Maria looked into her daughters eyes. Liesl started to cry and Maria held her.
"Liesl, what happened is it Rolf?" asked Maria.
"Yes he thinks like the nazis and he told me father should join them" she cried.
Maria looked at Liesl and told her that Rolf was wrong and that someday hopefully he will think differentely.She also told Liesl that even though she feels terrible now in time she will be able to smile again.
"You are almost seventeen and have so much of your life ahead of you and I promise you it will be wonderful" said Maria
"Do you really think so mother" said Liesl
"Yes I do and soon I will need your help" said Maria smiling.
"Is everything alright Mother" asked Liesl
" Well in about seven months you will have a new brother or sister and because I have never taken care of a baby I will need you to help me Maria said.
"Oh Mother how exciting, a new baby can I tell everyone?" said Liesl.
"Lets wait for your father so we tell the others together" Maria said.
Just then Georg entered the room. Maria does not like the expression he has on his face. Maria and Liesl get up from the couch and walk to him.
"Liesl I need to talk to your mother" said Georg. Liesl sees the expression on her fathers face and knows that this will not be good news.
"I understand father I will go see what my brothers and sisters are doing" said Liesl. As she walked by her father he patted her cheek and she gave him a half smile.Georg stood looking at Liesl as she walked away. He then turned his attention towards Maria.
"The telegram I received is from Berlin they want me to command one of their submarines. If I refuse they could do terrible things to us but joining them is out of the question. Georg looked at Maria and saw the look on her face. He took her and held her.
"Georg what are we going to do? We are going to have to leave Austria. Where will we go?" Maria aid.
"Max is trying to arrange for us to go to Switzerland. We have to leave tonight. The children will have to pack. Don't tell them what is going on just that we are going on a trip"Georg said. Maria looked into Georgs trusting eyes and she nodded.
He took her face in his hand and kissed her gently. He then took his hand and put it on her stomach.
"How are you feeling? I am worried that the stress of this may harm the baby" Georg said.
Maria looked down to where his hand was and put hers over it "as long as we're together I or I should say we will be fine." She put her arms around Georg and whispered I love you in his ear. He took her in his arms and kissed her.
" I'm sorry to interrupt but we need to make arrangements Georg" said Max as he entered the room. He walked over to Maria and gave her a kiss on the cheek "congratulations Maria, Georg told me about the baby. I promise you everything will work out. Maria hugged him. She then went upstairs to start to pack.
As she was in their room packing the children knocked on the door.
"Come in" she said. The children came in and sat on the bed.
"Mother are you and father going somewhere?" asked Brigitta.
We are all going on a trip for a while. I need you to pack .Liesl and Freidrich I need you to help the younger children. We can only take one knapsack each so make sure you pack wisely. Please no toys just clothes".Maria implored. Liesl knew something was wrong but she didn't want to upset the younger children so she just nodded and took everyone to their rooms to pack.Georg entered the room just as Maria was done.
"Everything is all set. We will leave tonight and drive to Switzerland. Max has some friends there that are going to meet us when we cross the border. Georg saw Maria pick up a small white gown. She looked at it and started to cry" I wanted so much for our child to grow up in this house. Will we ever be able to come back here?"
"My hope is that one day we will be able to come home but I want this child to grow up free of fear and terror and that will never happen here as long as the nazis are in control" said Georg. Maria took the tiny gown and put it her sack. She went to see how the children were doing. Liesl was just finishing the younger children's knapsacks when she walked in.
"Mother is everything alright?" Liesl asked.
"Yes everything will be fine as long as we are all together" Maria answered.