Em. Cron5

Emily's Chronicles: Part 5: Stirrings
By Trish and Tammy

Disclaimer: The following is a work of fanfiction based up on the characters and places in the Emily of New Moon book by L.M. Montgomery and the tv series. No infringement upon the rights of the estate of L.M. Montomery, her heirs, or anyone connected with the television series is intended.


Isabel began to show early in her third month; early and a lot. At least it seemed like a lot to her, and to her family. Elizabeth had been kind enough to help her let out several of her skirts, and although she could still wear her good fitted blouses, the sashes on the back were now tied at the very end of the fabric. It was obvious that her current wardrobe would very soon need to be replaced. She was beginning to feel quite uncoordinated, and the gate of her walk was noticabely changing.

Her first few days back to work after the town's confrontation were awkward. She had been nervous about how the students would react. It seemed,
however, that most of the parents had not informed their children of the situation, and those who may have known were not letting on. Lately, she had been keenly aware of the precarious postition in which she had placed herself. She was extremely uncomfortable at work. Her back was beginning to give her trouble, bending over desks was practically impossible, and standing on her feet all day was fast becoming out of the question. She was very glad that Jimmy had taken to driving her to school everyday in the buggy and picking her up. The family noticed how each afternoon when she returned home the first thing she did, before retiring upstairs for a nap, was to loosen the sash on the back of her blouse completely, and usually descretely undo the first button on her skirt, and stretch out her back with a great sigh. She appreciated their concern, and knew she probably couldn't continue to work for very much longer, but she was determined to try. She was grateful that summer break was approaching.

Today, Isabel sat looking out over the ocean, her legs stretched out on the bench in the front yard of New Moon. She was lost in thought. In a few
days she would be attending the town picnic. She wondered what that event would bring. She imagined the stares, whispers, and veiled looks she would be subject to especially now that her condition was becoming readily evident.
But, as the town teacher she was expected to attend, as a Murray she was expected to attend, and she would not let (her Murray pride would not let)
the unkindness of few busy bodies shake her.

She had asked Jimmy to post a letter for her this morning, to her father in Scotland. In it she had explained her situation to Malcolm. He was aware
of her history with the baby's father. He had held her while she cried on the night her love had left her. But, how would he react to this bit of information? She had debated writing to him at all. When she left him, he was preoccupied with the death of that woman, Megan Moore. She wondered if he would even care, and was glad she would not be there when he read the news.

Isabel's thoughts turned to another letter as she watched the waves break on the shore. The letter Emily was sending. And she wondered if it would
reach its intended reader.
Meanwhile, over in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, waiting in the post office of McRory's Merchantile Store, is a letter waiting to be picked-up by either Sarah or John Carpenter, Francis' sister-in- law or younger brother.
Little does this couple know what is in store for them, way over on the east end of the island, since losing touch with their only brother, Francis. Francis too, has no idea that not only is he a widower - he also is an expectant father.
Not wanting to jump ahead here. As Sarah is clearing away their breakfast dishes from off of their kitchen table, and taking them over to the sink to be washed...
John informs his wife, that he'll be heading off for McRory's to pick up their mail. Hurriedly, Sarah readies a list of items for her husband to take with him to also to pick up, while he's there. As he is about to head out the door, he kisses Sarah on her cheek, promising to be back soon.
As he is heading off for the the store, thinking to himself--'I surely hope that Francis wrote us, telling us where he's at and doing now. But then again, knowing my brother like I do, he won't write.'
As John is approaching the store, he sees that Jamie McRory has just opened his store, and that he is the first customer there. Jamie is setting out his fresh fruit stands, and other items he's has on sale. "Good mornin', Mr. Carpenter! How are you and the Missus these days?" says a smiling McRory, as he greets John.
"And a good mornin' to you, Mr. McRory," as John smiles back, greeting McRory with a firm handshake. "How are you? It looks as though this is goin' to be a fine day, doesn't it?"
"That is does," replies McRory. "John, I have somethin' in the post office for ya'. It seems as though it's from Blair Water. Do ya' know anyone named Emily Byrd Starr?"
"No, I don't think so," answers a deeply puzzled John. "My brother, Francis, taught school over there. Could be, she's one of his students. Listen here, Jamie, would ya' mind gettin' the letter for me please?"
"Sure thing," answers Jamie, as he and John are entering the door of the store, heading to the back where McRory has the post office. Finding the Carpenter mailbox cubicle, McRory takes out the letters and hands them to John. "Here they are, John, and here's the one from a Miss Starr, I was tellin' ya about."
"Thank you, Jamie, I appreciate it," answers John. "Oh, here's the list of things my wife asked me to pick up for her, while I'm here. Won't you please ready them for me?"
"Yes, of course," replies Jamie, as he exits the post office.
As he is readying Sarah Carpenter's list, John (thinking that the letter is for him), he opens it. We see his expression of surprise, when he learns that he and his wife are about to become aunt and uncle to his brother's illigitimate child, by a woman neither one of them ever heard of. Quickly, he folds the letter back up and sticks it back in the envelope, and puts it in his pocket.
McRory, seeing the shocked expression on John's face, asks "Is there somethin' wrong, John? Has somethin' happened to your brother?"
Temporarily recovering from the shock, from the contents of Emily's letter, John clears his throat, and replies-"Huh...no, nothin' bad. Are my things ready? Huh, how much do I owe ya'?"
"Two dollars, is all ya' owe me," answers McRory. Seeing how deeply disturbed Carpenter has become, McRory senses that's somethings amiss, but he better not prob any further, because it's not really any of his business to do so.
"Here ya' are," says John, handing McRory the legal tender, then picking up the packages, and as he is about to leave, he adds-"You have a good day now, Jamie."
++++++++++

John Carpenter walked home from McRory's Mercantile Store with his head spinning. He read the letter that he had mistakenly received over and over
again as he walked. The letter that had been meant for his brother, Francis.
He barley noticed the people passing him on the streets of Charlottetown, and blankly acknowledged the friends who greeted him that morning. He was
usually a friendly and easy going person, but the news of this morning had thrown him and put him on his guard. He could hardly believe what he was reading. His brother had fathered a child by some woman in some little island town he had scarecly ever heard of and apparently had not stuck around long enough to find out about it. He laughed disgustedly at himself as he realized that he didn't know why he was surprised.

I should have known that something like this would happen someday. He muttered to himself under his breath. Francis had always been irresponsible,
and self centered. He had always been quick to take off and follow any whim that pleased him. He was always wandering, always searching for something. He fancied himself a writer, and really he was very good. But his vision had become clouded by the bottle. It was this trouble that had driven him away from his wife Hattie in the first place.

John let his thoughts stray from his brother for a moment to remember his sister-in-law Hattie. She had been buried not a full week before. She had
married his brother years ago only to be left by him when he decided he did not want to be tied down. John and his wife Sarah had taken Hattie in, they cared for her like a sister, and she needed them. They hardly ever heard from Francis during that time. Usually only when he needed money for liquor or was in some kind of trouble. But Hattie had remained faithful to her lush of a husband, and always had hoped that he would come back to her. Unfortunately is was also during this time that Hattie had contracted consumption. She had become so ill that she could barely leave the house. Through it all John and Sarah stood by her and took care of her.

It was a complete shock to them when she announced that she would be traveling alone to the town of Blair Water to inquire about her husband. They
had received word that he was teaching there. They begged her not to go, to let John go instead, but she was determined. And go she did. She even found him and brought him back. But it did not last long. When he returned home with Hattie he was gloomy and unhappy. His mind seemed far away. John could now guess who he was preoccupied with. Hattie never even got the chance to inform her husband of the disease that was claiming her life. Francis did not even stay the day. He left, probably to find a bar, and never returned.

The trip had drained Hattie, and taken all her strength. Within a short time she was too weak to leave her bed. She came down with pneumonia, and
finally succumbed. The house seemed empty without her. As if the last link to his brother had disappeared. John wondered if he would ever see his brother again.

And now came the news that during this time Francis had taken up with another woman. Apparently the cousin of one of his students no less. Just
who was this Isabel Murray? John did not like jumping to conclusions but in this situation he had no choice. There was only one kind of woman who would allow herself to become pregnant while being unmarried which he hoped she was, because if she were married it would be even that much worse. John studied the return address on the envelope. The thought occured to him that he should travel to this New Moon place and see into just what circumstances his nephew or neice was about to be born. If it was not a fitting place, perhaps he and Sarah could raise the child.

He thought about this possibility for several minutes. Then because it was his nature always to try to find the best in situations he realized that
perhaps this Murray woman was just as much a victim in all of this as Hattie had been. Perhaps his brother had lied to her, or worse. He decided to withhold any decisions about her character until he actually met her.
The noonday sun has straight overhead when John climbed the front steps
to the modest but comfortable house that Sarah kept immaculate. He opened
the door and entered the hall slowly. He had to show the letter to his wife.
They had much to discuss.

He called. Could you come here?
From upstairs, Sarah was busily packing away Hattie's things, readying them to be taken to their church to be placed into its Missionary Barrel.
John stood quietly in the parlor waiting for his wife to come downstairs. He knew she would guess something was wrong by the look on his face that he couldn't hide. When she walked into the parlor to greet her husband, she did notice the disconcerted appearance of his eyes, and stopped short.

"Hello darling." He said preoccupied. "Well, you may as well have a look at this." John held the letter out for his wife to read. "There was no first
name on the envelope so I assumed it was for me." He explained as she took it and started to read.
Taking the letter from her husband, she first looked at it, then back at
him. As she began to read, John could see her mouth certain aspects of the
letter and the changing of the expressions on her face, when she came to the
[...maybe you are the father] line, from her usual calmness to a
registration of utter shock. "This woman, Isabel Murray is pregnant with
Francis' child!?!" She exclaimed!! "John, I don't mean to speak ill of your
brother, but this is outrageous!!!"
"It's exactly like him." John agreed with his wife, feeling his own anger well up against his brother. "I should have known something like this would happen some day."
John knew that if Francis were there at that moment he would flatten him with a good left hook. "That irresponsible, do-less, no count..." John yelled frustrated into the air. "So not only does he leave Hattie to die, but now there is this woman. He's left her, too, and to bring his child into the world alone. Yes, dear this is outrageous."
"And just who is this Murray woman? What kind of woman must she be?" He rubbed his head. "I don't even want to think about it." He said. "She's probably either be some floozy he met in a bar, or some trusting innocent he betrayed just like Hattie."
John's head was still spinning. He could barely take it all in. And just where in the world was his not-so-saintly brother, he wondered.
"You know what this means, don't you?" John asked his wife. "I have to go to this New Moon place in Blair Water, and find out just what's going on."

To Be Continued......