Maria walks down the stairs and is about to take Samuel for a walk when Frau Schmidt stops her.
" Baroness, there is a phone call for you. It is from the abbey".
" Thank you I will take it in the living room" Maria says walking to the phone.
"Hello"
"Hello Maria"
" Good morning Reverend Mother. Is this a call to say hi or did you need something? Maria asks.
" Maria a new development has come up regarding Samuel. I need you to come to the abbey. Oh and bring the baby with you" she says sounding somewhat mysterious.
" Yes Mother I will be there as soon as I can" she says hanging up the phone. Maria thinks for a moment. Georg enters the room and sees her standing there. He calls her name but she does not answer. He calls her again but this time he touches her shoulder. She jumps but smiles when she sees it is him.
" Maria, what's wrong? He asks. She tells him about the phone call.
" This sounds important. Get your coat and I will pull the car around" he says as he walks to the kitchen. Maria tells Frau Schmidt they are going to the abbey. She steps outside and sees the car. Georg gets out and opens the door for her.
" Georg, I'm worried. I hope Samuel is not in danger. I couldn't bear if something happens to him" Maria says holding the baby tighter.
" Darling whatever it is we will face it together" Georg says taking her hand in his.
They pull up to the abbey and ring the bell. Reverend Mother greets them and they follow her to the office.
She closes the door and looks at Maria and Georg.
" Sit down, I have news of that involves Samuel" she says as she points to two chairs Maria and Georg sit down. They look at each other, then at reverend Mother.
" Mother, what is it. Have the authorities found out who he is? Maria says kissing the baby on the head.
" No Maria, it is actually good news. We have located Samuels mother" she says as she watches Maria react.
" His mother" Maria says sounding both happy and sad at the same time.
"Yes, yesterday after you left we found a young woman passed out in the barn. We put her in your old room. I questioned her and she told me she is Samuels mother. She looks exactly like the woman you described. She has a hard time of it poor thing. Her name is Sarah. She escaped with Samuel from Germany. She had no more food left and was afraid the baby would die if she kept him. She loves her son more than life itself. I have told her about you and the Captain and how much you care for Samuel. She would like to meet you both and also to be with her son again" Reverend Mother says as she goes to the door.
Maria and Georg follow her into the hallway and to Marias old room. Reverend Mother knocks on the door and motions for Maria and Georg to wait.
After a few minutes the door opens and Reverend Mother has them enter. Marias eyes immediately fall on the young woman in the bed. She indeed is the woman she saw running from the church that day. Sarahs eyes fall on Samuel and tears fill her eyes. Maria goes to her and places Samuel in her waiting arms. She watches as Sarah talks quietly to the baby. Maria is happy that Samuel has his mother again but also sad she will not be his mother anymore. Georg sensing Marias sadness goes to her and wraps his arms around her. His hand goes to her stomach as if to remind her of their child. She leans into him and places her hand over his. Maria and Georg turn to go to the door when Sarah stops them.
"Please wait. I can't thank you enough for watching over my son. Reverend Mother has told me you regarded him as your own. For the first time in months I have felt safe" Sarah says as she gently caresses her sons head.
"Captain I understand you are opposed to the Nazis and everything they stand for. I have seen first hand the things they have done. Many of the men in our town have been taken never to be seen again. Not only Jews but anyone who defies them. I don't mean to scare you but if I were you I would seriously think of leaving Austria. They want to rule the world and they will stop at nothing to achieve this including killing innocent children" Sarah looks at Georg her face showing her frankness.
" I assure you I will do everything in my power to protect my family. Now we must think of a plan to keep both you and Samuel safe until we can find you safe passage out of Europe" Georg says as he walks over to her.
" She can't stay here and with the spies in Salzburg it is not safe. My suggestion is that we bring her back to the house under the pretext that she is a relative of the Reverend Mothers that has come to visit. She is staying with us because she cannot stay in the abbey. This way she can be with Samuel. The only thing is no one can find out she is Samuels mother. We can say she has come from the Tyrol and will be staying with us for the year. I will try and contact some friends in Switzerland. I trust them and they can get papers that you will need to get out of Austria. This will take some time though as I fear that I am being watched. There is a man staying at Herr Meyers house. His name is Zeller. He is here I am told to try and sway some of the aristocracy to side with Hitler. They want Austria to become part of Germany. I am afraid this may happen and if it does we also will be in danger. I have made no secret of my disdain for the Nazis and everything they stand for. I have made plans in case this happens. Now are you strong enough to come to the house today? Georg asks Sarah.
" I am still a little weak but I will be fine" Sarah says as she places the baby next to her on the bed. She slowly rises. Maria and Georg leave the room so that she can get dressed. They sit in the Reverend Mothers office and wait. Soon Maria hears the door open and Sarah, Samuel and the Reverend Mother enter.
" I see we have a new postulant" Maria says as she looks at the dress Sarah is wearing. "At least this fits you"
" Darling I have a suggestion why don't we take Sarah into town and get her some clothes. Remember she is suppose to be here on a visit. It might look strange if she comes to the house with no luggage" Georg says as he helps Maria on with her coat.
" That's a good idea" Maria says as she smiles at Sarah.
" Please don't worry about me, you have done so much all ready" Sarah says putting Samuels coat on.
" You need clothes to make our plan believable besides Maria loves to shop. She could spend all day at the dress shop. That is why I will go with" Georg laughs. Sarah thanks Reverend Mother for all her help. They all say goodbye and head to the car. They go into town and go to the dress shop. Maria and Sarah pick out everything Sarah will need. Maria also has the dressmaker take an order for some maternity clothes. Sarah congratulates her when she learns that Maria is expecting. They leave and go to lunch. As they leave the restaurant it begins to snow. They all laugh as Samuel puts his hand out to touch the soft snowflakes. He squeals as one hits his hand. They get into the car and head back to the villa.
Frau Schmidt greets them at the door. Georg introduces Sarah to her and tells her Sarah will be staying there for a while. Frau Schmidt shows Sarah to the guest room as Maria takes Samuel to the nursery. Once settled Sarah visit's the nursery.
" Maria this nursery is wonderful. Thank you again for taking such good care of my son" she says as she goes to the crib where the baby is.
" He is a wonderful baby. He hardly cries and is a joy to be with" Maria says as she smiles down on the baby.
The silence in the house is broken as they hear the sound of the door slamming and the unmistakable sound of children running upstairs. Maria goes into the hall and gathers the children so that she can introduce them to Sarah. Once that was done she told the children to do their homework and chores. Sarah is impressed as all of them listen and immediately go to their rooms.
Once they put Samuel down they go downstairs to relax and talk. Georg enters the living room and tells Sarah he has contacted his friend in Switzerland and he is going to start on her papers. They develop a cover story for Sarah. She is to tell people that she is Reverend Mothers great niece. She is here because her parents died when she was younger and she has been going to the university. She graduated and is here looking for a job. They find out that before the Nazis took control Sarah was a teacher. Maria has an idea. She will talk to the Reverend Mother and see if Sarah can teach at the convents elementary school.
Frau Schmidt announces dinner is ready and they go into the dining room. The children join them. The children have a million questions for Sarah. She answers them as best as she can. Maria decides to change the subject and they talk about school and the upcoming Christmas holiday.
"What's your favorite part of Christmas, Sarah? Liesl asks.
" Um I don't know" she says trying to avoid the question.
" Liesl I think that is enough questions for right now. Why don't we sing a song for Sarah. Our children have wonderful voices. Would like to hear them? She asks Sarah.
" Oh yes I would love to" she says as they all get up and go into the living room. Maria gets her guitar and the children gather around her.
" What shall we sing?" Maria asks.
" Let's sing Edelweiss" Gretl says.
" Edelweiss it is" Maria says as she starts to play. The rest of the evening is spent singing.
The next weeks are spent getting ready for Christmas. The children, Captain and Maria make the wreath for advent. Each week they light it and say a prayer. Sarah is included in this event. She finds it interesting and is touched that they include her. While the children are at school she spends as much time as she can with Samuel.
One evening after a long day Maria readies herself for bed. She starts to put her nightgown on when she notices the soft rounding of her stomach. She smiles as her hand touches her stomach. Lost in happy thought she does not hear Georg come into the room. He watches his wife as she gently caresses her stomach. His breathe catches by how beautiful she is. He slowly comes up behind her and she inhales when his arms embrace her. His hands reach down to cover hers and his face nuzzles her neck.
" You are breathtaking" he whispers in her ear. She turns in his embrace and her arms wrap around his neck. He picks her up and brings her to the bed . He undresses and lays next to her. His hand softly rubs her stomach. He slowly brings it up to her upper body and lightly caresses her breasts. Maria moans as she feels him caress her. He kisses her lightly at first then his desire takes hold. They make love slowly relishing in every touch, every kiss and every movement. They fall asleep wrapped in each others arms.