Time is a River without Banks

Author: J. Smith

Author's Note/ Disclaimer: Throughout this story I have used characters based on those created and owned by Lucy Maud Montgomery and various publishers. Since this story takes place some years after the conclusion of the Anne Shirley series, I have taken liberties with the characters and their circumstances.

Notes: After much consideration, I removed this story, revised it and added a new chapter. Time permitting, I will add more. Thanks to all who commented favorably the first time I posted this.

It was an opulent September afternoon in Glen St. Mary. Elderly and grim, Susan Baker moved about the Ingleside veranda slowly but with intention.

"Mrs. Dr. Dear," she said to her aging mistress, "I do believe someone is coming up the lane."

Anne Blythe looked up from the paper she was reading. A shiny black car approached and Anne smiled. She knew exactly who her visitors would be.

"Susan, if you can manage, it would be best to put the kettle on and see if you can scour up some of those monkey face cookies you baked yesterday. Jem is coming and I assume he's brought the little dear that's as attached to those cookies as he is," Anne said. Susan made to leave for the kitchen and remarked,

"A wonder that I have lived so long as to see that blessed boy with a child of his own."

Dr. James Blythe stepped out of his new vehicle and waved a greeting to his mother as she walked over to meet him. A slim woman, golden in beauty and golden in temperament stood beside her husband, arms full with their gurgling, dimpled daughter.

"Mother, how do you like it?" he said, referring to his new automobile.

"It's magnificent, Jem, but what does Faith think of it?" Anne said laughing, reaching for her granddaughter.

"Well, I like it fine, but Kit says her father drives too slow." Faith said, handing the infant over to Anne.

"Did you say that, you little darling?" Anne asked the little girl. Kit Blythe smiled shyly and put her arms around Anne's neck.

"It's possible," Jem replied as they moved to sit on the veranda, "Ever since she's discovered talking, it's impossible to get her to stop."

"Except for now, but I suspect she's a bit tired from the drive over." Anne said. Kit Blythe had just turned a year old, and except for her father's hazel eyes, she was the spitting image of Faith. Anne suspected Kit had inherited her mother's inquisitive and jovial nature as well.

"Is Dad here?" Jem asked.

"Yes, I believe he's finishing up some work in his office. Susan's making some tea and I've asked her to bring out some cookies for the little dear," Anne replied.

"I'll say hello on my way, then," Jem smiled as he moved towards the door.

"How are you, Faith?" Anne asked her lovely daughter- in- law. Faith smiled and replied,

"I'm a bit exhausted, but since Una's come to live with us things have become a bit more organized and I've been able to manage more time for myself. Una adores Kit and is always willing to take care of her when I need a break."

"So Una has come to keep house for you and Jem after all? I suspect she's better than Aunt Martha was?" Anne said referring to Faith and her siblings' childhood aunt who was an abysmal housekeeper. Faith laughed,

"Yes, ten times better, and I'm glad to have my sister around. Jerry wanted her to come live with him and Nan in Toronto, but Una was reluctant to leave the Island. I almost wished she would have gone, you know, to experience the city and perhaps meet someone, but, that's not really her nature. Una's resigned herself to spinsterhood, but not in a begrudging or bitter sense. In fact, I think she's quite satisfied to be on her own." Just then, Susan appeared with tea and cookies.

"Faith, you look nice. Did you cut your hair?" She asked. Faith shook her newly cropped golden head.

"Yes, and Jem likes it. He didn't think he would, but he's changed his mind since." she said. Susan sniffed,

"Well, I preferred it long, but you aren't the only girl I've seen recently with short hair. You know that Mary Douglas has hers short as a man's and wears pants besides. Disgraceful, I say. There's nothing womanly to pants. Mrs. Marshall Elliott would agree if she were still alive, bless her," Susan said breaking a cookie in half and handing it to Kit who sat impatiently squirming on Anne's lap. Anne put her down and Kit proceeded to suck contentedly on her portion of cookie, while wobbling on her yet unsteady one year old legs. Faith put her arm out to support Kit's back and smiled down at her.

"I think Faith's hair is very becoming and it isn't near as short as Mary's. Even if it was, I doubt Faith would look the least bit masculine." Anne remarked, "Besides, short hair is the fashion now, Susan."

"Well, Mrs. Doctor Dear, I've never been pretty enough or silly enough for fashion, so I wouldn't know," Susan informed Anne, "I saw Jem briefly as he made his way to the Doctor's office. I suppose he's here to discuss business with the Doctor."

"Yes." Faith answered, "As Dr. Blythe is retiring, and my Dr. Blythe has come to collect information regarding some of his new patients."

"I'm so delighted you've decided to stay, Faith. It's such a comfort to have you here. It seems all my other children have been wont to leave the Glen, in search of new adventures, even Rilla. I must say I was a bit surprised that she and Ken decided to move. Although, if I was in Ken's shoes, I would have taken that job also. Nevertheless, it gets a bit lonely here."

"I thought Ken had a fine job here, as editor of the Glen paper, I don't see why they had to go all the way to Toronto so he could have the exact same position there," Susan said disapprovingly. It was a fact that Susan had been deeply attached to Rilla's two son's, Owen and Gil, and became very cold towards Kenneth Ford when he informed the Blythe's that he and Rilla would be moving from the Glen.

"It's so much more prestigious though, not to mention more money," Faith sighed, "Nan wrote me that Rilla's expecting again."

"Yes, and she's due sometime next spring. Heaven knows, I never thought Rilla would have three children, let alone one, with the way she detested babies when she was younger." Anne said. Of course that had changed when Rilla acquired her war- baby, Jims, who Anne realized must be about ten years old now. "I'm glad Nan and Jerry live nearby. Rilla says it's a great comfort to have family in a city where she is a virtual stranger. She adores Jack and Lily, and they get on with her own children famously. Lily looks so much like Di in the last picture Nan sent." Anne said referring to Nan and Jerry's twin son and daughter.

"Yes, except that Lily has brown hair like Nan. Dad says Jack looks exactly like Jerry did at two. It's a marvel we have these little copies of ourselves running around now. Jem seems anxious to have one of him now that I have one of mine." Faith laughed. Kit had now become engrossed with trying to insert her cookie up her finely shaped nose, "Katherine, no." Faith scolded, taking the cookie away from her daughter, "It seems she isn't hungry just now." Kit began to whimper and sulk.

"Mom, mom, mine." Kit whined, cheeks turning red as she grabbed for the cookie Faith now held. Anne picked Kit up and sat her in her lap.

"Now, Kit dear, cookies are for eating, not putting in little noses," Anne said gently. Kit whined a bit more, but soon settled.

"You really have a way with her," Faith said, "She would have had a royal tantrum if Jem or I had tried to soothe her."

Jem appeared in the door with his father.

" Ah, just what I like to see after a day in the office. Four lovely ladies sitting on my veranda." The elder Doctor Blythe remarked.

"You mean three, Dr. Blythe. Even your flattery can't convince me that I have some beauty." Susan said grimly, "I must go to start supper now. Will you three be staying, Faith?"

"No, we've already told Una that we'd be home for supper." Faith replied.

"Yes, we should be leaving soon. I have some work at home that needs my attention." Jem added.

"Well, it was pleasant of you to stop by, and you must do it more often, as long as you bring the little angel." Susan said and moved towards the door.

"Goodbye Susan," Faith smiled. Susan bid Faith, Jem and Kit goodbye before heading off to the kitchen.

"Must you go so soon?" Anne lamented.

"Yes, mother, we must." Jem said. Faith reached for Kit who politely resisted.

"It seems someone isn't ready to make the trip home just yet." Anne said as she handed the baby over to Faith.

"You must come by more often, as Susan said," Dr. Blythe said to his son, "You live so close and you're such a handsome couple."

"I know, Dad. We really haven't been coming as much as we could, but we will from now on." Jem promised.

They said their goodbyes and the younger Blythe family got into their new car and drove off down the lane away from Ingleside.

"Oh, Gil, it's so hard with but one left." Anne said sadly, "And they're so wrapped up in their own world just now."

"Just as we were when we first started out, Anne. They'll be around more, just give it time. Jem has the practice now, along with a wife and baby. We were in the same position not so very long ago." Gilbert chided. Anne sighed, remembering her first years of marriage with Gilbert in the house of dreams.

Gilbert recognized Anne's wistful sigh and he put his arm around her waist.

" Anne- girl, let's go for a walk in Rainbow Valley before Susan has Supper ready."

Anne agreed that a walk would be pleasant and they ambled towards the little enclave of trees their own children had worshipped when in youth. The silver bells Jem had hung from the two trees Walter had dubbed the tree lovers still tinkled gently although the bells had rusted a great deal over the years. Anne looked around for more remnants of her children's joyful games and ghosts of their boisterous laughter. She sighed again, realizing she had become a victim of empty nest syndrome.

They had all gone and would never play in Rainbow Valley as they had, never be children again. Even her baby, Rilla, was now a mother, married to Ken Ford, with two sons and another baby on the way.

Nan was in Toronto with Jerry Meredith, who to the surprise of everyone, did not take up his father's profession as a minister, but received his degree in law instead. Some thought he had gone as far from the ministry as possible. But Anne had realized long ago, that Jerry, although a brilliant mind and speaker like his father, was a bird of another color. Jerry had long been prone to questioning and argument. His quick mind and oratory skills provided him with the material suited to his profession. Nan was quite proud of him, as was John Meredith who had always known Jerry would never follow in his footsteps. Nan and Jerry had their twins, Jack and Lily, two years ago and came back often to visit.

Di had moved to Charlottetown after accepting the position as head mistress at a private girl's school. Her hopes were high and her reputation for excellence had prompted parents all over the Maritimes to send their young daughters to study under Miss Diana Blythe at Easton Academy. Her love life remained ambiguous but not without hope. Gilbert was secretly glad that no one had managed to steal his favorite daughter's heart away from him yet. In his eyes, no one was quite good enough for his clever, silver eyed girl.

Much to Susan's chagrin, her little brown boy, Shirley Blythe had come back from war only to go off to college and receive his B.A. from Redmond. There he had met and married a lovely girl, Isabel. Quiet as him and had moved with her to Vancouver some months ago. He had written recently and sent a picture of his newborn son, Oliver Baker Blythe. While soothed by the namesake, Susan was still not enthused about Shirley's profession in aviation technology. She was sure he was bound to get himself killed and constantly declared that God had made feet so that people didn't have to fly.

Anne looked up at the sky that had just begun to turn pink with the onset of dusk. She wondered about her other son, the one who was buried somewhere in France, and would never come home. Gilbert squeezed his wife's hand as he could sense who she was thinking of.

"Not a day passes when I don't think of him either, Anne." He whispered.