Typhoid & Gossip Ch 38: Anne - Crash, an anne of green gables series fanfic

Author's Note:

Kushinka - Yes here's the drama! Enjoy.

— Anne —

Saturday, July 9th, 6:00pm

Apple Bough, Avonlea, PEI

We had looked forward to a quiet evening with our families to announce our news, and then at church the next day to let all know I was the future Mrs. Dr. Blythe. Gilbert's thoughts that nothing we'd done could cause long term issues brought some relief, yet I remembered the haze in his eyes as we'd, and his fever. He'd not been the most lucid then. What if he didn't remember after all? It appeared all of Avonlea was gathered in the side yard of Apple Bough around a massive bonfire. I could feel Gilbert, struggling to stay awake as we walked towards them all, slowly and clearly my first task would be to get him settled.

Thankfully they'd brought out the two rockers, and we'd been lead towards them, the two of us graced like a king and queen in front of the bonfire as friends scurried around us, wishing congratulations on our upcoming news and Gilbert's recovery. Wishing us also well on our graduations, his cooper prize, and the future Dr. Blythe.

We had plates pushed into our laps, and managed small bites between guests greeting us. I smirked glancing towards Gilbert who still wore the flower crown I'd made him, we truly were like a king and queen at the moment. I was well aware though of how exhausted he was, and truthfully even for myself it was a bit much. We'd expected just family instead even Stella and Pris had come. And Diana and Fred were walking around with little Fred for his first outing. Neither of us could hold Little Fred, but we both cooed at him when Diana presented him.

Stella had approached me, "Anne dear, we're all shocked of course, but glad. But how ever did it happen? They're expecting Gilbert to make his announcement as soon as the deserts are brought out, though he looks like he could sleep for a few days, I hope it wasn't too soon... But then Davy planned it all, and he was so keyed up with excitement."

I glanced towards Gilbert, who was shivering slightly, for the wind had picked up, blowing the heat from the bonfire away from us, the heat and smoke, thankfully for it had blown towards us earlier. It really was time for that toast and cake they'd planned for our engagement and I'd seen Abby Blythe head towards the house. "Distract them for a minute, Gilbert's going to want a blanket or sweater and I best talk to his mother about."

"I could..."

"No," I laughed. "It's an excuse to freshen up before everyone's eyes on me when Gilbert makes his speech. But if you could distract the next..."

She laughed, and as the next well wishers approached to hint at our news. Why had I insisted on such a way to announce our engagement? Well, I slipped into the house, and wishing to wash my face, check the crown of flowers on my head, and see to my toilet. I slipped up into his room saw to my toilet, fixing some loose strands in my hair, and readjusting the flowers before turning to find a sweater.

His room felt strange in a way, with my things now gone and just his. I opened the dresser pulling out some of his old clothes left behind. It was an old sweater I fetched from our first year at Redmond that I'd remembered well, had a few holes in it, but would do. I took a deep breath, one final glance at the mirror above his vanity and slipped out of his room, to head down the stairs.

I was just reaching the bend in the staircase and had paused in the moonlight to look out on the small window that stood over the stairs towards the bonfire beyond, where I could just see my fiancé. How precious to call Gilbert such. I stood in shadows watching when I heard voices behind me, I had started to turn to greet them when something froze me.

"Really Charlie, I wouldn't have thought you would have come. What with the gossip... But then it seems everyone in Avonlea is here curious if the gossip is true. I mean I barely believed it when Mrs. Harmon Andrews came running with her fat wobble up the path late as usual for the sewing circle with the news from her daughter Prissy." Gertie I thought, as I turned about to make my presence know.

"Well it's true, I was his roommate after all. He never confessed to me their plans, but I know there was a night where no one saw Anne, I even asked and verified. But what you don't know is Gilbert never came home that night either. So yes, it's true no doubt. But what can you expect from an orphan girl whose a light skirt, lifting her skirts to Gilbert, likely that Gardiner fella too. I was never fooled by her. No wonder they have to marry. I'm shocked he got the Cooper Prize."

I was frozen. I wanted to scream, what was this? My head was whirling.

"Have you seen Anne?" Moody joined them. "Gilbert sent me to find her, his parents want to start things."

"No..." Gertie said. "But I cannot miss it! But then it's so juicy that they eloped and that perfect Gilbert Blythe admitted they were expecting already before they married. And to Prissy! They probably didn't know that the hotel they chose for their honeymoon was owned by the Philips. Prissy told me her husband walked in on them even in the midst of knowing each other biblically, so it must be true."

"Gertie!" Moody spoke. "Come on, don't pay gossip any mind. And that's their private business."

I felt dizzy, my stomach was turning, I'd bitten my lip too hard and I tasted blood. What was this? How? I couldn't move. Our future. The Cooper. How had I not known. It was owned by Mr. Teddy the hotel. I remember the maid Clara had gone on and on about her cousin, Teddy. Oh no, was Mr. Philips Mr. Theodore Philips? Oh this was the depths of despair.

Gilbert wouldn't make the announcement until I was there, we'd announce the truth, of our engagement. And we hadn't met before we ran into the train. That had to be an unfortunate timing. Why had Charlie Sloane been spying on us? There was only one night I could think of, not that I'd seen another soul that night. I'd gone in the middle of the night having not slept to seek the woods the night after I'd turned down Roy, but I'd seen no one. Instead I'd been alone and cried, wishing that I'd not lead him on. I'd been curled up for hours between two fallen logs that night sobbing about the loss of my ideals. I hadn't even noticed Charlie when I'd returned to the land of the living. That could be the only night.

That could be corrected. Our reputations restored with that rumor of Charlies though trust in his friendship might be less easily restored by Gilbert and myself. But the hotel, and from what I'd heard all of Avonlea knew we'd been checked in as husband and wife. And ... it had been Mr. Philips who'd walked in on us. I bit my lip harder, and as though facing death I knew two options.

We tell the truth and face no doubt the loss of his Cooper Prize and no doubt my teaching position. That was lost either way. I was his helpmate, we'd made our vows. It wouldn't be a lie, not really. There'd been no marriage certificate, and no witnesses. But it didn't make our vows any less true. So with a resolute sigh I squared my shoulders, held my head high, finally recognizing the rumors for what they were surrounding us.

Several were trying to bring out from the kitchen platters of treats, and wanting something to do before I had to confess the news to Gilbert, I found myself grabbing the cherished yet ugly platter of Aunt Mary Maria's that had been filled with cookies frosted with our initials, balancing it with his sweater. Someone tried to take it from me, to offer to do it, yet I held firm. I walked towards Gilbert. The food table was only feet behind our rocking chairs, and he rose to greet me, his own exhaustion so clear on his face.

"Anne-girl?" He whispered as I approached. I was trying to anchor onto anything. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

"Gil... they know about the hotel. All of Avonlea." I whispered. "Mr. Philips..."

I never got a chance to continue.

"Landsakes its near my bedtime, we're going to toast your news or not?" Aunt Mary Maria suddenly spoke, her voice carrying and somehow the conversations stilling as all eyes turned towards us. "You still look half dead Gilbert, and I heard you already announced Gilbert that Anne was expecting and that you ran off and eloped because of the babe. Going to name the babe some heathen name Little Diana my foot. It should be a proper Christian name from the Bible, no one can doubt Anne's expecting she's got all the signs, even John could see it."

I had always imagined a good faint, I had fainted once. There was a shattering, and I vaguely was aware as my legs gave out of Gilbert catching me, only in his still weakened state we'd both had fallen to the ground.

My head cradled between Gilbert's ribs. The ugly fat men in shards, except for one laughing remaining staring straight at us. Everything was spinning. I glanced back, Gilbert wasn't moving. Someone helped lift me up, spoke of him bleeding. He'd hit his head on a rock. I was helped inside by Rachel and Pris, and watched as several of the men carried Gilbert in, his crown forgotten in the yard as everyone rushed inside with dark heavy clouds rolling in hiding the stars overhead.

I glanced towards Gilbert, he'd hit his head on a rock, and blood was pouring out. Mr. Blythe was holding his head, as Dr. Spenser who had come of course, was tending to his head. "It'll need stitches, I left my bag in the spare room."

Rachel was holding me up, for my knees wanted to was a nightmare. The house had become crowded as the wind picked up and the bonfire was blown out by a gust of wind and downpour of heavy rain that beat upon the house. I don't think there'd ever been as many people there.

They cleared the sitting room table, and Gilbert was laid on it, as Dr. Spenser worked and nearly all of Avonlea watched, though I suspected others had taken refuge in the barn. I was close to his hands and held it, as Dr. Spenser worked quickly and Gilbert moaned. He had just finished, cleaning the spot, when we all began to breath again.

"Well Anne, we're all on bated breath. Prissy told us all about it, how Gilbert said she was the first to hear about your elopement when he checked you both in..." Josie suddenly spoke. "Told us all about it this afternoon. How Gilbert even informed her about you're going to name the babe Little Diana."

The Cooper. The Ethics Committee... I saw it all go down the drain, oh the depths of despair! The suddenly the memory of our vows that afternoon. We hadn't a license, or witnesses unless one counts the small bird that sang to us as we vowed our lives. I was his helpmate, his beloved and clearly I had to protect his future as a Doctor. I could not let this reach Redmond.

"Josie, we got into a horrible fight two years ago when Gilbert proposed, and until we ran into each other after graduation I'd barely seen or spoken to him. We both have a tendency to a grudge I'm afraid. Perhaps it was rather rash to elope so suddenly, but Gilbert's always carried the ring he'd had made for me six years ago in his wallet, and and when I said yes, well, the next thing I knew we were married and rushing home to share our news, only he'd gotten ill so quickly. We hadn't known he had Typhoid when he ran into me. It really has been his dream, and now he's unconscious..."

"Anne..."

"And yes Gilbert is already naming and dreaming of our future children, but that's hopefully a few years yet. And as I was a maiden on our honeymoon, too soon to tell since that was only three weeks ago. Now, we need to get my husband off this table and to bed, and I'm rather too tired myself. He's still regaining his strength. Thank you all for the lovely party, goodnight."

"Well," Mr. Harrison spoke suddenly. "What do you expect, I'd always known Anne was a crazy romantic bless her, and figured Gilbert Blythe must be as crazy as her for how often he followed her about like a puppy on a string. Don't know how long that storm will last, and we're stuck here now. So best cut the cake, and let's help Anne carry Gilbert upstairs to bed. The newly weds can rest and we'll start the toasts."

And so somehow I found myself carrying a lamp up the stairs leading Mr. Blythe, Moody and Anthony Pye up the stairs carrying Gilbert as Dr. Spencer's followed, and Mr. Harrison announced to the crowd, how all the old married men best give a speech about their wives, starting with his own wife, declaring her best features. He was a dear, and I'd thank him properly soon.

"Mr. Blythe..."

They laid him on the bed. "I..." Mr. Blythe stared at me as Moody and Anthony rushed out. "Storms not looking to let up. Abby told you to call her by her name and I did the same thing. It's John now you're family. Or Dad if you prefer. We didn't want to bother you with the gossip, if we could loose Gilbert. We were worried of course with what we heard, but we trust you both. Always have.

"Thank you, John." I glanced towards Gilbert. "The storm..."

"Let me and Abby see to the folks. Well, with his head I doubt you'll want to be parted to spend the night with your chums. We'll likely have all the beds overstuffed, and I'll be sleeping on the floor so that some of the women folk can have the beds. And some living closer will no doubt be able to brave the storm if it lets up some to head home soon. I... I best go help downstairs, before Mr. Harrison embassies his wife too much she leaves him again. Sorry Gilbert couldn't give his speech. I... I'll have a word with Mary Maria. Love her dearly but she's a bit bitter, and it wasn't her news to announce. We all were suspecting. Rachel Lynde's been insisting you've got all the signs. But it's easy to loose a babe early. I hope you and Gilbert don't. But Abby and I lost several, but I can say a child always brings joy. Life might be hard the first few years with Gilbert still to complete medical school. But you can't that grandchild of mine won't know love, and that's better then any finery."

I nodded, not even knowing how to respond. My heart fluttered as I stood watching him leave, the faintest joy. I felt my heart bursting finally once I closed the door on John Blythe, my hand briefly going to my belly that perhaps if what they all believed was right would soon proudly proclaim the love that Gilbert and I would share. I leaned against the closed door, glancing towards where we'd laid the unconscious Gilbert on the bed. I felt my hands shake as I turned to him, slowly undressing him as I did when Davy first came to us, stripping him down to a summer union suit, that even in the dim light of the lamp I could tell was thread bare and old. He'd lost a lot of weight since he'd come home. His pants were loose, he'd needed a new shirt, and his coat had been fit on his shoulders only two months before when I'd spied him wearing it escorting Christine Stewart about campus, not that I'd been watching it'd been the perfect fit on his broad shoulders.

Folding his suit, and putting it away my vamped heart began to finally slow down. I noticed his shirt collar was stained with blood so I carefully set it to soak in the vanity, then tended to my own dress. I washed my own face, then carefully removed my own dress. Followed by my shoes, and stockings, even my corset cover before pausing. Others might come to inquire, and I'd truthfully rather keep the corset on if I needed to let someone exam Gilbert in the night. So taking my hair down, braiding it loosely and tying it with a ribbon.

Then, blowing out the lamp on the bedside, as laughter came from below, I slipped under the bedclothes beside him, the narrow single bed necessitating I lay on my side pressed close to him, and with my head on his shoulder I fell asleep.

Author's Note: And now the reveal is here… well in part. Poor Gilbert.