July 2011 (Anne wrote this two-part diary entry on the afternoon and night of the events in chapter 23 of "By a Simple Twist of Fate")

Dear Diary,

I finally get to write this…she told him today! Yes…she really did! I was at my hair appointment and Shirley was at his friend's house so the flat was quiet and apparently the time was right for her to bring it up.

How did I know that this happened while I was gone? Well…let's just say that when I came home about an hour ago, I found Gilbert staring into space – well, actually looking at the M.C. Escher print on his office wall with very distant and unseeing eyes. Something huge was on his mind…and I could only hope that it was Rilla's news. My dazed husband focused on me to some degree when I wrapped my arms around him. The only thing he said (at just above a whisper) was "the Prince of Wales?" I could tell he wasn't really ready to talk yet, so I just nodded, kissed him on the forehead, and offered to get him a cup of coffee (probably better than a shot of whiskey at this early point in the day…although I'm sure it was "five o'clock somewhere…"). When I returned with his coffee, I quietly suggested that he and I should go for a walk along the waterfront trail this evening and then left him alone with his thoughts. (When discussing emotional subjects in the past, it has worked well for us to walk while we talk. I hope this will help tonight.)

I poked my head into the guest room to greet Rilla and see if I could judge her mood. I noticed that she wasn't in tears, so I assumed that the conversation must have gone OK (aside from Gilbert's current state of shock). I asked her about it, and she gave me a partial smile and replied that telling the girls a few months ago was considerably easier than telling Gilbert today. She realized that Ken threw her into the deep end with the girls when he suddenly popped up in their Sunday morning Skype call. With that intro, Rilla had no choice then BUT to spill everything to the girls. Today, it was all on her. She admitted that she almost didn't tell Gilbert today but then realized that this was about as good of an opportunity as she was going to get without Ken or me taking the plunge for her.

I restrained myself from being overly excited that she tackled this conversation with her father, but I did tell her that I'm proud of her and said how thankful I am that she has now removed this obstacle that has been there between Gilbert and me for seven months! (I'm not sure if she realizes how relieved I am that he now knows.) Before heading up to my room to write here in your pages, I asked Rilla if there is anything about her and Ken that she wants me to keep private still…and thankfully, she shrugged and said that I'm welcome to tell Gilbert everything she's shared with me about her and Ken! Ahhh, the bliss of having my muzzle removed!

Since our whole family knows that Gilbert needs a bit of time to process things within himself (kind of like how he withdraws inside his head when preparing for a major surgery), Rilla suggested that we let tonight's dinner be a "pizza and NetFlix" night. I agreed – because this way, we can all still eat together, but conversation will not be required. And since we don't know if Shirley will be home by that point or not, it would eliminate the "Shirley doesn't know about Ken yet" issue as well.

I will write more this evening before bed…after Gilbert and I have (hopefully) taken that walk so we can talk together.

It is now 10 PM. Gilbert and I had a really good conversation while walking the trail. Dearest Diary, let me tell you again how very, very happy I am to finally share this with my best friend and husband. I have NOT liked keeping this from him for so many weeks and months!

Although we weren't really at risk of being overheard with our quiet voices, we purposely just spoke of "him" and "his job" and "his family" in order to not attract any attention to our conversation. Gilbert had many questions for me about:

* when and how Rilla first talked to me
* if I've noticed her personality or behavior changing since he arrived in her life
* how the girls came to find out and what their honest reactions have been
* what sort of life they seen to have together in NYC
* when does she plan to tell her brothers and her grandparents
(I suggested that Gilbert could ask Rilla about that last topic since he might get a better answer than I have when I've asked the same question)

OK. I'm back now. (I know that you aren't alive and that you don't monitor time, so you don't actually know that I've been distracted for a few minutes. But it seems right and polite to at least acknowledge my absence to you!)

Anyway, Gilbert just came in to present me with one of his famous lists. He had no doubt that he'd find me writing in your pages and thought that I might like to include some of his points in my diary entry tonight. He was right! As typical of Gilbert when he is analyzing something, he made a list of his feelings and concerns – and he really included a lot of worthwhile items.

Pros:

1. Rilla looks genuinely happy and says she's in love
2. Ken loves her back (or so she says)
3. Stability – they've been together for 7 months
4. Rilla is still planning to complete her economics degree
5. Ken is older and offers maturity (not a teenager who is "wet behind the ears")
6. Ken seems preferable to some of Rilla's previous boyfriends

Cons:

1. Their upbringings are vastly different
2. Intrusive media attention will certainly focus on her…how will she cope?
3. Our whole family may receive media scrutiny – how will this affect our jobs? Our privacy?
4. What will Bertha say?
5. If this relationship continues, London will likely become Rilla's permanent home! (Too far away!)
6. Will his family accept her? Commoner. Canadian (at least she's not American). Young.
7. Security issues for her at work/school/home once the news breaks
8. She doesn't know what she wants to do with her life as it is – how will she decide now?
9. Money – he's rich, she's not…
10. Long-distance relationships have challenges

As usual, Gilbert has done a great job consolidating the relevant issues to a basic list. (I am always in awe of how his analytical mind works. But then again, he's no good at writing children's books…just saying!) I am sure we will come up with some more additions to Gilbert's lists as we talk in the upcoming days, but I think he hit most of the main points that I've been stewing over all of this time.

Gilbert has already crawled into bed, so I need to turn out the light and give him the chance to sleep…or perhaps just stare into the darkness while his brain keeps processing the day…