I wrote this story back in 2017. As I said, while this story is a sequel to "Laundry Day," it can be read as a standalone. Enjoy!
Ingleside, Summer 1909
The summer sun streamed through the rectangular window making a plaid pattern on the tablecloth, plates, and utensils on the back parlor table. Except, this wasn't the ordered set-up it had been a few minutes ago. No, for the back half of the table closest to the window, the plates and utensils had been pushed towards the center or the side thanks to the young people of Ingleside due to the eagerness and energy a summer morning can garner.
In a corner of the table farthest from the door and closest to the window, sat Walter Blythe, propping a book of Tennyson on the edge of the table, and using the light of the summer sun to read. On his left and diagonally across from him were Shirley and Jem, respectively, half-sitting and half-kneeling in the middle of an arm wrestle, with what it seemed like, Shirley using two hands sometimes to Jem's one. Little Rilla was sitting across from Walter, cheering both Shirley and Jem on.
In the midst of all this, Anne and Gilbert were standing in the doorway, waiting for Susan to finish up making breakfast.
"Where are the twins?," Gilbert asked.
"I think they're still in bed. If they don't come down in the next couple of minutes," Anne said. "Good morn- What's wrong, darling?" she asked as Nan descended the last steps and came towards them. Gilbert could see Nan's wide-eyed stare at him and fear lurking in her eyes before she tugged on Anne's sleeve. She looked at him one more time, went slightly on her tiptoes, and then cupped her hand over her mouth and whispered something in Anne's ear. As Nan talked, he could see his wife's eyes grow wide and her eyebrows rose but they soon settled back down and a smile grew on her face that stayed there after Nan finished her explanation.
"Di has a stomach ache," she replied giving him a pointed look.
"A stomach ache? I'll go examine her."
"No! You don't need to go up there."
"But – ," he said.
"Gil," she sighed in exasperation, "she has a stomach ache" and gave him the most pointed look possible. A look that said Figure it out. You're a doctor.
"Oh," her husband said, then blinked a few times before his eyes dropped in realization. "Oh! … But … but … they're too young!"
"They're fourteen years old! It's perfectly normal!"
"… Let me talk to them about it."
"No," Anne said with a shake of her head. "They need a mother, not a doctor." Gilbert opened his mouth to argue but Anne beat him to it. "If you're so keen to help, Doctor Blythe, how about you get a hot water bottle. I need to talk to the twins."
"Can I join?" a young girl's voice asked hopefully. They looked over and it dawned on them that the children have been quiet for … how long? How much have they heard? They knew they would have to continue this conversation later in the safety of their bedroom; the entryway to the back parlor was no place for it.
Anne looked back at Gilbert communicating to him through her eyes. Should I tell her now or wait a few years?
Your call, Gilbert answered back the same way.
Turning her head back to the table, Anne told Rilla, "Sorry darling. Not this time. I'll tell you exactly what I told Nan and Di this morning in a few years time. I promise. Gil," Anne continued turning back to face her husband, "I'll see you upstairs. Please knock before you come in. Oh, and can you please bring a fresh sheet too from the linen closet?" Gil nodded. "Thank you."
As she draped her arm across her daughter's shoulders, she asked Nan, "Come on. Let's go see how your sister is, shall we?" before Anne gave Nan's arm a loving squeeze. Nan nodded at her mother's words and they walked towards the stairs.
Anne's line of "They need a mother, not a doctor" comes from my grandmother. For those who are trying to figure out how old the Blythe kids are Jem is about 17, Walter's 16, Nan and Di are 14, Shirley is 12, and Rilla's about 10.
As of right now, this story ends the "Moments at Ingleside" universe. If I ever come up with another story for this universe, I'll post it when I'm ready. I'm also open to future ideas for this universe from readers but I can't guarantee that I'll write them.