Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Gardiners, Binnies, Russells, or
Gordons. Nor any other characters who were in the original books.
Author's Note: I am no L. M. Montgomery (who is?), but I promise to do my best by her characters. Pat Gardiner was one of my favorite characters and I always wished L. M. Montgomery had written at least one more book about her. But, as our favorite redhead is wont to say, there is more "scope for the imagination" in the way the books finish. This is my version. I hope you like it. And please review.
She had never meant for things to get this out of hand, this complicated. It seemed everyone had an opinion and was determined to express it. She despaired of making sense out anything connected with all of it.
Pat was seated at the dining room table of Swallowfield, surrounded by her family, all of whom were talking. Only three people in the room were silent. Hilary, Sid, and herself. Hilary was silent because he was a bit overwhelmed. Sid was silent because he was, well, Sid, and Pat was silent because she couldn't get a word in edgewise.
"We could have the ceremony in the garden," Winnie was saying.
"Oh, that's a-."Pat began.
"Winnie Russell, have you taken leave of your senses? She should be married indoors. What if it rains?" Aunt Barbara interjected.
"We'll make your bouquet out of white roses and lilies-of-the-valley," put in May. Pat refused to acknowledge any suggestion May had.
"You can wear my wedding dress, Pat," Mother said softly. Pat smiled.
"I would love to, Mother. I-."
But she was interrupted yet again by Aunt Barbara's opinion on the color of the bridesmaid's dresses. An argument was soon in full swing over what food would be served, which developed into an argument over how many guests there would be.
Sitting across the table from Pat, Hilary began to be amused by the situation. His soon to be in-laws were quite excited about the idea of a wedding. Of course, they were due for a celebration. The death of Judy and then the loss of Silver Bush only a month earlier had caused much grief among the Gardiner clan. He could hardly blame them for being so excited, though he didn't understand why Winnie was arguing with Aunt Barbara about inviting Carrie Bradshaw from the Bay Shore.
Pat watched Hilary silently and was beginning to get annoyed with him. Although his face was a study of seriousness and concern, he couldn't keep his steady grey eyes from twinkling with merriment.
'I'm glad he thinks this is all so funny,' thought Pat. At the same time, she was thinking of how much she loved his eyes. Knowing she would find no help from Hilary, who obviously didn't trust himself to speak, she locked her eyes on Sid, who leaned on the doorframe, watching the scene with a detached manner.
Sid was glad for Pat and Hilary's happiness. But he almost couldn't bear to be around them at times. The last time he had been truly, truly happy had been when Bets Wilcox had still been alive. At the thought of Bets, he eyed his own wife with distaste. He never should have married May. She had been the cause of the fire at Silver Bush that, while not fatal, had destroyed so many lives. Yet, here she was, only a month later, playing the good sister-in-law and forcing her opinions on poor Pat.
Disgust was etched on Sid's face as he took in the scene. When Pat turned towards him, her eyes pleading, it was just too much. He had to do something.
"I have an idea," he said loudly. The talking stopped and everyone looked at Sid expectantly. He rarely spoke these days unless he thought it important.
"Since Pat and Hilary are the ones getting married, why don't we let them make the decisions? After all, it is their wedding. Come on, Winnie, you already had your day. Aunt Barbara, I know Pat appreciates your opinion, but please don't make her feel as if she has to do it your way. And I don't really think anyone who ran away to get married should be giving advice about weddings to anyone, especially Pat Gardiner."
This last sentence was directed towards May and Pat was shocked at the malice her brother displayed towards her. She turned towards May and saw the stricken look in her bold black eyes, but the moment passed and May's face became a mask of inscrutability. Yet, in that moment, Pat had glimpsed a spark of humanity in May Binnie (she couldn't, as yet, bring herself to call her May Gardiner). Turning back to her brother, she was taken aback to see hatred in his eyes. He left the room quickly and they heard the front door slam.
Pat looked towards Hilary, who merely nodded. Without hesitation, she rose from the table, grabbed a shawl and followed her brother. He was already out of sight by the time she got outside. But that didn't matter. She knew where he had gone. The evening air had a chill in it and Pat clutched her shawl tightly around her as she tracked her brother down. She had to talk to him.
Author's Note: I am no L. M. Montgomery (who is?), but I promise to do my best by her characters. Pat Gardiner was one of my favorite characters and I always wished L. M. Montgomery had written at least one more book about her. But, as our favorite redhead is wont to say, there is more "scope for the imagination" in the way the books finish. This is my version. I hope you like it. And please review.
She had never meant for things to get this out of hand, this complicated. It seemed everyone had an opinion and was determined to express it. She despaired of making sense out anything connected with all of it.
Pat was seated at the dining room table of Swallowfield, surrounded by her family, all of whom were talking. Only three people in the room were silent. Hilary, Sid, and herself. Hilary was silent because he was a bit overwhelmed. Sid was silent because he was, well, Sid, and Pat was silent because she couldn't get a word in edgewise.
"We could have the ceremony in the garden," Winnie was saying.
"Oh, that's a-."Pat began.
"Winnie Russell, have you taken leave of your senses? She should be married indoors. What if it rains?" Aunt Barbara interjected.
"We'll make your bouquet out of white roses and lilies-of-the-valley," put in May. Pat refused to acknowledge any suggestion May had.
"You can wear my wedding dress, Pat," Mother said softly. Pat smiled.
"I would love to, Mother. I-."
But she was interrupted yet again by Aunt Barbara's opinion on the color of the bridesmaid's dresses. An argument was soon in full swing over what food would be served, which developed into an argument over how many guests there would be.
Sitting across the table from Pat, Hilary began to be amused by the situation. His soon to be in-laws were quite excited about the idea of a wedding. Of course, they were due for a celebration. The death of Judy and then the loss of Silver Bush only a month earlier had caused much grief among the Gardiner clan. He could hardly blame them for being so excited, though he didn't understand why Winnie was arguing with Aunt Barbara about inviting Carrie Bradshaw from the Bay Shore.
Pat watched Hilary silently and was beginning to get annoyed with him. Although his face was a study of seriousness and concern, he couldn't keep his steady grey eyes from twinkling with merriment.
'I'm glad he thinks this is all so funny,' thought Pat. At the same time, she was thinking of how much she loved his eyes. Knowing she would find no help from Hilary, who obviously didn't trust himself to speak, she locked her eyes on Sid, who leaned on the doorframe, watching the scene with a detached manner.
Sid was glad for Pat and Hilary's happiness. But he almost couldn't bear to be around them at times. The last time he had been truly, truly happy had been when Bets Wilcox had still been alive. At the thought of Bets, he eyed his own wife with distaste. He never should have married May. She had been the cause of the fire at Silver Bush that, while not fatal, had destroyed so many lives. Yet, here she was, only a month later, playing the good sister-in-law and forcing her opinions on poor Pat.
Disgust was etched on Sid's face as he took in the scene. When Pat turned towards him, her eyes pleading, it was just too much. He had to do something.
"I have an idea," he said loudly. The talking stopped and everyone looked at Sid expectantly. He rarely spoke these days unless he thought it important.
"Since Pat and Hilary are the ones getting married, why don't we let them make the decisions? After all, it is their wedding. Come on, Winnie, you already had your day. Aunt Barbara, I know Pat appreciates your opinion, but please don't make her feel as if she has to do it your way. And I don't really think anyone who ran away to get married should be giving advice about weddings to anyone, especially Pat Gardiner."
This last sentence was directed towards May and Pat was shocked at the malice her brother displayed towards her. She turned towards May and saw the stricken look in her bold black eyes, but the moment passed and May's face became a mask of inscrutability. Yet, in that moment, Pat had glimpsed a spark of humanity in May Binnie (she couldn't, as yet, bring herself to call her May Gardiner). Turning back to her brother, she was taken aback to see hatred in his eyes. He left the room quickly and they heard the front door slam.
Pat looked towards Hilary, who merely nodded. Without hesitation, she rose from the table, grabbed a shawl and followed her brother. He was already out of sight by the time she got outside. But that didn't matter. She knew where he had gone. The evening air had a chill in it and Pat clutched her shawl tightly around her as she tracked her brother down. She had to talk to him.
