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There will be a much-awaited wedding tomorrow and everyone was busy this morning.
Rachel was making sure no crumple or anything is missing on the white silk fabric of the wedding dress in between her chatter about Prissy Andrews' engagement with an eligible man she met from Nova Scotia while she was tending on business there.
Hazel was making the cake batter alongside her granddaughter, beloved Delphine.
Diana, Ruby, Josie, Jane, and Tillie's laughter can be heard from the parlor. They were arranging flowers for the wedding decoration while looking after their children.
Eliza Barry was debating with Minnie May on which style from the fashion magazine was well suited for the gift they planned on giving Anne a couple of weeks after the wedding. (They were supposed to be helping with decorating the orchard but were delayed because the young mothers haven't finished with the flowers yet.)
Constance and Jocelyn who came all the way from Charlottetown help cook the food that was requested by the bride-to-be herself. (A secret recipe of Mary's)
Miss Stacy was checking the guests' list, making sure that all the invitations had been sent.
The men (Bash, Elijah, Jerry, Mr. Barry, Moody, Charlie, Cole, and the rest of their close friends) were working on the orchard, setting on tables, chairs, and the altar.
And then there was Marilla, doing her embroidery on the veil Anne ruined when she was just fourteen years old. She remembered when she came home from the oculist that day and found the veil. She was very proud that Anne came straight away with the truth, admitting what she had done and ready to receive a punishment. Years had passed since that day and she was indeed lucky to be able to see Anne as a bride. That glasses surely prolonged her life. She wishes Matthew was here.
Now, the veil was mended. Anne insisting on wearing it even though Rachel chastised her that the color will be different from the dress and it will not look good. Anne doesn't care. She said proudly that she loved the veil and confessed that she had vowed she will wear it on her wedding day when Marilla said it belong to her when she was only fourteen – still doubting she will ever marry because she believed that no one would ever want to marry her.
Marilla chuckled. Silly little girl. If only she knew what Marilla had witnessed all those years ago. Stolen glances, repressed cheeky smiles, absentminded conversation on a train while smiling giddily thinking about Anne. All was from no other than Gilbert Blythe, the soon groom-to-be. She always knew that boy – now a man – was head over heels for Anne since they were just teenagers. He shares the same look John Blythe once gave her – Adoration.
Marilla smiling to herself while finishing the last flower on the veil. Feeling relieved and grateful that her daughter's love story did not end up in a tragical romance.
"Whatever makes you smile like that, Marilla? Are you listening to me? His name is George Watson. The Watson! They own a publishing house in Nova Scotia. That Andrews' firstborn was a very clever lady on choosing a husband, isn't it? I'm glad she ran away from the altar years ago. I never like that Ted Phillips." Rachel broke Marilla's reminisce.
"Yes, yes, Rachel. She is indeed very clever. I hope the engagement was based on love this time and no other than that." Marilla retort, making Rachel huffed but nodding her agreement nonetheless.
"There! A beautiful veil for the beautiful bride. What do you think Minnie May? Do you think she will like it?" Marilla asked as she finished the last flower.
The eighteen-year-old girl rounded the table to look at Marilla's handy work, inspecting it with her sharp eyes, thumbs caressing the threads. "This is a very beautiful and neat embroidery, Miss Cuthbert! I'm sure Anne will love it!" She handed the veil back to Marilla with a sincere smile on her face.
Marilla felt satisfied that a soon-to-be dress designer approved of her work. She put down her glasses, folded the veil carefully, and take it upstairs to the gable room where Anne was resting.
Anne was quite irritated when everyone agreeing that she cannot be downstairs, worrying that Gilbert can come at any moment when he himself supposed to be resting before the big day, but Jerry had notified the ladies earlier that Gilbert insisting on helping with the work at the orchard and he probably will have lunch at Green Gables along with the other men. Well, Marilla knew better that it was what her daughter wants, to see her fiance on the only day they are not allowed to see each other. The two love birds are inseparable.
One summer, they became the talk of Avonlea with how much they had spent time together in the forest. Got accused of doing impropriety and immoral things; unmarried couples are not allowed to do. That happened two years ago when Matthew was still alive. He was so worried that he interrogated the couple in awkwardness. But Anne and Gilbert assured him that nothing of sort happen between them. In fact, Anne was a tad too honest and open about what they were doing in the forest. Making her brother flushed red with embarrassment. Marilla smiled at the memory. Remembering Anne's innocent face and Gilbert's panic expression.
That girl always has a way to blurted things that are not supposed to be known by other people but herself.
"Oh, Matthew! No need to be worry. We were only kissing and hugging, nothing more. Gilbert wouldn't allow it even if I want it. Well, we talked about it sometimes, but only talk! What can I say? I have a newlywed bosom friend who told me things a couple can do with their bodies. I got curious and the best source of that knowledge is of course; Gilbert who is going to become a doctor, he understands it because he studied it and it's only normal for us to talk about it since we will do it one day when we finally marry. But afraid not, my fiance here is a gentleman and he made sure of it that intercourse is not an option before we get married. In the forest, we mostly talk about our life and recently we found an abandoned house with the most beautiful garden I've ever seen! The Hester Gray's garden! We read there, had picnics and napping. That place is heavenly!" Anne had rambled that afternoon.
Marilla shook her head in astonishment with how blunt Anne was that afternoon. She sometimes thinks that Anne was lying to Matthew because how she rambled reminded her to when she apologized to Rachel after she lost her temper on their first meeting.
She stopped abruptly in the hallway and gasped. Maybe they did have intercourse? Marilla shuddered, but she couldn't care less. They love each other, they know the consequences if they really did that. Tomorrow, Anne and Gilbert will marry. That's what's important. Everything that's in the past can only be in the past.
Going back to all those memories, she remembered how Anne always acted as if she was annoyed by Gilbert and Gilbert acted as if he doesn't care what she thinks about him. She chuckles again. All that banter was just an act to cover how they truly feel about each other.
She walks again and when she reached the door, she rasped on it softly.
"Yes, come in." Anne's soft voice can be heard from behind the door.
Marilla open it and found Anne sitting on her chair by the window. Book in hand. When the girl raised her head and saw her, she was smiling broadly.
"Marilla! I'm glad you're here. I'm so bored." Anne said while closing her book.
Marilla walked towards her and presented her with the veil. She looks at it and gasped when she noticed the little white flowers adorning it.
"Oh, Marilla! This..." She didn't finish the sentence. Her words were caught on her tongue.
"Remember the brown dress I made you when you turned fifteen?" Marilla asked and Anne nodded. "Well, you were very happy with the pink flowers embroidery I made around the collar and I thought maybe, white flowers on your veil will look lovely. I hope you like it."
Anne stands up and hugs Marilla tightly. "I love it! Thank you so much, Marilla. You made my wishes come true. Thank you for letting me stay here all those years ago. If it weren't for it, I wouldn't meet Gilbert. I wouldn't be fall in love and got engaged. I wouldn't be here today and tomorrow couldn't possibly be real. I'm going to marry the love of my life! My wildest imagination was all coming true all thanks to you and Matthew for giving me a chance to stay. I could never repay you both for everything you've given me." She stepped back and Marilla can see how tears already streaming down her face.
She wipes the tears and pinched her cheeks softly. "You need not repay me or Matthew. Your presence in our life is a blessing, Anne. Remember what I said when we gave you your parents' belonging?" Anne nodded and chuckled softly. "You are a wish come true I never knew I was making, my sweet dear child. Me and Matthew... it's us that supposed to say thank you to you. Thank you for changing our life for the better. Oh, don't cry!"
"I miss Matthew. I hope he's here and walking me down the altar tomorrow. And I'll miss you every day after tomorrow. I will visit as much as I can." Anne said in between sobs.
"I miss him too, he always here. He never left." Marilla pointed to Anne's heart. "And I'll miss you too, always. You are welcome at any time. This will always be your home."
The both of them ended up embracing each other while crying. This day was the last day they will share a house – a home.
Tomorrow, Anne will write a new chapter of her life together with Gilbert, her husband. She will live with him and leave Marilla and Green Gables. But that will be one of the happiest moments in Marilla's life, knowing that Anne found another home aside from Green Gables. Knowing that Anne was loved by so many people.
Marilla remembered the first day Anne arrived at Green Gables. She was really against the idea of keeping her. Saying it a mistake and she'll do no good for her and her brother.
What Matthew said was still fresh in her mind.
"We might be some good to her."
And how right her brother was. They were good to each other. The three of them. They are family – forever and a day.
Anne, the scrawny little red-headed girl that coming out of miscommunication was a wish come true. Watching her growing up into the wonderful woman she became, learning with her, and living an adventurous life with her was the most beautiful thing ever in Marilla's life.
She wouldn't change it for the world. Ever.