Dawn was breaking as Maria heard the soft cries of her hungry son coming from the nursery. She slowly rises from the bed and walks into the nursery. She bends down and takes her son out of the cradle. She gently kisses him on the forehead. With his eyes still closed he lets out a louder cry. Maria sits down in the chair and proceeds to feed her hungry son.
As she cradles him she softly speaks to him" your father is right you know, you definitely have Kurts appetite." Maria touches his head and thinks about the last year. Her life has changed more than she had ever imagined. In one year she went from a postulant in a convent to a wife and mother of eight. They have been in Switzerland for ten months now. They wait every day for news from the American Embassy. Visas are very hard to get especially for a family of eight.
She looks down at her son still eating. She smiles as she thinks of the day just two weeks ago when he was born. She remembers how scared she was and how Georg stayed by her side the entire time. She remembers the smile on Georgs face when he held his son for the first time. When she held him the utter joy she felt as she gazed at him. His eyes are Georgs. Dark and beautiful. She laughs to herself when George notices his temper is like someone else he knows. He screams if he does not get fed immediately
They have decided to baptize him Johannes Maxamillion. Johannes for Georgs father and Maxamillion for Max.
Maria watches as Johannes slowly closes his eyes and falls back to sleep. Even though he is asleep Maria continues to rock him. Sensing someone is in the room she turns her head towards the door that connects the nursery with her and Georgs bedroom. She smiles as she sees Georg watching her. Georg quietly walks over to her and kisses her on the head. He reaches down and gently touches Johannes on the head. The baby stirs slightly but goes back to sleep. Georg picks up the baby and cradles him in his arms. Georg sways back and forth while he gently talks to him.
" I see you finally are asleep, I think you have your days and nights mixed up. You are keeping your mother up all night", Georg quietly said to the sleeping child. Maria walked over to Georg and kissed the baby on the cheek. Georg looked at Maria and their eyes met in a loving gaze. Maria reached up and kissed Georg lightly on the lips. When they parted Georg smiled at her. He slowly walked over to the cradle and layed Johannes down. Georg kissed the baby and quietly he and Maria left the nursery. Once in their room Georg took Marias hand and pulled her to him. As his lips found hers she wrapped her arms around his neck. Maria moaned as Georgs hands touched her bare skin. Georgs lips left hers and whispered in her ear "I love you. Maria said " I love you back. As they started to kiss again they heard a knock on the door.
" Mother, Father are you ready yet" asked Louisa.
Both Georg and Maria suddenly remembered that they promised the children a picnic. They parted as Georg answered " We will be down in a couple of minutes". They smiled at each other and proceeded to get dressed.
As they walked down to breakfast they met the housekeeper Mrs. Holbrook.
"Good morning Baron, Baroness the children are finishing packing lunch for the picnic. Your breakfast is in the dining room" she said as she passed them.
" Mrs. Holbrook thank you for watching the baby so I could go on the outing. He just finished eating and he should sleep for about three hours. We should be back by then. If he should wake up I have a bottle in the refrigerator. If he cries try rocking him and he will fall asleep," Maria started to go on but Georg interrupted.
" Darling we won't be gone for days I think Mrs. Holbrook can handle the baby for a couple of hours" he said holding her hand.
" I'm sorry it's just that this will be the first time I will leave him, I guess I am a little nervous" Maria said as she looked at Mrs. Holbrook.
The housekeeper smiled and said " I understand Baroness but he will be just fine. Remember I raised five sons of my own" Maria nodded and she and Georg went to have breakfast. They barely finished when the children were pleading to leave. Maria went to get the basket and soon everyone was walking towards the lake. The lake was only a mile from the house. Georg and the children played a game of ball while Maria set up their lunch. Soon it was time to leave. As they walked into the house Maria called Mrs. Holbrook's name. She found it odd that the woman did not answer. Maria suddenly had a terrible feeling. She ran up to the nursery with Georg following behind. The nursery door was open and as they went in Maria gasped. Mrs. Holbrook was sitting in the rocking chair, her hands tied behind her back and her mouth gagged. As Georg went to untie her. Marias only thought was the baby. As she ran to the cradle her heart sank as she cried out " Georg! The baby! " He's gone. Maria fell to her knees crying as she held the baby's blanket.