Typhoid & Gossip Ch 37: Davy - A Party, an anne of green gables series fanfic

Author's Note:

Sorry! I've been working intensely on a client's project and hadn't noticed, thanks everyone!

DrinkThemIn - Yes I agree… I'm afraid that in my mind Anne's head's thoughts are… Please not be true… Please we shouldn't worry… if he's saying we shouldn't and he's the expert maybe I shouldn't either. It was hard to write, but I think the root of it is he's absolutely fearful of failing Anne and their future family and not providing for them is a big big fear. So Denial is a big big thing going on right ow.

Faith-hope-and-glory - Denial is the root of both of their issues. I actually originally wrote it with them both thinking they're expecting but it didn't fit, so I went back and removed the original conversation that happened I think in Gilbert - Out of Bed or Anne - Late.

— Davy —

Saturday, July 9th, 7:00am

Green Gables, Avonlea, PEI

I woke with a wallop to think about the bonfire for Anne & Gilbert's surprise wedding party! I'd been stacking and stacking every stick of wood I could find, some broken chairs that Anthony had brought over, and lots of wood from our orchard and the Blythes. I spent the morning once Anne and Gilbert were gone, driving it all over and setting it up with Milty's help, for with their announcement coming that afternoon, his father had seen sense and let him help me, especially as the agreement was signed now with the Sloane family and no one wanted to miss their news. Anthony and Sam helped too, though Anthony admitted his cousins had thrown a fit when they'd heard he was helping. We fellas didn't care, we had a bonfire to build. We set up tables, and both Anthony and Sam went quite stupid over Gilbert's cousin, Martha Fletcher, who was aright for a girl, and closer to their age, though a year older then them. She'd grownup quite well at Queens it seemed.

The kitchens were going non stop baking, even Aunt Mary Maria got into the spirit, and we were busy cleaning and preparing the wedding party they should have had, according to Aunt Mary Maria, if they hadn't been so foolish to run off and elope. But then she guessed, he'd been pining after the girl so long that one hint she'd finally said yes he'd rushed her off to the nearest preacher. I figure I might do the same some day. Though I think I'll do it properly, have the preacher round the corner and the wedding party, soon as she says yes.

We all argued over where they might have married. Kingsport, or some stop along the road. Martha even suggested that as Anne had attended a chums wedding it might have turned into a double wedding. Well, long as we didn't have to have frills and lace. Though we had to have flowers. About mid morning I left with the wagon to pick up Anne's two chums from college, and as I wasn't going to try to squeeze them both into the buggy, I thought it best to take the wagon. Pris and Stella as they laughed and squealed at Anne's hinted news. "Well we know all about it, Gilbert spilled the beans when he was sick." I shrugged. "They eloped on the way home, but think no one knows yet. Mr. Blythe thought it best to let them tell in their own time."

"Eloped on the way home?" Pris stared at me, as she and I carried Anne's trunk into the back of the wagon, the one she'd left behind in her rush to get Gilbert home.

I shrugged. "Well, they were married when I picked them up that Monday and Gilbert was so ill. You should be glad I brought the wagon this time. Wasn't expecting Gilbert and I just had the buggy, Anne had to sit in his lap was so tight. Mighty inconvenient, but I guess a fella can't complain if his wife has to sit in his lap, though he slept through most of it. I thought it was rabies you know not Typhoid, because he'd been bit. And I guess they ordered a baby. At least Mrs. Barry thinks they did. Someone's really got to explain to her where babies really come from."

"You picked them up on that Monday?" Stella asked climbing up behind the front bench, sitting on the trunk. She and Pris must have exchanged a look. "Perhaps they did elope."

"And her we thought Meg Gordon had the news of him engaged to Christine Stewart! And Anne was so upset she'd left the wedding early. I am dying to hear how that happened!"

Well, I got them back to Green Gables, they settled into Anne's room, no doubt Anne would want to whisper into the night with the three of them, and we set up Anne's things, as I told them. Anne wanted time at Green Gables for no doubt she'd be heading back to Kingsport with Gilbert in the fall and we needed Anne time too. We set up an old tick on the floor and it would do for the three of them. No doubt we'd hear laughter and whispers into the night. Maybe I could stay at the Blythes and if Gilbert was up to it we could go fishing in the morning? His wife would be busy with her friends after all. It sure would be nice to no longer have to skirt around the truth. I rather respected Anne for wanting Gilbert to make the announcement, but still. We'd all known for weeks now.

They refreshed themselves, and we hurried over to Apple Bough where they set to decorating and helping where they could. Nearly all of Avonlea was invited it seemed, and everyone wanted to be there to hear the news for themselves about how Gilbert Blythe and Anne Shirley eloped, and likely were already expecting.

I had to listen to even Charlie Sloane who was dragged over by Moody. "Well, even if he was seeing that Christine Stewart, though he claimed to me he was just escorting her and she was engaged to someone else back home, and Anne was seeing that Royal Gardiner. I know why they broke things off, I followed Gilbert a few times and saw his meeting spot. In some woods near your dear Patty's Place. I never saw them together, but I did see Anne leaving once, and well, it was quite clear what she'd been up to being so disheveled."

Pris at least was nearby and heard that, and snapped. "What are you implying Mr. Sloane? Everyone knows for years Anne loves to ramble in the woods. When was this? And did you see Gilbert Blythe then?"

With all eyes on him, Charlie shrugged. "Don't remember, but her face was red, and her dress rumpled. And no, I had been following Gilbert and lost him and was trying to find where he was meeting her..."

Stella just rolled her eyes, "That would be expected as she'd broken up with Roy. Now let's be happy for our friends."

It was late afternoon as folks arrived, mostly parking over at the Fletcher farm and walking over, such that until they turned the path on the drive up the road, Anne and Gilbert wouldn't see us until they arrived. As we'd set up the bonfire on the rear side of the house.

I went and stood lookout with the fellas though near the roads edge, keeping an eye towards the Newbridge road for Anne and Gilbert. They were riding up with Gilbert asleep his head leaning on Anne's head, and I swore I saw Anne yawn also, as I ran up. "We're not late for supper are we Davy boy?" Anne asked.

"No." I grinned, and then whooped. "We've a surprise, a jolly big bonfire, it's flames are reaching near on, must be thirty feet! Can you see it?" She looked wide eyed towards the the house where we could hear the noise of all gathered. "Why Mr. Blythe's got planned a toast after supper for you two for your announcement, with such a yummy cake that Mrs. Blythe made. I wanted to taste it and she let us lick the bowl. Why, even Diana and Fred are here with the baby though they can't stay long. And your friends Stella and Pris came. I picked them up at the station. They'll stay at Green Gables. Maybe since you'll be up so late, I can stay here tonight and Gilbert and I can go fishing in the morning now that he's well..."

Her face froze slightly, as she clutched Gilbert's hand then smiled, nodding to him. "I..."

"A perfect surprise." Gilbert grinned, yawning. "Though I'll pass on the fishing for now. I'll likely sleep all day tomorrow. Let's join the others."

So with a whoop, I convinced them to climb down and Milty and I lead the horse to it's stall while they walked hand in hand to the bonfire, with all the friends gathered around.

—*—*—*—*—*—

Author's Note: Next chapter on Friday is the big big reveal of the gossip. Who do you think will spill the beans to Anne & Gilbert?