The morning sun streams through my window. I slowly open my eyes and hope that I am not dreaming. My thoughts go back to the night before when Georg ,as I now call him, told me he loved me and asked me to marry him. I sit up and smile with sheer joy. I hear a knock and ask who it is. The door opens and I see Gretl peek around the corner.
"Can I come in" she says quietly. I hold my arms open to her and she jumps onto my bed and into my arms.
"Good morning sweetheart what are you doing up so early? I say as she squeezes my neck.
" I wanted to tell you about my dream" she said. "We were in a beautiful church. Everyone was all dressed up. Father was in his uniform and he was at the front of the church. Marta and I were in back with Liesl. There were so many people in the church. You came in with the nuns. You had on the prettiest dress I had ever seen. You walked up to where father was and he held out his hand and you both walked to where this man with a funny hat was and knelt down. You both were up there for a long time. When the man was done you and father turned around and he told everyone that you were now married. Father and you walked back down the aisle and we all followed"
I smile and kiss her forehead. "That sounds like a wonderful dream" I said as Gretl put her head on my shoulder.
"Fraulein Maria, now that you and father are going to be married can I ask you something" asked Gretl.
"Yes darling what is it" I said looking down at her.
" Because I never knew my real mother, she died when I was a baby, can I call you mother" she asked.
Looking at her sweet face my eyes began to tear " Oh Gretl I would be so proud if you would call me that" I want you and all your brothers and sisters to know that I love you all as if I was your real mother".
Gretl hugged and kissed me and said " I love you too mother." I have never been happier than this moment.
I tell Gretl I need to get up and get dressed. She kisses me again before she goes to her room. I get dressed and go downstairs. I hear someone in the dining room and quietly peek around the corner. I see Georg reading the morning paper and drinking his coffee. I walk over to him and he surprises me by putting down his paper and rising from his chair. He meets me half way and takes my hand in his. As he pulls me to him I am mesmerized by his touch. He wraps me in his arms and places his lips on mine. As he kisses me the kisses become more intense until every part of my body is trembling. As we become more focused on ourselves we hear someone enter the room. I hear a voice and it takes a couple of seconds before I recognize it.
" Excuse me Captain and ahhhh Maria! gasps a surprised Frau Schmidt. "I'm sorry Captain I didn't realize"
" That is quite all right" " Maria and I are to be married. I asked her last night" Georg said as we pulled apart. My face I'm sure was beet red. Frau Schmidt just smiled and said she was very happy for us. She excused herself and went back into the kitchen.
Georg turned to me and smiled. " you should see your face, I haven't seen you this red since the night we danced.
" You think this is funny. I can't help it. I get embarrassed easily" I say as he takes his hand and touches my cheek. I put my hand on his and look in his eyes.
" Let's go for a walk" he says as he takes my hand and leads me to the back door. I walk with him and he puts his arm around my shoulder. We go outside and walk down to the lake. We walk over by the gazebo and sit on the bench.
"Did you sleep well" he asks.
"Yes I was glad to be back in my room" I answer. I had a visitor this morning". He looked at me with a curious look.
" Gretl came to see me" I continued. She had a dream about our wedding. Oh Georg she was so sweet . She asked if she could call me Mother. I told her that I would love it"
Georg smiled and took my hands in his "I am so happy she asked to call you mother. It has been hard for her. She was so young when her mother died and I was not around. The children love you so much and they need a mother again."
I wanted to ask him something, but hesitated afraid of what his answer might be. I decide that now is the right time. He looks at me and senses I am troubled by something.
" Maria is there something wrong? Georg asked.
"Georg you have seven children and I consider them my children now. I was wondering if you want more children. I want as many as God will allow" I said. Georg looked at me, smiled, took my hand and said " I love you Maria and the greatest expression of that love will be when we have children".He takes me in his arms and kisses me passionately. His mouth finds mine and we are lost in our desire for each other.