Cedarpoint Manor

My fascination with adventure seemingly put me into yet another rather uncomfortable situation. The fact that Emeline Harris had been one of my dearest students at Kingsport Ladies College seemed completely irrelevant to me when Gil and I were on our way to dinner that night. I suppose I should have been somewhat intrigued at the mention of her name, since I had only ever met one other girl named Emeline before or since Emeline Harris. However at the thought of being in a house as massive as I had heard Cedarpoint was, everything else was a blur to me at that time. When the door opened and Emeline stood in front of me, I was excited and overjoyed and horrified all at the same time. One unfulfilled hope of mine since the end of the school year was to be able to see Emeline again and to explain why the relationship between her father and I didn't work out as everyone expected it would. However I didn't think that I would be comfortable talking on that subject it in the presence of Gilbert. I dramatically envisioned the evening ending in a loud argument and a slammed door while Gil and I stood out on the stoop waiting for the carriage to arrive. However romantic that scenario might have appeared in a novel, I was sure that in reality an evening ending like that was the last thing any of us would have hoped for.

"Father! You'll never guess who is here!" Emeline yelled enthusiastically after she had released me from the lengthy embrace. The door swung wide open and Morgan Harris stood next to his daughter with a cigar in his hand.

"Anne Shirley," he said, as if he knew I was coming. "I was hoping I'd see you again." His voice was as suave and nonchalant as I'd remembered it. "And this must be…" he trailed off, putting together that I was the fiancé of the man who had helped his daughter earlier that afternoon.

"Gilbert Blythe," Gil spoke up, extending his hand to Morgan.

I gulped, no longer putting off the inevitable introduction. "Gil," I said, putting my hand in his, praying he wouldn't be mad or upset. "This is Morgan Harris. Morgan Harris, Gilbert Blythe…my fiancé."

Morgan's façade changed when I said fiancé. It was apparent he'd already put two and two together, but the fact seemed solidified after it was made vocal. The word lingered in the air for a moment, and Emeline politely broke the silence by inviting us in.

"Yes, of course," Morgan added. "Where are my manners? Please come in."

We all found our way into the sitting room and Emeline again had to break the awkward silence. It seemed that Gilbert, Morgan and I had not only all lost our manners, but our voices as well.

"Miss Shirley, I'm attending Queens this fall. I'm going to take the teacher's course in one year rather than two just the way you did."

"That is great Emeline," I managed to say. "I always thought you'd be an excellent teacher."

"Miss Shirley, I heard Miss Brooke stayed with you this summer. However did you deal with someone as mean and cold as her for a whole season, Miss Shirley?"

"Emeline, please call me Anne. After all you are going to be a colleague of mine in a year. Besides Miss Shirley makes me feel old. And Katherine, I mean Miss Brooke and I got along very well. I think I wore her down," I said with a smile. "She really is a kindred spirit after all."

"Your magic really does work on everyone," Morgan piped in. He looked at me with love and adoration in his eyes which made me feel rather uncomfortable, especially sitting next to Gilbert. Gil saw the look too I'm afraid, and he, in turn, looked Morgan square in the eyes.

"So Morgan, what is it exactly that you do?" he asked coldly, taking the focus off of me and my alleged magic.

I'm in business," he said, leaving it there. "And you Gilbert? What is your profession?"

"I am starting my second year of medical school this fall. I'm studying to become a surgeon." Both men seemed oddly competitive and Emeline and I were at a loss for words.

"How long have you known Anne?" Morgan asked dryly.

"Gil and I have known each other…"

"Years," Gilbert responded quickly. "We went to both grade school and Queens together. We also taught and worked on our courses by correspondence together for a year."

"Oh, Anne must have failed to mention that on our trip to Boston," Morgan stated plainly.

I was astounded at the nerve of both men. I am sure a horrified look must have crossed my face at that moment and I couldn't stand that they were actually arguing over me.

"Gilbert, dear," I said politely, trying not to get upset. "Might I have a word with you in the hallway?"

"Of course, Anne," he said, standing up and leading me into the hall.

"Gilbert Blythe, I've never been so humiliated in all my life," I allowed my anger and disappointed me to be apparent in my voice.

"Anne, what do you mean?" he asked.

"How could you be so prideful and rude to our hosts?"

"Anne, you and I both saw the way he looked at you; besides he started it by talking about your 'magic'. I don't want him talking about my fiancé that way." Gil looked away, truly concerned and hurt and I knew I couldn't stay mad at him. As much as the argument upset me his care and concern made me feel a little better.

"Oh! You do make it impossible for me to stay mad at you," I said, somewhat annoyed that I my anger was already gone. "Just try to be nice. And no more masculine, pride-swelling arguments over me."

"I'll try Anne," he responded genuinely.

We returned to the sitting room and I was feeling better about being there, although I was positive this night would not be the adventure I'd hoped.

"Emeline," Gilbert said, starting the conversation in a different direction. "When you left earlier I could not understand why your manner of speaking reminded me so much of Anne. But now that I know you were her pupil for an entire year I can fully understand why."

"Adored pupil and wonderful friend," I chimed in. "Emeline, do you remember when we fell through the roof of the shed trying to get Essie's bike back for her brother?"

"How could I forget, dear teacher? All three of us were nearly kicked out of school."

"Anne," Morgan said looking as though he had just won a battle of wits against himself. "I know this may seem rather presumptuous, but might I have a word with you?"

I looked at Gilbert, not knowing what to say to Morgan Harris. I wasn't sure if I really wanted to go and know what he had to say, or if I'd rather just leave it in the dark since nothing he could have said would have made a difference to me. Gilbert's eyes gave me the OK, although I was still feeling like a lamb being led to the slaughter as we walked toward what I assumed was Morgan's office. He opened the door and then put his hand on the small of my back to guide me into the private room.

"Anne," he began, looking distraught. "I don't know how else to say this, but, I want you to know that I will never stop loving you."

"Morgan Harris, are you really being so bold?" I turned around, having heard enough.

"Anne, listen to me, please. When I first met you I thought you were intriguing. The second time we ran into each other you were mysterious and bold and held my attention captive, if even for those few minutes. I couldn't get you out of my mind after that, and I knew that you were different. You are special and beautiful and wonderful and I know there is no way that I will ever stop loving you."

"Morgan, I've told you before there isn't any way I can explain why I can't marry you. I just don't belong with you. The only thing I can really say is that Gil and I are the same soul, just in two different bodies. We complete each other." By this time I was so shaken that I couldn't help but start to cry. "I'm so sorry that I've hurt you, but I know I wouldn't ever be happy married to you."

"Anne, do you not think that destiny played some part in bringing us together? Our first meeting was by chance, our second by some strange twist of the cosmos, and then you end up teaching at my daughter's school. Even tonight, Anne, what do you call that? Anne, this is no accident. Fate brought us together."

"No, Morgan, I'm sorry. I don't believe that, and even if I did, my heart lies elsewhere. I'm sorry, I must go." I ran out of the room and ended running straight into Gilbert who was coming to check on me. I almost knocked him over, but luckily we both managed to stay with our feet firmly planted on the ground. He put his arm around my shoulder to keep me steady. We walked together to the sitting room and I told Emeline we had to be on our way.

"Dearest Emeline, I am dreadfully sorry that this evening didn't work out how I'm sure any of us had imagined. I do hope you'll stay in touch. I will leave my address for you at the front desk of the hotel tomorrow morning before we leave." I hugged her quickly and then Gilbert and I exited the massive house.

"Anne, are you alright?" Gil asked me once we were back in the carriage on our way to the hotel.

"Just a little shaken; I hate being so cold to people, but Morgan was a different person tonight. It seemed like he wasn't going to let me leave the house without first telling him that I'd changed my mind. He never seemed that desperate in all our time together in Kingsport." I stopped and took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Thank the heavens for you Gilbert. You don't know how much you mean to me."

I leaned my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, trying to forget the events of the past few minutes. "I think I do, my dearest Anne," he replied. "I think I do."

A/N: I have so many ideas, and so little time to write due to my massive amounts of schoolwork! Hopefully the next chapter will be up soon, but I can't make any promises. Hope you liked the chapter! R&R as always! Your ideas and input are always welcome as well.