A Scandal in Avonlea
Anne with an E inspired fan fiction by Cheryl C. Malandrinos
Disclaimer: I do not own the Anne with an E television series, the Anne of Green Gables book series, or any of the characters.
Sebastian finished changing Delphine. He tucked her chubby little arms into her sweater and placed a matching hat on her head. Though it was spring, the mornings could still be cool, and he didn't want her to catch a cold. His mother would have his head.
Elijah had taken his mother to Charlottetown to do some shopping. That left him alone with his daughter, who had recently turned one. She looked more and more like Mary every day. Sebastian's heart ached. He missed his wife just as much as the day she died. Some days, he thought his heart would never feel right again. He was glad he allowed Elijah to stay in Avonlea and help him on the farm. The sound of Mary's children in the house made it feel like a part of her was still with him.
Tossing his bag over his shoulder, he laid a blanket over his arm, then he grabbed Delphine and his fishing pole and headed for the door. "C'mon, Deli," he said. "Time to catch us some supper." He wasn't even close to a good cook, but even he could fry a fish or two.
Arriving at his favorite spot, he laid out the blanket and sat Deli down with a doll his mother had made for her as a birthday gift. Sebastian inhaled the fresh air, releasing his breath slowly. He loved living in Avonlea, despite the hard time he had fitting in when he first arrived.
About half an hour later, he saw Miss Stacy walking toward the lake. A widow, Muriel was the local school teacher. Her reddish blonde hair was mostly hidden underneath the straw hat she wore. Though she still occasionally wore trousers, for the most part, Muriel had adopted the more acceptable blouse and skirt. How can she fish in those? he thought.
"Miss Stacy. How nice to see you."
"It's wonderful to be seen, Sebastian." She plopped her bucket and fishing pole down. "And how is our precious Delphine today?"
"Oh, as sweet as cream."
"Spoken like a proud father," she said.
"Twill be nice to have company as I try to catch some supper." Sebastian was originally from Trinidad, and his speech still carried the melodical Creole pronunciation of many words.
After baiting her hook, Muriel cast her line and sat down on the blanket on the other side of the baby. "The Cuthberts have asked me to supper tonight." She smiled. "With Anne away at Queens, I'm sure they are lonesome for company."
"Been quieter around the house with Gilbert in Toronto," he said. "Elijah and my mother are in Charlottetown today. Don't expect them back 'til tomorrow."
"How sweet that you can spend some time alone with Delphine."
"I don't know how sweet it will be for Deli." He chuckled. "Her grandmother is better with her than her clumsy papa."
"Children are flexible," Muriel said. "And much more forgiving than adults."
"The people of Avonlea have been nicer since Mary died. Though I don't know how much they really accept me being here."
Muriel placed her free hand on his arm. "Give them time, Sebastian. They can't stay close-minded forever. The young people of Avonlea will see to that."
When she pulled her hand away, Sebastian saw goosebumps form on his flesh. He and Miss Stacy had a lot in common. The people of Avonlea had also been suspicious of her when she first arrived. She wore trousers. Rode a bike. Fished. Hunted. And worst of all—at least to them anyway—she taught using modern methods that created fear in the small minds of Avonlea.
They fished in silence until Delphine startled them with a cry. Muriel lifted the baby into her lap. She dug a soft cracker out of her bag and broke off a corner before handing it to Delphine.
"You have a natural mother's heart," he said.
Muriel's cheeks reddened. "I don't think that will happen for me."
"You've said that before, but someone with so much love and joy to give is bound to be a mother."
"Thank you, Sebastian."
An hour later, they packed up their belongings. Delphine needed a nap, and Muriel had papers to grade.
"Would you like to join me for supper at the Cuthberts tonight?" Muriel asked. "Marilla always makes plenty, and I'm sure she wouldn't mind."
"And let this fish go to waste?" he joked.
"I promise I will smoke it for you and bring it back over."
"Now, how can I turn that down?" He took Delphine from her. "Would you like me to pick you up? Makes no sense both of us driving there."
She nodded. "Sounds lovely."
Once Deli was down for her nap, Sebastian poured himself a bath. It wasn't every day he drove a woman to supper. He didn't want to smell too much like farm and fish. After his bath, he stood in front of the mirror with his razor to trim his dark beard. Then he ran a comb through his black curly hair. As he stared back at his reflection, Delphine's whimpers filtered into his room. He would change her and get ready for their night out.
With Delphine in a basket at his feet, Sebastian drove his team toward Miss Stacy's house. Her brown house with its white trimmed windows sat in a crop of trees outside of town. As his team trotted by the fence, her front door opened. She had changed into an elegant, high-necked blouse with flowers on it and a green skirt. Though she often wore a long coat, tonight she chose a knitted shawl that bought out the red in her hair. Sebastian nearly gasped. She looked beautiful.
They chatted on the way to the Cuthberts, riding down the main road to where it dipped as they passed the Lyndes' house. Jerry, the Cuthberts' hired hand, was just leaving when Sebastian steered his team into the yard. They waved at him before Sebastian tugged the reins, pulling the horses to a stop.
Sebastian jumped down and then grabbed Deli in her basket from Muriel. Putting the basket on the ground, he extended his hand to help Muriel from the wagon. As she landed on her feet, she glanced up at him. Her blue eyes shimmered. Her pink lips curled into a charming smile. The freckles dotting her face had faded over the winter, and he suddenly fought the urge to trace a line down her cheek.
Muriel pulled her shawl closer. "Shall we go?"
"Uh, yes," said Sebastian, stumbling over his words. He grabbed Deli's basket and walked behind Muriel to the Cuthberts' porch.
Dinner had been a fun time, and Sebastian enjoyed their company. While he didn't allow himself to think too far into the future, he knew he would stay in Avonlea at least until Gilbert graduated from the University of Toronto. He owed his friend that much. Gilbert had opened his home to Mary and him and never made him feel less than an equal partner. But as he sat around the table, enjoying tea and biscuits drenched with Marilla's plum preserves, Sebastian considered what life in Avonlea would look like for him if he made it his home forever.
Not long afterwards, they said their goodbyes to Marilla and Matthew and headed in the wagon toward Muriel's place. He wrapped the reins around the fence post in her front yard and hopped down to help her from the wagon seat.
"I had a lovely evening," she said.
"So did I." He tucked his hands into his pockets, not quite sure what to do with them. "Thanks for asking me to go."
Her wide smile separated her lips. "I'm so glad you came."
Sebastian felt the heat rise in his cheeks as she stared at him. Muriel leaned in and lifted her chin, planting a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for spending time with me this evening. Goodnight, Sebastian." Muriel pulled her shawl tighter and strolled into the house, closing the door behind her.
If it hadn't been for Delphine whimpering, Sebastian would have remained rooted in place, staring at Muriel's front windows, where a soft glow of a lantern shined through. But he knew the baby needed a change and some sleep, so he climbed up on the wagon seat and turned the horses toward home.
The next morning was Sunday, so he dressed, ate a quick breakfast, and got Deli ready for church. As he rambled into the church and took his seat on the bench, he could feel eyes on him and whispers.
"Improper," said a voice.
"Scandalous," said another.
The minister cleared his throat, and everyone turned to face him. Sebastian spent the rest of the service tamping down the churning of his stomach. When he caught Muriel's gaze from across the room, she lowered her eyes. What does she know that I don't?
At the end of the service, Sebastian picked up Delphine and marched outside. Whatever was going on, he wanted no part of it. An afternoon with his daughter would brighten his day so he would be in a good mood when Elijah and his mother returned this evening.
"Sebastian," Rachel Lynde called from across the yard.
Oh, how that woman gets on my nerves. After Mary had died, Rachel and Marilla helped take care of Delphine until his mother moved to Avonlea from Trinidad. He never would have written to her, but Rachel insisted he either find a new wife or put Delphine up for adoption. He certainly wasn't going to give up the one last part of Mary he had.
Rachel lumbered over to where he stood in front of his wagon. "Sebastian," she said, clasping her hands in front of her. "I saw the most distressing thing last evening." When he said nothing, she continued. "I saw Miss Stacy alongside you in your wagon driving down the road."
"You did," he said with a shrug of his shoulders.
Rachel gasped, covering her mouth with a gloved hand. "Well, you certainly set tongues wagging over it. Or did you not hear the minister's sermon about the evils of sin this morning?"
Sebastian shrunk his eyes in confusion. Wasn't this the woman who told him to find a new wife in a matter of weeks? "Pardon me, Mrs. Lynde, but I think I'm over the age of courting."
She tsked. "Be that as it may, Miss Stacy is our schoolteacher. She must set an example for her students."
Sebastian planted his hands on his hips. "And just what is so bad about two friends riding together in a wagon to have supper with two of their other friends?" By this time, Marilla and Matthew stood nearby. "Don't you and Miss Cuthbert ever drive in the same wagon?"
"I am a married woman," said Rachel. "And you don't see me riding in the Cuthberts' wagon with Matthew all by myself, do you?"
"No, but wouldn't bother me none if you did."
On the other side of Marilla, Muriel stifled a laugh. "Mrs. Lynde, might I remind you that I invited Sebastian to supper at the Cuthberts' house."
"But you were in his wagon," said Rachel.
"Oh, Rachel," said Marilla. "I don't understand what all the fuss is about."
"Neither do I," said Muriel. Moving to stand next to Sebastian, she looped her arm through his.
Sebastain watched as Rachel's eyes widened and her face turned purple.
Mrs. Barry had joined the group. "It doesn't sit well with the parents of her students to see her traipsing around town in a strange man's wagon."
"Oh, Eliza," said Marilla. "Bash has lived here for months. You hosted Mary's last Easter with us. How could you call him a stranger?"
"I think what she means is I'm the wrong color to be seen with a white woman in my wagon."
Muriel tightened her grasp on Sebastian's arm. "Mrs. Lynde, it is you who has been encouraging me to find a husband. I've lost count of how many men have magically appeared on my doorstep each morning to walk me to school."
"They are all fine men from good homes," said Rachel.
"And I'm not?" Sebastian scowled.
Rachel patted her palm on her chest. "That's not what I meant, Sebastian."
"What did you mean?" asked Muriel.
Marilla glared at her lifelong friend. "Oh, for goodness' sake, Rachel, leave them alone."
"Fine, fine," said Rachel, "But don't go blaming me when someone writes to the school board and insists on your resignation, Muriel Stacy."
Muriel laughed. "It wouldn't be the first time."
Mrs. Barry and Rachel Lynde walked away, shaking their heads and whispering to each other.
"I hope you know you are both welcome at our home anytime," said Marilla.
"Thank you," said Muriel. "I hope to return the favor soon."
"Anytime, indeed," said Matthew before he and his sister ambled to their wagon.
Now that it was just Muriel and he, Sebastian felt his blood pressure come down. "Sorry for your trouble, Miss Stacy."
Muriel moved to stand in front of him, clasping her hands in front of her. "Sebastian, don't let narrow-minded fools bother you. I enjoyed our evening out, and I hope we do it again soon. I like spending time with you and your precious Delphine." She lifted the baby's arm and kissed her soft skin.
"Are you sure it's worth it?" he said.
"We'll never know unless we try."
Sebastian nodded. Muriel was quite a woman. If anyone could handle the prejudice running rampant through Avonlea, she could. For the first time since Mary died, he thought he might be ready to give love another chance. Mary wanted that for him, he knew that. Though he could live at Gilbert's house for as long as he needed, he wanted something more for Delphine. She deserved to have a mother to love her and teach her what she needed to know about growing into an independent woman.
"I still have smoked fish at my house," he said to Muriel. "Want to come and share it with me?"
"I would be delighted."
Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos – All Rights Reserved