64

The Blythes returned from church, then the constable came back, and finally the Coroner from Charlottetown arrived. Teddy had a chat with him, which lasted much longer than anyone expected. Rilla was pacing on the veranda when the two men finally concluded their business.

"He wanted to know where Mr Killick should be buried," Teddy said to her, "because it costs a fair bit to get him to N. B. and I'm considered next of kin."

"And?"

"The constable said the Killicks have a grand old place with plenty of land. His nephew used to be an under-gardener there. There's a fountain, a pond, a rockery, a hothouse, there's even a folly."

"What will you do?"

"That's the thing. I can't afford to send him home, I can't even afford a lawyer. I'm the poorest rich man that ever was."

"But you will get your grandfather to New Brunswick, won't you, Teddy - you're going to, aren't you - one way or another?"

"He couldn't stay here, it wouldn't be right."

"No," Rilla's shoulders rose as she took a deep breath. "No, it wouldn't."

"Rilla?"

"Hmmm?"

"Remember when you said if I needed anything then I could just ask?"

Her face lit up as she recalled the time she nearly took out his eye. "Oh! Yes! What is it?"

"Shirley said he would lend me the money to get Grandfather home - he reckons I'm good for it."

"And you want my advice on the matter?"

"Ah no, not that. The thing is I would like to see what our family has made, and it wouldn't be right to send him over all alone, if you get what I mean..."

Our family. It only dawned on Rilla now that one day she would be trading in the Blythe name forever. She tried out those new names in her head. Rilla Willoughby or Rilla Killick - which one was the least worst?

She was about to respond to Teddy when the sound of crunching gravel made her turn. A girl was coming up the drive on a bicycle ringing her bell. She was bearing a telegram, it had to be read directly so that she could forward a response.

"It's from Ken," said Teddy when he opened it. "How on earth could he know?"

Shirley appeared at the front door. "Well, I am your right hand man, aren't I. That's what right hand men do."

Rilla wasn't the only one to skip church that morning, Shirley had too. More than that, he had pulled the Postmaster away from his newspaper and armchair and convinced him to send a telegram post haste to the Canadian Logistics Auxiliary Division in Le Havre.

To: Mr Theodore Willoughby

An old prof from law school is coming to advise you, the telegram read. It should be a fairly quick business. Just keep your aim straight and true. I know you can do that. You hold all the aces. And something even more dear. Take care of her, Willoughby.

From: Affectionately, Capt. Ford

Teddy was reading it aloud for the third time before he realised every one of the Blythes was standing on the veranda. It was the bicycle bell that summoned them, a sound they had once all dreaded. No one wanted a telegram during the war, but those days were finally at an end.

"Come on," the girl yelled, "what's your answer!"

Rilla stood there pink cheeked as a doll; Teddy dashed back into the house.

"No, leave him," said Anne when her husband was about to go after him. "I think I know where he's going."

She didn't have to wait long. There was an audible gasp from every Blythe, as Teddy appeared with the flowers Rilla had picked that morning.

"Dr Blythe," he said, "I'm gonna ask your youngest daughter something important if that's alright with you and Mrs Blythe?"

"Uh…" Gilbert gave a sideways glance at Anne. "Would you like us to leave?"

Teddy just grinned and turned to the girl in question, as her brothers and sisters watched on, impressed.

"I know I didn't pick 'em myself," he said, handing the posy and the gold locket to Rilla, "and I know this isn't a diamond, but I wanted to know if you can wait for me, Rilla. It might take a while but I will come back to you, I want you to believe that. Will you wait?"

"Absolutely not." She beamed up at him, while the rest of her family gasped again. "I'm coming with you, Teddy."

...

That name gag was the sole reason I chose the name Willoughby (and Killick). I'm such a dork! See you tomorrow, love k.