Spring, Anne, and Hope had returned to Green Gables, along with Gilbert, Walter, and Tenny. They didn't take the train to Avonlea, but instead, drove Gilbert's auto, enjoying the spring air. Anne sat in the back with Tenny and Hope sleeping on either side. As they approached "The Avenue" or as Anne still called it, "The White Way of Delight," she woke them to see all of spring's splendor. The maples in Lover's Lane were red budded and little curly ferns pushed up around the Dryad's Bubble. The Lake of Shining Waters shined in the afternoon sun as it hadn't in almost forty years.
A flurry of things went though Hope's little head when they arrived. How wonderful everything looked, blooming and new! How gallant Uncle Shirley's personal biplane appeared, all painted up shiny red against the lush emerald field behind Green Gables! How white the white was, and how green the gables were painted on the old house! How nice it was to have three unusually plump aunts waiting to hug you as soon as you drove up! How safe you felt seeing three strapping uncles waiting to greet you! How exciting it was, watching Cecilia, Barry, and Teddy jump up and down in anticipation with Divinity and Fudge jumping up alongside.
The greetings seemed to last an eternity, though it was a good eternity. Finally, they filed into Green Gables where Rebecca had a feast fit to feed the five thousand waiting. After the meal, Mr. and Mrs. Wright stopped by. The three older children ran outside to play while the adults enjoyed each others' company.
As they sat in the parlor of Green Gables with the setting sun blazing in, Nan looked to Walter with a question. "What made you decide to come with Mother and Dad to Avonlea, Walter? Tenny and Hope still have two months of school."
Walter looked outside to the three playing children. "Hope realized that when Una marries Mr. Belle, she will move away. It has upset her a great deal, and I thought that it would be good to separate her from Una so that it won't hurt so much when she does marry. Anyway, you and Mother both have those B.A.'s just itching to tutor, don't you?" he teased.
No one noticed Rebecca wince a bit upon hearing Una's name, or Shirley taking her hand and kissing it. "I have to let you know how thankful I am that you are going to be here when the baby comes," Rebecca told Anne. "Especially since Mother and Father have been busy building the new church in Regina."
"How are Phil and Jo enjoying life in Saskatchewan?" Gilbert asked.
"What was it they called those liquor outlaws dear?" Rebecca looked imploringly to Shirley.
"Becca's parents write that the Rum Runners and immigrants make life very interesting, but that the church is growing exceptionally," Shirley answered realizing that his shy wife wished for him to answer.
Gilbert understood. "By interesting, they mean a little dangerous, don't they?"
Rebecca shyly nodded. "But Sam is stationed with the Mounted Police there too. His wife and children keep Mother from getting too lonely."
Anne looked to her youngest daughter-in-law warmly. "Do you know, Rebecca, that if you didn't look exactly like your mother, I wouldn't know you were her daughter?"
"I think Sam and Philly inherited Mother's gift for gab. I've always been quiet."
"Like your father," Diana Wright commented, remembering when she met Rebecca's parents so long before at a wedding held at Green Gables.-
"Oh but no one can say a prayer as well as the Reverend Jo," Anne commented.
"Anne, it sounds awful to hear you refer to a minister like that!" Diana said, giving her old friend a mirthful look.
Fred Wright laughed and told his wife, "Goodness Diana! You sounded exactly like," he reconsidered what he was going to say when Gilbert finished his sentence.
"Rachel Lynde. You sound like Rachel Lynde, Diana." Everyone started laughing hysterically, even Rebecca who had never met dear old Mrs. Lynde.
Between chuckles, Diana responded, "I know, Gilbert. Don't you remember how Mrs. Rachel would harangue poor Anne for calling Reverend Blake by his name?"
"What would she have called me?" Jerry asked.
"Trouble," Di answered her brother-in-law.
Tenny, Hope, and Cecilia came inside and sat at the feet of the adults. Tenny looked up at his Uncle Shirley, the former fighter pilot with awe. "Uncle Shirley your biplane sure looks nice all painted up red, but I bet it looks even better when it's up in the air."
"I think that someone is hinting for a plane ride," Jack commented.
Tenny's eyes grew wide with anticipation. Shirley laughed, "I don't see anything wrong in taking you for a ride. Cecilia and I go for jaunts occasionally, don't we Brown Eyes?"
Cecilia climbed on Jerry's lap. "Oh yes. Uncle Shirley takes me up into the air. It's great fun until he turns us upside down to make me scream."
"And I promised that I wouldn't do that anymore. Walter, do you mind?"
"Not at all, as long as you take me up at least once, too. I've always wanted to know what the Island looked like from a bird's point of view."
Shirley noticed Hope, staring out the window dreamily. "What about you? Would you like to soar among the clouds?"
Hope slowly turned around. "I don't know, Uncle Shirley. It seems scary."
"Oh won't you come with me Josephine in my flying machine?"
"I guess so, Uncle Shirley, but my name's not Josephine," she relented, causing everyone else to laugh.
The next day, Tenny received his wish, and Shirley took him flying. When they returned, Tenny's gray eyes were wide, excited by all they had seen. He then asked Hope if she was ready for her trip. She nervously relented, but soon realized as she sat in Shirley's lap that he would never allow anything to happen to her.
The plane's engine was loud, and Shirley Blythe was always a quiet man. This entitled Hope to a trip free of conversation where she could just enjoy the sights before her eyes. Hope liked this. In later days, she herself had been quieter than usual. Life seemed easier if she didn't get involved.
Something happened while they were alone in the plane together. Something that neither really understood, but without saying much to one another, Hope and her Uncle Shirley became closely knit kindred spirits. They understood each other without words.
Again, this is a short chapter, but the next one doesn't really belong here. Thanks for all of the reviews. I do have a few requests: We have at least three babies due soon in the story. I'm a little undecided as to what they should be, and what their names should be, except for Shirley and Rebecca's baby. I have carefully planned when their child would be born in order to give it a very special name. That still leaves Nan and Di's babies. Nothing is set in stone concerning them.
I apologize for typos. Consider this a work in progress, not the final draft. I am a writer more than an editor, and it is more important for me to get my story out as it comes to me, and when I have time. When I am finished, I plan to go back and edit the entire work. I hope to be able to finish quickly as my spare time will soon be dwindling.
Please keep reviewing. It is nice to know that people are reading this. I like it, but you never know if someone else does until they let you know.