A/N:Thanks again to all who took the time to review- I love hearing what you think!
Chapter 9:
They all continued to worry about Tom and Opal, but so far there had been no further retaliation. They could only hope and pray that with time, it would blow over when they realized Tom wasn't going to rat them out.
In the meantime, Christy asked Adelaide to help organize the children's Christmas nativity play, since Neil had limited her activity and strongly requested she stay close to the mission. They were discussing and assigning roles one afternoon, when Neil sneaked in, wanting to check on Adelaide. He hung around the back of the room, listening to the children's rather lively debate.
"Well, I think Miz Addie should shorely play Mary" Creed told the class seriously. "She being ready to pop and all"
The rest of the class murmured and nodded their approval. "She is right huge" Isaak said.
"Shh" Ruby Mae told them. "That's not kind"
"We're not sayin she's fat" Little Burl piped up. "Only that she is the most like Mary. She doesn't have no man either"
"Yes, she did" Zady Spencer said. "Doc Simon, remember? He died. And Mary did have Joseph"
"Children" Christy spoke up. "It's not polite to talk about…"
"Abouts what?" Becky asked, curiously.
"Well, being in the family way and all" Christy replied and the kids laughed.
"Aw, shucks, Miz Christy, there's nothin wrong with that" Creed said. "My Mama had tons of babies and we never not talked about it"
Neil cleared his throat, trying not to chuckle. "I hope I'm not interrupting"
Christy rose. "Not at all, Doctor. We were just trying to assign roles for the Christmas play and got a bit distracted"
"Hey, Doc?" Creed asked, "Don't you think Miz Addie should play Mary?"
"Well" he glanced at Adelaide to determine how she was taking this. He was unable to read her expression, so he opted for the easiest way out. "That's a good question. I reckon we should ask Miss Addie what she thinks"
"You know that is such a good idea, children" Adelaide replied, her voice patient. "But if I play Mary, who would play Joseph?"
The children looked worried for a minute. "The preacher!" a voice piped up.
"No, the preacher is married to Miz Christy, not Miz Addie" Lizzie pointed out. "It could get confusing"
"How about the Doc?" Bessie suggested.
"Nah" Creed shook his head. "The Doc don't believe in God"
"And he's not married to Miz Addie either" Zac added.
"Well, maybe he should marry her…she's right purty"
"And her babe needs a pa…"
"And she's smart as a whip. The Doc needs a smart woman"
"Perhaps, we should stick to one of you all playing the parts, children" Christy suggested, quickly, before the children debated the merits of that idea too readily. Adelaide glanced at Neil, who grinned at her.
"Plus" Little Burl added returning to their original debate, "Miz Addie is having twins and Mary only had one babe…"
Adelaide's eyes grew wide. "Who told you I was having twins?" she gasped.
"Why just look at you" Creed replied, solemnly. "That's how my mama looked when she was carryin the twins"
The kids murmured their agreement and Bessie nodded, "The whole Cove is talking about it, Miz Addie…"
"Neil" Adelaide choked out his name and turned to him, unable to hide the horrified look on her face as Neil tried earnestly not to laugh, "Children, Miss Addie is only have one babe, I promise."
"If you says so Doc" Ruby Mae said, "but its as clear as day"
Neil cleared his throat again and Adelaide could tell he was holding back his laughter. "Are you questioning my doctoring?" he forced sternness into his voice.
"Of course not, Doc" various children muttered.
"It could be hidden" Bessie offered. "We've seen that before"
"Well, yes" Neil coughed slightly. "Speaking of Miss Addie, she needs to rest now. I think Miss Christy can work on assigning parts for you"
"You rest real good, Miz Addie, now. We'll take care of the parts" Creed told her, reaching out to pat her arm as Neil took her by the arm and led her out the school house, the children saying goodbye to her.
"I'm not having twins, Neil" Adelaide turned to him.
Neil chuckled. "Of course not"
She shot him with a deadly look. "It's not funny. Is the whole Cove talking about it?"
Neil shrugged, but didn't respond.
"You're checking again" she told him, firmly. "Make sure there is only one heartbeat"
"Now, are you questioning my doctoring skills, Miss Addie?" Neil asked with mock sternness.
"Well" Adelaide let out a breath "it could be hidden, you know? Best to double-check"
Neil laughed. "Alright, we will"
"And do I really look that fat?" she pressed. "Because if I do, I'm not following your orders to rest and I'm taking a really long walk this afternoon. An extremely long walk. I might just walk to El Pano and back" She tossed her hair, which was wearing down today.
"You will do no such thing" he told her sternly as he gripped her arm. "And" his voice softened, "You look beautiful, Adelaide. You hair is pretty down like this" He released her arm to lightly touch the ends of her hair.
Adelaide stilled and studied him to see if he was teasing her. When she could tell the compliment was sincerely given, she relaxed. "Thank you"
"And" Neil's voice turned playful. "I agree with the children-you would have made a right fine Mary" He smirked at her, "you also have the right disposition for it- so calm, sweet and agreeable"
"Oh just hush now" But Adelaide couldn't hide the twinkle in her eyes.
Julia and William Huddleston arrived a few days before the Christmas play. Christy and Adelaide were both happy to see their parents, though Julia instantly took to hovering over Addie, much to her chagrin. Julia had asked Neil his opinion on how much activity Adelaide should maintain and Neil told her to make sure she only took short walks, keep her feet elevated when she sat down and no medical calls. And Julia was determined that her eldest daughter would do just that. There was an underlying tension between mother and daughter, but William tried to ease it over the best he could.
Adelaide found as the arrival date of her baby grew closer, she became restless and anxious thinking of raising the baby on her own. She was discontent. She even found herself angry-irrationally angry at the situation she was placed in. And her mother wasn't helping, that was for sure. She held her feelings in pretty well, but they came out one afternoon when she decided she had enough and was just going to do what she wanted to do no matter what her mother…or Neil told her she should or shouldn't do- much to her mother's dismay.
Neil had stopped by to check on her and Miss Alice invited him to join them for dinner as it was almost supper time.
David said grace and they started to eat, making casual conversation.
"Alice" Neil asked. "Did you stitch up Creed's arm today? I noticed a large bandage on it. He was pretty tight-lipped about what happened, when I asked him about it"
"He fell hanging the star" Christy quickly offered. "He is lucky he didn't break anything, but he did gash it on the side of the desks"
Christy had answered too soon and for Alice, which was unlike her. Neil glanced at Adelaide, who had a pretty blush creeping up on her face. "We should really sit him down again and talk to him about the importance of not climbing up so many things" Adelaide said, trying not to look at her sister, knowing then they would be caught. "But he's a charmer. I'm so glad he is alright" she said, casually. She paused and turned to him. "Neil, could you pass the potatoes, please?"
"Yes" Julia piped up, in her soft voice. "It was a good thing Adelaide was there to stitch him all up. She insisted on doing so herself"
Adelaide bit back a groan. "Mother, really?" she asked quietly. "Honestly, Neil doesn't care who stitched him up"
Neil cleared his throat and turned to her. "I don't?"
"Well, um…" she shrugged. "I didn't think you would care"
"You didn't?"
Unable to read his tone, she glanced at Christy, who shook her head. "Can we talk about something else?" she asked.
"If you wish, dear" Julia said, smoothly. She passed Neil the potatoes to give to Adelaide.
"I see that you've had a busy afternoon" He muttered to her as he handed her the potatoes.
"I wouldn't say that" she replied.
"Tell me, Adelaide" Julia spoke up again, her tone sweet, but there was underlying bite to it. "Was that before or after I caught you climbing on the chair to hang the Christmas ornaments on the tree? Or maybe after your visit to the McHones? Or certainly before you cooked this delicious dinner by yourself, kicking everyone else out of the kitchen? I don't quite recall the order of events"
Adelaide dropped her fork on her plate. She could feel Neil stiffen beside her and she could feel the weight of his glare without even looking at him.
"Dinner is delicious, Adelaide. I didn't know you loved to cook so much" Neil told her, dryly. William fought a chuckle at the interaction between the two of them. Julia was at her wits end with Adelaide this afternoon, but he had a feeling that the situation was well in hand now.
"I was in the mood" Adelaide retorted, shrugging.
"I'm sure" he continued to stare at her. "In the mood for a lot apparently"
Adelaide tried her best to ignore his glare, but she was finding it hard to. She decided to change the subject and quickly, "Miss Alice" she asked, quickly. "How are the children up in Raven Gap?"
Miss Alice smiled at her, also amused by the situation. "Much better, Adelaide. I thank thee for asking"
"I'm so glad" Adelaide replied. She absently rubbed her belly.
Noticing the awkwardness, David tried to smooth the waters by asking Christy how the play was going. She gave her brother in law a grateful look.
As Christy was explaining and others chatting, Neil leaned over to whisper in her ear. "Eat your supper. We'll talk later"
She cleared her throat. "Will we?"
"Oh yes, Adelaide. You can depend upon that" he handed her a plate of vegetables. "Eat these too, lass"
After dinner, she began clearly the table, but Christy shooed her away. She met Neil's eyes and he crooked his finger at her, beckoning towards his side.
"Why do I feel like I am five again?" she asked him as she approached him.
"Maybe because you are acting like it" Neil told her, seriously. "Go get your coat. We are going for a walk"
"I thought I wasn't supposed to walk, Doctor MacNeill" Adelaide commented, saucily.
"Long walks" Neil reminded her. "as you very well know. You can walk over to the gazebo with me and sit a while. Bundle up, now. It's chilly" His tone suggested finality and while Adelaide wanted to dig in her heels and refuse, a walk with Neil was always nice, even one that involved scolding, so she agreed.
"Alright" Adelaide went to retrieve her coat, scarf, hat and mittens and meet him out on the porch.
He was quiet as they were walking, which unnerved her greatly.
"Are you going to say anything to me?" Adelaide finally asked.
"I never met a woman who I wanted to turn over my knee as much as you" Neil told her, bluntly. "Or who deserved it more"
"Oh my" Adelaide stopped walking. "Well, it's a good thing I'm 9 months pregnant then" she said, wryly.
"It's not funny" Neil snapped. "And yes, you are 9 months pregnant. Climbing on chairs? Stitching up Creed? Visiting Opal? Cooking dinner- which by the way, I know you hate doing. Doing all this in one day? Really Adelaide! You surely do know how to test one's patience."
"I don't hate cooking" Adelaide crossed her arms.
"You do hate it! You've loved not having to do so as much. Everyone knows that" Neil shook his head. "You must be really trying to stick it to your mother to resort to that"
She shrugged.
"Are you going to say anything?" Neil glared at her.
"I don't have to explain myself to you" Adelaide retorted, her voice rising as well.
"Oh, yes you do" Neil crossed his arms. "You promised me that you would be a model patient if you stayed in the Cove. So go on. Justify your behavior. I'm waiting"
"You are infuriating" Adelaide glared back at him.
"I know. So are you. Go on" Neil prompted. "This I'm going to love to hear, I'm sure"
"Where would you like me to start, Doctor MacNeill?"
"Start with Creed"
"It was just four stitches. Hardly any and Creed wanted me to do it" Adelaide told him. "And you know what a soft spot I have for that child. I couldn't deny him. And Miss Alice was gone and it seemed silly to call you for something that I am perfectly capable of handling on my own. As for the walk to Opal's, I wanted to check on her to make sure everything is okay considering the circumstances...and I needed a friend to talk to. As for cooking supper, I felt like I should pitch in more now that you have ordered me to stop helping you. It wasn't a big deal"
"I understand you helping Creed, maybe…" he told her, "and maybe the walk to Opal's, especially with your mother driving you crazy, but what about climbing on the chair, which by the way, you conveniently forgot to mention? There is no possible defense for that except that maybe this pregnancy has addled your mind"
"Mother is a tattle tale" Adelaide muttered. "I'm not helpless"
"Standing on a chair to hang ornaments?" Neil's voice boomed. "Blast it, Adelaide!"
"Alright, so that was downright stupid" Adelaide conceded, scooting further away from him. "But, I didn't fall, so it doesn't really matter. And it's not like I wasn't listening to you. You said no more surgeries- stitches don't count. You said short walks- well, Opal's isn't that far. You never mentioned anything about cooking and you certainly never said not to stand on a chair. If you had, then of course, I would have followed your orders. Maybe you should learn to be more specific, doctor"
Neil grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him. The moon illuminated their faces, reflecting off the water. They stared at each other for a few moments. Adelaide felt like he could see into the very bottom of her heart, the places she hid from everyone, except apparently him. Her lip trembled.
"You are something" he growled. "But you aren't usually reckless" he studied her expression. "Something is bothering you."
"What?" Adelaide shook her head, quickly. "Nothing is bothering me"
"No?" Neil asked, his eyes on her, studying her in that manner that completely unnerved her. Her resolve quickly crumbled.
"Ok" She sighed. "Maybe there is"
"I thought so" Neil squeezed her arm. "Let's sit. You are going to tell me what's wrong"
"I am?" Adelaide asked as Neil led her to the gazebo to sit.
"I think so" Neil replied.
"Are you always this bossy?" Adelaide asked as she sat down on the bench and wrapped her arms around herself. "Or do I just bring it out of you?"
"Both" Neil replied. "Now, what's bothering you? Tell me before you do something entirely foolish"
They waited a few minutes in silence, Adelaide trying to compose her thoughts.
"I feel caged in" Adelaide told him, quietly. "I love this baby, I want the best for it, but I'm trapped. I was supposed to be doing this with Simon. And he's gone. And the bigger this baby gets and the more Mother coddles me, the more I feel his loss. I want him here. He told me to stay home that morning. I could have gone with you. Even if I had slowed you down, maybe it would have been enough that the horse would have been spooked"
"You can't think like that" Neil told her. "The what-ifs will kill you"
"I know" Adelaide said. "But then I get mad too. I'm so angry with him, with God, then with me for being so faithless"
"Anger is a natural emotion when grieving, Addie" Neil responded. "I'm surprised you haven't felt it more before now, especially given your circumstances. And I wouldn't characterize you as faithless. That's me. It's your faith that makes you question these things. Otherwise you wouldn't care so much"
"It's just that I feel like Simon and Christy and Miss Alice and your Aunt Hattie- they have a faith that is unshakeable. And I want that but how can I not question things? I'm 23 years old and I'm about to deliver my dead husband's child. How can this be God's plan for my life? It doesn't feel like a plan and if it is a plan, it certainly not a good one. I feel so weak and that frustrates me."
Neil inwardly struggled with how to respond. He wanted to tell her that she was right- that it was even ridiculous for her to even believe in a God that would do this to her, but he couldn't bring himself to. Addie's faith was real to her and he knew if he tried to completely shatter it, it would shatter her as well.
"I think" Neil said quietly, "that questioning whether God is good or whether He has a plan will only make you stronger in the end. Because you did struggle- and you got to the other side. That's authentic faith, Addie. And that's what you long for- you are too intelligent to simply believe just to believe. The questioning makes you who you are. It's the opposite of weak."
She pondered his words for a few minutes and then turned to him, "you are awfully wise on matters of faith for someone who has declared there to be no God"
"Whether I believe or not has no affect on your belief" Neil told her. "And I know how important it is to you"
She nodded. "Do you think you would ever believe?"
"I'm a hardened skeptic, Adelaide" Neil reached to pat her hand. "There is no hope for me"
"There is always hope, Neil" Adelaide put her hand on his arm. She paused, unsure.
"What else?" he asked patiently.
"Am I that transparent?" Adelaide asked.
He nodded. "Right now at least"
"I can do this, right?" she asked, quietly. "Raise a child?"
"You'll be a great mother, lass" Neil responded.
"You really believe that?" she asked.
"I have no doubts-none at all."
She folded her hands and took a deep breath. "Thank you, Neil"
"You do know, Adelaide, when you are feeling this way, you can always come and talk to me" Neil told her. "I'd rather you do that than do something completely reckless because you are frustrated"
"You really don't mind?"
"I like talking with you, Adelaide" Neil reached to squeeze her hand, lightly. "Alot actually"
Adelaide smiled at him. "I appreciate that, Neil. I like talking with you, too"
He reached to help her up. "Let's go back inside before you get too cold and your mother misses us"
"Ah, my mother" Adelaide sighed as they walked back to the mission. "You know you could relax your orders for me just to get Mother off my back"
Neil shook his head. "Nah, nice try though. You will return to being a good girl and just so you are clear, that includes not standing on chairs and allowing Ruby Mae to help you in the kitchen" He shook a finger at her. "Specific enough for you, lass?"
Adelaide groaned. "Yes, unfortunately"
He chuckled. "You should be careful what you ask for"
"Indeed" Adelaide laughed back.
"Miss Hattie" Adelaide smiled at the older woman as she clasped her hands. "I'm so happy Neil brought you. Did you enjoy the play?"
"Enormously, Miz Addie" Hattie told her. She moved her hands to feel Adelaide's belly. "And how is this babe doing?"
"Well" Adelaide replied. "Neil's been quite firm in making sure I'm following all his orders. I wanted to come up and see you before Christmas, but I've been ordered to only take short walks"
Miss Hattie laughed, "And that is why Neil brought me- he knew you are tempted something fierce. Are your parents here?"
"Yes" Adelaide sighed. "Mother and Neil are now in cahoots together. He makes the order and he sees that Mother makes sure I obey. I wish everyone would stop telling me what to do. What's the point of being twenty three, a nurse, and living away from home, if I'm still being bossed around by know-it-alls?"
Miss Hattie laughed loudly, only outshined by Neil's booming laugh and Adelaide jumped at the sound. "I didn't realize you were standing right there"
"Clearly" he grinned, amused. "She's looking repentant, Aunt Hattie" he told her. "There is a right pretty blush creeping up on her face" and Hattie smiled.
"Be kind, Neil" she scolded, gently.
"Me?" Neil groaned. "She called me a know-it-all"
"Are you saying it's inaccurate, Neil?" Adelaide asked, innocently.
"No, not at all" Neil replied, easily. "I'm perfectly comfortable being one"
"Uh huh" Adelaide teased. "Well, Mr. know-it-all? Do I have your permission to walk over to the table there and get some punch?"
"I suppose so" Neil told her, clearly amused by her. "If you come right back"
Adelaide rolled her eyes. "Excuse me, Miss Hattie. Would you like some too?"
"Thank you, dear" Hattie turned to Neil when she heard her shuffling away. "You two should just admit what is as clear as day, even to one who is blind"
"And what's that?" Neil asked as he watched Adelaide, who went up the table, stopping on the way to bend down to talk to Creed, who smiled widely. She got her drank and was talking to Opal at the table, seemingly deep in conversation, probably about Tom.
"You are perfectly suited for one another" Hattie patted his arm. "Don't let this one go, Neil"
"For God's sake, she is about to deliver another man's child" Neil let out a breath. "And she is still mourning Simon"
"It won't always be the case" Hattie told him. "She'll have her winter of mourning, but springs a comin on the mountain, my nephew. It may take work, but there is something there. Trust me"
"You have never been one to mettle so, Aunt Hattie" Neil told her. "Don't start now"
"I'm not, child" Hattie told him. "I'm just observing- as much as I can without sight. And you are awfully concerned about Miz Addie's health, when woman have been havin babies up here for ages and you hardly bat an eye. You can't deny that"
"Hum" Neil muttered, but didn't further argue the point, his eyes still fixed on Adelaide.
