"You may now kiss the bride!"
Fred didn't need to be told twice, dipping Diana and kissing her quite thoroughly. Anne cupped her hands around her mouth and whooped, while Gilbert whistled like a construction worker at the pair; the audience followed suit, erupting in applause and cheers. When the newlyweds finally managed to separate, they turned to face the crowd triumphantly.
"We did it!" Diana shouted.
A second wave of congratulations rippled through the crowd.
"Everyone! Head to the reception around Green Gables in the front lawn! Take your chair with you unless you want to stand for a few hours!" Anne screamed across the restless crowd, her back bowed backwards. "There will be food and drinks and dancing! So get yourselves to the front so we can celebrate!"
Diana and Fred scurried down the aisle, and Gilbert felt Anne grab his arm as they ran towards the back porch.
"Oh, that was wonderful!" Anne sighed, turning towards Gilbert once they had entered the kitchen of Green Gables.
"It really was, wasn't it? Diana never looked so happy, and from what I could tell from the back of his head, Fred was alright with the situation," Gilbert replied, mockingly matching her enthusiasm.
She slapped him.
"Oh, Gil, you know Fred was ecstatic!"
"As he should be. Avonlea girls are something else," Gilbert said with an unconsciously pointed glance.
"Erm, yes, help me with these?" Anne deflected, pointing to a few boxes of extra cups.
"Shouldn't have said that," Gilbert thought, internally kicking himself.
Externally, he picked up two of the boxes and followed Anne to the front porch where the head table was.
"Anne and Di had done a fantastic job really," Gilbert thought to himself.
Green Gables's front lawn had been transformed into a flawless, DIY-rustic reception space. Mrs. Lynde had graciously donated several of the tables from her antique shop, while the two girl had scoured the neighbors' attics for the rest, resulting in a hodgepodge of mismatched tables. A sizable, empty space had been left in front of porch as a makeshift dance floor, and Gilbert felt his stomach touch his feet when he remembered his upcoming dance with Anne. The trees and porch railings had been wrapped with hundreds of stringed light bulbs, and sunflowers covered every spare surface. The falling sun emphasized every bit of the reception's beautiful planning, and Gilbert's faced must have shown some admiration because suddenly Anne spoke.
"Yeah…. We spent a lot of time on Pinterest."
Gilbert laughed and Anne's eyes shone and order was precariously restored.
"Let us take these boxes to their proper positions," Anne sniffed with her eyelids dropped and her nose upturned.
"Indubitably," answered Gil.
The two primly walked to the drink stations and shoved the extra cups under the gingham table covers. Gilbert was thankful for Anne's silliness; keeping the lightest possible mood would keep him from making a further idiot of himself. He and Anne marched together back to the head table where Diana and Fred were already seated.
And so the reception began.
After the dinner and speeches were over, Fred led Diana out to the clearing for their first dance as married couple. As the slow, charming music wafted over the scene, Gilbert turned to look at Anne. Legs folded under her and heels peeking from under the tablecloth, Anne leaned forward in her chair, cradling her head in her hands. Profiled by the dim candlelight and low wattage lightbulbs, her bittersweet smile drew Gilbert in. He knew things would never be the same between Diana and Anne, and he knew she knew that, even if she tried desperately to hide this truth. But now was not the time to ponder such things.
Gilbert stood. It was time.
"Anne?" Gilbert whispered. "You ready?"
Smiling softly, Anne took Gilbert's hand and stood. And fell right back down.
"Sorry, I was sitting on the legs. The legs have betrayed me," Anne joked.
"Excuses, excuses," Gilbert winked then yanked the girl upward and around the table.
Anne and Gilbert reached the floor, positioned themselves next to the married couple, and began to sway as rhythmically as their discomfort would allow.
"Well, here it is," Gilbert thought.
He was slow dancing with Anne Shirley at the wedding, and in three short minutes, he could cross off the last item on his "Weekend Anxiety" list.