Entering The Brave New World (Standard Disclaimers Apply)

The tea shop at Bright River was yet another new experience and as they ordered Anne found herself once again saddened by how little cheer Katherine had known in her life so far. Whilst they waited for their tea and sandwiches, Katherine was keenly looking around her, taking the whole place in. Anne didn't need telling that Miss Brooke had never been to a tea shop before. It put her in mind of her own first visit and she decided to share the story.

"You know Katherine, I've always liked it here, ever since the first time I visited. It was the summer after Minnie Mae Barry had that dose of croup, the Barry's brought Diana and I here as an end of term treat. We had a high old time that day (though I don't know whether Mrs Wright has eaten gooseberry pie since after the heartburn it gave her)!"

Katherine smiled: "You love the Barry's dearly, don't you Anne?"

Anne beamed and nodded: "Yes, I do. They've been like a second family to me."

Katherine sighed slightly: "They are very nice; and I very much enjoyed dancing with Diana's husband. He is quite the gentleman."

"Well now, I'm not quite sure what Fred would make of being called that!" Anne laughed. "Though he is very nice and he has made Diana very happy, for which I shall always be grateful."

Here they were interrupted by the arrival of their order, and ate for a while in silence, before Anne spoke up again: ""Milk or lemon?" Anne asked pouring Katherine a cup of tea.

"Milk please." Katherine replied. "You were right Anne, Bright River is lovely. Such a busy place. I must admit though, it seems strange for none of the signs to have the name Pringle on them!"

"Yes it does." Anne giggled. "Are you happy with your paints, Katherine?"

Katherine's face lit up: "Yes thank you. They are just right."

Anne smiled approvingly: "Good, then I'll look forward to seeing what you make of that view you had in mind. It's a very nice one; although you must come and visit us in the winter. Everything looks very different covered in snow."

"I'd like that Anne, very much; if Miss Cuthbert will let me."

Try as she might, Anne just couldn't hold back a gale of laughter: "Let you! Marilla would scold me from here all the way back to Kingsport if I didn't have you visit us for Christmas!"

By now Katherine was giggling gently: "Thank you, I'd love that!" Here she poured them both some more tea and became more serious again: "Before you say it Anne, I know there is no rush, but I think I should start looking for somewhere to board. I want to start finding my own life."

Somewhat surprised by this, Anne set down her tea cup a little unsteadily: "Of course Katherine, you must do what you think best, but please don't think we want you to leave. If my engagement…"

Katherine shook her head: "No, no, it's not that;" (even though it was just a little), "I need to start learning how to be KIB again."

"KIB?" Anne was confused.

Her companion soon explained: "KIB, from my initials, Katherine Isabelle Brooke. Once, when I was about nine years old, I stayed with a married distant cousin of my father. I must have been there 6 months I suppose. They were very kind, and KIB was their nickname for me. But then my father's cousin died in childbirth and I had to move on."

"Oh Katherine, I'm sorry." Anne said quietly, know that the barriers would probably go back up if she showed more overt sympathy, and not wanting to pry.

Katherine looked up from where her gaze had been fixed on tablecloth. Her eyes were slightly damp but Anne diplomatically pretended not to notice that as her friend carried on speaking with a slightly forced cheerfulness: "Anyway, I thought having seen the place, I might try here, in Bright River. It's close enough for us to visit, but far enough for me to learn to stand on my own two feet. What do you think Anne?"

A somewhat stunned Miss Shirley took a couple of seconds to phrase her answer carefully: "I think that if that is what you want, it'll take a bit of planning, but it's a very good idea." she said.

"Then you will help?" Katherine asked, still slightly surprised that Anne was willing to be so charitable, given their history.

"Yes, of course. Though, to be honest, Mrs. Lynde may be more use to you. She's bound to know of somebody out this way who'd be willing to take in a 'respectable boarder'. And I ask you, who could be more respectable than an ex 'Schoolmarm'!"

This caused a good deal of giggling but eventually the pair finished their meal, argued gently over the bill, which Katherine insisted on paying, and made their way back to the buggy.

Taking their usual seats at the quilting bee, the late arrival of Marilla and Rachel caused something of a stir. With the Minister's wife in the circle to however, nobody dared question them directly about it. Neither Rachel nor Marilla could have expected to get away with having a mystery entirely though, so Marilla was anything but surprised when Mrs Pye made a 'polite' enquiry.

"Why Marilla, I was sure you would leave our little 'circle' now; what with Anne having no real family to help her sew her trousseau and all."

Rachel gasped in horror, and a few of the other women turned pale, but they all knew that Marilla was more than capable of seeing off a Pye 'pleasantry'. Miss Cuthbert drew herself up to her full height and with a fixed smile on her face replied: "The wedding is a long way off yet Harriet. Gilbert must finish medical school. There will be more than enough time for doilies and things come winter. Anne is a capable seamstress and has plenty of friends to help her. If your young Josie ever marries, you will have a much harder time with the preparations what with her having just family and so many of them being scattered and all."

Routed and indignant Harriet Pye left the gathering as soon as breeding would allow, 'an awful headache' being her excuse and everyone else bit back their smiles with some difficulty.

Gilbert Blythe arrived back from Charlottetown looking mighty pleased with himself. John Blythe noticed this but try as he could get no more out of his only son than that he had been for a cycle ride. The older man let the subject drop but disappeared upstairs until supper, leaving Gilbert to chat to his mother as she stood on the porch.

"Mr. Gillis was asking me today if you'd be selling Lancelot, what with you being away at school. He wants to teach his youngest boy to ride."

It was on Gil's lips to refuse outright, for he was fond of his horse, but then he had an idea: "Well, I'll not sell Lancelot (how would I get to ride out when I come home?), but I might be willing to rent him out, in term time."

Mrs Blythe looked a little surprised: "That could work I suppose. Mr Gillis said he'd see you after church on Sunday."

"Alright, thanks."

"Are you going over to Green Gables today?"

"I am, but not until after supper; Anne has taken Miss Brooke to Bright River for the day." Gilbert answered cheerfully.

"Well, when you do, please invite Miss Cuthbert to supper next Wednesday if she can make it. She and I have barely had the chance to talk since the engagement what with all the comings and goings."

"I'll be sure to ask, mother;" Gilbert smiled, "but don't look so tense, Miss Cuthbert is really quite nice once you get to know her!"

Mrs Blythe looked far from certain: "I don't know Gil, she's always so sharp with both eyes & tongue, & I'd swear she's never completely forgiven me for marrying your father when she was sweet on him!"

Gil turned away to hide a grin. In the back of his mind he conceded that his mother may well have a point there, but he certainly wasn't about to tell her that: "Well, why don't you start doing something practical about it, like, oh I don't know, planning the menu?"

Without another word Mrs. Blythe pounced on her cookery books & Gilbert sighed as he went upstairs to get ready for supper & warn his father of his mother's plans. Something told him it was going to be a long time between now & next Wednesday evening!

Marilla busied herself in the kitchen as she heard Anne & Katherine return, mostly to save herself from giving the surprise away. She need not have worried though, for Rachel was there to quiz Anne & Katherine about their day. Soon the front parlour table was covered in brown paper packaging & string & Mrs. Lynde was thoroughly enjoying criticising Anne's purchases (she would never have been so impolite as to comment, verbally at least, on a visitor's tastes), & quizzing them about exactly who they had met etc :"So Johanna Slone is in town is she? We haven't seen her in these parts since she moved to Toronto 3 winters ago to marry that store-keeper of hers. Too good for small, provincial Avonlea after living in the big city I suppose! I wondered what became of her!"

"Well, it's Johanna Marshall now Rachel, and as to what became of her, well you can decide that for yourself at church on Sunday." Anne smiled, knowing full well that Mrs Lynde would do just exactly that.

If Rachel had been about to retort she was stopped from doing so by Katherine's rising from the table. "Excuse me; I'll just go and give Marilla her Lavender water while I think of it. Mrs Lynde, can I get you anything as I'm up?"

"Yes please Katherine; could you get the afghan from the chair in my room? There's a chill these nights."

"Of course."

Having fetched Rachel's rug, Katherine hovered a little nervously by the kitchen door reluctant to start a conversation; some habits were going to take a while to break. Not wanting to startle Marilla whilst the older woman was carrying a newly boiled kettle Katherine eventually opted for a tap on the doorframe. Marilla set the kettle down & turned to her houseguest with a smile.

"Hello Katherine. Would you like some tea?" she asked.

"Yes please Miss Cuthbert. I have your Lavender water & your change here for you."

"Thank you. Leave them on the counter top for me please. Did you enjoy Bright River?"

"Oh yes! It'll be a lovely place to live."

Marilla was more than a little surprised: "So, our little Island has caught your heart, has it Katherine?"

"Yes, I suppose it has." Katherine replied thoughtfully. "Enough for me to want to stay awhile anyway. I was hoping you or Mrs Lynde might know of a boarding house in Bright River?"

"Well now, we'll see what we can do." Here Marilla looked out of the window & saw Gilbert Blythe heading up the road. "Anne! Gilbert's here!"

Again to Marilla's surprise, it was Rachel who answered: "She was watching from the window & out before he reached the fence post Marilla. I'm sure it can't be right to seem so keen!"

By now Marilla was carrying the tea tray into the parlour followed by Katherine: "Leave them be Rachel. They've waited longer than enough to be happy." Here her tone turned from gentle reproach to enthusiasm: "Besides, it turns out we have a lot more to discuss with Miss Brooke than we thought!"

Both Katherine's & Rachel's curiosity was piqued by the statement & Anne's seeming lack of propriety was forgotten.

Gilbert saw Anne coming & hurried to greet her, lifting her off her feet & spinning her around as he did so. Before she could even cry out with surprise Anne found herself being very thoroughly kissed. "I take it that means you missed me?" she asked breathlessly as Gil set her back on the ground.

"Horribly!" Gil nodded laughing. "But tell me Anne-girl, did you & Katherine have a good time in Bright River?"

"Well apart from missing you like mad to, I had a fine time, & as for Katherine, she likes Bright River so much she wants to move there!"

"No!" Gil exclaimed as he gestured for Anne to sit beside him on 'their' tree stump. "This is a tale I have to hear!" He then listened as intently as ever as Anne told her tale waiting until she was done to comment. "Well who'd have thought it?" he said shaking his head slightly in disbelief.

"Not me, that's for sure!" Agreed Anne. "I'll tell you Gil, you could have knocked me over with a feather when she asked about boarding houses!"

"Oh I don't know about that Anne Shirley, seems to me it took quite a bit more than a feather to finally sweep you off your feet!"

The arrival of a third voice at first startled them, then had them both jumping to their feet in delight: "Miss Stacey! Whatever are you doing here?! I thought you were in Boston!" cried Anne joyfully hugging her old teacher tightly.

"Well I was, but then I got an urgent cable from Diana telling me that my two star pupils had finally come to their senses, done the decent thing & fallen in love. So the first blessed minute I could I booked a train ticket & scurried back here to see the miracle for myself!"

Soon the relative peace of Green Gables parlour was shattered by the arrival of Anne's surprise visitor. Marilla and Rachel were quite as stunned and delighted as the young lovers, and if Katherine was a little uncomfortable at first, once she saw that any of the slights of the past had been forgiven and forgotten, she too relaxed. Over tea and plum puffs, Muriel Stacey explained what had happened again, adding gleefully that she would be staying with Diana and Fred during her visit. "Ooh! Diana will pay for this!" Anne cried in mock outrage.

Gilbert couldn't help but laughing at this: "Easy Anne-girl! After all, with what you did to her at the bonfire, I'd say 'turnabout's fair play'!"

"Gilbert has a point Anne." Marilla agreed with a wry smile.

"Alright, so now we're even." Anne admitted.

"How long will you be in Avonlea Miss Stacey?" Rachel asked, wanting as always to have all the facts.

"Oh two weeks, possibly three. It depends on whether I'm needed to help set up for the new term at KLC. The board have asked, because of my teaching experience, that I take over as Headmistress until the post can be filled permanently."

Here Katherine reddened: "I'm sorry Miss Stacey; whatever my own feelings, I should never have left the school 'high and dry' as I did."

"Please Miss Brooke don't trouble yourself." Muriel smiled. "In fact, I'm quite looking forward to 'returning to the fray'."

Out of the corner of his eye, Gilbert saw Katherine's barely repressed shudder at these words and decided that now was as good a time as any to change the subject. "Oh, by the way Miss Cuthbert, my mother was wondering if you would join my parents for supper on Wednesday evening? I know she's keen to talk over a few things with you."

Marilla was surprised by this but only someone who'd known her as well as Rachel or Anne had would have been able to tell. "That's very kind of your mother Gilbert. You may tell her that I accept gladly. Oh, and have her send word by yourself or Anne if she would like me to bring anything."

"I will. I know she will be very pleased to see you." Gilbert assured her.

During this conversation Anne had been discreetly watching Rachel and now couldn't decide whether Mrs Lynde was bristling more from indignation at not having been invited or from curiosity as to what would be said over dessert. Anne understood however; there were still some things it was Marilla's place alone to do and this was one of them. Rachel would realise that to, once she got over feeling slighted, though she would doubtless huff and puff a good deal in private first!

News of Miss Stacey's arrival spread very quickly and started a flutter of gossip in Avonlea. For the most part Avonlea's residents were merely pleased to see an old friend, but there were a few people (namely those who had the merest drop of Pye blood in their veins), who were less than kind amongst themselves. "Well, I always knew Miss Muriel Stacey had her favourites. You could see that the minute she picked her Queen's class; I mean you can't blame her for wanting to help a poor orphan, but still! After all, she was nowhere to be seen for Alice's wedding or even the Wright's wedding, but Anne Shirley only has to get engaged & she drops everything!"

Word of this cruel talk got back to Anne (as of course it was meant to), but she tried not to let it get to her. She and Miss Stacey talked it over a couple of days later on an evening stroll by the Lake of Shining Waters. "Why do you think some people react so badly to such good news Miss Stacey?" Anne asked.

"I wish I knew Anne, maybe it takes longer to 'chew over' that way?" Miss Stacey suggested.

"Hmm maybe; if poor Mrs Harris was still alive she'd have a colourful answer for me!" The younger woman sighed.

"She would indeed!" Miss Stacey giggled. "Oh, that reminds me I got a note from Emmeline this morning."

Anne's face lit up: "You did! How is she?!"

"She's fine, in fact, reading between the lines, I'd say she's really starting to blossom. She was full of news about visiting her Aunt Pauline. She's so much more confident now."

"It's great to see. Katherine's changing to; actually, I want your opinion on something there…" The rest of their walk was spent discussing the 'something'.

Katherine sat at her bedroom window & carefully opened her paints. She had deliberately waited until she was alone at Green Gables, for some reason she was more than a little nervous about this. Maybe it was purely because she was not yet used to doing things simply because she wanted to do so. Anne was over at the Wright's, Rachel had gone to call on Johanna Slone & Marilla was out in the back field inspecting the fence. So KIB had complete privacy as she put guide pencil to paper. As she drew the first few lines she half expected someone to come in & tell her that she couldn't draw a straight line if she tried, but of course no-one did. Soon however the pencil had taken on a life of it's own & she had let go of her nerves & she lost herself in her work.

Gilbert put the finishing touches to his first crossword & smiled to himself, a satisfied man. He looked at his watch & realised that if he hurried he would just make the post office before it closed. At least he would make his first deadline for sure; he might even be able to start the second puzzle early! Hurrying downstairs & grabbing his jacket, he quickly got his bike out, acknowledged the call from his mother that she needed him to get her some flour for yet new another recipe she was trying out (His father's jackets had had to be let out once already!) & set out at top speed. He saw Mr. Gillis on the road & agreed to stop by the Gillis barn on the way home to talk about Lancelot. Mr Gillis looked puzzled but agreed.

Anne meanwhile, sat on the Wright's back porch chewing her pencil & trying to compose her next paragraph. She often chose to write while baby –sitting baby Fred. It was something she could do without fear of waking the sleeping child & imagining him reading her stories when he was older helped her to construct her sentences. It also let Diana catch up on her cleaning, baking etc. Diana was baking now, & the smell of meat pie was beginning to drift through the open kitchen window, making Anne glad she was staying to supper. Also taking some of the weight off the new mother's shoulders, Miss Stacey was doing a few little sewing jobs on the other end of the porch. She would be heading back to Kingsport in a few days, but hopefully she & Anne would have Katherine on board with their 'little plan'. She hoped so, she had a feeling it would be good for both younger women.

Realising that luck was with him today, Gil ate quickly & not wanting to get in his mother's way in the kitchen, he retreated to his new 'puzzling place', the old apple barn. From there he could see Anne on the way back from Orchard Slope & walk her the rest of the way home. They wouldn't see each other the next day, he'd miss Anne a lot of course, but helping Charlie Sloane to choose a car would be fun!

Marilla looked anxiously at her best dress, she hadn't worn it in longer than she cared to think about & though that wouldn't usually have worried about it the last thing she wanted to do was let Anne down at dinner tomorrow night. Perhaps if she made a few small changes? New collar, cuffs & buttons, yes she could manage that! More upbeat now, she went to find her sewing basket. She would sit on the front porch for the best light; it shouldn't be a big job, not too much of a strain on her eyes. She had the pearl buttons from her old spring blouse; some of the cream blouse material would make a nice contrast to her dark blue dress, yes that would do well. And she thought with a chuckle, that she'd wear her amethyst brooch on her shawl just to make Anne smile.

Katherine saw Miss Stacey coming up the lane towards Green Gables & her heart flipped over. She was still alone & she hadn't been alone with Muriel Stacey since that awful business over KLC! Oh, if only someone would come home, even Mrs Lynde! But no rescue was in sight & Miss Stacey had her hand on the gate post! At first Katherine considered not answering the door, but that would not only be childish, it would be shameful to the hosts she was growing so fond of, the door must be answered. Stealing herself as she had before so many classes, she opened the door. "Miss Stacey, hello."

"Hello Katherine, how are you today?" Miss Stacey smiled.

"Hello Miss Stacey, I'm fine, you saw Miss Cuthbert on the back porch, but I'm afraid I'm alone just now."

"That's fine Katherine; as a matter of fact it's you I came to see. May I come in please?"

By now, Katherine was so stunned she momentarily forgot her manners: "What? Why? Oh, of course, come through." She said, biting down a surge of panic.

"A motor car?! Gil, why on EARTH would Charlie Sloane want a motor car?! How can he afford it?!" Anne couldn't have been more surprised if Gil had said Charlie was buying a dragon.

Gil chuckled: "Well, he's got himself a job in an engineering firm in Halifax, so he's using the money his grandmother left to buy a car to get him there and back at weekends." He explained.

"Well, it sounds like a good idea, I suppose, IF it's safe. You will be careful riding in one, won't you darling?" Anne said doubtfully.

"Of course Anne, but it's safe, I promise." He pacified her with a kiss on the head and an apple.

"And you won't be late for dinner?"

"I wouldn't dare!" Gil said honestly.

"Very sensible. Is that why you're hiding in the apple barn so much lately?" his fiancée teased.

Feeling as though he'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Gil squirmed: "I'm not hiding Sweetheart, just planning our future in peace & quiet."

Anne looked askance at Gil, unconvinced, but allowed thoughts of their future to take first place in her mind, for now.

"Oh, our future, hmm? I have a few ideas on that to but you go first." She chuckled.

"Well, I suppose the first thing will be getting Green Gables sorted out so that there's still enough room for us, Marilla & Rachel." Gil said thoughtfully.

Anne slumped down on a nearby hay-bail frowning as she did so: "I didn't think of that! 1 thing I do know though, however awkward it is, I could never sleep anywhere but my gable room."

"I wouldn't dream of asking you to; don't worry darling, we'll have time to think of something."

Gil said hoping he was right & moving to stand behind Anne with his hands on her shoulders. They stayed that way for a while, silently being together. Suddenly Anne decided to let Gil in on hers & Miss Stacey's plan, but not without first swearing him to absolute secrecy. Gil listened carefully to the idea, shaking his head in amazement every now & them.

"Well, when Katherine agrees, it'll be a superb idea!" was his verdict.

"When? Don't you mean if Katherine agrees? Hopefully Miss Stacey's talking to her as we speak." Anne said, looking doubtfully up at Gilbert.

"No, I mean when, everyone knows you & Muriel Stacey together are unstoppable when you get going!"

With that, Gil offered her his hand to help her up, & he & Anne went over to the Blythe Farm to await further word of the plan.

Katherine Brooke looked at Muriel Stacey in complete & total shock: "Me? Are you quite sure?!" she asked shakily.

"Absolutely certain of it;" Miss Stacey beamed, "Anne told me she knew the blessed minute she saw your work. You know Anne once she gets an idea in her head nothing will shift it."

Katherine stood up & walked over to the parlour window, deep in thought: "One question; why didn't Anne ask me herself?" she asked.

"She didn't want you to feel obliged to yes just because you are staying here at the moment." Miss Stacey answered honestly. "She's over at Gilbert's house just now."

"It would be happening anyway?" Katherine queried.

"Certainly. Anne wants to buy herself some time to work on her next book; this was the only way she could get her publisher to agree."

"How many illustrations would be needed for the second edition?" Katherine was clearly interested.

"That would be between you, Anne & the publisher." Miss Stacey said carefully.

Miss Stacey saw Miss Brooke's shoulders had tightened & her heart went over in her chest. Miss Brooke turned around, her old stern look having returned:

"Miss Stacey, would you please let Miss Cuthbert know that I have gone to the Blythe Farm?" she asked stiffly before hurrying out of the back door.

"Of course Katherine." Miss Stacey sighed, hoping the plan wasn't headed for total disaster.

The kitchen of the Blythe Farm was a whirlwind of activity & delicious smells filled the whole farmhouse. Anne's offer to help Mrs Blythe having been politely but quickly declined, Anne sat in the parlour talking to Gil & Mr. Blythe. John Blythe was a clever, quick-witted, man who spent a lot of the little spare time the farm left him reading. Anne liked him & he liked her (now that he was over his fear that 'the apple doesn't fall from the tree' & discovered that there were both similarities between her & Marilla). This particular evening the conversation had turned to a city they had all visited, Boston. Anne had been 'down there' during her time at KLC & the Blythe had lived there for quite a while whilst Mr Blythe was being treated for a serious illness, not long before & Anne & Gil had met. As ever when the subject of Mr Blythe's illness came up, Anne listened very carefully. She wasn't sure it was a 'proper' way to react but Anne always loved hearing about how that time had shaped Gilbert & his determination to be a doctor. At first she'd got the feeling that the stories had been 'edited' for a lady's ears, but these days Gil knew better than to do that & Mr Blythe was a lot more relaxed with her inquisitive outlook on life. On this occasion, Gil was telling the tale of the time he'd got lost in the hospital & somehow found his way to the medical library: "I was only discovered in my corner because the book I tried to get off the shelf was so heavy I dropped it. Come to think of it, I was really lucky it didn't land on my foot; crutches would have been the last thing I needed!" he chuckled.

"Your poor mother must have out of her mind with worry!" Anne chided.

Gil shook his head: "Actually no, at least not at first; she'd sent to the pharmacy to get father's medicine so she didn't miss me for about an hour. I was on the way back when I took a wrong turning. I suppose I just saw all those books & lost track of time. The long words fascinated me to; I couldn't understand how words could be that long!"

Here John Blythe took up the story: "Meanwhile, Gilbert's mother noticed he'd been gone too long & I was almost due for my medicine. She retraced his steps to the pharmacy, found out he'd been & gone, tried the shop & the chapel, but there was no sign of him. As you can imagine, she was frantic. Anyway, to cut a long story very short, we were lucky it was Dr Blair who found Gilbert & brought him back. My medicine was a little late but I was fine."

By this point Gil was looking grim. It was obvious that he still felt bad about the whole thing. Anne looked a little nervous but put a hand over his. This seemed to encourage him to finish his story: "As punishment my mother made me learn to spell 10 of those fascinating words every day for a week, Dr Blair requested that I write definitions for him to use in his lectures (for scaring my mother), & the rest, as they say, is history."

Anne was about to reply when Mrs Blythe appeared in the doorway, looking more than a little perplexed:

"Anne my dear, Miss Brooke is here to see you. I asked her in of course, but she said she'd rather wait outside."

Anne's heart dropped. She feared this was going to be another spat with Katherine & she didn't have the energy for that.

"I'd better walk her home Gil." She said turning to her fiancé with some trepidation.

Gil squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Ok I'll be over tomorrow evening at 7 with the buggy to bring you for dinner, alright?"

"Alright; if I still have my head on my shoulders!" she giggled nervously, settling her shawl, saying hurried goodbyes & heading out the door.

Katherine was standing with her back to the house, her posture reminded Anne of 'the bad old days' & she bit back a sigh & spoke up: "Katherine?"

When Miss Brooke turned around Anne's heart sank again. The bespectacled lady was all Brooke, there wasn't a trace of KIB in her eyes: "Miss Shirley. Miss Stacey came to see me this evening. She told me about your business proposal. I have just one question for now; am I REALLY still so frightening that you couldn't talk to me yourself?"

Anne formulated her answer VERY carefully: "Well, I didn't want you to feel obliged to say yes just because you're staying with us for now, & if I can be frank, I've only met KIB a few times still & I wasn't totally sure if she'd stay around." She waited.

Katherine stood there for a few seconds, taking the reply in & then said: "KIB is getting stronger though? I'm trying really hard, you know."

Anne's heart softened a little & she felt just a little guilty: "I know Katherine, believe me & it's working. I do need an illustrator, the publisher told me so when I was in Kingsport; this isn't charity, I'll show the letter if you like. I need an illustrator & you're a talented artist; it's as simple as that."

KIB made a tentative appearance: "I wouldn't have to go back to Kingsport, would I? I'm not ready for that yet." She shivered.

Anne shook her auburn head: "No, at least not yet. Our first project would be a second edition of my Avonlea book."

"In that case, arrange a meeting with the publisher & see what they have to say." KIB smiled.

Anne smiled with relief, shook hands on the deal & they headed back to Green Gables to inform an anxious Miss Stacey of the decision.

The next morning Anne woke with a start. The first thing she felt was a nervous flutter in her tummy; today was the day of the engagement dinner. It just HAD to go well! Anything else would be too awful! Knowing that she had no hope of more sleep, she got up, washed her hair & sitting by the fire to help to help it dry she began to write. Now that she had another deal to fulfil, she knew she would need to write whenever the muse was with her. Besides the escape of writing had always been calming to her. She couldn't help but chuckle to help to herself as she decided to change the name of Kingsport to Queen Mary's Quay! She'd been writing for about 45 minutes when she heard someone up & about. Packing away her things, she went to put the kettle on. Just as she did so, Mrs Lynde came in: "Good morning Anne. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes thank you Rachel, did you?" Anne asked setting out the breakfast things.

"I did." Mrs Lynde said, sounding a little surprised by this as always: "I was tired from such a busy day yesterday I think. I wrote several letters on Katherine's behalf & posted them. I think either Mrs Hester King or Mrs Amelia Lawson may be able to help her."

Anne nodded: "Either of those would be ideal, I think. I haven't met Mrs King but Mrs Lawson is very nice."

"As you say." Rachel agreed. "Oh good morning Marilla, Katherine."

The 2 women greeted both Anne & Rachel & all 4 sat down to breakfast.

Katherine looked up from her porridge: "Anne, I realised something silly last night; there's no point whatsoever in my trying to illustrate a book I've never even read! Do you have a copy I could borrow?"

Anne giggled: "Of course, I should have thought of that! I'll get you 1 in a minute. Marilla, is there anything you need me to do today?"

Miss Cuthbert thought for a second: "Nothing unusual, no. Today's no day to worry about that paddock fence." She smiled at Anne, her thoughts clearly on that evening.

Rachel sniffed pointedly. KIB picked up on this & spoke up:

"Mrs Lynde? I thought this evening you might be kind enough to show me how to make that fine meat pie of yours? I'll need to know how to cook a few things if I'm to fend for myself."

Rachel smiled: "Thank you Katherine, I'd be happy to help. May we use the kitchen please, Marilla? My small stove will never do for a demonstration."

Only Anne saw Rachel cast a glance heavenward but she could hardly refuse in the circumstances: "Of course Rachel, you know where everything is & goes, don't you?"

"Of course." Said Rachel, with just the merest hint of both slight & triumph in her voice. "Your kitchen will be found just as you left it Marilla, never fear."

By now both Anne & Marilla were now busily clearing the table & avoiding all eyes. After that Anne got KIB her book & they both went out onto the front porch, Anne to write & KIB to read.

In the late afternoon Anne look at the 2 outfits laid out on her bed & sighed dramatically. Whichever should she wear?! She SO wanted to make the right impression on Mrs Blythe! Martha Blythe was known to be a quiet, shy woman & as yet her daughter-in-law to be didn't know her very well. That was 1 of the reasons Anne wanted her choice of clothes to be right, she didn't want to seem above herself, but nor did she want anyone to think that tonight didn't matter to her. Once again she studied her options carefully. They were the skirt and blouse she liked but had been worn so often that they must now unmistakably be called 'everyday' or the dress she'd bought the last time she'd been in Charlottetown. To be sure the dress had been more expensive than was entirely wise, but it was such a pretty shade of blue that she'd been unable to resist. In the end, the fact that Gil hadn't seen the dress yet decided the matter & she began to get dressed.

Gil sat in his room, working to stay ahead of the game on his crossword job & if he was honest, staying out of his mother's way. Poor Mrs Blythe was beside herself with worry that everything should be perfect for this evening. The house had been cleaned from attic to cellar, what baking there was to be done was well underway & she had even made his father paint the picket fence yesterday! When this was over tomorrow, Gilbert would buy her some chocolates as a thank you. (Mrs Blythe had a particular weakness for chocolate but rarely allowed herself any). Gil appreciated her efforts, really, but he also knew that his mother's opinion of Marilla Cuthbert coloured by past events & was a little harsh. He knew that (these days at least), Anne's foster-mother could be good company once she relaxed. He would try his very best to relax her on the way over, he decided. That would hopefully make things a bit easier on everyone. Just then he noticed the clock on his bedroom wall & packing his things away quickly, he headed downstairs to get the buggy out & make his way over to Green Gables.

It was Anne who saw Marilla first as she came down the stairs & she gasped: "Oh Marilla, you look perfectly elegant! And your amysthest brooch to!"

"Well now child, I don't about know your 'elegant', but you look mighty smart yourself & as for the brooch I just thought I'd better wear it rather than risk having stolen whilst we are out!"

Both women chuckled at the memory that brought back.

Just then Rachel put her head around her bedroom door: "Gilbert has just come around the corner of the lane. Have a nice time."

"We will, thank you Rachel. Everything yourself & Katherine might need is laid out for you in the kitchen. We'll see you for sure in the morning. Come along Anne."

"Ready Marilla; good night Rachel, Katherine."

With that, they were gone.

Gilbert greeted both women with a dazzling but genuine smile: "Good evening ladies!" he called, touching his cap to Marilla & jumping down from the buggy to assist them inside.

"Hello Gilbert. How are you today? I see you survived your 'adventure' with a motor car. Yes, Anne told me all about it." Marilla smiled, making it clear that she was unsure of the wisdom of such machines.

"I'm fine thank you Miss Cuthbert. Hello Anne."

"Gil." Anne smiled prettily, accepting his hand & being helped in to the buggy beside Marilla. "Did Charlie choose his motor car then?"

"Yes he did & he's mighty pleased with it. He'll have to wait until next month to get it though & then he goes to Toronto to collect it. It's a fine thing but I'm not sure it's worth all this trouble to get. I'm happy with the buggy, my bicycle & Lancelot. The telephone we saw, now that's another matter…" Most of the rest of the journey to the Blythe farm was taken up with his explanation.

Anne, as ever when Gil spoke listened intently. She'd always done that whether she liked what she was hearing or not & as ever when Gil finished speaking, it was to Anne he turned to first for a reaction:

"What do you say Anne; do you think telephones will catch on?"

"Well, maybe not for every day; but I can see how they would be useful for a doctor or even a minister say. If for instance Lawson's & Doc Blair had one, folks could get help a lot faster when they needed it."

"Oh Anne, poor Alice would never know a minute's peace, bells going off everywhere; the very thought!" Marilla shuddered.

"I am quite sure Alice wouldn't mind if it saved a life Marilla; think of the use one would have been to me when Minnie-Mae Barry took for the croup!"

Marilla sighed:

"I'll grant you that Anne, but remember it when you are the Drs wife with a constant headache!"

Gilbert looked back at these words & all three shared a smile.

Soon the Blythe's farmhouse came into view, & though none of them would ever openly admit it, 3 hearts picked up their pace a notch & 3 stomachs flipped. They were all nervous FOR each other; each wanting things to go perfectly for the other two's sake. Marilla was wishing with all her heart that Mathew's calm, steadying presence was beside her, Anne was wishing she had asked Diana to join them (Mrs Barry & Mrs Blythe where distant cousins through their mothers, & got along just famously; as a result Diana had spent almost as much time there over the years as Anne was now), & Gil, well Gil was trembling with excitement at the thought of introducing Anne as his fiancée, a thrill he had been saving for this particular moment Gilbert slowed Lancelot & the buggy as his parents came to the gate to greet their esteemed guest (Anne Shirley they already regarded as family).

Gilbert bit back a smile as he saw Jerry Blunt waiting at the side of the house to see to Lancelot & the buggy for him. Oh this really was the full 'red carpet' treatment! Still, both Anne & Marilla deserved it. He & Anne shared a smile as he helped her down from the buggy. He could tell from the twinkle in her eyes & the slight squeeze of his hand that she had seen it to. Anne nodded slightly & stepped back a little.

Grinning now, Gilbert offered Marilla his arm: "Miss Cuthbert?"

"Gilbert." Marilla thanked him with a genuine but still tense smile as she looped her arm through his.

He stepped the merest fraction closer hoping to reassure her as his mother opened the gate:

"Miss Cuthbert! Welcome to Blythe Farm!"

Martha Blythe looked as though she would have loved to bustle her guest inside but this was one of those times when due formalities must be observed. According Gil released Marilla's arm as he said:

"Miss Cuthbert, you remember my father John & my mother Martha; Mother, Father, may I introduce Miss Marilla Cuthbert? Of course you know my fiancée, Anne."

Gil's smile could have lit up the ballroom of the White Sands Hotel as he watched realisation dawn & colour rise in Anne's cheeks.

"Mrs Blythe, Mr Blythe; thank you for inviting us." Marilla replied in what only Anne could tell was a nervous tone.

Here John Blythe stepped forward & both Anne & Gilbert held their breath:

"Do come in, Miss Cuthbert, we'll have tea in the parlour."

Tea began as an awkward, stiff & formal affair which made Gil's heart sink like a stone. A stolen, despairing glance at Anne showed him she was feeling the same way. He had heard of prospective in-laws not liking a potential bride or groom, but them being almost afraid of each other was another thing entirely! For want of a way to break the ice, Gilbert asked Marilla if she would like some more tea.

"Yes please Gilbert. You know I see Anne already calls your mother Martha, I think you can call me Marilla now, if you would like to?"

Both young people smiled at what was clearly Marilla making an effort.

"Yes thank you, I would like that very much Marilla." Gilbert said fondly.

Marilla's cheeks coloured slightly:

"You are welcome Gilbert; I cannot speak for Rachel though, she may be Mrs Lynde for a while yet."

Not quite sure what to say to that, Gilbert merely nodded. Anne, for some irrational reason felt her cheeks flush & a flash of anger; why did Rachel get a say anyway?! It was Marilla & Matthew Anne owed everything to, not their best friend! Anne realised at that precise moment that she was, to be quite frank, tired of Mrs Rachel's way of seeking to control things, & if she, Anne, could find a way, Rachel would NOT do so with she & Gilbert! Oh it wasn't that she didn't LIKE Rachel, in fact she honestly did, it was more that she wanted to CARRY ON liking Rachel.

John Blythe heard Anne's sigh but thankfully had no way of knowing the reason behind it:

"Are you alright Anne?" he asked kindly.

Oh yes Mr Blythe, I'm fine, just a little hot." Anne replied.

John Blythe rose & opened the screen door:

"There child, & it's John please, now we're almost family." He smiled

Anne blushed & smiled, dark thoughts dismissed. "Thank you John."

Now however, it was Gil's turn to sigh:

"Three years is hardly almost Father." It was clear from his voice that three years felt more like thirty.

Anne took his hand & squeezed it, understandingly.

"Anne? May I ask you a favour?" Martha asked, hoping to cheer things.

"Yes, of course, what is it?" Anne answered

"I know you have many friends, & you may have other plans, but will you allow me to help with your Hope Chest, please?"

Anne smiled brightly:

"Oh yes Martha, I was going to ask you; there will be Blythe as well as Cuthbert/Shirley traditions to be kept, after all."

"Thank you dear." Martha beamed

"My pleasure." Anne replied, getting up & hugging her mother-in-law to be warmly. "It's only fair to warn you though, the only thing worse than my needlepoint is my geometry!"

Everyone chuckled. Here Gil spoke up:

"Mother makes the best table cloths & napkins this side of Charlottetown; everyone says."

The pride was obvious in his voice.

"Then we must have a set for very, very best!" Anne beamed.

"It will be my pleasure!" Martha enthused hugging Anne, thereby missing the wink from Gil that made Anne blush prettily.