Anne Shirley Blythe-Hope you enjoy this...Bleaker will be all right as well don't worry I like him too much to kill him off haha. Enjoy this chapter and thank you for the lovely words. It's lovely to know my writing feels this way to you!
The telegram comes in the morning, by way of the messenger in a clean envelope that had potentially dreadful news.
Not dreadful enough to warrant a military adjacent to deliver it, but still telegrams never were good things and when they asked for Mrs. K Ford, her heart stopped as she stopped in her place as her father said he would pass it along and shut the door.
He's alive…
He's still alive at the point of this telegram anyway.
It wasn't banded in black
"Let me take her," Mother says reaching for Seffie.
"I can't…I can't open it." Rilla tells her father. He nods his head and goes for the letter opener and opens it carefully.
"He's in the medical hospital," Father says after a moment and hands her it to read for herself.
"There's no information," Rilla frowned.
"It's probably superficial and they had to report it either way," Father tries to make her feel better. "Give it a day or two and you'll get answers. It will be okay
Mrs. K Ford,
Morgan Rd
Glen St Mary PEI
August 7th 1916
We sincerely regret to inform you that your husband, Lieutenant Kenneth Ford, of the 10th Battalion CEF, has been officially reported wounded in action and at the medical hospital as of this morning for a gunshot wound. Particulars will be sent to you when received but outlook is extremely high.
Adjutant General
Rilla reads it over, breathing out deeply.
"I need to…I need to tell Leslie and Owen," She says, in the weeks of their visit Aunt and Uncle had slowly dropped off, they weren't her aunt and uncle but she didn't know what else to call her in-laws.
"You can take a moment to process Rilla," Mother tells her.
"Would you tell me that, if it was your son?" Rilla says shaking her head, looking at both of her parents.
"Then you are more than welcome to try," Mother says rubbing Seffie's back gently.
Rilla sighed and went for the telephone, unsure if she would be able to get through, or how long it would take. But she tries anyway and when she's told the line is busy she sighs.
She takes Seffie from her Mother and prepares her to go into town in a new layette gown and a few extra things in a small bag as well in case she needs one. She changes into a nicer gown of green gingham frowning that the buttons still aren't back to the usual spot, but at least for the most part, she is back into regular clothing and with some alterations she was matching the latest fashions that still allowed for the new for her new vocation of mother Twisitng her hair in a loose bun to keep it off the back of her neck as she walked into town.
She had a good ninety minutes before Seffie would want to nurse and she might even nap through the whole trip if she was lucky. She pins her hat onto her head and takes her handbag and money before taking her gloves, and picking up Seffie from her bassinet. She pushes the pram down the lane, anxiety heightening with each step. She had been to church but she hadn't been out on her own in a long while.
Her first stop is the post office where the telegram agent doesn't even bat an eye at the message. Rilla can only assume he has seen and heard much worse news these past months of war. She walks by the recruitment, watching the young men in uniforms do their duty that wasn't active duty. She goes to the bank picks up her separation pay and deposits it into her account, keeping only a few dollars for herself in her pocketbook.
She stops by Carter Flagg's store, leaving the pram outside so she wouldn't take up more room than necessary. She browses picking up odds and ins for herself and the house she knew they were low on.
"Mrs. Ford, it's a surprise to see you out and about today," Someone says to her and she flushes bright red.
"It's a nice day, Mrs. Drew," Rilla says with a small smile. "I had some errands to run, and Seffie is awake for slightly longer during the afternoon these days, so might as well make the most of it?"
"Yes, Marjorie was telling me all about her, a little angel I am told," Mrs. Drew states.
"Not so much of an angel as she likes people to believe she is," Rilla laughs a little adjusts Seffie a little and lets Mrs. Drew take a small peek at her little one as the bell rings on the door and Mrs. Howard comes into the store scanning the counters and shelves for people and most likely gossip.
"Babies never are," Mrs. Drew agrees. "Are the Fords coming for the Christening, that much be coming up soon?"
"Most likely, though nothing has been finalized. I still have to talk to Mr. Meredith about it all," Rilla tells her turning to place her items on the counter with Mrs. Flagg who rings her up.
"My Irene is right about her, so flashy these days," she hears. "Coerced a Toronto young man to marry out of pity and now walks around with the shiny pram like she is better than all the girls here."
She hears Mrs. Howard with venom directly clearly at her. She shifts Seffie subtly and pats her on the bottom, trying to ignore it. The baby carriage was the same one her parents used from her own infanthood. Father only cleaned it with a new coat of paint and oiled it. Leslie had wanted to buy a new one but they had one perfectly useable.
"I heard the baby is blonde, it's always wearing a bonnet so it's hard to tell, but something feels off about it. I know that Mrs. Owen Ford is blonde, but surely…a redhead and a dark-haired man. No, I think my Irene was one to something about the father being not who they say he is.
Rilla closes her eyes for a moment takes a deep breath and goes with her purchases, counting out the money and handing it over to Mrs. Flagg who comes back with her receipt.
"Ignore her," she whispers to Rilla. "Your husband is a good man, and fighting for his country, he will be proud of her. Marjorie is at the Miliners with the other girls I am sure she would be surprised to see you."
"He already is and thank you I will see if she is still there?" Rilla says quietly
Her friends find her in a whirlwind of ribbons at the milliner's
"I wish I had more allowance," Alice sighs going over the silk flowers and ribbons for hats as Irene Howards comes waltzing in and heads straight to the 'expensive' hats.
"I don't believe for a moment she has the same allowance she tells people she has," Marjorie says. "Mine is so little."
"At least you get an allowance," Miranda says looking at Rilla nods her head.
"We get allowances because we don't have your incomes," Alice reminds her. "You don't have to ask for permission these days for anything."
"Maybe not, but you have no idea how expensive baby things are," Rilla tells him as Irene comes towards them with the same venom as her mother and purposely bumps into them.
"Go away Irene," Betty tells her rolling her eyes and thankfully she does. "I heard she buys extra wide flannels for that time of the month," Betty whispers across the counter as Irene stops to pick out something for herself ignoring them.
Rilla snorts as she juggles Seffie in her arms. "I do not miss those days."
"What do you mean?" Marjorie asks.
"You don't get it while expecting, and nursing sort of stops it as well for a while?" Rilla explains quietly. "Though you…well, you essentially have it for six weeks after having a baby." She whispers.
"Oh that does not sound pleasant," Betty wrinkles her nose and Rilla laughs.
"Why do you think I didn't have visitors for so long," Rilla tells them honestly, "Oh, Seffie! Let go little one," Rilla's voice goes high-pitched as Seffie's little hand is tangled in her hair.
The girls help Rilla, ignoring the glare that Irene sent them across the way.
"Your braid doesn't seem to be as thick lately I hope you are losing your hair, I read it happened to new mothers," Irene says coming over them.
"Well, if she needs a wig, we'll come to you first, I've seen your feet before, plenty for a switch," Betty says boldly and the other girls giggle. "Though why would you be reading up on it, something to tell Irene?"
"You want to play that game I can play it back," Irene warns her and looks at Miranda "Don't want daddy to know what you got up to before being married."
"Really? Miranda leans over slightly. "Because I have tidbits of knowledge about certain windows that I can see from my room."
They end up in the tea shop, tucked away in a corner where Rilla for the first time had to mother, while in public. Mary Vance joined them when she saw them, dropping her shawl over Rilla for coverage, the pram tucked in the corner bedside them for when Seffie had finally fallen asleep, and Rilla used her foot to gently use the suspension rock the pram lightly. Betty and Marjorie leave apologetically after a cup of tea, leaving Alice, Miranda and Mary with Rilla at the cafe. Mary Picks up Persephone after she cries without a prompt and changes her swiftly without anyone noticing which surprises Rilla and mouths a thank you.
"Felix is leaving soon," Alice says sighing. "I just keep thinking what if he finds someone else out there?"
"I told Douglas if he even thinks about those French hussies I would throw his ring into the ocean so he would never get it back," Mary says outright. "You're married, what did you tell your husband before leaving?" She looked at Miranda.
"I didn't tell him anything? Why would I?" Miranda says brow knitting in confusion. "Was I supposed to? Husbands and wives are supposed to be faithful to each other aren't they?"
"Men are dogs, they are rarely faithful when tempted to stray," Mary laughs. "Which is why you make it known you don't stand for it, and if they ever think about it, that you will not stand for it. Especially when it comes to VD and warts from unsavoury bed partners"
Miranda looks at Rilla who just sits there unsure of what to say or do for a good moment.
"I think we all have fiancé's and husbands who will be faithful to us," Rilla speaks up and the girl nods their heads but there is a nagging itch at the back of her head.
She stays too long as she catches the time.
"I have to go," Rilla tells them getting up. "She is going to need a change and another feed and I have been out far longer than anticipated," Rilla tells them. She puts money down for tea and takes her things.
She makes the quick walk home, finding only Susan in the kitchen prepping dinner and her parents out at the manse. She settles Seffie into a clean nappy and ties her up in a sling around her body before going for her father's study. She goes looking at his books picks up the first one of medical knowledge and dictionary, and goes from there.
She is still reading when Father finds her with a book all around her.
"What are you looking up?" He asks her with a chuckle. "Can I help at all?"
"You can explain to me what a venereal disease is?" She looks at Father who is unbelievably shocked for a moment and stutters a bit.
"Pardon?" He asked.
"Please, don't me repeat it?" Rilla pleads quietly.
"There are diseases and illnesses that can affect a person's reproductive health, and health in general," Father says after a moment. "May I ask why?
"Mary said something about the French hussies, and that miller wrote her about men losing pay because they got VD?" Rilla explains.
"French hussies, that young woman should keep her thoughts to herself." Father groans. "I don't think you have to worry about Ken Rilla."
"I'm not," Rilla says plainly and her father is confused.
"Then what are you worried about to read about syphilis and other things?" Father asks.
"Did you worry about me?" Rilla asks quietly. "Those men…?"
Father sighs and sits down in his chair, thinking for a moment quietly, taking off the newly acquired glasses he now finds himself wearing. "I watched you for a while but you seemed to be fine. You didn't exhibit any sorts of or signs symptoms, or come to me about anything either." Gilbert told her. "You're fine Rilla, and Seffie is healthy as well, and so is Ken."
Rilla nods her head stopping briefly to kiss the top of her daughter's head. The telephone rings out and Rilla looks to Father who motions for her to stay and he will get it from his desk.
"It's Leslie," he says quietly and Rilla carefully stands up and takes the phone from him.
Her mother-in-law is calm though her voice is riddled with anxiety and questions.
Lieutenant Kenneth Ford
ID 163322
10th Battalion
CEF,
France
August 1916
Darling
My mind is racing, since your telegram, I hope you are all right, I hope that you are well, or at the very least not in too much pain. I try not to think of it as the more I think about it, the more I worry and the telegram told me not to worry.
Still. Please be all right, please come back to me.
Please let another telegram come through soon. It's hard to know I am here safe and warm in my bed at night when you're out there in the trenches
Though I had an interesting day as well, I am not sure where to start, but I went out today for the first time alone with Seffie to run errands. The gossip mill still runs, but it doesn't sting as much these days. It was nice though to see my friends, to be out like girls our age, even if some of us are married, engaged or mothers now. Alice is engaged, did I mention that? I forget if I did or not, anyway, his name is Felix. Her father won't allow them to marry just yet as they are only seventeen of course.
Mary Vance joined in on a tea session at the tea shop. She of course spent most of her time fussing over Persephone, trying to make her laugh and smile while we had a free afternoon that didn't contain sewing or other things for the war effort. We always try to have two days to be girls our age. Mother says it's good for us, anyway May is oddly good with babies, it's rather strange at times to think about Mary Vance being a mother herself one day.
However, what shocked me the most dearest was her questions. Somehow she thinks that just because I had a baby, and Miranda is married it's open season for questions? How once she told Miller that he better not entertain any French ladies… she called them hussies and how according to her sources so many men get VD and get their pay docked, then had the audacity to ask me if I would allow you to keep a French girl.
I didn't know exactly what she was going on about or what VD was either. So I went to Father's office while he was out and looked it up until he came home and I don't think I've seen him sputter like he did. Not even after everything, he was not expecting such a question.
All Father said when he finally managed to come out of his thoughts was that it affects whether you have babies or not. That sometimes less than savoury people could carry the disease and wanted to leave it at that but I couldn't.
And I asked him…about them
He took off his glasses, sighed and admitted he watched me closely for a while but believed that we were all fine.
Anyway, I know Hades will not let this war end anytime soon, I know you aren't coming home anytime soon, but if you can you try not to have any more children until you come home?
Love you always
Rilla and Seffie.
It takes another day before another telegram comes in the same envelope and this time she opens it herself, mostly because no one else is around to do it for her.
She breathes a sigh of relief, though knows any wound can turn septic if not cared for right. She wasn't a doctor's daughter for nothing.
"Daddy is going to be all right," Rilla tells Seffie cuddling her and kissing the blonde wisps of hair that shined golden and copper. "Daddy is going to come home to meet you one day, I wish I could promise you that, but I don't want to break promises I can't keep," Rilla tells her.
August 9th 1915
Mrs. K Ford,
Morgan Rd
Glen St Mary PEI
Lieutenant Kenneth Ford, of the 10th Battalion CEF, who had been officially reported wounded in action, is recuperating well from being hit in the bicep by a gunshot and writing.
Adjutant General
She breathes deeply as there is another knock at the door. She gathers up Seffie and goes for the door. She doesn't expect her old teacher to be at her door, Mrs. Grant, nee Oliver is very much the last person she expects but it is who is standing there either way looking at her in puzzlement.
"Oh my how you have grown," She says, voice full of surprise and shock.
"Miss. Oliver…sorry Mrs. Grant," Rilla says breathlessly in shock. "Come in, Mother and Father are just out for a walk they should be back soon," Rilla tells her, inviting her into the house.
"Oh my goodness, who is this little one? Did Nan and Jerry marry, or are you childminding for others? Though the red hair, makes me feel like she is a Blythe?" She says spotting the infant in Rilla's arms for the first time.
She doesn't know, she doesn't know anything. Rilla never wrote her as promised, because her life had changed overnight.