Chapter 18: The Announcement
After dropping Gilbert off at home, Anne hurried back to Green Gables to help Katherine prepare for her first party.
"Well, you're looking really happy this afternoon," commented Katherine as Anne came into the house looking as radiant as ever.
"I am," Anne said with a smile. "I'm floating on Cloud 9."
"Care to tell me why?"
Anne paused for a moment. "I really do want to tell you, Katherine, but it's just that now's not the time for me to tell the whole world yet." She saw her frown. "It's nothing against you, I promise. I'm not even going to tell Diana."
"What?" Katherine gasped. If she's not going to tell Diana Wright, then it must be big!
"Yeah. Tonight is Alice's night since it is her party and all, and I don't want to ruin all that. Besides, there will be a couple of eligible bachelors there that have asked me about you."
"Are you serious? What do I say? What do I do? You know I don't have any experience in that department, Anne."
"Just relax; everything will be okay. You really need to start believing in yourself more, Katherine."
"I wish I had your confidence." She sighed. "Are you ready to go yet?"
"Almost. Just give me a minute."
Anne went into her room and took out a plain gold necklace. She took off Gilbert's engagement ring and put it on the chain to put around her neck for the evening. That way she could still wear the ring without spoiling the surprise if there was any.
"Now I'm ready, Katherine."
"Okay. Let's go."
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The bonfire was great fun for everyone who went. There was tons of food, drinks, music, and dancing. Despite the pre-party jitters, Katherine found herself having a great time with Joe and Mike, the two men that were interested in her. She danced the night away until her feet couldn't support her any more. Anne, on the other hand, tried her hardest not to tell anyone about her engagement just yet.
"Anne, is there something you want to tell me?" asked Diana.
"Well...not yet," Anne replied.
"So there is something then. Hmm..." She looked at Anne's necklace. "I like your necklace! Where'd you get it?"
How should I answer this? "At Lawson's." Well, it isn't exactly a fib; Gil did get it from there.
"Oh." From the way she's reacting, there's more to that than meets the eye. "So how's Gil?"
"He's great. He got discharged from the hospital this morning."
"This morning? He must have recovered very quickly!"
"He did, and he's looking as good as ever."
Diana noticed the way Anne's eyes were shining when she said that last sentence and how shaky she looked when she asked her about her necklace. Then it hit her. She remembered how devastated Anne was when she heard the news that Gilbert was in a coma and was possibly dying. She also remembered the phone call she made to Anne the day after her miserable start to teaching in Kingsport and how they talked about Gilbert and Roy. Even if Anne wouldn't admit it, Gilbert would always be a part of her life no matter what. Diana knew that Anne had visited him a few times in the hospital, and with his recent discharge, she suspected that Anne had a lot to do with his rapid recovery. After taking a closer look at the ring on Anne's necklace, she realized that the pearl ring hanging from her throat was something that Anne had wanted for so long and only a special someone could give it to her. Deciding not to ponder on the subject any longer, Diana smiled and secretly wished that Anne's special someone was Gilbert.
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Anne got up bright and early the next day to visit her fiancé. She quickly did her morning routine before running down the stairs.
"Marilla, I'll be back in a bit," she announced as she hurried off to her car.
"What's that all about?" asked Rachel as soon as Anne left.
"I don't know," Marilla replied.
"Didn't Anne go walking with Gilbert yesterday?"
"She did."
"I'm still shocked at how fast that boy recovered, Marilla. I'm betting Anne had a lot to do with it. I sure hope that Providence will get them together."
"You never know, Rachel. You never know." She secretly hoped that her friend was right.
Half an hour later, Anne returned with Gilbert by her side. They walked into the kitchen hand in hand where the ladies were sitting.
"Marilla? Rachel? Katherine?"
The three of them looked up and were surprised to see Gilbert with her.
"Gilbert! It's nice to see you!" greeted Rachel. "How are you feeling?"
"Very well, thank you," he replied.
"What brings you here to Green Gables?"
He looked at Anne. "Anne and I have an announcement to make that I'm afraid won't surprise anyone. Sweetheart, would you like to do the honors?"
She nodded. "Gil asked me to marry him, and I said 'yes.'"
"It's about time!" exclaimed Rachel as she jumped out of her seat to hug the pair. "I knew it all along."
"Actually, all of Avonlea knew all along except me," Anne said.
"I'm glad you followed your heart, Anne." She hugged her. "Gilbert, you're a lucky man." She hugged him and pulled him close to her so she could whisper into his ear. "Take care of her for me."
"I will," he whispered back.
"Is this what you wanted to tell me last night, Anne?" asked Katherine.
"Yes. I'm sorry I didn't tell you yesterday, Katherine, but I really wanted to tell everybody the news only after I told Marilla first. I hope you're not mad at me."
"I'm not mad at you, Anne. I'm happy for you! You deserve all the happiness in the world." She gave her a hug.
"Thank you, Katherine. It means a lot to me."
"Gilbert, have you told your parents yet?" asked Marilla.
"Not yet," he replied. "I know how much Anne wanted to tell you before anyone else, so I kept it to myself last night."
"Aww, that's sweet of you, Gil." Anne gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Go tell them, my boy," Rachel said. "I know they'll love to hear the news."
Anne and Gilbert left Green Gables, leaving a happy trio behind them. As soon as they arrived at the Blythe house, it seemed as if they already knew the news.
"Anne!" greeted Mrs. Blythe at the door.
"Hello."
"There you are, Gil," said Mr. Blythe. "We were wondering where you went."
"I was with Anne at Green Gables," he said with a grin as he looked over at her.
"Is there something you kids want to tell us?" asked Mrs. Blythe.
"You know how much I love Anne," Gilbert began, "so I asked her to marry me -"
"And she said yes?"
"She did."
"Aww! Congratulations!"
Anne and Gilbert were engulfed in an enormous hug from both of Gilbert's parents. They gave them many well wishes and sent them on their way. The rest of Avonlea quickly heard the news of the engagement, and no one was surprised. The couple was greeted with a mostly warm reception from the town except from Josie Pye, who was still jealous of Anne after all these years, and Billy Andrews and Charlie Sloane. Both tried unsuccessfully to win Anne's heart back when they all went to school together. Diana was thrilled at the news and immediately offered to help plan the wedding; Anne had to calm her down and explain that the wedding wouldn't happen for some time. Despite the fact that it wouldn't take place until three more years, Diana still extended her offer to Anne, and she accepted.
The rest of the summer went by rather quickly to Anne's dismay. While she got to spend a lot of time with her fiancé roaming through the woods or taking a walk somewhere, she knew that he would have to return to school to complete his medical degree. Part of her wanted to keep him all to herself, but she knew how badly Gilbert wanted to be a doctor and reluctantly let him go. Three years seemed like a lifetime, but it was a time that she would gladly wait for. Since Anne wasn't returning to Kingsport, she would stay home at Green Gables to help Marilla around the house and to pick up on her writing. That way she would have something to occupy herself with, and hopefully it would ease the pain of waiting for Thanksgiving or Christmas break to come around when Gilbert would be free to visit her.
It was finally time for Gilbert to leave, and Anne made sure she was there to say goodbye to him before he left. Gilbert stood outside of his car (which finally got back from the shop after the accident) and kissed Anne.
"I love you, my Anne-girl," he said as he kissed her forehead. "Don't go falling in love with someone else now."
"I won't, Gil. Don't study too hard, or you'll blow your brains out."
He laughed. "Don't worry about me." He gave her one last kiss before getting in the car. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
And with that, he drove off into the distance, leaving Anne behind to wonder what would happen to them in the next three years. She sighed. I can't wait to get married...