The Revelation ~ Neil's Proposal
We danced to one song after another until Neil took my hand and led me to the settee in front of the fireplace. He asked me to sit down.
Walking over to the mantle. He opened up a wooden box and removed a cloth bag from inside and replaced the cover on the box. With his back turned to me he opened the bag and removed something from inside. He set the empty bag down on the mantle; it looked very similar to the bag that contained the antique that he was carrying in his pocket in Ingle's Cove. The one he said I wouldn't be interested in. He slowly turned and smiled at me with a twinkle in his eye, a twinkle I had not seen in quite some time! He took my left hand and he knelt down before me.
My heart beat faster as I realized what Neil intended to do. My heart was pounding so hard I could scarcely breathe! I'm sure Neil could see it! Or at least hear it!
"Christy, lass. I love you! I can't live another day without you! I don't want to lie awake at night only thinking about you. I don't want to just see your face when I close my eyes, I want to see it in front of me when I open my eyes as well. I've gotten my wish to see you one more time so that I can tell you how much I love, but I have to know, Christy, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
I felt tears of joy stinging my eyes as he slipped a beautiful ring onto my finger! He looked up into my eyes with a serious expression on his face; he was waiting for my answer. I was so excited I was trembling. I started by nodding my head and a broad smile spread across Neil's face. I threw my arms around his neck as I said, "Yes, Neil MacNeill I would love to be your wife!"
Neil pulled back from me and placed his big strong hand on the side of my face. "Thank-you!!" He whispered softly as he proceeded to kiss me tenderly.
"Thank-you for helping me to see things I was blinded to, Neil. I have always had a special place in my heart just for you! It started out as friendship, but it has blossomed into true love. I want to marry my best friend. I want to spend the rest of my life with him . . . With *you*" I declared.
"I love you Christy!" Neil whispered as he kissed me more ardently this time. It left us both breathless.
"I love you too Neil!" I said barely above a whisper.
"Would you dance with me one more time?" Neil asked.
"I'd love too Neil!" I answered softly.
Neil put another song on his Victrola and as the sweet, soft music began to play Neil turned toward me and extended his hand to me. I gratefully accepted. This time Neil folded me into his arms lovingly and I wrapped my arms around his neck as he began to sway slowly to the rhythm of the music. We danced face to face our eyes gazing into each other's with love. The music was almost hypnotic, or was that Neil's eyes? Either way I felt as though I were floating on a cloud. The only thing I could see was Neil's face. The only thing I could hear was the enchanting music. I had never felt like this before! Nothing else existed; no one else mattered at that moment. And when the song was over, Neil added the pinnacle to the dance by delivering to my lips a profoundly passionate kiss . . . We both stepped back breathless and in amazement at the depth of our feeling for one another.
Neil set his hands on the sides of my head. "I suppose I should be taking you back to where you are staying." Neil said.
"OH NO!!" I declared as my eyes flew open in astonishment. "In my excitement to talk to you today I forgot to get myself a room in a boarding house! What am I going to do now!?!"
Neil drew me close and comforted me. "Don't worry Lass. You may sleep in my bedroom and I will sleep out here in front of the fireplace. I've slept in worse places when I've done my rounds! I'll put a feather mattress down and I'll be fine . . . Of course if you don't trust me. Maybe we can find some other place for you to stay?"
"I trust *you* Neil, I just don't trust what other people might say about us, that's all!" I said.
"What does it matter what these people think of us? We may never see any of them ever again! If I get kicked out of this apartment then I'll just have to move back to my cabin! If anyone tells St. Timothy's I could tell them a thing or two about some of their other scientists and their 'acquaintances' with certain members of the opposite sex at a local Tea House!!" Neil announced.
"I don't think I want to hear anymore about that subject, but as long as we both promise to behave ourselves! I guess it will be all right. Then I can make you breakfast in the morning." I added.
"That sound's absolutely wonderful!" Neil stated. "It's been a long time since anyone made me breakfast, in fact, it's been a long time since I've eaten breakfast!"
My heart went out to him. "It won't be that way for long!" I declared. "As soon as we're married you'll have breakfast every morning! I'll make sure of it, even if I have to serve it to you in bed!"
"This is sounding better all the time!!" Neil proclaimed as he drew me into him and kissed me eagerly.
Neil showed me where his bedroom was. "The wash basin is over there. If there is anything else that you need, please let me know." Neil paused. "I can't tell you how glad I am that you came here today Christy."
"I can't tell *you* how glad *I* am that I came here today Neil!" I announced as I walked over to where Neil was standing in the doorway. "Now I can call my mother and we can plan the wedding I was supposed to be planning all the while."
Neil smiled a joy filled smile! I brushed back the stray hair on his face. "Today you have made me the happiest man on earth!" Neil said as he took me in his arms. "I'll cherish you all the days of my life, I promise, Christy. I'll love you always and forever! I will take you for better or for worse, but I will never take you for granted!" He placed his hand on my cheek; he scanned my face as though he were seeing me for the first time. He stroked my cheek lovingly with his thumb. He looked from my eyes to my mouth. "I love you Christy." He whispered barely audible. He looked intently at me as he stroked my face. He traced my lips with his thumb, ever so lightly. A shiver ran through me. He raised his other hand to the other side of my face and he did the same thing. As another shiver ran through me. Neil drew me close and kissed me tenderly. "I can hardly believe that you will soon be my bride!" He held me for a while longer gazing at me fondly. "I suppose I should let you get some sleep. Are you sure you won't disappear by morning, like all the other dreams I've had of you? You'll still be here in the morning won't you?"
"I promise! I'll be here when you wake up! I'll make you breakfast before you leave for work! If I don't wake up early enough, I give you permission to wake me. Alright?" I asked.
"I will! Nothing could keep me from it Christy! Not just for breakfast, but so that I can see your lovely face before I leave for work in the morning!" He brushed my hair back from my face. "I can scarcely endure the wait for the day that I'll wake up to this vision of loveliness *every* morning!"
I slipped my arms around him and snuggled into his chest. I felt like I belonged there. I held him close as he buried his face in my hair. "Neil, now I know what it's like to have found the place where I belong! I realize how wonderful it is to be in the place that God has chosen for me. I am amazed at how wonderful it feels to have made the right choice, the choice of my heart and not my head. I can't thank you enough for coming back and confessing your love for me! If you hadn't I never would have known how you felt, and I never would have realized what the choice of my heart is!"
I felt Neil shaking gently. I looked up to see that he was crying. I placed my hands on his cheeks and brushed the tears away with my thumbs. I kissed him on one cheek and then the other. "I've never had anyone think of me that way before." Neil cried. "This is the first time I've ever felt that I truly belong. I'm finally doing the right thing. This is the first time I've done anything that was truly blessed by God. Without your influence this past year I probably would never have come to realize any of this. I can't thank-you enough Christy." He drew me in to him and held me close. I stayed in Neil's embrace until I felt him stop shaking completely. I was glad that Neil was learning to do things God's way and that God was using me to help bring it about because I was fulfilling my life's goal as well.
"You even have my permission to look in on me during the night if you think I might have disappeared, OK?" I added a little shyly.
"I just may take you up on that offer!! I've had too many dreams like this that just vanished by morning!" Neil confessed.
"Well, I'm sure this one won't! I'll be right here in the morning. I promise!!" I consoled. "Now, I had better let you go, I'm sure you need plenty of rest before you go to work in the morning!"
"I won't sleep much thinking of you here tonight!" Neil admitted. "But this night I'll be lying awake thinking of you here in my arms and accepting my proposal! I won't be having just a dream or a vision of you, but a memory!" He paused. "Good night Christy!"
"Good night Neil. I *WILL* see you in the morning!!" I replied.
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I could smell the scent of Neil on everything in this room! When I snuggled down into the bed I felt close to Neil because his scent was on the pillows, the sheets, the quilt, everything!! I felt like he was right there with me!
I don't know what time it was when I fell asleep, but I had a wonderful dream. I dreamt of our wedding. Not the nightmarish dream I had, had weeks ago, but a wonderful, beautiful dream! This time I was very much in love and eager to be marrying the man who was the choice of my heart!
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I woke some time during the night and I was thirsty. I tried to walk as softly as I could. I didn't want to awaken Neil and have him think I was an intruder in his apartment! I tiptoed to the kitchen. I drank long and deep; the cool sweet water was just what I needed! For the first time I noticed the view out of the kitchen window. It looked interesting even in the darkness. I would have to make it a point to examine this view more closely in the daylight.
I glanced around the kitchen a little more. I had been too anxious for Neil's arrival to really enjoy any of this before. Neil had picked a lovely little apartment! It would have been a nice place for the two of us . . .? 'Hmm' I thought out loud to myself just under my breath. 'Maybe that's why he picked it out in the first place . . . Well, if he did pick it out for me as well as himself he did an excellent job, because I loved it!!'
There was a sound coming from the other room, it sounded as if someone was crying. I padded back down the hall toward the sound. I followed it to Neil's bedroom where I had been sleeping. I peered around the corner to find Neil on his knees between the foot of the bed and the doorway, crying. I walked up behind him and put my hands on his shoulders "What's wrong, Neil?"
At the sound of my voice and the touch of my hands he jumped and spun around in surprise. He stared up at me for a few moments. "Christy?" He said with his voice catching in his throat.
"Yes, Neil, I'm here. I went to get a drink of water. What's the matter . . . Never mind. You don't have to tell me. I already know. You came in to make sure I was still here and I wasn't, was I?" I knelt down beside him on the floor.
He nodded his head. He reached out and pulled me close to him. He held me tight! I laid my head on his chest and he kept kissing the top of my head over and over. I drew my head out so I could look at Neil. He placed one hand on each side of my head and kissed my face all over. Then he hugged me tightly again!! "I thought I had just had another one of my dreams about you!! Only this one had seemed so real I could not believe that it might only have been a dream. When I walked in here and found no one here I thought I was going insane! I was so sure that this 'vision' was real!! I couldn't believe that it wasn't, but yet you weren't here!!. . ." He voice trailed off.
"I'm right here Neil!! I promised I wouldn't leave! I won't either!!" I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him as tightly as I could. He enfolded me in his arms and clutched me firmly to him.
"You feel so good in my arms!" Neil exclaimed. "Once we are married I don't think I shall ever let you go!!"
"I don't want you too either!" I declared. "Because I don't ever want to let go of you!!"
Neil turned his face toward mine. The moonlight from the window was streaming in on his face. A breeze blowing in through the open window was blowing his hair back softly. He looked so handsome! I could see the tear stains on his cheeks. As he turned his head I felt his lips brush my cheek. I hugged him tighter. I knew he wanted to kiss me, but for some reason I was afraid at the moment. Maybe it was being alone in the dark with Neil in his bedroom. He buried his face in my neck and kissed it softly. I wanted to kiss him, but I knew I shouldn't. I kept picturing him the way I saw him last at the Holcombe's the day the men of the cove were putting up their new cabin! I had to put that thought aside for now and back away from Neil. I moved back and I patted his cheek. "I know you want to kiss me Neil, but I can't just now. Not here!" I said as I motioned around his bedroom
"I know Christy. It's just very difficult for me right now. I was so worried that's all." Neil added.
"I know you were. But I'm not going to disappear! I promise! Wake me in time to make you breakfast."
"Maybe I'll stay home tomorrow so I can show you around the town!"
"I've got to leave in the early afternoon." I admitted. "I've got a train ticket for then just in case you didn't want to speak to me, I didn't want to stay any longer than I had to!! I'm sorry!! I just kept picturing the way you looked at me when you rode away."
"I couldn't face you when I thought you just wanted to say good-bye before your wedding to Grantland." Neil said as he looked down at the floor.
"I would never have treated you that way if I had still planned to marry David!! I would have put your feelings before my own!" I commented. "Especially after your profession of love for me at Ingle's Cove! I would never have taken your feelings lightly especially after that!! But now you won't have to worry about that anymore!" I moved closer to him and placed my hand on his cheek. "Because now I'm going to be *your* wife!"
"Yes, you are, aren't you?" Neil brightened. "That wasn't a dream either was it?" I shook my head. He took my hand from his cheek and kissed the palm of my hand.
He took me into his arms and held me tight. Neil looked up to Heaven. "Thank-you!" He said ever so softly.
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I slept so soundly after Neil and I parted early in the morning hours that I was totally surprised when I felt his lips against mine to wake me in the morning! I looked a bit shocked at first I'm sure! But I recuperated quickly! I blissfully shared in the kiss! "Good morning!" Neil whispered with a loving smile on his face. "I know it's early, but I couldn't bare to be without you any longer! I tried watching you sleep, but that wasn't enough! I want to talk with you, I want to hold you in my arms again before I have to leave."
"Well, then I best get up and start your Breakfast! I can't allow you to leave for work on an empty stomach, now can I?" I offered. "Now you scoot on out of here and I'll get dressed and start cooking!"
"I won't stop you! I'll be in the Dining Room!" Neil said as he rose from the side of the bed and walked out the door. He paused just once as he was leaving to look back at me and smile.
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I washed and dressed. Then I walked into the kitchen. I pulled out the frying pan and the food. Everything I would need! As I was cooking I felt a presence looking over my shoulder! I glanced over to see Neil watching me as I cooked!
"That looks tasty!" Neil commented.
"I hope so!" I replied. "I took lessons from Ida while she was at the mission."
Neil slipped his arms around me as I stood by the stove. "You don't know how many times I've pictured you here doing just this!" He kissed my neck softly. "I'm so glad to have you here!"
"I'm glad I came!" I said. "Neil?" I asked. "Did you pick out this apartment for the two of us?"
He looked at me shyly and nodded his head.
"It's excellent Neil! I love it!" I announced. "I'm sorry I wasn't more forceful about professing my love for *you*. Because then we could have lived here together for at least a while! I've enjoyed my time here with you."
"As have I!" Neil stated as he turned me around to face him.
"Is it alright if I kiss you in the kitchen, Christy?"
"I think that would be wonderful!" I proclaimed. Neil drew me close and kissed me sweetly. He hugged me tighter before letting me go.
He sounded more serious for a moment. "What time do you have to leave today?"
"My train is scheduled for 1:00 P.M."
"Would you do a favor for me this morning?" Neil asked.
"If I can. I'd love to! What is it?"
"Would you come to the hospital with me? I want to show you off to everyone!"
"I'd love to go with you! It'll be my chance to see where you work! Maybe I'll get to see Dr. Wade and thank him for all he's done!"
"I'm sure you will! Wade is there everyday!"
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