Georg knocks on Marias door. Getting no answer he knocks again. He wonders if maybe she went to check on the children. He starts to go towards the nursery when he gets an uneasy feeling. Going back to Marias door he slowly opens it.
" Maria" he calls out as he enters the room. Looking around the room he does not see her. Walking to the bathroom he stops frozen with fear. Maria is lying motionless on the bathroom floor. Georg rushes to her side. He is relieved she is breathing and gently picks her up. Placing her on the bed he yells for Frau Schmidt. " Maria, darling open your eyes. Please wake up" Georg says as he caresses her cheek with the back of his hand. He is about to call for Frau Schmidt again when she comes running into the room. The children are right behind her.
" Frau Schmidt call the doctor. Maria collapsed in the bathroom and is unconscious" Georg says as he pulls the covers over her.
Frau Schmidt hurries out of the room to call. Georg looks up and sees all seven of the children staring at him. He remembers the last time he saw that look in their eyes. It was when their mother was sick. They can't go through that again he thinks to himself. He gets up and goes to them.
" I need all of you to go downstairs I will be down as soon as the doctor comes. I promise Maria will be fine" he says trying to convince them as much as himself.
The children go downstairs to await their father.
After what seems like forever the doctor arrives. Georg explains to him about the accident and how she had hit her head." Captain please step out of the room while I examine her. I will call you when I am done" the doctor says as he escorts Georg out of the room. Georg watches the door close and looks up, " God please don't take her from me, from us. Not now that we found each other. Not now that my children have found a new mother.
Georg closes his eyes and pauses before he goes downstairs to talk to the children. As he descends the stairs Liesl comes to meet him. She watches her father and sees that he is very worried.
" How's Fraulein Maria? Did she wake up yet?, Liesl asks him.
" The doctor is with her now. She still is not awake", he says looking down at Liesl. "I should have called the doctor when we returned but Maria insisted she was fine. Why is this happening now?
Liesl stares at him. She knows her father would be concerned for Maria but he is more than concerned. Something has happened between Maria and her father. She remembers that earlier just before Maria was found the baroness had left and had all her bags with her. Georg realizes that the children do not know that his relationship with Maria has changed. He takes Liesls hand and they go into the living room. As they walk into the room the children look to him for reassurance.
" Father is Fraulein Maria awake yet?" Gretl asks.
" No darling not yet, " he says picking her up. " I need to talk to all of you about something. Maria and I wanted to tell you together but I think she will not mind if I tell you. While we were away Maria and I had a chance to talk. I realized I did not love the baroness. I love Maria and she loves me. We talked and decided she was to become a permanent member of the family. I asked her to marry me and to be your new mother. We were going to tell all of you tonight but then she became ill."
Gretl picks her head up and kisses Georg on the cheek. " All I want for my birthday is for Fraulein Maria to be my mother. I won't ask for anything more" she says as she hugs her father. Georg hugs her tightly. The other children go to him and hug him also.
" Captain can I speak to you? Georg looks up to see the doctor standing in the doorway. " I will be right back" he says as he puts Gretl down. He brings the doctor into the study and closes the door.
" Is she awake yet" Georg asks.
" Yes Captain the fraulein is awake and I examined her. She has a severe concussion but she will be fine in due time." Georg is overjoyed and begins to thank the doctor when he interrupts. " I haven't finished captain. Sometimes when this kind of injury occurs there can be some damage to the brain. I am afraid this has happened to Fraulein Maria"
Georgs joy turns to worry, " What kind of brain damage does she have."
" As far as I can tell she has no idea where she is. She knows her name but she still thinks she is at the abbey as a postulant. She has no memory of her time here. Frau Schmidt is with her now. She is very confused and scared. I have asked Frau Schmidt to stay with her tonight" the doctor says as he goes to the door.
" Doctor will she regain her memory? Georg asks.
" I don't know. Brain injuries like this are very hard to figure out. Sometimes it can last a couple days or she may never regain her memory. I will be back in the morning" the doctor says as he heads to the door.
