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Christ showed him some mercy soon after, or maybe it was his Father, or maybe it was neither of them because Ken didn't believe in all that stuff. Call it luck then or a consolation prize, Ken could have just about kissed ol lance corporal Willoughby when they met him on the Harbour Road.

"I can find my own way," said Rilla, when she realised Ken was about to ditch her and skulk back to the cottage alone. He couldn't even walk her home and she had been so patient and showed her understanding in every way she knew.

Ken squeezed her hand and said he just needed to get his head together and would see her tomorrow. He had to in any case, because he had made a promise to the Doctor.

Teddy proved no better company; he was in quite the foul mood and wouldn't even offer Rilla his elbow. He kept his hands in his pockets the whole way and didn't say one word.

They found Jem in the kitchen writing to Faith, it must have been Faith because he hid his letter under a dish towel when Rilla and Teddy came in. Teddy started making the tea like he was one of the family. He even remembered how she and Jem liked to take it.

"No Ken?" said Jem.

"He had a headache," Rilla said, at the same time that Teddy said, "He had to work on his report."

"So long as he comes tomorrow. Have you heard the latest quarantine news? There's been another outbreak, five cases in Kensington and two in Grafton. If Ken can't pick up Dad's new car, we won't be able to get our hands on it for weeks."

"Are they stopping the crossings to the Mainland?" said Teddy.

"Looks like it. No one is going to be able to go in or out, excepting the mail, for a month or more. At least the twins got away, all right. They'll be in Avonlea by now, though I don't expect Aunt Diana will let either of them wander further than her yard."

Rilla sat down by Jem and sipped her tea. "Any more news about Jerry?"

Jem threw his hands in the air. "I'm not entering that fray; I'm not even offering an opinion. Father went to see John Meredith today, I know that much, and there doesn't seem to be any friction between them."

The sigh of relief from Rilla's lips blew the steam from her tea and she smiled at her brother. "I don't know why Nan was in such a rush about it all…"

"Oh, you don't?" Jem raised his auburn brows. "You seem to be in a bit of a hurry, yourself, little sister. When did all that even happen – you and Ken? I always thought you couldn't stand each other."

"Th-that was before…" Rilla sipped her tea again, horribly aware of Teddy's curious stare. "Ken came back to see me especially, back in '15. You and Walter had already gone."

"Ol' Ford is a bit of a handful. Of course, I bet you know all about that." Jem chuckled in his big brother way, thinking he knew exactly why Rilla's cheeks had gone as pink as her sunburned nose.

"Your Captain had a bit of a reputation at one time," he went on turning to Teddy. "But I'm sure he was a consummate gentleman in France."

"He was," Teddy met Jem's gaze and held it. "I never knew someone so devoted."

"What about you, Jem," because suddenly Rilla wanted to know, "how was it between you and Faith?"

Jem had been smiling before, but it was sort of half-hearted, now the upward curl of his lips pierced his cheeks like cherry stalks. "I dunno, I've never been able to work it out. It just sort of grew – like a seed or something. There's nothing but good red earth there for ages and then all at once this flower you never knew was there is blooming."

"That sounds like something Walter would write."

"He probably did, Puss," Jem finished his tea and kissed Rilla's head. "Our brother really knew a thing or two."

"I owe him my life," said Teddy softly.

"We all owe him something," said Jem, "the best we can do now is give."

...

See you tomorrow, love k.