The Revelation ~ The Hospital/Going Home
Neil and I took a cab to the hospital in the morning. It seemed so strange for me to see him in the city! He looked so different! But he fit right in with everything here! I was very impressed!
When we arrived at the hospital Neil slipped his arm around my waist and led me inside. He stopped once in the corridor and he turned me to look at him. He put his hand on the side of my face. "Thank-you again Christy! I'm glad you agreed to come here with me this morning. I can hardly wait to see the look on everyone's face when I introduce you to them!" He kissed me softly.
At that moment a voice beside us said "MacNeill! Does this display mean that you two are *finally* engaged?" We turned to see Dr. Wade standing beside us with his arms crossed trying to look serious.
I blushed when I saw him standing there. Neil cleared his throat. "Ahh, yes! It does Dr. Wade!"
"It's about time, that's all I've got to say!!" Dr. Wade paused. "But I am happy for both of you! Congratulations!!" He shook Neil's hand and he kissed me on the cheek.
"Watch it Wade! That's my fiancée you're kissing!!" Neil chuckled; he looked more proud than I had ever seen him before!
"I'm sorry MacNeill! I must have gotten carried away!" Dr. Wade laughed.
"Well, as long as you're just congratulating her I'll let it go this time, but don't ever let it happen again!!" Neil said with fake concern.
"I'll try to control myself Dr. MacNeill!" Dr. Wade added.
"Now!" Neil said. "I'm going to take my fiancée to the lab and introduce, or should I say, show her off, to everyone there!!" Neil was smiling from ear to ear!
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I had never seen Neil more ecstatic then he was as he introduced me to everyone in the lab!! It was fun to watch him! He was enjoying every minute of it! Plus he couldn't help but seize every opportunity to warn any to keep their distance from his *fiancée*!! I think he liked that word all of a sudden especially when it proceeded by the word *my* . . . I'll have to admit, so did I!
Nearly everyone joked with him about it, but I could tell by the shocked expressions on their faces that they could hardly believe that this was the exact same man that had been sleeping in the lab the night before last, so that he didn't have to go home to his apartment; the same man that was so melancholy since returning from his home town, a few weeks ago!! He was a changed man and they were greatly impressed by the 'new' Neil MacNeill!! As was I!
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At One O'clock Neil took me to the train station. As much as I hated to leave, I just couldn't wait to get back to Cutter Gap and start planning the wedding that I was supposed to have been planning all along! I knew some people just wouldn't understand if Neil and I got married so soon after I had called off my wedding to David, but yet I wanted us to be married as soon as possible!
Before I could leave I had to ask Neil what he thought. "Neil, what do you think we should do about our wedding plans?"
"I think we should definitely plan our wedding, Christy!" Neil joked.
"No, no! I mean when do you think we should plan the wedding for, which date? I've just been wondering what people will think if we get married so soon after I was originally supposed to marry David. Would that be in bad taste?"
"In the mountain's, you are almost always going to offend someone with anything that you do! We would offend people if we got married today, we would offend people if we get married in six months! We would offend *some* people if we got married at any time at all!!" Neil offered.
"I suppose, but what do you think is right, Neil?" I asked.
"I think we should plan our wedding for two weeks from Friday! I will need to have two weeks here to tie up any loose ends. That will give me a couple of days before the wedding to get things settled at home, before I bring my lovely bride home to live with me!" Neil said with a sly smile on his face. I blushed crimson knowing what he was thinking! "My shy lass! I'll enjoy working through that shy exterior! Come here love!"
I moved closer to Neil my face was still red, I could feel it! He cupped my chin in his hand and lifted my head to look at him. "You know I wouldn't do anything to hurt you Christy! You won't ever have to be afraid of me!" He tilted his head and reached forward to kiss me tenderly. "I never want to drive you away from me! I want you to be with me forever! Don't be afraid to tell me if I've hurt you in anyway! I don't ever want to cause you pain! I love you so very much, I won't ever get enough of holding you in my arms and loving you!" He held me tightly to him as the train pulled into the station.
"I'll miss you Neil!" I started to cry. "I don't want to leave you!"
"I'll call you every night! I promise! Don't leave me out of the wedding plans! Remember everything and tell me all about it each night when I call!" He paused for a moment. "I'll take care of the Honeymoon plans from here!" I felt myself blush again!
"A blush just discussing making the plans for our honeymoon? This is going to be fun! I can tell already! I can hardly wait!" Neil said eagerly.
"Where are we going to go?" I asked.
"That will be my wedding present to you my love! You'll find out after the wedding! I know exactly where I want to take you and I am anxious to see your reaction to it!" Neil smiled lovingly at me, "and don't worry you'll love it!! I know you will!"
"I don't doubt you in the least! I'm sure I will, as long as I'm with you! I don't care where we go!" I smiled back at him. I knew I could trust him.
"I need to get on the train." I said reluctantly. "Two weeks and you'll be coming home, correct?"
"I'll be working for two more weeks, but I don't know when I will arrive home. I'll be back as soon as I possibly can, I promise." Neil answered. He leaned into my ear and whispered, "I won't go any longer than is absolutely necessary without holding you in my arms!" I smiled a shy smile.
"Don't forget to call me!" I said.
"Nothing could keep me from it." Neil commented. "You'll be remaining at Mrs. Tatum's boarding house tomorrow evening will you not? I don't want you to ride back to the mission in the dark by yourself!"
"I'll stay at Mrs. Tatum's, Neil, if you want me to."
"Of course I do! You stay in El Pano and head home the next day! Promise me, Christy that you won't try to make it home in the dark? I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you!"
"I promise, I'll stay in El Pano tomorrow evening. You won't have to worry about me!" I said.
"Thank-you." Neil replied softly. "Now may I have a kiss good-bye my love?"
"Of course you may!" I told him.
He placed his hand on the side on my face and smiled sweetly. He brushed my cheek softly with his thumb. "My Christy!" He whispered ever so softly as he proceeded to kiss me affectionately. He rested his forehead against mine and looked into my eyes. "I'll miss you Lass! You've only been mine for a few hours and already you have to leave me! Watching you leave is going to be one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do!"
"Leaving you is going to be difficult for me also. If I had known how things were going to end I would have bought a train ticket for a later time, or later date." I admitted. "I was so afraid that you wouldn't allow me to speak that I bought my ticket for the next train out of Baltimore. I'm sorry, Neil. I wish I didn't have to leave you! I'll speak to you on the telephone every night! I can hardly wait to hear your voice again!"
Neil took me in his arms once more. He held me closer then ever. "I want to remember the feel of you in my arms when you're gone!" He said as he slowly rocked me back and forth. He placed his face on the top of my head and inhaled deeply. "I want to remember the scent of you when you aren't here!"
I buried my face in his chest and inhaled long and deep. "I want to remember the scent of you also!" I said.
The conductor announced that the train was going to leave. I looked up into Neil's eyes. I could feel the tears stinging my eyes. He looked at me with tears in his eyes as well. "Thank-you for everything Christy!" He sighed deeply. "I can hardly believe you're mine! You aren't Grantland's after all! You're mine! I can't thank-you enough for everything you've done for me by showing up here yesterday and even more so, by accepting my proposal!!" He lifted my chin so that I was looking at him and he kissed me intently.
As much as I hated to leave I turned toward the train. I stood at the back of the train and held Neil's hand until the train began to pull away. He reluctantly released my hand at the end of the platform.
"I love you Neil!" I yelled. "Don't forget to call me!"
"I love you Christy!" Neil yelled. "I will not forget!"
We waved until we could no longer see each other. With tears streaming down my face I turned and entered the train.
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End of Omitted Scenes/The Revelation Part 9 ~ The Hospital/Going Home
Coming Soon: Omitted Scenes/The Revelation Part 10 ~ Planning the Proper Wedding