Bridging the Gap

Chapter 1: Broken Promises

Staring into the mirror, Christy MacNeil shook her head in disbelief. How could she be pregnant? Technically she knew how, she was a married woman, and a doctor’s wife at that, but now was the worst possible time to tell Neil of her condition. It was what the mountain folk were calling the nastiest winter they’d seen in years. Inches of snow were falling daily, and there had been an outbreak of influenza. The disease had claimed thirty people already, and it was still spreading. Severe cases of frost bite were also becoming a common occurrence. Even with all of the progress in Cutter Gap, basic necessities such as shoes were still scarce. Neil was often gone for days, and over the past few weeks, Christy had seldom seen her husband for more than a few hours at a time. Maybe the baby, a miracle from God, would be enough to bridge the ever growing gap between Neil and her.

That evening, the doctor returned home to one of his favorite meals; roasted chicken and vegetables with blackberry cobbler. Christy smiled at him as he walked into the kitchen, but it was not reciprocated. He removed his coat, and then sat down to his meal. The silence that hung between them saddened Christy. There had been a time when they spoke of everything from literature to their childhoods; that time was gone. Finished with his meal, he rose and made his way over to his desk. Minutes ticked by, yet he still said nothing. Finally, at a loss as to what to do, she shattered the silence.

“I wish you would talk to me, or for that matter, at least acknowledge my existence.”

“Christy, I am tired. I’ve been up for the past eighteen hours. Getting into an argument is the last thing I want to do right now.”

“I do believe that those are the most words you have said at one time to me in the past week. I can’t remember the last time we had a conversation, let along the last time you touched me. Have you lost interest in me now that I’m not a prize to be won?”

“You know that’s not true! When you married me, you knew how often I would be gone, and how exhausted I would be when I returned. Yet you still married me!” Leaping up from his chair, and snatching his jacket and scarf off the hook, he made his way across the room and towards the door. Just before he lifted the latch, he said something that left Christy heartbroken. “You know Christy, sometimes I wonder if I should’ve just let you marry Grantland!” With those final words, he stormed out into the dark January night.

His last comment had reduced Christy to tears, something that had never happened before. She knew that she should not follow him; after all he usually returned within the hour and apologized. This time though, something in her gut told her that this argument was different. Maybe she had lost him for good. They had argued before, but they’d never spoken of regretting their marriage.

Fastening her coat tightly around her, she made her way out into the bitter darkness. Before she had even stepped off the porch, she could tell that it was snowing, and that it was beginning to fall faster. Hoping that Neil was down by the river, she gingerly picked her way down the slope to the bank. She found him sitting on the bench that had been a wedding present from Jeb Spencer. The trees shielded her from his view, and she remained there for a few moments, trying to gather her courage.

“I know you’re there Christy, there’s no use in trying to hide in the woods.” As she walked towards him, he remained seated, facing the river. After many moments of uncomfortable silence, she decided to tell him. Taking a deep breath to keep her voice from faltering, she uttered two words that she knew would alter their lives forever.

“I’m pregnant.”

He jerked around to face her. “You’re what?” She couldn’t make out his expression in the darkness, but his voice revealed his shock.

“I’m sorry. I know that this isn’t the best timing, and heaven knows this isn’t how I imagined telling you.” Looking down at the ground, she continued to talk, not caring whether or not he was still listening. “This is probably one of the last things you wanted to hear, but I thought I should tell you, before I lost you for good.”

She had been staring at the ground so long that she had not noticed that he was standing directly in front of her. What he did next took her completely by surprise. In one swift moment, he slipped his arms about her waist and tugged her to him. Looking down into her blue eyes, the eyes that he felt like he could drown in, the eyes that were now brimming with tears, he felt the anger from earlier in the evening completely dissolve. Placing the back of his hand against the coolness of her cheek, he tipped her chin upward and kissed her with such a passion that even he was surprised.

Standing by the river, with the snow blowing around them, and tears flowing down his wife cheeks, Neil MacNeil realized how right she was and how wrong he’d been. When they’d married, he’d promised to have her for better or worse, richer or poorer, and never to take her for granted. He had taken her for granted. The warm cabin, hot meals, and clean clothes had all been accepted as a part of her role as his wife. Now, he realized that he hadn’t really treated her as a wife should be for the past couple of weeks. It nearly broke his heart to see her as upset as she was.

“Neil, I know this wasn’t what you wanted right now, but…”

“Lass, you couldn’t be more wrong. I couldn’t be happier! I don’t understand why you would think that I wouldn’t want a child, our child!” Fighting to contain his joy, he whispered “Christy, you have made me the happiest man in the world!”

Christy suddenly became aware of something besides the two of them. They were easily standing in two good inches of snow. Laughing softly, she broke the silence. “Neil, I think we should head inside unless we want to end up as snowmen.”

“Lass, for once I have to agree with you.” Taking her by surprise, he swung her up into his arms, leaving her in a fit of giggles. He carried his beautiful, infuriating bride up the hill towards the cabin. She snuggled into the hollow of his neck, and sighed contentedly. For a few moments she was back in his arms, and the world was perfect.

Once safely inside the cabin, he gingerly set he down so she could remove her coat. Placing a final kiss on his cheek, she turned and started towards the stairs. Before she could reach the rail though, he clasped her hand in his and tugged. She came towards him without any hesitations. Looking down at her, he saw that uncertainties and pain still lingered from their earlier argument.

“Christy, I am sorry for what I said earlier about you marrying Grantland. I didn’t mean it. You make me a better man. I love you, and I always will.”

The next morning when she awoke, he was still in bed beside her, which was a rare occurrence in their household. Propping herself up, she leaned over and kissed his nose. Shifting, he rolled to face her. “Good morning Neil.”

“Mmm, good morning lass.” And then as an afterthought “I’m going to be a father.” The words were nothing more than a soft murmur, but they brought a smile to her face. Pulling her towards him, he kissed her softly. “Lass, you have made me the happiest person on Earth.” Smiling one of his smiles that melted her heart in an instant, she knew that he meant it. Everything was going to be okay between them.