only piece of joy with the birth of Philip, was of course in full agreement.

  A few weeks later, George Auerbach brought the news that his son had died while in prison. “It’s possible that he, too, fell over like a fly...from being hungry and thirsty for days like all other prisoners who didn’t make it.” He was visibly shaken, still holding the Army’s notification in his hand. Both families promised each other never to mention Prussia unless it was in a derogatory sentence. They, like many other Austrians, felt it was the easiest vow to uphold.

  By 1867, Austria had finally joined the thriving industrial age, preceded only by England, France, and Prussia. Though the country was lagging far behind in invention and production, Robert felt it was now his opportunity to open either a foundry or machine shop, as he had the American know-how in both, which, so far, had surpassed that of every country in Europe. The last few months, he had begun to love Vienna and the Reinhardts more and more, and the time had come to make a decision, as Stephany’s and Karl’s household was back to normal. Philip was a healthy baby, enjoyed by everyone to the fullest, but Robert, who since his arrival five months ago had not done much of anything, became restless and began to think in earnest about his own future. And owning something he loved and could manage was lately much on his mind. He also thought of Stephany’s suggestion to have the best of both countries, as he was not about to abandon America completely.

  A business talk with Karl and Stephany was long overdue, leaving the baby talk for a while to Verena and Hannes, who spent every free minute with their son. Alex was brought from St. Joseph to the Reinhardts’ hospital in Lindenfels, until the renovation of his own two rooms in the castle was well equipped to handle him, with the skillful hands of a trained nurse. They had accepted his brain damage by now as a fact of life since there had been no progress in his condition. So far, Anette was at his bedside daily, from morning to night, reading and trying to become the only qualified nurse Alex would ever need. After all, Hannes would make sure that no negligence would ever take place, supervising even the highly qualified nurse whenever he felt necessary. Though he had never felt close to Alex, let alone formed a brotherly bond, the doctor in him never permitted any oversight, no matter how trivial.

  Karl and Stephany were elated at Robert’s suggestion to live in both countries, hoping that he would choose Austria as his primary residence. Robert proposed a trip for Karl to America, or at least to New York, as he might find the architecture interesting in comparison to Europe’s stately buildings. All in all, it would be a worthwhile trip. Karl was overjoyed, and both set the date for the following spring, and after their arrival at any French port, they would finally visit Paris together. Stephany agreed wholeheartedly and suggested involving the Wilands on a land deal in Vienna. They were indispensable in such matters, having all the right connections with reliable real estate brokers. There was also the need of a villa Robert could call his own, providing it was within walking distance from the Reinhardts’ place. He took their offer of having his own suite in Lindenfels, as with one hundred forty rooms, only Alex’s two sickrooms would be used on a daily basis. The rest of the castle was occupied only a few months during the summertime.

  After hearing about these plans, Verena didn’t know if she should be glad or sad. Hannes spent too little time with her and the family and she relied mostly on Robert as her steady companion.

  “I didn’t say I work on a daily basis, Verena,” Robert consoled. “I have little choice but to look after the business from time to time so all the employees know there is not only a boss, but someone who cares about his workers and their welfare. This is a must i
n any good business,” he laughed, putting her at ease.

  “Thank God you haven’t chosen to become a doctor,” she replied in a rather sad tone.

  “Verena, dear, just because the war is over, it doesn’t mean the many wounded and crippled soldiers are ready to walk home. Just think about it. There is still a lot to be done where a man like Hannes is especially needed; but it will get easier as time goes on.”

  “I am so ashamed that I am complaining so much lately. I simply feel so blue, despite little Philip’s presence. I seem to have lost my spirit. And with Papa taking a trip abroad...well, let’s say it doesn’t help much either.”

  “We will be back before you know it,” he smiled. “And as for the spirit, too much has happened to all of us.”

  She neglected, however, to tell him that she may be expecting again and it was not to her liking at all. A child every year with an absent father, who will always be needed at any given time, was something she just never anticipated. Despite her close relationship with her family, she craved a loving husband who left his work behind once he opened the door to his family, but it was not so with Hannes. She would have to have a talk with him.

  Her fear of being pregnant this time proved to be wrong, but there was always another month ahead, and despite the servants and all the others, nothing could replace Hannes, with whom she was madly in love. She only wished he felt the same.

  1868

  19

  “My mother would like to spend the day by herself today,” Karl stated to Elsa, who was waiting to be called.

  “I hope she is not ill, sir,” she replied with a worried expression.

  “Don’t you think there would be a doctor nearby?”

  “Yes, sir. Of course, sir. So sorry I asked,” she responded quickly, her face stained red.

  That left her all alone with little Philip, who by now was not only walking, but running at the sight of his grandmother with Elsa at her side.