I can't decide if I love your speculation or am quite worried about it; because your ideas and theories are bloody good - it's so gratifying to have bright and with it readers. Thank you! One thing that always gets me is the occasional wish for Walter's return. Because he just has to come back, doesn't he, Walter can't be dead. Not him. And he is all over this story, and every time he comes up, I want him back, too. This is not a hint or any sort of foreshadowing, I'm just saying I understand. Love, k.

53

The concert was set for the Saturday after the borders reopened, so that Mainlanders might have a chance to join in. Some of the government sorts were against the idea, this was an Island initiative, a chance to let the Pearl of the Sea shine for once.

Miss Blythe was adamant, however, as women who are used to getting their way often are. Her pretty face and iron backbone were a fearful combination - a two pronged offensive if you will - it was to be hoped that she never decided to run for office.

The Keiths of Green Gables showed up at Ingleside the night before the big occasion, as did the Wrights from Lone Willow. The Blythe twins and Jerry had come back too, and Nan and Di were both sporting engagement rings.

They sat at the kitchen table; their left hands quite useless for anything but showing off their precious jewels. Di's was a fiery opal that had once belonged to that grand old dame, Miss Josephine Barry, who was Jack Wright's great great Aunt. Nan's was a modest old fashioned affair. The tiny gems in a daisy shape; diamond, emerald, amethyst, ruby, emerald, sapphire, topaz spelling out DEAREST. And wasn't it just the dearest thing! John had given it to Jerry's mother - and Rosemary had popped it into Jerry's top pocket. It had always been meant for his future bride, and it might come in handy in Avonlea, she said.

Nan's condition, it turned out, had been a false alarm. Jerry was going to Charlottetown to complete his degree, however, he wasn't changing his mind about that. And if the Doctor didn't like it, then Jerry would just have to stay on at the college and turn it into an institution worthy of the Island because he was never - repeat, never - leaving Nan (or the home that he loved) again.

Di and Nan were planning on a double wedding, separate honeymoons of course. No sooner had the word been said than Susan Baker rolled into the kitchen in a silver fox-fur hat and took possession of the teapot.

"I need two more cups - what, why aren't they kept in their proper place?"

She began to reorganise the cupboards immediately, she hadn't even taken off her hat, when a tall, brown faced pilot strolled up to the kitchen table. His smart blue uniform then got very wet as the women of Ingleside and Lone Willow began crying tears of joy into his chest.

Shirley had returned, and much earlier than expected and it was all the work of Ken Ford.

"He managed to finesse the paperwork and get those all-important stamps. He said that even if he ended up stuck in a Rococo style boardroom for the rest of his life, he could at least get one soldier home." Shirley extricated himself from his womenfolk and sought out his big brother. "He's working on getting Faith home next, so I'd shave that beard off if I was you. You look like a matchstick, Jem."

"Now," he went on, after savouring one of Susan's much missed cups of tea, "where is Una?"

You should have seen the rest of the crowd when they heard that. Every pair of eyes was swivelling left and right. Was there going to be a third engagement? It certainly seemed possible because Shirley's usually deadpan face lit up with unconcealed delight when he spotted the girl peeping between Jerry and Carl's shoulders.

"I say, Una, you do look the business."

Every pair of eyes swivelled again, this time up and down. No one had noticed Una before. What with all the arrivals, and all the tea that needed making, and the endless engagement ring admiration, Una's striking new appearance (courtesy of Rilla) had been utterly overshadowed.

Her hair had been parted on the side and instead of the usual tight knot bulging under her headscarf there were puffy little curls. She hadn't bobbed it had she - not those long black tresses? They looked Una over again and noted with relief a sizable bun nestling at the nape of her slim white neck. But goodness, she could have fooled them.

With that thick, low sweep over her brow, you simply couldn't help noticing her eyes. How different they were from before. They were quite wide set (great, dull cow eyes the Howard girls called them) and when she divided her hair into that tight centre parting the white line in her scalp made her nose look long and narrow, and her eyes seem miles apart. But now those big blue peepers were framed like a painting, the puffs perfectly balanced them out. And when she blinked (she was blinking furiously) the whole effect was so wonderfully disarming, they quite forgot that Una hated being the centre of attention and kept staring at her, admiringly.

Jerry prodded his sister forward. Carl pulled Jem out of his chair and pushed Una into it. Shirley began digging around in the vast pockets of his sheepskin jacket and huffing with impatience.

My word, as Teddy Willoughby would say, was the most unsentimental boy in the Glen about to propose to the shyest girl, in front of everyone?

"Right," said Shirley, he placed a mug on the table and turned to Una. "This is for you. I have no idea what it means or why Ken Ford insisted I bring it all the way over here, which wasn't easy I can tell you, I nearly broke it twice. Anyway," he sighed, evidently happy that his final mission had been accomplished. "Ken said, and I hope I got this right, that he had a fit of conscience and asked if you might return it whenever you go out on your next adventure. Whatever that means."

"It will be a reference to Redmond, I expect," said Una - just. Her throat had gone very dry. Or perhaps she was only remembering the last time she had seen that souvenir mug. For a horrible moment she thought she might throw up.

"Going, are you? Good for you," said Shirley.

"Yes," she murmured. "The first term starts next week."

No one heard what Una said next, because whoever was supposed to have lit the lamp by the front door had forgotten, and Teddy, who only just arrived, was lying flat on his back on the Ingleside veranda.

"Bloody hell, shittin'-"

"I beg your pardon, you potty-mouthed bosthoon!"

Teddy looked up and knew. This was the famous Miss Baker, the one who stood sentry over the Ingleside threshold, and woe betide this misfortunate knave who tried to enter without her say so. He had met this kind before, and he very nearly smiled because his grandmother had been exactly like her.

"Don't mind me, I'm fine," he said, rubbing his head for extra effect. "I nearly broke my neck, that's all."

"You'll break something else in a minute, who are you to be lurking about in the shadows and uttering dark, ungodly language at MY front door!"

Before the boy could answer, the Doctor arrived at the scene. "Oh," he said, peering over Susan's hat, "did you take a tumble, old chap?"

"Someone left this enormous crate in the middle of the veranda." Teddy glared at it suspiciously as he got to his feet. "I might be mistaken but I thought I heard it squeak."

Susan was on her knees in seconds, Shirley quickly followed. The top of the crate was opened a crack, and he scooped out a dark ball of fur.

"Dads," said Shirley, "meet the Baron. The other one in there is the Baroness, but I wouldn't disturb her, she likes to bite."

"Foxes?" said Gilbert.

"Silver foxes," said Susan proudly, "Shirley's going into business. Silver fox fur, it's the coming thing, isn't it, son?"

"Son?" said Teddy.

"Oh yes," said Shirley, nodding at him. "Name's Shirley Blythe. I'm the baby boy of the family, the one who's got two mothers."

"Well, what do you know," said Teddy, nodding back. "So do I."

...

I did Di dirty in this story (Gertrude Oliver and Dog Monday have vanished completely). I did have a few qualms marrying her off to Jack, because I questioned whether an intelligent, proud, argumentative, educated red head would really marry an Avonlea farmer's son? And then I thought, well he was raised by Diana, and it was good enough for Anne after all :o) Next chapter to follow...