Chapter twenty-six : A magical place
She had always loved it, when waking up, to find herself being completely and fully wrapped in her husband arms, with her back touching the completely naked forms and members of her husband body, smiling interiorly to herself, because she knew that he had always loved to sleep completely naked, with her in his arms, when it was so hot outside during summer time. She herself, was wearing a very light and petite nightgown, which could be describe as her not wearing anything at all.
Slowly opening her eyes to watch the time, seeing that it was eight in the morning, she closed her eyes once again, knowing that her husband and herself, had no emergencies this morning. Relaxing once again under the warmth of her husband arms and the covers, she was slowly starting to fall back asleep, when a thought occurred to her, that today was not any normal day, today was a Sunday. Turning her body to be face to face with her husband, she slowly and sleepily brought her lips to the lips of her husband, and started to slowly kiss him. Her husband did not open his eyes, but she felt how is lips responded to her kiss, slowly and sleepily as well.
- Gil, we are late for church !
Her husband still didn't open his eyes, instead he brought her body closer to his own body, and whispered to her, still so very sleepily.
- Then, I should give you back a kiss to the one that you just gave me, that way we would be both forgiven.
Remembering now that she had been up writing almost all night last night waiting for him to come back from a late night call, she must have fallen asleep at about three in the morning, because she didn't remember when exactly that he did come back home and to bed with her. Sensing that she was starting to make some move to get up and get out of bed, the husband strongly, gently, sleepily and slowly got his wife closer to his own body with his arms around her once again.
- Stay here with me Anne-girl, after all, this isn't the first time that we will be missing a church service. Don't you remember how we had spent the entire two weeks of our honeymoon ?
With a smile on her lips, Anne said dreamily.
- I remember spending the entire time wrap in your arms just like this, yes...
Gilbert continued saying.
- Not once we had thought to venture out of the house, well, maybe only the last Sunday, before we started to get back to civilisation...
And then Anne added.
- And the time when Joyce was born, it was a Sunday as well !
Then Gilbert ask while kissing Anne on her lips once again.
- And what about all the other Sundays, when we were too busy making love to each other, on mornings just like these ones ?
Letting her husband kiss her so passionately like he was doing at the moment, Anne was too well, too warm, too in such a good humour to protest at such a request from Gilbert. This was how they found themselves, on a Sunday morning, making love, or rather, commuting with the sky, angels and universe all above them.
...
On that same Sunday morning, at about eleven o'clock, Anne and Gilbert were now having a jolly and merry Sunday breakfast on the Ingleside garden with five of their children and their spouses and grandchildren surrounding them.
Rilla was there, without Ken, he had only come for the first week of August, to safely make sure that Rilla and the kids would be alright without him at Ingleside, when he would be going back to Montreal, because he had to go back to work at the journal. Rilla, little Rilla was already a mother of two children, the first one was a boy of almost three years old, named O.G, short for Owen-Gilbert. Her second child was a little girl of almost one year old, named L.A, short for Leslie-Anne. Rilla already surprised everyone by saying that she was yet again pregnant with a third child. She and Ken couldn't be more happier. Anne and Gilbert were so happy to see their youngest child so very much happy, and so very much at ease and comfortable in her role as Kenneth Ford wife and a mother to their beautiful children. The other Blythe children were joking among them, that Rilla wanted to reproduce the exact same image and replica of what their parents had with them, a big and happy family, with maybe seven or more children.
Nan and Jerry had come up from the Manse to Ingleside, where they now live with Rosemary and John Meredith, with their own sweet little baby girl, named Diane, aged two.
Di and Carl were not living very far from the Kindred Spirit and from the University where Carl was doing his biology and science research, they had found a not too big but not too small apartment in between the two places, and they now had a sweet little baby girl, named Anna, aged two.
Faith and Jem who are now both living at Ingleside with Anne and Gilbert and Joyce who is in Avonlea at the moment, were still very much in their honeymoon phase, even though, the said event had ended almost two weeks ago. They were both so very much busy working at Gilbert's practice, both saying in unison that they were not pressed or ready yet to bring a child into this world at the moment. They again say in unison, that they simply want to enjoy their alone time with only the two of them for now, the baby or babies will come later.
Persis and Walter who are as well in Avonlea at the moment with Joyce, Eric and Dominic, are happily installed at the House of Dreams !
Shirley and Una, who chose to be living the artistic way and life, decided that Una's studio would be their house for now, or forever, they couldn't really decide, or simply didn't want to decide, because that studio represented too much, too many memories, too many emotions for them. They were still not married too each other, but they were still, simply, happily, living together, and raising their two twin girls, Sky and Roseanne together, who were now almost the age of four years old.
All around the table, that was set in the garden, they were all happily chatting, talking, eating, laughing together. Anne had little L.A with her in her arms, Gilbert had little O.G with him in his arms, making Rilla rest for a little while. Di had little Diane in her arms, while Nan had little Anna in her arms. Faith and Jem were seated quite closely too each other, with Jem's arm around Faith's shoulders. Shirley had little Sky in his arms, while Una had little Roseanne in hers, when something, a movement coming from inside the house caught her attention.
- Shirley, do you see what I am seeing ?
Una was whispering into Shirley's ear, making him turn his head in the direction that she was indicating him.
- Here, take Roseanne, and where did I put my camera, I don't want to miss a moment of this event.
Shirley, who still wasn't saying anything, but kept looking at the direction of where the movements were coming, he felt how Una put Roseanne in his arms, right next to where Sky was already positioned, at the same time, he heard the cliqueties of Una's camera, rapidly taking pictures of the scene unfolding in front of them.
At first, it was only Dominic that was slowly, but with a very light step, walking in the direction of the garden where they were all having breakfast, but then, he started seeing, and he wasn't the only one to notice, Una had already notice, because she was already taking pictures, but the rest of them had started to see as well. When Dominic had finally come down to the garden, Anne saw how her older daughter, Joyce, was simply but amazingly walking in their direction, with the arm of Eric around her shoulders, making Anne to gasp while at the same time taking her husband hands into her own hands, Gilbert had a very warm and gentle smile on his lips, while both Eric and Joyce shared a knowing and accomplice smile with each other, with the both of them blushing a little, making Eric of instead keeping his arm around Joyce shoulders, to take her hand in his own hand instead.
Shirley was now able to say something, but only to the two little girls that was positioned on his laps.
- Look, darling daughters of mine, it is your auntie Joyce and uncle Eric, who are now forming a couple, at last...
Which made the two little girls to laugh at what their father was saying to them, not fully understanding the meaning of his words, but they really loved it when he was taking this sweet little baby voice to be talking with them.
Rilla kept looking at the couple advancing in front of her with her mouth wide open and big wide eyes open as well, like, she couldn't almost believe what she was witnessing.
Both Jerry and Carl had the same reflex of taking their respective wives in their arms, to give each other a warm and lovable hug.
Faith and Jem continued to smile at each other oh so romantically, which made them look at the new couple in front of them, with the same romantic smile on their faces and lips.
Una had gone up front, oh so very close to make sure that she could take the very best pictures that she could take of the new couple that was in front of her, forming with Joyce and Eric. But, when the said couple, after having pose in front of her for a few shots of them together, and they were now making their way toward Anne and Gilbert, Una once again was distracted by a movement that was coming from inside the house, for a moment, making her to lower her camera off her face, she would have dropped it on the ground, if it wasn't safely positioned around her neck with the lace cord of the camera.
Reality and realisation slowly but surely getting back too her, she put back her camera in front of her face, and started once again to take pictures at the other beautiful and amazing scene taking place in front of her.
All the other person behind her, just like her, stayed silent with surprise for a while, not quite believing that their eyes at what they were seeing, but as surely as the other couple was advancing towards them, they realise that they had to simply believe that this was real.
That scene made Rilla and Anne to both have tears slowly falling from their eyes.
Una continued to take pictures with her camera, because it was the only natural thing that she knew that she could do.
Nan and Di went to and in each other's arms, to hug each other.
Carl and Jerry did the same as their wives.
Jem had a wide, proud, enormous smile on his face.
Faith had her hands in front of her mouth, as if she wanted to hide the shock that appeared on her lips.
Shirley, still with Sky and Roseanne on his knees, heard how both his daughters started to say ''A baby, a baby'' !
While at the same time, Gilbert was saying to little O.G in his laps.
- Look, this is your uncle Walter and aunt Persis that are coming with a baby in their arms.
It was indeed true, Persis was carrying a small baby in her arms, while Walter was gently walking not very far from behind her, with his guitar bag on one shoulder and a big baby bag on his other shoulder.
The both of them had a very warm, wide, proud, happy, magnificent smile on their lips.
The both of them arriving at the edge of the steps before descending toward the garden, they stood side by side, still with the baby in Persis arms, while Una kept taking pictures, oh so many pictures of what could be called a miracle.
Soon, the excitement and wonderfulness of knowing that Joyce and Eric are now officially a couple, got carried away on the second scale of excitement, wonderfulness and surprise they all felt and experience at seeing Persis and Walter with a baby in their arms.
While everyone gathered all at the same time around the table to find a place to seat, the question that was on everyone's mind, and that no one dared of asking, came from Rilla.
- You spent an entire month in Avonlea, Persis, and you still manage to come back home to Ingleside, with a little baby in your arms, while my own third baby still takes nine month to get here. Now tell me, or rather, tell us, how did you manage for this miracle to happen ?
Both Anne and Gilbert had taken a seat near Persis and Walter, with the head of Anne resting on Gilbert's shoulder with him having an arm around her shoulders.
Joyce and Eric had taken a seat not very far from Jem and Faith, with Eric still holding Joyce's hand in his own hand.
Dominic had taken a place, right next to Joyce and Eric.
Una had stopped taken pictures, she went to take back her place next to Shirley who he in turn, put back little Roseanne into her mother's arms.
Walter was the first one to speak.
- You are right, little sister, because it truly was a miracle how this darling, sweet baby girl came to be with us, or, I should say, it truly was a magical or providential thing to happen, or the charm of Green Gables working, just like it happened for mother when Matthew and Marilla adopted her...
Persis was the second one to speak.
- It was one of those mornings, days, where everything is so gray outside, like it wants to rain, but no rain comes down. And it was actually a very cold day as well, which made us light up a fire in the fireplace, in the living room, where we were all gathered together, sipping tea, reading, talking, napping, writing, composing music, when suddenly...
...
- There is a baby at the door !
It was Dominic that had come back inside of the house, and went straight to whisper this strange little quote in Joyce's ear, which made her exclaim, louder than him, for everyone to ear.
- A baby, Dominic, are you sure ?
Earring the word ''Baby'', Persis was the very first one to get up on her feet and go straight to the front door to see if what Dominic was saying, was true.
- Oh, it is true, Walter, come and see for yourself, it is a very tiny little baby.
But, before Walter could come outside to see for himself, Persis had already taken the small basket where the baby was laying in her hands, to cary it inside the house, where it would be a lot warmer for the baby, even though the small infant was covered with a very warm cover as well.
Persis was now taking the baby in her arms, because she simply couldn't help it, she simply couldn't resist and because the baby was starting to make small noises sounding like it would burst crying at any moment.
Seeing Persis with a baby in her arms, Walter couldn't say anything, no words could express how he was feeling at that moment, he knew that it was a natural thing for Persis, she always had it in her, her maternal instinct, he didn't know where this baby was coming from, who had left it at the Green Gables door, the only thing that he knew, was that it was making his wife happy, motherly, beautiful, amazing. Just then, he remembered thinking, once, that he would have given anything, everything that he had, to see Persis just like that, her, with a baby in her arms.
They had gone back to the living room, Walter had brought Marilla's old balancing chair right next to the fireplace, so that Persis could sit there with the baby and be warm together.
They didn't notice that Eric had left the room and was absent for a while, until they heard his voice once more.
- Excuse me, but I have here with me someone that would like to say something to us.
As he was done saying so, Eric went back to take his place right next to Joyce, on the big sofa. Walter was behind Persis at the back of the balancing chair and Dominic was coming back from the kitchen, with a chair for their visitor.
He seemed to be a man of maybe fifty or fifty-five years old, with greyish hair, not very tall but not very short either. He accepted to sit on the chair very easily.
- After you had all come back in, I went back outside to see if there was anything that had come with the baby, if someone had left anything, I was worried when I didn't see anything, but then, I saw how a long figure was quickly hiding behind a tree, as if the person didn't want to be seen. I started to make my way to that person, arriving at his level, I ask him if he was the one that had left the baby on the porch, he only nodded yes. I invited him inside, for him to be able to get warmer...
Eric was saying, but the older man started to speak instead.
- You guys must be way too young to remember me, know me, or for you to have heard of and about me. But I think that your parents knew and were friends with a common friend of ours that isn't on this world anymore. Your parents might not even remember me as well, because its been such a long time, we were teenagers back then. Tell me if I am wrong, your mom's name is Anne Shirley, right ?
- Yes, she was née Shirley, but now, she is Anne Blythe...
Walter was the one to answer the question.
- Oh, she married that Blythe boy after all, that's good, that's good. Well, my name is Herbert Spencer and I am the father of this beautiful, sweet, gentle, darling baby girl that you have here in your arms, miss...
- Miss Persis Blythe, sir !
Persis answered very slowly and gently.
- Persis, nice to meet you. Sadly, the mother of this darling little girl, the woman who was my wife, is not with us on this earth anymore. She died exactly five days after giving birth to our sweet, sweet baby girl, due to a difficult pregnancy, to her age... She and I at the unfortunate or the gift of having remet a little too late in life, we only had the chance to leave five good years together... Her name was Josie Pye... The thing is, when we were a lot younger, your mother, your father, Josie and I all knew this one girl, this most vivid, amazing, unique girl that only had the faith and destiny of dying too soon... After she died, I didn't kept in touch with any of the Avonlea folks, I went and lived my life as best as I could, until six years ago did Josie happen to come back in my life... We were both two single old man and old woman, and to remember, to honour, to cherish our lost friend in commun, and because life was giving us a second chance with love and to not finish our days alone, we decided to get married... This sweet little girl was very late in conceiving, but we both had wanted her so much, not taking in count that we were not that young anymore, that Josie's health's wasn't that great or good... My health is declining now as well, knowing this, after the birth of the baby, Josie made me swear that I wouldn't bring her to any of her Pye's relatives, she said that they didn't deserve to have anything and nothing to do with the life of our precious girl and that she made me swear once again that I would bring her to the people at Green Gables, she had added that the people leaving at Green Gables could be working magic, could do wonders for our baby girl, just like it worked magic and did wonders to Anne all those years ago...
Persis realised that the baby had fallen asleep in her arms, but she was too emotional to say anything, or add anything else at what this old man, Herb Spencer had just told them.
- In the bag that had came with the baby, there is everything that you will need for the baby and more. Josie had wanted for her to start her own life with every essential little thing that is necessary for the well being of a small infant. She was so happy knowing that we would bring into this world a little girl. Her happiness was only saddened because she knew that she wouldn't be there to see her grow and make every step into this life with her...
Putting a hand on Persis shoulder, this made her turn her head up in Walter's direction to look at him in the eyes, knowing that they were both feeling the same emotions at that moment.
- Josie had one last request though, and that request is for the new parents of our sweet, darling, little girl, to be named...
...
- Ruby !
Persis heard herself to continue saying to all of the occupants around the table of the Ingleside garden who were all listening to her with great attention.
- Gil, Josie had found love in her life after all...
Anne was saying to Gilbert.
- I always forget how her mother and sisters had all made her life difficult because she never married anyone... After Charlie married another girl, Moody as well, Fred married Diana and I married you, Josie thought that she was cursed, that no men would ever want to marry her...
Gilbert continued to say before he was cut by Joyce.
- But what about this Ruby that Mr. Spencer had spoken of ?
Before speaking, Anne and Gilbert looked at one another in each other's eyes, than Anne started to say.
- Ruby Gillis, the belle of Avonlea...
- I remember she was the very first girl to give me my very first kiss when we were kids...
Gilbert said with a laugh in his voice.
- She really was everyone's friend in Avonlea, and everyone loved her.
Anne was now starting to have tears in her eyes.
- Let us hope and wish for this new Ruby, Ruby Blythe here to have a long life filled with love, health, laughter, family, friends and a lot of cousins to play with !
Gilbert said at last, making everyone else around the table to wish and hope for a lifetime of happiness and love for each and every soul that was there on this day at Ingleside to share this one special and amazing and magical miracle !
...
A.N. : Just like the chapter of Rilla's wedding, this one was a very difficult chapter to write as well... I think that it is not knowing how you guys, the readers, will take what I have written inside of it, that scares me the most.
I had always known that this would happen that way, I simply had to find the time to sit and write that part as best as I could !
As always, I thank you my fellow readers and writers, Carrots, Bathsheba, elizasky, Lizzy, J, Catie, MrsVonTrapp (I will be reading all of your new chapters this week end or really soon, I wanted to write my own two chapters first, before I read yours)...
And every other people out there reading my little (big) story, I thank you as well !