Author's Note:

I have to admit this story is far far longer then I ever planned. I planned on about 80-90k words, maybe 60 chapters... instead it's now 80 chapters (planned) and we're already at nearly 100k words. I've learned a lot though with writing this. I truly enjoy your feedback and reviews.

— Davy —

Friday, July 30th, 8:00am

Green Gables, Avonlea, PEI

This certainly was the most exciting summer I'd ever had. Filled with such highs and lows. Though finally getting Marilla's beau to agree to join us for tea was certainly a high. And folks had calmed down now that Anne and Gilbert were off on their wedding trip. I mean sure, there was still gossip, though the clacking hens would stop talking soon as I'd get near. Of course Mrs. Philips, she was once an Andrews and like all the Andrews clan had come home for the wedding of Anne's chum Jane. Though, we'd guessed that Anne and Gilbert wouldn't be back in time for the wedding. Of course though Miss Andrews still dropped off an invitation for them, sweetly insisting to her sister that it really was rather romantic.

Her sister though, Mrs. Philips, she was the worse of the gossips. I guess that's not surprising with who her mother was of course. They always shut up when I came near though. Once though I was escorting Dora and Minnie May who both wouldn't dare go anywhere where they might run into Frank Bell for Dora swore she'd kick him again soon as she saw him alone. And she'd practiced some wrestling I taught her. Well so did Minnie May, with Mr. Harrison looking on and giving us all pointers, thinking it quite swell that a girl know how to defend herself. Though we all swore we could never tell Mrs. Barry, for she'd have a fit. Not proper for a girl to get scuffed up. I rather pity Minnie May.

We also went over to the Wrights, where Fred taught us more, all of us. And with Frank Bell called to visit family I'd finally gotten up the nerve to nag Marilla to get Josiah Bell over for the Sunday Luncheon. He'd said he'd be mightily glad, to catch up with old friends and thanked me mightily finely for the invitation, as the rest of the Bells were all in Charlottetown visiting family.

Well, everything was nearly normal when Marilla insisted we leave for prayer meeting Friday afternoon with Josiah coming for a late tea afterwards, almost like any day before Anne and Gilbert had come home. Dora and I had walked while Mrs. Lynde and Marilla rode in the buggy. We met up with Minnie May on the way and I found their company wasn't as bad as it used to be, not that I'd dare tell either of them. It seemed we could all use the fortification of prayer with the gossip.

Well, we got to church and saw Fred there, he waved to us and joined us. "Hello, any word from Anne or Gilbert?"

"Just they got to his great uncle's. Decided to go earlier then planned. Didn't write much, just a quick note Anne sent to Marilla and came in the late post yesterday. Gilbert's been learning heaps from his uncle, he's a doctor just like Gilbert's going to be you know."

"A doctor?" That man, Mr. Philips came by joining us.

"Sure." I said. "Gilbert was working at a clinic before he came home. Told me about it, but he was about dead on his feet and he was ordered home. I guess he'd been working around the clock helping between school and winning his scholarship. Quite dandy he's so smart, almost as smart as Anne."

"And yet she didn't win the scholarship." Fred laughed.

I shrugged. "Well, she's not going to medical school, and didn't she order a baby? I mean, I know she didn't order it, that Gilbert was like that bull and put it there. I've been meaning to ask Fred, where'd he get the baby it must have been small, and where'd he find a field to chase Anne fast enough. Did he order it in a catalogue like the seeds? Is that what you did? Your back pasture wouldn't have been long enough. Did you use the Barry's? And hows a husband get a baby seed in a woman if he doesn't have a long back pasture?"

Marilla came marching up to me, grabbed my ear and said that I could ask Fred those questions not at church. That wasn't appropriate conversation at church after all. Well the prayer meeting was like any other. And soon as it was over I was plum hungry.

Josiah Bell though walked back with Dora and I, and told us all sorts of stories from his sailing. I especially liked his adventure of sailing once around the Horn of Africa. And seeing a real live lion. He sat and talked of all sorts of old memories, then did the unforgivable sin, wanted to smoke in Marilla's parlor after his meal. And confessed when I saw the hints of it at the top he had a tattoo. He even offered to show it to me. Said it wasn't fit for the ladies to ever see. Marilla if she'd heard that would have never let me see it, and I worried what she'd say if she'd married him? Truth be told though most of the talk at the meal had been of Thomas Lynde, Mrs. Lynde's late husband who'd been a particular chum of Josiah Bell's in his youth. Well, Mr. Harrison came over, and when he heard of the tattoo, with Mrs. Harrison chatting away with the ladies we went off to the barn to see it.

One look and I knew he'd never do for Marilla. He'd had it done in his youth, and had a belly now, so it was all misshapen, and an odd dark blue ink. One had to assume though it was of a woman naked, though with his skin stretched a bit, some parts were a bit flabby and hard to see, and he'd had some small clothes tattooed onto the most intimate parts. From what I could tell she was battling snakes, which we'd counted. Really, he could be quite proud of it he admitted, if the woman was just decent. Some Greek sea creature he'd sworn he'd seen in his youth.

Well, when I mentioned the tattoo to Marilla, she huffed. "Well, should have known Josiah Bell had a tattoo, he's always been practically heathen. Any woman who'd marry him would have a nightmare of a life - especially if she'd ever have to see it."

I sighed. I guess I wasn't getting her a beau after all. Well I thought more on it, and announced I was heading over to the Wrights in the morning to help Fred. Marilla just took one look at me. "Mr. Keith, if you're asking impertinence questions, I know your birthday wasn't what we hoped, but still, I don't want you asking questions in public places! You tell Fred Wright he best set you straight so you're not asking inappropriate questions, or wait to ask Gilbert."

So the next morning after my chores were complete. I'd headed over to see Fred Wright. Diana burping little Fred on her shoulder told me he'd already gone out to the field. Well I found him out there, and got right to work, helping him. I even told him as we worked about Josiah Bell, his tattoo, and how Marilla never would approve. Well he was quite good company, and I joined him and Diana for lunch before needing some things from Carmody, he offered to take me with.

So we headed towards Carmody talking about all the most sensible things. Of course, soon as we pulled up to the general store, where the Wrights shopped, not the same one as us Green Gables folks. There was the Philips talking about some items they needed for the wedding coming up.

Of course, soon as he could, not that I blame him Mr. Philips abandoned his mother in law and wife to discuss such senseless items as how many ruffles for the wedding, and which bolt of fabric for the Philip's daughter's dress as the planned dress had gotten ruined beyond repair by some accident of childhood. Not that I paid that close attention to them. We spoke of men things, and when not gossiping I didn't think Mr. Philips was half bad.

Then a stranger, not from these parts, older man came in. The fact that he was lost was not lost on any of us. "Anyone know where I might find Avonlea? I rented a buggy and swore I'd had directions when I left Bright River, only I'm always rather lost. My wife got so worried when her favorite of our borders, Gilbert Blythe never wrote to say he'd gotten home. He'd looked puckish and she'd made him promise to write. Not that he did, and so now I've been sent to make sure he's still coming back in the fall. Had to spend all day traveling, and then some. Earliest train out of Kingsport, anyone know where I can find him. Promised my wife I'd see him with my own eyes before I go back. She wouldn't trust another. I saw him on the train myself, last one on and he nearly didn't make it, had to throw his bag and the hamper my wife made him on, then we heard about the accident. That train he took got stranded somewhere near I've forgotten..."

The whole room was staring at him.

"Brookfield." Mr. Philips spoke.

"That's it."

"Then you needn't worry, he and his wife checked into my hotel there that afternoon, though I understand he nearly died, but of typhoid not the train accident."

"Wife? Gilbert Blythe didn't leave Kingsport married!" The old man shook his head. "Never mind, where might I find the Blythe home? I promised my wife I'd see him with my own eyes."

"Well, that is curious." Mr. Philips spoke. "I'd yet to hear about their curious elopement. For they'd engaged in activities that should be celebrated in a marriage but are not to be put up with outside." He turned to Fred and me, "Really, I knew she was trouble when she broke that slate on his head, likely her idea that they've been clearly living in sin all these months now. Mr..." He stared at the man.

"Carol, John Carol that is. What are you implying about Gilbert Blythe? I've known that boy for four years and he'd never do something unchristian. He's an upstanding young man, won the Cooper prize."

"Fornicating with a woman he claimed to be his wife?" Mr. Philips then turned to his wife and mother in law who stared at them all. I've some letters to write, to friends in Kingsport..."

"Not married?" Mrs. Bell shrilled. "What is becoming of Avonlea?"

"They are too..." I spoke.

"Clearly, they're not. And expecting out of wedlock!" One of the ladies spoke.

"So sorry..." Mr. Carol spoke softly.

"Gilbert's my brother." I glared at him. "And he is too married to my sister Anne. My twin sister Dora made Anne tell us three times about the wedding and the funny preacher who married them."

"Clearly, if they left Kingsport single and checked into my hotel hours later married with only that stop among the fields between..." Mr. Philips drawled before glaring at me. "I really must write if that sort of behavior is accepted as moral by the Cooper Prize committee..."

—*—*—*—*—

Author's Note: I admit, I'd gotten burnt out writing but then writing Davy helps. There will likely be another chapter tomorrow and then back to the posting schedule. Work though is extra busy so chapter updates will happen when there's a little time... so they may be slightly off schedule for a few weeks, but the goal is to not get behind. Love your comments and enjoy reading and responding - so share what you think about this and Anne's announcement in the last chapter... Do you or do you not think Gilbert is about to burst from the stress? And poor Mr. Carol he didn't mean to ignite all that gossip again! Share your thoughts... Hopefully between Sunday night and Tuesday evening I should get the next chapter written and posted... We'll be in Gilbert's head.