Chapter 23

Anne sat outside on an afternoon in early April with a letter from Diana in her hand. The early spring day was warm, and absently she looked down at her garden bed. The roses had begun sprouting tentative leaves, and she smiled to see a clump of white iris growing by the fence. With a sigh, she opened the letter again.

The Williams family are staying with some cousins right now- however, Fred says that they are keen to begin farming right away. There is a part of me that doesn't want it to happen, darling, but if you want to sell Green Gables then I believe that they would care for the place as Marilla did. Their two children are Fred and Anne Cordelia's age, and are both such dears. Mrs. Williams horrified the Harmon Andrews clan when she mentioned that she had tried her hand at plowing- and it did make me laugh. It's something I could have seen you doing, once upon a time. You did beg for Matthew to show you.

We showed the family through the house as you suggested, and I explained that you are yet to move the family belongings from the attic- they quite understand, as they only recently lost their grandmother last year- I believe that her legacy to them is what will set up their own farm now. Let us know how you wish to proceed; if it eases your mind to not have an empty Green Gables hanging over your head, then sell it, darling. Your home is here still, no matter wherever else you may live, and we are quite desperate to see you again- dare I hope that a visit may happen soon in that case? We had the Blythes up for tea a few weeks ago, and Mrs. Blythe mentioned how nice it was to see you again. It's lovely to see them getting out more.

Fred asked me to pass on his regards to Gilbert, (something I am still not used to saying to you) and I am glad to hear that the Winstons have been a source of support for you both. What will you do when Penny leaves Four Winds?

I must leave off, dearest, little Fred needs me to help him with some sums- oh, where is his smart Aunt Anne when he needs her?

Let me know what you wish me to do with regards to the house. Mother asked me to let you know that she will help me to get the house ready when you say that it is time, you won't need to worry about a thing. We love you dearest, and please give our thanks to Doctor Blythe as well. Between him and Susan, I feel quite confident that you are well looked after.

All my love, Diana.

A myriad of emotions flooded Anne at that moment, and she closed her eyes, trying to process them.

It was severing a tie to Avonlea. It was sensible, it was practical to do it. For that matter, it was exactly what Marilla would do. Four Winds was her home now- and she knew that she would not be returning to Green Gables. Matthew and Marilla wouldn't have wanted their home to fall into disrepair, they had loved it so- they would want it cared for. She herself had lived and been loved so deeply there- and her memories could not be taken from her.

Anne let out a long sigh and stood up carefully. She wandered over to the clothesline, where Susan had hung her dresses up from the week, and grimaced at the sight of the black, and grey clothes that hung there. Susan had given Anne a gentle hint last week that the clothes stored in the attic could do with an airing, however, the letter in her pocket only reminded her again that Marilla was gone. She breathed out slowly. Soon, she had said. Anne blinked back a stubborn tear. To sell Marilla's home, and to give up mourning for the only mother she had ever known- it was too much to deal with right now, surely. The clothing would bide its time.

From the fence of the cottage, she could look over the valley, and a tiny corner of the gulf was visible from under the pines. Anne stared at it hungrily- it was as close as she had been for months to the water. She stood watching the bright triangle and lifted her chin. Somehow, she would find a way.

Deliberately, Anne took her stick in hand and walked inside to ask Susan if she would mind taking her into town- her foot had been numb that day, and Anne felt it best to not wrestle with a restless Guinevere by herself.

A short time later, Anne was seated in Andrew's office, waiting for him to find the papers in his filing cabinet. She looked around, smiling at the small photograph on Lizzie and Penny on his desk, and a picture that must have been of his wife. She had a sweet face, and Anne gathered that she must have been quite petite. She looked at the man before her with a little sigh. To lose the one you loved from this life- how had he borne it? Anne suspected that his daughter must have helped him continue. She sometimes saw a look on his face that reminded her of Matthew- Matthew who had called her his girl.

To her surprise then, the door behind her crashed open, and a man in white shirtsleeves leapt inside.

"Yes! Winston, Congratulate me, I am the king of-" Gilbert cried boisterously, before halting in shock at the sight of the red-headed woman before him. "Anne!"

The laughter bubbled up in Anne to see Gilbert so gleeful, and she teased him. "Well, do carry on, Gilbert. Of what are you the king?"

He swung himself around to sit on Andrew's desk with a happy grin. "Of life, Anne. A woman is going to have an operation that will save her life, that's why. I found what was wrong. Ten years ago she would have died, and no one would have known what was wrong with her."

Andrew snorted. "He does this to me all the time, Anne. Endless self-congratulation- it's a wonder I get anything done with the constant interruption."

Gilbert sat down in the chair on Anne's left with a big sigh, his look satisfied. "I have enough times where I can't do a thing to save someone- just let me have this one."

Anne smiled at him. "Well, congratulations, doctor. You should be very proud."

Gilbert turned to her while Andrew laid papers on the desk. "If it isn't prying, what did I so rudely interrupt?" he asked lightly.

Andrew was silent, and he turned to his appointment book to give them some privacy.

Anne spoke quietly. "Someone wants to buy Green Gables- and I have decided that it is time to sell."

"Not Charlie and his tennis court?"

She chuckled. "No. A young family keen to farm in the area. Someone who wants a new beginning."

Gilbert paused and then nodded. "I see. And it's what you want?"

He saw the range of emotions cross her face, and she smiled sadly. "I think so, yes. Is it terrible that I should want that now?"

Gilbert's hazel eyes were kind. "Of course it isn't, Anne. But are you quite sure?"

"I believe so."

Andrew lay some pages before her and held out a pen. "If you sign here, I'll put this into motion for you."

He was watching her as she took the pen in her hand, and held the tip above the page in hesitation. Unbidden thoughts assailed her- It was always the place I could go home to… It was where I wanted to run when my world fell apart. Anne swallowed, and after a moment looked at Gilbert in mute appeal.

Andrew stood up then, meeting Gilbert's startled eyes. "You know, I have to get something from the back, would you excuse me for a moment, Anne?"

Understanding his unspoken message, Gilbert turned to her when Andrew had gone, bending down to look into her troubled face.

"Anne, you know you don't have to do this," he said directly. "If you're not ready, then you're not ready."

Anne's smile twisted. "I know. I do think it's the right thing to do- but it doesn't make the deed of signing it any easier. It's so final." She paused, and Gilbert studied her wistful face. "Marilla almost sold the house once before, you know. Before she knew I wasn't taking the Avery."

Gilbert nodded, remembering the girl she had been at sixteen, and the Green Gables that had forever been closed to him. Only months later she had stretched out her hand- months later, and he would grow to know the old house almost as well as he knew his own.

His voice was gentle. "I'm glad she didn't. You both needed to stay then."

Anne's grey eyes shone with tears, and she swallowed. "You made it possible for us to do so."

Gilbert clenched his hand suddenly, unable to process the emotions coursing through him. He cleared his throat and met her eyes when he could safely do so. "Are you sure you don't need more time?"

Anne gave a wry chuckle. "No- just the courage to sign the paper, Gil. I never knew it could be so difficult to sign my name."

Gilbert grinned at her. "Come on, as a principal I'll bet you had to do it a thousand times. You're more than a match for a piece of paper."

Andrew heard her laugh and poked his head out of the other room. "Are we ready now?"

"Yes." As Andrew sat down again, she looked down at the piece the paper, and before her swam the words: I, Anne Shirley, being of sound mind-

She sat still for a moment, frozen. Gilbert watched her, and when he saw her shaking he breached an unseen divide to take her other hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Anne turned to him with wide eyes and flushed cheeks, and his glance was steadying. "Only if you're sure, Anne."

She nodded and after a deep breath, she signed her name on the papers before her. When she was done a sigh of relief came from her mouth, and the two gentlemen chuckled.

"Better?" Gilbert asked her, while Andrew gathered up the papers.

"Much. Thank you," Anne said quietly, and unexpectedly smiled. "For needing to brag at just the right time today."

"Oh, he's in here all the time. I've often asked him to witness things before," Andrew commented dryly. "He isn't usually so flamboyant in his entrance, though. That was something special."

Anne chuckled, trying to still herself from the emotion of the moment. "I do remember you being very flamboyant strolling around Kingsport in an apron and bonnet."

At the speed in which Andrew's head came up, Gilbert groaned. "You know, I could have gone a lifetime without him hearing that particular story."

Andrew was laughing uproariously now. "How could you not tell me about that? Did you do this often, Gil? Oh, tell me it had frills on it- wait, Anne, draw me a picture, I need to see what he looked like-"

Anne rose from her seat with a twinkling smile. "Perhaps another time, Andrew. Susan is waiting for me. We don't want to embarrass Gilbert too much- although perhaps you might like to know that the apron was floral and very pink."

Gilbert's hazel eyes held hers in challenge. "Just remember, I have all the stories on you as well, Miss Shirley."

Expecting a teasing quip in return, Gilbert jumped at the painful look that suddenly crossed Anne's pale face. He watched her swallow, and her eyes were distant. "Yes, I expect that you do."

He leapt to his feet and stopped her from reaching for the handle. "Anne, what is it?" he asked, his voice low. "What did I say?"

She shook her head and tried to smile. "Nothing, Gil. Everything is fine. I'll see you both at Penny's farewell party tomorrow evening."

Gilbert released the door, and a minute later stood watching Susan assist her into the buggy. Andrew came to stand beside him, and the two of them watched the women drive away.

"What was that all about?"

Gilbert's look was haunted. "I don't know." One lean hand pushed his hair back from his forehead, and he sighed. "Sometimes it's so easy to forget that we have any kind of history-"

"Well, that's idiotic," Andrew said warmly. "All I see in the two of you is that history- it's a connection most people would envy."

"Not all of it," Gilbert muttered.

Andrew sighed, deciding to be honest. "Gil, what on earth could be holding you back?"

Gilbert's jaw set. "Look, it's not that simple-"

Andrew interrupted him, seeing a couple standing at the office door. "It really is- but we'll have to continue this later, my next appointment is here."

Gilbert then stepped out of the solicitor's office with a wave, and when he was out on the street he drew in a deep breath of the still cool early spring air. As he arrived back in his rooms Gilbert shut the door behind him with a crease in his forehead. It was quite providential that Andrew had been interrupted in his lecture- because Gilbert didn't know what he was supposed to say anymore.

On a clear April morning, Penny Winston stood at the train station with her luggage, surrounded by her family. Lizzie was clinging to her side, asking never-ending questions about how she would travel, what she would do, when she would be coming to see her aunt and grandparents in Montreal. Andrew had assured her that they would go back to the city in just a few months time, and Penny had promised to write weekly to ease the distance.

Andrew stood next to the youngest Winston sibling, Jackson, who had come to escort his sister home to Montreal. Penny had been indignant at the suggestion that she needed an escort, however, Andrew only chuckled. He suspected that his parents merely wanted to keep the eighteen-year old busy. Penny would be glad of his company on the trip, he felt.

He turned to her with a smile. "Will you sleep on the ferry, do you think?"

Penny shuddered. "I do hope so- although I have a feeling that Jack will be out on the deck the whole time."

"Not everyone shares your aversion to the water, Kitten." Andrew wrapped her in a big hug and kissed the top of her head. All of the serious things had already been said, and he chose to keep things light now. "Give Mother and Father my love- tell them we're planning to visit in the summer."

Penny pulled back from him, her look pleading. "Promise that you'll come, Drew; I couldn't handle it if you stayed away as long as we have-"

Andrew stopped her quietly. "I'll come- Lizzy and I will come. You'll see us in just a few months." He grinned then. "And you may see someone else back home, too."

Penny scowled, to his amusement. "I still can't believe that Doctor Barnes visited Mother and Father."

Her brother chuckled. "It's customary to do so after meeting us- he lives there, and they liked him very much, so they said. And Father was impressed at how well he knew the city, too."

This made Penny laugh. "Yes, poor Gilbert- the hurt in his voice when he found that Doctor Blythe hadn't been to a single museum while he was there!" She groaned. "I only hope he doesn't tell them about the incident with the dog. Mother would be horrified- and I still can't believe he laughed at me."

Andrew rolled his eyes. "Pen, I laughed. You have to admit that it was funny."

"Well, I just think that it isn't good manners to laugh at a strange girl- and don't you go saying that I am strange!" Penny said crossly.

"Wouldn't dream of it. Anyhow, you'll have to mind your manners- Mother invited him to your welcome home party as well."

"Of course I'll be polite! And when he wasn't smirking at everything, he was quite pleasant."

Andrew looked at her with an odd smile. "Yes, he was. Intelligent, good looking-"

"I suppose so-"

"And a successful doctor to boot. Watch out, Pen, that's a bad combination if he falls into Mother's claws." He pulled her in for a hug and sighed. "Thank you for coming out here, Penny- I can't tell you how grateful I am for you."

The train was only ten minutes from leaving when Gilbert, at last, jogged onto the platform. Penny surprised him with a warm hug and pulled back to look at him keenly. Gilbert smiled at her.

"We'll miss you, Penny."

Her wide blue hat tipped up, and she gave him the peaceful smile that he had always appreciated. "I'll miss you too, Gilbert." As she took her bag in hand, she studied him. "You know, you're not the man I met here eighteen months ago," she said quietly. "You always seemed so serious- and yet I don't really think that is who you are at all."

Gilbert gave her a slight smile, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "I suppose the fellow you first met still had some things he needed to sort out."

Penny chuckled. "Perhaps." She gave him a look then. "Gilbert, whatever has brought you back to life again- it's a gift. Second chances are a precious thing." He looked at her curiously then, and she smiled. "Would you mind doing me a favour?" she asked candidly.

"Short of exacting revenge on Mr. Flibbet, of course."

Penny chuckled. "I'm tempted- but no. I wondered if you would you mind keeping an eye on Anne." Her sharp blue eyes didn't miss the jump he gave, nor the way he strove to cover it. "She often seems lonely- and I worry that she doesn't have many people she can turn to."

Gilbert only nodded, his smile fixed. "Of course."

Penny smiled at him. "Thank you. She's such a dear- and she made the last few months so lovely for me. I'll miss her dearly."

The train whistle blew then, and out of the corner of Gilbert's eye, he saw another figure stride past them to enter the train. It was Owen Ford again- and he did not look well. Penny's eyes followed him too, and she turned to Gilbert with no pretense now.

"He's over there constantly, you know that, don't you?"

Gilbert manufactured a smile. "Penny, it's none of my business who Anne's friends are. She would never let anyone interfere with her friendships."

She grabbed his arm then, knowing she had little time. "He doesn't think of her as a friend. You saw him at my party the other night- he's intending on a courtship."

Gilbert wouldn't meet her eyes then. "Pen, I know Anne- she's not in love with him."

"That may be- but enough people marry without it." He flinched, and Penny released him. "Gilbert, whatever happened between the two of you is not a good enough reason to keep you apart."

"Penny, we have to go," her youngest brother called then, and Penny turned, her breath catching.

Andrew came close to nudge her forward. "Come on, Kitten. Lizzie and I will write you each week, and we're coming soon, we promise."

Penny bent down to hold her niece tightly and kissed the top of her head. She then stepped away with a deep breath and climbed aboard the train, closely followed by her youngest brother.

Only minutes later, Andrew watched his sister's train move away. Gilbert sighed and clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"It's a new season now," he said quietly.

Andrew sighed. "Yes. New season." He picked up Lizzie, and Gilbert chuckled at the effort he now had to go to to lift his daughter. "You're almost too big for this, little duck. Soon you'll have to carry me home."

"Alright, Papa. Can we get caramels before I go to school?"

Andrew rolled his eyes at Gilbert over her shoulder, holding her tightly. "I can do better than that. Do you want to have something at Miss Patty's tea room with Doctor Blythe and I?"

Lizzie squirmed down from her father's arms with a cry of delight. "Yes, Papa! She has cake!"

"Well, this is just ridiculous."

Anne's impatient voice echoed in her empty cottage, and she chuckled at the foolishness of talking to herself. She turned toward the kitchen to boil the kettle for tea, laying out a cup and saucer from Marilla's rosebud set- carefully packed and sent by Diana a few months ago to Anne's new home. When it was ready she sat down at the table, and looked around the small house wistfully. Susan had gone to visit her mother for the day, and was helping her spring clean her house- Rosewood cottage was already sparkling, and Anne couldn't begrudge Susan the time with her mother. Still, on a Friday evening, Anne couldn't help but long for some company. A visit from Katherine or Diana, or the long ago chaos and fun of Patty's place with the girls. As if intending to make herself feel worse, a nagging voice would remind her that Phil and Diana and Priss all had families of their own- and Stella and Katherine no doubt had the delights of the busy cities.

The sun was beginning to set now, and Anne moved around her house lighting lamps. The pie Susan had made for dinner was waiting on the stove, however Anne turned from it with a sigh. Perhaps when Susan was home they would enjoy it together. Instead, she moved into the sitting room where a small fire took the chill off the cool, grey day, and sat down in her chair, her feet propped up on the stool before her. With a lowered brow, she pulled the book sitting beside her onto her lap, and opened the cover. It was the journal that Gilbert had given her.

Quietly she leafed through the pages- halting attempts at prose, a line or two of verse. All incomplete, all imperfect. She stared into the fire moodily. Oh, she understood why he had given it to her- not even Diana would have suggested trying to write again. She traced with a finger over two words at the start of the most recent entry- Words Unspoken. How full the world must be of words that were never uttered.

As she had done before, she placed the book down with a sigh. It had been almost a week since she had seen Gilbert last, and she reminded herself sternly that it was only to be expected. He had far more pressing things to do than talk with the local school teacher, surely. Anne pulled her feet onto her chair, her hands clasped. At some point soon she should lay another log on the fire- although for the moment she watched the embers burn slowly, the red glow oddly soothing. Anne chuckled slightly. He had walked Anne home from the schoolhouse the previous Saturday, with no valid explanation for what he was doing in that part of town. Anne had been cleaning out her desk, and been startled by the doctor sauntering in the classroom- Gilbert had only shrugged, telling her that Susan supposed she must have become caught up- and that the least he could do was walk her home. He'd walked her home- and even had tea with them in fact.

Anne was awoken out of her thoughts by a knock on the door. She found her stick and grimaced at the distance from this room to the front of the house, and hastily brushed her hair out of her eyes. Shaking her head to wake herself up a little, she opened the door to greet whoever it was.

To her shock, Owen Ford stood on the doorstep. Surprised, Anne studied him in the twilight. He was paler than normal, and there was a look in his eye that reminded her of the tales he had told her of his grandfather- the eyes of one who had seen haunting visions.

"Mr Ford!" Anne said, summoning a smile. "You find me quite alone tonight- and I fear there is no spread to bring you good cheer."

His mouth twitched into a half hearted grin. "On the contrary, finding you alone is quite the stroke of luck." Anne gave him an odd look that recalled him to his usual manners. "Forgive me for my bluntness, Miss Shirley. I am, however, very glad to have a chance to see you alone."

Anne pulled herself together, her look hesitant. "Certainly, Mr Ford. Would you like to come into the sitting room? The fire is going in there, as today has been rather cool."

Anne closed the door behind him feeling vaguely uncomfortable. She followed him into the little room to watch him walk to the fireplace, his brow lowered. After a moment of indecision, Anne sat down.

"I hope that your meeting was successful, Mr. Ford."

Owen hesitated and gave her a smile. "My meeting went as I expected it to go. I think it will be the last time I am called away so abruptly."

Anne nodded, trying to keep her voice cheerful. "That must be a relief for you- I can't imagine what it would be like to travel at the drop of a hat."

Owen nodded and sat down on the sofa next to Anne, and his voice was wistful. "I believe it to be a time for new beginnings for all of us. Miss Shirley, I wonder, are you familiar at all with the mythical Phoenix?"

Anne blinked. "Of course."

"The mythical bird that rises from the ashes to be birthed anew. It's something I have been dwelling on lately." His dark eyes were intense, and slowly, so as to not startle her, Owen reached over to take her hand in his. "Miss Shirley- Anne," Owen said gently. "I'm leaving Four Winds."

A confused Anne tried to smile. "I'm sorry to hear that, Mr. Ford. You will be missed."

In the silence of the room, as Anne watched in utter shock, Owen slipped down to his knees before her, his dark eyes holding her own fiercely in the flickering light. Her hand was pressed in his own, and his voice was low.

"Anne, I want you to come with me."