Yesterday Was Long Ago: Part One

by Hedy Thalberg James

  “Your kiss will be returned instantly,” she vowed, sheepishly embracing him, and continued with Anette’s plight. “I also talked her out of her present thought of joining a convent or mission in a foreign country.”

  “Good Lord, now that she can have Baron Hagen!” Both laughed heartily, as they had the same sense of humor.

  “She is such a treasure to me, Philip, especially in handling the servants. Nothing escapes her eagle eyes while I have to devote my time to Peter and Paul until they have gained the proper weight. Your father still calls them the ‘Miracle Twins with their Miracle Midwives’.”

  “I know. There is not a day that goes by when he doesn’t refer to what might have occurred. We are truly blessed, Victoria,” he said as he got up and kissed both of her cheeks. “Now you owe me again. And as for Anette, I am my father’s son in saying that a household is a woman’s empire, and I hope you will enjoy it as much as Mother does.” He purposely omitted the fact that one of these days, she would be the Mrs. Reinhardt and might just as well get acquainted with all the details, as that, too, was left up to his mother, and she would make sure that nothing would be left to chance and would have her family well prepared for every situation. He never doubted for a moment that his children would be included as well.

  Philip suggested that three would be the best time, as on Sundays and holidays, three-thirty was their coffee time to be enjoyed by themselves. Dinnertime was out of the question, as there were either guests or they were invited elsewhere.

  “Wonderful,” Victoria replied with relish, and Philip was pleased to see his wife so excited about it. She decided to wear Philip’s Christmas present as it was not only the most flattering attire she owned, but also very appropriate for this special occasion. She was not only looking forward to seeing the interior of the famous palace, whose visits were until Verena’s return denied, but she hoped the last four years of friction between mother and son would come to an end. Victoria could hardly wait to see their facial expressions and reactions, and hoped that she would not stumble, but conduct herself flawlessly. No matter how little the stumble, her observant mother-in-law knew a grand entrance when she saw one. She was determined to gain acceptance, less for the sake of herself than for her children who would one day continue the dynasty. Never mind all the claims from and to von Dorns or Brehmers. Her four children would be the Reinhardts.

  Philip wore a dark gray suit, his Christmas present from his parents. “Already a good beginning,” he thought to himself. He decided to walk the short distance, being greatly in need of some fresh air for more than one reason. Already, he felt a slight tinge of excitement overcoming him, but most of his thoughts went back to his unusual night and how well it turned out after all.

  Victoria looked even more beautiful than ever, if such a thing was possible. The red woolen dress with a large satin bow and cufflinks gave the attire a very flattering note. With it went a light-colored, hooded mink coat and the matching lining showed just enough red to complement the pale fur. Her braided hair was made up like a crown and Anette’s red tourmaline earrings were her only jewelry. Once Philip took notice of his wife’s selection of clothing, he took fast strides towards her. “Thank you, Darling, for wearing my gift. Only you would look that radiant in it.”

  After two loud knocks at the main entrance, a uniformed doorman opened the door, thinking it was more of the steady flow of customary well-wishers looking for a handout, be it food or money. He had opened the door to several dozen of them already. Recognizing Philip and seeing his gorgeous, smiling wife next to him, his jaw dropped while his eyes glistened. “I never dreamed!” he mumbled when Philip put his finger in front of his mouth.

  “It’s a surprise. Please insist that both come to the door. I don’t care how you do it.”

  “With a surprise like that, I’ll even tell a lie,” he answered, elated, and was on his way.

  While waiting in the huge, deep red and black marble-floored entrance hall, which was covered with the most beautiful rugs, Victoria’s eyes went to the gold-embossed and painted ceiling, undoubtedly representing heaven, as angels with musical instruments welcomed every guest who was permitted to enter. Philip noticed that nothing had changed. In spite of the enormous size, the hall was cozy, arranged with priceless furniture in sitting arrangements to give a very inviting impression. One got the feeling that the place was there to make everyone welcome and at ease. Philip explained to her frequently that the cleverly grouped panels could be folded with little effort to make the hall into a large ballroom. The double winding mahogany staircase was carved with intricate details of roses to match the walls, adorned with many paintings of famous masters. Presently, the beautiful glittering chandeliers caught Victoria’s attention, she having never encountered such a display, including during their many parties at embassies or even first-rate hotels. She was completely in awe when the loud, surprised voices of Hannes and Verena could be heard with “Oh, no, I don’t believe it!”

  Verena was happy one moment but shaky the next, especially when Philip walked towards her, putting his arms around her with a tight squeeze and said, “I think I forgot to wish you a Happy New Year, Mother.” She knew at once that it was his way of assuring her that everything was all right again. And while she suspected that Hannes and Victoria played their part, and possibly had given him a few words on the subject of his ill behavior, deep in her heart she was sure he returned because he was ready and wanted to. He was very much like herself; nobody could make them do anything, and both proved it over and over again.

  Philip helped Victoria out of her coat, throwing it over the nearby sofa next to his overcoat. He knew the servants stayed in the background waiting for the surprise visit to simmer down and then would argue among themselves who will hang the mink in the proper closet.

  “Why don’t we take Victoria to our own coffee house?” Hannes suggested, still all smiles.

  “That’s what we came here for,” Philip replied, tongue-in-cheek.

  Verena took an admiring look at Victoria and whispered loud enough for everybody to hear, “Red becomes you, Victoria. Is it from Paris?”

  “From Philip!” she jested, touching Verena’s arm and breaking the slight tension.

  “Mother, I decided this year on Wertheim,” he laughed aloud, as it was a department store that never even displayed the cheapest fur coat, let alone mink.

  “Now why didn’t I think of it?” Verena joined the laughter while they all took their seats.

  “To still your curiosity mother, it’s Lavins. Lillian insists that all my wife’s dresses for special occasions are from Paris. And I am delighted that she wore it, because we all feel it’s great to be together again.” He smiled, looking at his parents while putting an arm around his wife. Four people applauded heartily when coffee and pastry were served. It was exactly three-thirty.

  Despite all the small talk, it was for all of them a meaningful reunion, although they had just seen each other the previous night. But the location made all the difference. Philip was home again and this time with a wife everybody loved. In her state of happiness, Verena surprised all by asking, “Do you mind if I send a note to Kurt and Lillian for dinner? Or am I presuming that your visit included only coffee? How about the twins?”

  “We planned to stay, Mother, knowing you would be pleased,” Philip replied with a wink.

  “As for the twins, Madame,” Victoria continued, equally smiling. “Peter and Paul already picked two wet nurses as their slaves who are only too glad to serve them. The girls, too, are very well taken care of, so we’d love to stay!”

  “Thank you, Victoria.”

  “Aside from being here, I’d love to see Aunt Lillian and Uncle Kurt again, as we both missed the ball last night.”

  “Then we two men bow gladly to the superior wisdom of our two beloved wives,” Philip declared, looking simultaneously at each member of his family.

  “Dear Victoria, I’d also like to give you a tour of our home,�
�� Verena suggested, and rung for the head housemaid. “Dinner for six at our regular time, and assemble all servants in the main hall.” Noticing her astonished but pleased expression, Verena continued. “I sent a last moment invitation to the Esslers, though Anette seems to have a hangover. As for dinner, Mrs. Lauer, today we eat anything you can come up with for six.” Ida Lauer only laughed, thinking that in her excitement she forgot that there is a daily reserve for unexpected guests at hand, no matter what day or time. All female servants bowed with their habitual curtsy while staring at Victoria, though most had encountered her during daily walks with Philip and Hannes. The men bowed, but Victoria, who faintly smiled, knew only too well about their courtesy. One word from Verena would be sufficient to show her the exit. Even her own son Philip was not exempt. They all guarded Verena’s place with a fierce loyalty.

  Now everything seemed to be like the old days again. While Hannes and Philip played chess, Verena showed Victoria around the place of her childhood, explaining the Flemish tapestry her dear late Aunt Christina had acquired along her travels, among many other objects of art. To Victoria’s surprise, she thankfully omitted the dreadful story of the von Waldens murdering her aunt. Along the walk to the upper floor came an endless gallery of mostly life-size family paintings, while Verena carefully explained the accomplishments of each and every one. “I never knew Albert Reinhardt, of course, being born in 1744 and him dying in 1828, but the painting is self-explanatory. Then there is Otto, my wonderful grandfather, who died in 1850 of a heart attack. I mentioned the reason,” she sighed. Victoria couldn’t help but think, “Only a few dozen times.”

  “And here is his wife, Stephany. A once in a lifetime human being. She died in 1879 at the age of 89. How lucky we were to have her around that long. She died peacefully while taking a nap on her daybed.”

  “What a beautiful woman… no, what a beautiful pair!” Victoria said very sincerely.

  “Now we come to my parents. You know, this is Louise, my mother, who died while giving birth to me. You have no idea how often I wish it was me who had died.”

  “Please don’t say that, Madame, as we never will understand God’s plan,” Victoria consoled, squeezing her hand. Tears started to flow while she stood and looked at Karl Reinhardt. She was almost in a trance.

  “If there ever was such a thing as a human being that could be worshipped, this man was the best example,” Verena said, her tears now flowing even harder.

  Victoria embraced her now lightly, agreeing that his ‘untimely’ death at eighty was still the greatest loss to her. “But Madame,” she emphasized strongly. “have you ever taken the time to realize how lucky your dear Papa must have felt to have you as a daughter? You both were blessed beyond anyone’s imagination.”

  “Thank you, dearest Victoria,” she acknowledged gratefully, taking her hand and entering a smaller, but no less beautiful parlor. The walls and little tables were full of photographs. “Now here is my all-time favorite friend,” she said, pointing at Robert Eckhardt. “He died three years prior to my Papa and the loss to all of us was beyond anyone’s comprehension.” She held the photo near her heart. “He was also my son’s mentor, guiding him towards engineering. In short, he was loved by everyone.” Without any comment on any of the other photos, she asked Victoria to leave the room with her, as the day had been emotional enough for her. “There will be many more days ahead for both of us,” she explained, wiping her face with her lace handkerchief.

  “I am sure there will be,” replied Victoria lovingly.

  Descending slowly down the staircase with Victoria’s arm linked in her own, she pointed towards other special items, “thanks to her generous ancestors.” Among them were the sliding glass panels in their main dining room that made it possible for a few hundred guests to enjoy a fine dinner while listening to good music in the converted entrance hall. She continued while both men waited patiently at the bottom of the stairs, holding a note from Lillian and Kurt that they were thrilled to come.

  “Please don’t overlook Anette,” interrupted Hannes. “And as for the many past gatherings, dear Victoria, as far as Philip and I were concerned, there were much too many and most of them boring,” he jested. Verena overlooked his remark and wondered what Lillian and Kurt would be wearing since she wrote in her note the dinner was to be a family gathering. “Their usual riding attire would be just fine,” she thought to herself and smiled. But Anette was another matter. She dominated every conversation no matter what the subject. However, Verena had no choice but to send an invitation, though she sincerely hoped that her experience last night left her with a hangover. Instead, she returned a note declining to come, as she had a great time playing hide and seek with her two little girls, Elisabeth and Gisela. “What stamina,” she uttered. “and what nerve, calling my grandchildren her two girls!” But she was too happy to spend more time thinking about it. After all, Anette had neither husband nor children and grandchildren herself; she needed some kind of love, just like everyone else does.

  The second surprise came at Lillian and Kurt’s appearance in their best attire. With a “Hello, darling Victoria,” and “Happy New Year,” she embraced her heartily, with Kurt following the same ritual. “Well, that too will change,” she thought, but there again both had no family either. Presently, Verena’s spirit lifted as she had all of them to call her own, and vowed on this special day that in time everything would heal, and she would no longer be referred to as “Madame” by Victoria. She would see to it.

  The unexpected evening was enchanting to say the least. Even her stubborn and at times elusive Philip was on his best and most charming behavior. She gave all the credit to Victoria, as without her intervention, Hannes and she would have ended up alone as usual. Last night’s talk and his visit to Madame Lydia helped a great deal. He looked at Victoria in the most loving way, never giving the slightest indication that their marriage was anything less than happy, and the conversation was more about their future with their four children than the usual pattern with Verena having the last word. It was getting quite late and well past their bedtime when the small get-together broke up, each one promising to have these little dinners on a regular basis, stating that 1900 already had a great beginning! Philip and Victoria took what was usually referred to as the “long way” home, with him telling her all about last night’s experience with an over-tired and angry priest, and his encounter with Madame Lydia. Victoria listened attentively, knowing it was the truth, but reminded him of her upcoming operations, his obsession with young girls, and that she had no intention of ever sharing a bedroom with him, never knowing what kind of prostitute he has been with hours or moments before. He was stunned, but of course understood. “The idea of a permanent mistress will never be tolerated,” she said matter-of-factly. “or you will have to live without your family.”

  Again, he knew she meant what she said, also being fully aware that his own parents would be on her side. “That is something you will never have to worry about, Victoria.”

  “It’s not a worry, Philip. Be that as it may, I ask you to continue to be the good father you have been so far, as our four children never asked to be born.”

  “I would never have it any other way, Victoria.” He sighed deeply, feeling that he mattered very little to her at present.

  “Also, please be very discreet with your affairs. Again, I am thinking of our children. I would like them to always look up to you. It’s very important to me,” she finalized, and he knew then there was a wide chasm in their marriage, and it would take a long, long time and a great deal more effort to repair it.

  “Don’t forget I love you, Victoria.”

  She never gave him an answer.

  Continue the Story…

  Acknowledgments

  This project was inspired by Hedy’s sons. Their memories of seeing their mother work on this project throughout their lives inspired them to bring her hard work to life.

  This manuscript sat in the closet for many ye
ars. A special thanks to author Katharine E. Hamilton for reading the manuscript and helping make this story a reality. Without her help, this project would still be collecting dust.

  About the Author

  Hedy Thalberg James was born in Austria and educated in Switzerland to further her knowledge in languages. Her desire was to become a journalist. When Hitler invaded Austria, she returned home to resume her studies. After World War II broke out, she used her skills as a translator for the Red Cross, traveling extensively in war-torn Europe. In 1945 Austria was liberated and divided into four sections. The Russians occupied her town.

  She returned to Switzerland where she was introduced to writer and diplomat, Romain Gary, and his wife, Lesley, an editor at Vogue. Both were currently working on novels. As a result of their common interest, a friendship ensued, and she was employed to conduct research. Romain Gary was called to serve in the UN and obtained a visa for her to assist them in New York. Once there she met her late husband and raised three sons.

  Hedy Thalberg James currently resides in Metro Atlanta.