Em Chron7

Emily's Chronicles: Part 7: Courage of the Heart
By Trish and Tammy


Disclaimer: The following is a work of fanfiction. Emily of New Moon was created by L.M. Montgomery and is the property of her, her estate, and her heirs, not me. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit was made.

Isabel awoke early the day of the big town picnic. The sunlight was
streaming in through her window and falling across her bed making it so warm
that she did not want to get out of it, especially today. Infact, it was
getting harder and harder for her to get out of bed in the morning, since she
growing more fatigued each week.

She wondered what today would bring. First there would be church to get
through, with everyone staring at her, and whispering about her. She was glad
that her family would be there, and she could sit among them on the bench.
If she had to face the looks and half hidden pointing fingers alone, she
doubted she could get through the day.

The picnic would be another story, there would be no protection of the
sanctity of a church. At the picnic the townspeople would be free to say or
do whatever they wished. Yes, there would still be the protection of her
family, but could they stay near her all of the time. She didn't want to ruin
their fun. But she knew they would watch her and take care of anything that
arose. She felt so helpless in all of this. She smiled a bit as she thought
that perhaps she and Elizabeth could find a nice shady spot to talk, maybe to
become better acquainted. She had noticed the cool regard in which Elizabeth
had held her. Isabel knew that Elizabeth had not liked Francis, and could
only guess what she was thinking of her cousin carrying his child, and not
being married to him. Isabel hoped that she could become friends with her
cousin, maybe Elizabeth at least understands what it's like to be in love
with someone you cannot be with. Isabel pride hurt her at having to be the
helpless relative, but there was nothing that could be done about that now,
she had to think of her child, and right now staying at New Moon under her
family's watchful eye was the best thing.

"Who knows. Maybe he *will* come back. Maybe Emily's letter would bring
him back to me." She said a small prayer that it would work as she looked
out the window at the ocean.

Isabel stood up slowly from her bed. She had recently discovered that
standing too fast now made her dizzy. She walked over to her wardrobe and
picked out a navy blue skirt, one that Elizabeth had let out for her. She
also found a white blouse that had always been a bit too big for her.

"It ought to fit nearly perfectly now." She laughed to herself rubbing
her swelling stomach.

She tried to dress quickly, and went downstairs to see who was up and
about. Laura was standing near the kitchen table laughing with Emily who
running out the door.



Laughing to herself, completely unaware that Isabel was coming down the
stairs, Laura said to herself, "I do declare, that child never ceases to
amaze me! You would think that she has a built in sixth sense about her."

As Isabel entered the kitchen, Laura turned smiling at her, saying, "Good
morning, Izzy! My my, don't you look especially pretty today! Are you
looking forward to the picnic? I know I am." Then as an after thought,
Laura remarked, "Hmmmm! That child never ceases to amaze me! You would
think that she has a built in sixth sense or something."

"Good Morning, Laura. Thank you." Isabel smiled, and laughed at the image of
Emily rushing out the door. "I think Emily shares your enthusiasm."

"I don't know that I would say I'm quite looking forward to the picnic." She
sighed sitting down lightly at the kitchen table. For the second time this
morning her hand went almost unconciously to her stomach. The baby was
moving now, and the little flutterings always seemed to cause a near reflex
reaction to calm her child.

"In fact you could say I'm dreading it." Isabel continued. "I imagine I may
find myself the talk of the whole event under the current circumstances."

"Oh now, Izzy Dear," replied Laura comfortingly. "Guess that that 'sticks
'n' stones may break my bones, but words may never hurt me' theory, can be a
pretty difficult thing to ignore? But Darling, for the sake of your own
well being, and for your baby, show them our true Murray pride by ignoring
them. We're your family, and you know that not only do we fully stand
behind you, we also love you very very much. From now on in, you must think
more positive thoughts."

"Perhaps you're right." Isabel reluctantly agreed. But she still dread the
position in which she would placed today. "I will try to at least put up a
good front," she smiled. She wasn't sure she could actually do it, however.
Lately, all of the old fire, and anger which had always made her seem so
resolute in the past was leaving her, replaced by softer kinder feelings. She
was astonished to discover that she was changing in more ways than one.

As the two Murray women talked over tea in the morning light of the kitchen
Isabel noticed that Laura would watch each time she would react to the motion
inside her abdomin. She saw a veil of sadness cross infront her cousin's
eyes, and she knew what Laura was thinking about. Suddenly she felt very
self consious. Laura had just very recently miscarried her own child, and
now she had returned to New Moon in the family way. She had been so
concerned about her baby that she hadn't considered how it must be for Laura
to be reminded of her ordeal each time she looked at her cousin's expanding
waistline.

"Laura." Isabel said quietly. "I know this must be hard for you, having
me here in this condition. I've been so concerned about my situation that I
haven't even thought about how you must feel. You've all been so kind to
take me in like this. What I'm trying to say is that I don't know what
I...what we would do without you and the rest of the family." Isabel paused
for moment. It was not easy for her to be humble. It was also not easy for
her to be open with her emotions. A life time under the influence of Malcolm
Murray had taught her to be guarded less some moment of weakness be used
against her. But at this moment she felt such gratitude to Laura and the rest
of the family that she had to tell her what she was feeling.

"What I mean is... Thank You." Isabel said, not able to meet Laura's eyes.

"You're more than welcome." Laura replied. "We're happy to have you here
with us. I also understand how you feel, and what all you're going through,
when it comes to Francis. Heaven knows, Ian put me through this same
torment. What with his affair with this Margeaux woman, she being with
child, and threatening to take mine away from me after he/she was born.
Then me losing my baby. Sad as this may seem, I feel that the life that was
once inside me, now is much better off where he/she now is...in heaven in
his/her heavenly father's hands. Knowing that, I now feel more comforted.
Izzy, I don't mean to cause you to feel self-consious, by inadvertently
looking at your expanding waistline. I guess that that in a way, I'm being
reminded of what I may have had...that will never be."


"You always can find the good in even the most horrible things." Isabel
smiled at Laura. "I'm glad we can talk like this, the truth is that I haven't
been sure how, or even if, I should bring up what happened to you. Ever
since Eve told me about your miscarriage
I have been rather afraid that you would be angry with me for having the
chances that
that were taken from you. But I see now that I was wrong, and that you are
truly happy for me." Isabel could not believe the changes in her cousin that
she was seeing everyday. She thought back on the meek little mouse who
greeted her when she and Malcolm first arrived at New Moon. She was amazed
that the problems and tragedies that had plagued Laura since then, had not
destroyed her, as she once thought they would, but had only served to make
her stronger and more determined.

"You have all been so kind to me." Isabel said. "I'm glad you're here, I'm
sure I'm going to need all the help I can get." She smiled.

"Now. Did I hear Emily say something about you and Dr. Burnley?" Isabel
teased her cousin.

"Yes, you did." said Laura. "He made a date with me, by asking me to
accompany him to the picnic, Sunday."

"Oh, perhaps the young Miss Starr, and the young Mr. Kent, haven't the only
budding romance around here." Isabel teased Laura once again, giving her a
knowing look.

"Yeah," laughed a knowing Laura. "Right. I surely hope so. That also goes
for you too."

Deep in her heart Isabel remembered the time when her romance with
Francis was just blooming. She had so many hopes. But, like Laura's child
had been taken from her,
Isabel's dreams of the a life with the man she loved had been ripped from her
heart. At least she had some part of him. One that would be with her forever.
She resolved not to think of that anymore today, and to try to enjoy the
picnic as best she could. The truth was that after her talk with Laura, she
wasn't dreading the event so much. She decided to take Laura's earlier
advice and try to ignore, as best she could, any problems that arose. She
knew her family would stand beside her.

The two Murray ladies went on laughing and talking throughout the early
morning. The sun was climbing in the sky, and church would begin in a short
while. The day seemed to promise any number of surprises, who knew what the
hours ahead would bring.

Allen Burnley had never been one for church. He was always more of a
scientific person, one to which everything had to be proven before it
could
be understood (or believed). (OCC: I hope no one minds this statement,
but
on the show it made him seem this way.) Today was no exception. He had
thought that perhaps he would escort Laura to services before the picnic,
but decided to meet her at New Moon afterward instead. He had lately been
feeling even more pesimistic than usual. His recent divorce from Ida had
not been overly difficult. He understood that she was a career oriented
woman, and when the job offer came from the hospital in Boston, he could
not
ask her to turn it down. He knew that she didn't like the island, and she
was sure that his feelings for Laura were more than just friendship. She
was right. For nearly two years Allen had pined for Laura, had seen her
marry a man he knew she didn't love, had watched her become trapped in a
cruel pit of a marriage, and mourned with her over the loss of her child.
Even though it belonged to another man, it was still a part of Laura, a
part
from whose loss he knew she would never completely recover. But, now was
his chance to regain the love he thought had been lost forever, a chance
he
was not going to throw away. He nearly bounded along the road to New
Moon.
He had left his horse at home, deciding that a walk along the beach to
the
picnic would give he and Laura a greater chance to talk.

As Allen walked up the lane to New Moon he saw no buggy or signs that
anyone was at home. The sudden fear struck him that maybe Laura had
forgotten their date for the picnic. She had been through so much lately,
perhaps she just wanted to stay at home, or maybe he had just heard what
he
wanted to hear when he had asked her. But as he drew closer to the house
he
could tell that the kitchen door was open, and he could hear singing from
inside, it was Laura.
He stepped up to the side porch door and knocked lightly, almost timidly.

The soft singing stopped almost immediately. He knew it would be
impolite to look inside, so he tried to keep his eyes on the ground, but
he
heard excited scurrying coming from the kitchen. After what seemed like
an
eternity, but was really only a few seconds Laura came to the door. Allen
had to catch his breath. She looked exquisite, and he realized once again
how much he truly loved her.

"Good afternoon, Allan!" said Laura, as she smiled warmly at him. "It's
really wonderful to see you! Come on in, won't you? I'm almost ready to
go." As she untied the apron, she wore around her waist.

Where he had been light as a feather a few minutes ago, Allen
suddenly
felt as though he couldn't move. He couldn't take his eyes off her, and
his
feet felt as though they were glued to floor. Sheepishly he accepted her
invitation to enter. He stood in the doorway fumbling with his hat, as
he
watched Laura move around the kitchen making the last minute preparations
for the picnic. He felt like a fool. Why was it so hard to speak, he
could
sually tell her anything. She was not only the woman he was in love
with,
he considered her his best friend. He seemed to lighten a little as he
finally thought of something to say.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" He smiled at her.

Finding herself finally alone with the man she loves, with her face
starting
to blush, she fumbles for words to say in reply to his question. At the
same time, as she comes to her senses, [she thinks to herself, "Get a
grip,
Laura!! There's no need for you to lose you cool."] After pulling
herself
together, as she's closes the picnic basket lid, finally replying to
Allan's
offer, she answers, "Why yes there is, Allan dear. Could you please
carry
our picnic basket? Then I can carry that blanket I laid out over there
on
the table."

He gladly took the basket from Laura, while she picked up the blanket.
He was glad the awkwardness was over. It was silly of them, they had known
each forever, but both knew what this afternoon meant. Finally, they had
been given another chance. Allen held out his bent arm, which Laura accepted
gleefully. (OCC: If that's ok with you to write that, if you want Laura to
do something else, feel free to delete that sentence.) As they both walked
out onto the porch of New Moon, Laura closing the kitchen door behind them,
the sunlight warmed their faces. The smiled like children as the they
walked down the path to the beach, the breeze circling around them.

"I thought a nice walk on such a beautiful day, would be better than
bringing the buggy." Allen smiled at her, hoping he'd made the right
decision.

"It certainly is a beautiful day, " agreed Laura, smiling back at him. "Too
beautiful for a buggy ride. On days like this, I love to walk,,,especially
today. Mmmmm. Just smell that wonderful ocean breeze, Allan, there's
nothing quite like it, is there?"

"No..." Allen agreed, unable to take his eyes off of her. It was good
to see Laura smiling and happy. He hoped that he was at least a part of the
reason for the smile that brightened her face.

"...Nothing at all like it." He said in awe of her. He hoped she would
realize that he was not talking about the ocean breeze.

Knowing too well that Allan wasn't agreeing with her about the ocean breeze,
she laughed, saying "Nope, there isn't anything like it. I....I haven't
been this happy, in the month of Sundays!!" As she looked adoringly up at
him.

To Be Continued...