So, before we go, remember how we tell you once in a while this is M rated for many reasons? Well, it is M rated for many reasons. Today we re-introduce our forgotten section of the headnotes: we have a TW for harassment.

And now... music! open .dot. spotify .dot playlist/3JsVKp8EplXX3GoBCBbHeV?si=FpX-yTj6RJa9P3rVPC-exg

Chapter 33

Incoming call: Jerry Baynard

"Hey, Jerry, what's up?" Gilbert greeted, a bit taken aback by the call. It wasn't normal for Jerry, of all people, to call him. He was fairly certain he didn't like him.

"Hey, Blythe. Are you busy?"

"Not really, my next patient is in about fifteen minutes. Everything is ok over there? Diana? Marie?"

"They're all good. It's not why I called. Look, Blythe," Gilbert heard Jerry struggle for a second and frowned. What was this about then? "I don't know how much you know about me and Anne."

"About you and Anne? What is there to know? I know you're kind of close, but…"

"She's my sister. She might not be blood, but she could as well be. I have my blood family, yes, but the Cuthberts? They were as close, or even closer, than my parents could ever be. They raised us both as if we were blood and by doing so we kind of became one."

"Ok...?" Gilbert said, even more confused. When they were teens, he remembered how Anne had a deep affection and exasperation for Jerry. But this?

"You wouldn't know that, of course. You were already… Anne no longer talked to you, when Matthew got sick and I moved in with them," he continued. Gilbert frowned even more. He hadn't even known that Jerry had lived with Anne at some point. Back when they first stopped talking, he hadn't asked too much about Anne. It used to hurt too much. Eventually he began to ask Diana a couple of times a year, just to know she was doing alright. "You have no idea how much she suffered, Blythe. No idea. She was already in so much pain, with all the mess both of you were in… But for Matthew to get sick on top of that, and then losing Green Gables… It broke my sister as you have no idea."

"Jerry, I…"

"No, Blythe. Today you listen. At least for now. I need you to understand this," Jerry interrupted him. "I need you to understand how your… whatever you had with Winifred impacted Anne, because honestly? She's the one I care about in this matter. I couldn't believe it at first, when I saw you with her. I actually saw all your evolution and I thought you both were going to get together before graduation. And then you were dragging this girl around."

"Now, Jerry, I think…" Gilbert tried again, because he couldn't just wait for Jerry to be over.

"Ferme ta yeule. Don't even explain it to me. Ça me pisse assez off, as it is. I do believe Anne said something while drunk. I don't need your excuses, Blythe. Nor your explanations. Save them. Not everything is because of you. But how broken she became in the following years took root in how disposable she felt. Even if she will never accept it. I know she had bad dreams when she first came to Avonlea, but it became positively scary at one point and I just kept climbing in her bed so she could sleep. I know she's had bad dreams again, these past few weeks, so you better take care of her, Blythe."

"I do. I did before, as well."

"Until you all but disappeared, yes. And then I had to endure her going out with this… estie de con. Lincoln was his name. Believe when I say it was all I could do not to kill him. I sure hope he's dead now and I'm not even joking. Anne became… this hollow shell when she was with him and we had to endure it just so she would still speak to us. Marilla was heartbroken at first, but then she got sick as well. And still you were in Toronto going to all your parties."

"Why exactly are you telling me this, Jerry?" Gilbert interrupted, no longer confused but annoyed and mad at everything Jerry was telling him. And he hadn't been going to any parties.

"Blythe. I don't like you. I've never particularly have. I still don't get what she sees in you, not even after all these years. Especially after all these years. But somehow, for some reason beyond my comprehension, she loves you," Jerry said, and it was evident how much it was costing him to have the conversation, or rather monologue, that Gilbert was listening to. He sighed. "And she's coming back to herself. She sounds happier now and is starting to have ambitions. She's started dreaming. Diana told me she's writing fluently again and she doesn't look as pale anymore."

"I've noticed, yes."

"I just want to know if you'll go after the next blonde that crosses your path," Jerry said.

"What?"

"You heard me, Blythe," Jerry said, annoyed.

"I'm not going to go after no one, Jerry. The only reason I stayed away for so long was because she wouldn't let me get closer. I've… I love Anne, in case you never noticed. And now… She's finally agreed to be with me, Jerry. I'm not letting her go. Ever. I just want to care for her and make her the happiest person I can. Help her achieve her potential."

"If she even cries because of you, Blythe, I will make sure your life turns into hell. I will search for every single mistake you've ever made in anything and I will chase you with them until you break."

"There won't be a need, Jerry," Gilbert said, his throat in a knot. "I'd do it myself."

"Good. After me," they stayed in silence for a moment.

"Listen, Jerry," Gilbert said after a moment. "Thank you."

"What?"

"Thank you. For telling me. I know those years were difficult, but she never speaks when I ask. So, thank you. Believe when I say I'm not taking any of this lightly, or taking her for granted."

"You shouldn't."

"I never will," Gilbert assured him. He still couldn't believe his luck, that she had finally forgiven him. He rubbed his eyes. "I just… I wish I was there. When Matthew and Marilla…. I just listened to Cole and Diana. I know it's not an excuse. But I truly believed it would only make it worse for her, me coming back from nowhere."

"She cried herself to sleep most nights, Blythe. There was literally no way to make it worse," Jerry said, and Gilbert felt his heart clench inside. "And I hate to admit this, but in the beginning I had no idea of how to deal with anything and I just wished you would come back just so she could feel better. You already knew what to do. For me it was all new and I felt stupid."

"Why didn't you call me?" Gilbert closed his eyes, frustrated. He would have gone. In a second. If Jerry Baynard of all people would have called him back then he would be back in Avonlea in the first flight.

"I don't even know anymore, Blythe," Jerry said, sighing. "Look, I'm half sorry for this call. Because I know it won't change anything. But I couldn't just let you go merrily about all this ignoring how difficult it had been for her since you disappeared."

"As I said, Jerry. Thank you. Truly," Gilbert insisted. Because he was indeed grateful about knowing at least a sliver of how she had been. And he felt slightly better knowing Jerry had been for her.

"Can we just keep this between the two of us? If she ever knows I called you she will have my head."

"Agreed, no worries about that," Gilbert accepted readily. He hesitated for a second, but then decided to speak anyway. The call seemed to be getting to a close and he had seen his second line ring a couple of times. "Listen, I'm really sorry. But I…"

"You're working. I know. I'm sorry, I didn't think this would take this long," Jerry admitted. "So, we'll talk one of these days? Please tell me how she's doing, once in a while? She's never… I know she tells me what she deems important, but never everything."

"I will. I'll take care of her as best as I can," Gilbert assured him. "Talk to you soon."

"Bye now, Bltyhe," Jerry said and Gilbert hung up, calling the secretary immediately. He was already behind.

**Fred (11:18): So, lunch today?

**Gilbert Blythe (11:37): Only if you want to wait. I'm running late. But I would appreciate it.

**Gilbert Blythe (11:38): Let me know if you can?

"So what's up?" Fred asked him as Gilbert finally left his office.

"Anne's brother just called me and gave me the lecture of the century," Gilbert answered. "And, if that's not enough, miss Independent didn't allow me to go get her this afternoon and insisted on riding the bus here."

"Anne has a brother?"

"Not by blood, but apparently way closer than what I knew. Remember Jerry?"

"Diana's husband? I am so lost now it makes no sense," Fred answered.

"He worked at the Cuthbert's farm since it was legal for him to do so. His family… they needed all the help he could provide. So he would go to school and then to the farm to help Matthew, and worked every weekend. They hired him around the same time they adopted Anne, and I am sure they were about the kindest people anyone can ever work for," Gilbert explained. "I told you when they stayed with us… years ago."

"Oh, yes. I remember now," Fred commented, chuckling. Gilbert rolled his eyes. He still wanted to forget that sight. "So I knew he was closer to her than to you… But I still don't get why he is considered her brother?" Fred insisted as they got to the staff room.

"Ok, so they get to the farm at the same time, right? And he is always there. Every single day. Having dinner and lunch and pretty much spending every waking moment in the place. They didn't get along in the beginning, they had this very weird rivalry and they would always get in each other's head, but apparently that's how they show affection between siblings? You should know better than I do," Fred shrugged as they put their containers in the microwaves.

"I suppose? I just couldn't stand Mark. And Grace, when she was a teen? I just couldn't," he acquiesced, shaking his head at the memory. "Don't get me wrong, I love them to pieces, but… doesn't take away the fact I wanted to murder them at some point."

"I suppose it's the same with these two? Ok, so... And this is the part I just got to know like half an hour ago, when Matthew gets sick, Jerry moves in with them. So now they not only see each other and tease each other and fight the whole day, they actually live together," Gilbert explained in a low voice as they took the containers and looked for an empty table on the back. "Jerry helped them get through everything when it was time to do so. And… he took care of Anne, Freddie. When I wasn't there, he's the one who took care of her. Every day. He just told me he would get into her bed just to make sure she slept."

"You're kidding, Blythe."

"I swear I'm not. I wondered the past weeks how on earth she coped all these years and it figures I have to thank Jerry Baynard of all people for taking care of her," Gilbert said, moving around what Anne had packed. "It was just the most surreal conversation I remember in a long time, Fred. I think he wanted to give me this big brother speech like in the movies? But in the end he just… showed me how broken she got to be at one point and how he sees she's getting better now? I don't even…"

"Stop feeling guilty, Blythe. It's in the past. Focus on what you can do now," Fred interrupted him. "And eat, or you will be late again all through the afternoon."

"I wish it were that simple, not feeling guilty," he murmured, looking out the window.

"Well, you'll have to come to terms with that or it will eat you away. Yes, you should have probably called. But didn't you? I remember you in first semester, you were in no fit state to do anything, you were just this shell of a person I was assigned as a roommate. And with Marilla… You actually called, not that you ever talked about it. And eat, Blythe. Now."

"You already sound like a dad," Gilbert mumbled, focusing on the quinoa with vegetables. He still wasn't going to talk about that call. Not even if Fred was the only person in the world who knew about it.

"Well I had to raise you from the dead, it has to count for something. I have experience now. So, what's with Anne? She's taking the bus?"

"Don't even remind me, please," Gilbert said, shaking his head.

"Have you even seen the buses? They're almost empty, Blythe. She'll be safe, it's not like she lacks common sense. And if you want her to live here, she has to find a way to move around and be Miss Independent, as you say, or it won't be healthy for either of you."

"I'm still not comfortable, Fred."

"You're paranoid. She's taking precautions. And if it really bothers you, think of an alternative that is realistic and doesn't involve you driving her around. Does she even drive?"

"Well, she did… I taught her when Matthew lost his patience after how distracted she was. I have no idea if she even has a licence now. She has to have it, now that I think of it, she drove in Montreal," he commented.

"What about a bike, then?"

"Anne? On a bike?" Gilbert asked, skeptical. Until an image of her on a bike with a basket in the front appeared on his mind. "What about those vintage style ones? You know? The ones with the little basket in front?"

"I know which ones, Blythe. And that's her kind, what were you thinking?"

"Where can we get her one?" Fred shrugged and Gilbert looked around, he knew there was a group of doctors that used to go biking on the weekends. One of them was not three tables down. "Hey, Farley! Where do you go to buy a bike?"

"What kind of bike?"

"The nice ones? With the tiny baskets?"

"For you?" the doctor asked, confused.

"It's for his wife, mate, Blythe here won't be caught dead on a thing with only two wheels. But you know, those cute vintage style bikes?" Fred explained, and Gilbert tried his best not to look uncomfortable at the blatant lie.

"There's a place in Ancaster. I'll send you the name. They have lots of options and then they have… baskets and stuff if you want. Helmets and that," he said, typing something in his phone and showing it to Gilbert, who nodded.

"Cole! I'm free!" Anne said as she waited for the bus, the new bus card Gilbert had very reluctantly given her the night before.

"What do you mean you're free, Nana?" he asked, chuckling.

"I'm moving on my own, going somewhere, for the first time in four months. It's momentous!" she declared as she saw her bus approaching. She adjusted the facemask Gilbert had texted to wear at least three times over the course of the day and waited until the bus opened the door. She entered, greeted the driver through the plexiglass door that divided him from the passenger and taped the card on the sensor, and saw that… There were only three more people. That's what Gilbert was so worried about?

"Sounds great!" she heard Cole say as she walked towards the back of the bus, to one of the seats that wasn't marked as unavailable to enhance social distancing.

"I actually missed it. Going on a bus gives time to think, you know?"

"It's not like you're lacking time to think now, Nan."

"True. But different. Anyway, I almost didn't convince Gilbert that I was going to be ok and now I'm even surer of it. It's empty! All regulated! Even the driver is with a facemask in a tiny plexiglass cabin!"

"So now that you're living there you're going to keep up with your public transport thing?"

"I can't justify a car, Cole."

"You could."

"Not worth it. Tiny city. Buses work. Maybe if I got a job far away? But anyway! Tell me more about your Toronto plans!" Anne said, changing the subject. They kept on talking until she got off the bus, just in front of the hospital. She went near the door and stayed close to a wall, out of the way.

**Anne S-C (16:49): I survived! I'm right at the entrance. Entrance 6? I have no idea of where to go. See you here?

"Oh, we meet again," she heard someone say with a soft, confident voice. Looking up from her phone, she saw the same doctor that had approached her last time she went to the hospital just in front of her. Any semblance of personal space nonexistent. She took a step back and leaned against the wall, trying to keep whatever distance was possible. The guy only seemed to think of it as an invitation to get closer. "Last time I never got around to know your name… What is it, cutie?"

"It's Anne." she answered coldly, looking back at her phone again. If this guy didn't go away, she was not above calling Cole again just to diverge the attention. She didn't know if Gilbert was busy.

"Anne, a name so fitting for your looks…" he said suggestively. "Don't you want to come get a coffee?"

"No, thank you," she said politely, her voice cold.

"Come on, Annie," he insisted, "I'm sure you take your coffee as sweet as you are, eh?" he said, extending a hand and putting it on one of her arms. Anne went rigid and swallowed. This was not good, but she couldn't very well do anything, could she?

"I don't. Please stand back," she said curtly. The doctor didn't move and only smiled.

"Come on, let's get a coffee and then we can head over to my place…" he whispered, evidently trying to be seductive.

"I'm not going anywhere. Please, stand back," she insisted, unsure of what to do. Would it be too bad to yell at a doctor in the entrance of the hospital? Could she get in trouble? She certainly didn't want to get Gilbert in trouble. And probably this was normal behaviour? Like Lincoln had mentioned at some point that...

"Oh, come on, sweetie, you know you want to get on with a doctor," he continued, interrupting her train of thought, extending the other hand and holding one of the boxer braids Anne was sporting that day, trying to keep the heat from July away from her nape. She inhaled sharply. Probably Gilbert wouldn't care if she yelled at him and Lincoln had been wrong about this as he had been about everything else? He had been wrong, hadn't he? So not the best source of information. And while… touchy, this guy wasn't technically doing anything, right? "Eh? Isn't that one of your…" but he didn't finish his sentence as a couple of strong hands seemed to appear out of nowhere, grabbing his arms securely. They moved him simultaneously away from Anne and to look up to a very intimidating Gilbert, jaw clenched, arms tense. He let go of the unknown doctor, taking a step back.

"Better to stand back, Jones," Gilbert said in a tone so frigid and angry she almost didn't recognize him. She let out a breath as Fred went next to her.

"What's up, Blythe? I'm just having a conversation with Annie here… Care to leave us alone?" Jones said, trying to sound unworried and unaffected by Gilbert's tone.

"I care about more than that. How about you respect people's personal space?" Gilbert answered, his tone calm but implicitly menacing, his jaw very tense.

"Personal space? We were just getting acquainted! Annie here was telling me all about how she takes her coffee as sweet as she is," he said, evidently not knowing there was any sort of relationship between Gilbert and Anne as he turned to wink at her.

"I would stop talking now if I were you," Gilbert warned, his voice low.

"What? Do you want to have all the fun? You can't have her, I got to her first. She was begging for it, even," he commented, stepping towards Anne and bringing a hand towards her hair again. She took a step back and almost fell against Fred, who held her steadily. Her heart was beating wildly, mostly because of all the situation, and she focused on Fred's hands on her arms, the soles of her feet on the ground. It wouldn't do for her to have a panic attack over this silliness. "No man would have wasted the situation, she looks like a good fuck and all that innocent façade is just begging to be done hard, holding her by those braids."

"I really think it's time for you to go, now, Jones," Fred said calmly letting go of Anne slowly as he saw how the expression in Gilbert's face was going from contained rage to something he hadn't yet seen in ten years. He went towards where Gilbert was, holding him just as he was lunging towards the doctor, who looked surprised. Anne was livid, not even knowing what to think.

"Wright, let the fuck go of me now!" Gilbert said, a louder voice, and Anne noticed Fred was actually struggling.

"I will do no such thing, Blythe. Jones, get lost now, you can face consequences any day of the week," Fred said, evidently trying to maintain some semblance of calm. Anne was just looking at them, stunned. "Anne, go inside, please," he added. Anne didn't move.

"Don't ever get close to her or else you won't even be able to walk!" Gilbert spat, still struggling with Fred's hold. "Wright, fuck, let go."

"I'm going, I'm going, jeez, if you want her so bad…" Jones said, apologetic, but evidently not sorry about anything, walking backwards for some meters, his hands in front of his chest, before turning and going at a fast pace. Fred was still holding Gilbert, who had his neck tense, knuckles white, still trying to get away from his friend's grip. Anne was still stunned.

"Blythe, get a hold of yourself now," Fred insisted, his voice stern and firm, and let go only when Gilbert stopped pulling. He arranged his shirt, a deep frown still on his face, his jaw so clenched it looked painful. He tried breathing deeply, trying to calm himself. "You ok, Anne?" he asked, looking carefully at her. He knew Jones hadn't really… done anything physical to her, but he was concerned anyway.

"I...Yes?" she stammered, still confused about everything. Yes, he had been a bit forward, but had he been so wrong as to elicit that reaction from Gilbert? He hadn't done anything, really. Just stood a tad too close, and spoke… kind of crudely, but…. They stood in silence for a moment, Gilbert still stealing glances to where Jones had walked off.

"This is so fucked up," Gilbert mumbled, finally feeling more calm. He sighed, trying to get the tension off. "Come here, Anne-girl," he added, opening his arms and engulfing her in a hug, trying to relax. Still holding Anne close, letting her familiar scent relax him further, he exchanged a look with Fred. They would talk about this. This was not right. He sighed, letting go of her a moment later. "Come, I'll show you to dr. Oak's office… You're going to be late if we don't move now."

"So, do you still want a coffee while she is at her appointment?" Fred asked Gilbert after they left Anne.

"I would have something stronger, if I'm honest," Gilbert confessed, pinching the bridge of his nose, his tone still grave, upset. "Who on earth do you have to be to speak like that? To behave like that?"

"You're driving, or else I would suggest something. And I don't know either. I'm as stunned as you are."

"It's not even that it was Anne he was talking about. I mean, obviously it's more personal, but it is wrong on so many levels I don't even…"

"I'm reporting him to HR on Monday, Blythe. Probably best if we fill a report between the two of us. I really hope they get an investigation going… I mean, if he was talking like that of Anne, I don't even want to know about how he speaks to other doctors or nurses," Fred said.

"Don't even say…" Gilbert exhaled. "I wanted to strangle him."

"I could tell, believe me. Quite the workout, just holding you. How come you're so strong?"

"I work out, you watch tv," Gilbert commented. Fred laughed. "Come, let's go to Timmies."

"Let's go, and you can tell me how you plan to deal with this fandom," Fred said as they exited the building. Gilbert looked at him, raising an eyebrow.

"What are you talking about, Fred?"

"Didn't you see how the nurses were looking at Anne?" Fred asked, snickering.

"What?"

"Blythe, I know you never pay attention to anything. But come on, it's like they just saw a celebrity," Fred commented.

"Why would they look at Anne like that?" he asked, confused, as they entered the coffeeshop. They ordered quickly, as there was no line, and were out not two minutes later. They looked for an available table outside.

"You've seen how they talk about her over her instagram account. She's the influencer of the hospital's younger women population, you're just too absentminded to even realize it. But mark my words, as soon as they get the courage they will be talking to her trying to get first hand tips and to see if she's as nice as she appears on her account."

"I can't picture Anne as an influencer. I mean, I can. But I can't," he chuckled.

"Ok, Anne, so it's all settled now. Here is your prescription," dr. Oak handed her a paper, which she took gratefully. "Remember there are side effects to all birth control. We went over them already. But if you feel something is off, don't hesitate to call me, ok?"

"Thank you, doctor. I really appreciate it," Anne said smiling.

"You can call me Emily. Gilbert never does it because he is as stubborn as it gets, but please do. We're among friends, here. So, how has living in Hamilton treated you?"

"Oh well, I haven't seen much, yet. With lockdown and all I'm mostly at home," she commented.

"I understand. I suppose it's still good, finally coming back from BC to live with your husband? He looks like a weight was taken off his shoulders since you came back," Emily commented as she typed something in the computer. For which Anne was grateful, because it helped to cover the shock on her face. What the fuck? Husband? But Emily Oaks was supposed to be his mentor! Not like the cashier at Tim Horton's midway to Montreal!

"It is," she said after a moment, trying to smile.

"Well, I'll see you in six months, unless something different happens or you change your mind about your contraceptive."

"I think I'm fine with the pill," she said, "but thank you again, and for having me at such a late hour.

"Not a problem. Have a lovely weekend!" Emily said as they both stood up, offering her hand to Anne. Anne shook it, smiling, and went out. She stopped in a corridor to text Gilbert.

**Anne S-C (17:27): So, husband, where should we meet?

"Oh my god! You're Dr. Blythe's wife!" she heard someone say. What in the world was going on in this hospital? She looked up and there was a small group of nurses. Or student nurses, more probably, because they barely looked twenty.

"I… am?" she said, or almost asked. Apparently they knew more about her marital status than she did.

"Oh, we follow you on instagram! I am Giselle, and these are Kim and Betty."

"It's the best feed ever" Kim assured her.

"Your photos are the best. And those tutorials! I tried doing your updo for a zoom party but I never managed to make it look that good…" Betty explained. Anne looked at them, stunned but flattered.

"And you look so good with Dr. Blythe," Giselle sentenced. "Your husband is the kindest doctor ever."

"Oh and Dr. Wright!" insisted Kim, blushing prettily.

"Thanks, I guess?"

"Please, can you do a tutorial on your braids? I always wanted to try them and you explain everything so well"

**Gil (17:29): What? Husband?

**Anne S-C (17:29): Apparently. Dr. Oak asked me how I was finally living with you after so much time apart. Some cute nurses seem to think you're the best.

**Gil (17:30): Fuck.

**Gil (17:30): There's a Timmies around the corner. I'll send you my location.

**Anne S-C (17:31): Here's mine, just in case?

"Sorry about that," she smiled to the nurses. "So, boxing braids?"

"Yes!"

"I can explain it to you on the go, do you know where there is a Tim Horton's close by? I'm supposed to meet Gilbert… dr Blythe, there," she said. "If any of you has five minutes to spare, of course."

"Oh please!" they chorused, and so they walked with her until the closest door of the hospital to the coffee shop, all while asking a thousand questions about braids, Gilbert and everything she had ever posted on instagram. Anne was flattered, still not quite understanding how this was happening, and was glad to see Gilbert and Fred walking towards them.

"Dr. Blythe! We met your wife!" Giselle, the most outgoing one. Fred laughed, and Kim blushed again. Anne smiled at them.

"I see you did," Gilbert answered smiling, trying his best to look nonplussed.

"They are so nice, Gil," Anne smiled, and the three nurses seemed to glow. Gilbert nodded.

"I know," he said, holding her hand softly.

"Oh, Anne! Do you think we can have a picture with you?" Kim asked.

"A picture?" she answered, surprised. The girls nodded. "Well, yes, I guess."

"Oh, with dr. Blythe as well, you always look so good together!" Giselle said. Fred looked about to laugh again but was apparently controlling himself.

"Here, Kim, give me your phone and I'll take it," Fred offered. She blushed again and Anne smiled at how evident her crush was. Gilbert was shaking his head slightly, completely confused, but smiled at Fred's cue anyway. The three girls looked at the screen.

"Can I tag you?" Kim asked, "I wanted to publish it on my account, if that's alright..."

"Yeah, no problem," Anne said

"You're ready, Carrots?" she nodded, showing him the paper with the prescription. "I'll see you on Monday, girls. Enjoy your weekend."

"Bye dr. Blythe! Dr Wright! Anne, it was so nice to meet you!" they said, going back to the building. Fred looked at them.

"So, for tomorrow, should we meet around ten?" he said, and they agreed on the details of who was going to bring what, where they were meeting, and soon Fred was off.

"Do you want to go get some ice cream?" Gilbert proposed. Anne was already out, they could take advantage of that. "We can go to Confederation."

"What's that?" Anne asked.

"Haven't we gone before? It's a park close to the lake. It has an ice cream parlour. I usually go to exercise because it has a great running path," Gilbert commented. They didn't talk much going to the car or on the way to the park, each lost in thought.

Notes:

So... We have many things going on today.

First... Jones. Yes, he is back and not for a good reason. But as you might already taken notice, we usually don't write things in the story without a purpose. We understand you might have same reaction as Gilbert about Jones (we know we do), and right now we might be not be your favorite people for exposing Anne under this situation, but try to put her process in perspective. There are many things we won't be able to answer in the comments because they will be developed in Saturday's chapter, so bear with us for some days?

Then... the wife story is out! (See? Not all was angst!) and we have a somewhat over-protective Jerry calling Gilbert. What do you think of that? Did it go like you expected? Feel free to express your opinion about the chapter... We are receptive to all interpretations and perspectives :)