Chapter 36

On Saturday afternoon, while Penny met with her father to discuss some invoices that needed his signature, Anne and Gilbert strolled outside to the oasis, enjoying some time alone. Gilbert had spent the day with Andrew and Lizzie on the St Lawrence River, enjoying the fresh breezes and open air, while the ladies of the party were occupied at the dressmakers. Now, Anne lay with her head on Gilbert's lap in the afternoon sunshine, the breeze rippling through the grass of the oasis as they talked.

"And what did Miss Winston say to your request?" Gilbert asked.

Anne smiled. "Yes, of course- and she and her mother both cried. Diana insisted that I have a bridesmaid, and I am glad, dearest- it will be lovely to have Penny with me on our wedding day. She found the dearest dress for it- a pale blue that suits her to perfection. Did you know the Winstons are coming back to the Island with her?"

Gilbert grinned. "I suspected they would- and Jeremy will most likely join their party."

Anne looked at him thoughtfully. "Do you think he is in love with her?"

He chuckled, running his fingers through a loosened curl. "To the point of asking if he had any rivals on the island he should be worrying about."

Anne sat up crossly for a moment. "Good grief, Gilbert- if he doesn't see that he is the only one she is looking at-"

He kissed her on the nose, cutting her off effectively. "Steady on now, sweetheart. Should either of us be throwing stones about that particular issue?"

Anne couldn't help but laugh, and settle back against him. "I suppose not. Did you discuss that yesterday?"

"Amongst doctoring matters, you mean?" he said dryly. He had spent the day at the hospital in the surgical unit, talking with former colleagues and watching some of the newer techniques that were being used- some of which Gilbert had only read about in medical journals a month earlier. The time had passed swiftly- and at the end of the day, Gilbert stood at the front doors with Jeremy, waiting for the cab that would take them back to the Winston home. He could hardly keep the smile from his face. His day had been incredible, however, once upon a time, he'd wondered what it would be like to have someone waiting for him- and the girl he loved was. His long-legged stride went up the manor steps two at a time, with an impatience that Jeremy could only laugh at. Unwilling to wait even for Anne to arrive in the drawing room, he met her with a breathless kiss in the relative privacy of the hallway outside her room.

Now in the sunshine, he smiled. "So keep going- how was the last day of shopping?"

"Di warned me, you know," Anne commented brightly. "She sent me a list of everything she thought I might need- and that list pales dreadfully next to what was suggested by Madame and Mrs Winston."

Gilbert was thoughtful. "Is there a reason you wanted to keep your trousseau small, sweetheart?"

Anne smiled. "I already have quite the wardrobe, Gil- you know how I love pretty dresses. Much of it is new, since they went unworn for some time. Firstly in hospital, when I wore mostly nightgowns, and then only the plainest of dresses in the rehabilitation clinic- the liniments stained everything dreadfully."

"And then you were in mourning," he added with a sigh.

"And then I was in mourning." She tipped her head up to look at him then. "I never told you that you were right on the shore that day, Gil. I was hiding in black clothes," she said slowly. "Of course the mourning was at its worst when I lost Marilla- but it began months before she died, I think. I didn't know how to find myself after the accident."

Gilbert stroked her hair, wondering if she was ready to talk to him about it. "Do you remember anything of it?" he asked quietly.

Anne closed her eyes against the sunlight, her voice faint. "Not at first. When I woke up all I knew was pain- I couldn't think clearly for weeks." He remained silent, hoping that she would continue. She gave a slight shudder then. "Sometimes I think I remember the falling. When I first saw my leg, I- I threw up. I couldn't believe it could look like that. Marilla was with me then- and she was shaking more than I was." Anne gave a faint chuckle. "She told me that I needed to accept the will of Providence and that I shouldn't be so vain when I was alive. I didn't know that was what she was worried about," she said softly. "It wasn't vanity- it just didn't look like mine."

Gilbert shifted under her slightly, his touch gentle. "What else?"

Anne watched the movements of the clouds as faint memories whispered. "One of the nurses used to wear lavender scent- and another had a shrill voice that was unbearable during the night. I do remember that there were people crowded around me, talking about me-" she turned to him then, her brow lowered crossly. "Talking about me, but not to me. Do you know how infuriating that is?"

"Yes." He smiled at the look on her face. "When I had typhoid- towards the end, I mean. Over the years I've remembered small things- and there were usually people standing around my bed discussing me. It's why I try not to do that with my patients." He paused for a moment, before continuing slowly. "You wouldn't have been aware of the first operation, I suppose."

Anne shook her head. "I was later, I assure you," she said dryly. "The second involved the head surgeon coming to see me personally- he said that I wasn't healing as well as they had hoped. He suggested that a second surgery might improve things."

Gilbert flinched. "That's what we said to you."

Anne gave a wry laugh. "You can see why I said no, initially." He shifted himself to lay beside her, and she gave him a tender glance. "I do know that this is different- I really do." She sighed, resting her head against his chest, and he tucked her into his side comfortingly. After a time, Anne brought up her clothing again. "Mrs Winston had some very sensible suggestions as to what to buy today- and while it is more money than I have ever spent on clothing at one time, I will soon have the trousseau of our dreams," she said cheekily. "And that is quite a feat when you consider that we are going home in a month."

Gilbert chuckled. "Do I need to change my wardrobe to keep up with you then?"

Anne shook her head, her eyes twinkling. "No. Although perhaps your mother will say differently."

Anne lay watching the leaves moving, lost in her thoughts as the sound of Gilbert's heartbeat soothed her. The wardrobe fittings had been a whirlwind of activity- Anne had been in the centre of the eye of the hurricane, it seemed, while everything moved around her. Louisa had warned the dressmaker of the need to be aware of her fatigue in standing, and Madame had arranged everything accordingly. Anne only had to decide on colours and patterns, while everything was brought to her for her inspection. The wedding dress would be finished in a fortnight, and the undergarments and other dresses would be delivered shortly before they were due to go home. There was only one thing she had not found yet- however, perhaps that was something that could be taken care of in the weeks to come.

Gradually Anne became aware that Gilbert's breath had steadied, and she saw with a smile to see that he had fallen asleep. She shifted from his shoulder carefully, not wanting to wake him. In the warmth of the summer afternoon, he had abandoned his jacket, and his white sleeves had been rolled up, making him resemble the boy she had roamed through fields with, in days gone by. She sat up and began to study the small field dreamily. They were under the largest of the trees surrounded by the fairy-like cotton grass, the white puffs waving gently in the breeze. A cluster of violets caught her attention in the shade, and she moved carefully to sit near the patch, twisting the purple and white flowers into a crown dreamily.

Sometime later, Penny Winston walked up the path with a basket, relaxing when she saw Gilbert snoring peacefully under the tree, some distance from Anne. She sat beside her with a smile. "I didn't want to interrupt- err- anything, but I thought the two of you might enjoy a picnic," she said lightly, making Anne chuckle.

"When Gilbert wakes up, I'm sure he will. Is Jeremy coming?"

Penny blushed slightly. "No. He called to say that he had an emergency at the hospital."

Anne smiled. "Such is the nature of their profession. As is the ability to fall asleep anywhere- Gilbert warned me about that."

"As Doctor Barnes did me," Penny said dryly.

Anne could not resist teasing her a little now. "And did Doctor Barnes mention anything else, Penny? His intentions, perhaps?"

Penny looked over to where Gilbert lay, unconscious in slumber, at least for the moment. Her lower lip was tucked between her teeth, and she turned to Anne then, her eyes sparkling. "He has been talking with my father. I only found out when I saw him give Jeremy a hug outside his office. I admit, that did seem promising, despite the panicked look on Jeremy's face when he did so."

Anne clapped her hands with a small laugh. "Wonderful! And do you see him often?"

"Not nearly as often as I would like." Fairly certain that Jeremy's friend would not awaken if he hadn't done so already, Penny continued sheepishly. "He's charming, and handsome and good- and he makes me laugh," she said slowly. "He teases me about working with Father- but he loves the fact that I do. He doesn't get impatient with the social doings that my mother insists on, and he couldn't be more attentive. My family adore him- even Stephen- and I think him rather nice as well." The deliberate understatement made Anne chuckle, and Penny exhaled loudly. "I always thought of myself as someone who would enjoy this time- instead I find myself quite impatient. It's most unladylike."

"It's not unladylike to love someone- or to want to be with them sooner, either." Anne stretched out her legs on the grass carefully. "Diana and her husband were in school together. They became engaged when she was eighteen, and her parents insisted that they wait three years before the wedding." Anne chuckled. "Di always told me that love can wait- but she was adamant that it was preferable not to."

"I can appreciate that. And courting is lovely." Penny looked at Anne then with a mischievous smile. "And what of your own courtship?" she teased. "You know you could have begun much sooner- I should dearly have loved to see the two of you together while I was on the island."

Anne shrugged slim shoulders with a smile. "Oh, Gilbert and I still had some things to work through back then- and as soon as we did, we were engaged. Technically, you could say that we didn't court at all- or that we were always courting." Anne's laugh was heartfelt at this thought. "Goodness, I suppose that was really the truth- while we were friends, at least. Oh dear- I owe Rachel Lynde an apology, in that case."

Penny swiveled to face Anne, her blue eyes pleading. "Anne, I have been dying of curiosity for months- would you please tell me your story? Andrew knows very little- and I did ask him," she said candidly.

Anne chuckled. "You asked the wrong person, in fact- apparently Jeremy knew everything from Gilbert. Not that I realised that."

Penny clapped her hands together in glee, and as they sat in the sunshine, Anne told her the story. Her eyes softened at the look on Anne's face as she described the years that had come between them. "You only realised you loved him when he was dying?"

Anne smiled sadly. "I did. I should have known- but I didn't. When I first moved to the Glen I believed him married- or at least with someone." Anne continued slowly, feeling the need to acknowledge what she had thought. "I thought perhaps he was with you."

"No. That was never going to be the case, whatever village gossip said," Penny said lightly. "No one could bring him back to life but you, Anne. I watched it happen right before my eyes. It was almost miraculous."

Anne turned to look at him, a lump in her throat. "Gilbert did that for me as well."

To her surprise, Penny began to laugh. "Oh, Anne, the more time went on, the more Andrew and I realised what a train-wreck of a night we gave the two of you. I never apologised for surprising you so. We had no idea- it must have been utterly mortifying."

Anne could laugh about it now. "That was the cumulation of eight and a half years of history between us- to say nothing of the nine before that. You and Andrew handled it marvellously, though- now I wonder at us not beginning to shout at each other immediately."

"Well, I needed a few hours," came a muffled voice, and the two women jumped as Gilbert groaned and stretched lazily on the grass. "Must you discuss ancient history while I sleep?"

Penny smiled brilliantly. "Had you been awake, I should only have asked you as well, Gilbert. And Anne told me your story wonderfully."

"So she should," he said, coming to sit beside his fiancée with a grin. "She's a born storyteller. Did Anne not tell you that she writes?"

Penny's mouth was wide open, and she turned to Anne with a big smile. "She did not."

"Ask her about Averil, first. Baking powder is her favourite subject," he suggested, deftly avoiding Anne's indignant slap with a chuckle.

Penny watched the two of them fondly, and gave a contented sigh as Gilbert kissed the scowl from Anne's forehead. She smiled then, recalling that Jeremy would be eating with them the following day. And what was one more day?

Anne awoke early on Sunday morning to a room glowing with sunshine, and warm yellow roses that had been placed in the grate of the fireplace. She could see that Amanda had already been in to open the drapes, and was not surprised to see the door open quietly, and the maid herself come in with a tray.

"Good morning, miss! I thought you might not sleep so late today, so I asked the cook to prepare some tea for you early."

Anne sat up in bed with a smile, pulling a frilly bed jacket around her shoulders in the cool of the morning. "It looks lovely, Amanda. Thank you."

The girl moved to the wardrobe to gather Anne's dress with a cheerful look. "That fiancé of yours is most persistent, Miss. He's caught me twice this morning trying to see if you're up yet."

Anne chuckled, well able to imagine Gilbert's impatience at the demands of propriety at that moment. She flushed slightly, as she thought about how different it would all be in just a few months- when her room would be his own, and no formality would stand between them. "I suppose I had better start readying for the day then."

"No, Miss, he said to not disturb you," she said quickly, and then chuckled. "But he might stop wearing a hole in the rug if you do. He sent a note for you, by the way."

Amanda stole a glance at Anne as she read the letter tucked under the cup and saucer, smiling at the evident blush on her pale cheeks. As she turned back to the clothing Anne had selected, she gave a happy sigh. She had gone from dusting sideboards and polishing silver to assisting this most important guest and was having the time of her young life. Anne was friendly and kind, and the young love in the house made it seem a paradise to the romantic-hearted girl. Anne asked all manner of questions that most guests would not, and she found herself chattering to her about her home and her family, and the young man she was friendly with in the grocers.

Gilbert had indeed been pacing since six that morning. A week of sleeping at regular intervals had given him back an energy he thought had vanished with youth- he'd been for a walk to the stables and then onto the creek, before testing the branches of a tree his younger self would have delighted in. Andrew had come outside, and chuckled to see Gilbert's ungainly leap to the ground.

"That's the tree I climbed when I'd done something bad," he said cheerfully.

Gilbert chuckled, brushing himself down. "I went on the roof. Dad was too good a tree climber to beat him at that game. How was your dinner last night?"

Andrew smiled. "Interesting. It's strange to see how old schoolfellows change- and how much they stay the same."

"I would guess that they would see changes in you as well," Gilbert commented easily.

"Last time I saw them was before Lizzie was born, actually." He smiled, looking up at his childhood home. "Many of them are married now- we spent time comparing the ages of our children, boasting of their accomplishments- in short behaving just as fathers do. Most odd." He turned to go inside then, an intrigued look on his face. "I checked on Lizzie this morning- and she's still fast asleep. Did you all wear her out last night?"

Gilbert grinned. "She did that all by herself. She had Penny and Anne tucking her into bed without you there, and would only let them leave when her grandmother came to sit with her. She ended up in the downstairs salon twice, insisting on sitting right between Penny and Jeremy each time."

"Good girl," Andrew said placidly, before laughing at Gilbert's surprised face. "I may like him- I may end up with him as a brother-in-law, if mother's predictions are right, but that doesn't mean I need to make it easy. Penny is my baby sister. I owe her this."

"I think that baby sister of yours may prove a match for you yet."

Anne had just gained the hallway when the two men entered the house, and with a broad smile, Gilbert moved to meet her.

"Now this seems like you again," Anne teased, as Gilbert leaned in to kiss her. "Is Amanda correct, dearest? Have you been pacing since dawn?"

He shrugged, slipping his arm around her. "Before, actually. I went out to watch it rise over the city."

Andrew rolled his eyes, leading the way to the breakfast room. "You really don't know how to relax, do you?"

"I do!" Gilbert said flatly, turning to Anne with a glint in his eye. "Remember when you insisted that we just had to go back to Hester's garden before we started our second year of teaching? You had to see the sunrise from there, and you knew Marilla wouldn't let you go alone in the dark-"

Andrew held his hand up sceptically. "Anne, are you telling me that your guardian let you go running around in the dark with him as your only companion?"

Anne laughed at Gilbert's smug look. "He's Gilbert Blythe. He could do no wrong in Marilla's eyes." She turned to her fiancé, her glance arch. "And it was glorious, wasn't it?"

His hazel eyes never left hers, and he smiled. "Prettiest thing I ever saw," he said softly.

The two of them were startled at the moan from the man across from them. "Good grief! Have you no respect for the people who have to put up with your abominable flirting?"

Gilbert grinned, knowing his friend was not serious. "You wanted us together," he said lightly. "Although that desire certainly fell short of our own. You can hardly complain about it now."

They were joined by the other members of the family then, and Andrew shot him a mischievous look. Gilbert shrugged innocently as he reached under the table to grasp Anne's hand. As she chatted with Mr Winston she gave his hand a squeeze, and he turned back to his breakfast with a smile.

Later that afternoon, the staff served a celebratory tea out on the lawns, where Andrew and Penny were teaching Lizzie to play tennis. After a time, Lizzie's aunt took the young girl off to show her the tree house her father had once made, and Andrew called for Gilbert to join him on the old court. He kissed Anne's cheek, and she watched him go with a smile. Anne drew in a deep breath, beginning to relax in the sunshine- despite her nerves about the operation the next day.

Suddenly Anne jumped as a body fell into the chair beside her, and she looked around to see Jeremy's easy grin.

"Jeremy Barnes!" Anne scolded, her hand on her heart in fright. "Did your mother never tell you that it is rude to come upon people so abruptly?"

Jeremy shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, as I was born a full four weeks early, I believe she must have done- still, we can't all be perfect."

Anne sat back with a chuckle. "I suppose not. I'm surprised you haven't gone to join Andrew and Gilbert yet."

He gave a shrug, surreptitiously looking around for Penny. "I've been at the hospital- they can come and find me if they need me."

Anne smiled. "Once upon a time, I would have been down there with them too," she said easily.

Jeremy gave her a curious look, however, his voice was gentle. "You may be again. That is what all of this is about, after all."

Anne chuckled. "I suppose so."

He folded his arms, watching her. "Gilbert tells me that you're worried about tomorrow."

Anne's chin rose, and she swallowed hard. "I do wish he hadn't done that."

"Would you have told me?"

She hesitated then. "No. It isn't important."

Jeremy sighed, his hand ruffling his blond hair. "Well, I happen to think it is," he said kindly, and she turned to stare at him. "I'm not worried, Anne. I know exactly what I'm doing. But he's worried about you- you, not the operation."

"I'm doing better now," she said quietly. "Although I admit that I am still very nervous about the hospital. It was hard last time- and so many things didn't work as they were supposed to."

Jeremy nodded. "I know. But with all due respect, last time, you didn't have me." The complacent look on his face made her laugh, and he grinned. "They say all surgeons are tainted with egotism- but it's true nonetheless."

Anne chuckled. "And was Gilbert like that too?"

Jeremy nodded. "Of course. He was asked to take the place of the head surgeon, you know. Quite something for someone less than two years out of medical school."

Anne looked at him in surprise. "Here?"

"Oh, here, Kingsport, Charlottetown," he said easily. "He's one of the best I've worked with- excluding my good self, of course."

"Naturally," she said, dimpling.

Jeremy shook his head. "But then his uncle died- and to general practice, he would go. I still haven't forgiven him for that." He watched the gentlemen running around the court, and smiled. "I've known him his whole career, you know- and I've never seen him like this before."

"It's the tennis, isn't it?" Anne said in jest, and he chuckled.

"No. So emotionally involved."

Anne turned to him curiously. "He did say you might not let him on the hospital grounds while you were operating."

"I did threaten that, yes. I'm not working with him pacing around outside. I've convinced Doctor Weston to let him observe a heart surgery that he's doing at the same time- right up Gilbert's alley."

Anne turned to him, her look suddenly wistful. "Jeremy, what was he like?"

He gave her an odd look. "Err- when?"

"What was he like at medical school- and here? I missed so many years," she said simply. "I missed knowing that side of him."

Jeremy watched Gilbert laugh at Andrew's wild serve on the court, and smiled. "He was a good sport. Hardworking- but a good sense of humour underneath it. He'd stop to help anyone who was struggling but drove himself like a team of oxen. I had to make him take breaks, at times."

Anne sighed. "I can well imagine that."

"He didn't talk about you often, back then," he said gently, "But I could see that you meant a lot to him. You know that he could have stayed here- but he had to go home. As much as I hate to admit it, it's where he's meant to be- with you."

Anne looked at the friend who had been by Gilbert's side for so many years and smiled. "I am glad you will be there for the wedding."

"So am I." He smiled, his eyes twinkling as he watched Penny and Lizzie approaching across the spacious lawn. "And I'm going to do everything I can to get you walking up that aisle."

Anne chuckled, wiping an unexpected tear away. "Thank you. I'm very grateful, Jeremy. And thank you for allowing Gilbert to be at the hospital."

Jeremy grinned. "I wouldn't be so sure that's a good thing. You may be asking me to send him home before we're done."

The Winstons were delighted to have Jeremy stay for dinner, and as the young people sat talking into the evening, Anne smiled at the way he sat beside Penny on the sofa, her hand tucked in his much larger one. Anne imagined that the contented looks on her parent's faces were evidence of their approval, and they soon bade their guests' goodnight, leaving the younger generation to chaperone themselves. Anne was growing tired herself and soon looked around to see Gilbert's knowing smile. While Andrew and Jeremy debated the political climate of Quebec, he spoke softly to her.

"You need to go to bed, don't you?"

Anne huffed crossly. "I do not like being so transparent."

He grinned. "Maybe just to me. Shall I walk you back?"

Anne nodded, and Gilbert turned to tell the others that he would head to bed himself, unsurprised to see Andrew yawning as well. Anne caught the deliberately casual look on Jeremy's face and the tighter clasp on his lady's hand, as he wished them a good night most generously.

Anne stood up then, bringing all three gentlemen to their feet in alarm when she wobbled slightly. Jeremy moved to hand her the stick, and Gilbert only raised one eyebrow at her. "You can't feel it at all, can you?" he teased. Anne shook her head with a shrug, startling when he lifted her from the ground easily. "Gentlemen, Penny," he said calmly. "I'll see you in the morning." There was gentle laughter behind them, and Anne overheard Andrew bidding the remaining couple a good evening. She chuckled at his unusually accommodating behaviour- not knowing that Andrew's thoughts were on his time with Lizzie's mother, at the sight of his sister so content.

To Anne's surprise, Gilbert did not set her down outside her suite, walking instead to a door nearby, beyond which lay the conservatory.

"Wasn't I meant to be sleeping?" she reminded him, amused.

"I only thought this would make a better place to say goodnight," he said, all teasing falling aside. He set her down on one of the long sofas under moonlit palm leaves, the earthy smell of the plant life around them. Anne smiled as he sat beside her, his hazel eyes intent on her own. She raised her hands to cup his face, and he closed his eyes as she kissed him sweetly.

"You're right. This is much better than the hallway," she breathed, and he pulled her closer, his breath warm against her skin.

"Remind me why I said we shouldn't run away together now?" he muttered, making her laugh in his arms. She looked at him in the faint light, his tie loosened and a dreamy smile on his handsome face. As she studied him, her face flushed at the memory of all the nights spent wanting him- wanting his presence, his voice and his touch in her bed. She traced the line of his collar with gentle fingers, as he cradled her heating cheek. "I'm waiting for a reason, Miss Shirley," he murmured.

She gave a throaty chuckle that made him shiver. "If you are looking for one that I will see as valid, I haven't yet found one," she said softly. "However, we have tomorrow to get through- and in only a few weeks we will be married. It isn't so long for us to wait."

He swallowed, his hands caressing her waist. "I know. And I should be grateful. It's just that we're here- together- and somehow it's still not close enough." To Anne's surprise then, he flinched. "I'm sorry, Anne. Of all the things we should talk about tonight, it isn't the time for this." He made to move away, embarrassed, however she grasped his shirt, pulling him down to rest against her slender body. As she held him close, he swore he could see the green in her fiery eyes.

"What would you discuss, Gil? Tomorrow?" He only looked at her in the moonlight, his breathing fast. "Everything has already been said. This," she whispered, holding him close, "This is the tomorrow that is filling my thoughts." Gentle fingers moved over his mouth, and she gave him a luminous smile. "And if I must confess all, Gilbert, I cannot lie in my bed without wanting you beneath the covers with me."

He crushed her into his arms then, a joyous laugh welling up inside. "And to think I was worried about scaring you, telling you how I felt," he teased.

Anne gave him the loving smile that said how well she knew him. "You needn't worry, Gilbert," she whispered. "I already know."