[Dear readers, I sincerely apologize for the delay in writing and posting this chapter. Shortly after I wrote Chapter 9, my husband was diagnosed with a rare form of late stage cancer. Between that, and the pandemic which has closed the professional ballet school that I run and the academic school that my daughters attend, it's all been a bit much. I am hoping that revisiting these characters that I know and love so dearly will act as a form of self-care, which I'm told is very important when taking care of a loved one full-time. Thank you for your patience and readership. xo Kate ]

Ugh. Just, ugh.

Anne had enjoyed every moment of winter break thus far. Sure she'd gotten by in Charlottetown, but she could really feel the air in her lungs now that she, Marilla, and Matthew were together again. At Green Gables, Anne felt grounded and connected to the sights and sounds around her in a way that was never possible at the boarding house. If she were being honest with herself, it was also nice to have a little break from Diana. They would be bosom friends until the day they died but a little time apart was a nice reprieve from full-time cohabitation. And of course, there was Gilbert: in the flesh. The two had spent some of every day together, taking walks and sharing meals. All of the anxiety and trepidation they'd encountered in Toronto had melted away. They talked and debated and laughed the hours away. It was different now; they were on the same side. In short, it was perfect.

But not today. Today would be the opposite of perfect. Today would be agony. Ugh.

As Anne dressed for church, she could feel the tension building in her neck and shoulders. Why should she be so afraid to see Ruby and the other girls church? She'd attended hundreds of times with the same cast of characters lining the pews, but she knew today would be different for it had been decided that Gilbert would attend with the Cuthberts. It started with a neighbourly invitation from Marilla rooted in friendship and convenience, and after considerable conversion she and Gilbert had decided that he would 'officially' attend with the family. There was no point in putting things off any longer. People were going to find out about their courtship eventually. Tt was time to rip off the bandage! Diana already knew of course, and she'd told Ruby, but as far as Anne could tell Ruby hadn't said a thing to anyone else in their group. But then again, Ruby hadn't said a word to Anne in weeks and weeks so it's hard to know for sure. Anne just knew that trouble awaited her at today's service, she could feel it in her bones. "Oh mine prophetic soul!" she quoted aloud. Rehearsals for Hamlet had not yet begun but Anne was already entirely immersed in the play. She could quote it in almost every situation, which she did to the annoyance of pretty much everyone after the novelty wore off.

Gilbert made his way over to Green Gables on foot. From there, the slightly-short-of-merry band rode in the Cuthbert's carriage across town, as Matthew's leg had been bothering him a while and he didn't feel up to the walk. Luckily, Anne thought, they arrived a little on the late side and had to scurry in and take their seats immediately upon arrival. As soon as they'd settled in their regular pew, Anne's senses heightened dramatically. She listened with every fiber of her being for what she assumed would be a host of whispers and scanned her peripheral vision for what she assumed would be a tidal wave of shady looks, but there was nothing. She listened and looked and listened and looked still harder but nothing. Gilbert, sensing her rush of adrenaline, subtly squeezed her hand and whispered in her ear:

"Relax. Everything is going to be fine." Anne looked at Gilbert and smiled. What a naive boy he is, she thought.

Unfortunately, Gilbert's small, almost microscopic gesture hadn't gone unnoticed. Minnie May, Diana's younger sister, and spotted it from the other side of the aisle. She happened to be sitting on the floor and was uniquely positioned for spying.

"Diana! Diana!" she whispered at a volume that only a six year old would qualify as a whisper. "Gilbert's holding Anne's hand. Are they in luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuvvvvvvvvvvveeeeee?" Diana quickly covered Minnie May's mouth but it was too late. Everyone had heard.

At the end of the service, Gilbert stood before anyone and warmly offered his arm to Anne. He had this perfectly annoying quality of not caring what other people thought of him, especially when his character was in alignment with his intentions and actions as they were now. Anne, on the other hand, was angry at just how much she cared. She cared a lot, she couldn't help it. She accepted Gilbert's hand and the two followed Matthew and Marilla down the aisle and out the doors of the church into the sunshiney cool air. When they turned around to survey the scene, they were surprised to see Josie, Ruby, Jane, Tilly, Prissy, and Diana right on their heels. In her most serious and resolute of voices, Anne said loudly:

"Gilbert, would you be so kind as to help Matthew prepare the carriage for our departure?"

"Are you sure, Anne?" Gilbert responded, carefully.

"Yes."

Gilbert nodded his head and took his leave. Anne took a big breath and placed her hands on her hips, ready for what the firing squad had in store for her.

"Is it true?" asked Josie harshly.

"Is what true?" Anne returned.

"Don't play dumb with me, Anne Shirley-Cuthbert. Are you and Gilbert courting?"

"Yes," said Anne with less muster than she'd wanted to use. Josie had this way of knocking the wind out of Anne's lungs in five words or less.

"How could you?" Josie said in a way that suggested to Anne that it wasn't really a question.

"We've been friends for a really long … wait, Josie, I don't see why I have to explain myself to you."

"You don't! But don't you think you ought to explain yourself to Ruby? You know Ruby's had feelings for Gilbert for ever!"

"But she and Moody … I thought …"

"Oh please. Ruby was never serious about Moody. She needed a distraction when it became clear that Gilbert and Winnifred [emphasis on Winnifred] were building a life together. I mean, at least those two made sense. I have no idea what Gilbert sees in-"

"My love life is none of your business, Josie Pie!"

"Your love life?" Ruby said in the smallest of voices, pushing back tears.

"Your LOVE LIFE?" Josie bellowed on her behalf. "God, Anne, you always did put on airs. You're supposed to be Ruby's friend! I have no idea what you did to seduce Gilbert away from Winnifred but I have no doubt he'll see through your theatrics sooner or later and call it off."

"Josie, how dare you say such a thing!" Diana cut in. It was at this point in the conversion that Ruby quietly took her leave. Jane and Tilly followed closely after, running to catch up with their friend and putting their arms around her to comfort her.

Josie could see that her words had had the desired effect. She pretended to hear her mother calling and promptly took her leave as well.

Anne looked like she'd been punched in the stomach.

"I thought she and Moody, I really thought she was over …" she said to Diana and Prissy, but really more to herself.

"I'll talk to them," said Diana running after them. Sensing that Anne needed a moment, Prissy squeezed Anne's hand and headed in the direction of the Andrews' waiting carriage.

Anne was left alone, wondering how things had gotten so out of hand. It was the first day of school all over again.