Typhoid & Gossip Ch 33: Davy - Deliveries, an anne of green gables series fanfic

Author's Note:

Kushinka - Yes… drama is coming but we've got to set it up even bigger first :)

Oz Diva - Is she spewing because she's expecting or because she's dreading a certain conversation?

Astrakelly - yes they're finally looking better, at least health wise… The Gossip is still coming.

Faith-hope-and-glory - See the comment for Oz Diva… And yes they're a united front ready to discover the gossip.

— Davy —

Sunday, July 3rd, 5:00am

Green Gables, Avonlea, PEI

Mrs. Lynde escorted Dora and I to Sunday school as now that Gilbert was recovering Marilla was finally letting herself have one of her headaches, and it'd come full force. We'd been instructed to go back with the Blythes and spend the afternoon as I was far too loud for Marilla. Mrs. Lynde herself planned a nice quiet chat with Mrs. Harrison next door on the porch. I remember one time the Sunday school lesson had been on the leaper, and I rather felt like one for the wide space some of the folks gave us. Or more accurately, their whispers would stop. "It'll be best sooner then later Anne and Gilbert come out of their romantic haze and make their announcement now that Gilbert's on the mend to stop those gossips." Mrs. Lynde whispered to herself as we sat down. I know she didn't mean for me or Dora to hear, but we still did. Why'd she whisper that if she didn't want anyone to hear? Later I'd have to remember to add that to my Anne list. Why'd Mrs. Lynde talked to herself.

Oh folks were talking to us, but there seemed to be a lot of whispers also, and I was quite glad when church was over and we were ready to head home. I tried to discreetly wave to Milty, but he didn't even acknowledge me, least it seemed so, but he sent a note via Anthony letting me know of a new fishing hope that if I went early enough and no one noticed it had the best fishing before sunrise.

Of course everyone's attention was soon caught by a suddenly panting Diana Wright, whose legs were dripping wet. Even those whispering about Anne and Gilbert alone at home together, least that's what I heard stopped. Several ladies rushed to help her, including both her mother and Fred's and Mrs. Lynde who'd had ten children as she liked to remind us, handed us over to Aunt Mary Maria and like many of the other ladies rushed off with Diana Wright while the men pulled Fred Wright in the other direction.

According to Aunt Mary Maria, Diana Wright was dying no doubt, in childbirth, and she was stuck with us. Which meant that as soon as we reached the house, she turned to me informed me she'd pay me a dollar to collect her shipment the next day at Carmody, and left us in the care of Anne & Gilbert before stalking upstairs to her bed to nap. After she reminded us to remain quiet.

"What's that all about?" Anne asked.

"She said Diana's dying." Dora hiccuped between tears.

"What?"

"She said too many women die in childbirth." I added shrugging, it was Aunt Mary Maria after all and I'd already learned to not pay her much mind. "Just because all the women scurried with her and kept her husband away from her because she'd wet herself at church. Everyone saw it. It was a gusher!"

"She's having the baby..." Anne rung her fingers. "Oh!"

"Anne?" Gilbert asked.

"We'll just have to distract ourselves until news comes!" Anne laughed, and then began to tell stories to us all, the four of us sitting on the spare room bed, with Gilbert propped up until Mrs. Blythe arrived and saw to our lunch. The afternoon continued on that a way, until with no news yet from Marilla or the Wrights, Anne finally insisted on checking on Marilla and asking at Orchard Slope about any news of Diana and the baby.

"Nah, Dora and I best be getting Marilla settled for the night. I'm the man of the house you know." I waved her off. Not wanting her yet to know of the ostentation from the Berry's, before Gilbert was ready with their news. He was certainly looking better every day. And they'd planned a party for that announcement. I figured even those who were snubbing us would come. Prove them wrong, so I'd been working on convincing the Blythes and Marilla that it should be a splendid party with a bonfire! A right good wedding party! It'd be jolly, and swell how high I planned to make that bonfire. Somehow I'd have to convince everyone to let well enough alone until Gilbert could come out and enjoy for their announcement.

"I must go, oh I pray..." Anne's words were cut off as she stood up suddenly, staggering slightly. Holding her head.

"Anne!" Gilbert cried, himself still too weak to do much help, and Dora and I were closest and able to guide her back to the bed, lying her down on top of the bed clothes, and helping her to hang her head over the edge.

"I think," Mrs. Blythe interrupted, "That you four best stay here, I'll go myself and check on Marilla and let her know the twins will be staying for supper. I'd enjoy the company with Dora."

Dora grinned at that, but then she's Dora and rather prim and boring.

So Dora and Mrs. Blythe went walking for news on Marilla and the Wright's baby, and I sat on the foot of the bed, because no one had yelled at me for doing so, while Anne blushed horribly and laid down with her head over the edge, until she was able to sit up again, "Just haven't eaten much, too excited that Gilbert survived." We then we helped Gilbert to lay back down and nap, while we went into the sitting room and Anne told me stories about Patty's Place. A right proper Sunday.

Mrs. Blythe and Dora came back with news that Marilla was resting and we were to stay until nighttime, then come home. And no news could be had of the birth, only that the babe hadn't come yet. Mrs. Blythe did remind Anne that with Mrs. Lynde there who'd had so many, and as good as a midwife in those parts, though what use Mrs. Lynde could be I couldn't see. But Mrs. Lynde must be a help, maybe she just was really good with diapers? I couldn't figure which list to put that on, and figuring now that it didn't matter, I put it on both.

Gilbert asked for my help to change and use the chamber pot. So I did. He'd been able to eat some at our dinner, just stewed apples which Anne had insisted on helping him with. For he'd gotten rather tired eating. He'd also gotten rather tired of wearing his bed clothes and swore he'd put pants on the next day rather then lounging around all day in his night shirt. He even admitted he might burn the night shirts for good measure. Sure didn't blame him. So I suggested with a grin knowing how Anne hated sewing that he could ask Anne to sew him a night shirt that at least had some color to it, maybe that ghastly calico Marilla had got on sale and hadn't even dared make anything out of yet for any of us? I'd gladly see that gone and no more fears of her making a shirt for me with that. Oh he roared laughing at that, for everyone knows night clothes along with under things are generally white. Makes boiling them easier on wash day or some such nonsense.

Well, in the end the day wasn't half bad, and we left before news came of the Wrights baby, headed home and Marilla already in bed gave us strict warning from the top of the stairs to be quiet. So we were, I mean even I was, Dora's always quiet, I can be if I have to, and anyways I was going to that new fishing spot that Milty hinted at, and I needed to get up early.

Milty was there, and we had a glorious two hours of fishing around sunrise, talking about everything a fella should talk about. He even told me more of just what they were saying about Anne and Gilbert. And the gossip going around. For the letter writer, Mr. Harmon Andrew's oldest girl was coming with her husband for Jane Andrew's wedding. Everyone was in a dizzy for more details, because folks at both Apple Bough and Green Gables had been so tight lipped. So I told him, we were having a party. A real bon fire, with festival the next weekend soon as Gilbert could be up and about. We were going to surprise them for they'd expect just close family and a few friends at most. Milty promised to come of course. No one was going to miss hearing first hand the news about Anne and Gilbert. And Milty was rather jealous, Sam sure paled as a big brother compared to Gilbert Blythe! I mean, Sam was great, and around, but who else had a big brother who won awards and was studying to be a Doctor? Why folks said he was the smartest Avonlea'd ever produced, and only Anne came close second. She didn't win the Cooper Prize after all.

Well, I spent the day doing what was needed including driving Aunt Mary Maria in the wagon to Carmody to pick up her new brass bed and mattress she'd ordered from Charlottetown. She'd wanted to stay but somehow Mr. Blythe had talked her into coming along with me. So I chatted away and she just made a face like she'd eaten a lemon. I'd had one before, and it's quite a sour taste, or curdled milk. So I counted on the drive how often I could get that face out of her.

Of course, back with the bed, she'd insisted on it being put together then and there so she could sleep on it that night. Much of the sewing things were moved to the kitchen attic along with the older lumpy bed. Mr. Blythe and I put the bed together, and everyone except Gilbert who had managed to get out of bed to sit in one of the chairs for a spell downstairs but hadn't managed more then a few feet, thought it quite swell in that room. Mrs. Blythe did make the comment that maybe a double bed would have been better long term, glancing towards Anne, but shrugged admitting that the single bed would take up less space in the sewing room. So we moved Anne back to Gilbert's room, who'd stay she'd insisted until Gilbert was ready to move back upstairs then she was overdue to spend time at Green Gables.

And it was that afternoon that a rather breathless Mrs. Lynde came and announced that the baby had been born finally, and it'd taken hours and hours. It was a boy and was the ugliest baby Mrs. Lynde had ever seen, but what did she expect, when his father Fred had been the splitting image of him. She'd then given a pointed look to Anne and Gilbert and told them. "You best not get ahead of yourselves too, for I doubt Fred's going to put up with naming his son little Anne, in my day one waits for the baby to be born before picking a name! The name has to suit the child. Landsakes, if my Thomas had his way, half our children would have been given names that would never have suit. Now Davy I'm plum tired, and you best finish driving me home."

So with that I headed home again, and working with Marilla and Dora, we set out invitations for the bonfire at Apple Bough and word of warning to all of Anne & Gilbert's friends that it was a surprise. And then after the bonfire, would be our birthdays. And both Dora and I secretly hoped that the gossip would go out like a thunderstorm on a bonfire to have our friends back, not that either of us dared say anything to anyone. But we're twins and I could tell she felt the same way.