-=*=-To Austria With Love -=*=-
Chapter IX
Lisle was moving between the waiting room and corridor speaking to all assembled, making a list of those present, and asking them when, or if, they would be able to sit with Neil during the coming days as his wife lie in the hospital.
There were many volunteers; Lisle was looking for mostly men, or possible a husband and wife 'team' that could sit with Neil. She would also set up among the women for them to prepare small meals to bring in for Neil to eat.
Pastor Schmidt would stay with Neil this evening for as long as he was needed. Then he would return each day to see what, if anything, Neil required. He was going to travel with Berta to the MacNeill's home and retrieve any necessities Neil would need. By the looks of Neil at this moment there was no way they could convince him to leave his wife's side until she was safely at home once again.
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For a second time Neil kept a constant vigil at Christy's side. Everything was similar to the last time he had done this, except this time he was sitting by the side of his *wife* and not his fiancée. Day and night Neil sat on a chair at the side of Christy's bed, holding her hand and talking soothing words to her. Speaking to her of experiences they had, encountered since the day they first met… Her falling into the river and spending the afternoon at his cabin… The Danish Folk schools which Christy wanted to duplicate in the Cove… Ruby Mae and Will's wedding… The 'Crying Party' at the Beck cabin the evening Ruby Mae was ill… His first proposal… And his second… Their trip across the Atlantic… Life in Austria… Their plans for the future… Anything and everything that came to his mind, he brought up to tell his wife.
After three harrowing days Neil once again felt Christy's small hand squeeze his. He could hardly contain his joy as she fluttered her eyes open.
"Sweetheart! You're back with us again!" Neil declared. "I can't tell you how delighted I am to see those extraordinary blue eyes again!"
I turned her face away Neil.
"What's wrong, Sweetheart?" Neil implored as he seated himself on the edge of the bed.
"Why did you leave me out on the terrace all alone for so long?" I said with tears in my eyes.
"I'm sorry Sweetheart! Dr. Fuchs confronted me at the punch bowl. We were discussing your eyesight when someone came in yelling something I didn't understand. Dr. Fuchs went running out to the terrace and yelled for me to follow. My heart was in my throat thinking it could possibly be *you*! I was terrified! I'm terribly sorry I didn't get back to you when I had promised. I should never have placed my career before my wife. I swear I will never do it again, Sweetheart, if you will only forgive me."
I turned my face toward Neil as I squeezed his hand. "I will do my best to forgive you if you will forgive me for what I must have done to…" I paused for a long while attempting to bring my emotions under control. "How is… the baby?"
Neil stroked my forehead soothingly as he spoke, "Christy, I don't know what you remember of the other evening, but I was only teasing you. We dodn't know for *sure* that you were expecting."
"Oh…" I suddenly felt an emptiness inside I had never felt before. "All the while I was unconscious I've been thinking about the baby and when you didn't mention anything about how she was doing I was afraid something had happened to her!" The tears flowed down my cheeks as I spoke.
"I'm sorry Christy! I should never have teased you about a baby." He paused as he rose from my bedside, and by the sound I believe he was pacing. "I should never have brought you *here*! I've been trying to find a way to "fix" everything when I should have been helping you to adjust to life again! It's all my fault you fell down those stairs! I was speaking to Dr. Fuchs much longer then I should have! Forgive me! Please!" Neil pleaded.
I reached out my hand to him. When he took my hand, once again seating himself beside me, I reached up and touched his face. "It was my fault, Neil. I was trying to be independent; I wanted you to be proud of me. I wished to show you how I could manage alone, so I walked out onto the terrace and found my way to the rail, but the longer it took for you to arrive the more worried I became. Then those same ladies we had heard talking about us earlier, appeared on the terrace. They must have thought it was an opportunity they couldn't let slip away to insult me while I was standing there alone." I paused a moment to compose myself. "I wanted desperately to flee back into the building, but I was so upset I couldn't remember how I had gotten out there! I had no idea where I was exactly. It was taking you so long I panicked. I walked along the railing, but it ended suddenly and I lost my balance. Then attempting to regain my balance I caught my slipper in the hem of my dress and tumbled down the stairs.
"I think you should send me home, Neil. The people here don't like me, and they don't think I belong here. They'll be more accepting of you if I'm not here! My parents will take me in until you return…" Neil interrupted me before I could finish my statement.
"But *I* want you here Sweetheart. Isn't that more important then what others think?" Neil questioned. "I heard them also, remember? Don't believe a word of what they say!"
"They don't like *you* because of *me*!" I cried pounding my fist on my chest. "They say I shouldn't be seen out in public!!" I needed to relax. My head was beginning to pound terribly.
"Christy…I don't care what *they* think of you! I *love* you! *I* need you here with me, beside me, giving me strength. I would be nothing without you. You're my wife; you're precious to me. You are my gift from God, I could have lost you all that time ago to Typhoid, then again when you fell from your horse, and now again as you fell down those stairs, but God answered my prayers and gave you back to me! That's not something I take lightly. I'll not listen to a word the gossips say and neither should you. Besides Mrs. Fuchs said she would take care of the situation. Give her a chance to see what she's accomplished. Does that sound reasonable to you?"
"I still think you should send me home. Look how much work you're missing sitting here with me."
"If you go home, I go home Christy. I'll not stay here without you, plain and simple."
"But what about Dr. Fuchs? What about 'making a difference in the world'? What about 'making your mark in the world' like you've always wanted? What about the promotion you might be getting?"
Neil kissed my hand and I could feel the tears on his cheeks. He held my hand to his mouth as he spoke. "You're the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I beg you Christy, don't leave me alone! I'll not be able to go on without you!"
Tears fell from my eyes as well. I placed my other hand on Neil's head. How could I be the one to hurt him as Margaret had? I choked out the words, "I won't leave you alone, Neil! I promise."
Late that evening I could tell by Neil's slurred speech that he was excessively tired. So I insisted he go home and get a good night's sleep.
Reluctantly Neil left me in the care of the hospital staff and went home to his own bed to sleep.
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When Neil arrived at his wife's room the following morning with flowers in hand, he discovered her bed to be empty. Racing to the nurse's station, "Where's my wife!?!"
The nurse shot an anxious glance at the nurse beside her then back at Neil. "Excuse me, sir--Dr. MacNeill. I will inform Dr. Fuchs of your arrival. He has asked to speak with you personally when you arrive. As you well know Doctor, I am not allowed to divulge any information."
The nurse summoned Dr. Fuchs to speak with Neil.
Neil sat down in a chair at the nurse's station, his head in his hands and his leg tapping nervously as he awaited the arrival of Dr. Fuchs.
When the Doctor finally arrived, he took Neil back to the small room they had been in a few evenings previous, after Christy's surgery. "Neil, your wife awoke in wee hours of the morning screaming of a terrible headache. After close examination it was determined she needed another operation to relieve pressure behind her eyes. She has not come back from surgery as yet."
"How long has she been in surgery, Doctor?" Neil asked with exasperation.
"I am not exactly sure, I was not called in when she went in. I only heard of this after my arrival. I left word at the station, they were to inform me of your arrival so you would hear the news from me before you heard any rumors."
"Thank-you for that, Doctor." Neil said. His head and his shoulders both slumped down.
Dr. Fuchs rose from his seat at the table and strode toward the door. Opening it for Neil they walked out of the room, Neil walked toward the waiting room once again and Dr. Fuchs toward his office. Neil turned around and called down the corridor, "Dr. Fuchs, I'm sorry for missing our meeting on Monday, but there was no way I could leave Christy's side when she needed me. I'll understand if you want me to pack up everything and move back home, for I have to place my family before my career. I know many Physicians' don't do that, but I must. My wife has been through far too much for me to forsake her now. There's just too much she needs from me, now more then ever and I can't give it to her if I put my career first."
Dr. Fuchs walked slowly down the corridor as Neil was speaking. "Neil, I think your ideals are commendable. We'll talk after your wife is better. I would never ask you to 'pack up and leave' because your wife had major surgery and you wanted to remain at her side. There is plenty of time for discussion after she is back on her feet again." He paused for a few moments. "I will be in to see how you and your wife are faring later in the day. For now I suggest you ask the nurse for a vase and put those flowers in some water for your wife when she comes back to her room!" He smiled at Neil.
Neil looked down at the flowers he had forgotten were in his hand and smiled back at Dr. Fuchs, "I forgot entirely about these. Thank-you for reminding me."
The two men went their separate ways down the corridor once again.
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End of Chapter 9.
Chapter 10 Coming Soon!!
