Josie Pye never saw herself growing old and alone. She had always imagined she would marry someone handsome and strong and devoted only to her. Of course, most of her life up until now she had hoped it would be Gilbert Blythe who doted on her. Even when he had obviously set his sights on Anne Shirley a part of her stubbornly held on to the dream that he would wake up one day and want her. Not just want her, be dead gone on her.
Josie had imagined a little boy who looked just like him, except that he had her pretty blue eyes. (His hazel were just horrible) Maybe even a girl with his mouth and curly brown hair, and her nose and eyes. What a family they would have made!
She remembered a time when she had sworn off Gilbert Blythe. He had given Anne mayflowers, and she hadn't gotten one that day. She had ignored him the rest of the day, but the next morning he smiled at her. They were right back where they started. Her desperately pining for his attention, Gil staring longingly at Anne, and Anne oblivious to his attention and hating his guts.
She had been jealous of Anne for years, not because of her looks or her brains or even her imagination, but because of the attention those aspects of her person got her. She wanted four men asking her to marry them. She wanted to have the option of independence. She wanted to make friends as easily as Anne. To put it plainly she wanted a lot of what Anne had.
But, she would never have what Anne did. She'd never be doted on by the handsomest boy in Avonlea, never have her independence, as many friends, or beaus as Anne had. She would never have those children she had dreamed with her beady blue eyes or crocked nose. Anne would have those children, except maybe with her glittering green grey eyes, perfect nose, and fiery red hair.
Anne would have what Josie had wished for most of her life because today Gilbert Blythe and Anne Shirley were getting married.