Chapter 15 - A Confusing Dinner
On Avonlea's side, the young schoolteacher, Muriel Stacy, was desperately looking for a suitable outfit to wear to a dinner invitation.
She was talking to herself, looking at herself in the mirror while visualizing what certain outfits might look like on her, "I'm sorry I declined your dinner invitation two weeks ago, but you see, Mrs. Lynde is very persuasive and most of all, very insistent. And then, I think I would have preferred a hundred times more to dine with you and see little Delphine. Of course, the poor man wasn't particularly unpleasant, but he was Rachel's son. I couldn't tell her that her son was a klutz and uninteresting, she wouldn't want to speak to me anymore, and would go and spread some more rumours about me. No really, if I've learned one thing since I've been in Avonlea, it's better to be a friend than an enemy of Rachel Lynde.
So, once again, Sebastian, I sincerely apologize for the other night, and I am very grateful to you for having renewed your invitation this Friday."
The young blonde woman sighed when her long monologue was over, and then she thought aloud, "You're pathetic Muriel, you're obviously lacking guts whether it's Rachel or Sebastian."
She finally pulled out a white blouse with flowers and a simple long brown skirt, she put away a red velvet dress that was much too flashy for her taste, and which she would probably never get the chance to wear, but it was a gift from Rachel, so she still couldn't get rid of it.
Then came the turn to take care of her hairstyle, was she going to hide her hair with a piece of cloth as she used to do during her fishing sessions with Sebastian, or was she going to do her hair as she used to do when she was giving lessons at Avonlea's school?
She finally decided to opt for the second option, but that night she couldn't manage to get her hair done. Rebellious locks of hair that were falling out in front of her eyes kept getting in the way. She sighed, "This is ridiculous! I'm ridiculous ! It's only dinner after all, why so much pedantry?!"
She then let her hair down halfway and decided not to bother with her hairstyle anymore, "It's all right, it doesn't matter.", She took one last look in the mirror and put a few strands back in place.
The latter had finally left to go to the Delacroix family, she had put on a coat and a big scarf. She finally opted for pants to ride her motorcycle. She made a huge noise when she arrived in front of the family home.
Hazel was so taken by surprise that she ran outside to see what the commotion was.
Bash, who was in the barn putting away tools, laughed and watched the scene.
Her mother began to grumble against the young woman, "What kind of evil thing is this?! All of Avonlea must have heard you!"
Muriel stopped her vehicle and went to park it on the side of the barn.
Sebastian then greeted her, "Well! You surprise me every time! You're probably the first white woman who's ever been scolded by my mother!"
The teacher was confused, "I-I'm really sorry, I-I didn't mean to upset your mother!"
The young father laughed more and more, "That's why I like you to do it!", the blonde woman didn't know what to think at the time.
Muriel followed Sebastian to his home. Hazel and Elijah had obviously already had dinner, which surprised the young father, "But have you already had dinner?! Where is Delphine?"
Elijah looked at him with a slight smile, "She was exhausted, and I'm afraid we are too, aren't we, Hazel?" he insisted.
Bash's mother finally said, "Uh, yes, actually, I'm sorry Muriel, but I can't keep you company tonight, the little one wore me out today. And Elijah spent all day fixing the fence. Anyway, I hope you don't mind.", she left the kitchen, leaving her son, who couldn't believe his eyes and ears.
He glanced at Elijah to show him how much he didn't like what he was trying to do, and eventually the son-in-law left the room as well.
The teacher, who could see what was going on, didn't really know what to say, the poor woman was enormously embarrassed, "I-I might have to have dinner at home tonight, I don't mind at all, and you all look exhausted, I'm not going to impose any longer.", she was starting to walk towards the door.
"No, stay!", Sebastian exclaimed, which surprised Miss Stacy, "No, really I think it's better I go home, even little Delphine is in bed."
"It's true that you came by mostly to see her, but to tell you the truth, I don't really feel like dining alone, and my mother cooked a lot as you can see, she made her delicious chicken!", he lifted up the cloth to show this one, "So, you don't feel like it?"
Muriel was always on the doorstep, "Well yes... You got me! How could I resist so many gastronomic temptations!", she slowly approached the set table.
Bash smiled and told her where she should sit, and the two sat down around the table.
A few moments later, once they had started dinner, an awkward silence was felt, which was not to the young teacher's liking, so she took the opportunity to repeat the monologue she had recited alone in front of the mirror earlier.
"Sebastian, I'm really sorry I declined-" but this one wouldn't let her finish, "You don't have to do this, you don't have to explain yourself."
The young blonde was caught off guard, but she still insisted, "Well, it wasn't to justify me, but it's not my habit to be rude, so I wanted to do it."
Bash nodded, "That's well received in that case, but I didn't need it, you're free to do what you want.", his tone seemed a bit mocking.
This did not go unnoticed by the teacher, "I would so much like to tell Mrs. Lynde that I am not interested in her son, he is boring, and I don't know how else I could describe him...Klutz."
The man with the curly hair burst out laughing, "Don't take this the wrong way, but you probably have your share of faults too. But I don't blame you, it must be hard to explain to a mother that her son is not to your liking."
Miss Stacy immediately picked up one of the phrases he had just said, "My share of faults? I see, and what are they?", she asked him, both interested and irritated.
Sebastian immediately rebelled, "Don't get me wrong! I wanted to say that you have your faults, but it is quite possible to appreciate those too. I appreciate the fact that you have so much to say, it's entertaining and fun, and your candor is very much appreciated, at least when you can afford it.", He concludes with a laugh.
Two hours later, they were both cleaning and tidying up.
Sebastian didn't want his guest to participate in this task, "No, you don't have to do this, let me finish, you're the guest."
Not paying attention to what her host was saying, Muriel continued to clear the table while talking, "You know, since you've generously invited me to dinner, I thought I might return the invitation." The young father objected, "No, you don't have to feel obligated, it was out of the goodness of my heart, I didn't expect anything in return."
She continued her task, she took the plates, Sebastian did the same.
The teacher replied, "It is with good heart too, Hazel and Elijah are also welcome, and of course Delphine. Finally, come with whoever you want, I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable or force your hand. Anyway, you must think I talk too much again, don't you?"
At that moment, she hadn't realized, but she was holding Sebastian's hand, the latter had his own hand on a plate.
Time stood still, the two individuals looked into each other's eyes for a few seconds, then Bash stared at her hand.
"I'm sorry, I-I thought I- I had to let you do it, that's it! Anyway, excuse me!", She said with an embarrassed smile.
She rushed to her coat and put it on, she said the words at breakneck speed, "It's getting late, I really should be going, I have to disturb the people who have gone to bed. Thank you again for a delicious dinner, thank your mother too! I wish you a good night!", she clumsily opened the door, bumped her head into it, "Ouch! It's nothing!"
Sebastian watched her leave, confused, he hadn't even had time to answer her, that she had already left the house.
The latter continued to tidy and clean the dishes, he didn't really know what to think of the event that had just happened, he couldn't help but have a nervous laugh when he thought about the teacher's reaction.