Days slipped by as Maria and Georg enjoyed Paris. They spent their days going to museums, and walking along the seine. Maria's favorite place to see was Notre Dame. The size of the cathedral amazed her.
Their nights were filled with love. Days turned to weeks and soon they had been in Paris for almost two months.
One afternoon Maria and Georg were walking and came upon a open air market. There were stands with beautiful flowers, fruit stands, and vendors selling all kinds of food. As they walked Maria stopped to look at a stand that had all sorts of material. Georg had walked over to a table that had oil paintings. As Maria was holding up a bolt of material she suddenly felt very dizzy. She put the material down and tried to walk to where Georg was standing. Just as she was almost to him she fainted.Georg grabbed her just as she was about to fall to the ground. He picked her up and brought her over to a bench that was under a tree. As he laid her down she began to stir. Georg asked someone to go for a doctor. Darling don't move I have sent for a doctor" said Georg.
Maria sat up. She felt a little lightheaded but the dizziness was gone.
"I'm alright, I don't need a doctor, I think I am just hungry" she said.
" I want the doctor to take a look at you just to make sure" Georg said.
Just then the doctor came. He suggested they go back to his office, it was just around the corner.
Georg helped Maria up and they followed him to the office. Maria went into the examining room with the doctor. Georg waited outside for what seemed like forever. Forty-five minutes later Maria emerged. She thanked the doctor. Georg asked her" Well what did he say?
Maria just smiled and said" I am fine, but he did tell me to go home and rest".
Georg breathed a sigh of relief and hailed a cab to take them to the hotel. Once back at the hotel Georg took Maria's hand and led her to the couch.
"I want you to put your feet up and relax" said Georg.
"First let me change into my robe" she said.
Maria got up and went into the bedroom, she emerged fifteen minutes later in her robe. She sat on the couch next to Georg. Georg put his arms around her as she swung her feet on the couch. She leaned against his chest. He brought her right hand up to his lips to kiss it when he noticed she was wearing the necklace he had given her. He started looking at the charms naming the children as he looked at each one. He reached Gretls charm when he noticed there was a blank charm next to it.
As he looked at it he said to Maria" I thought I told the jeweler to put all of the blank charms in the box not on the necklace"
"They were, I put this one on when we got back just now" She laughed.
Georg sat up and turned Maria towards him. He looked confused .
She smiled and said " we are going to have a baby, the doctor said I am about six weeks along and I am fine"
Georg reached down with one hand and put it on her stomach and he placed his other hand on her cheek. She put her hand over his and caressed his face with her other hand. He kissed her lips tenderly and as they looked at each other both of them had tears in their eyes.
they spent the rest of the day talking about the baby and what the children will think about having a new brother or sister.
That evening as they were listening to the radio they heard the news. The chancellor of Austria was speaking and saying the aunchless had happened and that Austria was now part of Germany. Maria began to cry as Georg held her.
"We are going home as soon as I can make arrangements" Georg said. He told Maria to pack and they would leave in the morning. She thought about the children and hoped they were not too scared. They tried to call home but all the lines were busy and they could not get through.
Morning came and they were heading for the train station. They boarded the train and headed home. They arrived in the late afternoon. As they were driving through Salzburg both Maria and Georg were horrified to see Nazi soldiers marching in the center of town. Nazi flags had replaced Austrian ones. As they pulled up to the house They both saw the nazi flag hanging from the house. Maria never saw Georg that angry. As he helped Maria out of the car she went into the house to find the children. Franz took the luggage and presents for the children into the house.
Georg walked to where the flag was hanging reached up and pulled it down. Just then he heard the cries of the children. He looked up to see them pulling into the driveway. He quickly rolled up the flag and hid it.