"Welcome to Ingleside, come in, come in," Anne said cheerfully as she greeted Marianne. "Hello sweetheart," She added for Rilla kissing her cheek in a motherly way. "How was the trip?"
"Uneventful thankfully," Rilla replied.
"Thank you for having me Mrs. Blythe," Marianne spoke up as she looked around the house that Rilla grew up in. "Dr. Blythe," she added as he came up behind them with two of their bags.
"We always enjoy showing up the island to mainlanders," Anne responded. "As it is we have heard so much about you over the years, it feels like you have already been here."
"Where do I put these?" Gilbert asked.
"Upstairs, twins room," Anne said off-handedly. "I hope you don't mind sharing a room, but the two beds are in there."
"None at all," Rilla and Marianne reassured her. "Come I will show you around the house and then freshen up from the trip. Supper is at the usual time?"
"As always," Anne nodded as the telephone rang. "Excuse me," she said more to Marianne than her daughter as she went from the telephone.
"We'll head upstairs," Rilla told her as she turned towards the staircase. " There is a staircase at the other end of the house as well, that goes into the kitchen." She explained. Marianne nodded and followed her friend.
"We girls all slept in this room at one point, but by the time I got older. They were off at queens, I took over the boys room with Jimmy," Rilla explained. "This is the bathroom, the lock sticks occasionally, but just give it a jiggle," Rilla went on. "My parent's room, and our room," Rilla let her through the last door, one that overlooked the garden with its window.
"You have a lot of photos in the house," Marianne commented as they went back down the stairs.
"Yeah, we like our photographs," Rilla agreed. "That is Nan and Di, she pointed to her sisters in a portrait that was taken before the war. That is me in the middle of them. Di has lighter hair, which is red. Nan has dark brown. That is Jem, Walter and Shirley." She looked at the similar one of her brothers. My parent's wedding portrait." She said going over the photos.
"Nan is the one that is due soon?" Marianne asked.
"Yes, I think in the next two weeks, so any time really," Rilla nodded. "Sitting room and dining room" Rilla stopped at the bottom of the stairs. "The sunroom, mom loves this room for sewing in the afternoon." Rilla opened the door to the airy window filled the room that overlooked the harbour.
Rilla then led her down the hall. "Dad's office," she pointed to a closed door. Before turning into the large kitchen, "Susan must be out in the yard somewhere," Rilla told her. "The pantry is down that small hallway and next to that is Susan's room." Marianne nodded as she followed Rilla back into the sitting room. Looking around she took notice of more photos. Engagements, weddings, grandchildren were proudly on display.
"It is breathtaking out here it, it feels like an entirely different world." Marianne breathed in the ocean air. The cliffs they had climbed, ones Rilla roamed during her childhood with her siblings. In the distance, you could see the lighthouse. Which prompted Rilla to recall her first harbour dance. Describing that fateful night in which the war began for them.
"It is," Rilla agreed. "Can you see why I would never want to move far from here?"
"For the first time, maybe a little," Marianne agreed. "But Toronto is nice as well."
"It is, though Carl seemed rather taken with you." Rilla changed the subject and grinned when her friend blushed.
"He was nice," Marianne agreed. "Interesting, he could tell me so much about everything in nature. I can imagine that he would as many pets as allowed."
Rilla laughed. "He often bought mice and bugs to bed, his brother refused to share the bed with him growing up."
"I am sure that he has grown out of such things now." Marianne laughed. "He was nice though, and handsome."
"Carl has grown into his looks," Rilla agreed. "We can go over to the manse tomorrow if you wish?"
"Let him visit with his family," Marianne shook her head. "We are two very different people, he going back out west and I have to figure out what I shall do with my life."
Rilla nodded. "Shall we head back?" She asked her friend.
"What are you doing here?" Rilla asked as she saw Nan sitting in the sitting room with her mother.
"I am allowed out," Nan rolled her eyes. "Jerry is just running some errands today and I didn't feel like being home alone," Nan explained with a sigh as if it wasn't the first time she heard such comments.
"Of course you are, but are you actively trying to have Jem or Dad deliver your child?" Rilla asked raising an eyebrow.
"Both are fine doctors, at this point, I don't care who delivers the child. I just want it out of me," Nan sighed. "I am just glad it is not twins."
"I will never know if you and Di being twins was a fluke or somewhere down on my side of the family." Anne mused.
"Where is Di this week?" Rilla asked as she curled up into the chair and motioned for Marianne to do that same.
"In Avonlea," Nan told her. "Also my sister has appalling manners, I am Nan," she sent a look to her sister. "You must be Marianne."
"Indeed, it is nice to meet you," Marianne agreed with a nod of her head. "You are married to Carl's brother?" She asked.
"I am, I heard that Carl ran into you while in Kingsport," Nan told them.
"We did," Rilla confirmed. "We had a lovely day with him, did we not Mary?"
"He was saying that same thing, something about going to the coast," Nan explained. "I saw him this morning before I came over with Jerry."
"Peggy's Cove," Rilla supplied as an answer. "Ken was working on an article. It's a short drive out of the city. Carl came with us, I think he got some photos," Rilla turned and smiled knowingly at Marianne.
"So he said," Nan hummed as she shifted in her seat. "Are you seeing Jimmy while you're here?"
"I am, he's excited as usual. I call every other week lately, I think the novelty of a sibling has worn off." Rilla laughed. "We plan on going to the ice cream parlour and candy shop. Thank by the way, for what you said at easter."
Nan tilted her head in confusion.
"About Di making comments about me not wanting to hold the baby," Rilla explained.
"Least I could do," Nan told her. "Di can be overbearing, I am hoping that she mellows out when she and Jack finally get married."
"Nan!" Anne exclaimed thinking her daughter just insinuated something about her sister.
"What? I just said that marriage may mellow her out," Nan said innocently. "Do you have any beau's back in Toronto?" Nan turned to look at Marianne.
"Not for many years" Marianne admitted. "Between my father needing to be cared for. It didn't leave much time for finding someone to be with. Few dates here and there when I managed, but no man generally wishes to wait as they would have had to."
"What happened to your father?" Anne asked. "I'm sorry, wife of a doctor, if it's too personal please ignore me."
"He's been in and out of a wheelchair for the majority of my life. Some sort of accident that he never talked about much. We had a trained nurse and he managed to work and run his business as I was growing up. I was going off to college, when he started to just forget things, how mother wasn't around. It was strange before his illness he never spoke of her. She died when I was a toddler, but then suddenly he was speaking of her like it was all yesterday. Always asking where she was, the worse he got the more he spoke and asked for her. I suppose I could have got married, left home, but something didn't feel right. We were all that we had left and my aunt who came to stay with us during the war to help out which was a blessing." Marianne explained. "He's in a better place now, and I am tasked with figuring out what I want to truly do for the first time."
"It is never easy, losing a parent. I grew up never knowing mine which had its own hardships. Then Matthew died and I cried so long and hard. He brought me home, he was the one never minding my mindless chatter." Anne said softly in a comforting voice. Turning when she saw Nan pulling herself up.
"Just heading to the bathroom," She waved them off before they could ask her anything.
"I do not miss those days," Anne murmured and shook her head. "Tea?" She turned to the other girls.
'I feel like I just saw you!" Jimmy skipped beside Rilla and Marianne who was amused by the young boy that followed Rilla like a puppy.
"Well, I was here last month," Rilla laughed as they walked into town. Jimmy had come over for Easter lunch. She ruffled his golden hair lovingly.
"I know, I just don't get to see you that often, do you think I can come to visit you again? Maybe longer than last time?" Jimmy asked.
"That is up to your parents," Rilla told him. "But I will ask if they will allow it. Though won't you miss your family?"
"All Willow does is cry," Jimmy shrugged. "When people come over, they only care about her now."
"Babies do tend to steal the spotlight," Rilla nodded sympathetically.
"Do you know what you're going to get?" Marianne asked the young boy, she had heard so much about the boy. She could still feel the connection the two had, she finally understood why it had torn Rilla apart.
"Chocolate ice cream!" Jimmy jumps up in the air as they reached the drugstore that had an attached soda shop and ice cream parlour.
"We keep running into each other," Rilla and Marianne turned at the sound of Carl Meredith's voice.
"So it seems," Rilla agreed. "What are you doing in town?"
"Running to pick up some things for Rosemary," Carl told them. "I can only assume you are headed for ice cream?"
"We are," Marianne spoke up. "Would your company?" She asked rather boldly looking towards Rilla who nodded her head. "That way Rilla and Jimmy could have some time alone?"
"We can stop by the dunes, I think the book I ordered and sent here should be here as well. It's about wildlife I was telling you when we were at the cove" Carl offered. "I can drop you back off to Ingleside later?"
Marianne looked back at Rilla who smiled at her. "That would be nice," she told him with a nod of her head. "Do you mind if I let you and Rilla have some alone time?" She asked Jimmy.
"Don't you want ice cream?" He asked her instead.
"I can get ice cream another day," Marianne told him.
"Are you going to get married?" Jimmy asked curiously. "Thats what I hear at school when boys and girls spend time together, it means they are going to get married."
"Not quite," Marianne laughed. "Mr. Meredith and I are just friends, I am sure you have friends who are girls at school."
"Girls are gross," Jimmy made a face.
"You'll change your mind in a few years," Carl told him with a grin.
"Rilla is a girl," Marianne pointed out.
"Rilla is old though," Jimmy started innocently. "Can we go get ice cream now?"
"I don't know, I was just called old," Rilla teased him. "Go have fun you two," She told her friends.
"So how are you enjoying the island?" Carl asked as they headed towards the dunes after a quick trip to the general store.
"It's beautiful, the Blythes are gracious hosts," Marianne told him. "Was your family surprised?"
"They were," Carl confirmed.
"How long are you here for?" Marianne asked him curiously.
"A few weeks, not entirely sure," Carl told her truthfully. "I am awaiting news from a university about a study that they are putting together. The university is in Toronto, but the study is elsewhere."
"Well, if you do end up in Toronto, you should look me up," Marianne told him shyly.
"I'll keep that in mind," Carl replied. "I was wondering though if you would like to keep in contact. Correspond with each other?"
"That would be nice," Marianne agreed. "Life is very much up in the air, I am lucky to be age though and make my own decisions."
"What do you want to do?" Carl asked her earnestly.
"I'm not sure, my aunt thinks I should just find someone to marry," She sighed. "I may travel, I have a cousin in Winnipeg, maybe go see the West coast San Fransisco is supposed to be wonderful?"
"Do you want to get married?" Carl asked after a moment.
"I don't object to the idea, but love is a curious thing wouldn't you say?" Marianne replied boldly.
"I observe love in many forms," Carl replied. "Did you know that barn owl, while monogamous creatures. If they don't have enough owlets, they will separate. The interesting fact is that they won't see other owls until a length of time until they deem it's final."
"So they are practical and considerate souls" Marianne laughed. "What else do you know?"
"Otters hold hands while sleeping in the river so they don't drift apart," Carl grinned. "Male penguins are said to give shiny rocks to potential spouses, in act of courtship. Cows have best friends."
"You are a walking encyclopedia aren't you?" Marianne teased.
"If you listen closely, goats can have accents," Carl grinned at her.
"Now that is a fib," Marianne gave him a look.
"I'm serious though, I have heard it," Carl told her earnestly, grinning sheepishly at her. "But yes romantic love is a curious thing." He said looking out into the water.
"Willa, I was telling dad about this place. I remember it being this enchanted valley but I don't know where it is."
"I used to take you down to an old valley behind Ingleside when you were young," Rilla looked down at him. Marvelling on how tall he was getting. "I am surprised you remember the place, my siblings called it's Rainbow Valley."
"Do you think we can go?" Jimmy asked.
"I don't see why not," Rilla smiled. "Though I think I ate too much ice cream." She rubbed her stomach. She didn't remember ever getting a stomach ache from ice cream.
"You barely ate any," Jimmy frowned.
"Well, I must be getting old," Rilla teased him. Frowning as she felt her stomach flip for the third time since living the store. She only prayed she could make it home before she got sick, as she picked up her pace. "Come along," she instructed him.
She called out to her parents when she arrived and found the house quiet. She told Jimmy to wait on the stairs as she went into her father's office. Ginger would settle her stomach, and she knew her father had candied ginger somewhere. Or even some Pepto Bismol to cure her stomach ache. She found some ginger and chewed on that for a moment, hoping it would help her.
"Come along," Rilla urged leading him around the house. She grasped his hand before going down the old path that brought them to Rainbow Valley. She took a deep breath of the moist woody smell of the valley.
She watched him run around, passing her new blooms of flowers when he found them. Relishing in the warmth of the afternoon sun as she watched him.
She was being carried when Rilla opened her eyes confused.
"What?" She muttered, her arm was stinging and when she tried to see why she heard her father speak up
"Stay still, you landed on your arm. I need to clean it," Her father told her.
Finally, he deposited her onto the examining table of his office. "You were out with Jimmy, according to him you suddenly stood up to go to him and you just crumpled. You fell on your arm and bounced your head on the ground." He told her as he collected the necessary items to clean up her arm.
"Is Jimmy all right?" Rilla asked. "When did you get home?"
"We just arrived when Jimmy came running up the house crying, saying that you fainted," Gilbert told her. "He'll be okay, your mother is feeding cookies as we speak. Though now I have some questions. Has this happened before?" He asked as he prodded her arm, she winced once or twice when he found a tender spot. He then tossed the bloody rag in the basin of water to soak. He sponged over the peroxide causing her to hiss as it hit her scrapes.
"What is that!" She said through her teeth.
"Hydrogen Peroxide, new antiseptic compound," Gilbert told her. "Thought you didn't answer my question," he reminded her that she wasn't off the hook.
"No," Rilla told him. "I was fine, then we went for ice cream and I suddenly felt ill. I found some ginger to calm my stomach. I just remember being overly warm. We were sitting down and I had an idea and stood up quickly and my vision just swarmed."
He nodded and grabbed his blood pressure cuff and wrapping it around her arm. Motioning for her to be silent as he took it. "Well, you'll have a bruise or two, Your wrist might be sore for a day or two from falling on it as you did. Your blood pressure is a little low, which could account for the fainting. You haven't been eating much at meals," Gilbert told her, letting her know that he had noticed.
"Certain smells have been stronger lately," Rilla admitted as he helped her sit up. He smiled at her before plucking a leaf from her hair for her. "But I've been feeling relatively fine, a touch more tired but Marianne and I have been across the city most days. If I ever feel ill it's during the afternoon or evening and not the morning"
"Any other out of the normal things happen, any new aches or pains," He asked.
"Nothing out of the ordinary," Rilla blushed. Sure she was spilling out of her brassieres and they felt too tight to the point she had bought new ones. She kept telling herself that she had gained weight from all teacakes she eats during the week.
"Rilla," Her father gave her a look. "You fainted, your appetite is lower than usual, your sense of smell is heightened?"
"I don't want to get our hopes up," Rilla she said quietly. "If I don't think about it, we can't be disappointed."
"How many days?" Gilbert's face softened as he sat down in front of her. He heard second hand from his wife about how Rilla had been feeling. Especially when she was surrounded by brides who seemed to come back expecting.
"Ten," Rilla said quietly and watched her father nod his head
"Ten is fair few, over a week," Gilbert stated. "Answer me this, and maybe I can help you?"
Rilla only nodded.
"Your last cycle, was it normal? Was it lighter or early?" She shook her head as a negative he nodded and stood up grabbing his calendar. Doing quick math in his head. "Six weeks sound plausible?" She nodded again to him and at the point, her mother knocked on the door.
"Is everything all right?" Anne asked when her husband beckoned her in. "We don't have to drive to the hospital or anything?"
"She'll be fine, just some dehydration from the heat. She's all bandaged up now." Gilbert laid the calendar on the desk behind him. Patient confidentiality existed even within families. It was her news to tell after all, but it felt strange to say it out loud before she even told her husband. It was strange that her father knew before her husband. Even if he was a doctor, and it happened because she fainted.
"Let's get you some water, and some fresh clothing then?" Anne asked her daughter. "Reassure the tyke that you are alive and well?" Rilla nodded and slowly.
"Give it a few more days, but from what you told me the probability is high." He told her quietly "I do suggest going to the doctor in Kingsport for a more definite diagnosis."
Well, it's the beginning of a new beginning for these two! Ken and Rilla I mean of course! Though I do enjoy the response Carl got the last chapter!
Thank you all for the reviews and comments. I'm not sure how long this once a week chapter will be, but considering I think I am off work until July because of COVID...I might just finish this story before then!
Thank you Jess, for helping with all my early pregnancy questions and emotions. Without you, this chapter wouldn't be here.
Tina
