Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 653

If both those cameras come down, I'll be completely in the dark about Neil's situation. I'm getting anxious.

What if I just show up and ring the doorbell? What would Neil's reaction be if he saw me?

I'm itching to do it, the thought growing stronger by the minute. But then I remember why Neil's been avoiding me, and my heart sinks.

It would be incredibly disrespectful to his pride. He doesn't want me to see him at his lowest, yet here I am, considering barging in...

I eventually squash the idea. Maybe I should wait a bit longer.

Lost in thought, someone quietly approaches from behind, their footsteps so light I don’t hear them until they speak up, “You’re here.”

I jump, turning to find myself face-to-face with Russel Dawson, his arms laden with groceries, likely for dinner.

Returning to Eldoria under these circumstances and running into Russel wasn't what I expected. I muster a weak smile, asking, “Russel, did you know Neil is living right next to you?”

“I did,” Russel admits straightforwardly, glancing towards the neighboring house before suggesting, “Come over for dinner. We can talk.”

“Sure.” I nod, eager to learn what Russel knows.

Following Russel, we pass my old home. I pause, feeling Neil's presence so close, just on the other side of the door...

Of course, I don’t ring the bell. Instead, I follow Russel inside.

His place is spotless, the yard well-tended. Then, a familiar "meow" grabs my attention. Boomer, the cat, somehow back and playing around, acting as if it barely recognizes me. I crouch, coaxing it over with soft words until it approaches.

Holding Boomer in my arms, I ask Russel, “When did Boomer come back?”

“A friend dropped him off a couple of days ago,” Russel replies while sorting through the veggies, his voice warm.

I stand by the kitchen doorway, chatting casually with Russel until curiosity gets the better of me. “You asked me to come to Eldoria with you because you knew Neil was here, didn’t you?”

Russel pauses his chopping, giving me a resigned smile, “Yeah. But I promised him I wouldn’t tell you, so I had to invite you in a roundabout way.”

But her next words freeze my smile, “The chances are slim, though. It’s not just his physical condition; his morale is low. There’s only a 10% chance. He’s been giving up on himself. He hoped to return to you and the kids after the surgery, but a year has passed with no improvement…”

“So, he’s refusing medication and rehab?” I interrupt, desperate for details.

Surprised, she asks, “Ms. Finch, how did you know?”

A bit embarrassed, I explain, “This used to be my house. I had cameras installed and saw it happening. But now that Neil wants them down, I’ll be out of the loop. Could I perhaps get your contact? I need to stay updated on Neil’s condition.”

The housekeeper didn't hesitate to accept my ask. She quickly added me on WhatsApp and promised that she would notify me immediately if anything came up with Neil.

Just then, her phone started buzzing. It was Neil on the line, "Chelsea, you can head back and make sure Hiram gets some rest. Looks like I might be hanging at Russel's place tonight."

"Sure thing, Mr. Whitmore," Chelsea responded.

After hanging up, she shared with me that ever since Neil had moved in, he'd occasionally spend his evenings at Russel's. They'd stay up late into the night, just talking. It seemed like those long conversations were the only thing that truly gave him some peace of mind.