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The last days before Gilbert's birthday Anne was busy. Talking with Ella, Cole, Roy and Fred, she wanted to invite all of them to the apartment to have a nice dinner. She went to Michael's for some craft supplies, and then to the trail to pick up pine cones to fully decorate the place. Every afternoon, before Gilbert came back from the hospital, she took care to hide everything. She knew him: he would have a great time, he would appreciate everything, but if she ever suggested inviting friends over for dinner he would say she shouldn't bother.
So she took the time to go buy groceries on her bike, texted Fred for him to figure out whatever craving Gilbert might have at the moment (if she asked, she was sure he would catch on), and crafted. The morning of his birthday, she woke up extra-early and prepared a special breakfast (including some apple fritters only because she knew how much he liked them). Gilbert arrived in the kitchen buttoning his shirt, the smell too enticing to ignore.
"Carrots are you…" he started, but then saw the dish with the absorbing paper towel, the fritters, and the island perfectly set. "Goodness, Anne-girl, what…"
"Happy birthday!" she exclaimed giddily, leaving the strainer and going to give him a sweet kiss, caring not to touch him with her battered hands. He smiled into the kiss and when she pulled off saw how his expression was as boyishly happy as she had imagined. "Breakfast time! Give me a second and I'll be with you," she added, walking back to the stove to take off the fire the last of the fritters. She washed her hands and grabbed the serving plate, walking to where Gilbert was standing, unsure of how to proceed. "Well, sit, birthday boy!"
Gilbert sat down, his eyes still mesmerized as he watched the island Anne had decorated and set up only for his birthday breakfast. He had a knot on his throat, not understanding how everything could have changed so much in the span of a year. When he had turned 29, he remembered distinctly, he had had cereal for breakfast. A sad, warmed up BLT for lunch. Fred had insisted on inviting him for dinner, but he had explicitly asked for double shifts that week of September just to avoid going out.
Today, Anne had outdone herself… The apple fritters his dad used to make ( A Blythe tradition! he used to say). The blueberry pancakes Marilla prepared when she invariably invited him to celebrate over the weekend and… Some savoury stuff (because it was Anne cooking and she was all about balance even if he could just eat sugar all day). Fresh coffee and warm milk.
And that was just the food. She had set up the table with twigs and pine cones and green leaves and everything that was her, and she had set up the wooden toys in between them . In the middle, a photo of him and his father celebrating his fifth birthday, which he knew Anne knew was one of his best memories of his childhood.
He looked at her, standing at his side, with shiny eyes. She smiled warmly at him and rested her head on his shoulder as he instinctively hugged her from the side. He let out a shaky breath.
"Anne, this is…" but his voice cracked.
"I want you to enjoy your birthday, Gil," she said. "Fred told me some very sad tales about your past birthdays and this is supposed to be such a happy day. Aren't you hungry?"
"I am," he said, clearing his throat, composing himself. He let go of her reluctantly, and sat down on one of the stools. She sat next to him.
"I hope the apple fritters are up to scratch. I haven't done them in years," she admitted. Since he had turned nineteen. But she wasn't about to say that and highlight how she had missed all of his twenties.
"I'm sure they are… And those are Marilla's pancakes?"
"They are," she confirmed. Then she let out a squeak and got up quickly. "Your present! Let me go fetch it!" she hurried to their room and came back with a medium, flat package he received gingerly, leaving his fork in his dish.
"You didn't have to…"
"I wanted, Gilbert. Don't discuss. I just hope you like it," she added, biting her lip. Maybe the carrots bowtie was too much? It was a joke, but still. He looked down at the craft packet she had decorated with the same leaves and twigs as the breakfast table. He had never been one to carefully unwrap his presents, but he took his time untying the twig before tearing the paper. He looked at the bowtie, his mind processing what the little orange shapes were and then he grinned at her.
"Carrots! I love them! Oh, I'm changing the shirt just so I can wear this," he said, the striped shirt he had on not really going with the carrot pattern. He was still grinning widely when he put aside the bowtie (which was attached to a cardboard with the brand and various information) and saw the suspenders. "Leather? I mean, they are… so, so nice, but Anne…"
"It's vegan," she explained, pointing to a tag that was attached and she had also missed the first time. He opened his eyes in surprise and read the tag that was hanging. "Wow, I would have never imagined this. I seriously love them, where did you get this?"
"Niagara-on-the-Lake? A tiny shop we found by chance the other day," she explained as Gilbert lost no time unclipping the suspenders he had chosen for the day and adjusting the new ones.
"How do they look?" he asked grinning. Anne bit her lip, blushing. He looked even better than she could have imagined.
"Good. You look good in suspenders, Gil. We've gone through this," she mumbled as he chuckled. "I'm glad you liked them."
Gilbert arrived at the hospital with minutes to spare. Anne had woken up to prepare breakfast so early that they had not had to hurry at all. The new bowtie looked nice with his light blue shirt and he still couldn't get over the fact that Anne had somehow found a pattern with carrots in it. And a nicely, tastefully done pattern, at that. He was walking down the corridor to his office when he heard Fred's distinct laugh and looked up from his phone, where he was checking the schedule for the day. At least Fred had set that thing up.
"I can't…" Fred tried to speak, but looked at him again and laughed more. "Carrots? Did…" and he laughed. Gilbert looked at him, lifting an eyebrow, not saying anything. He wasn't going to engage in this. Some nurses and doctors that were passing by eyed them curiously, but Gilbert just ignored them and Fred was too caught up in his laugh to even notice. He liked his bowtie and he wasn't going to let Fred interfere with it. He finally managed to compose himself, still snickering slightly. "Anne gave you that? Honestly?"
"She did and I like it, now shut it, Wright," Gilbert said, smiling only slightly. Because he did find fun in the situation, but he didn't want the whole hospital to know his girlfriend had gifted him a bowtie with her basically printed on it.
"This is the best joke ever," Fred said, still chuckling. "Anyway, happy birthday, Blythe. How's the day going?"
"Amazing," Gilbert answered, smiling broadly, starting to walk again with Fred by his side. "Let's go for coffee later? I have a patient in like five minutes and want to review his file before."
"Sure thing, just text me," Fred said, leaving him on his door.
MissRose sent you a message.
He sighed. For some reason he couldn't understand, Winifred had started writing him direct messages on Instagram daily. And he didn't know how to shut her. Because ignoring her only brought on more and more messages and he still wasn't sure if there was a way to block someone on that platform, and was it really necessary? It was rude, unnecessary, and, quite frankly, he couldn't care less about her. And she had pointed to a really good paper on stem cells that had helped him with a treatment plan that had been bothering him since the beginning of the week.
MissRose: I hope you're having a blast on your special day, birthday boy! 💋 💋 💋 You look as dashing as ever, the years have only highlighted what we always knew. And your charm and intelligence are unpar!
GilbertBlythe: Thanks, Winnie :)
MissRose: All this pandemic stuff has really got me thinking about us, darling. I wish I was there with you 🔥
Gilbert didn't answer.
**Bash (09:01): Welcome to the big thirties club! How does it feel to be as old as your big brother?
**Gilbert Blythe (09:01): You're mental. It feels exactly like nothing has happened. Anne gave me the cutest gift and prepared apple fritters. Apple fritters!
**Bash (09:02): LOL she knows you so well. Show the gift!
**Charlie Avongang (09:03): Hey Gilbert! Happy birthday mate! 😄
**Gilbert Blythe (09:03): [Photo] There you go.
**Bash (09:03): [Voice note: Bash laughing loudly]
He put his phone aside and didn't look at it for the rest of the morning, the appointments back to back and no time for anything more than check files and histories. He grabbed the phone on the way to lunch and looked at the string of messages.
**Jane Avongang (09:10): Gilbert Blythe happiest of birthdays! 🎉 🎊
**Diana (09:35): Gilbert! I hope you really enjoy this birthday! No more moping even when you're getting old, you have Anne now and I know she has a surprise stored for you 😉 So enjoy your day like you're supposed to! Love you! 💙 💙 💙 Marie and Jerry send you a hug as well, talk to you soon!
**Josie Avongang (09:50): Gilbeeeeert happy birthday! Enjoy your day with Carrots ;)
**Ruby Avongang (10:09): Gilbert! I hope your day is full of happiness! All my love 💞 💓 💖
**Cole (10:10): Gilbert Blythe! You're ancient now! Congrats! How's your day going? Do you have new grey hairs? Wrinkles? Has Anne given you her presents? 😉
MissRose sent you a message.
MissRose: I just can't stop thinking about you. And the mind-blowing sex. 🔥 Remember that day in that hideous forest? The one where you took me to that meadow? Remember that day? Oh, how you felt in my mouth 🍆 👄 🍆 👄 And then how rough you were against those trees… I still get horny just thinking about it 🔥 😏
**Mary (10:54): [Voice note, Delly singing] Uncle Gilby! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!
**Mary (10:54): She wouldn't let me write to you if I didn't allow her to record her message first. Happy birthday, Gilbert! We are so proud of you, I hope this year is the one where all your wishes come true! We love you! 💛 💛 💛
**Moody Avongang (11:30): Gilbert, Mate! Happy birthday, old man! When you finally come here we have to grab a two-four and see if you can still play hockey as well as you used to when you were young.
"Ready for lunch, Blythe?" Fred asked. Gilbert looked up from his phone. "Are you ok?"
"Of course I am," Gilbert answered quickly. He was not going to overthink Winifred's messages. It would all just die away. Right? "Just give me a sec."
GilbertBlythe: Winnie, that's in the past. Where it belongs. Please, don't mention it anymore.
**Gilbert Blythe Avongang (12:05): Thank you guys! You're the best :)
**Gilbert Blythe (12:05): What surprise? Diana? Thanks for the message, btw. Love you too :*
**Gilbert Blythe (12:05): She gave me some suspenders and the cutest bowtie. Thanks for the message!
"Let's go. Have you brought anything? Anne has been busy, and honestly yesterday I didn't have the mind to cook."
"Mind or skills? I didn't, because I convinced Anne not to cook for you. Come, I'm inviting you to lunch. There's this nice restaurant that has some veggie options for you weirdo," Fred explained.
"Thanks, mate, there was no need."
"No need, I know. I just want to," Fred said. "Oh, and I made sure you get a long break today so you can actually chew what you eat." Gilbert laughed.
**Tillie Avongang (12:09): Happy b-day Gilbert! Enjoy your day!
"So, Blythe, tell me. What happened? Difficult case, something you want to discuss?" Fred asked as they sat. Soon a waitress came and took their order, clad in a facemask.
"There's nothing, Fred, stop it, please."
"There is and you know it. Before you were… Giddy and happy. Now you're… giddy and happy with a frown," Fred said, eyeing him critically. "And take your hand off your neck, honestly Blythe!"
"It's nothing! Seriously, let it go," Gilbert insisted.
They ordered and ate, talking about Bear nonsense, how Ella was feeling (much better, second trimester was the best, apparently, so he could start to believe her again when she told him she was feeling fine) and the latest series Fred was watching on Netflix. Gilbert had all but forgotten about the messages by the time Fred asked for the bill. As he reviewed the bill and talked amicably with the waitress, Gilbert checked his phone.
**Roy (12:27): Gilbert! Happy birthday. I wish you all the happiness!
**Carrots (12:53): I hope you enjoyed your meal with Freddie! How's the day going, Gil? Enjoying your day?
MissRose sent you a message.
MissRose: Oh but you know you want it, lovely 😏
Gilbert put the phone screen-side down and sighed, waiting for Fred to pay. Was she so daft, really? Anne was in one of every two pictures in his recent instagram grid. It was obvious they were together.
"Blythe. What is it," Fred insisted, looking critically at him.
"An ex writing. I just… can we talk about something else? I want to take my mind off that. Please. It's mildly disgusting and it just doesn't make sense. Tell me about Ella. Or Bear. Has your mom seen about the ring?"
"Ring will be ready soon. It's $50, just forget about it. Who is it? Christine Stuart, Bertie?" Fred asked, referencing to the one of Gilbert exes that could be considered remotely problematic. Even if that was far fetched.
"I'll send you an e-transfer. And don't be daft. Christine would be easy to deal with," Gilbert answered, distracted, as his phone buzzed and he unlocked it without thinking as they got up.
MissRose: Anyways, luv. I have some news. My uncle has been nagging me about coming back to Canada, and I was actually thinking about doing it. Going back there. Seeing you. We could get a repeat experience in a more decent setting 😏 🔥 I can't wait to have you in my mouth again… 🍆 👄 I just can't take the idea off my mind.
MissRose: Think about it.
MissRose: And between you and me, we could conquer the medical world and establish a rentable private practice.
Gilbert froze in place, his mind blank except for a horrible thought. Winifred. In Canada. Looking for him. Fuck. His jaw clenched, he felt suddenly cold, even when September's weather was still warm. This could not happen. He didn't realize as Fred walked around the table and took the phone off his hand. This had been such a good day, he didn't want Winifred Rose of all people to tarnish it.
"What the fuck is this, Blythe?" Fred asked him, his eyes big.
"That's Winifred fucking Rose, for you" Gilbert answered, his jaw clenched. Fred looked at him, confused, motioning to the exit of the restaurant.
"Winifred Rose… The Winifred Rose?"
"Same one. Can't she read? Am I leading her on, Fred?" Gilbert asked, uncomfortable, his hand going to his neck again… and then to his hair at Fred's stern look. He was fairly confident he wasn't, but there again… maybe he was? Was he stupid? Fred read over the messages as Gilbert felt increasingly anxious. Feeling the meal he had just eaten almost come back. They stopped some meters down the road.
"Well not to merit that message, that's for sure. You're just being… obnoxiously polite. Again," Fred mumbled as he read over the messages. "Does Anne know about this?" he asked after a moment.
"Are you mental? I just want her to stop writing and get on with her life, not for her to come to freaking Canada again," Gilbert said, his voice almost cracking, his brow furrowed, rubbing his eyes, the jaw still tense. This was not happening. It could not happen. He sighed as Fred talked again.
"She's not coming, relax about that. She's just toying with you," Fred said. "I would suggest you just cut her off and mention something to Anne when you have taken care of it, so she's not taken by surprise."
"I really don't want to burden her with this, Freddie. Winifred…"
"I know what she means, Blythe," Fred said. "That's exactly why I'm telling you this."
"What can I answer her?" Fred read again and motioned to Gilbert. He nodded. Fred typed something and gave the phone back to Gilbert. "I really don't want to mention Anne. She'll… somehow she will manage to insult her and I… I honestly won't be held responsible if she does."
GilbertBlythe: Winnie, let it be clear: I am not interested in entertaining any sort of relationship with you. I will appreciate it if you can keep your distance and avoid writing to me again, especially comments like the previous ones. Please, don't reach out again. Take care.
"I would also block her, to be honest," Fred said,passing Gilbert the phone. He sent the message.
"You can do that?"
"You're daft, Blythe. Pass the phone," Gilbert gave it and Fred tapped a couple of times. "There. And seriously, consider talking with Anne. I wouldn't put it beside Winifred to go around and find another way to contact you. Now please, relax."
"How can I relax? If Anne gets word of any of this… Shit, Fred, she won't ever speak to me again and everything will go to hell and…" Gilbert rambled.
"And that's where you stop overthinking, Blythe," Fred said, looking at Gilbert straight in the eyes. "I need you to focus on the moment. Nothing has happened and nothing needs to happen. You haven't done anything wrong. But you need to speak with her about this if you want to keep it that way."
"How can I even…?" Gilbert started, but trailed off. That Winifred had been writing to him for days was annoying enough. But he could have always brushed it off. But those last messages? What was wrong with her?
"You explain what happened. She wrote to you. You answered politely. She tried for more. You stopped her short and blocked her. Done. You really don't need to go into more, just give Anne a heads up in case she ever overhears anything."
"She will feel like shit, Fred. And she will want to know about the conversation. And I can't show her that," Gilbert insisted, walking from side to side, thinking about the last messages. It was crude and disgusting and he would never let Anne see any of that. He didn't mind about the rest. There was nothing to hide.
"You can't just avoid this. And stop pacing."
"Can't I? Please?"
"Just talk to her over the weekend? Enjoy your birthday today. Tell her tomorrow. Take care of her. You love her, just be with her. Show her how much you love her. This doesn't have to have the power to do any damage to the relationship you have with Anne, but don't hide it," Fred insisted. Gilbert nodded, his jaw still tense, stopping his walk.
Anne received Roy and Cole in the afternoon, bags full of groceries and a couple of bottles of wine. She had raised her eyebrow, to what Roy had exclaimed it was only for the guys, knowing Ella and her were not on drinking terms. The three of them set to work seamlessly in the kitchen as they used to do while in college, not missing a beat. They had set on a yummy vegan lasagna and Anne had actually attempted Marilla's plum puffs even if she was only going to eat some of the compote on the side. They had turned, judging Roy's face, absolutely divine.
Eventually the couple managed to trick Anne into wearing the teddy for dinner, daring her to wear what Anne felt was riské lingerie and Cole insisted it was a glorified swimsuit under her regular clothes. They had insisted she would feel sexy as hell… and they had been right. Even if nothing was noticeable. Only it was just so uncomfortable going to the bathroom, she tried to do that as little as she reasonably could.
When Gilbert arrived, later than usual, they knew he was coming and dimmed the lights, turning the multitude of candles they had plagued the dining room with. Fred had been texting them along every step and was just a step behind him with Ella, laughing at how they had managed to somehow surprise him. Even if a little bit.
"But…" Gilbert tried to protest, never one to celebrating his birthday.
"But nothing! You're surrounded by people who love you on your birthday, allow yourself to be pampered," Cole stopped him. Anne laughed and went to give him a soft kiss.
"Anne, I must say, that bowtie? Spot on," Fred said, going over and giving her a kiss on the cheek. She hugged him and turned to Ella, who was smiling as brightly as the rest of them.
"Everything looks so pretty, Anne!"
"It was with the help of these guys, we've been at it the whole afternoon. Come, what do you want to drink? Cole makes the best mocktails ever, you just wish for something and he will make it happen," Anne said conspirationly, going with Ella to the kitchen, Cole following them close behind after getting an idea of what the newcomers wanted to drink.
Soon they were around the table, drinking and eating and really, just enjoying the company which at this point of the year seemed like such a luxury. Feeling cozy and warm in the low light of the candles was just what they needed in the mellow, end of summer afternoon. The food, as they had suspected, was delicious and no one was even moved to get up from the table after dessert was passed around. Gilbert joined Anne with the plum compote, forgoing the puff and eliciting a raised eyebrow from her.
"You're making this vegan stuff grow on me, but don't tell a soul. It'll ruin my reputation," he told her softly winking. She laughed and turned to look at where Cole was trying to direct their attention.
"Finally! Everyone, look who decided to pay attention!" he said and Gilbert looked stunned at the screen of the laptop Cole had somehow set up on top of some books. The screen was divided in several squares, the whole Avonlea gang present (some in groups, a couple at home), even Mary, Bash and a very sleepy but excited Delphine. He looked at Anne, wide-eyed.
"Don't look at me, I didn't know about this either," she whispered, but smiled anyway.
"It was just kind of impromptu," Cole said, but Jane's eye roll was noticeable even through the pixels. "Ok, not impromptu, but we wanted to do so. So, everyone ready?" Cole asked. Anne noticed Roy had gotten up from the table, but didn't think much of it. "One, two, three! Happy birthday…" they started singing, Roy coming back to the dining room with a cake. It didn't have candles on it, but something shooting sparks in front of Gilbert's amazed eyes. When had they planned all of this?!
There was no candle-blowing, obviously, but there were a lot of cheers and teasing for being the first of the gang to be thirty. They talked through the confusion of having separate groups in the same video call, Bash staying after Mary went to get Delphine to bed. He hadn't really celebrated birthdays the past few years, even with Fred's sneaky invitations to dinner. He just didn't like it. It didn't feel quite right, without his father or Anne or at the very least Bash present. So he had avoided it. And this year, even when his friends were mostly on the island, and Bash was still in Montreal, he felt as close to them as he had felt since he had seen them last. He scooted his chair closer to Anne's (eliciting an Awwwww from Ruby and a roll of the eyes from Jane and Jerry) and hugged her closely.
"So what was dinner?" Moody asked, as the remnants of the feast the guys and Anne had prepared were still scattered on the table, among the lit candles and glasses of wine (and those great mocktails from Cole). Roy was cutting the cake and was passing thick slices with some ice cream Cole was scooping.
"I'm telling you, he's going vegan," Charlie said snickering, as if it was a recurrent conversation among them. Gilbert frowned. "See? He's not even denying it."
"Well of course it was vegan! I cooked!" Anne explained, trying to save him from teasing. If he didn't want to tell he was not eating animals, for whatever reason, she wasn't going to be the one to say so. Charlie looked, narrowing his eyes.
"So you're saying that if Gilbert here came to Charlottetown we could go to the wing place we were talking about the other day?"
"If I were in the mood," Gilbert answered. "And it's not like there aren't any vegan places that serve wing-ish things. There are. So there you have it, Charles. Now leave it."
"Gilbert! Don't be an ass," Diana interjected. "We're just curious as to how much Anne has rubbed on you!" Fred laughed, shaking his head, Ella smiled and Cole was visibly trying to contain his own laughter (he couldn't, in the end). Anne just smiled and burrowed her face in the crook of his neck. She was not going to participate in this. "See? Everyone there knows it! We know it!"
"We just want to know the extent ," Josie explained. Jane nodded. Moody looked interested and Charlie with a knowing look.
"You kids, he adores Anne. If she doesn't eat something, he won't eat it either, believe me," Bash added, laughing. "When they came for Canada day we had all of Gilby boy's favourites prepared and he barely looked at them. Almost got my kid eating only veggies as well."
"Aw, Gilbert', you're just the cutest!" Ruby said. "You both are! I can't believe it's finally working out so well, I'm so happy for you!"
"You've said that, Rubs, thank you," Anne said, smiling.
They kept chatting all through dessert, and eventually they all started saying their goodbyes and disconnecting. Anne got up to take the empty dishes and put them in the dishwasher and Cole went to help her.
"How are you?" Cole asked. Anne smiled at him. "It's turning out great. I'm pretty sure we nailed it, his eyes are all shiny and happy."
"They so are!" Anne said excitedly, her own eyes shiny.
"You're adorable, Nana. And just believe me, he's going to go nuts when he sees you. You're the cherry on top of this celebration," Cole said conspirationly. Anne shoved him playfully.
"Anne? Cole? Something more to drink? I'm serving a couple of whiskeys for us and grabbing some water for Ella, but do you guys want something?" Fred asked, coming to the kitchen and opening the cabinets as if it was something completely normal. It made Anne's heart warm, knowing that before the pandemy, before she arrived, Gilbert had had him at home so regularly that Fred felt comfortable. Gilbert hadn't been completely alone then.
"I'm fine, thanks Freddie," Anne said. "I still have what Cole gave me earlier."
"And I have to drive, so I probably shouldn't have anything else," Cole said. "Roy won today when we flipped the coin, so there's no way around it."
"Right then. So, Anne, I need your help," Fred said. She looked at him curiously. "I'm trying to convince Gilbert to play that guitar. He's not budging."
"He never plays in front of anyone, even I know that," Cole scoffed.
"He plays in front of Anne. And you've seen that video on instagram, it's him playing, just off the camera. So it's not that he cares if someone listens."
"It's because he wanted to publish Anne singing, I'm telling you," Cole explained. Anne rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "But I agree with Fred. It would be nice! We could all sing with our less than stellar voices and your nice one, Nan. Please?"
"I'm not making any promises, but I'll try," she said, disappearing to the room to look for the case as Cole and Fred went back to the living room. She appeared with the old case and Gilbert looked at her.
"Not happening, Carrots."
"I didn't even get to say anything!" she said, laughing.
"You don't need to. Fred here did before and suddenly you appear with that?"
"Give me a good reason, then."
"I don't need to. I just don't like playing in front of people and you know that. Come here, Anne-girl," Gilbert said, just wanting to hug her and have her close. She went with the case, put it on his lap, and cuddled on his side. "Seriously?"
"Yep. We were saying we could all sing. So it's not really that we want to see you play, it's more that we're in the mood for singing," she explained. Gilbert looked at her, lifting an eyebrow, clearly not believing her.
"Purely selfish reasons, Blythe, as you see," Fred said.
"The selfishness about the whole ordeal is something I never doubted, Fred," Gilbert said. He sighed, opening the case. He lifted his gaze before taking the guitar out. "No teasing, ok? I'm not particularly good, and don't know many songs."
"Whatever you say, Blythe," Fred said, clearly not believing him. Cole rolled his eyes. They soon settled in a song Gilbert felt confident enough to play and most of them could follow the lyrics to. It was a good activity, Gilbert had to accept. To play along their singing, talking about the songs, just enjoying the night without any hurry or agenda. It was nice.
"I can't believe you kept us out of this for so long, Gilbert," Ella said at some point. Fred was hugging her close, the teasing and no-nonsense attitude common between them absent at the moment, and she looked visibly relaxed.
"You never asked," he said, chuckling, playing some cords absent-mindedly.
"I did! We did! You just said you didn't play and we stopped asking!" Fred said.
"I didn't want to play then," Gilbert said and offered not much explanation.
"I almost couldn't get him to play for me when we were teens. His dad was the one who let the secret out to me and he couldn't deny it then," Anne said, chuckling. "It is true that he doesn't like to play in front of people. But honestly, Gil, you're good. Not amazing, ok, but really good for someone who almost never plays."
"Oh, I know! Please, please, please sing One Man Woman ," Cole pleaded. "I know you sing Gilbert. You can't not sing."
"I don't sing that well. And I don't even know the song, Cole. Sorry," Gilbert said, continuing to play absentmindedly.
"How can you not know that song?!" Roy asked. "Gilbert, man, honestly? It's like it was written by you."
"I don't write songs and I don't have a secret identity doing so. Honestly, I don't know it."
"But you do, Anne?" Roy asked her. She frowned, looking in her phone as the title rang a bell but not really. "Look for the acoustic version of Playa featuring Aaliyah. It's on Youtube." she looked diligently and scooted over to Gilbert so he could see it as well. She turned the volume up so the others could hear. Gilbert frowned at the lyrics and looked at Cole, who snickered.
"Please sing that, Gilbert! With Anne!" Ella said. "And I'm pregnant so you have to do anything I want!"
"You know that's not true, love," Fred said to her, smiling.
"Hush! Just look at them! Listen to the lyrics, you idiot!" she whispered, swatting him and then kissing his cheek. "And it's Gilbert, if I get away with that excuse with anyone, it's you and him." Fred shook his head, smiling. Gilbert and Anne didn't even pay attention to them. After looking at Cole for putting him in that position, Gilbert had just forgotten about them all, swallowing as he understood what Roy meant. He looked at Anne, who was smiling softly at him. He raised an eyebrow. Honestly? She also wanted them to sing that in front of the others? She nodded almost imperceptibly and he sighed, taking her phone.
"This is not going to turn out good, I just know it…" he murmured as he looked for the chords. The other one didn't say anything, not wanting to distract him from his resolution. "Just know, I'm doing this for you and not Cole, ok?"
"I know," she smiled silly. He played some of the chords a couple of times and then looked at her. "So how are we doing this?"
"Well, you stick with what he sang and I with what she did, I guess?" Anne proposed, trying to ignore the Yes! coming from Cole and Roy. She grabbed his phone and looked for the lyrics.
"Ok. Let's do this then," he said, finishing his drink and starting the song once again. It took a couple of tries more before he was confident enough with the chords to sing anything. Anne couldn't stop looking at him then and would have missed her entrance, if it wasn't for Gilbert's expression motioning the phone she had on her hand. The others just watched, enraptured. They finished, and Anne looked up from the phone where she had the lyrics as reference.
"Why in the hell you never said you could sing, Blythe?"
"Because I don't?" Gilbert frowned. Anne giggled.
"Gilbert you so do! We would have made you sing in our wedding!" Ella insisted. Fred nodded. Cole just smiled, a highly accomplished smile on his face as Roy snuggled close to him. "And Anne, don't you try to deny this!"
"I won't, I have always known how nice he sings," she said, taking the guitar and putting it on the side so she could curl next to him. He held her tightly, caressing her back. He passed his hand again. Wasn't she wearing a bra? Why was it so smooth? What…? The ringtone of his phone cut his train of thought. Bash? But they had talked through the day!
"Hey, Bash, what's up?" he greeted.
"Did you like your presents?!" he asked. Gilbert frowned.
"What presents?"
"What?! Pass me Cole, the git!" Gilbert looked at Cole, who slapped his forehead as he received his phone and got up, going to Gilbert and Anne's room and returned with a whole lot of packages that confused Gilbert even more. He hung up only to call Bash by Facetime.
"So, Gilbert, this is from Bash, Mary and Delly," Cole said, passing him a flat package. Gilbert received and opened it, not knowing what to think about it, and was happily surprised by a scrapbook full of pictures from their trip around Canada Day, complete with several drawings from Delly. He loved her drawings so, so much. He showed the gift to Anne.
"Bash, this is beautiful," he said. Bash grinned giddily.
"We knew you'd like it, you moke," he said and Gilbert laughed.
"Now, this is from Roy," he said, passing another package, elegantly packed. He lifted an eyebrow, impressed.
"Thanks, Roy. It really wasn't necessary," he said.
"We love you, Gilbert, and we enjoy giving gifts. So please, enjoy your present," Roy answered, smiling. Gilbert undid the ribbon and lifted the lid of the box, revealing a shaving tool set, so elegant he couldn't fathom even using it.
"Now, you have a face, I know I will have to teach you how to use it. Honestly, Gilbert, you're a man, behave like one! What do you shave with?" Cole asked as Fred inspected the items as well. Anne also looked curiously, blushing brightly as she imagined Gilbert using that brush and everything every morning. Cole and Roy were so engrossed in Gilbert they didn't even notice, for which she was grateful. She would never live it down.
"Just your regular old razor?" Cole and Roy shook their heads.
"Ok, I'll come over some weekend and teach you so you don't cut yourself," Cole said, shaking his head, as Fred showed Bash the razor over the videocall. Gilbert's brother was evidently waiting for something, in no rush after his gift had been given.
"Our turn!" Fred said. "This is from us, fulfilling your most nerdy and weird desires."
Gilbert laughed, knowing exactly what book it was before even ripping the paper, because he hadn't stopped talking about it for weeks, since he knew the book had been released. But he hadn't thought about buying it yet, because he wanted to finish another he was reading.
"Please, enjoy that thing and write to the author so the poor guy knows someone did read the whole thing and doesn't die sad," Fred added. Gilbert laughed again. Cole passed him more presents, from Diana, Marie and Jerry, from Ruby and Moody, from the rest of the gang who had pitched in to buy him a gift card from Amazon.
"Now! This is from me," Cole said, passing him another flat package that was more on the bigger side. Gilbert opened it and then looked at Cole, feeling his heart stopping. Then he looked down again to the present and then back again to Cole, not being able to process any kind of word. "I take it you like it?"
Gilbert tried to speak but failed. The oil painting, done in Cole's distinct style, depicted Blythe orchard in the warmest late afternoon hour and there he was, with his dad. It wouldn't be obvious for anyone else, he knew that. It would be just a kid and his father. But Gilbert knew better, because somehow, without taking any kind of protagonism off the orchard, those were John and Gilbert Blythe, red plaid and all, guitar in hand. He swallowed, trying to undo the knot on his throat. He felt Anne's hand on his own and turned to look at her shiny eyes, her small, comforting smile.
"Cole, this is too much. Way too much," he finally said, his eyes still fixed on the small figures, on the leaves of the trees, on the warmth and glow.
"It isn't. I wanted to so I did." Gilbert stood up, looking at the wall behind the sofa. "Hang it tomorrow, Gilbert. There's no rush. And, there's one more present."
"There can't be. Anne already gave me hers, you gave me one from pretty much everyone in PEI, Fred and Ella as well."
"Well I have one more," Cole said, taking a small, rectangular box wrapped with the same paper as Bash and Mary's present. He frowned. "I suggest you sit down?"
Gilbert did as instructed, a feeling of anticipation setting on him as he received the box with shaky hands, his jaw clenched, his eyes shiny. This had happened before. When he had turned eighteen. When he had graduated as a doctor. But never had he thought it would happen again, and Bash had always kept his mouth shut. He looked at the screen of his phone, Bash face looking directly at him.
"You have to stop doing this without warning," Gilbert said, his voice shaky. Bash only smiled. A sad smile, somehow. Anne was a bit confused, but Fred apparently wasn't, as he put a hand on his friend's back. He took in a breath, ripping the paper to reveal an old cardboard box. He swallowed, opening the box to reveal his dad's old fountain pen. The one John had lost in a hospital when he went for chemo treatment, almost near the end. "I should have imagined," he murmured, taking it, feeling the familiar weight (so different from the promotional pen he used) and noticing a piece of paper under. "Did you put this in here?"
"I haven't opened the box in years, Gilly boy. I took it because it had the "For his thirtieth" post-it on it," Bash explained. Gilbert nodded. The only thing he knew about the unexpected gifts from his father was that he had left them organized for Bash to give away, each marked with a post-it instructing the occasion. He took the paper and unfolded it, surprised by the amount of writing in his father's tiny, elegant script.
Gilly boy
You're not a boy anymore, eh? By now, I'm sure you've fulfilled your dreams of becoming a doctor. I just know you're the most human one with your patients, always caring, always going the extra mile. Keep it up, boy.
By thirty, you're bound to have some years of experience, to have had ups and downs. Difficult cases and easy cases. I have been with you all through them, both in life and after. So, it's time now that you have a real pen to take to work, because I just know your practical mind and how you have one of those disposable ones from a pharmaceutical company just because in your mind it's the same. It isn't. You're a professional now.
I love you, son. Always remember that.
Dad.
He felt Anne hug him from the side and Fred suddenly gave a sad laugh. He had been reading along Gilbert, who had always shared those letters with him.
"I would have loved to know your dad," he said. "We would have gotten along so well."
"I'm sure you would," Gilbert chuckled sadly. "Well, there you have it, Freddie. The last piece for me being a grown-up doctor has finally come to me. By none other than dad."
Bash laughed and was soon joined by the others. Gilbert passed the pen to Cole and Roy, who were curious about it.
"I take you like it, boy?"
"Thank you, Bash. For passing the message along and remembering," Gilbert said.
"You know I couldn't possibly forget. Well. I'll leave you now, I'm sleepy!" They all said their goodbyes to Bash and the conversation among them resumed, asking Gilbert about the past presents his father had left him. Ella was sleepy, so eventually she and Fred took their leave. Cole and Roy remained a while longer, Cole, Anne and Gilbert reminiscing highschool times and telling all about them to Roy, who always wanted to know more about the gang. Eventually they left as well, a long ride back home waiting for them.