First of all, I want to apologize for it being so long since I have updated. Inspiration has been low of late. Also, the previous chapters may have been draggy. That was to get from point A to point B, but also I have had a lack of inspiration and time until lately. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I hope to have more soon!
Though no one asked Una whether or not she had plans for the future, they did wonder as to what she wanted to do, if she knew what she wanted to do. She settled in at the manse with relative ease, carrying on with her family just as she had before she went away. Time passes and she had heard no word from Calcutta or St. John's. The summer was waning by, and the time would soon be there, yet no letter or telegram came. She was beginning to think that she might not have to live up to that promise that seemed to have been made oh so long ago.
About two months after her arrival, she found herself sitting on the veranda of the manse contentedly listening as Rosemary, Nan (who had returned with Jerry and Cecilia for a vacation,) Rilla, Mrs. Blythe, and Faith gave half of P.E.I. a good talking over as they sewed for the Ladies Aid with the children playing nearby in the Old Methodist Graveyard.
"Did I hear correctly that Mary Douglas is expecting again?" Nan asked, looking to where her daughter was picking flowers with Anne and Hope.
"Oh yes. She and Miller seem to try and have one every year or at least every other year; though we can't say much against that." Anne Blythe answered, looking with joy at Rilla who was radiating with her own hopes.
"How is Mary?" Una asked. I haven't heard much about her, and I would love to know that she is doing well. How many children do she and Miller have?"
"Oh yes, she seems to be doing very well," Rosemary answered. "Miller has taken over Flagg's store, and as far as we can tell, is making a good profit. As to children, they have four: this will be number five. There is Elliot, who is seven, Bryant, who is six, Nellie, who is four, and Marshall who is two. They're all very sweet children."
"You would hardly think that they were Mary's," stated Rilla who still remembered an incident with a codfish. "They are good and sweet. The boys help out so much at the store, and I don't mind it when they play with Gil and Anne. I completely trust that they are safe when visiting their home too," she ended, also remembering a cold, snowy night when Jims had the croup.
"She and Miss Cornelia went to Toronto a few day before you arrived, so that Mary could order fall and winter supplies and to visit an old friend of Cornelia's who isn't doing to well. However, Poor old Miss Cornelia became rather ill herself, and they have had to stay a while longer. I imagine she'll be here to see you as soon as she hears the news," Faith surmised. "She always loved you so. She was rather downhearted when you left. Then again, we all were," she let slip out.
An uncomfortable silence lingered between the women. Una soon became consumed with guilt over the nature of her initial departure. Everyone else seemed lost in the memory of how they had felt.
A truck rumbled its way past the manse, and suddenly Walt bounded his way to Faith, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "Mother, look! That's Mr. Douglas and Elliot driving up towards Ingleside, and there was a big box in the truck! Do you think it's here?"
Faith smiled, forgetting the past and enjoying the present. "I suppose that it very well could be. It has been six weeks since your grandfather ordered it. What do you think, Mother Anne?"
Anne put her sewing in her lap and laughed, "I don't know what else Miller could be delivering to Ingleside, Walt. Why don't you gather the children and we can all go up and see for ourselves?"
"Sure thing, Grandmother! Hey everyone, let's go up to Ingleside and see the surprise that Grandfather Blythe has for us!" The little boy yelled across the cemetery so loudly that would have even awakened Mr. Hezekiah Pollock. All of the children suddenly started sprinting toward Rainbow Valley and up to Ingleside.
The ladies just laughed, remembering other irreverent children who had played in that very cemetery. "Well ladies, who would like to go up to Ingleside and listen to Gilbert's new contraption?"
"What is Miller delivering?" Una asked, painfully out of the loop.
"Father ordered a wireless radio several weeks ago, and we're assuming it's that. The children aren't supposed to know what it is, but they're too cunning to have many secrets kept from them," Rilla explained as she gathered up her work.
The group of ladies followed behind the children to the front steps on Ingleside where they found Jerry, Ken, Walter and Jem helping Miller and Elliot unload the massive parcel. The children stood back and watched in awe as the men opened the package and placed the beautiful contraption in a spot close to the piano that had mysteriously been cleared out earlier that week. It was absolutely huge! It stood taller than any of the children on its four wooden haunches, and was somewhat intimidating to them.
Though none of the children were old enough to attend school, they all were in the process of learning to read. It seemed unnatural to make any child with Blythe, Meredith, or Ford blood wait to read until he or she entered school. As a result, Tenny picked up the papers that came inside the box and studied them a minute.
"R.C.A. Radiola," he slowly read, sounding out each syllable, "Super Vee-aye-aye-aye."
With pride and a little exhaustion, Walter laughed, "That's Super eight, Son. VIII is hot the ancient Romans wrote out eight, and many people still use it on official things and in names."
"Oh," the boy replied. He didn't care about the number, just what it stood for. Not being able to contain his awe, he added, "It really is Super!"
"Yes, Super-heavy," Jem complained as he slumped onto a sofa. "Oh my aching back!"
"You really did outdo yourself, Dad," Nan commented to her beaming father.
"What can I say? I'll pull out all the stops in order to entice my family to stay near," he said, sliding his hand along the smooth wooden side.
"Oh, so this isn't something you bought just because you're interested in it, and think it would be fun?" Anne asked, knowing that her husband was as thrilled at it as their grandchildren. People often remarked how she, Anne Shirley Blythe never completely grew up, but neither did her husband. Yes, he was a serious doctor and very down to earth, but he also liked to dream, laugh, and explore new ideas. He had wanted a radio for Ingleside since their invention.
With all the excitement of Tenny, Gil, or Walt, Dr. Gilbert Blythe looked to his wife with beaming hazel eyes, "Just think, Anne-girl, we won't have to wait on a newspaper that is days old or from a phone call from Miller here's store to find out the latest news. We can listen to it here in our very own living room! We can also hear concerts, ballgames, speeches. It is a truly remarkable invention."
"Can we listen to it now, Grandfather?" Gil asked, just as the clock struck five.
Sighing, Gilbert answered, "Not just yet, Little Namesake. It is time for dinner, and we must let the tubes warm up." He turned a few knobs on the radio. "Hear that now? Listen to them humming away. After dinner, we may all listen to the radio." He turned to Miller and shook his hand. "Miller, you and the children are welcome to join to family this evening for dinner and entertainment afterwards, what do you say? Don't worry about an imposition. We're having a pot-luck dinner tonight and will have more than enough."
"Why Dr. Blythe, we'll be glad to come over. I've wanted to see one of these contraptions in action myself for a while now. Let me just run home and fetch the rest of the children." Miller turned to leave when he almost ran into Una, standing alone in the back.
"So the rumors are true. You have come home."
"Hello Miller. It's nice to see you," Una held out her hand.
Miller just stood there a moment, looking Una over, wondering many things. "Yes, it's good to see you too. Mary will be glad to know you're home again. Excuse me."
She stepped aside so he could leave; trying to shake off the frosty feeling he left with her. She wondered what he knew of her, and supposed she would find out soon enough.
Dinner was finished in such record time that night that even Walt and Tenny were impressed. The entire family sat around the radio and listened to a radio station from Charlotteown for a bit. Una found a seat in a comfortable chair in the back of the room, reclining her head as she listened to the static as Dr. Blythe and Jem searched for stations. She was rather enjoying the evening, being reminded of evenings as nice and wholesome before that fateful summer when everything was turned upside down. She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing the voices of the room, the luscious smells of dinner still lingering, and the salty summer breeze to take he back to the innocent time of life.
Soon, she found that she wasn't alone in her chair any longer. With Gilbert busy playing with his new gadget, Hope was missing her usual lap on which to spend the evening. She saw Una all by herself, and thought that it would be nice to sit in with her a while.
Una was taken out of her momentary reverie by Hope's gentle touch as she softly climbed on her lap. It was a natural occurrence to the both of them. Una instinctively wrapped her arms around the little girl, who in turn rested her head in the crook of Una's shoulder. Just as instinctively, Una began running her hand through the girl's red hair, softly relaxing the both of them as they listened to both the static and faint sounds from far away and the laughter and conversation of the room. It seemed as if this had been happening since Hope was born.
Walter, who was sitting in the floor, wrestling with the little boys, had John jump on his back and hang on. Walter didn't mind this, though; the children all did this to get a piggy back ride around the house. He looked to where Una and Hope were. The evening sun washed across them, showing a pure, radiant picture, and he was quite taken away.
Una felt his gaze upon her and slowly lifted her eyes to meet his. For a brief moment, they sat there with the commotion around them somehow disappearing. Una smiled a sweet, shy, gentle smile. Walter smiled back, with a hint of a laugh. Then Una lowered her gaze back down to Hope who had fallen asleep. Una didn't say a word or move. She just enjoyed the rapture of holding the sleeping angel. Walter continued his gaze and felt a stirring in his heart that hadn't been felt in a while.
The family listened to Gilbert's new radio for a long time. They heard news from Toronto, an orchestra in Boston, a baseball game in New York, and even a preacher all the way down in Texas. Finally, about an hour after the sun had set, people decided that it was time to leave. Jerry and Nan had to return to Avonlea the next morning. Everyone it seemed had to carry on with normal life come morning's light.
As everyone started to leave, Una found herself in a predicament because rather than wake up, Hope fell into a deeper sleep and held on tightly to Una's slender form. Walter came by and offered to take her up to bed.
"Oh no, let me do it, Walter," Una begged. "I have truly enjoyed spending this evening with Hope here with me. Please allow me to tuck her into bed."
Walter couldn't deny such a sweet and honest request. Especially one made by a lady with eyes as alluring as the dark blue pools before him.
"I guess that will be okay. However, it is a long way to her bedroom, its Rilla's old room, and she is getting heavier and heavier all the time with Mother and Faith's great cooking.
"Una only smiled and said, "I think that I can handle it. She's still not quite as heavy as a sack of grain, and I had to carry a lot of those in Calcutta."
"Yes I guess you did."
Una carried the slight form upstairs and into the room where she herself had once spent many hours with Rilla.
Hope did finally wake up enough to assist Una in the changing of her clothes. "My nightgowns are kept in the top drawer of the dresser. I like the pretty blue one the best," Hope yawned.
They managed to get her dressed for bed and Una was making sure Hope was all tucked in when Hope sleepily asked, "Could you please sing a song to me, Miss Una?"
Una didn't know quite what to say. No one had ever asked her to sing to them before, and she didn't know for sure if she had a nice enough voice. "I-I suppose I can. What would you like for me to sing to you?"
"Oh, whatever seems appropriate for you. I just like the sound of your voice."
Una thought a moment then began singing,
At the end of the rainbow there's happiness
and to find it how often I've tried
but my life is a race, just a wild goose chase
and my dreams have all been denied!
Why have I always been a failure?
What can the reason be?
I wonder if the world's to blame?
I wonder if it could be me?
I'm always chasing rainbows
watching clouds drifting by!
My schemes are just like all of my dreams
ending in the sky!
Some fellows look and find the sunshine
I always look and find the rain!
Some fellows make a winning sometime
I never even make a gain!
Believe me . . .
I'm always chasing rainbows
waiting to find a little blue bird in vain!
( Rainbows seem to fade away! )
Walter came walking by at this time to make sure that everything was all right and was mesmerized by the sound and picture before him. He stopped in the doorway and just stared and the image before him, lost in it's beauty.
By the time Una was finished singing the song, Hope was fast asleep. Una bent over and lovingly kissed the sweet forehead goodnight then walked into the hallway, almost running into Walter.
"Thank you for being so kind to my little girl."
"It was nothing, really. It was very, very nice to hold her and love on her."
"She is quite loveable. She gets that from her mother."
"Oh," Una smiled. "I must be heading to the manse. It is quite late and terribly dark."
Walter came out of the spell he was under and said, "Yes, it is quite dark outside. There is no moon out tonight with this overcast sky. Please allow me to walk you home."
"Oh no, Walter. It is too late for you to be out as well," she pleaded.
"Please me allow the pleasure. I like a dark evening like this," he said. It reminds me of your eyes and hair, he thought to himself.
So they walked the dark, seemingly long walk back to the manse. For a time, there was little said between the two of them. Then suddenly Walter just started talking.
"That was a rather sad song you were singing to Hope."
Una laughed a bit. "I guess that it is. Though it seems to be how I feel at times."
"I understand that sentiment," Walter agreed. "Sometimes, I look back on my youth, that glided, poetic youth of mine, and I know that at times I was chasing rainbows."
"Oh really? How so?" Una asked, somewhat knowing at least part of the answer.
"As far back as I can remember," Walter admitted, "I have seemed to find some blonde beauty to put on a pedestal and worship from afar. When Rilla was born, I wanted her to have yellow hair like Alice Parker because she was nice to me. When I was a little older, just the thought of Persis Ford would make me blush. Then there was Faith. I built her up to be something more than she is. I love her now like a sister, as I should. However, all through my teen years, I would worship her from afar, write sonnets to her, and call her Rosamund. I knew that she and Jem were in love, and I didn't grudge them their happiness. I knew that what I felt for her was in reality just an infatuation. What they share is real. Then I guess that Katie is my last golden rainbow goddess. I did have her a while, and we were happy, truly happy. I don't think you can produce children as sweet and pure as mine without that sincere devotion and passion for each other. And now.. now she's gone., and I seem to be trying to grasp the unattainable again."
"Walter, I don't think that there's anything wrong with remembering a love that you once had and lost. It's not quite as pathetic as holding on to a love that was never yours to begin with," Una encouraged him, letting some of her own feelings out.
He sighed and stuck his hands into his pockets. "I suppose you are right, dear Una. Have I told you how nice it is to have you here again with your sense and heart?"
She blushed, but thankfully, there was no moon to betray it. "No. I don't suppose you have, Walter. Thank you. It is also nice to have you dreaming dreams again for us."
"Do you have any dreams, Una?" Walter asked imploringly.
"I suppose I did at one time. Yet time and circumstance seem to have made me a bit more practical. I do dream from time to time, but I have learned that I cannot live here in this fairy land of dreams forever. My dreams aren't to come true, and to stay here would just remind me of that."
"Does this mean that you are not to stay here in the Glen?" Walter asked.
"I am afraid that it does," she finally admitted. "A man I met in India is taking a position at St. John's Divinity School this coming fall. He has promised to find a place for me when he gets there," she half admitted the truth.
"I will be sorry to see you go."
"I shall be somewhat sorry to go. I have grown to love home for what it is now, and in some ways, I would like to stay. However, I will not allow myself to become dependant on Father and Rosemary again. I am grown and need to take care of myself. Even little Bruce is in Vancouver earning money to attend Redmond. I will say goodbye right, this time, though."
"How soon shall you be leaving? Shouldn't the fall term be beginning soon?" he asked, somewhat choked at the thought of Una leaving again.
"I should think soon, but I haven't heard from my friend yet. I am beginning to think that he may have decided to go back on our plans."
"Maybe so," Walter offered. "I know that we wouldn't mind your staying around a while longer. Maybe you can learn to dream again."
"Maybe we both can," Una shyly offered.
"Oh, I don't really do any good dreaming these days," Walter answered, not knowing how sharply he said it.
Somewhat shocked, Una asked, "Do you not see poetry anymore?"
He laughed. "I think that I did when I was with Katie. Heaven knows we read enough of it. I just didn't know that I could write my own. Then, after the accident, it has been hard to see poetry in much, between my own losses and what the world is coming to."
"But you and everyone else fought to end the old tyrannies. You've come back, unscathed. You all came back with the same ideals as before. There will be no more Great Wars." She really believed what she was saying.
"Unscathed? I lost precious years that I could have been here with... with all the people I love! Jem walks with a limp because of a German bullet to his thigh! Jerry can hardly bend over because of one in his back! Ken has that scar on his cheek! Diana has told me of Jack's burn scars! Miller lost his leg! Your baby brother, Carl, will never see out of his left eye again! No Una, none of us have come back unscarred or unharmed, the same as we were. We did terrible things and gave up too much. For What? The Treaty of Versailles is a joke! They've split up the Slavic nations in a disgusting way! Germany is in chaos, who knows what will come of that! There is the threat now of Communism from Russia and Italian fascism. We thought we were making the world better, but it's not, and I hate what it may do to my son and daughter in the coming years." He sounded like an evangelist preaching fire and brimstone.
"But we must keep faith, Walter, that good will triumph over evil. We must keep faith." Una was almost in tears as she said that.
They were now standing on the manse porch. Walter stood with his head down in shame, beaten down by his own idealistic words. "You are right, dearest Una, you are right. I sometimes forget when I hear the news and watch once virile young men, limp and ache. Thank you for reminding me to keep faith."
She was in tears now, and enough moonlight peaked through the clouds to illuminate the tears staining her primrose cheeks. Walter lifted her lowered head at the chin and dried her wet cheeks. She looked to him and smiled with her deep-blue, faithful as the sea eyes, and he couldn't help bet stoop down to kiss her.
It was a sweet, meaningful kiss that was far shorter than either wanted it to be. For a moment, they were lost until Una stepped back and told Walter, "Thank you for walking me home. I have enjoyed it. I must be going in now."
"Goodnight, Dearest Una. Thank you for being so faithful." He walked off, and suddenly a poem came to him.
The song was: "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" Music by :Harry Carroll Lyrics by Joseph McCarthy. 1918.