-=*=- Prelude to Austria -=*=-
Chapter XIII
Lessons were grueling! I had felt the complete fool as I sat down to feed myself the first few times. I felt like a small child all over again.
I was being taught Braille and raised letter reading, as well as using a stylus and a slate to write in Braille. I was also being taught to use a Braillewriter.
I struggled with memorization! I hadn't memorized much of anything in some time. Now I needed to memorize constantly! How many steps from 'here' to 'there'… how many dots and in what pattern are there for each letter of the alphabet? The peas are at two O'clock and the meat at six! Thirty-five steps to the water closet!
My mind became completely cluttered at times! But it all came to me, slowly but surely over time. I even became glad that mother and father had left me here.
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William and Julia had reluctantly given their permission for Neil to ask Christy for her hand once again. They wanted to know when Neil would be arriving in Boston so they could arrive as near to the same time as possible. They thought, however unlikely, that Christy might accept Neil's proposal again. Neil did not have the resources to travel to Boston, then to Asheville and back again. If Christy accepted Neil's proposal they would be married in Boston before their ship departed.
No matter what, they could not be absent from their daughter's wedding. George would accompany them this time as well. To either help comfort his sister as Neil left for Austria without her, or to bid farewell to her as she headed for Austria with Neil.
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The weeks seemed to slow considerably as I caught on to more and more of what I was being taught. I had spent all this time at Perkins with nary a word from anyone. I was surrounded by people and making friends, but I missed those I was closest to in this world.
I still pictured Neil in my mind. I prayed for him so often each day I could scarcely think of anything else some days! I prayed he would find his true love soon, or at least the woman he could spend the rest of his life happily with, if he hadn't already. I wanted him to be happy, but the thought of Neil with someone else made me feel physically ill. He had a right to be happy, I mentally ascended to that fact, but found it difficult to fathom in my heart. Not that my heart didn't want Neil to be happy, but it wanted him to be happy with *me*!!
As time went by Neil's voice was beginning to fade from my memory, but his face was as clear in my mind as though I could see him in front of me. There were times, at night, in my sleep, when I would wake myself as I reached out to touch his face, only to realize he was never there…
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Neil had spent weeks training Doctors Graham and Anderson to take over his practice in the cove. They had to become used to the people and the people them. They were elated to meet Miss Alice, as she was to meet them.
Saying good-bye to everyone was bittersweet. Neil was embarking on a dream come true. But he had to leave a piece of himself behind in the Cove. His ancestry was here; nearly everything he had ever known was here in these mountains. Accept for the years he had spent away at college and then medical school, he had been nowhere but these hills. He stood looking out at them from his front porch the evening before he was to leave… All his childhood memories, his love for *his* people, how his heart had felt so strongly about returning here after medical school… everything came flooding back to him, but tomorrow would be the beginning of a longtime dream--an entirely new life…
He stood praying for favor in Christy's heart and mind. Oh! how he wanted her to say yes when he summoned the courage to propose again to her.
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William, Julia and George were due to arrive in Boston the day before Neil. They had agreed they would say nothing to Christy of his impending arrival. They did not want to sway her decision one way or another.
"Miss Huddleston?" Someone was calling from the doorway of my room. I didn't recognize the voice.
"Yes?"
"You have some visitor's downstairs in the parlor."
"Really!?! Who are they?"
"Your parents I believe, and a there is a young man with them as well."
"Ah! That must be my brother George!" I carefully counted the steps from my room to the Parlor. It was becoming more and more routine. I was also beginning to recognize the sounds of the different boards and stairs that I could nearly tell exactly where I was at all times.
I rounded the corner to the Parlor. "Christy!" I heard Mother, Father and George all declared in unison. I couldn't help but smile.
I had so much to tell them! So very much had happened in the past four months. I hardly knew where to begin! But once I had begun, everything came flowing out one right after the other! I was so excited! I had brought along copies of the Braille alphabet for each of them, so when I wrote to them they could understand what I was writing. My handwriting always did leave something to be desired and now that I couldn't see what I was writing it was proving to be worse then ever! I had to work on it more before I could actually 'write' to them.
Father teased me, now that I was writing with the stylus and Braillewriter maybe he could actually *read* what I'd written to him! I tried to act hurt, but I knew how very true it was!!
We visited for the rest of the day, sharing the evening meal together and strolling through the grounds. It was wonderful to see them again! But I couldn't help but wonder why they were here already? Graduation day was two months away!
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Mother, Father and George promised to return the following day. They also hinted at a surprise for me the following day. I was excited! I hadn't a welcome surprise is so long! I had plenty of unwelcome surprises over the past months. This would be a refreshing change of pace!!
I couldn't sleep that night! I was so pleased at seeing Mother, Father and George and now tomorrow there would be a surprise as well!! I had absolutely no idea what the surprise would be, but George had whispered to me secretly that it was something I wanted desperately, and definitely *needed*!! All sorts of things went through my mind! But none of them seemed to fit George's criteria!! But whatever it was I was looking forward to it wholeheartedly!!
I have no idea what time I finally fell asleep, but it certainly didn't take much for the birds to wake me in the morning! I tried to dress quickly, but if there was one thing I had learned while at Perkins, don't hurry! For when I hurried I forgot things, or I didn't do them correctly. It took all the concentration I could muster to keep my mind focused on the tasks at hand this morning. Wash-up, get dressed; get down to Breakfast on time… It was frustratingly slowly!
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When I finally heard Mother and Father in the lobby I could have jumped up and down for joy I was so anxious! But I did not. I couldn't hear George, but I didn't say anything.
"Good morning, Little Girl!" Father called as he came into the parlor. "How are you this find morning?"
"Wonderful, Father! Excited about the surprise you said awaited me today!"
"Well, George is taking care of that. But it will be some time before George and your surprise arrive, so why don't we sit and visit for awhile?"
"Very well. That sounds wonderful to me." I exclaimed.
We sat and talked, but I couldn't for the life of me tell you what we discussed! I know I said a lot of 'yes' and 'no' answers. Whether they were correct of not, I couldn't tell you if I wanted to!
Mother and Father were silent as I heard someone walk into the room. Mother got up and took my hand. "We'll be back later, dear. I think you would like to be alone with your 'surprise' for awhile."
I heard them leave. Now I was perplexed, I had no idea that my 'surprise' was a person!!!
"Hello?" I said softly. "Is someone there?"
I heard a deep breath then, "Hello, Christy." Came the deep familiar, wonderful voice of Neil MacNeill.
"Neil!?!" I exclaimed. "Is that you!?!"
I heard him coming closer to me. "Yes, it's me." He said softly as he knelt down beside me. "It's been a long time."
"Too long." I declared. "I've missed you."
"So George has told me. I've missed you also."
"How come I haven't heard anything from you?" I asked.
"George told me your parents had forbidden you from contacting me. I felt you were better off without me." Neil admitted.
"I don't think I'd want anyone else to read your letters to me if you had written." I paused. "I only wish things could have been different for us Neil. I miss you so much some times I can hardly think of anything but you!"
"I know." Neil paused as I heard him swallow hard. "I feel the same way some times…Love."
I had to smile. It had been a long time since I had heard his voice, but to hear him call me 'Love' again was wonderful! "That sounds so good." I whispered.
I could feel him moving closer to me, but suddenly pull away with a sigh. "Could we go for a walk?" Neil asked.
"Of course we can. I just need to get my shawl, it's hanging in the hall."
"Do you want me to get it for you?" Neil offered.
"No, I want to show you that I can do it myself. Watch me."
I walked the ten steps to the hall door, then I turned right and walked 3 steps more. Putting my hand up, I could feel the first hook on the wall and I walked slowly down, counting the hooks as I went until I reach hook twelve, there hung the shawl that my grandmother had crocheted for me years before. I lifted it up and showed it to Neil. "A white shawl with pink flowers embroidered into it, correct?"
"Exactly!" Neil declared. "That's wonderful Christy! I'm very proud of you! You'll have to tell me what else you've learned while you were here. I can tell you've come a long way!
"Is it alright if I offer you my arm as we walk?" Neil asked.
"Of course it is, Neil!! I wouldn't want to walk any other way!"
"I'm glad to hear that Christy."
Things were rather uncomfortable between us. It had been too long, since Neil had left the hospital that day he said good-bye to me. I felt as though I hardly knew him anymore, although I probably still knew him better then just about anyone else.
Then an awful thought hit me…maybe he had come here to tell me he was going to marry someone else!?! But I had to pretend to be happy for him. I couldn't expect him to pine away all his life for me.
Seventy-two steps from the bottom of the porch stairs, I said, "Neil can we walk down this path?" I asked pointing to our left. "There's a pond over there, with ducks and geese. There are also some benches to sit on. If you'd like."
"Sounds wonderful, Christy." He said as he patted my hand.
We strolled in silence. It didn't feel like a comfortable silence either, the tension was thick. I could tell Neil and I both were feeling the strain…
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End of Chapter 13.
Chapter 14 Coming Soon!!