Good morning everyone!
So, road trip was a success, it would seem? Probably not all the detours all of you wanted, but... The holiday is only beginning. So this is the playlist for today: open .dot. spotify .dot playlist/16VwGQJl6SM9TNBTNPoJb1?si=88qDYOr-StWY0IKc_ZNdwA
Well, let's read!
Chapter 27
When they finally entered the LaCroix property on the skirts of the city, in a very rural location, Bash and Mary were already waiting for them, alerted by the real time location Gilbert had started sharing about half an hour before. As they got down from the car, Gilbert going to retrieve the suitcases, Bash approached them with the arms wide open.
"The return of the prodigal son! With Queen Anne, nothing less!" he exclaimed, his smile so big his face had to be hurting. Anne laughed, instantly at ease with him as she had felt since she had known him. Mary was following close behind, a warm smile and a bit of shaking of her head at Bash's teasing. A small girl exited the house running, yells and squeals of delight getting to them before she even got down the porch steps, a colourful playsilk tied as a cape blowing in the wind.
"Uncle Gilby! Uncle Gilby! You're really really here!" she yelled, going directly to Gilbert's arms, who had squatted on the ground and lifted her as soon as his arms were wrapping her tiny frame. "I'm super happy!"
"I'm here Delly-beans! How's my favourite niece?" he asked, laughing in delight as he gave circles on the ground, the bags forgotten. Anne looked, smiling at the picture of Gilbert with a tiny girl who clearly adored him. "Did you see who I brought to you?" he asked when he finally left her on the ground. Delly instantly looked at Anne for a split of a second, her exuberant demeanour turning into the shiest of the shy, all silence, wide eyes, as someone who sees real Santa for the first time. Bash and Mary standing a couple of meters away, arm in arm, smiling at the scene that was unfolding before them."Come! I'll introduce you."
"How are you, Delly?" Anne asked, smiling as she kneeled to be at her eye level.
"Are you really fairy Anne?" she asked quietly.
"I am Anne… the fairy is just my super secret identity. We can keep that between us, what do you think?" Anne proposed, winking. Delly nodded, smiling, but still half hidden behind Gilbert's legs. "That's a great cape you have there, are you a superhero?"
"Of course not! I am a princess!" Delly declared, standing proud.
"You could be both, you know? The princess superhero," Anne suggested, her voice a conspiratorial whisper that made Delly squeal again. Gilbert watched the interaction in silence, his heart swelling with warmth. He had always wanted kids, but at some point had resigned himself it was not going to happen for him. Maybe if he adopted one. But seeing Anne? He wanted them. Now .
"I will! I will save everyone with the help of Foxie!" she declared, and ran back to the house. Anne stood up, smiling, and Bash and Mary approached them finally.
"It's so good to have you back, Queen Anne, you have no idea," Bash said as he hugged her tightly. "This one's been moping for ten years straight, finally looking his age."
"How are you, dear?" Mary asked her, hugging her as Bash turned to Gilbert, giving him a tight hug as well. Anne corresponded, smiling, feeling as at home as she had always felt with them. "Bash, help Gilbert with the bags? Lunch is almost ready, you can unpack everything in a moment. Do you want anything to drink? Cider, juice?"
"Just water, Mary. Thank you," Anne said, the four of them walking to the house.
Soon they were seated at the dining table, Anne next to Gilbert, Delly in front of them examining curiously all the food on the table. Mary had outdone herself, preparing Gilbert's favourite crab callaloo and then some vegan casserole for Anne as well as different side dishes. Even if he scooped some crab on his plate, he served mostly of the same dish as Anne.
"Are you not eating meat anymore, Gilbert? You should have told me!" Mary chastised him, noticing his serving of crab was more out of being polite than the amount she was used to seeing on his plate. Gilbert's ears went red.
"I… hadn't actually thought about that, Mary," he confessed. "It's just… there's really no point in it, and I haven't missed it in all these months, so…"
"In all these months?"
"Well, Anne doesn't eat… and I only buy groceries she eats. And you know how everything's been kind of closed, so… I haven't. Not since April or something, I believe," he explained. Anne looked at him, eyes wide. She was convinced whenever he went out of the house he was getting his… meat fix, for lack of a better word. "I just never missed it, but it has not been any kind of conscious decision. So it just slipped my mind, I guess."
"You don't eat crab, fairy Anne?" Delly asked finally, after looking at all the adults without understanding all the fuzz and the variety that was not this big on the table.
"I don't eat any animal, Delly," Anne explained kindly.
"Why?" the little girl asked, confused. Anne blinked and looked quickly at Bash and Mary as she really didn't want to impose her views on Delly. They both nodded slightly, Delly's big eyes still questioning.
"Well… I try to think of the animals as friends. And they all have their own friends. Did you know each cow has a very very best friend?" Delly shook her head, stunned. "Do you have a best friend, Delly?"
"Of course! It's Jenna!"
"Ok… so the cows have best friends as well. And I hate to think of one of them missing their best friend so I could have… some meat," Anne tried explaining basic terms. "And that goes to the other animals, I don't like thinking of them sad and missing someone from their family or their friends, like you would miss Jenna if she suddenly wasn't here anymore."
"But why?"
"Why what, Delly?"
"Why would they miss their friends?" Anne blinked and Gilbert saw she was at a loss.
"Delly-beans, when… you eat meat, say chicken or crab, that was a live animal before," Gilbert explained, hoping he was not being too blunt but not knowing either how to soften it. Delly looked at them, eyes wide, and then to the tray where a few crabs were still laying, as if she was seeing them for the first time.
She only ate what Anne did the rest of dinner.
"So, kids, I'll take you to your bedroom, so you can get installed and whatnot… Any plans for the afternoon?" Bash asked them when dessert was over.
"Not really? Just have some rest, I think… Spend time with you guys," Gilbert said, as he and Anne followed his brother down the hall to one of the spare bedrooms, a double bed with two neatly folded towels on top. And a flower. Delly arrived running.
"I put the flower!" she said.
"I love the flower, Delly! It is so cute!" Anne explained. "And you know what? We could press it so it always keeps its colour, what do you think?"
"You can do that? How?" she asked in awe. Everything Anne said to her was like a discovery and Gilbert honestly didn't know if she was doing it on purpose or not, but she was winning the girl's affections fair and square. Anne went with her to show her how to press flowers, completely ignoring her small carry on as Bash and Gilbert stayed in the room.
"How are you feeling, Gilly-boy?" Bash asked him, the voices of Anne and Delly lost in the hallway.
"Happy," was the only answer Gilbert could give him, smiling fully as he put his suitcase on the bed. "Happy. And relaxed. And… Bash, most mornings I still don't believe this is happening. I would pinch myself if I didn't think it was stupid." Bash went over and gave him a side hug, and they both laughed.
"We are happy for you as well. Watching you both get out of that car… I won't lie to you, we had lost hope it would ever happen, but it looks as right as the summer is warm," he said, sitting on the bed. "She didn't bring anything? Or you both packed in there?"
"Anne has some weird talent at packing light and that thing over there is her whole baggage. Mind you, she lived off that thing for weeks and weeks," he explained. Bash laughed, shaking his head.
"She still manages to impress me," he commented.
"Don't even tell me. She amazes me every day. Anyway, want to see what I bought for Delly?" he asked, because he had been giddy with excitement about the prospect of giving her a gift for weeks. Bash nodded and he opened the suitcase, rummaged a little until he found what he was looking for.
"You actually bought her skates?"
"I did! I asked you first and you said go ahead! And they are K2 and all, not one of those flimsy supermarket things…" Gilbert explained to a stunned Bash. "Bash, I'm teaching her. It's safe. She'll be going on her own before the end of the week. And skating doesn't mean she's going to try for the hockey team, ok?"
"I don't want her on the hockey team, she's my princess."
"She could be great. She's a badass, that kid," Gilbert said.
"Badass or not I remember your beatings. Ok, you have to promise she won't break anything under your guidance Blythe."
"Of course she won't. She'll be great. I even have my old ones on the trunk and all to go with her," Gilbert assured him as he continued moving things around. "Anyway, I bought her all the protections… And the skates are supposed to grow three shoe sizes, so she won't be breaking into new ones every four months."
"Ok Blythe, but you're still responsible!" Bash said, leaning back on the bed. "Oh, we really wanted to have you back for a bit. We've missed you. Delly especially. And Mary. You're the sensible one to talk to, apparently… And then there's all the new projects with the exports and all… You sure you don't mind working on your break?"
"Bash, you're the one keeping this whole cider thing up and blooming. I always feel I'm more of a nuisance than anything else, so if I can do anything, please tell me. How's Elijah doing alone in Avonlea?"
"He actually met someone in Charlottetown… Apparently she's a nice girl. But he's fine with the orchard and the production. Still small scale and the amount of employees very manageable. I would have gone up there a couple of times already, but this year's been shitty."
"Shitty and all, I still get to have Anne at my place. I'm trying to look at the bright side," Gilbert commented, reclining next to Bash. They stayed in silence for a moment. "I'm glad Elijah met someone. He worried me, for a while."
"Kettle calling the pot?"
"Prat. At least I tried for a while."
"Finally unpacking Carrots?" Gilbert asked her later that night. They had turned over for the night after sharing a drink with Mary and Bash after putting Delly to sleep ( I want fairy Anne to tell me a story! ). The night was silent, only the sound of crickets around.
Anne was unpacking her carry on. Some dresses, t-shirts and shorts. She had left Marilla's camisole, her trusted pajama, because she had believed Cole's comments ( it's fine to tease Gilbert, but not fine to walk around in Mary and Bash's place! ). Instead, she had ordered a simple nightdress. Pink, because even if it clashed horribly it would be only for sleeping. And it was the one with the softest looking fabric, and every review said it was, indeed, the softest fabric. A bonus point for pajama wear.
Taking her small bag of toiletries to the bathroom she found Gilbert in his pajama pants, no t-shirt, brushing his teeth. She considered how to put forward the conversation that had been on her mind for a few hours. Since they arrived and she felt suddenly like the teen she had been around Bash and Mary.
"So… I was thinking," she said, finally. Gilbert raised his eyebrows, a signal he was listening. "As much as I… really enjoy being with you, could we… tone it down for these days?" he spit the foam on the sink, chuckling.
"So it's not only me who feels like a teen?"
"I almost thought we were going to get separate beds," Anne said, giggling. Gilbert laughed.
"At least we've outgrown that. But yes. I agree. It feels… weird, somehow. Like we're sneaking around. And anyway, we never got around to stopping at Shoppers today and…"
"It's not the only thing we do. We've… gotten around without condoms for long enough," Anne commented, putting some paste on her toothbrush. Gilbert huffed. Easy for her to say. He was about to combust. He left her brushing and went into the bed with a book, to read while she prepared herself to bed.
Anne finally came out of the bathroom. He was fully expecting her in her usual night attire, the shorts and Marilla's camisole that haunted his dreams. But instead… She was wearing a dress? An above-the-knee pink dress with a tiny tiny pattern of white dots, thin straps on the shoulders, evidently no bra, buttons on the loose fabric just begging to be opened. Anne felt his stunned eyes on her.
"What? Cole said it wouldn't be that proper for me to use Marilla's camisole here…"
"And then you decided to wear that?"
"It's a night dress! And the fabric is so soft, look, touch it!" she said, walking over to him and pulling a bit of fabric for him to touch. He just hugged her by the waist and pulled her on top of him, eliciting a quiet squeak from her.
"So you go to the bathroom to tell me to keep off and then you put this on, Carrots?" he murmured in her ear. "You do know you are a horrible tease, don't you?"
"I'm not! It's a nightdress Gilbert Blythe! Night Dress!" she answered, articulating each word. He pulled her over and kissed her. Not too deeply. Just a bit. Some nibbling here and there, until she retreated. "You're the one who's teasing now! You agreed! No funny business," she whispered insistingly, getting up and going to turn off the light.
"Well, I'm sorry. I just can't help it, Carrots, " he said as she walked over to the bed and laid on her side, hugging her pillow. He hugged his and turned to look at her as well. "You're too beautiful to be sensible around you. Love the dress, by the way," he added in a whisper. There was just enough light from the moon leaking in from outside so he could outline her shy smile. "I'm serious. That light pink looks lovely on you. I had never seen you wear it."
"Because it clashes with my orange hair. It's the bane of my existence, you know? Not being able to wear pink," she said, stretching her arms above her head.
"If that's the bane of your existence then you shouldn't worry. It looks great. Brings out your hair, which I love," he said, motioning to tickle her. She lowered her arms immediately.
"Hey!" she said.
"So how was today? Delly loved you, as I knew she would."
"She's desperately biased. I have no idea how I can compete with the fairy Anne you've told her about."
"There's no need. You're both one and the same."
"Right," Anne replied, skeptical, getting closer to him. She put a hand on his arm. "Thank you for everything today, Gil. I really mean it. It was magical," and he knew that she was referring to the stop they had made in Presqu'île. He smiled softly.
"I'm glad you liked it. I was a bit nervous you would find it too forward," he confessed.
"Forward? No, it was perfect. Like a missing piece making everything come together," she said, her hand now on his cheek. They looked at each other's eyes. Lips. She bit the bottom one, holding herself and noticed how he was clenching his jaw.
"Oh, fuck it. We can be quiet," he said, extending his arms and bringing her forward to him and kissing her much deeper than a few minutes before. She lost herself on the kiss. On how his tongue felt on her lower lip. On how it tangled with hers. How he nibbled on her lip. Wanting him closer, she wrapped her leg against his. He sighed on the kiss as she did that, feeling her hair, tangling his fingers in it, pushing one of her dress straps to the side.
"Gil…" she whispered forcibly, wishing somewhere she had the will and restraint to stop him.
"Shh… we can be quiet, Anne-girl…" he quieted her, trailing kisses down her neck, towards her shoulder, his hand caressing her tight and pushing the nightdress fabrics slowly up towards her waist. Reaching it, he trailed it slowly back down, amazed at the softness of her skin, as he gave her an open mouthed kiss on the shoulder, finding her panties. She tried to suppress a moan when he touched her on her center, over the fabric. She had been so good at this not a month before! There again, neither of her past boyfriends had managed to make her feel half of what Gilbert did to her…
A knock on the door.
"Anything you need, lovebirds?" Bash asked from the outside, making them both freeze in place.
"All good, Bashy. Thanks for everything, again," Gilbert said as Anne laid, face up, next to him. Grabbing her face, completely mortified.
"Alrighty. Good night then. Beware, Delly has some history of coming in unannounced. Just so you are… dressed," he said, chuckling as his steps moved away from the door.
"Now you keep off, Blythe," Anne warned him, even when she really wanted him to continue whatever he was doing before. He sent him a mock wounded look.
"But he's gone now!" he tried. She shook her head and he sighed. Good thing she had any self control, because he was in dire need for some. Especially when she decided to wear stuff like that. Unannounced. At Mary's and Bash's place.
Anne woke up next morning startled as Delly jumped on their bed, and was instantly glad they had decided not to continue anything the previous night. Mainly because they felt Bash and Mary would somehow know if they even kissed, as when they were kids and didn't dare put closer the inflatable mattress to Gilbert's bed, but now that she knew Delly appeared out of nowhere…
"Fairy Anne! Uncle Gilby! Momma is making waffles today!" Delly said, full of joy. Gilbert hugged the little girl, bringing her to his chest as he tickled her.
"Delly! Delly! Come back here, they're sleeping," Mary appeared on the door, trying to cover her eyes. "Guys, I'm so, so sorry…"
"It's fine, Mary. Nothing to worry about. And please, uncover your eyes?" Gilbert said, sitting as Delly hugged him on the neck. Mary did as told and laughed at the scene.
"Why don't you have pajamas, uncle Gilly?"
"I do, Delly-beans, only I just use the bottom part," he explained, as Anne blushed. as she sat, the strap of her nightdress going down her shoulder. Mary was also wearing some nightdress and she then felt it had been the right decision.
"Delly was right. There are waffles coming up in about ten minutes," Mary said. "I guess you still have coffee, Anne?"
"Oh, yes, thank you Mary. Let me go help you," she said as she stood up and followed her, leaving Delly with her uncle.
"So, want to see your present?" he asked, getting up and going to the closet.
"Yes yes yes yes yes!" she squeaked, excited. Gilbert took out a box, the bag with the protections and a bright pink helmet. "You got me skaties?"
"Skates, Delly-beans. And yes. You like them?" he asked as the girl examined everything, a huge smile on her face.
"Yes! Let's go now!" she said, putting them on over her sockless feet. Gilbert laughed.
"We can go after breakfast. I promise. And I'll teach you how to go, ok? Now, what do you say we go and help your mom with breakfast?"
"Waffles!" she exclaimed and went out of the room running. "Momma! Uncle Gilby got skaities for me! And they are white with pink!"
Gilbert followed her, putting on a t-shirt and found Mary and Anne listening to Delly. Soon they were eating, Delly actually not talking but engulfing her food in anticipation for going outside, and Gilbert went reluctantly when she pulled his shirt, taking the coffee and trying not to spill it. Anne saw from the kitchen window how they were sitting on the porch as he explained something about the protections, the mug beside him. So much happiness in his eyes.
Of course, Delly fell more often than not. Uncle Gilby was, however, a very patient teacher and by midday Delly was doing circles in the paved area in front of the house, more and more confident. Crashing against one of the cars whenever she needed to stop. Gilbert was laughing, going after her, and eventually decided that maybe showing was the best way to teach, so he put on his skates and Delly tried to emulate whatever he did as Anne looked longingly from the window. Mary put a hand on her shoulder.
"I know that look," she said. Anne looked at her, blushing. "You've had it since I know you."
"I have? And what is it, dear Mary?"
"The longing? I always thought it was just for Gilbert. But watching you with Delly, I wonder if it's not as well for something bigger," she answered, sitting next to her. They were about to start preparing lunch, but hadn't really started to do anything. Anne sighed. "Anything you want to share?"
"I don't know, Mary… It's all just so very confusing," she explained. "I have no idea of what the following months will bring. Even less where I'll spend them…"
"I thought you were living with Gilbert in Hamilton?"
"Well, I'm staying there for the moment, but I'm still looking for a job all over the place… Not that it will be easy, not after how they fired me, but… I don't want to pressure anything? Assume anything?"
"What, with Gilbert?" asked Mary, surprised.
"Well, yes… what if it goes too fast? What if he gets bored in two months?" a worry constantly on her mind. What would she do?
"Anne, darling… I've known that boy for over twelve years. The amount of love he has for you has no bounds. And I hadn't seen him this… happy, this carefree, in god knows how long. You needn't worry about this," Mary said, patting her leg lightly and standing up to go and put on some music to listen to while they cooked. Concrete Lovesong by Krista Muir was playing on the radio. "We should probably start cooking. They will be ravenous when they come in and Bash is always hungry, the poor dear."
"I still don't know where I'm going to live," Anne commented, as she went beside her to peel some potatoes. "Or what that will even mean if we are to stay together."
"The first step should be talking about it, don't you think? Tell him about what worries you… Take it from there," Mary proposed, setting some pans and taking out the rest of the ingredients for lunch.
"Thing is, I still want to go back to PEI. Or I think I do. It's where I felt most at home. And I want to have that back, but I would never ask him to leave the hospital where he's working now, that actually does medical research, to look for a country doctor stuff I know he's never been into," Anne replied, because that was one thing she knew for sure and certain. She was not going to take him away from a fulfilling job.
"Don't assume, Anne. Maybe he would move if that meant being with you. Maybe you could carry on from a distance. Maybe you could live with him. Just consider your options. And about that home feeling? That's the people who create it. Not a place," she said. Anne sighed. Maybe it was. She just needed clarity. Stability. Feeling secure. Maybe she could find some of that with Gilbert? Was that possible? They continued cooking and soon Delly arrived running, going straight to wash her hands, stepping on a small stool next to the sink.
Gilbert entered after her, laughing, making a small stop as he watched Anne help Delly wash her hands. Mary smiled at him and he returned the grin. Everything was perfect, right now. Even the music and the way the sun came in. Anne went back to the chopping board where she had been working.
"Uncle Gilby is the bestest teacher for skaties! The bestest ever!" Delly declared, going to where her mother was standing, and Gilbert went to wash his wands. "I can stop, now, Momma! And not fall!"
"That's very good, Delly," Mary said. Gilbert looked at them and approached Anne, offering his clean hands. "Come, sweetie, let's go so you can change into something clean."
"Dance with me?" he said softly, smiling at her, once they were alone. Bayley Baum was singing softly in the background and he just couldn't help himself, not with the sun playing games with Anne's hair.
"I'm surely smelling of onion, Gil…" she half-heartedly protested.
"Looks like I care, Anne-girl? Come, just the one," he insisted quietly. She tried to clean her hands somewhat and accepted his, resting a hand over his suspender as one of his held her softly by the waist, the fingers of the other two intercrossing. He leaded her softly to Simple Feelings , guiding her with small steps around the kitchen, his eyes not leaving hers and making her get goosebumps.
Bash chose just that moment to arrive at the kitchen, probably because the delicious smell was already filling the house. He didn't say anything and stopped Mary and Delly on the door when they arrived. He took out his phone to snap a couple of pictures and Gilbert half noticed them, but ignored it. He could deal with the teasing later, right now, he just wanted to enjoy the song and Anne's soft smile.
"My my, Blythe, Queen Anne!" he said as the song was ending. "You are both so adorable!"
"I want to be 'dorable too, pappa!" Delly said, extending her hands. Bash took them and danced with her as Mary laughed at the scene, Anne blushing, Gilbert smiling silly, Bash and Mary playing as they always did.
"Well, I'm sorry to interrupt your Broadway show, but lunch is ready. Who's hungry?" she asked after some minutes, when she tried the main plate and realized it was ready now.
"Me! Me!" said Delly, forgetting about her dad. "But I don't want animals! Can I eat the same fairy Anne eats?"
"You can, darling. And you better ask her for advice if you plan to keep this up after she's gone," Bash answered.
"But fairy Anne is not leaving me, right, pappa?" Delly asked, her big eyes full with worry. She turned to look at Anne with a pout, "Right, fairy Anne?"
"I'm not going today, Delly. Come, sit next to me!" Anne answered and Gilbert pouted.
"And me?"
"You can sit next to me, Blythe, so at least I can give you a quick intro for the meeting we have in… an hour," Bash said. Gilbert nodded, but they were barely getting into the details when his phone rang. He saw the caller id, frowning. "Everything ok?"
"It's dr. Yang… My boss. Let me just take it, I'll be right back," he said, getting up. "Im sorry," he apologized and the other dismissed him, continuing with lunch. He answered the call as he walked outside. "Dr. Yang, how are you?"
"Dr. Blythe! Everything's good, everything's good… I'm so sorry to call you on your time off… " the affable doctor told him.
"Not a problem, sir, is everything ok?" He couldn't quite get to the hospital at that moment, but if they needed anything at the very least he had his laptop and could participate in whatever they needed.
"Oh, everything is right, dr. Blythe. I just didn't get a chance to call you on Tuesday, and yesterday was Canada Day and all… You're with your family now? Your girl? How's she doing?"
"Yes, we're at their place close to Montreal. She's doing a lot better, thank you for asking," he replied, still confused. He was always caring about the doctors in the hospital, but calling just to check on the family? Well, it was nothing urgent, anyway, and that was good.
"I'm glad, I'm glad. Listen, I'm sorry for bothering you now, but I think it's better to do it this way so you get some days to think about what I'm going to talk to you about. Dr. Wright here insisted you are never quick to make decisions and time is of the essence here," the doctor said, his voice changing to a more business-like tone. Dr. Wright? Was Fred there? What? "I'm going to send you a formal proposal to your email, so you can check all the details and what they entail. But the bottom line is, the university would love it if you accepted being a part time professor for first year students."
He lost his words, stupefied. What? He frowned. What on earth could they be seeing in him as a teacher? He was too young, too inexperienced! For that it flattered him that they had considered him, this didn't make any sense.
"Blythe, you're there?" Fred said. Huh. So he was there. He wasn't even surprised, to be honest. Fred had spent an absurd amount of time with dr. Yang since they met him back in 2015 and had decided he was going to be his mentor, and this, knowing he was going to say no and think for days before giving any kind of answer to the hospital… Of course he had known it.
"Dr. Yang, honestly, I thank you for your offer, but I don't think I have the expertise to do this," he replied, ignoring his friend. He wasn't even 30. This didn't make any sense. At all.
"We think you do, dr. Blythe. You're bright and one of the best oncologists in the hospital, even when you're younger than most. And we would love it if you accepted to share your knowledge with the students," dr. Yang explained. The amount of confidence this man had on him astounded him, and he was sure this wasn't any of Fred's doing. If anyone was impartial was Yang. The most Fred could have done was force this call today. "All the details are in the document I sent you, the courses we would like you to participate in, the schedule details, what would change for you in terms of your contract… Of course, all the modifications we're making to ensure safety of both you and the students due to the pandemic. Don't reply to me yet, this is exactly why I'm calling you. So you can think about it."
"Ok, I will read through everything, sir. Still, haven't you considered dr. Stanis? He's much more experienced than I am…"
"I won't lie to you, dr. Blythe. He was the board's first choice. We tried negotiating with him for some weeks, but we couldn't get to an understanding and he recommended you, dr. Blythe," dr. Yang said kindly. What?!
"Blythe, I know you still don't believe this, but I'm not even telling this to you as your friend but as a colleague. You're good. Both with patients and with the students. You can do this," Fred insisted. He sighed. "I know you can. The board and dr. Yang does too, as dr. Stanis."
"Listen to dr. Wright, dr. Blythe. You would truly be an asset."
"I will think about this and read all the documents," he accepted. It was the least he could do, and take it from there. See what they were really proposing. Maybe it wasn't that much and it actually made some sense, and he could start teaching. Which was something that he actually wanted to do in the future, as Fred knew. So nosy. "When do you need the answer?
"So, the board wants an answer by Friday next week. I apologize for the tight time frame. I could have spoken to you in a more formal setting next week, but it would have been even more rushed, which is the reason dr. Wright urged me to call you now. This way you have a bit over a week to think about the offer."
"Thank you, sir," he replied, still surprised and skeptical.
"Read through all the documents, note all your questions, but don't say no just because you think you're young, ok? You are, but that's independent to your abilities," dr. Yang told him. "You're back on Monday, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"Ok, so let's have a meeting around 10:00 in the morning so we can discuss this further, I can solve any questions you have and then you think about it for the rest of the week. Is that fine for you?" He put the phone on speaker and checked his schedule quickly.
"I will be there, dr. Yang. Thank you."
"Not a worry, boy. I know you would be an excellent teacher. Please consider the offer seriously, but enjoy your holiday as well."
"I will. So, I will see you on Monday at ten. Bye, Wright." They hung up and he stayed watching his phone for a minute, the call still feeling surreal.
**Fred (13:40): I know what you're thinking. This is not a joke. And take the offer? I don't even know what you need to think.
**Gilbert Blythe (13:41): You're mental. What were you even thinking, making Yang call for that?
**Fred (13:41): Obviously, both the hospital's and yours best interests Because for once, they're compatible. And he mentioned the topic, so I just gave him my opinion, as usual
**Gilbert Blythe (13:42): You realize how weird that call was, right? That you were there and… everything?
**Fred (13:41): You realize how little I care? 😉 Go back to your family, Blythe. Say hi. Tell Bash I'm actually expecting those ciders he mentioned 😋 I won't even share them 🙈
Notes:
Everything you hoped Anne's meeting with Delly would be? Remember we still have some days left on this holiday, so what do you imagine will happen over there? Oh, and Yang and his offer with Fred being nosy? Of course we have no idea how hospitals, or teaching hospitals come to that, work. So just give us some slack in that regard, we're just having fun with this story ;) Well, tell us every theory you have! We love to know.
So... something unexpected and super special happened. Let Me In Anne decided to share her beautifully curated instagram account with us ( callmecordelia_lmi) (thank you, Jane!) and then Mary, Bash, Freddie, Gilbert... started joining, using the story accounts with lmi at the end (gilbertblythe_lmi, beardad_lmi, bashfromtrini_lmi, marycooks_lmi, _lmi). If you want to join, it's super, super fun. The amount of teasing Gilbert is receiving is both unexpected and merciless :) And so much fun.