The Revelation ~ Neil's Apartment

Neil strode down the hall to his apartment door. He was angry. "Why was everyone so anxious to get me out of the laboratory today? They said I looked awful and I needed to rest! They just don't understand! I'll not get any rest as long as I'm here! When I sleep in the lab it's the only time that I don't think about her! When I'm here all I can think about is my plans to bring her back here last month as my bride! I can't go in there!"

Neil paused outside his apartment door. He tilted his head to the side and listened. Was that music coming from his apartment? He shook his head. It couldn't be! He lived here alone and he couldn't have left his Victrola on because it wouldn't still be playing. Besides he hadn't been here in days! It must be the apartment next door. He sniffed the air . . .'That smells delicious'! The neighbors must be having guests this evening.' But that sound and smell seemed to be coming from his apartment. He placed his ear on the door . . .the sound was definitely coming from his apartment. His eyes widened . . .He hadn't felt this shocked since Sam Houston and the Allen boys painted 'REPENT' on his front door and filled his front room with frogs! Only then he had a pretty good idea who had been behind that foolishness…Sam Houston couldn't possibly be here!

Neil stood back and stared at the door for a few moments. Should he go in or shouldn't he? This was his apartment after all and he wanted to know what was going on! If there was someone in there then they were uninvited! Although the thought of having someone to talk to this evening did sound appealing!

Neil slipped the key into the lock and turned it slowly. He wanted to catch whoever it was in his apartment. He ever so slowly and carefully opened the door. He cautiously stepped inside, wishing he had removed his riding boots before he tried to be sneaky! He viewed the Dining table all set with a tablecloth, flowers, candles, and two place settings!?!

This mystery was becoming more and more intriguing! But who could it be? His heart thrilled at the thought of Christy being here, but that couldn't be; her wedding date had past weeks ago. They would even be back from their honeymoon by now!

Neil hoped whomever it was would leave the food behind! It smelled superb. He hated to take the time out to prepare a full meal. It would be wonderful to have a real home-cooked meal once again!!

He glanced into the Parlor, his heart skipped a beat and he lost his breath. He threw himself back against the wall. It couldn't be? What was she doing here? Where was her husband? Why was Christy here? It had to be some kind of good-will gesture or something, but why the table with the candles and only two place settings? There was only one way to find out…So he forged ahead.

He turned the corner and entered the Parlor, "Christy?"

I spun around to see a rather puzzled looking Neil MacNeill looking back at me.

"Hello Neil." I said softly, not sure how he was going to react to my being here.

He breathed a deep sigh and stared down at the floor as he twisted his riding gloves in his hands.

I turned and looked out the window I had planned what I was going to say. "I've come here because there is something that I have to tell you and for the life of me, you wouldn't give me a chance to say it back home, so I've come here to say it. All I ask is that you hear me out before you say anything. Is that agreed?" I asked.

"Agreed." Said Neil softly.

I took a deep breath and forged ahead. I knew these words would be familiar to Neil, but there were none better to convey my feelings accurately. "It's tragic when a man takes over a woman's soul and just leaves her. Simple things like breathing suddenly become more complex. Even work doesn't help. The nights she's laid awake thinking of him…Seeing his face every time she closes her eyes. Hearing his voice on every breeze…and hoping she could just see him one more time…so she could tell him how much she loved him…how she couldn't live another day without him-I know because it's how I feel about you." As I spoke I could hear Neil's riding boots as he walked ever so slowly across the floor toward me, they were getting closer, and closer, my heart beat faster with each step he took. But I went on. "I was trying to tell you how I felt about you before you left, but you wouldn't let me." I paused as I took at deep breath, preparing to say the rest. "I love you Neil and if you were to ask me to marry you like you said you had come back for, I'd say yes."

I could feel him standing behind me. He was so close I could hear him breathing. I could feel his chest against my back with each breath he took. He was breathing heavily.

"You don't understand Christy. The storm was entirely my fault! If I hadn't returned to tell you how much I loved you that storm would never have happened. God was angry with me. I know because the thunder started just as I declared my love for you!!"

"Neil! If anyone was at fault it was I! I'm the one that was trying to marry the wrong man! I wasn't listening to what God was telling *me*! He was mad at *me*, not you! Neil, you were telling me what was in your heart. I was denying what was in my heart and trying to follow my head! I loved David, but I'm *in love* with you! You're name is written on my heart, as Fairlight used to say. It's you I need…what I said before is true. I can't sleep at night because I'm thinking of you. I see your face every time I close my eyes…I hear your voice on every breeze. I know these were your words, but there are no words that can express how I feel about you any better then these! I had to come here to tell you how I feel! I had to see you one more time so I could tell you how much I love you! How I can't live another day without you!" I could feel him breathing harder, as was I. I stood very still waiting for Neil to react.

He moved still closer and I could feel his body firmly against mine. He was so close I could feel his heart beating and his breath was right next to my ear. His closeness made me shiver. He reached up and drew my hair away from my face and off my shoulder. I sighed a deep quivering sigh. I wanted to turn and look at Neil, but I wasn't sure if I should.

Neil took my chin in his hand and turned my face to look at him. I had a questioning look on my face and I found him to have a loving smile on his face. "Then you aren't married?"

I shook my head. "You never asked me. You just told me that you had come back to ask me, but you never actually did." I paused. "I couldn't make a mistake that I would regret for the rest of my life! I need you!" I reached up my hand to touch his cheek. I heard his breath catch when I touched him. I turned around ever so slowly still holding my hand on his cheek. As I turned Neil wrapped his arms around me and held me close.

"Just so I don't get slapped again…Christy, may I kiss you?" Neil asked softly.

"I'm so sorry I slapped you that night. I promise I'll never do that to you ever again! You just made me face something that I was afraid to face. I couldn't face your love until I saw you on your knees in prayer at my bedside. Then I knew I could follow my heart…to you!"

"So what is your answer to my question?" Neil whispered.

"Yes please!" I pleaded softly, barely audible.

Neil looked into my eyes as he ran his fingers, feather-soft across my lips, I sighed deeply at his touch as he claimed my lips with his own. I moaned softly as did Neil. As he kissed me, he softly placed his hand on my cheek and stroked it tenderly with his thumb. I sighed softly.

When he stepped back he smiled lovingly at me. I took his face in both my hands.

"I love you Neil!" I whispered.

"I love you Christy!" He replied softly.

Neil drew me into him and held me close.

"Oh Neil I feel like I've finally come home." I sighed

"Really Christy?" Neil inquired.

I nodded, whispering. "Absolutely!"

Neil hugged me firmly. "Thank-you Christy! That means so much to me!"

Just then his stomach rumbled. I looked at him with a shy smile on my face. He had an embarrassed smile and his cheeks were a bit rosy.

"I'm sorry to break the mood Christy, but that meal you made is calling to me! I haven't had a good home-cooked meal in a very long time!"

"Well then," I said, taking Neil's hands and leading him to the table. "You sit down here and I'll serve the meal."

I went back into the kitchen and readied everything. I carried out the first course.

When I entered the dining room, Neil had lit the candles, reset the Victrola and he had a fire built in the fireplace.

"That looks delicious!" Neil said.

"I'm glad you like it. I hope you like it even after you've eaten!" I teased.

"I'm sure I will!" Neil said as he took my hand and kissed it softly. "Thank-you for coming here today. It has meant the world to me! Probably more than you will ever know."

"It has been my pleasure, Doctor! I'm extremely glad I came!" I exclaimed.

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I cleared the dishes from the table after we were finished with our meal. "That was a fabulous meal Miss Huddleston!" Neil announced as he rose from his chair. He went over and changed the song on the Victrola. I carried the last of the dishes into the kitchen and started to wash them.

Neil came into the kitchen and reached into the water and took my hand. "Come dance with me Christy!" He slipped his other arm around my waist and whispered softly into my ear, "I want to hold you in my arms." He kissed me tenderly.

"But I don't want to leave all this work for you! Why don't you help me first and we can dance later?" I offered.

"Hmm?" Neil looked thoughtfully at me. "Do I feel like drying dishes?"

I tried to give him a pitiful look, like a small child trying to get her way.

Neil looked at me and smiled broadly. "You won't get me that way Christy!" He laughed.

"Please Neil!?!" I begged. "If *we* don't do them now, then *you* will have to do them later *alone*!"

"Alright! I'll help!" Neil conceded.

"Thank-you!" I said as I turned toward him and kissed him tenderly, which seemed to surprise him.

"So you saw me praying did you?" Neil asked. "I thought your fever was so high that you didn't know what was going on around you."

"I opened my eyes long enough to see you. I could hear you crying and I wanted to reach out to you, but I couldn't. I was thrilled to witness your prayer though. Thank-you! I don't know what would have happened to me if you hadn't." I said. "I'm so very glad you did Neil! I can't tell you how much it means to me! So do you feel any different?"

"Let's just say I'm have a lot more conversations with God now." Neil answered.

"I'm glad Doctor!" I added with a smile.

"How are things back home?" Neil asked.

"Everything is moving along slowly. Sam Houston misses you terribly! He talks about you all the time! He's still worried about you being a heathen. He wants you to go to heaven so badly! Is it alright if I tell him about your prayer?"

"Yes, I suppose you could tell him about it." Neil answered.

"The entire Holcombe family is settling into their new cabin nicely as are the Allen's and the McHone's. Jeb is doing extremely well! He learned a lot staying home by himself during the storm and sending his children off to the mission with Opal alone! He was very sorry for what he had done and leaving them like that. I'm glad to see more of the old Jeb back again!

"I thank God that disease was at a minimum!" I went on. "After the Typhoid epidemic I prayed that there would be no other epidemic. I've heard of all sorts of diseases breaking out after floods!"

"Aye! Diseases settle in the soil and when a flood churns it up then you can have cases of diseases that you haven't heard of in ages!" Neil stated.

"How is your research going?" I asked.

"Slowly. We're testing different theories. It's a long drawn out process, research is, but the benefits far out weigh the time it takes!

"I'm curious Christy. How did you get in here? Not that I'm not glad to see you here, I am! I'd just like to know."

"When you were in the cove helping with the rebuilding projects and such. I met your friend Dr. Wade one day at the mission. I had lost all hope of ever getting a chance to speak to you privately. So I confided in him. When even he couldn't help me in the cove we came up with this plan. He spoke to your landlord and told him what was going on and what day I would be here. I got here this morning. Your landlord let me in. I cleaned, I went shopping, and I cooked!! I didn't know exactly what time you would be home, so I finished cooking and waited!" I told him.

"I can't tell you how much your coming here has meant to me, Christy!" Neil said as he moved closer to me. "Thank-you again!"

I finished the last of the dishes and I turned to Neil taking a dish and the towel from his hands and setting them aside I said, "Why don't we just leave the rest! I think we both would rather dance now!" I whispered with my face only inches from his. I gazed into his eyes. He took me by the hand and led me over to his Victrola and he reset it again.

"May I have the pleasure of this dance?" Neil asked.

"I would be delighted Dr. MacNeill!!" I answered.

He took my hand and placed it on his shoulder, then he took my other hand in his and we started to dance.

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