He holds her as she slowly stops crying. She can hear his heart pounding. She slowly pulls away from his embrace.
" Georg I'm so sorry. I should have trusted you but I was foolish. I should have asked you about Elsa and what she had said on the phone. Instead I ran away"
" No Maria, I'm sorry you had to go through everything you did. When I think you had to have our child alone it tears me apart. How I wish I could have been there."
Reaching up to touch his cheek Maria smiles at him" But you were there. I thought of you every second I was in labor. Then when I saw our son for the first time I thought how much he looked like you" They both sit down on the bench.
" Maria what happened? Why did you have to leave him? I know you would not have given him up if you were not forced to"
"When I left the villa I went to my uncles farm. When he found out I was expecting your child he told me to leave. I came back to the abbey and that's when I found out you and the children had escaped. The Nazis including that man Zeller were looking for me. Zeller seemed to think that I might know where you went. Reverend Mother hid me in the abbey. She was afraid they would figure out I was pregnant with your child and somehow use the baby to get you out of hiding. After I had him we decided It was too dangerous for me here and I should leave the country. I couldn't take the baby, God help me, we decided it would be safer to leave him here. I couldn't bear it if they had captured me and took him. It was the only thing I could do. Please forgive me"
" Forgive you, Maria when I saw the picture of Georg in the magazine and read the article my heart was filled with joy. I had to come and see him for myself. I told Leisl and Friedrich but the others don't know."
"Oh Georg! How are the children? I have thought of them so much. I miss them."
" I can't wait until I tell them I found you. They miss you. They all wondered what happened, why you left. I told them you missed the abbey and had to leave"
"They must be so grown up by now. I probably wouldn't recognize Gretl"
"Maria I noticed Georg called you his mother. When did you come back to Austria?
"I came back a few days ago. I also saw the article and contacted the man who wrote it. He is here staying at the same hotel as me. He helped me get the necessary papers to get back into the country and the papers I will need to take Georg back to America. As for Georg finding about me being his mother our son is very smart. He actually saw a picture of me in a newspaper and also heard the sisters talking about me. When I came back he recognized me"
"How did he react?
"He accepted me without reservation. He put his arms around me and gave me a hug. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world"
"Maria does he know about me? What did you tell him?
Taking Georgs hand she smiles at him "I told him you were a brave and proud man. I told him how much you loved Austria and you had to escape because the Nazis wanted you to work for them. I told him you had other children too"
" Maria I want the both of us to tell him who I am. I think it will be easier for him to adjust if both of us tell him"
They both sit silent for a moment.
" Georg?
" Yes, Maria.
" Where do we go from here? I mean what do we do? Oh this is not sounding how I wanted it too"
" Maria I only want to know one thing"
"Yes"
" Do you still love me?
Helooks intoi her eyes hoping to see a sign. She looks away for a moment and then looks back. Her hands go to his face.
" I've never stopped loving you" she says as he puts his hands over hers. He leans forward but before his lips touch hers he whispers " I love you"
As their lips touch a familiar feeling emerges in Maria. Pulling her closer he deepens their kiss. Their arms wrap around each other in a passionate embrace. All she feels is his hands slowly encircling her back. She moans in protest as his lips leave hers but then gasps as he kisses her neck. He hears her whisper his name and he suddenly pulls away.
" No Maria, I don't want this to happen again, not yet" Maria watches as Georg slides off the bench. On bended knee Georg takes her hand in his.
"I should have done this seven years ago. Maria I love you. I want us never to be apart again. Will you marry me? He watches as Maria takes her hand and brings it up to caress his cheek
" Yes Georg I'll marry you. I love you" she says as she watches him reach in his pocket. She watches as he pulls out a red velvet box.
" I've kept this for seven years hoping one day to give it to you" Georg says as he opens the box and places the ring on her finger.
He stands and pulls her up with him. He kisses her again but this time the kiss is soft and gentle.
She looks in his eyes and smiles. Taking his hand she walks out of the gazebo.
" Let's go it's time you met your son" Maria says as they walk back to the car.