Happy News

The twentieth of November, the date of Maria's appointment with the baby doctor, had arrived. She asked Isabel to go with her because Georg was working that day.

They were walking leisurely down the street when Maria heard.

"Maria, dear, you seem worried."

"I am. My baby sac has really gotten larger."

Isabel had her suspicion of a reason; she didn't say a word. They entered the office and Maria approached the lady at the desk.

"I'm Maria von Trapp. I have an appointment at ten."

"Yes, I see your name. I need you to fill out an information form."

The two ladies took chairs side by side. Maria whispered. "I can't answer many of these questions."

"Just do your best."

Maria printed her name; her mother and father's names. She had to leave blank all the questions about childhood illnesses. But she did remember the dates of her last cycle. She smiled at the lady as she returned it.

"Doctor James will see you in a few minutes."

Isabel patted her arm. "Don't be nervous; he's only going to look at your lower tummy."

Soon it was Maria's time to see him. "Your friend can come with you." They heard from the nurse.

"Thank you." And Maria hesitantly entered his office. The doctor rose from his chair to greet them.

"Come in ladies; take a seat on the settee. I'll sit in the big chair opposite you. I dislike a desk between me and my patients. I'm Doctor Bill to my patients."

Already Maria felt more relaxed. "Please introduce me to your friend."

"Doctor Bill, she's Isabel Schmidt, my husband's housekeeper and now my good friend."

"Hello to both of you."

His next comment helped even more for Maria to relax. "So you were born on a train. I suppose your mother had assistance."

"Yes, the train's conductor; he had witnessed all six of his children's births."

"And I'm reading she died two years later."

"Yes, I was told from pneumonia."

"That was a terrible disease back then; thank God we have the drug, Sulfa now. How did your father die?"

"That I don't know. He was ten years older than my mother. She was his second wife; his first died in a carriage accident. My guardian always told me he died from a broken heart; losing two wives was too much for him."

"May I inquire as to how you met your husband; I do know who he is."

"After graduating from the university with a degree in teaching, I decided I wanted to be a nun. I arrived at the abbey in Salzburg and asked to be admitted. But I couldn't conform to their rules; I loved the mountains and to sing.

"Georg had sent a letter to the Reverend Mother of the Abbey requesting someone to stay with his seven children for the summer. I was chosen. And I was not happy about leaving the abbey. But I did.

"The rest of the story is almost like a fairytale. Georg gave a party. Its date I haven't forgotten. It was August nineteenth.

"It took an evil person who held Georg captive and my knowledge of how to rescue him to finally admit we had fallen in love. Our Bishop married us before our adventure began of coming to America. I believe this child was conceived the first time we had relations."

"Given that information, you are about twelve weeks along. Is there something which made you come see me?"

"Yes doctor, first it was needing to empty my bladder frequently. Now my baby sac has gotten large. I can really feel it when I lay down."

The very experienced baby doctor already had a good idea as to why. But he didn't tell Maria. Instead he said.

"I need to have a look at your large uterus. Nothing I'm going to do is painful. I want to see how large it is and then feel it to help me be sure of my findings. Jane, my nurse will take you the exam room."

Maria left with her and the doctor spoke to Isabel. "I sense you've helped in some deliveries."

"Yes, my husband was a doctor. And I was with the children's mother for her last five children."

"I'm sure you will be a good resource for Maria."

His nurse had announced that Maria was ready. Isabel and the doctor entered. Maria was covered with a sheet; her hands rested on her rather large uterus.

Doctor James didn't want to alarm Maria. He recognized immediately that her uterus was larger than it should be given the amount of time she had been married.

"Maria, I'm going to measure your uterus with my hands. It doesn't hurt."

He did and told Maria. "You are good size for your dates. You and you're husband are in for a big surprise. You, madam, are having twins."

"Did you say twins as in two babies?"

"I did."

"Oh my, that explains everything. Isabel, I think you already knew that."

"I had my suspicion."

"Now, I want to keep it from the children. I want Georg to be the first to know."

"I'll keep your secret."

Dr. Bill added. "You'll be pleased to know your bladder won't be crowded much longer; two babies make your uterus rise into your abdomen much sooner. I want to see you again in six weeks. If you have any questions or concerns before then; please don't hesitate to call me."

"I won't. Georg will remind me."

Maria made her appointment. And the two ladies left the office. "I hope I can keep my news from the children, you know how Brigitta is."

"Maybe she'll go do her homework and then she can see if Marta and Gretl need any help. And I think she's still reading a Jane Austin novel."

"And I may see if any greens are ready to be picked. That should keep me busy until they come home."

Maria did keep busy and the remainder of day passed. She walked part way towards the elementary school. She saw Marta and Gretl walking with a group of girls; she could tell they were talking. And they only stopped briefly for Marta to ask.

"Can Sally and Rosemarie come home with us one afternoon?"

"They can. But they need to ask their parents first."

"Marta, we'll ask as soon as we get home and tell you tomorrow."

The girls went the opposite direction on Merion Road. And Gretl announced.

"I really like school. Mother, I could answer most of Mrs. Allen's question."

"Then I suppose you are now in the second grade now."

Gretl smiled broadly as Marta spoke. "And I'm able to do fourth grade reading and mathematics. My spelling and writing isn't good enough to be in the fourth grade. My teacher, Mrs. Campbell, told me I might be in the fourth grade after Christmas."

"Your father is going to be very proud of both of you."

"We know." They scurried off to their bedroom to do their homework. It didn't take them long and now they were waiting with Maria for Brigitta and Kurt to come home.

Both of them had only rave reviews about the junior high school. And the same thing happened when the older three got off the bus.

The teacher part of Maria was extremely happy and so was Georg when he heard their stories. And Maria was glad all the children went to their bedroom early. The excitement of the day had worn on all of them.

Marta and Gretl didn't hear half of the story Maria was reading before they were both sound asleep. And the others all told their parents they would turn off their light very soon.

Now Maria was alone with her husband.

Georg wasn't blind to his wife's demeanor. "You're happier than usual smile suggests you have something to tell me."

Georg really had no idea. She got his attention when she told him.

"We had better sit first."

"Why? Do you think I might faint?"

"No, I want to be at eye level with you."

Georg accommodated Maria. They both sat on the bench at the end of their bed. Each had to turn slightly to see the other's face. Maria was trying to temper her excitement and Georg still had no idea of the surprise to come.

"You do remember I had an appointment with the baby doctor today?"

"Yes, what did he tell you?"

Maria inhaled deeply before she spoke. "Georg darling, I'm pregnant with twins."

"What did you say?"

"We're having twins, Georg."

"Oh my, what a surprise!"

Now Georg's smile matched Maria's. And the loving couple embraced. Georg pulled his wife to a standing position and in his happiness he twirled her in a circle. When Maria's feet hit floor they shared a lingering kiss.

When they broke it, Georg heard. "I'm glad you are so happy."

"I couldn't be happier, Maria. I do wonder how the children will react to the news."

"Let's keep our secret until after my next appointment. Isabel knows but she won't tell anyone."

"Tell me about the doctor."

"He asks his patients to call him Doctor Bill. He made me comfortable immediately; Isabel and I sat on a settee and he sat in a big chair. He explained that he would only feel my tummy. And he knew right away I was having twins."

"And I'll put the date of your appointment on my calendar so I won't schedule anything important that day. Right now I have an appointment with you. These twins won't mind their parents enjoying some marital time."

"Their mother doesn't mind either."

And so with extreme happiness the couple shared that incredible activity once again. Again the children were awake early. Their parents didn't mind; they were glad they all liked school.

Somehow the couple made it to Thanksgiving Day with only Katia learning Maria was having twins. They enjoyed this day with their church friends. Those not having company for the day ate together in the social hall of the church.

Everyone had their fill of, turkey and stuffing, a mixture of bread cubes, chopped celery and onion and seasonings which had been baked inside the turkey. They also enjoyed a wide selection of side dishes, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with melted marshmallows, gelatin salads and cooked cranberries which had been milled to remove their skins then mixed with sugar to take away their tartness.

Even the usually picky young girls tried most of the foods and stated with all the others afterwards, I'm full. And the family took a long walk before returning home. Katia fixed tomato soup and a green salad for dinner. After eating, Max had them sing Christmas songs to begin to get ready for singing at Wannamaker's. He planned to go into Philadelphia that week to make the arrangments.