Chapter 4.

The next few weeks flew by quickly for Maria. Helena changed her work schedule by giving her less physical job. She needed someone to do the paperwork anyway, and now that Maria had taken over most of this job, Helena had more time to focus on the guest related issues. The fall slowly passed by and the first snowflakes in the streets announced the arrival of the winter. Maria's stomach started rounding and even though she missed Georg and the children terribly, the smile returned to her face. Helena kept her promise, she didn't tell anyone about Maria's condition and her past. When people asked her about who Maria was, she usually told them that Maria was her niece who had decided to live in Innsbruck. Maria was afraid of people's reaction, how they would react when they find out that she was an unwed woman expecting a child. The town community accepted Maria in their circles, and she was more than welcome in an activities in town. In fact, this stunning young woman amazed everyone and everyone was curious to find out who she really was.

The weeks quickly went by as Maria's pregnancy smoothly proceeded. Christmas was over and the near year, 1938 had arrived. Maria sat by the window on one of those evenings watching the snow gently falling down. The white flakes coming from above always calmed her nerves. Physically she was fine, the morning sicknesses were over and she eagerly anticipated the day when she would hold her newborn child in her arms. Mentally, she was slowly recovering, deep in her heart she felt a terrible pain that would never go away. Her hands were resting on her stomach and the sight of the small rounding made her slightly smile. Everything was quiet around her, and she closed her eyes to enjoy the peace of the winter night when a strange new sensation, a little movement coming from inside made her wake up.

"Oh, my God." She gasped and pressed her hand tighter to her stomach. She immediately knew what this new experience was. The soft kick paused and then it came again. Maria felt her eyes filling with tears. Automatically in her heart she wished Georg's presence beside her. "Oh Captain, wish I could share all this with you. Your child has just made his first movements." As happy as she was at the moment, a terrible fear and pain started consuming her mind. The thought of him tended to have this effect on her. "How will I tell my child about his father when those questions will come up? How will I know how to answer them? How will I able to do everything on my own?" Maria had always been self-confident but in the situation like this she wished for some support. She wished her child's father beside her, to put his hand on her stomach to feel his child inside. Above them all she missed the von Trapp children. Often she wondered what they were up to, how they could cope with the new mother and their new life. "Most importantly they are happy." She tried to convince herself, while highly doubting this theory. She prayed for them every single night, and every single day she felt guilty for having left them again. Looking down at her stomach again, she smiled and said out aloud:

"I love you my child. I'm sure we will get along fine with each other. You are the meaning of my life and I will do everything for you."

There was some gossip around town about Maria, but most of the people didn't buy into them. They accepted Maria just the way she was, even accepting the fact that she was a long lost niece of Helena's. Soon they discovered Maria's hidden talents, namely her instant connection to children and music. Twice a week she gave music lessons at the local school and the children related to her immediately. She eagerly purchased all the baby items and clothes and rearranged her room for the new occupant. According to the doctor her condition was moving along smoothly and she had nothing to be afraid of. In fact, she was afraid more and more as her time of giving birth was nearing.

"Maria, come I have a surprise for you." Helena took Maria by the hand and pulled her out of the office.

"Where are you taking me?" Maria asked curiously. In fact, Helena led her to Maria's room. "Now close your eyes." She instructed. Maria obliged her heart beating quickly.

"You can open them." She heard Helena tell her and also she felt her moving her inside. Maria was breathless when she opened her eyes. While she had been working, Helena made arrangements for a baby bed to be delivered to her room. With wonderment in her eyes Maria went over to the little bed and softly caressed it with her fingers.

"Helena, this is beautiful." She had tears in her eyes. Helena walked over to the young woman and hugged her close.

"You know, I was afraid that you would get all the baby things before I could get you anything." Helena said.

"Thank you so much. I really don't know how I will ever be able to pay you back all the kindness and help you have given me." Maria looked up.

"You have already Maria, you have." Helena answered. She wanted to compensate the girl from all the misery she had gone through. She tried to do her very best, but she was aware of the fact that no matter how hard she tried, there was one thing she was never going to be able to give her. Maria's eyes and the look she had on her face told Helena that she still suffered from the heartache caused by that particular Sea Captain whose name was still unknown for Helena. Maria had never revealed the true identity of her former fiancé.

Maria was still amazed by Helena's present and she couldn't remove her eyes from the little bed.

"Maria?" Helena softly touched the young woman on the shoulder.

"Yes." Maria looked up at Helena.

"Maria, I have been thinking about you and your situation. I know that it's hard on you, but don't you think you should notify him about your condition? I mean he has the right to know that he is going to have a child with you." Helena let out her words.

"Right? No, Helena. Please don't speak of this issue again. This child is going to be mine. He has no rights at all. Didn't I have the right to sort out things with him? No, he clearly instructed me to leave the house. He was the one cheating on me, the one telling me to leave and making my life fall apart." Maria's voice sounded angry.

"Maria" Helena whispered. "Please calm down my child. I didn't mean it that way." Helena hugged Maria. "But how do you know that this whole letter and telegram wasn't just a misunderstanding?" Helena softly asked.

"A misunderstanding?" Maria asked in surprise. "You know if it were only for the letter, I surely would have stayed until he came back. But the telegram... his telegram made me realise that he never.. that he never..." Maria cried. "And besides he is surely married now. I cannot appear on his doorstep in this condition. What shall I tell him? To file a divorce and marry me instead because I am having his child?" Maria sobbed. "No I cannot do that to him, or to the children. I did what the best was for all of them." Maria answered, all the while trying to convince herself as well.

"It's okay, it's okay. Please know that no matter how you decide, I'll always here beside you. If you need any help Maria, please tell me." Helena comforted Maria.

"Thank you." Maria whispered.

The winter months soon were going into spring and Austria was facing a new enemy. The wind of the Anschluss had been hanging in the air for long, but no one had dared to think that it would finally take shape. But those demons arrived, marching through the cities and towns in Austria while some people were cheering out aloud in the streets greeting the German soldiers. Other people were withdrawing in their houses and estates shutting out the outside world and its happenings. Silently, only among themselves they dared to silently discuss these issues by bringing their own opinion to the surface, but in public they never dared to say a word out aloud. These happenings scared Maria, since she remembered how Georg had objected the German occupation. When it finally happened, she had a hard time keeping herself from writing a letter to him, sending him her words of comfort, but she knew she couldn't do so. Partly, she wanted to protect her child, and second she didn't want to bring any danger to the von Trapp house either. She tried to live her life the way she had done before, trying to stay away from the town as much as she could. She did her paperwork in the inn's office, also she went to give her music lessons twice a week with resignation, but she turned her head away when she saw people bowing to the Nazi's ideology. Helena also took in the news with resignation. Being a loyal Austrian her heart was in pain on the day when the German troops entered her home country. With shock they read in the papers and heard the news on the wires on people who had been deported to Nazi camps.

Maria tried to focus on her child in her stomach. She often wondered about the gender of her baby and what name she should give him or her. Her prayers went up every day and asked the Lord for a healthy baby. Her time was inevitably nearing and each little exercise was getting harder and harder for her. Helena put her on rest very often; she also stopped giving music lessons. The long walk and travel to the city center was too much for her very pregnant being.

"How much longer do you think it will take?" Helena asked Maria while they were having lunch.

"Uhm, I think two more weeks. The doctor told me that I was due around 4 May." Maria answered and shifted so that she could sit more comfortable.

"It is getting uncomfortable, isn't it?" Helena asked.

"Oh yes. And you know, he or she is very active. I cannot get comfortable at night, either." Maria answered and stifled a yawn.

"Maria, why don't you lie down after lunch? You should rest. Just let me know if you need anything and I will bring it upstairs." Helena offered.

"Okay, I won't protest. I'll just take the morning paper, but I'm sure I'll fall asleep at the quarter of the first page article." Maria smiled.

Once in her room Maria made herself comfortable on the bed and opened the newspaper. Instead of finding some general information on the cover page, the headline caught her eyes and it made her breathless.

"Captain Georg von Trapp and his family missing." With trembling hands and her eyes wide-open Maria went on reading the dreadful article on the first page.

"After having been offered a commission by the Navy of the Third Reich Captain von Trapp and his family are missing. They disappeared from their Villa in Salzburg late last night. The police are looking for 8 people, one adult, who is Captain von Trapp and his 7 children." Maria was shocked. "One adult and 7 children, one adult and 7 children" Maria repeated. "What about his wife? Isn't he married? The article doesn't mention his wife... what was going on then?" She thought but simultaneously with her thoughts a sharp pain in her stomach made her drop the paper and she screamed out for help.

Helena heard Maria's scream and ran to the room immediately.

"Maria, oh my God. What's going on?" She asked, but she knew that the young woman's labor started. Maria grimaced with pain and bloody water stained her dress below her stomach area.

"It's too early, I still have some time... . I'm afraid. Please don't leave me, please." Maria took a hold of Helena's hand. While holding Maria's one hand Helena reached down for the paper on the lying on the floor. Her eyes grew wide when she saw the headline. "Was this that caused her the shock? Captain von Trapp?" She gently wiped the sweat off Maria's forehead.

"The doctor will be here. Don't worry." Helena calmed her.

"Helena, if something happens to me, will you, will you take care of my child?" Maria asked her chin trembling.

"Ssssh... nonsense Maria. You will be fine." Helena comforted the young woman.

"How long doctor? How long do you think she has to do this?" Helena asked the doctor when Maria had been in labor for about 7 hours. She was getting tired and exhausted, and her energy level was on decrease. Helena didn't leave Maria's bedside, an action that Maria highly appreciated.

"Frau Schneider, with the first child it can take even longer. I don't know." The doctor replied while focusing on his task.

Two hours had passed and the baby still wasn't there. Maria could hardly cope with the cramps and the exhaustion she felt all around in her body. She clung to Helena's hand but in the back of her mind she wished it were Georg's strong hand she could cling to. She quickly abandoned these thoughts from her mind and focused on the doctor's instruction that commended her to give a big push. She complied with all her remaining strength and when the piercing baby cry was heard in the room her body sank back to the pillows. She inhaled sharply, but her mouth curved to smile.

"You made it, Maria. You made it." She heard Helena's voice.

"The baby?" She asked her voice sounding weak.

"You have a baby girl, Fraulein Rainer." The doctor said and placed the baby right into her arms. For a long moment she was speechless, just stared into the baby eyes. She was perfect, the most beautiful tiny little creature Maria had ever seen.

"Hello, my little daughter." She said among tears. "So Alexandra, I'm glad to finally meet you." She spoke to her baby and took her little hand in hers. Helena had tears in her eyes as she watched the scene in front of her eyes.

After making sure that both the baby and Maria were healthy Helena and the doctor left the room to give some privacy to the young mother.

"Can I get you something to drink, doctor?" Helena asked once outside.

"No, thank you." The doctor paused for a long moment. "Frau Schneider, is there anyone to be notified about this child's birth? I mean, the young mother surely has family and relatives... or are you her only living relative? What about the father?" The doctor asked.

"Yes, I'm her only relative. Her parents died when she was a child." Helena replied.

"And what about her husband? Or her... ?" The doctor asked.

"Doctor. Her past is not your business. This girl has gone through misery, now at least she has this child to care for. Every night I pray that the Lord shall lead her to a path of happiness." Helena replied.

"Oh, I see." The doctor nodded in understanding.

"How is the young mother?" Helena asked smiling as she silently sneaked back to Maria's room.

"I'm wonderful, only tired." Maria said looking up at the elderly woman. Helena sat down at Maria's bedside.

"She is beautiful, Maria." Helena said as she watched the baby sleeping in Maria's arms.

"She has her father's eyes." Maria had a lump in her throat. Helena didn't know how to react as she saw the tears in Maria's eyes. Obviously, she was still in love with that Sea Captain. If she knew his exact name and address, she would go to Salzburg and bring him here. But then again she remembered the newspaper article, and if her assumptions were correct then Maria's Sea Captain and Captain von Trapp was the same person.

"Maybe you should rest Maria. It has been a long and exhausting day." Helena said. Maria nodded and put the baby into the little bed next to her own.

"Helena? Will you please be Alexandra's godmother?" Maria asked as she put down her head on the pillow.

"Yes, Maria. It will be my pleasure. I'm honored to be her godmother. Good night to both of you." Helena said and silently sneaked out of the room.

To be continued....

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