Since I started writing this story, I have found myself in a similar position to Jem and Faith. My siblings and I have been clearing out my mother's house which has been in the family since 1933. No hidden love affairs – yet, though my grandfather did have a Belgium girlfriend after WWI whom I believe my grandmother never knew about. (They were not married at that stage). Still, we have uncovered some great photos and family stories have been reminisced about. It's a bittersweet process.


Epilogue

Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands:
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done
The silver apples of the moon
The golden apples of the sun.
William Butler Yeats

Golden sunlight suffused the Green Gables veranda as Faith Blythe traced her fingers lightly over the last words of Marilla's diary. She was overcome with an immense sadness and despite herself tears welled in her eyes. Marilla had always been a shadowy figure but now with the diary and letters she felt closer to her than to her own long departed mother.

The entire family were gathered on the front lawn, Faith and Jem summoned their children, the twins and theirs, Shirley and Claire, and Rilla and Ken and all their kin. Though it was further removed, Jerry and Carl and Una came over as well. They weren't entirely sure why, but they came at Faith's insistence.

Jem started by saying, "we have a couple of things to tell you. One is that we've decided to keep this old place. We're going to do a few renovations and move in ourselves."

"You're doing what?" Shirley nearly fell out of his chair in shock.

"Just sad to see old Green Gables leave the family, so we've decided not to let it."

"Never took you for being so sentimental but it's your funeral," Shirley said in his usual teasing tone.

Jem grinned. It had been a long conversation, but they were keen for a new project. It felt right to Jem to live in the same house as his beloved grandmother. Faith having got to know Marilla more recently came to agree.

"Well, that's nice and all big brother," Shirley interrupted Jem's thoughts. "But, um why are we here?"

Jem deferred to his wife. Faith explained, "you're here to remember a man." Reverently opening Marilla's diary, she started reading looking up from time to time to see their shocked expressions. Jem and she had had some time to come to terms with it, but it was new for everyone else, and they sat in stunned amazement listening to the story unfold.

"You mean to tell me," Nan said at one point, "that Aunt Marilla had a child we never knew about?"

"Shh," Faith put her finger to her lips. "I haven't finished yet."

Rilla actually cried, tears running down her cheeks when Marilla lost the baby and they all inhaled sharply when Gideon was murdered."

"He was the love of her life," Di said after a pause when Faith had finished, "and I never knew."

"No one did," Faith explained. "Only Marilla and Matthew, I don't think she even told your Mum."

"But then," Shirley commented, thinking it through, "she meant for us to find the diary."

"I think so. She may have kept it hidden, but she never destroyed it or threw it out. I think she expected it would be found one day: although probably sooner than this. So," added Faith, taking a big breath. "Since poor Gideon never got the memorial he deserved, I've invited a Charlottetown Rabbi to perform the service. It's a bit unusual because ordinarily he'd only do it in a synagogue, but since Gideon's been gone for such a long time, he agreed to conduct it here, with us. He should be arriving shortly."

The others smiled, "what a good idea," Di said. "He deserves that at least."

"I'm glad you agree," Faith replied.

Rabbi Goldman thanked Faith and the rest of them for remembering his long-lost brother. She and Jem led them up to the gravestone Faith had had engraved. He handed yalmulkes to the men and intoned the kaddish. Afterwards he asked them to place small rocks on top of the stone which read:

Gideon Hoffmann
1855
Netherlands – Canada
Most beloved by Marilla Cuthbert
May his soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life
and his memory forever be a blessing.

Afterwards Faith prised her engagement ring off her finger and handed over to the Rabbi, "I wonder if you can read the text there," she said pointing.

The Rabbi frowned and squinting at the tiny print read out the words. "Woman of Valor. It's from The Eishet Chayil, a shabbat prayer. This is from the opening line. A woman of valour, who can find? She is more precious than corals. It's a husband describing his wonderful wife."

Faith smiled, "I'm beginning to like Judaism, obviously it appreciates its women."

"You know," Jem said, "now I understand Marilla's gravestone. Mum told me she assumed the epigraph was for Grandpa John, but I now don't think so."

"What does it say?" Rilla asked for everyone.

"It says, Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."

Faith raised her eyebrows, "hm wow, yes I think you're right."

"That's lovely," Nan said to her sister as she gazed upon Gideon's stone. "I think Marilla would approve."

Faith smiled, "thank you, I hope so."

"I suppose if he'd lived the Cuthberts wouldn't have adopted Anne and we'd never have met any of them."

"Hm."

"So, it was all for the best," Nan said.

"Maybe. Hard for him to be sacrificed like that."

"Mm."

Holding hands, the sisters stood in solemn contemplation as the sun set over Green Gables. Then they turned and walked arm in arm through the twilight back to the house.