Yesterday Was Long Ago: Part One

by Hedy Thalberg James

  Karl knew from a few days of previous discussions that today was the anniversary of when his mother met her late husband, Otto, and her father-in-law had invited her for lunch the following day. He had heard the story dozens of times, as she never tired of talking about it. But today, Stephany felt that her life had come full circle. Nothing special would happen which hadn’t already, and it would be the last time she would write a few lines in the five dozen neatly kept diaries kept up-to-date year after year, and locked carefully away, though it was easy enough for anyone to get access to them should her life come to an end.

  She thought back to 1867 when Karl and Robert went to America. To her surprise, both came back earlier than expected, missing family and the City of Vienna more than they had anticipated. They were also informed that this time, Verena really was pregnant again, and a baby was expected by the end of October.

  According to Robert’s account, he sold everything he owned to his faithful German engineers, who helped him put both factories together, made them extremely profitable, and were the first ones there in the morning and the last ones to leave at night. They decided to form a corporation and he helped them to secure the necessary loan, which was no trouble since the banks knew of their enormous profit, especially during the Civil War. His senior engineer bought his large villa. He had five children, and aside from keeping the housekeepers from Finland, he hired a nanny from Ireland.

  As for Karl, he was extremely disappointed at the underwhelming architecture, but was told that New York’s buildings would, in time, surpass those of Europe with the greatest ease. He, however, doubted the prediction. He learned much about New York’s tenement houses for the masses of daily arriving immigrants and planned to put some of those ideas to good use after his arrival in Vienna. He had already lost much of his interest in palaces and feudal city structures, feeling that they were a mixture of poor imitations from different countries, and could never compare to Paris. Robert never even thought of visiting any of the Pierellies, but visited Angelina’s gravesite as much as time permitted. He ordered Helen Kakoonen to put flowers on the grave and knew she would continue to do so, as he was a very generous man to pay extra for each trip to the cemetery.

  By the middle of July, they were ready to leave New York, as the heat wave got the best of Karl’s mood and had him fearing for his health. They were anxious to see Paris, but after their arrival in Le Havre, changed their minds again as France experienced a heat wave also.

  Their early and unexpected arrival in Vienna was welcomed by everyone, especially Verena, who was showing her pregnant condition quite clearly. This time, her face looked rather pained when the talk turned to the soon to be born child, partly because her seven months of pregnancy had been, from the very beginning, a lot of discomfort to say the least.

  The shock came during the beginning of October when Hannes insisted that his wife should have the delivery at the hospital and be under a gynecologist’s supervision. The baby boy came after almost twenty hours of extreme labor pains, with Verena screaming as loud as her lungs and voice permitted her. Hannes was called at the first sign of labor, trying to comfort his suffering wife, also making up his mind that it would be their last child. The baby arrived finally, feet first, and Hannes noticed the clubfoot at once. Seconds later, the baby showed an obvious hunch on his back which sent chills through Hannes’ spine, as all previous operations he had performed were without success. The face, however, was of good color and his features the most beautiful and perfect he had ever seen. No one uttered a word until he called for a midwife to clean the baby, then told the doctors they were no more in need of them. When the last moment of anesthesia wore off, Verena found Hannes at her bedside, waiting to tell her the truth, fearful of her reaction.

  For a moment, he thought he hadn’t heard clearly when she responded calmly, almost smiling. “At least I will have someone who will need me all of my life. I think we should call him Stephan and leave the middle names to Grandmother, who is an expert on the Reinhardt history.”

  “Dearest, Verena, never mind the names. There is absolutely nothing I can do about his back, but I hope he will grow up to a normal size. And as for the club foot, only an elevated shoe will help.”

  “Then so be it, Hannes. As I said, it’s all right, because this little boy is going to be mine!”

  “I hope I can be part of him too, Verena,” he muttered, smiling.

  “Of course, Hannes, providing you are at home with us more often.”

  “I will make sure I am,” he promised, giving her a long overdue hug.

  Stephany wiped some of her tears away, leaned back, and her thoughts went back to the same year of 1867, just two weeks before Christmas, when a servant announced the unexpected visit of Frieda von Dorn. She always wrote a note asking for permission to see Alex, which was not to anyone’s liking. But being all alone was on Stephany’s and Karl’s mind, so they always granted her a stay with Alex as long as she wished, with Anette’s contribution towards a friendly conversation. She was still all in black with her long veil in front of her face when she was ushered into Stephany’s own parlor at her request to be alone with her. The infamous von Dorns, like so many of the Reinhardts’ acquaintances, owned a mansion in Vienna and a villa in Lindenfels.

  “Before we begin,” Stephany uttered, standing and watching her remove her veil. “let me thank you from the bottom of my heart for your many visits to Alex since his return to Lindenfels. I know the roads are icy this time of the year, never mind the cold weather. Now, please, make yourself as comfortable as you like,” Stephany almost pleaded, noticing a very strained expression on her face.

  “I have decided, after more than a year of soul searching, mind you, to give up my lifelong comfort, though no less in constant grief and sorrow,” she sighed. “to change my attire later today to a nun’s garb.” Stephany looked visibly stunned when she continued, very composed. “I decided to enter, and serve to the best of my ability, the orphanage of St. Anna. Yes, Mrs. Reinhardt, St. Anna. For several reasons, the main one being the fact that I am all alone with no relatives alive and not a single friend to count on. Servants were never any comfort to me, except to take care of my needs.”

  Stephany knew that much already, as two of her former servants were hired by the Reinhardts, and told them, among other things, that the Countess spent her time counting every item in her household, including the sugar cubes.

  Finally, Frieda von Dorn began to tell the story she came for. “It was 1813 when I hired a very young servant, Klara Diehl, as kitchen help and, a few months later, trusted her with my retarded daughter after the nanny quit her job. As it turned out, my helpless daughter began to cling to her, avoiding anyone else but my husband and myself. So, I let her stay until I noticed her skirt getting wider. I had no choice but to confront her, asking if she was with child. She only gave me a short nod. I offered to let her stay and I would gladly adopt the baby, knowing I was not able to have anymore. I gave her until the birth to think about it, but on her next day off, she was gone. You can imagine my disappointment, never mind my poor daughter who cried her heart out, knowing it belonged to my philandering husband. Upon seeing his distraught face after her disappearance, I confronted him. To my greatest amazement he admitted that he had bedded most of our servants, with her being the only one rejecting him for the longest time, which made him even more determined. He also added, quite nonchalantly, that he married me not only for my money but with the hope that, my father being a general, he would become one in time too.”

  Stephany knew from their social gatherings that Frieda referred to her husband as ‘the General’. He had reached the goal he set out to achieve, including having most women he ever approached.

  “We never again heard from Klara Diehl herself, but rumors have a way of getting around, and after hearing about your adoption, it was not hard to figure out that she became Sister Karoline at St. Anna’s orphanage. My last look at her was at your children’s double we
dding, and your son Karl not only had all her features, but her ever so slightly overlapping eye teeth which were, to me, a beauty mark.”

  “How did you feel whenever you and the late General encountered him at our many social gatherings?”

  “Very proud, though we never spoke about it. You know his mother died recently.”

  “Yes, we are all extremely sorry. Since the adoption of Hannes and Lillian, she came on a yearly basis to sing Christmas carols with her orphans. We will always miss it, as it will never be the same.”

  Frieda got up slowly, stretched out both her hands to Stephany, and said, “You can understand the urgency to talk to you now, as in a few hours I will take the vow like all others do, and be sworn to secrecy. But you are free to tell your family should you wish to do so.”

  With a slight embrace, Frieda von Dorn was gone. Stephany never uttered a word, knowing Colonel Essler had given Alex the name von Dorn for a reason. And there was Father Christopher who gave the last rites to the General and possibly a few other ones who claimed Karl was their son. It didn’t matter, as she knew in her heart that the Reinhardts will always endure, even if their name is von Dorn. That’s the way the late Albert Reinhardt, her husband Otto, and the rest of the living Reinhardts would have wanted it. She closed her diary and walked slowly towards the kitchen once more, thinking that this was where it all began sixty years ago. And it will continue for many more to come.

  1880

  20

  Philip Reinhardt had just turned fourteen. He was a tall fellow who inherited his father’s regular features, easy-going demeanor, and above average intelligence. But unlike him, he had a very strong, muscular body, attributing it to horseback riding, fencing, and mountain climbing. His dark hair and brown eyes, however, came from Verena’s mother, and she never missed an opportunity to remind him that he was also a Romberg. As always, since Hannes never wanted to be connected with the name Brehmer, he was glad she felt that way.

  Stephan was, for obvious reasons, his brother’s polar opposite. Though fortunately not a midget as expected the first few years, he showed, in many ways, quite feminine features. His face was not only handsome, but resembled that of a beautiful girl with long, curly hair and slender fingers. There were simply no masculine characteristics anywhere. Until very recently, he clung to his mother like a vine to a tree. Of course, Verena was happy to have someone near and to be badly needed. That was all she had ever desired. His father and grandfather, however, were quite worried, and Robert kept more company with Philip, feeling, like Kurt and Lillian, that his mother neglected him. Hannes, with his unpredictable working hours, had little choice but to spend all his free time with his wife and their ever-present son, Stephan.

  Karl, a still handsome sixty-five-year-old gentleman, tried hard to be fair to both of his grandsons, but was glad that Philip had the opportunity to spend all of his after-school hours with the Esslers. The result was that in time there had developed two camps among the Reinhardts. Lillian and Kurt, a childless couple, indirectly raised and guided Philip, while Verena nor Hannes ever showed any objection.

  Stephan had a left club foot which was elevated by a higher shoe, but there was also a shorter left arm which kept him from any involvement in the offered sport of horseback riding which the Esslers and Hannes encouraged, but Verena fiercely refused. ‘Her’ Stephan could fall off the horse and be possibly more injured, as he hadn’t the balance to get up.

  Then there was another problem on top of his obvious deformity. Whenever he became nervous, he would stutter. This was always the case with strangers, but it even included Kurt and Lillian. Never mind Anette, who still sat next to her beloved, comatose Alex, convinced he would wake up one of these days. She took a meal with the Reinhardts only on rare occasions, as she was living permanently in Lindenfels. Verena and Hannes had never set foot in Alex’s room since 1870. The reason was only known to both of them, and whenever asked about it, both would firmly reply that they wouldn’t discuss it and left it at that.

  ∼

  The day of Clarissa von Walden’s departure in 1870 to upper Austria in order to marry a man she had never met, knowing that she would never return to Lindenfels, she had finally fulfilled her very own wish of revenge. She put all of Alex’s letters addressed to her in a box and mailed them in care of Verena Reinhardt to the Reinhardt palace in Vienna. One hour later, she was on the train to meet her future husband, who had been carefully chosen by her family.

  Ever since the fateful day of the Reinhardts’ double wedding and the visit of Father Christopher to her parents, life had become hardly worth living and she was treated like a leper the following five years, as her father demanded to read her received mail. Her innocence was taken by Alex, who had sincerely planned to marry her, never expecting the repercussions. Baron von Walden told his daughter he wouldn’t confront those low-class Reinhardts in any case, and when he was told about Alex’s condition due to the war, he laughed so loud and long that his own family thought he was going crazy. Clarissa retreated to her room, cried bitterly, and had to take her meals in her own room from that day on. Sisters and brothers exchanged letters in secret, as servants couldn’t be trusted.

  After years of suffering, her father finally found a widower with five children and enough money and willingness to take his blemished daughter as his wife. Surmising that it couldn’t be worse than living at home, and having no choice in the matter to begin with, she left without as much as a goodbye to any of her family. Meeting the handsome widower with his children at the train station, she told herself she would give her best to live happily ever after. And it was no secret in Lindenfels that out of all her sisters and brothers, she had the great luck to be the only one to achieve happiness.

  For Stephan’s 12th birthday, a trip to the famous monastery in Melk was arranged, hoping it would please him. Verena had taken him for years to many of Vienna’s feudal churches and cathedrals, as it gave him somehow a good feeling afterwards. He admired the religious works of art tremendously and tried to imitate the greatest Italian masters. Of course, to Verena he was already a genius in the making.

  To Karl and Hannes’ great relief, Philip’s talent was strictly in the upcoming new technology, and both gave Robert the credit for it. Although Karl and Robert were retired, they worked feverishly at Vienna’s needed infrastructure, having also the difficult task of fighting for every improvement. Those so-called elected officials were only in power to please the house of Habsburg.

  Presently, Karl went with Verena and Stephan to Melk’s monastery, as he could never get enough of its beauty. Hannes stayed away, as he did with every other religious building unless they were serving the sick and the poor. Unfortunately, Father Christopher, who was Stephan’s best friend and trusted adviser, could not make the trip. He was needed in Vienna. And Robert took Philip to a newly erected factory which made parts that could be used in his own place. It caused a smile among the Reinhardts, who felt that they would fully retire when they were in their graves. Karl and Robert were workaholics, yet managed to enjoy life along with it, whenever an opportunity arose.

  While in the monastery, Stephan noticed several disfigured monks who smiled at him very kindly, explaining the exquisite library, and pointed to the extraordinary spiral staircase. Stephan assured his mother and grandfather that he could walk up the steps without any help from either of them.

  “Try, Stephan.” Karl smiled while Verena beamed in delight.

  Stephan promised God that, should he climb those stairs up and down on his own, he would become a monk and serve only Him. And since he did both ways effortlessly, his mind was not only made up, but he felt a strength which he would only tell to Father Christopher. There would be too much opposition from everyone in the family with the exception of Philip, who called him ‘Stephany’ whenever he bested him in Latin or ancient history.

  The trips to Melk became somewhat of a pilgrimage, taken not only once, but two or three times a year, and Father Christoph
er never gave the slightest indication about Stephan’s future plans.

  In the meantime, Philip entered Vienna’s Elite Academy for Technology with the Reinhardts’ full approval. He was eighteen now, but the Reinhardt and Essler camps still existed as strong as ever. Robert and Karl were extremely pleased, knowing the factory, among many other of the Reinhardt holdings, would continue to flourish in the best of hands. Sooner or later, Philip would meet the right lady, as by now his formerly regular features had become quite handsome. But he also had great charm in attracting the so-called weaker sex. Like his grandfather, Karl would repeat his father’s wise words, counseling him to take all the time for the right one to come along, and Philip pledged to do no less.

  A year in Manchester, England was promised, with Robert at his side, providing he graduated with honors. Verena finally began to notice her firstborn son’s self-assured behavior at the suggestion of a trip to a foreign country. “Anywhere, as long as it’s not Berlin.”

  “Verena!” her papa hissed quite angrily. “Why would you even entertain such a thought. You owe your son an apology.”

  “Accepted,” Philip jested, without giving his mother a chance to do so.

  “Papa, I only thought—” she stammered, embarrassed to be chastised in front of her son. “because they are superior in technology. Our Philip is quite a stubborn young man.”

  “Stubborn, yes. Insane, no,” Karl retorted, smiling fondly and with more than a little pride at his grandson.

  “Sorry, Philip,” Verena finally managed, but looked mostly at her Papa, who had never understood her indifference towards Philip.

  1886

  21

  Stephan had often requested to visit the Esslers, as of late, and take carriage rides on their large grounds and Verena was enjoying them equally as she taught him how to take over the reins. She decided now to take their own horses for that rather short trip, being not only very pleased by Stephan’s desire to visit them, but also watching Lillian, Kurt, and his brother Philip performing quite daring jumps. It continued throughout the summer and all felt that life couldn’t be better.