Jack Wright sighed as the bridal party glided down the aisle past where he sat with his mother and father. Nan made a stunning bride, her face aglow with happiness, her eyes shining with love, but Jack's gaze was drawn to the bridesmaid, Diana Blythe. She had been named after his mother, but she had the eyes, hair, colouring and stature of her mother. She was, he observed, quite beautiful.
Diana was oblivious to Jacks scrutiny, she was busy concentrating on not falling over in the ridiculously high uncomfortable shoes Nan insisted she wore.
The ceremony itself was all that it should have been, the love between Nan and Jerry was evident and would have brought tears to even those with the hardest of hearts. Diana had a soft heart, and her tears were flowing freely as the reception began. She hurried upstairs to compose herself but on the stairs bumped into Jack, literally.
"Sorry." she sobbed.
"Hey, it's okay. Why are you crying?" Jack soothed, handing over his handkerchief.
Diana sniffed, blew her nose and looked at him with bright red puffy eyes. "It was just so lovely...and sad and now Nan's... not a... Blythe any... more..." she wailed, running past Jack into her bedroom and firmly shutting the door behind her. Jack shrugged, he had no time for over emotional, highly strung females, no matter how pretty they were, although Diana had never struck him as that type before...
Jack wandered outside to where the celebrations were in full flow, with dancing and laughter and a delicious feast to behold. 'Too many people' he thought ruefully, finding a sheltered spot in the corner to sit and watch. Mum and dad were attempting to dance - he chuckled at this sight, mum would have sore feet tonight! - Rilla was obviously trying to find a comfortable position to sit in, without much luck - Uncle Gilbert was talking intently to some people, but Jack noticed how his gaze was always darting over to where Aunt Anne was sitting with Mrs Bryant and Susan.
Oh to have love like that...thought Jack sadly. He had thought he had once, with Janey Sloane, before the war. When he came home she had been so repulsed by him, his scars, she told him she couldn't marry him, and three months later she walked down the aisle with Barney Pye, who'd never even fought for his country. Still, it musn't have been the real thing, his mother had said, or no matter what he looked like she would have still cared, but even those words of wisdom were of precious little comfort.
Over at the far side of the garden Jack could see Jem and Shirley standing talking to, what he assumed to be Jem's wife, since she was holding his hand, Rilla's husband Ken, who he had met the previous night, and a shy looking, dark haired girl, whom he couldn't place at all. Really he should go over to them and be sociable, but he wasn't in the mood for company...The decision was taken out of his hands when the group approached him.
"Jack." Jem called, "Meet Faith, my wife." The pride in his voice was evident, and Jack could see why... "Ken, you've met," Jem continued, "and this is Faith's sister Una Meredith." Jack shook the hand that was offered to him, Una Meredith was not the beauty her sister was, but there was something intriguing in her eyes and smile.
"Where's Di at?" Shirley enquired, sauntering over, hands in his pockets.
"I saw her go upstairs earlier." Jack replied.
"Hmm. Wonder if she's okay. Nan getting married - they are twins after all. Must be tough for her." Shirley was surprisingly insightful when he wanted to be.
"Ask her." said Jem. "Here she comes now."
"Hello Diana." they all chorused. Diana's eyes were still a little bloodshot, but not so much that anyone other than Jack noticed. She looked at him, wondering if he'd told them that she'd been crying.
"Have you seen Nan?" Faith asked. "She and Jerry are about to leave."
"No. I must go and find her." Diana rushed off. Jem took Faith to meet Diana and Fred and Ken wandered off to find Rilla leaving Jack alone with Una.
"Are you visiting for long?" Una asked him after an awkward silence.
"No, we'll probably leave after tomorrow. The farm can't run itself." Jack replied. He was bored. How come he got stuck with this girl. She kept staring at him with those intense eyes. How could he escape without being too rude...Jack noticed Diana coming out of the door.
"Diana." He called. Diana turned her head at the sound of her name. "Excuse me a minute." Jack said to Una, walking over to where Diana stood. "I have to talk to Diana about something."
He practically broke into a run to get away.
"Jack." said Diana. "Whats wrong?"
"Nothing. Just wanted to check you were okay - after earlier."
"Oh that was just me being silly and sentimental. Don't worry, I'm not often given to bouts of it."
"Did Nan and Jerry get away alright?" Jack asked, desperate to maintain conversation so he wouldn't be accosted by Una, who was patiently waiting for him to return.
"Yes." Diana sighed. "And most of the guests seem to be leaving too. I suppose I should find mother and see if she needs help with the clearing up. You go back and talk to Una."
"Can't I come with you?" Jack asked, half pleadingly.
"Why?" Diana said, with a smile. "Do you not like her?"
"She seems like a very nice person." Jack the diplomat said. "It's just...she's...a little..." He paused, searching for the right word. Una was a good friend of the Blythes, he didn't want to insult her.
"I know what you mean." Diana said. "She used to moon something rotten over Walter. She thought we didn't notice, but she didn't hide it very well."
"What is it with you Blythes and Merediths? I suppose their brother, Carl is it?"
Diana nodded.
"I suppose he is after you?" said Jack, not knowing why that thought bothered him, but it did.
Diana laughed. "No, I think Carl has his eye on someone much prettier - Ken's sister Persis."
"I don't know her, but I'd hardly think she could be prettier than you!" Where did that come from...thought Jack.
Diana blushed, pleased with the unexpected compliment. "Come on," she said, "let's go see what we need to do."
They walked into the house followed in close attendance by Una.
"She's taken quite a shine to you." Diana whispered mischeviously, nodding over at Una, who was watching Jack from a distance.
"Too bad she's not my type." Jack said bluntly.
"Oh? You have a...type?" Diana asked. She had heard rumours of him being engaged before the war but nothing since.
"Not for a long time, but it never was, and never will be, the puppy dog type."
"Don't be cruel." Diana, sensitive as ever, rebuked.
"Sorry. Stop teasing then."
Later that night Jack lay in bed, unable to sleep. Since returning home from the war he had often found sleep eluded him, usually his mind was haunted by the horrors he had endured in the trenches and by succumbing to slumber the nightmare memories became more vivid - not tonight. Everytime he closed his eyes all he could picture was a vivacious red head, with bewitching green eyes and a smile that could melt his heart faster than the flames of the fire that had melted his flesh. Stop it! he chided himself. She's just Diana, Jem's little sister... Jack fell asleep eventually, dreaming of her. In the light of the morning he laughed to himself - foolish dreams meant nothing. The sooner he got back to Avonlea and reality the better!
