With an indignant cluck, feathers flying Matthew threw the last of the chickens out of the house. As he turned he inadvertently stepped on a fresh egg and swore. Next he had to have words with a particularly obstinate goose who stood its ground. Having sorted that out he turned his attention to the rest of the house. He supposed it stank of animal though he had long since stopped noticing. He started with the walls, washing them down, letting the muddy water drip to the floor. He worked all day long, scrubbing, sweeping, mopping and collapsed into his bed that night. No, he thought to himself the next morning as he eased his aching body out of bed, I need help. Shortly after he was found cap in hand at Rachel's front door asking to talk to Marilla's girl, Anne. "I was wondering if you were any good at cleaning?" he said apologetically.
Anne had cleaned many a pigsty before but none quite as filthy as Green Gables. After more than a decade of living alone with just his animals Matthew had let the old house slide into a squalid mess. Anne grimaced and he ducked his eyes in apology. Between them they managed to get it into a more respectable state. They dragged the rugs out to beat them clean, mopped, dusted, laundered, wiped the shit stains off the walls, even mopped the ceiling. When one flagged from the effort the other would offer encouragement. Eventually after a solid couple of days they stood arms akimbo in the kitchen gazing around proudly. Anne had a smudge of blacking on her cheek from the stove and Matthew's hair quite stood on edge from the dust and they were both disheveled, but the house was clean.
Matthew now felt able to invite Marilla's boys up to the old house to stay. After a good wash he made his way down to the Lynde house to fetch them. Rachel put up a fuss when Matthew told her his plans, but on reflection she was quite relieved; minding an extra brood was a great deal of work and after all as Matthew argued they were his kin, not hers.
Gilbert and his younger brothers entered the kitchen tentatively. They had heard tales of Green Gables all their lives but felt it felt strangely anti-climatic to actually be there after all this time. Little Johnny stuck his hand over his nose and declared that it smelt funny. Anne and Matthew were a bit put out at his reaction, after all they had worked so very hard. Matthew offered them a drink of milk then they followed him out to the barn.
If the old house was a bit of a disappointment, the barn more than made up for it. They were told not to touch any of the tools but the hay loft was theirs. The rest of the day was spent in happy exploration of the space finding nooks and crannies even Matthew had forgotten. They made their acquaintance with the farm animals, the goats, chickens, cows, horses, sheep; the old cat curled up with a new litter of kittens hissed when Jacob uncovered her lair and he jumped back in fright but Anne was able to soothe him.
Rachel walked into the spare room and flung open the curtains letting the good spring sunshine into the room. She turned around and was delighted to see Marilla's blue eyes steadily looking into hers.
"Well good morning and welcome," she said with a smile.
"I thought I was dreaming," Marilla said huskily unable to stop staring. Rachel had matured but was still as beautiful in her eyes as ever. She radiated health and practicality.
"No, no it's me all right, your old friend Rachel," she said as she fluffed Marilla's pillows and helped her sit up against them.
"How long?"
"It's been about a week, dear."
"Is the, is she?"
"Susanna? Is that who mean? She's right here." Rachel turned around and plucked the baby out of her bassinet. Marilla tried and failed to hold out her arms for her, exhausted by the effort. Tears sprang to her eyes.
"Now now, don't fret so, now you're awake we can get you strong again." Rachel sat down on the bed next to Marilla and placed the baby on her chest. "You've been nursing while you slept."
Marilla looked at her in amazement, "how on earth?"
"I'm not even sure, but between us all we managed it. I must say I'm looking forward to have you around. Susanna began to stir a little, her wee mouth stretched into a wide yawn and she began to make small mewling sounds as she rooted for the breast. "Are you hungry, little one." Marilla watched as Rachel undid the ties on her nightie. "Can you?" Marilla tried but ultimately failed to hold the Susanna's wee form so Rachel was forced to hold her. It was awkward for them both. Marilla felt quite embarrassed but Rachel who after all had been caring for Marilla for the last days and was therefore quite at home with the other woman's body, was not.
"And where's John?" asked Marilla once Susanna had latched on.
"Well you wouldn't fathom it, but he's gone off to deliver the cargo. As soon as it looked as though you were out of danger he was off. He sent word a few days ago to say he'd be a couple of months."
Marilla nodded, "yes that's right."
"That's right? Is that all you've got to say? He just left you here, that's what."
"I'm sorry to burden you, but yes. He needs to get the cargo to its destination. Once he gets a reputation for tardiness it's hard to recover."
"So you aren't bitter?"
"It's our life, Rachel. It's brutal when you stop to think about it but it's what we do. Still I'm sure I was a burden you could have done without." Marilla struggled to throw the blankets off but got entangled and lay back exhausted.
"Oh no. I haven't nursed you this long for you to collapse now. You stay right there," Rachel commanded.
"Is Thomas upset?"
"No dear, it's what we do. Care for people when they need it."
"Still it was a terrible imposition I'm sure, I must apologise."
"Not at all. You might have died in some hospital. Actually as daft as he was I think John made the right call bringing you to me."
"Certainly no one could have provided more tender care," Marilla reached out to clasp Rachel's hand. "Rachel where are my boys?" said Marilla suddenly noticing their absence.
"They're up at Green Gables, Matthew and Anne are caring for them. Matthew said they were his kin and he'd take them off our hands.
When they heard that their mother had awoken Matthew took the boys back down to Lynde Hollow for a merry reunion. Marilla lay in her bed still but they all were delighted to hug and kiss her and regaled her with tales of their adventures. Jacob showed her where the cat had scratched him and she kissed his finger tenderly.
"Now now children, off with you. Your mother needs her rest." Rachel shooed them out after a while and glanced back at Marilla fondly. Marilla smiled her thanks and lay back on her pillows; happy to have seen her babes but exhausted all the same. Rachel just knew what she needed, how lucky was she to have such a good friend. She felt a warm shape curl into her side and glanced down and spied Johnny. The small boy missed her dreadfully and while Rachel's back was turned he doubled back and silently made his way to his mother. Marilla smiled at him and put her finger to her lips to quiet him. He nodded and snuggled into her chest sucking his thumb. She wrapped her arms around him and together they drifted off. It was only later when they couldn't find Johnny that Rachel eventually opened the bedroom door and found him there with his tell-tale hair peeking out from under the blankets.
When she was strong enough Matthew took Marilla back home for afternoon tea. Of course the filth of many years could not be fixed in one day and Marilla still smelt the residual mould when she stood in the kitchen doorway, but she looked around and could see Matthew's attempts to brighten the place up. Flowers were jammed into a vase on the kitchen table alongside a plate of cookies. It had been a long long time since she had been in this house and she marvelled to see how small it was. Slowly she walked around each room touching the knick knacks like they were old friends. There was some indefinable tint to the milk in her tea which spoke to her of home. She hadn't even been aware that she missed it until she tasted it again. When she went back to Rachel's she told her she would move in with Matthew. Rachel was aghast, "you're not well enough yet."
"No I've overstayed your welcome, Rachel. We'll all stay with Matthew while we wait for John to return."
"You look rather angelic sitting there," Rachel said as she brought her knitting into the parlour. Marilla may have moved out but she still spent a fair bit of time visiting with Rachel, trying to make up for their lost years.
Marilla scoffed, "I'm hardly an angel."
"I know; it's just the way the light hits the back of your head with Susanna in your arms."
"Tell me Rachel, what happened when we left?"
"Oh that," Rachel sighed as she set up her knitting. "Yes you caused rather a stir. Nothing like that had happened in Avonlea for many a year. When a dutiful daughter such as yourself up and leaves without a backward thought…"
"I had thoughts," Marilla said interrupting.
"I'm sure you did, but we couldn't know. Anyway when she leaves there's all sorts of speculation. Your papa raised a hue and cry. He was all for setting off with a search party; but you were of age and no one else would join him. Most folks thought privately that you were well out of there."
Marilla nodded and traced a finger around Susanna's head, watching as the baby suckled. "And Mama?"
"I paid her a visit shortly after."
"Oh?"
"Yes, she was always quiet as you may recall. I think she barely said five words after, well you know."
"Michael passed."
"Mm hm. I sat with her for an afternoon. She was still in that bed." Marilla shuddered. "Exactly," replied Rachel.
"What did you talk about?" Marilla readjusted the baby onto her other side as Rachel's knitting needles clicked away.
"Well it was a long time ago, you must remember. I don't recall everything I said, but I do know that when I speculated where you may have gotten to she smiled."
Marilla looked up at her sharply, "smiled? Mama?"
"Yes, I've never forgotten it. Her whole face lit up. She didn't actually say anything, but I always fancied she was happy for you."
"Really?" Marilla's eyes brimmed with sudden tears.
"You'd got away. She knew how important John was to you, and I always thought she feared you'd be stuck up at Green Gables forever if you hadn't made your move when you had the chance. You could have been like Lavandar Lewis. She never moved on after Stephen Irving left her. Of course that could all be speculation on my part, your mother never said another thing, to me at least."
"Matthew said something similar," Marilla said when her sobs subsided. Leaving her mother had been the hardest wrench of all.
"When was that dear?"
"Well I was only half conscious, but I think he said that he was happy for me and how I was sucking the marrow out of life. There, that's you finished isn't it little one." Marilla hoisted the baby onto her shoulder and rubbed her tiny back to bring up the wind. Susanna nestled her head into her mother's neck before falling asleep. Rachel laid her knitting down carefully and walked over, "here let me, I'll put her to bed."
Marilla handed the baby over gratefully. She watched them walk out and bent around to pick up her sewing. She had something special planned for Matthew and wanted to give it to him in person before they left. John would be returning soon and they would all resume their life. As much as Marilla loved Avonlea; her place was by John's side.