When Faith awoke the following morning, she felt rested and serene. Although she hadn't yet been home for twenty-four hours, the tranquility and security of Glen seemed to have engulfed her already. As Jem had predicted, the Blythe clan had been overjoyed to see her, and the love they obviously felt for her took away much of the disappointment she felt at not being greeted by her own family as well. Susan had dutifully and happily informed Faith of the latest Glen gossip, Rilla had spoken excitedly of planning her upcoming December wedding, and Dr. and Mrs. Blythe had told her lovingly how pleased they were to have their fourth daughter at home. This particular comment had caused Jem and Faith to exchange amused glances, for the Blythes were not aware of the truth of their comment.
While the Glen was indeed welcoming and peaceful, it was not as it had been before the war. Well, perhaps the town itself was, but her residents were not. Even the joyous occasion of Faith's homecoming, with its cheerful conversation and warm hugs, could not mask the underlying melancholy that had been present at Ingleside since Walter's death. Although his name was not mentioned, he was in everyone's thoughts as they spoke excitedly and hopefully of the future, a future that would not include Walter Blythe. Dr. and Mrs. Blythe had certainly been changed by their son's death. Dr. Blythe's face, while still distinguished and handsome, seemed older, grayer, and more tired than Faith remembered, while Mrs. Blythe's merry gray-green eyes held an unmistakable hint of anguish, even when she laughed. The changes in these two grief-stricken people made her realize how much the Blythes needed to have Jem near, making Faith especially glad that she and Jem had decided to return to the Glen once he completed his medical studies.
After breakfast, Jem suggested he and Faith go for a walk as there was something he wanted to show her. Judging by the smile on everyone else's face when Jem made his suggestion, Faith surmised that whatever Jem wanted to show her was something she would like, so she didn't mention the overcast sky and the obvious threat of rain.
"Where are we going?" Faith asked curiously, as they left Ingleside.
"You'll see," Jem told her.
"No hints?" she asked.
"No, it's a surprise," he said before changing the subject. "Did you sleep well?"
"Wonderfully," she said. "How about you?
"Not that well," he admitted. "It's pure agony to sleep with you in the next room, knowing I can't hold you in my arms all night even though you're so close."
"Jem!" exclaimed Faith as color rose to her cheeks. "You shouldn't say such things!"
"It's true," he told her. "But things should change after tonight. My mother told me before you came downstairs that she is going to invite your family over for supper this evening. She knows you'll want to spend the evening with them and with me."
"You're mother is very thoughtful," Faith said appreciatively. "And without knowing it, she's giving us the perfect opportunity to make our announcement. I only wish all our siblings could be here."
"So do I, but that would be a long wait. Until Christmas," Jem reminded her.
"I know," Faith said regretfully.
"I can't wait to see the look on Rilla's face when we tell everyone," Jem said, smiling.
"Why?" Faith asked.
"Because she thinks that she, the youngest of the Blythe children, is going to be the first to be married, and she is very proud of it. She thinks it is a great accomplishment."
Faith said nothing. The previous evening, she had been impressed with how much Rilla had matured since their last meeting. Jem's comment indicated that perhaps the more childish Rilla, whom Faith remembered, still existed.
"Well, here we are," said Jem, stopping in front of a big, gray house.
"It's High Hill," Faith said blankly.
"Yes," Jem said. "It's also going to be our home when I graduate from medical school. Rosemary and Ellen have agreed to sell it to us."
"Oh Jem!" she exclaimed, clearly delighted by the news. "That's wonderful. I've always loved this house. How did you ever convince them to sell?"
"I made an offer," Jem said simply.
"But Rosemary always said she and Ellen could never bear to think of anyone else living here."
"They couldn't bear to think of anyone but family living here. At least that's what they told me. They were thrilled at the idea of Rosemary's daughter living here."
Faith smiled and thought how fortunate she was to have a stepmother who considered her flesh-and-blood.
"I never thought we'd be able to buy a house so soon," Faith said.
"I know. Victoria was very kind to leave us such a generous sum of money in her will," Jem said, referring to Faith's landlady in London. "Enough to live on while I finish medical school and to make a sizable down payment on High Hill. I think she would approve of us buying this house, don't you?"
"Yes, she would," Faith said softly, thinking of the elderly lady who had been like a grandmother to her.
"Shall we go in?" Jem asked as he reached into his pocket.
"They've already given you a key?" Faith said, surprised. Jem wouldn't graduate from medical school for another year.
"I went to see Ellen Douglass and got the key before you got up this morning," he told her. "She said it was perfectly fine for us to look around and start making plans."
And make plans they did. For the next half hour, the young couple looked over every room in the house as they discussed their future. Faith would spend two or three weeks in Glen, visiting her family before moving to Kingsport to be with Jem while he finished his course in medicine. Then, they would return to Glen and their new home, High Hill.
The young couple was so busy talking about all they had to look forward to that they were completely surprised to hear a great roar of thunder overhead.
"That moved in quickly," Jem observed as they looked out the front window.
"Not really," said Faith, laughing. "It was pretty cloudy when we left Ingleside. But I didn't notice until now how dark it had gotten."
"Look at those black clouds to the west," Jem said, pointing out the window as the rain began to pour down, making a tremendous racket as it hit the roof above them.
"It looks as though this storm is going to last a while," Faith said.
Jem turned and put his arms around her. "You know what this means, don't you? We're going to have to wait out the storm here – alone."
"I can't think of anyone I'd rather be alone with," Faith whispered breathlessly before her husband kissed her.