The New Year

Maria and the ladies had no intention of joining the crowd in Times Square at midnight. In fact they didn't even know if they could stay awake to hear it on the radio.

All the men, plus Friedrich and Kurt ventured out. After eleven, the group began to walk the eight blocks to Times Square. The men had a drink at the famous Oak Wood lounge. Georg even allowed Friedrich and Kurt to have a small glass of spirits. Neither really liked it and passed it off to Stefan and Phillip to finish.

The ladies were all making their way to their rooms when the men arrived home. "How was it Georg?"

"Rather rowdy; I doubt I'll ever go again."

"We heard the band play Auld Lang Syne before we turned the radio off."

"We heard it after we started our walk back." Everyone said good night. Maria and Georg checked on Joy and David. They wanted to be sure the fireworks hadn't woke them.

"Now my sweet wife, you need the first kiss of 1938."

"I hope I get more than a kiss."

"You will Maria, but first I'll start with a kiss."

"Happy New Year Georg"

"Same to you sweetheart." Georg held her close, then he released her. "You know Maria soon there's going to be a rather large protrusion obstructing our closeness."

"Yes, I know. You realize I have a doctor's appointment on Monday."

"I do. Is everything alright?"

"I think so."

Maria finally got her kiss and the intimacy they both desired.

The following Monday, "Dr. Bremer do they sound good?"

"Yes, Maria, come to the office, I'll get Georg."

"Now what hospital do you want to use for the delivery?"

"Hospital, Dr. Bremer, why?"

"Most mothers in America deliver in a hospital, besides you are having twins."

Maria looked at Georg, panicked. "I don't like it. I'm not sick, hospitals are for the ill. Can't we think of somewhere other than a hospital? I want Georg by my side just like with Joy and David."

Dr. Bremer was a middle-aged man, he understood; he had delivered babies in their homes before, but not in a hotel room.

"Maria, there is a birthing house near City Hospital, you could go there."

"Just so Georg can be with me."

"I'll make all the arrangements. You can stop by and talk to the nurses who help there any time next week. Here's the address."

"Thank you, Dr. Bremer."

"You know Maria; it would have been rather difficult to deliver in a hotel room."

"I suppose you're right."

The next week they visited the birthing house. It was an old home; nicely decorated, each room was private and looked like a bedroom. The staff was professional but welcoming.

"I think that will be just fine. Georg, I still can't believe David is going to be seven."

"Yes, it seems like just yesterday Dr. Greenburg ran up the stairs of the villa and found you almost ready to deliver."

"Wouldn't it be nice if these babies came that quick?"

"Not too quick Maria; we do need to get to the birthing house."

"I know, but I hope it isn't an all day affair."

Georg and Maria still had two children who needed to complete secondary school, Marta and Gretl. Father Gabriel had encouraged them to enroll the girls in St. Paul's Church School. The girls were both apprehensive, but Father Gabriel assured them the teachers would understand. Classes resumed the second week of January.

They all walked to the school to meet the teachers. Father Mike and Sister Anna greeted them. "Marta and Gretl, am I right girls?" They both smiled that she knew their names.

Then turning to Georg and Maria, "We only have a few students in the upper grades, so we teach them all together. Father Mike teaches math and science and I'm in charge of reading, English and history. I see you brought their last report cards with you.

"Yes, it was one of the things I brought from Austria." Maria told them.

"Marta, Gretl, I will assign a student to each of you, believe it or not, we actually have two who also speak German. But you should try to always speak in English first, if you get stuck then put in the German words. Okay girls?" They smiled.

"Paper and pencils are the only things you need on the first day." Father Mike added.

Only Georg walked the girls to school the first day, Maria was already limited in her walking. After a couple of days the girls walked by themselves, it was only two short blocks from the Plaza. Georg could actually watch them and usually waited to see them go inside.

Their English speech improved rapidly, although reading took a while longer; they each used the German-English dictionary frequently.

With the girls in school Maria could concentrate on David's birthday party.

The first of February was fast approaching; luckily Maria had a lot of help planning David's party. Georg and Frau Schmidt did all the shopping; Maria had asked Charles if he had a copy of the Sears Catalog. Maria looked through it to give Georg ideas for his gifts. He found many similar items at the large department store and of course the toy store.

David was so excited the day of his party, he kept asking, "Is it time Mother?'

"Soon David soon."

Joy and Gretl planned the games; Katia made another special cake and the Plaza once again supplied the ice cream.

His presents included; a large Tinker Toy set, books of all kinds and games.

Uncle Karl promised to take him to the zoo when the weather got warmer.

When Maria saw Dr. Bremer again he recommended she spend a large part of the day lying down or sitting with her feet up on a stool. And absolutely no walking any distance.

Dr. Bremer told her that after the first of March she could have the babies at anytime. "Georg, never leave her alone."

"No problem, there are always people around."

"Just be sure they are where they can hear her call if she feels things happening."

Maria was basically on bedrest; she could eat with the family but the remainder of her days were spent in bed. David and Joy would get in bed with her for storytime.

It was March 20th. "Georg, wake up." Maria nudged his arm.

"I'm awake, what is it?"

"You need to call a cab, it's time."

He didn't question her; he called down to the desk. Sidney was working the early morning shift, he recognized Georg's voice. "What is it Georg?"

"Call a cab Sidney, I'm bringing Maria down."

Georg woke Liesl and Louisa. "I'm taking your mother to the birthing house. You know what to do?'

"Yes, Papa we do." They got up to give Maria a kiss before she left.

Maria didn't say too much riding in the cab but she knew things were happening fast. Thankfully, the traffic wasn't bad, they made it there quickly. "Mam, good luck," the driver said as he helped Georg walk with her to the door. Georg reached into his pocket for the money to pay him. He heard. "No payment sir, rides to the birthing house are always free." Georg smiled and rushed Maria inside.

"Maria, is it time?' Sylvia asked.

"Yes, is Dr. Bremer here?"

"He'll be here soon; he doesn't live very far away. Let's get you to your room."

"Sylvia, I know it's been seven years but it's just like it was when David was born."

She helped Maria undress and get into bed, then she examined her, "Try not to push Maria, let me get Georg."

"Georg, help her not to push."

"I'll try." He answered. Then she heard, "breathe Maria, breathe."

Dr. Bremer barely had time to change his clothes. "Okay Maria slow pushes. I see head, get a breath Maria." Maria was pushing with all her might. "Breathe breathe, I have the first one. Are you ready? It's a girl, Maria." Soon the room was filled with a baby's cry; Sylvia took the baby to the warmer.

Georg and Maria barely got a look at her when they heard. "The next one is coming. I know you're tired, only a few more pushes. Breathe Maria, now one last push should do it."

This one came out quickly. "Georg you have yourself another boy; he seems to be the bigger of the two." His cry was louder than that of his sisters.

Shortly the nurse had the little girl wrapped for Maria. Quickly the second nurse Amy had the baby boy wrapped and put him into Georg's waiting arms.

Each looked down at the baby in their arms, seemingly catching their breaths. Then Georg spoke, almost chuckling, "Maria were you trying to imitate your mother?"

She laughed back. "No darling, I still can't believe they're here, looking down at her bundle and over to Georg's."

"You said you didn't want it to be an all day affair. You got your wish."

She smiled as she patted the place next to her. "Come sit Georg, I want to look at my son."

Carefully he sat beside her. "Should we get a good look?'

"I think we should." Carefully Georg pulled the blanket away from him.

"He reminds me of David, almost as large, he's so perfect Georg."

"Now let me see my daughter." Maria removed the blanket from around her, revealing a smaller baby but just as perfect.

"Maria, she's beautiful, just like you darling." Now reaching for her face, they kissed that all important kiss and spoke their favorite words, almost simultaneously, "I love you."

Georg stepped out while they tended to Maria and the babies. He took this time to call the Plaza. Sidney answered. He heard Georg's happy voice. "Don't tell me she had them already Georg. You just got there."

"Yes, I know Sidney; we have a girl and a boy, everyone is fine, Maria and both babies. Please let them all know, they can come here anytime."

That's just what he did. He found everyone in Georg's suite; they looked up when he entered with a broad smile on his face.

"Don't tell me she had them already," he heard from Frau Schmidt. He continued to smile.

"You can go visit anytime." Quickly the group got ready and started their brisk walk to the birthing house. David got a "piggy-back" ride from Karl.

"You have company," Sylvia announced as she first let all the children in the room. Joy and David both starred at the bundle each parent held.

"Children, I have Joanna Grace."

"And I have Mathew Georg."

"I can't believe you had them so quickly."

"Me neither Liesl, when I woke up I knew I had to get here as soon as we could."

Everyone had a chance to look at the babies and then went home. Maria would go home later that afternoon. Everything was ready, two cradles, double stack of diapers and lots of blankets.

The babies had the best temperament and of course there was no lack of people to hold them.

A/N: If you don't know, Maria was born on a train.