Chapter 23

Avonlea, Prince Edward Island

"Anne, Fred and I can't thank you and Gilbert enough for helping us to save our farm."

Diana Wright nee Barry sewed with Anne on the farmhouse porch at the Fred Wright Farm.

Anne said, "So glad that I was able to help. After all, your Aunt Josephine Barry's kindness to me was the only reason that I was able to finish my degree at Redmond."

Diana said, "So what's this I hear about you having Mark Twain as a personal friend?"

Anne said, "Mr. Twain and I aren't exactly friends. I shook his hand at a Redmond reception. Redmond booked him for a speaking engagement. His new editor IS a former Redmond prof, after all. Redmond invited me to the reception since I am alumni and an emerging author. Mr. Twain shook my hand. He told me that it was nice to finally meet the woman who saved Owen Ford's ass."

Diana said, "Mark Twain did NOT use that word."

Anne said, "Oh, yes, he did, Diana Wright. Mark Twain did in fact speak like that."

Anne laughed.

"Mr. Twain better watch himself. He might get himself banned someday."

Diana said, "Banned from where, Anne?"

Anne shrugged. "I don't know, exactly. Libraries?"

Diana said, "So is it true that he has a niece who is a famous writer herself who actually hates him?"

Anne said, "I don't know all the gossip about Mark Twain and Jean Webster. I do know that Twain went into the publishing business with Ms. Webster's father Charles Webster. Mr. Twain and Mr. Webster had a falling out. Mr. Twain fired Mr. Webster. Then, Mr. Webster died in disgrace a short time later. From what I've heard, Ms. Webster holds this against Mr. Twain. Literature is a cutthroat business, Diana."

Anne continued, "I've actually read some of Ms. Webster's work."

Diana said, "And what did you think?"

Anne said, "Well, it just seems awfully similar to other written work by other female authors. Ms. Webster wrote this one novel about a penniless orphan girl who went off to college. During her time in college, a gentleman in her acquaintance proposed to her. She refused him. The gentleman believed that she was in love with and intended to marry another man. This wasn't the case. The orphan girl graduated from college. She discovered that the first gentleman was seriously ill and in danger of dying. She realized that she loved this man. That he might die without him knowing that she loved him. The man recovered and the couple declared their love. That's how the book ended. Seems awfully familiar to another book that I read."

Diana said, "Oh, really Anne?"

Anne said, "Yes! And then Ms. Webster wrote a sequel. This sequel was about a good friend of the first book's protagonist. In this sequel, a woman fell in love with a man. She didn't realize that she was in love with him until the night that he almost died. The man didn't die that night. During the man's recovery, the man and the woman declared their love and their intention to marry. That's how this sequel ended."

Diana said, "Well, that's weird."

Anne said, "Yeah. Huh. I wonder where Ms. Webster got all her plot ideas. Anyway, Diana, sorry that I just gave you spoilers on two Jean Webster novels."

Diana said, "That's okay, Anne. I wasn't going to read those books anyway. I haven't read anything except Avril's Atonement."

Anne said, "I thought that you read my new book that I just co-wrote with Owen Ford!"

Diana said, "Sorry Anne. I didn't read that thing."

Anne said, "But you fawned all over my book at the launch party!"

Diana said, "I'm sorry, Anne. Look, I'm grateful that you saved my farm. But, no, I didn't read your book."

Anne said, "That's okay, Diana. I got to help you save your farm. I got to see my name in print. I can't expect authorship to make up for all of the love that I've ever felt missing in my life. That's why God invited wine. Just kidding, Diana. Don't look like that. I'm happy. Really. I'm completely happy now. Well, almost happy. Just wait until I finish my next book."