"Watch me Rilla!" Jimmy called out as she sat on the beach as he ran and kicked the ball to Ken. Ken who had his pants rolled up around his knees with a casual linen henley shirt. Dressed in a colourful swimsuit as they spent the weekend afternoon at the seaside.
Rilla laughed as she held onto her floppy hat. One that protected her from the sun as the little boy ran and kicked the ball around between Ken and Shirley.
"He is précieux," Lillian smiled from her spot on the large blanket.
"I hope he hasn't been too much in your way?" Rilla asked her worried about the boy was creating havoc with all his energy.
"Oh Non, he is delightful!" Lillian laughed as she watched Shirley fall into the sand. Clearly pretending to be hurt as the young boy tackled his legs.
"Are you nervous?" Rilla looked over to the woman who she considered to be a treasured friend. A kindred spirit if she remembers her mother's word for that someone who was just meant to be in your life.
Lillian nodded but said nothing as she watched Shirley pick up the boy and pretend to toss him into the ocean. It was only days away now. The final decision by the judge after three hearings of evidence. Along with back and forth between the lawyer that was appointed by the prison.
"I am sure that it will be ruled in your favour. How could any judge not look at what you have gone through and not allow you freedom?" Rilla hugged her with one arm and rubbed her shoulder lightly.
"Aren't they having fun?" Lillian laughed as they watched Jimmy jump on Shirley. He was a lot more fun than had he been year ago Jimmy said over dinner one night. Shirley back during the war had been serious and quiet. Jimmy wasn't afraid of him, he lived with him but he never played with the boy as he did now.
"How are you feeling? "Lillian asked Rilla.
"I am good, I haven't napped in two weeks," Rilla said after a moment. Knowing that they were still worried over her health. It was the end of August, almost two months since she had come from the hospital. "I know Ken was worried about me over exhausting myself, but he's been good. I do miss him a great deal. School kept me busy that it was easy to not think about it at times. Then when I did I wondered if it's healthy for me to keep doing this? But then I see him and his smile and how can I truly let go of him?" Rilla sighed.
Lillian nodded. "He's pretty good at speaking Francais, he mimics Shirley when he hears us speak."
"He was always a fast learner, even his spelling is coming along," Rilla told her rather proudly.
"Maybe one day you can send him to that fancy academy school?" Lillian suggested. "Prepare him for university or college?"
"Possibly, Queens is slowly being phased out with the addition of the new high schools on the island. The normal school is now in the talks of being merged with Prince Edward University now." Rilla explained. "Shall we go join them for a bit?" Rilla asked looking at the blue water.
"I suppose we shouldn't let them all have the fun?" Lillian laughed as she maneuvered herself so she could stand easily. "Swim cap?" She asked as she passed one along to Rilla. It took a moment to carefully to place her hair into the cap. Trying to cover the majority of her curls. Her knit suit that bared her legs and even her shoulders was a bright blue with white strips. Nautical and Ken had given her a long look when she had tried it on the previous week. They joined the boys as they tested out the cool ocean water in the last days of August.
It was little after four when they decided to head back to the house. Towelling and brushing off the sand from there bodies they all piled into the car.
'Can we have ice cream again tonight?" Jimmy asked tiredly from his spot between the ladies in the back of the car.
"We had ice cream yesterday," Rilla laughed. "Aren't you tired of it yet?"
"How can anyone be tired of ice cream?" Jimmy looked up at her.
"The lad does have a point," Shirley chuckled from the front seat.
"Oui, and if you eat anymore, I will have to let out your trousers again," Lillian teased him with a poke on his shoulder. "Je ne sais pas si je peux?"
"C'est bas ma chérie," Shirley retorted but grinned as he looked over her shoulder.
"We can have ice cream tomorrow," Rilla told him. "Tonight is bath night and early to beds, you are practically falling asleep right now.
The next day Rilla took Jimmy to Point Pleasant Park. Allowing Shirley and Lillian quiet to prepare for their day. Rilla had offered to come but Lillian only shook her head. It was something she wished to do alone.
Timothy and his father who were both suited up came just as Rilla was ushering Jimmy out the door. "Good luck today," she told them.
"Thank you, Mrs. Ford," Mr. Allard Sr tipped his hat to her.
"Hello, Mister!" Jimmy chirped. "Goodbye!" He added when Rilla told him to hurry up.
"Mrs. Gagnon. Please step up to the bench please," The Judge called out her name as he straightened a stack of papers on his desk.
Lillian who was dressed demurely in a navy blue dress that was simple and modest. Her blond her pinned at the back of her neck as her hat sat on her head in aid of a hatpin. She nervously approached the bench. Despite meeting the judge on multiple occasions this was the final time.
This was the final verdict.
"After much consideration of the evidence that has been given. Of your spouse's character that has been presented to me and what you have asked for. I hereby grant you the dissolution of your marriage. It is times such as these I am reminded that even judicial separation is not always the best. That dissolving a marriage sometimes is when cases such as these."
"Thank Your Honour," Lillian said as she clutched her handbag. It was over.
It was truly over.
"I will have copies of the decree of Divorce ready for you after a short recess. Given his imprisonment and your rejection of support. I gather you have planned for your future?"
"Yes, Your Honour I have a job as a seamstress and plan to open my own shop in time. Whatever support I would be given from Mr. Gagnon is only tainted with bad memories and shady deals."
"Then I wish you all the best, and that if you should feel the need to remarry, that you choose wisely." He smiled as he knew that she had someone waiting outside. Waiting for this moment as much as she had been.
"Of course, Your Honour," Lillian bowed her head to him before walking back to her seat. The court was closed soon after. Another fifteen minutes of waiting outside the judge's office before being called in.
Another five minutes before she walked out of the courthouse.
11:15 am she had checked her watch. 11:15 am and she was free.
She was thanking Mr. Allard for everything, telling him that she and Shirley would make their way back.
"One more thing, I was speaking to a contact within the church. He says given your age at the time of your marriage and your family using you to pay a debt. You have grounds for an annulment. I know you weren't married within the church, but consider yourself of faith." Mr. Allard told her. "If this something you wish to try for, you will have to represent yourself. I just wished for you to know that it is something you have a right to try for."
"Thank you, I will consider it and talk to Shirley about it. But truthfully he is not converting to mine, nor I am not converting to his. I do not think it will bother us or myself if they consider my marriage to Shirley invalid. It will be in the eyes of the law and that is enough for us." Lillian explained to him. "All I wanted was to be free of him, in one way or another. You have given me that with all your help. I don't think I will ever be able to repay your kindness for taking my case."
"If my daughter was in your situation I would hope that someone would help her." Mr. Allard told her. "I believe someone is waiting for you, come along Timothy we should go save Una from your mother."
Lillian bid them both goodbye with brief hug to show her gratitude. She turned taking a deep breath looking towards Shirley in the park. Across from the courthouse, pacing back and forth near a large tree. She held a large envelope in her hands. He looked up at her bracing himself for whatever was to come.
She couldn't speak, all she could do just smile, nod her head, cry all at once. Choking back a sob as he embraced her as he spun her around.
The rest of the day was spent with the shedding of tears from the good news, toasting to the happy future of the couple. Shirley promising to take her ring shopping the first chance they have. Even when Lillian tells him she doesn't need an engagement ring or anything special. Jimmy doesn't quite understand why the women are crying, but he enjoys the cake that appeared on the kitchen table. Eating enough until he crashed from the sugar.
"Its weird Rilla, I miss you when I don't see you, but at the same time I miss my family when I'm with you." Jimmy had told her the night before.
"All that means is that you have many people who love you, and who you love back," Rilla explained to him.
"You won't ever forget about me will you?" He looked up at her from his spot on the bed.
"Never in a million years," Rilla told him, trying not to cry as she did. She kissed his golden curls and patted the blankets. "I will always love you, now get some sleep, we need to get up early in the morning."
"Goodnight, Rilla," Jimmy yawned as he held on to his bear. It was already past his bedtime. Spending most of the evening playings in the backyard burning off steam with Ken. Kicking around the football into the makeshift goal post.
"Good night Jimmy," Rilla said as she quietly shut the door and crossed the hallway. She found Ken sitting shirtless in their bed, reading his book. Hair from a quick shower, she smiled as she sat down at her vanity as she unpinned her hair, and ran a comb through it.
"Are you sure you can come with us?" Rilla asked him.
"Yes, everything is ready to go for when I come back. A few days off before opening will be refreshing for everyone as it is labour day weekend. Jimmy will get home just in time for school and we have a little holiday at the house of dreams." Ken told her. "Everyone is prepared and ready for the grand opening. I even set aside some funds to give them extra holiday pay to make it an extra-long weekend for them."
Rilla nodded as she rolled her hair up into its pin curls. "I have my dress all ready for opening day. Just as well the tea luncheon is set up for the lunch hour." Rilla told him.
"Trying to win over my employees already?" Ken chuckled.
"Of course not, but it is the proper thing to do as the wife of the Editor in Chief," Rilla smiled at him. "At least that is what I hear anyway. Act and be supportive even when your husband overworks himself and misses dinner every other night?"
"I will never miss dinner, because I generally cook it when it's just the two of us," Ken remind her with a grin. Rilla stuck out her tongue in her mirror at him as she rubbed her facial cream into her face and down her neck.
"Lillian must be so relieved, Shirley is over the moon," Rilla sighed with contentment.
"I think they are both looking forward to their future. It will be strange to have the house to ourselves when everything is settled." Ken said quietly as he watched Rilla undress and step into her long nightgown.
"Shirley was looking at transferring one of the universities here. I think Montreal has too many ghosts for them. He's asked to rent the apartment from us after they get married which I think well be soon. Just for the school year until they can find something more permanent or where he finds a job."
"Of course," Ken told her. "It is yours, after all, now let's settle on the train is at 6 am if we want to make most of our weekend on the island."
"I know what time we leave darling," Rilla rolled her eyes at him as she got into the bed.
The journey to the island was uneventful as it was exciting, as it was sad. Rilla looked over the railing into the ocean as she held onto Jimmy who was excited to be on the ferry once more. Ken sat reading the baby behind them, occasionally looking up and smiling at the pair. Trains and boats, simple things that made the little boy forget that he was going back home.
"I hope he wasn't much trouble?" Adeline Anderson asked as they met at the Glen train station.
"Oh he was wonderful," Rilla told her. "We have a blast, I do apologize if he speaks random French words. Shirley's fiancée is from Montreal and has been staying with us,"
"Oh! Don't worry about it," Adeline waved it off. "I know a few words myself from school in England. But I see your parents, I shall let you say goodbye," She smiled as she let go of her stepson's hands.
Rilla smiled and sank down, crouching so she was eye level with Jimmy. "Be good and do your homework during school."
"When will I see you again?" Jimmy asked quietly.
"Christmas most likely," Rilla told him truthfully. "Thanksgiving if we can make it, but you'll be busy with school, it won't feel long at all."
"Okay," Jimmy nodded his golden head.
"Now be good for your parents and don't pick on your sister," Rilla told him.
"All she does is cry," Jimmy wrinkled his nose.
"All you did was cry at one point as well," Rilla tweaked his nose and hugged him. "Are you going to give the others a hug as well." Rilla turned to wear Ken was standing off to the side with Shirley and Lillian who stood with her parents.
Jimmy nodded and raced over to the tall man he had grown accustomed over the past few years. "Au revoir Ken!" He jumped in his spot and held out his hand like a little businessman as Ken had taught him
"Au revoir, mon ami," Ken grinned and shook the tyke's hand. "Getting good with the firmness," he commented before the boy walked over to Shirley.
"Next time can we build an aeroplane?" Jimmy asked Shirley. "Á bientôt?"
"Oui, petit garçon," Lillian smiled and bent down to hug him. "Á bientôt, we will see you soon."
"I'll have a model ready to build for the next time I see you," Shirley told him.
Rilla watched Mrs. Anderson leave with Jimmy as she turned to her parents who both took turns hugging her.
"You still look rather pale," Anne patted her cheek.
"I'm always pale," Rilla shook her head. "Mother, I am well you do not need to worry."
"I'm your mother, it is my job to worry over you," Anne clucked her tongue. "How has she been really Kenneth?"
"Clean bill of health from the doctor, Anne," Ken supplied the answer that his mother in law was looking for.
"That is good to hear, and I am glad that you are here," Gilbert told him clapping his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Even just for the weekend," he turned and kissed his daughter on the forehead.
The drive back to the Ingleside was filled with news and chit chat. By the time they pulled up to the whitewashed house, everyone was laughing. Amelie was waiting on the front porch waving at them as they all step out of the car.
"Lily!" She raced down the steps as she saw her sister, rushing to hug her. "I want to know everything!"
Lillian looked toward Shirley who nodded as the girls walked up the stairs. His parents had been already told the good news. Now it was just Susan who had gone to visit a friend in the next town over. Not knowing that he was coming along with Rilla and Ken, but she would be back the next day.
Dinner was a cheerful setting where they caught up on the news that hadn't been told in letters or phone calls. It was late when Rilla and Ken finally stumbled into the old house of dreams. Climbing up the stairs after setting the basket for breakfast on the table for the morning like many couples before them.
Ken watched her as she undid the hooks of her dress as he pulled unbutton his shirt. She smiled at him when she glanced over her shoulder before tossed her dress to the side. She quickly made work of her garters before hopping onto the bed as she held her leg out to him.
"What are you doing?" Ken asked amused but rolled down the stocking without complaint from where he stood.
"What does it look like I'm doing? I just thought, having the cottage to ourselves…alone for the first time in a long while." Rilla grinned as she lifted the other for him. This time she felt him slide his hand over the smoothness of her leg. She let him toss them into the nearby chair.
"Rilla," Ken warned her quietly. "You know what the doctor said."
"He told us not to get pregnant," Rilla said cheekily smiling at him. As she playfully pushed aside on of the straps of her brassiere. "I miss you," she leaned forward to kiss him. "And I think you miss me too?" Looking down before raising an eyebrow, when she let her foot trail up his thigh.
"You are incorrigible miss," Ken growled
"It's Mrs," Rilla corrected him and silenced him with a kiss. She mused as she ran her finger down his chest to the waistband of his pants.
"I'm not risking your health," Ken stared down at her, knowing he was losing the battle quickly.
"I'm not asking you too, I had other things in mind, but I did pack old trusty just in case," Rilla smirked. "But if you're that worried?" Rilla straightened up. "I will go have a bath and leave you to deal with that."
"Oh no you don't," Ken trapped her leaning forward holding her hands away from him in the process. In the end, it was gentle reassurance that of her whispers to him that did him in. Her body still felt foreign to him after weeks of recovery. New curves appeared as she gained weight during her recovery, he never felt before.
He didn't think he could ever forget the feeling of her trailing kisses that went down his chest. The way her hair hid her face when she reached the waistband of his shorts. How her hazel eyes shone a touch greener in those moments when she brave enough to look at him.
In the end, they were wrapped around each other, basking in the after glory.
"Are you sure this was all right?" Ken asked her concerned despite the calmness on his face.
"Oh You were more than all right," Rilla patted him with a lazy giggle.
"You know what I meant," Ken gave her a look that she couldn't see.
"Stop thinking so much," Rilla curled into him. "If you worried and someone asks at the next appointment, say I seduced you," she patted him once more.
"You did," Ken reminded her.
"See you have nothing to worry about, you were an absolute gentleman until I went all wanton on you," Rilla yawned. "Now stop worrying, I'm perfectly fine, everything is fine."
Ingleside was in full swing the next day. Rilla and Lillian at taken Amelie into town to find some school appropriate shoes. Starting Wednesday she would be going to the high school in town. She had made a few friends with the local girls Rilla remembered at children. It made her feel old knowing they were suddenly old enough for high school.
At Ingleside, Shirley hid away when Susan came home during the morning. Humming as she set aside her purchases, he watched her from his spot at the back door, waiting for her to notice him. It didn't take long and it is accompanied by a shriek.
"Your father didn't tell me you were coming!" She threw her hands up in the air as she saw him. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to surprise you," Shirley shrug and hugged the shorter woman. "I have something to tell you."
"Oh! Bless my soul, you finally asked that girl to marry you?" She guessed. "Dear, you don't need to look so afraid. Clearly, it was going to happen at some point, I already have a new dress picked out. Oh, I can see the church already filled with flowers" She rambled on.
"Susan, there won't be a church wedding," Shirley told her.
"You haven't asked her?" Susan's brow furrowed.
"No, I have, but Lillian she doesn't want to be married in a church. She wouldn't be allowed to marry in our church," Shirley spoke carefully. "Susan, Lillian is Catholic," Shirley told her. "She doesn't want to give up her faith and nor should she have to."
"Oh fiddle-sticks, Mr. Meredith will do anything we ask of him." Susan waved him off. "Though really a Catholic Shirley, I thought you had more sense. But she seems nice enough, backwards in their ways of things those papists. All those candles and wine, pretending to drink of the blood of Jesus. Those statues they worship, even their churches are ungodly with their ornamentation. It's just not right Shirley! I've seen it their little girls dressed up as brides to God, lining up to eat the body of christ Shirley! It's unnatural!"
"Susan you can't say things like that," Shirley sighed running his hand through his curls. "We all believe in God, we all believe in the bible. Sure the prayers are different, but it doesn't mean we are lower or higher than any other religion. That woman has been through so much. Yet it has been her faith that has kept her alive despite the hypocrisy of the whole situation! I won't even go into how they treated her."
"Shirley, what are you saying?" Susan asked
"The reason Lillian and I couldn't get married before because she was married. It was her ex-husband who put me in the hospital in the springtime. She's been living with Rilla and Ken in Kingsport trying to get a divorce on the grounds of cruelty. It was granted this week."
"You're marrying a catholic divorcee," She repeated a blank look on her face. "Is that even allowed? Don't they think marriage is forever? Is she even going to consider this a real marriage?"
"Of course she is! We didn't fight for two whole bloody years if this was something we did not want this," Shirley interjected.
"Watch your mouth Shirley, you know well enough we don't tolerate that language here." Susan scolded him. "What about your family, what it will look like to the town. You're marrying someone who isn't even—,"
"I don't give a shit what the town thinks, or this family. Faith and Jem eloped for God's sake, Rilla and Ken were sneaking around for months. It never bothered you then! So I will walk out of here you even dare to finish that sentence!" Shirley straightened up warning her for probably the first time in his life.
"This is the exact reason why I never said anything, why I had everyone keep it from you. I tell you I have found the woman I love, who I want to marry, who wants to be my wife! A woman who has been to hell and back! You can't look past your own prejudices enough to even wonder or care about what she went through? Because if you knew it would make you sick to your stomach! If you had any idea you would think differently of her." Shirley slammed his fist on the old wooden table. He made it to the door of the kitchen before turning.
"And just so you know, Lillian doesn't like fruitcake. So you can rest your conscience about helping or even attending a wedding that you obviously don't support."
He made it to the stairs when he saw her sitting on the stairs with bags around her. He knew well enough you could easily hear whatever was happening in the kitchen. Shirley sank down next to her without saying a word at first. Wrapping his arm around her.
"Please don't listen to anything she said, she doesn't know any better. I don't want to make excuses for her, but she really doesn't." Shirley sighed, the floor creaked near them. The door to nearest them which was his father's study opened. Gilbert looked at him with a solemn nod before a questioning look to Shirley who only shrugged. While Anne came out behind her husband laid a comforting caress on her son's face.
"Everything will be all right in the end. Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it. She will realize the errors of her thinking." Anne spoke quietly.
"Whatever you wish to do, we will be there," Gilbert said quietly with smiling gently to Lillian. "We look forward to calling you our daughter." He added. "I am glad that it all came together if there is anything we can do to help just let us know." Knowing that the lawyer must have eaten up any of her savings and he knew that Shirley had been helping with the cost as well. "Both of you," he said.
"Do you think I should have told her sooner?" Shirley asked.
"You did what you thought was right," Gilbert told his son. "That is all you could do, I suggest you go out and enjoy the evening. The fish and chip shop is open until eight tonight if you wish to skip dinner."
"Your sister and Ken have gone out to the house of dreams for the night as well," Anne told him. "So don't worry about missing dinner."
Shirley looked over to Lillian who just nodded.
"But first I have something for you," Anne told them and motioned for them to follow her. They followed her into the cozy bedroom his parents shared. Littered with photographs of him and siblings from their childhood. Aunt Marilla and other relatives he had only heard about in stories." He watched his mother go over to her jewellery box and pull out two gold rings and pass them to his father.
"These were my parents," Gilbert told them. "They weathered many trials and separations. But ultimately they are a symbol of strength my parent's marriage had. I think they should belong to you." He offered them to Shirley who looked at him in disbelief. "If you want them of course," he added to take off the pressure.
"Thank you," Shirley stammered and looked towards Lillian. They had barely discussed anything beyond actually getting married in a non-hypothetical way. "If it is all right with you?"
"I would be honoured," Lillian told him before looking towards the older couple. "Thank you for everything."
Thank you all for the lovely reviews!
Julie: Thank you! I have read the last three books so much in the past year! But I am glad that my story has inspired you to read it again!
Historical notes.
Canada really did not like Catholics in the early 20th century. Something as a catholic I didn't know really! Writing Susan was interesting and I hope I did all right. She is an enigma and very opinionated in the books( and about the catholic church in ROI as well!).
That said, I was raised Catholic and i looked back on the strange things of my faith that others poke fun at with help my fellow writers I converse with regularly. So thank you! Oz, Alinya, McFishie for helping feel confident about this!
I do look forward to your thoughts on this chapter, which came out close to 5000 words. I am back to work this week after two weeks vacation, but I am sure I will keep up the schedule of updating twice a month!
Tina
French Translations.
I'm not sure that I can?
That is low my darling-