Rilla looked up as a shadow passed over her book. Standing in front of her was Shirley, smiling at her.

'What's with the secret smile?' Rilla asked him.

'I was just thinking how much you reminded me of Walter,' Shirley replied, sitting next to her. 'You remember how he would get when he was reading,'

'You were doing that the other day,' Rilla told her brother.

'I think we all do it occasionally,' Shirley replied. 'Rilla, have you seen kitchen lately?'

'Yes, I have,' Rilla responded. 'Why are you asking?'

'Because I think it might be a bit too much for Susan,'

'Shirley, she's in her element in the kitchen. You know that. If I had refused to let her cook, you know how upset she'd be,'

'I know,' Shirley sighed.

'But I think the war took its toll on her,' Rilla looked thoughtfully at her older brother. 'The war took its toll on all of us; nobody was left untouched by it. But we're learning to put it behind us and to look towards the future. I know that Ken will be haunted by memories for the rest of his life, but I don't care. Do you think that Faith cares if Jem's upset and distant one moment, and then happy and carefree the next? We know that they're hurting, yet we also know that by loving them unconditionally that we're helping them. Shirley, you wanted me to talk to you as I did to Walter, yet you've been pushing me away and fencing me out.'

'You were so absorbed in your upcoming nuptials that I thought it best to be out of the picture for awhile.'

'I wasn't too absorbed not to make time for you,' Rilla told him. 'I make time for Jims, and I can make time for you. Everything's been planned for the wedding next month, and I mean to have a golden month, like we used to do when we were children. Ken's got to go to Toronto this week, and won't be back for another two weeks. And to take my mind off his absence, I'm going to pretend I'm only fourteen again. Don't smile at me that way, Shirley. You know what I mean,'

'You sound like Mother now,' Shirley told her. 'That's why I was smiling,'

'Nan, Di, Faith, Una, Carl, Jerry, Jem and I are planning on having a month full of fun and larks. It won't be the same without you. Please say you'll do it for me?'

'I will, but I won't answer for the consequences,' Shirley told her.

According to plan, the Blythes and Merediths had a golden month. They forgot about the war, and acted like children. Anne heard the laughter floating up from Rainbow Valley and smiled. Her children were making up for lost time.

There were rambles in the spruce barrens, and along the shore. There were long talks in Rainbow Valley, full of laughter, and hope. There were 'moon sprees' galore, with everyone joining in.

Shirley seemed to forget about his time as a war ace, and threw himself wholeheartedly into whatever was going on. The others were surprised; none of them had imagined that quiet Shirley had that much spirit in him, but soon became used to it.

Ken returned from Toronto earlier than expected, and joined in the spirit of things. He added an extra tang to the month, Rilla thought. Ken knew many old poems and things and when they were in Rainbow Valley talking, he would quote them, or spin them stories like Walter had when he was with them.

'It's been a real golden month, hasn't it?' Di asked the night before Rilla and Ken's celebration. 'It has,' Rilla agreed.

'I don't want it to end, even though I know it's got to,' Faith said. 'It was great to pretend we were children again, though.'

'I'd forgotten what high jinks were until the start of this month,' Jerry said. 'I mean, I knew what they were, I just didn't remember how much fun they were,'

'At least nobody rode pigs this time,' Carl said, glancing slyly at Faith. Everyone laughed. 'I'm never going to live that down, am I?' Faith asked when she could speak again.

'Not with Carl around,' Jerry told her.

'Just make sure your children don't follow in their mother's footsteps, Jem,' Carl said.

A shrill whistle made him jump to his feet. 'I've got to go. I promised Bruce that I'd take him for a moon spree before he goes to bed,'

'Do you mind if I join you?' Una asked. Carl shook his head.

'The more the merrier,' he told her. Together they left Rainbow Valley.

Their leaving seemed to signify the end of the twilight talk. Nan and Jerry disappeared, followed by Shirley, and then by Faith and Jem.

This left Rilla and Ken alone in the valley. Ken put his arm around his fiancée and they sat there in silence until the moon rose. Ken stood up after it rose.

'I must get back or Persis will be annoyed with me. Dad's aunt is here, and it's not all that nice with her around.'

'You've settled where we're going tomorrow night, haven't you?'

'Yes, I have,' Ken told her. 'Don't fret, Rilla-my-Rilla.'

Together they walked towards Ingleside. 'You are the sweetest thing,' Ken told her, causing Rilla to smile. Suddenly Ken drew her to him and kissed her.

'That was your last kiss from me as Rilla Blythe. Next time I kiss you, you'll be Rilla Ford,' he told her before he walked away.