Sharing

"Max, I never thought I would be this happy again; but I've been given a second chance at love and I intend to live life again with Maria, the children and our children if God blesses us with them. Let me go up and say goodnight, I'll be back shortly."

Maria and Georg returned to his study and chatted with Max a while longer. "I must ask Fräulein - ."

"Herr Detweiler, please call me Maria."

"Then, I insist on Max." Maria smiled as he continued. "How did you perform this miracle?'

"Max, I wouldn't call it a miracle, I believe God worked through me; I don't think either Georg or myself can tell you how or when – it happened slowly. The celebration of Christmas was a big push in the right direction. I'm sure you gentlemen will talk until late, I need my beauty sleep.

"If it's nice tomorrow, the children want to go for a bike ride. I hope you will both join us."

"I think we can. Max, enjoy a nightcap while I walk Maria to the stairs."

"Thank you sweetheart."

"For what Georg?"

"Everything, you know Max called you an angel and I agree with him."

"Now look what you have done; my cheeks feel like burning embers."

"And you look beautiful." After giving her a sweet slightly lingering kiss, Maria walked up the stairs; she turned and looked down, Georg was still watching her.

"Goodnight Georg," She blew him a kiss.

"Goodnight darling."

By afternoon the next day the sun had warmed up the temperature; it became a lovely day for a bike ride. The extra bikes were cleaned up and ready for Max and Georg."

"Uncle Max, did you see my wagon on Kurt's bike? Fräulein Maria did that for me. I'm still not able to ride a bike, so I let Kurt pull me. It's fun."

"I see Brigitta; it's nice to see you so happy and stronger. You know your Uncle Max worried about you." She motioned for him to lower his face and gave him a little kiss on his cheek. He returned one of his own.

The children were no longer wearing the play clothes that Maria had made for them; but they were dressed appropriately for a bike ride. For two hours they rode everywhere – through the Plaza, then to the Mirabel Gardens and finally the road to Aigen and the lane to the villa.

"Georg, I don't know how you do it. I'm beat; I need a nap before dinner." Max disappeared to his room.

"Children, your Uncle Max is tired he went up for a nap. Do you think you keep yourselves occupied quietly while your Fräulein and I talk?"

"Father, could we play quiet games in the sitting room?"

"That's fine, Liesl."

Maria ran upstairs to freshen up and then joined Georg in his study.

"Maria, tomorrow we need to go to the Abbey, don't you think?"

"Yes, we do need to talk to Reverend Mother."

"Max and Frau Schmidt can look after the children. I don't worry about them anymore, planning tricks for their teachers or the other governesses."

Maria laughed. "Brigitta told me I was number twenty-seven."

"Yes, the one God sent to me. He did a much better job than I did." Georg reached for Maria's face for a kiss.

"My good friend Harold's wife, Eleanor, wants to help you plan the wedding. She knows everything about weddings; Frau Schmidt will help with the guest list."

"Thank you Georg, I had no idea even where to begin."

After breakfast the next day, the newly engaged couple left the children in the capable hands of Max and Frau Schmidt. They had a pleasurable drive to the Abbey. They walked to the gate together. Maria pulled the cord; the bell rang. She was noticed.

"Maria, Maria, please come in."

"Sister Marguerite, please meet Captain von Trapp."

"Hello sir."

"My pleasure Sister."

"May we see the Reverend Mother?"

"Yes, wait here. I'll find her."

"Are men allowed in the Abbey, Maria?"

"Yes, Georg." She looked at him. "Are you nervous?"

"Well, Maria it's not everyday you ask a Reverend Mother if you can marry one of her postulants."

"It will be fine Georg, trust me."

"Maria, Reverend Mother is in her office. Do you remember the way?"

"Of course I do. Georg follow me." She took him up a staircase to a small courtyard and approached a closed door. Maria knock firmly on the thick door. A gentle voice spoke. "Enter please."

"Maria dear, you look lovely and this gentleman with you is the Captain?"

"Yes, Reverend Mother, Captain Georg von Trapp."

She smiled. "Do you have news for me?"

"The Captain would like to ask you a question."

"Go ahead, you may ask," as she continued to smile.

"Reverend Mother, I think you already know why we are both here."

"Yes, I have a good idea."

"Did you know you sent me an angel? Maria has single handedly healed a grief filled family. My children and I will always be grateful. It's very simple; I love this woman and wish to have her as my wife. May we have you're your blessing?"

"Most certainly, you may have my blessing. But I must ask. Is this what you want Maria?"

"Yes, Reverend Mother, for the first time in my life I feel in my heart the love of this man and also of his children. I now know this is God's plan for me."

"Yes, my child I believe the same."

"Thank you for taking me and giving me the chance to allow God to work his plan through me. I will never forget you, the other sisters or the Abbey."

"Come back sometime Maria and bring the children. I'd love to meet them; especially the one who caused all this to happen."

"Yes, Brigitta would love to meet you too."

"Good day Maria, Captain."

Maria had the urge to run to the Abbey gate; she wanted so much to hold Georg's hand or slip her arm around his waist; but she had to wait until the gate closed behind them.

Maria grabbed Georg's hand and held it tightly. "How do you feel Maria?"

"I though I might be sad but I'm not; like I sang; I'm in love with a wonderful guy." Georg slipped his arm around her waist as they walked the short distance to his car. They were on the way to becoming a real family.

While they were gone the children told Max all about how their father had asked Maria to marry him.

"Fascinating children; better than any fairytale. Right, Gretl?"

"Fairytales aren't true, but Father marrying our Fräulein is real."