"Christy, would you open the oven and slide this pie in please?" Alice asked me. I rushed to do her bidding and had the oven on and the pie in as fast as she could say please. I'd been taking cooking lessons from Fairlight, and I hoped to make a special dinner for a certain someone as soon as the occasion was right, and I was making sure that I wouldn't burn anything even if I was going to be distracted.
It was a wonder that we were all in the kitchen, and if it wasn't for the fact we were in a rush to make a Christmas meal, Ida would have killed us all by now trying to make it all herself. And I mean all of us were there- as many women from the cove that would allow. Those who weren't in the kitchen were decorating and setting tables for the big meal that was supposed to happen around 3:00 or 4:00. I don't remember exactly whose idea it was to celebrate everything at the mission house, because the plan was concocted when I was still healing and in bed most of the time, but I think everyone could agree to eating together if everyone would help with the work. That way Miss Alice or the mission wouldn't be giving anybody any 'charity'. At first the concept of earning everything they were given was not only foreign to me, but self-righteous as well. But as I got to know them, I realized that even in the poorest places in the country, there was an even greater need than filling stomachs. They wouldn't be able to keep up living if they didn't have a shred of dignity that was usually afforded to human beings.
We worked almost all morning making the meal- the turkey, mash potatoes and gravy, multiple kinds of casseroles and as many pies we could make from the fruit and sweet things we had. I had it in my mind to do a bit of research to see how we could preserve every kind of food that we got from each season of harvest, and teach the community everything I learned. But that was in the back of my mind still, right now I was just about to take a breather and step outside to get some cool air.
I opened the porch door and rested my arms on the railing. The scene before me was certainly a winter wonderland- everything was snow-covered from the ground and the trees to the well. If any creature moved, it was a striking vision of color amid the snow. I felt a finger brush against my elbow, and turned in surprise. "Neil, you weren't supposed to be here until the afternoon!" I couldn't hide the smile in my voice. He pecked a quick kiss on my lips. We would wait until after the celebration to have more time alone.
"I have a gift for you lass."
"Now?" He nodded his head. "But we weren't going to exchange gifts until later after the Christmas dinner?"
"This doesn't count exactly." I hadn't noticed that his hand was hidden from view until he brought a few red roses in between us.
"How did you get these? Isn't the road to El Pano closed because of the heavy snowfall?"
"David gathered the men up over the weekend to shuffel out the snow and make a path. But there's more Christy."
"What do you mean- more roses?" I smiled. He always was a romantic under the tough exterior.
"No, more people than we were expecting."
"Oh?"
"Your parents are on their way. I saw them hiring a horse and carriage at the train station this morning. I don't know what's taking them so long."
"Did you know about this?" I tried to remain calm. I wasn't sure whether to be annoyed, anxious, or excited that they were going to celebrate Christmas with us.
"I was worried Christy. When you weren't recovering well, I thought I should let your parents know, so that you could go home to continue recovery over the winter break. I wrote to them again saying that you were alright, but I'm afraid I'm beginning to see where you got your stubbornness from- they came anyways. I wasn't sure if they would until I got their letter when the snow cleared this weekend."
"And you haven't told me until now?"
"I was waiting until we had some time alone.. but with everyone so busy…." He looked at me with eyes pleading for forgiveness. If there was one thing that I learned during my time in the cove, it was that almost nothing went as planned. And I couldn't fault him for telling my parents, or for their stubbornness. My angry eyes softened and I reached my arms around him and kissed him sweetly.
"What was that for? I was expecting a yell, not a kiss!"
"I love you when you're bewildered. Let's not waste time arguing about things that can not be helped. My parents would have come even if I wasn't sick just to make sure I was ok. Don't be hard on yourself Neil."
A delightful sound of his belly-sized laugh came to my ears, and I felt as light as a feather when he picked me up and whirled us around in a circle. "Aren't you a wonder, lass. I don't know what I'd do without you." He leaned in to kiss me again when we heard the slamming of the porch door.
I turned around to look behind me and saw a very flustered and embarrassed Dr. Ferrand. "Is there any place a man can get a moment of peace and quiet around here? That woman!" He stomped down the porch stairs and away towards the lake before we could say anything.
I gave Neil a concerned look. "I should go and see if Alice is alright." He nodded. As I was going back inside, I heard a sigh escape him. I turned back for a moment to glance at him and pause. "I'm alright Christy, I'll just have to ask God to take care of your stubborn parents, and then today would be a perfect day." I should have been annoyed, but I giggled. "That is why I love you!" Now, where was Alice? I walked through the kitchen, and with a pointed look from Fairlight towards the dining room, I found Alice sobbing.
"What happened, Alice? I thought you and Dr. Ferrand were getting along so well."
"Christy, you know how complicated love is, yes? It is even more complicated with two old fools set in their ways. I am trying, but I don't yet see a future for us together."
I took out the handkerchief that Neil had given me and put it in her fist. "Do you love him?"
"Yes."
"And he loves you?"
"Yes. Christy, why do you ask me such obvious questions?"
"If I've learned anything about my relationship with Neil, it's that love is worth all the trouble that comes with it." I was rewarded with a little chuckle while she was still busy drying tears from her eyes.
"The student has become the teacher."
"And that is a compliment to you Alice." I sat on the chair behind her and rubbed her back for a few moments. "When I was a girl, my mother would always rub my back to calm me down whenever I got hurt." I patted her back and got up to give her some time alone. She reached for my hand and squeezed it softly. "Thank you," she whispered. I knew that she would be alright eventually, but if she truly wanted a romance to work with Dr. Ferrand, than she would have to work through a lot of tears to get to a good place with him.
I stepped back into the kitchen to help with last minute details, and before I knew it, I heard a familiar voice calling to me. "My, is my girlie cooking in the kitchen? I thought she burnt everything she put her hands on."
"That was when I hadn't learned to pay attention or be patient." I wrapped my arms around him while he twirled me about like the little girl that he wished I still was.
"You look as right as rain! Dr. MacNeil wrote in his letter that he was worried about how much time it was taking for you to recover? Did we come all this way for nothing?"
"Daddy, it's Christmas! Of course you should come just to celebrate! And yes, I am much better, but I do still have to take frequent breaks of rest and can't do anything for long periods of time, or else I'll faint!"
"Where's Christy. Dr. MacNeil, I appreciate your attentiveness towards my daughter, but for such things as recovery from an illness, a child needs her mother."
"I couldn't agree more, Mrs. Huddleston, although she has done quite well herself, let alone needing either of us to take care of her."
"Alright, everyone out of the kitchen. I cain't think with all that jabberin' and movin' about in here. Shoo!" I could tell Fairlight meant what she said.
"You heard her, let's find a bigger space." I hoped Alice had heard us coming and gone somewhere else to recompose herself.
"So, weren't we about to steal away for a moment and exchange gifts?" Neil and I shared a look.
"Walk me out?" It felt like everyone's eyes were on us as we walked out the front door, holding hands. We were just exchanging gifts, why were they watching us like hawks?
"I've been waiting a long time to give you this," he said, his hand reaching inside his coat pocket.
"Give me what?" Then suddenly he dropped to one knee. Was he about to do what I thought that meant? I could only stare at him in anticipation, ready to jump at any moment. A thousand thoughts ran through my mind and I had to focus on his words.
He took out a black velvet box, and I knew. Don't say yes before he asks Christy! I tried to calm myself.
"It is part of the MacNeil tradition to pass this ring down to the next Mrs. MacNeil. Christy, I love you with all my heart and soul. You loved me and cared for me even when I did not love anyone else but myself. You showed me a way through the darkness into the light of Christ. I can not think of anyone but you in my future. Christy Rudd Huddleston, will you do me the honor of being my wife?"
And there it was, the ring, so old and anciently beautiful. My heart caught up in my throat, but I whispered, 'Yes Neil, yes." He slipped it on so easily over the finger that had always been bare, meant for exactly this occasion. I was stunned, but my body instinctively knew what to do and I reached for him. Sparks flew in intensity as we kissed, but it only lasted a moment.
Galloping hooves registered in our ears and we turned to face a scared and desperate man. "Is the Doctor here?"
"I'm the doctor." Neil let go of me and stepped towards the man.
"You're needed quickly in Raven Gap. The Smiths and O'Malleys are all in a bad way over some feudin'." Neil gave me a longing look, and I knew he didn't like this any more than I did. We kissed again before he ran over and mounted Charlie. I felt lost and empty. Emotions of joy and happiness had been cut short in seconds, and I was left there to watch him as he raced off into the distance.
What more could I do but go back inside and sit down by the fire with everyone else? I found a cup of tea being pushed into my hands. I felt Alice's arm hug me and she whispered, "Hold onto joy Christy. Your time with Neil will come." I felt them all watching me again, now with worried expressions.
"Rob, how about you play a little harmonica?" I asked. A look passed between Rob and Jeb and Jeb took out his fiddle. "Everyone, let's sing a few carols," Jeb announced as they began to play.
"Daddy! Somebody help! Somebody get Neil!" Alice had just stepped out to join Christy in welcoming David and her father from their ride into town. She didn't know exactly what had happened. What was Jeb doing all bandaged up, and what had made Christy scream so much in anguish? Her eyes searched for Christy and saw her kneeling on the ground next to… "Didn't Dr. MacNeil go over to Raven Gap Christy?" She rushed over to her side and turned Mr. Huddleston's body over so that she could see his face. She wasn't like Fairlight and her special spiritual sight, but she had woken up this morning with a terrible feeling. Something would happen that would change Christy's life forever. She breathed an almost audible sigh of relief and admitted to herself that she was happy nothing had happened to Neil, but took that thought back almost instantly.
"What is it Alice? Is he still alive?" There is no delicate way to say this. Alice, just spit it out.
"I'm afraid he has had a heart attack Christy, which almost always leads to death."
From behind her, Alice heard erratic sobbing coming from Mrs. Huddleston. She hadn't seen her when she came out. She heard a horse galloping and looked up to see Christy rushing into Neil's arms.