July 2nd, the date of Jem and Faith's wedding, dawned bright and clear. Everyone at Ingleside and the manse was up before dawn. In every corner of the house activity could be found, whether it be in the kitchen where Susan and Aunt Diana and Aunt Millie were putting the finishing touches to the wedding cake and various other delicacies, or on the lawn where the men and boys were setting up chairs and putting the last coat of white paint on the trellis that was to stand behind Jem and Faith, or upstairs in the girls' rooms where they were putting on their dresses, or under one of the oak trees where Patrick and Shirley were moving the Ingleside piano.
"Imagine if your brother had wanted a large wedding," grunted Patrick as he strained under the weight of the instrument.
"Don't speak too soon; I have three sisters left to be married," replied Shirley. "Odds are that one of them will want a large wedding."
"What about you, old man?"
"Me? I hate crowds," laughed Shirley. "The smaller the better, in my opinion."
"What if your fiancée wants a big one?"
Shirley thought of Cecily. "She won't," he answered positively.
As soon as they had the piano in order, Shirley left to find Jem. He found his oldest brother wandering around Rainbow Valley in a panic.
"What was I thinking? It's too soon to get married. I don't even know if I'll be a good doctor yet! We haven't even found a house. Mother and Dad are going to let us stay here until we do, but what if we can't find one? What if I can't support Faith? What if I can't be a good husband? What if I let her down, if I fail to live up to her expectations?"
Shirley watched Jem pace with some amusement in his eyes. It wasn't often any of them saw their calm, collected big brother fall apart like this. Finally, he took pity on Jem and grabbed him by the shoulders, effectively halting the tirade.
"Jem. Faith loves you, and you love her. That's enough to carry you through anything. Marriage isn't all moonlight and magic, but both of you are willing to sacrifice for each other and care for each other through the good times and the bad. That's all you need. Any problems you encounter you'll work through together."
Jem calmed down, the color slowly returning to his cheeks. "Thanks. You're right, of course. It's just—well, you know, I've never gotten married before."
Shirley winked. "I know."
The rest of the morning flew by, and before anyone knew it, the guests had arrived and it was time for the ceremony to begin. Jem's nervousness returned in full force as he and Shirley, resplendent in their dress uniforms, stood up beside Reverend Meredith, waiting for Faith to come out of Ingleside's side door.
Una came out first, her ethereal loveliness highlighted by the v-necked soft pink satin dress she wore. Wisps of her black hair, recently cut and shaped to her jawline, peeked out from underneath a creamy satin hat. Her hands, demurely clad in wrist-length lace gloves, clutched a small bouquet of pink rosebuds. A pang tore at Shirley's heart as she walked wistfully down the aisle to Patrick's processional. He wished Walter were alive to see her. He wished she could be walking down to her own groom. He wished there was anything he could do to take away the sadness always present in her eyes now, but he knew nothing but time could heal her heart.
Jem stiffened and caught his breath, and Shirley tore his eyes away from Una in time to see Faith and Jerry step out onto the lawn. Jerry was very stiff and splendid in his dress uniform, but he was nothing compared to Faith.
Gowned in a simple pink satin slip with a cream chiffon overlay, her stunning beauty flamed out more clearly than ever. Her tawny curls were frosted over by the lace cap that covered the back of her head, from which a long veil flowed down nearly to the ground. A double strand of pearls encircled her slender neck, matching the pearls on her ring finger and in her ears. The chiffon overlay was attached to the underdress at each shoulder with a pink rose, and in her lace-gloved hands she bore a large bouquet of roses, white lilies, and ferns. The love light radiating from her face matched the look in Jem's eyes when he saw her. No longer was there any nervousness or fear. He knew—he knew that she belonged to him. From friendship, through war, separation, and trials, they had come together in love, nevermore to be parted.
Jerry handed her over to Jem, and Reverend Meredith, in a voice that trembled almost imperceptibly, began the ceremony.
It was a sweet, poignant service, made memorable only by the strong love the two had between them. Faith never once took her eyes from Jem's face as she said her vows in a clear, happy voice, and Jem, that strong, sturdy soldier, couldn't keep tears from his eyes when he repeated them back.
Reverend Meredith pronounced them "husband and wife," Jem kissed Faith to loud cheers, and they walked triumphantly back down the lawn to the joyful music of Handel's Hornpipe. Shirley offered his arm to Una, and the two of them followed the bride and groom, followed in turn by the rest of their families.
The wedding dinner was eaten on the lawn, much to Susan's relief, who had been worried about fitting all those people into Ingleside's dining room if it rained, and as twilight fell the dancing began. Shirley caught the nod from Jem, and quietly slipped away and brought the car 'round back. Unnoticed by anyone else, Jem and Faith disengaged themselves from the crowd and dashed to the car. Carl and Kenneth noticed them just as they were pulling out and dashed for the rice and old shoes, but it was too late. Shirley drove the happy couple away to a cacophony of laughter and shouts. He halted, grinning, just by the front, where Rilla, by previous arrangement, had gathered all the unmarried girls. Faith stood up and tossed her bouquet directly toward Nan, who obligingly caught it.
"You're next, darling," called Faith, as they headed off again. "Don't forget!"
Shirley dropped them off at the train station, where they would leave for Halifax for a week. He kissed Faith, shook Jem's hand, and drove off again, forgotten by them entirely as they started out on their new adventure together.
Back at Ingleside, the dancing was continuing strongly. Shirley caught sight of Mother and Dad waltzing in a dignified fashion, Mother resplendent in a glistening silver gown, Dad distinguished in his black suit. Kenneth and Rilla were dancing together, of course, but Jerry and Nan were seated on the grass, arguing earnestly. Di waved cheerfully to him as Patrick whirled her past in a shimmer of green gauze. Shirley laughed and was about to search for a partner himself when he caught sight of Aunt Millie and Aunt Diana talking. He changed his mind and went over to greet them.
"Shirley!" said Aunt Mille. "It's so good to see you. You've been so busy ever since we got here that we haven't had a chance to talk at all."
"How are you liking Redmond?" asked Aunt Diana. "The children miss you dreadfully at school."
"I like it well enough," said Shirley. "I do miss everyone in Avonlea, though. Are the Irvings still at Echo Lodge?" He'd meant that to slip out casually, but when he saw the quick glance the two women gave each other, he knew he'd failed.
"Why…no, Shirley, they're not," said Aunt Millie hesitantly. "Haven't you heard?"
Shirley's heartbeat picked up. "Heard what?"
Millie looked at Aunt Diana pleadingly. The older woman stepped into the breach. "It's Cecily, Shirley," she said gently. "She never recovered from her spring cold last year. When the Irvings took her to a doctor, he…he said…he said it was tuberculosis."
Tuberculosis! Shirley's face went white underneath his tan. Hardly knowing what he said, he asked, in a strange, husky voice, "Are they sure?"
"I'm afraid so," answered Aunt Diana. "They sent her to a sanitarium in the States—in the mountains in New York, I believe. They…they hope she'll get better there, but they're just not sure. I'm so sorry, Shirley."
Shirley walked away in a daze. He had no idea where he was going or what he was doing. He just walked, until he suddenly came to himself, he didn't know how much later, and found himself on the shore. He sat down on the cool sand and stared out at the sea, his entire being a fiery mass of pain.
Cecily! His beloved was dying of tuberculosis, and he'd had no idea. She was alone, far away, and he couldn't be with her. Nothing in his life had ever hurt him so badly, not even when Walter had been killed. He buried his head in his hands. How could he go on if…if…if she didn't survive? Tuberculosis was a deadly disease. Very few people ever recovered from it. What was he going to do?
He sat on the beach for hours, staring out at the sky and listening to the surf pound the shore. When he finally went back to Ingleside, the house was dark. He walked up to the back door, hoping to slip in unnoticed, but he saw two figures rise to their feet to meet him.
"Aunt Diana told Mother and she told me," came Di's voice from the shadows. "Are you okay?"
Shirley felt cold and hollow inside, the fierce flame of agony burned out into dull, aching ashes. "I don't think so, Di," he said honestly.
Patrick came forth into the moonlight. "Is there anything we can do to help?"
Shirley dropped wearily onto the ground. "Just sit with me?" he requested.
They sat, one on either side. Di laid her burnished head against Shirley's shoulder.
"Oh Shirley!" she cried with a catch in her voice. "I wish I could do something for you! You helped me when I was hurting, and I feel so helpless now."
Shirley kissed the top of her head. "It's okay, Di. There isn't anything to say."
They sat in silence for a while. Shirley felt strangely comforted by their presence. He wouldn't have thought that he'd want anybody around during his greatest agony, but their quiet sympathy did help to ease the pain. They finally convinced him to go to bed after a while. He did, and while he didn't sleep, hope did come to him while he rested. He rose in the morning before it was light out to find Dad.
As he went down the stairs, he heard a rustle behind him. He turned to see Mother coming, her great grey eyes limpid with sympathy. In an instant, he knew that she understood his pain, and he went into her arms as though he were a little child again.
"Oh my son," she murmured. "I know. There is nothing harder than knowing one we love is suffering. I know. I remember when I thought your father was dying. Oh Shirley, I've never forgotten that, and I never will, not to my dying day. Trust in God, dearest son. He will bring you comfort, eventually. It won't always be so hard."
"I know," said Shirley steadily, his eyes a little damp. He blinked. "Mother, I have to go to her. You understand? I have to."
Mother smiled a little. "Of course you do. There's nothing else you could do."
A weight lifted off Shirley's chest. He knew what he had to do, but his only fear had been that his family wouldn't understand. Having Mother's support meant the world to him.
"I planned it all out," he said, "But I need to talk it over with Dad."
"He's in his study," said Mother. "I think he's waiting for you."
Shirley kissed her cheek gratefully. What a mother she was! He went down to Dad's study, ready to present his plan, and hoping Dad would agree.
"Hold on, Cecily," he murmured. "I'm coming. Just hold on 'til I come to you."
Author's Note: I'm sorry! Please don't hate me! One note: I had the plot worked out and the character of Cecily created before I named her. It wasn't until I had much of the story posted that I realized her story matches Cecily from Road to Avonlea's story. This was NOT intentional. Honestly. It's one of those annoying coincidences. And believe me, she's not going to turn into a different actress in a few chapters and become a totally different character. The similarities end here. Really.