The rest of the summer passed very pleasantly. Gwen's days were full to the brim … cooking and sewing with Aunt Ruth; exploring the region with Isaiah; keeping up with Grandfather's running schedule; staying out of Chloe's way; fishing with Jack, Phil, Oliver, and Van; dreaming with Grandmother; following the news from the Summer Olympics with passionate interest with Grandfather and Jo … and always, in whatever spare time she had, scribbling stories on hidden bits of paper.
She didn't have to hide them. Grandmother would have been delighted to know that Gwen was writing; in fact, she would have wanted to encourage and help her in every way. Which was exactly why Gwen kept her new love a secret from everyone but Isaiah and Phil. She didn't want help and encouragement. She wanted to explore this on her own, find out her own talents, without anyone else's interference, no matter how well meant it was.
She didn't mind sharing her running with Grandfather. He was almost as good a coach as Coach Flagg, and he was also wise enough to stick with the practical aspect of training, leaving Gwen's emotions and ideas out of it. Had he tried to pry into how running made her feel, she would have shied away from his help like a nervous colt.
Grandmother, dear though she was, hadn't quite grasped the difference, for all her years and wisdom. Her type of interest in her grandchildren's lives just suited Lee, and some of the cousins, but made the other three Blake children nervous.
All too soon, harvest was in, August was ending, and the Blythe clan was having one final "shin-dig," as Owen inelegantly put it, before scattering to their various homes and schools. This was usually the time of year that the Blakes arrived on the Island—for one week of family fun before returning home to Kingsport. This year, it felt somewhat odd to Gwen that not only had they already been there all along, but they were staying, as well.
Odd, but nice, too. Nice to think about starting back at school in the Glen, though she was still a little nervous about meeting her former friends, the ones who abandoned her due to Chloe's rumours. Nice to think about getting back into training with Coach, not just Grandfather. Nice to think about picking apples and making cider and wearing sweaters and socks and curling up by Ingleside's fireplace, or making cookies with Aunt Ruth. Glen St. Mary had wound its way around Gwen's heart fairly thoroughly, she realized to her surprise, even with all the travails she'd endured here.
The one fly in her ointment was that there would be no visit from Uncle Jeremiah and Aunt Jenny this summer. Their vacation plans kept getting postponed, and postponed again (something to do with Uncle Jeremiah's business, according to Jeremy's disgruntled letters), and by the time the business matter was cleared up it was too late for them to come out.
"I know it's unfilial, but I can't help but be furious with Father," Jeremy wrote. "I'm attending the Kingsport Preparatory School for Young Men—Kingsport Prep—in a few weeks, and this was to be my last chance of freedom. My last chance to be a kid. Plus, of course, I wanted to see you. All of you, but especially you, Gwen. Do you realize, this is the longest we've been apart since we were born? I was born three months ahead of you, and ever since then we've never been apart for longer than a week or two. I'm sure the other fellows at Kingsport Prep will mock me for having a best friend who's a girl, but then, they've never met you.
"Patty and Rachel are upset, too, but of course Patty tries to look on the bright side, and Rachel is mostly moping about it on her own account, sure that Lee has come to like Leigh Blythe better after spending so much time with her and never seeing Rachel, so neither of them can really sympathize with me. I know I'm still your best friend, but that doesn't mean I don't want to see you.
"At least … I am still your best friend, right, Gwen? Besides Phil, of course; I know I can't hold up against him. Your letters, though … they talk an awful lot about Jack, and that Oliver Grant, and Lynde Wilson, and you haven't mentioned Fanny Elliot for a while, but you used to mention her pretty often. Am I getting crowded out, since you haven't seen me?
"You've been quiet about other things this summer, too. You've told me all about cooking and sewing with Aunt Ruth, and running on Grandfather's regime, but you've said hardly anything about … well, anything else at all. You're being vague these days, and that's not like you. At least, it's not like the Gwen I used to know. Have you changed since you've been gone, Gwen? Please don't change. I know I rag you sometimes about being clumsy, and careless, and I probably tease you more than I should, but really, I honestly do like you just as you are. You're so perfectly Gwen.
"Which brings me full circle. I wanted to come to the Island to make sure you were still Gwen, and to make sure I was still first (after Phil) of your friends. Which latter part sounds selfish, now that I think about it, but then, you have no illusions about me, do you? You know I'm a selfish beast at times. Also over-protective, which is why I—if I'm being perfectly honest—really don't care for the sound of that Oliver fellow. I don't trust boys when I'm not there to make sure they aren't taking advantage of your good nature.
"Well. I'd better end before I make you utterly disgusted with me, and glad that I'm not there with you all. I do miss you, Gwen. I'm counting down the days until January, when you all come home. Even though I'll be at boarding school then, we'll still have vacations and weekends together!
"Always yours,
"Jeremy."
Gwen was in Rainbow Valley when she read this letter, and she smiled and sighed equally over the contents. "Oh, Jeremy," she said aloud. For a change, she happened to be all alone—Oliver and Phil were at Uncle Carl's doing something scientific. Jack and Van were off on their own. All of the Fords were visiting their over-harbour friends; Lee and Jo were playing with Leigh and Owen. Gwen went up to Ingleside to fetch her stationary and fountain pen, then made her way back down to the Valley to compose her reply to the boy who was still, despite their separation, her favourite cousin.
"Rainbow Valley, PEI
"August 25th, 1936
"Dear Jeremy,
"Where do I even begin, dearest (yes, my very dearest) of cousins? First: I am working on not being angry with your father, too! I know it's not his fault that the business is so demanding, but still. I have been looking forward ever since we left Kingsport to seeing you and your sisters! And your parents too, naturally. I was going to show you all my favourite spots—Rainbow Valley, of course (where I am right now); this little cove by the harbour where I go when I need to clear my head; Aunt Ruth's; the pond where we go fishing (Jack is better than I am, but not as good as you); the maple grove that is full of trees so ancient you'd swear they belonged in Sherwood Forest (and yes, I know those were mostly oaks, but still) … we could even get ice cream sodas at the pharmacy, because Mrs. Douglas has promised me free sodas for as long as I am here, and I'm sure she wouldn't charge you if you were with me.
"Why is that? Well, it's a long story, and the main reason I've been being vague in my letters home. I didn't want to get you worked up, or prejudice you against people here. Suffice to say that not all family are friends, and some of them can tell quite believable stories. Ugly ones.
"But it's all straightened out now, so you needn't come charging in on your white horse to rescue me. You see, I know you! If I'd told you I was in distress you would have gotten here if you had to ride the rails and stow away on a freighter. And that would have just been silly, because I learned a lot about myself while things were difficult. I learned that I can live without most people's good opinion, as long as I have you and Phil and the rest of my immediate family. I learned that truth always beats a lie, and that good always defeats evil. I've learned that people can surprise you, both for good and for bad.
"And I learned that I do have the Blake temper. Oh dear! I'm not entirely pleased about that, but it is good to know so that I can watch for it, and teach myself to control it. And it did come in useful, I must admit.
"But, you see, none of my vagueness has anything to do with any nonsense about not liking you as much as I did before coming here. You're still my very best friend, Jeremy (next to Phil), and there's no one like you, not here, and not anywhere. Oliver's a good chum (and you mustn't worry about him, he's a perfect gentleman and would never take advantage of me, and I'm not so naive as to let just anyone walk all over me); and Jack is just a step below you; and Fanny is just a school friend, really; and Lynde is a dear but spends most of her time 'bossing' me to death … so you should not worry about that.
"After all, a friendship like ours can't be injured by a separation, can it? It'll only grow stronger the longer we're apart.
"And I'm still your old Gwen, even if I am a runner now and a little less clumsy. Grandmother and Aunt Ruth and Grandmother Meredith have all been helping me learn how to control my limbs, and sometimes even think before I speak. You won't mind if I change in that way, surely?
"Give my love to the girls, and to your mother and father (even if I am still miffed at Uncle Jeremiah), and don't worry: January isn't so very far away.
"Always yours,
"Gwen."
"Am I interrupting anything, Gwen?"
As Gwen capped her pen, Oliver ducked under some low branches and dropped comfortably to a seat beside her.
"Not really," she answered. "Just finishing a letter to Jeremy."
He nodded, looking thoughtful. "You two really are like brother and sister, aren't you?"
"Better," Gwen answered. "Don't get me wrong, Phil's my very best friend in all the world, but Jeremy … well, there's just no one like him." She said this completely un-self-consciously, firm in her belief that her cousin was uniquely wonderful.
"Ah." Oliver's gaze dropped to his hands, and he twirled a blade of grass between his fingers slowly.
"Are you all done with the science what-not?" Gwen asked.
Oliver nodded again, not raising his eyes from the grass stem in his hand. "Phil and Dr. Meredith are still examining and arguing about things, but the official lesson is done."
"Do you think you've come far enough this summer to get your grades back where they should be when we start school again?"
Finally, Oliver grinned, and he let the grass slip between his fingers to drift on the light breeze. "I don't think anyone's ever had such determined tutors as I have. I wouldn't dare let my grades falter this year; Phil would never forgive me, and Dr. Meredith would probably come all the way back just to scold me!"
Gwen laughed. "Uncle Carl's too nice to scold anyone."
"Not when it comes to science," Oliver said.
Gwen remembered her uncle's stern countenance and quick condemnation of Phil when Isaac had accused him of destroying the precious specimens, his refusal to let Phil work with him any longer, not even giving Phil a second chance.
Mother always said people were more important than things. Gwen couldn't help but think that no matter how much Mother or Dad valued something, they would never let the destruction of it, even if it seemed like wanton destruction, so affect the way they treated a young man or woman.
"Gwen?"
Gwen realized that she was staring blankly into space as she thought all this out. "Sorry," she said in embarrassment. "Just thinking."
"So it seemed." Oliver seemed to guess what direction her thoughts had taken. "I'm impressed by what you've done with Isaiah."
"What do you mean?'
"He's like a different kid ever since you let him and Isaac have it. The twins haven't played any tricks on anybody, not even Owen, and I've only seen Isaiah lose his temper once. Considering that before, nobody ever saw him when he wasn't in a temper … well, I'm sure Mrs. Ford wishes she knew your trick."
"Aunt Rilla doesn't even know half of what her children get up to," Gwen said impatiently. "She raised them all 'by the book,' and so naturally they are going to be just fine now. I heard her telling Aunt Persis that once, when the boys had done something truly terrible to Owen. She told Aunt Persis that Owen must have exaggerated, and it was probably because Aunt Persis was never around, and he and Leigh had only gotten a haphazard training, and so were always looking for attention now."
Oliver winced. "What did your aunt say?"
Gwen grinned. "She saw me listening then, so not as much as I'm sure she wanted!"
Oliver laughed, then leaned back on his elbows to look up at the sky. "Almost September," he mused. "School will be starting soon, and then before you know it, winter will be here. And then you and your siblings will be back in Kingsport."
"Yes," Gwen agreed, wondering why he was bringing it up.
"I suppose you miss it?"
"Kingsport?" Gwen thought about it. "Aside from Jeremy and Patty and Rachel, not much. I miss Mother and Dad, of course, but honestly, I've really enjoyed my stay here at Ingleside."
Oliver twisted his head to look at her. "Even with all the fuss Chloe and the twins caused?"
"That wasn't fun," Gwen acknowledged. "But even with that. If we hadn't come to the Glen, I never would have met Coach Flagg and discovered I had a talent for something. Aunt Ruth and Lynde would never have taught me to cook and sew. I wouldn't have made the friends I have. I never would have learned about Joy."
"Who is Joy?" Oliver wanted to know, and so Gwen told him all about the baby who had only lived one day.
"She's still here, though," she finished. "Even though she never lived here at Ingleside. You can see her sometimes here in Rainbow Valley, along with all the other ghosts of the children who used to play here."
Oliver had spent enough time with Jack to not find such talk creepy or strange. "Just think," he said instead. "Maybe in another generation, there will be kids seeing our ghosts here."
"I hope so," Gwen said dreamily. "I like to think that I've been here long enough to leave an imprint on this place."
"I should think so," Oliver said firmly. "You—all of you, I mean—are going to leave quite a hole here when you go back to Kingsport." He smiled wistfully. "We're going to miss you awfully."
Gwen, unsurprisingly, blushed. Was it her imagination, or did Oliver's voice have an extra shade of meaning to it? And why did he have to say such nice things now, when she was over her crush on him, instead of when it would have sent her swooning with happiness?
"Well," she said lightly, trying to cover her sudden turmoil. "We have many months before that happens. Let's not spoil today by thinking about tomorrow."
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," Oliver agreed. He laughed at her startled look. "What? You thought you minister's kids were the only ones who knew certain Scriptures by heart?"
"Of course not," Gwen said, laughing as well. She was suddenly so very glad she had taken Mother's advice those months ago and tried treating Oliver only as a friend. He was, indeed, a very good friend, without any need for romance at all!