-=*=- Prelude to Austria -=*=-
Chapter XV

I made it to my room and took the powder that Dr. Wagner had given me for when I had these dreadful headaches. As usual it wasn't long before I was asleep.

I awoke a few hours later, but didn't rise from my bed. All Neil had told me this afternoon came flooding in on me as I lie there. I had been daydreaming for months of becoming Neil's wife, but had thought all possibility of that had passed.

But how on earth could I be the kind of wife that I should be to Neil?

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I got up from my bed and walked over to my desk. I picked up the journal that I had started since I learned Braille. In just *scanning* the pages I noticed I had written Neil's name fifty-six times in less then two months!

Bowing down my head I prayed, "Lord, give me the answers I need? How can I be a proper wife for Neil when I can't perform all the duties of a wife? I don't want him to make a mistake that he will regret for the rest of his life! How can he possibly be happy with a wife like me? There's so very little I can do around the house, I can't be a biblical wife for him. Although I haven't studied it a lot, I know… but now I can't even do that! What do *you* want me to do? If I were sure of what you wanted me to do Lord, I'd do it willingly regardless. I'm so torn about this that I'll do whatever I feel most led to do. So I beg you to lead me in the proper path." I laid my head on my arms as I laid them on my desk. I closed my eyes listening to my heart. I did my best to clear my mind of everything I possibly could.

Suddenly I felt I had the answer. But to be certain I asked God if he could possibly confirm it by laying upon Neil's heart to return this evening. If it were His will of course.

I straightened my room, freshened up and went to dinner. I was told I had missed my parents and brother while I was asleep, but they understood I had one of my headaches and I needed the rest. They knew me well enough to realize that if I had taken something for the headache it must have been excruciating.

After Dinner I walked down the hall and was turning to ascend the stairs when someone called my name.

I stopped and turned. "Yes?" I called.

"You have a visitor in the Parlor."

I walked to the Parlor door, "Hello?"

"Why hello beautiful! You certainly are a sight for sore eyes! You definitely look better then when I left earlier! I was so worried about you! I just couldn't wait until tomorrow to find out if you were feeling better!!" Neil declared as I entered the Parlor.

I couldn't help but smile. Both at his enthusiasm and my confirmation from the Lord.

"Would you like to go for another walk, Doctor?" I asked.

"I'd like that Christy, if it's alright."

"Sure, I'm allowed to leave the building Neil. I'm not a prisoner here, just a student. We've got a couple of hours before curfew."

"Well then. Let us take advantage of the time!" Neil exclaimed.

"I'll get my shawl and be right back."

"I turned and left hearing Neil follow me out into the hall. I retrieved my shawl and turned, running into Neil as I did so. "I'm sorry Neil! I didn't know you were there!"

"It's alright. I was standing too close, I suppose. I wanted to help you with your shawl before you did it yourself. I realize you can do things on your own, but you can't expect me to stop being a gentleman because of it!"

"Sometimes it's so hard for me to allow someone else to do things for me that I'm so used to doing myself." I felt a little sad again. "Especially when there are so few things I can do on my own anymore."

Neil laid my shawl across my shoulders. "Well, Love, you can do far more then you could. And there is nothing you can't do if you set your mind to it! I know you Christy Huddleston! The woman inside of you doesn't take no for an answer, she might be a tad impetuous, but she doesn't allow anything to slow her down or get the better of her. If you were a quitter you'd have never stayed in the cove! You would have given up long before you saw any accomplishments! No… the Christy I know and love does not give up easily! She sets her mind to something and sees it through to fruition."

"Thank-you Neil. I needed that." I said softly. "Sometimes I feel the urge to give up. But one thing that keeps me going is rather silly."

"What is it Love?" Neil said as he lifted my hand and placed it on his arm.

"Well, if I give up and stop trying, what would happen to me? …I'd wind up sitting around in a corner or in my room somewhere twiddling my thumbs feeling sorry for myself! I don't think I could do that… no, I *know* I couldn't bear that!! I'd be bored out of my mind! I have to do something!" I laughed as Neil led me outside.

Neil chuckled. "Now that's *my* Christy! Full of fire! Ready to take on the world!"

"Maybe not the *entire* world, just my part in it." I paused for a moment. "Whether that's in Asheville, Cutter Gap, Boston--or--Vienna."

Neil stopped dead in his tracks. "Did you say what I think you just said?"

I nodded my head. "Yes I did, Neil. But could I ask you a few questions?"

"Of course!" I could hear excitement in his voice again.

"For one thing, why do you still want me for your wife, like this, I mean." I pointed to my eyes.

Neil resumed our walk. He was leading me back to the place we were earlier today. "Here we are." Neil began. "*Our* spot!"

I had to smile.

"Now as for your question… I want you for my wife for the same reason's I always have. You haven't changed on the inside. I never really noticed your eye *sight* before. Sure I noticed your lovely eyes, and they haven't changed. They still tell me what's going on down deep inside of you. You build me up when I need it. You give me strength and fill a place inside of me that was meant especially for you. When I am with you I feel worthwhile. You won't allow me to put myself down or think negatively. I don't know if I'm saying this correctly or not. But I want you to know that the reason's I fell in love with you in the first place haven't changed." Neil paused. "I hope you'll still be my 'sparring partner'!" He chuckled.

I giggled. "Of course! I doubt that we could ever change that Neil!" He took my hand.

"You said you had question-s, plural. What were the other's?"

I could feel my face flush as I thought about the next question, but I had to know before I gave him my answer to his proposal. "Neil, are you absolutely positive that you could live the kind of life you would have with me? No children and not ever… well, you know what I mean."

"I've thought about that. I've been alone long enough and have grown enough in maturity that believe I can live that type of life. I can't say it will always be easy, but I'm willing to face it, just to have you for my wife."

I sat, thinking, for a long time. I had received the confirmation I asked for. Neil had come to visit me this evening.

Now to tell Neil what my answer was…

I took Neil's ring from my finger and held it between my fingertips, feeling the smooth metal, reminding myself of how it looked and how it sparkled as it reflected the light.

I felt Neil stiffen beside me as he braced himself for the worst. He drew in a deep breath and seemed to hold it.

I had to find the correct words. This moment had to be approached with the utmost in diplomacy…

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-=*=-Prelude to Austria -=*=-
Chapter XVI

I sighed as I tilted my head downward as though looking at the ring I held between my fingers. "Mrs. Neil MacNeill?" I said softly. Just as I had when Neil proposed the first time.

"What did you say?" Neil asked.

"I'm trying it out again… I want to be sure I like it before I accept." I teased. "Or perhaps just plain Mrs. MacNeill? Or how about Christy MacNeill?"

"I prefer Mrs. Neil MacNeill." He chuckled but his voice was shaky.

"I like them all Neil. My answer is 'yes'. I will become your wife *and* travel to Austria with you." I said, placing the ring back on my finger again."

Neil jumped up and lifted me from the bench to my feet. "Thank-you Christy! Thank-you!!" He lifted me up and twirled me around laughing as he did so. "I love you Christy!"

"I love you too Neil." I replied. "Could you promise me a couple of things?"

"Anything!" Neil declared.

"Would you call me 'Sweetheart' again as you did in the hospital?"

"Gladly, Christy! My Sweetheart…" Neil said as he hugged me close. "What is the other promise? You said a 'couple of things'."

"Would you kiss me to 'seal the pact'?" I felt my face blush crimson as I said that.

"With pleasure, Sweetheart." Neil whispered as he lowered his face to mine and place a soft, gentle kiss on my lips.

"Thank-you, Neil, for *everything*." I whispered. "Thank-you for not giving up on me."

"You're very welcome my love. It is my pleasure, I assure you."

"I've been dreaming for quite a while now, of becoming your wife after all, but I thought it was impossible! I promise to do my best. I want to make you happy. Please help me to be the wife you want. If there's something you want of me that I'm not accomplishing don't be afraid to tell me. I can't look into your eyes to see what's troubling you any longer. I don't know how, or what, you're feeling."

"I will Christy. I'll do my best to help you. I want you to do the same thing--tell me if there is something that I should being doing but not, will you do that for me? Because I want to be the husband that you desire--and deserve."

"I will, Neil, I promise."

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We spent the rest of the evening making plans for the last of our days in Boston. Mother and Father had already begun the process for my passport so I didn't have to worry about that, at least at the moment.

I had been looking forward to graduation and finishing up my schooling at Perkins, but Neil couldn't remain here for another two months. I was learning already to be a submissive wife. Neil's position in Austria was far more important then my graduating from Perkins. I could continue my education in Vienna. If I insisted on finishing up and graduating then I would have to forfeit becoming Neil's wife and I was not going to allow that opportunity to slip through my fingers again! More then anything I wanted to be Neil's wife and I would do what ever was required of me to become just that.

We were going to meet with my parents and George tomorrow. Then we would plan our wedding and everything else we had to do. We both wanted to be married in a church, even if it was on the spur of the moment, or if we had to wait awhile. Of course we didn't have a lot of time, but we did have a lot to do before we left in ten days.

Neil walked me back to the dorm. It was very difficult to say good-bye to Neil this evening. This time I knew for certain we would be married in only a day or so.

I sat in my room amazed at what had transpired in less then twelve hours! I was engaged to Neil again! We would be married in a few days. And we were leaving for Austria in ten days! Mother, Father and George were even here! I was so pleased with that! I would have hated to be married without them. Although if I had to, I would have.

I couldn't sleep! I wrote everything in my journal. I could never let this day go by without recording for posterity.

I hoped I would receive my sight back in Austria. But, I already set it clearly in my mind that more then anything I wanted to be a good wife for Neil whether I ever got my eyesight back or not. Neil was now to be my top priority. Or more specifically God first, then Neil a very close second.

I got ready for bed, but slept fitfully most of the night. I was just too excited to sleep! Neil was going to be here right after Breakfast. Mother, Father and George would most likely be here sometime around then also. I could hardly wait to tell them the wonderful news!

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I wanted to fly into Neil's arms as he arrived after breakfast… But I restrained myself.

Mother, Father and George arrived a few minutes after Neil.

George was elated; he always did look forward to having Neil as his brother-in-law. Father was subdued, but I knew he would allow me to make my own decision. Mother on the other hand was very quiet and hardly spoke a word. I knew that meant she was not happy about this, but most likely Father would talk her into allowing me decide what I wanted to do with my life. Even if Mother thought it was a mistake.

"I don't know what I'll wear for the wedding?" I said.

"Never fear, Christy." Mother said. "I've brought your gown with me."

"OH THANK-YOU MOTHER!!!" I cried. "I'll get to wear it after all!! I was afraid I never would!"

It took some doing but we found a pastor who would marry us Sunday afternoon. I could hardly believe that just yesterday I wasn't even engaged and now, on Friday, I was getting married the day after tomorrow!!

As we planned the wedding and searched for a pastor to marry us, Mother seemed to get used to the idea of me as a married woman. Well, it was actually far more then that, she got used to the idea of me as a married, *blind*, woman. She had sheltered me most of my life and now found it hard to let go of the apron strings when I seemed to be at one of the most vulnerable points in my life. But I was convinced I was to marry Neil and travel to Austria with him. I was scared to be sure, but I knew I was doing to right thing and nothing or no one was going to change my mind.

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Saturday I had asked my parents to leave Neil and I alone in the evening. It was the last evening before we would be husband and wife and I wanted to be sure neither of us had any unanswered questions rolling around in the back of our minds.

As I sat with Neil in 'our spot' this evening it felt peaceful… it felt calm… it felt, right. There was no doubt in my mind at all as to what I was to do tomorrow. Sitting on the bench in the cool of the evening with Neil's arm around me and my head on his shoulder I felt as though I had finally come 'home'! This was the place I was meant to be, and the man I was meant to be with. Neither of us had to say a word this evening if we didn't feel like it. We were together again and would be for the rest of our lives.

In fact I don't think either of us said much of anything, but we somehow knew what the other was thinking and feeling. I asked Neil if he was sorry he had asked me to marry him, or if he wished he'd have made a different decision, and he answered with, "Would I have come all this way to ask you again if I didn't think this is where I belonged?"

"No, I suppose you wouldn't have, but weren't you traveling through Boston on your way to Austria?"
"I could have taken a ship from New York, but I had to see you and *beg* you to come with me as my wife before I could leave on a ship from anywhere! So I made arrangements to board a ship from Boston! I even got a state room for two people. Jim Seymour, my friend who bought the tickets for us, insisted that we receive the best because it's going to be our honeymoon. He bought two tickets even before I came here to ask you to marry me again. He was so sure you'd say yes!"

"Were *you* sure that I'd say yes, Neil?"

"Not as sure as Jim, in fact I was considerably *less* confident then Jim. I was positive you'd say 'no'!" Neil admitted.

"The past few weeks I've been unable to think of anything but becoming your wife. I dreamt about it when I slept at night, I daydreamed about it, I wrote about it in my journal even! You have been all I can seem to think about for the past four weeks! I think the Lord has been preparing me for your arrival. Even though I could see no way that it could ever come to pass, He was preparing me all the same!" I paused a moment. "And here you are!"

"Here *we* are!" Neil declared. "We're together and that's where we're going to remain from now on."

I snuggled deeper into his shoulder and breathed in the scent that was *my* Neil! I loved him so very much!

Saying good-bye that evening was difficult, but yet I knew the next time I was with Neil it would be at church tomorrow afternoon! Where we'd say our vows to each other and become Mr. & Mrs. Neil MacNeill, finally, after all this time!! And even after everything that had happened to us!

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The service was wonderful. Mother cried. Neil and I had written our own vows. There was so much we had wanted to say to each other after all this time that we had more to promise each other today then the traditional vows would have covered.

I told Neil, "Neil, I love you more then anything on this earth. I have been unable to think of anything but you for weeks. There is nothing I want more then to be your wife and to travel with you to Austria. I promise to do my very best to be the wife that you want… that you need… that you deserve. I will pray daily for guidance so that I will do what you need of me and that I will accomplish the role the Lord has set before me this day. I want to be more then you ever dreamed of in a wife. You will never lack for love from me. I wish you could see yourself the way I picture you in my heart.

"If there was only one thing in the world I could ever see again, I would want it to be you. I would do just about anything to be able to see your face today. Even if the trip to Austria doesn't benefit me in anyway, as far as my eyesight is concerned. I pray it will be far more then you ever dreamed it could be.

"I promise to be an obedient wife to you, as well as your friend, help-meet, confidant, and every other role the Lord has for me in our life together. I promise to do everything I can to make you happy and to please you. I ask that if you ever need anything from me that you wouldn't be afraid to ask and I promise the same thing to you.

"I will love you, honor you, respect you and obey you. I will stay by you in sickness and in health. I promise to forsake all other's as long as we both shall live."

I was so nervous I would forget something, or say something wrong that I'm afraid I didn't look too happy at that moment. But I felt relieved when it was over and I thanked God Neil had gone first! He squeezed my hands to let me know everything was fine.

Neil had said to me, "Christy, I love you Sweetheart! I have waited a long time for this moment. I've missed you far more then words could ever possibly say. I pray that I will be a Godly husband for you and that you will be happy with me. I will do everything in my power to be the kind of husband you deserve. Please don't forget to tell me if I'm doing something wrong.

"I promise to love you and cherish you in all the times and seasons of our life together, through the good and the bad, the happy times and the sad times. I pray there will be far more good and happy times then there are bad.

"I will never even *look* at another woman as long as I live! You are the only woman for me and I will be pleased to call you my wife all the days of my life. You are a beautiful young woman full of compassion for others, and I am proud of you. I am not now, nor will I ever be ashamed of you! If you never see anything again I will love you no less then I do at this very moment."

When he placed his wedding ring on my finger he sealed it with a kiss. I did the same to him.

It was a wonderful day, full of sunshine and happiness. Mother and Father had hired a photographer to take our wedding portrait. Mother said it was so I could see our wedding when I received my sight back again.

Father took us to a restaurant for Dinner in the evening, he chose an establishment that had dancing and he even talked the band leader into playing a few songs just for us on our wedding day! It turned out to be more wonderful then I had imagined it would be! I always enjoyed being in Neil's arms and dancing with him on our wedding night was the best yet. He could guide me effortlessly across the floor. It was the most wonderful evening of my life, at least so far! I never wanted it to end, nor did I ever wish to leave the embrace of Neil's arms!

I stayed with Neil that evening at the boarding house he had been in since his arrival in Boston. The evening was strained and uncomfortable. I wasn't sure what was expected of me, but Neil was every bit the gentleman and he maintained the promise he had made to me. There would be no children for us. Not unless I changed my mind for certain and had worked things out in my mind as to how I would handle caring for our child.

We would be leaving for Austria in six days.

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End of Prelude to Austria.
To Austria With Love Chapter I Coming Soon!!