Ch.4 Reunited

          "Diana!" Anne cried, rushing towards her bosom friend.  The raven-haired woman grinned in response and opened her arms to Anne.

          "Oh, I cannot tell you how wonderful it feels to have you in my arms," Anne sighed, hugging her friend tightly.  Diana choked back a sob.

          "I was always afraid for you."

          "Afraid for me?  Why, Diana Wright!  Afraid for a girl who walked a roof ridgepole?"  Anne smiled and slipped an arm around her friend's waist.  As he came up behind the women, Gilbert groaned.

          "Reminiscing already, I see."  Anne laughed and ignored her husband's teasing protests.  She sighed and absorbed her surroundings.  Her precious Prince Edward Island!  How she had missed it.  Look there, fresh green grass—none of the fried brown excuse for terrain that was left behind in France.  She began strolling towards the Wright's wagon when she heard an indignant cry of protest.  Anne's hand flew to her cheek in shame.

          "Oh, boys, I'm so sorry!"  Gilbert and Jack had been left at the pier, struggling to divide the luggage between the two of them.  Dominic sat quietly at his father's feet, watching with curiosity that appeared to border on amusement.  The two women hurried to help; Anne scooped up Dominic and placed him in Jack's good arm then followed by picking up two carpetbags.  Gilbert shook his head at Diana and lifted the remaining two bags.  As soon as the party had deposited the bags in the wagon, Anne turned to Diana.

          "Diana Wright, this is my good friend, Mr. Jack Garrison.  I'm sure Fred has told you of his son, Dominic."  A smile alighted Diana's genteel features.

          "Ah, yes, Dominic."  She tickled the young boy's cheek.

          "Jack Garrison, this is my bosom friend of childhood, Mrs. Fred Wright."

          "Please call me Diana," she offered.

          "Only if you call me Jack," Jack smiled flirtatiously.  Diana blushed pink and agreed.

          "Where is Fred, by the way?" Gilbert asked.

          "He's at home with the children.  Mercy's mother came down with something last week and Mercy left two days ago to assist her," Diana answered, speaking of their housekeeper.

          "Mercy?" Jack asked, cradling Dominic in his right arm.

          "Their housekeeper."

          "I must say, Mother was furious when she heard I had hired a woman to help me.  She demanded to know why she had kept me home and learnt me how to keep proper house instead of sending me to school.  As if it were my fault she wouldn't send me to Queen's!" Diana laughed.  Once, such a comment or outrage from her mother would have kept Diana sober for days.  Either Fred or the reality of war had lightened her.  "Of course mother had forgotten of Mrs. Miller, the woman who came over three times a week to help with laundry and meals."

          "Jack, you and Domi may sit up front.  Gil and I can sit in the back."

          "You sure you don't mind?" Diana asked, climbing onto the wagon bench.

          "Mind sitting with my husband?  I'll give it a whirl and tell you what I think," Anne teased as Gilbert eased himself beside his wife.  Diana smiled knowingly and clucked to the horse.  Anne kept a tense ear open for conversation between Diana and Jack.  But, of course, she had no need to fear.  Amiable Jack settled in quiet comfortably and kept Diana intrigued.  After a while, Anne settled back and chatted with Gilbert.

          "Glad to be home, Anne-girl?" Gil asked, squeezing Anne's hand.  Anne sighed in response and kept her eyes on the countryside.

          "I'm gladder that you are home with me."  The two settled in for a long ride, each content in the silent company of the other.