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The train had barely stopped before Anne had already jumped out of her seat, racing towards the steps. The platform was icy and she almost lost her footing but caught herself. As she gasped she felt the cold Avonlea air fill her lungs. Oh how she missed it.
"Anne!"
She turned her head before breaking into a huge smile at the sight of Matthew waiting at the platform. Picking up her trunk in one hand and holding her long skirts in the other, she ran down the platform, her trunk falling to the floor as she jumped at Matthew, throwing her arms around him.
He stumbled back a step at the sudden force of Anne, but he couldn't complain. He'd missed her so much.
Anne let go of Matthew and moved to link her arm through his instead as they made their way out of the station. Jerry was waiting for them with the cart, and they exchanged a friendly smile. She'd never admit it to his face, but he had missed Jerry too. He seemed to have grown even more since she'd last seen him, almost reaching the height of Matthew.
Jerry took Anne's trunk as Matthew helped her up into the cart. She loved her new dresses but they certainly were less practical than the ones she used to wear.
"I am so glad to be home. Queens is wonderful but it's nothing like my dear old Green Gables." Anne sighed, leaning back to enjoy the air as the cart began to move.
"No." Matthew nodded in agreement, content once again to be listening to Anne's ramblings.
She talked the entire way home in true Anne fashion, telling all about how Tillie Boulter has not one but two suitors.
"They have to visit on alternate Saturdays because she can't see them both at the same time! I couldn't imagine that...not of course that I've thought about it. I mean I have. But I'm there to study, not focus on boys…" Anne trailed off, realising she'd probably said too much. That was something she had learned to get better at whilst away, but sometimes she couldn't help herself blurt stuff out.
"... oh, I see." Matthew never knew how to respond to Anne talking about boys.
Anne heard Jerry scoff from behind her but she pretended not to notice.
"Diana is staying with her Aunt Josephine for the winter break because her family is in Europe. I don't know what I'll do without her here."
"You can help me." Jerry said but Anne shook her head.
"I'm a scholar now, Jerry, and a lady. I have far more important things to do."
Matthew let out a small chuckle, "Don't let Marilla catch you saying that. She'll have you out with the crops again in no time."
"Good thing I brought my old boots with me. The roads here are far more messy than the paved roads of Charlottetown."
"We'll have you back to Avonlea ways in no time."
Anne smiled, watching Matthew who had his eyes fixed on the road ahead. It was good to be home.
And she wasn't going to think about the one person she had regretted leaving behind.
From the minute Gilbert stepped off the train he felt at ease. Toronto was incredible, far different from the small provinciality of Avonlea. But oh how he missed it. He always felt like something was missing in Toronto, as though a part of his soul was here in Avonlea.
Maybe it was the lack of fresh air, he didn't realise how much he'd missed it until he'd lived in a city. Even at sea he'd had the fresh ocean air.
He took a deep breath in, letting the icy air fill his lungs. He really had missed Avonlea.
Bash had offered to pick him up from the station, but Gilbert had preferred to walk despite the snow. His luggage was light and he longed to see the sights of his hometown, wondering if anything had changed.
As he made his way through the woods, he noticed a small pile of logs that looked like the ruins of a shelter. Gilbert stepped over the debris when his eye caught what looked like a sign decorated in flowers and...seashells?
As he got closer, Gilbert wiped the snow off to see the neatly curved writing:
🌿🌼🌿
🐚 STORY CLUB: 1896 - 1898
W.R.I.T (WE REST IN TRUTH) 🐚
🌿🌼🌿
His lips instantly curled into a smile as he ran his hand along the writing. Only one person in Avonlea could have done this.
Anne.
She knows she only just got back, but Anne couldn't wait to explore Avonlea again. It had felt like years since she'd last been here. She loved the sound of the snow crunching under her feet, the paved roads of Charlottetown not quite fulfilling that sensation.
Her plan was to visit her beloved Ms Stacy and the schoolhouse, but not before she checked upon her dear departed story club.
But as she approached, she saw a figure crouched over her memorial.
"What are you doing?!" She blurted out, before her manners could enter her mind. "I mean...this is my secret place."
The figure stood up, and her heart sank to her knees.
"Last time I checked, these woods were in the public domain." Gilbert smiled, the same smile he had given her the last time she'd seen him.
"Gilbert!" She squeaked. "I didn't know you were back."
He picked up his trunk as he casually approached her, "Just arrived a while ago."
They stood face to face for the first time in months. Anne felt something tighten in her chest. It had been a lot easier to pretend Gilbert didn't exist when he wasn't physically in front of her. She'd realised her feelings for him before they left for college, but it was too late by that point. He was practically engaged.
"Where's Winifred?" She tried to sound genuinely interested, but it was hard to hide the bitterness in her voice.
To her surprise, Gilbert just shrugged. "I don't know. England probably." He shuffled awkwardly on his feet, "We, uh... we're not engaged. I couldn't ask her. She didn't seem to like that."
"...oh." Anne knew she should have said something more articulate but that was all she could think of. Gilbert wasn't engaged?...
She regained her voice, "I'm sorry to hear that."
Gilbert shook his head, "I'm not. She wasn't the right one for me. I wish I'd known sooner before stringing her along like that."
"You can only know something when you know it."
A strange smile crossed Gilbert's face, "... That's exactly what I said."
"Great minds think alike I guess."
Gilbert clasped a hand across his chest, "Did Anne Shirley Cuthbert just compliment me?"
"It won't happen again." She turned away from him, but a secret smile grew across her mouth.
"Anne, wait." He closed the distance between them as he put a hand on her shoulder from behind. "I was just taking a stroll around Avonlea if you'd care to join me."
She turned back, "I'm quite busy…"
It was a lie, but it seemed improper to go on a walk alone with Gilbert now. They were both adults, people might talk.
But looking at Gilbert's hopeful smile made her remember she never used to care what the Avonlea gossips might say.
"Oh, alright then. Diana isn't home so I guess I don't really have anyone else to see."
He laughed, a wonderful boyish laugh that gave Anne butterflies in her stomach, "Glad to see you still cherish my company."
"Naturally." She smiled, wrapping her scarf tighter around herself as she set off a few paces in front of Gilbert.
The community had come together to finish the new schoolhouse after the previous one had burned down. Anne gasped when she saw it. Standing in its place was almost an exact replica of the old one.
"It's like the fire never happened." Gilbert commented as Anne ran up the steps before him.
"How wonderful." She turned to him, eyes wide and gleaming. He knew how much the schoolhouse meant to her. It had been a place of horror at first, but she'd grown to love the people and they'd grown to love her. He'd seen her become a different person, in a good way. She was more confident in herself.
"I never thought I'd be so glad to see the place."
"Gilbert, let's go in." She already had her hand out to open the door but he ran up the steps in time to reach the handle first.
Just like the first time they met.
"Ladies first." He mock bowed and she rolled her eyes, humouring him with a curt, "thank you".
Class had been out of session for a few hours, so no one was there when they entered. Inside was pretty much the same too, but Anne supposed there were only a few ways one could decorate a classroom.
She ran her hand along the desks as she made her way down the aisle to the chalkboard. At least this one had never had the words "Ann Shirley has a bad temper" written across it. She shuddered at the extra insult to injury of "Ann".
"Miss Shirley Cuthbert, what are we learning today?"
She turned and saw Gilbert had placed himself back where he used to sit - or the equivalent of - hands folded on his desk like a diligent student. He had a playful smile on his face.
"Hmm, let me see…" she played along, tapping her chin with a finger as though she were thinking. "Poetry."
Gilbert nodded and stood up as if he were reciting to the class. But it was just them.
He paused for a moment and closed his eyes as he took a deep breath, before finally opening them with a fond smile on his face.
"There's another—not a sister; in the happy days gone by,
You'd have known her by the merriment that sparkled in her eye;
Too innocent for coquetry—too fond for idle scorning—
O, friend! I fear the lightest heart makes sometimes heaviest mourning!
Tell her the last night of my life (for ere the moon be risen,
My body will be out of pain, my soul be out of prison)—
I dreamed I stood with her, and saw the yellow sunlight shine
On the vine-clad hills of Bingen—sweet Bingen on the Rhine."
His eyes were fixed on Anne's with a strange intensity as he finished. She could feel her heart beating hard in her chest, her mouth dry.
There was something about the softness in which he had recited the poem that left her breathless. It was as though he meant each and every word, all the while staring into her.
The air between them felt thick - with what she didn't quite know. But it felt all too similar to when they had danced. That moment of silence where everything else seemed to disappear, and neither could bring themselves to look away.
But it was Gilbert this time who took the first steps forward. "Anne, I-"
"I thought I heard voices."
Both of them turned, startled at the sudden interruption. But when Anne realised who it was she ran forward.
"Ms Stacy!" She flung her arms around her, forgetting that she was supposed to be a sophisticated college student now.
And she didn't see Gilbert's face drop for the briefest of seconds.
"Ms Stacy, a pleasure as always." He re-plastered the polite grin as he made his way over to join the two ladies.
"Just look at you two!" Ms Stacy gushed, "I can't believe how grown up you both look. It feels like it's been years."
"It certainly feels like that." Anne agreed, suddenly feeling self conscious of her long skirt. Seeing Ms Stacy made her want to shrink back down into her apron and braids again, back when everything was simpler.
"It warms my heart to see two of Avonlea's finest acting as friends. I know you two didn't always see eye to eye."
Gilbert let out a small laugh, "You could say that."
Anne scoffed as she turned to Gilbert. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Ms Stacy smiled, practically beaming as she watched them. "I'm sorry to interrupt but I couldn't help but listen to your poetry, Gilbert."
Anne felt her cheeks grow warm. Something about Ms Stacy hearing that moment felt wrong. It was private.
"Bingen on the Rhine?"
Gilbert cleared his throat awkwardly, "Uh, yes. My father loved poetry and it was one of the poems I used to read to him before- before he died."
Anne felt something tug in her chest. She'd seen Gilbert in my vulnerable moments, had spoken to him about his father before. But hearing him talk of a memory like that made her feel something deep within her.
"Poetry is a wonderful way to connect to others." Ms Stacy smiled.
"Yes." Gilbert nodded, suddenly looking awkward.
It was as if Ms Stacy could feel she was interrupting something, so she looked at the clock behind her.
"Well, I've got some papers to read. But please remember to stop by anytime. It's always a joy to see my old students."
"Thank you." Anne smiled, "We certainly will."
Gilbert held the door for Anne as she left, but he caught a glance at Ms Stacy, who was looking at them oddly.
"It was lovely to see Ms Stacy again," Anne said, after walking in comfortable silence for a few moments. "I hope I can be a teacher like her someday."
Gilbert smiled as he looked at her, but she was looking straight ahead and missed his expression.
"I know you will."
Anne felt her cheeks grow warm again, something that only seemed to happen around Gilbert. But she couldn't let herself dream too far. Maybe he didn't marry Winifred but who was to say there wasn't some beautiful Toronto girl that had caught his heart?
Anne stopped when she got to the end of the path, thinking this was where they part ways. But Gilbert tilted his head, giving her a quizzical look.
"You're not coming with me to see Bash and Dellie?"
"Oh, I...I didn't think I was wanted."
Gilbert's mind immediately thought, "if only you knew" but instead he said with a playful smile, "Bash always wants to see you. Marilla has him hooked on those pies, so he'll want to commission you for another."
Anne laughed, "Is that the only reason?"
"That and Dellie is so cute it would be a crime not to see her."
"Then I must oblige."
"Anne with an e!" Bash immediately stood up from his chair the second Anne walked through the door. "It's so good to see you."
"What about me?" Gilbert feigned hurt, but he had been writing letters to Bash so frequently he may as well have been in Toronto with him.
But Bash patted him on the shoulder, "I missed you too, Blythe."
A little giggle came from the highchair at the table, and Gilbert dropped everything to see Dellie.
"And how are you Miss Dellie?" He scooped her up and bounced her, laughing as she laughed too.
"She's grown so much." Anne said, peering over Gilbert's shoulder.
"Do you want to hold her?" Bash said, and Gilbert reluctantly held Dellie towards Anne (he wasn't quite finished with cuddles yet).
"I'd love to. Hello Dellie." She said as Gilbert gently passed Dellie into Anne's arms.
She spent the rest of the afternoon with them, and for a brief moment Anne allowed herself to wonder what her future could be like. Sitting here with Gilbert it felt as though this was their own little family. But the second she realised what she had been thinking, she tried to shake her head clear of the thoughts.
"Marilla will probably be wondering where I am," Anne stood up when she noticed the sky starting to get dark. "It pains me so to leave but I don't want to worry her."
Gilbert stood up as well, reaching for his coat. "I'll walk you home."
"There's no need."
"Please. It's getting dark out."
Anne shrugged as if she didn't mind either way, but secretly she was thankful. It was rather dark and walking in those woods alone at night wasn't something she particularly wanted to do.
They mostly walked in silence until the orange glow of the Green Gables windows came into view. Marilla's shadow flickered in the window as she lit another candle. Anne always felt warm at the thought of going home to a scene like this.
"Thank you for walking me home."
Gilbert followed her through the gate, "I'll walk you to the door."
Anne was thankful it was dark, for the thought of Marilla seeing Gilbert walking Anne to the door alone made her blush furiously for what felt like the hundredth time today.
Anne stood on the porch, painfully aware that Marilla was eagle eyed watching her from the kitchen even if Anne herself couldn't actually see Marilla.
"It was nice spending time with you today. As friends. Not as rivals." Gilbert laughed, his face glowing in the reflection of the candles.
"It's like you said, we make a good team."
Anne turned to go inside but Gilbert spoke out again.
"I'm sorry."
She paused, "For what?"
He shrugged, taking off his cap to run his hand through his hair. "For how I acted at school. I wish I'd been more of a friend to you. Spending time with you today made me realise how stupid I was not to have done that more when we were at school."
Anne blinked, she had no idea what to say to that. Only that it made her heart leap in a way she wished it didn't. Why now? After years of dislike, she finally understood her feelings. And then he goes and almost proposes to someone else, but now he's wishing he spent more time with her?
It made her head hurt. But she wasn't about to make the same mistakes she made as a child.
"I wasn't all that great either. We can call it even." She held out her hand and he shook it, another truce formed between them.
"I'll see you tomorrow then." He tipped his cap as he merrily hopped down the stairs.
"Tomorrow?"
He turned with a wide grin on his face, "A Christmas Eve dinner at ours. Bring Matthew and Marilla."
"Alright, but why?" Anne laughed, confused at his sudden offer.
"Tis the season!" He called, walking home with a spring in his step, leaving Anne on the porch wondering just what she'd agreed to.
Anne hadn't dressed up on purpose. It was just that she only brought a few dresses home and one of them happened to be a particularly fancy one Marilla had made for special occasions. Her other dresses weren't suitable for a dinner, it's not like she was dressing up especially because of Gilbert.
But it wouldn't hurt that she happened to think this blue was particularly becoming on her…
If Marilla noticed Anne taking a few extra minutes to prim, she didn't say anything. Matthew was already waiting in the cart with the blankets when Anne finally came down.
"Let's just get this dinner over with." Anne said as she climbed in, but no one believed she meant it.
When they arrived, Bash greeted them warmly, gladly accepting the pie Marilla had brought with her. He took them through to the small parlour where Dellie was happily playing with a little doll Marilla had sewn for her a few weeks ago. But Anne stopped in the hallway, catching a glimpse of the kitchen.
Gilbert was leaning over notebook as he stirred a pot with a free hand. She couldn't draw her eyes away from his sleeves that were rolled up to the elbows, exposing his forearms.
It was as if he sensed her because he suddenly turned, catching her off guard. She wanted to leave, embarrassed that he'd caught her staring, but he'd called out before she could make her hasty exit.
"Anne, could you help?" His brow was slightly damp from standing over a hot stove.
"I would but I can't get my dress dirty. The unfortunate side of being a lady." She held out her long skirt, really missing the days when it didn't matter if her clothes got dirty or not.
Was it a trick of the light or did Gilbert's eyes briefly drift over her?
"I'll do all the messy stuff, I just need you to read the instructions."
Anne nodded, slowly making her way over. Her heart skipped when she saw that the notebook he was using was in fact her recipe book she'd made for Mary and Dellie.
"I can't tell you how thankful we are for your book," he smiled, following her eyes, "we wouldn't be eating half as well without it."
"It's all Mary's recipes." Anne couldn't take credit.
"I know, but you put it all together."
She smiled, picking up the book and beginning to read.
"You really out did yourself, Blythe." Bash said, putting down his cutlery.
"Yes Gilbert," Marilla smiled, "I can't believe you did all this by yourself."
Gilbert met Anne's gaze from across the table, "I can't take all the credit. Anne helped."
"Only reading."
"But that's one of your many talents." He kept his eyes on her, ignoring how the rest of the table was watching them.
"I think you're both very talented young people." Marilla cut in, "Both away at college."
"I hate to admit it, but I do miss the boy." Bash said, patting Gilbert on the shoulder.
"And here I thought you didn't care." Gilbert laughed, and everyone else joined in. He had a way of commanding a room.
Out of nowhere, Matthew raised his glass, "To family."
Anne looked around at the people at the table, catching Gilbert's eye as he raised his own glass, "Family."
Everyone else raised their glasses taking a sip.
"Merry Christmas." Anne said, her eyes never leaving Gilbert's.
"Marilla, let me." Gilbert stood up when Marilla started clearing away plates.
But she swatted his hand away, "Nonsense. You and Anne made the dinner, so I will wash up. Matthew," she turned to her brother, "you go and help Bash with the baby."
"Oh, but I…well I…" Matthew stumbled over his words but finally nodded, "alright."
Before long it was just Anne and Gilbert left in the room, awkwardly staring at each other.
"Should we go outside?" Gilbert gestured to the door. "I could do with some fresh air after a big meal."
"Me too." Anne nodded, going to fetch her coat.
They sat down on the porch steps, looking out into the night sky. It was particularly clear tonight, and the moon shone brightly surrounded by thousands of little stars.
Gilbert heard Anne sigh, followed by the cloud her breath made in the cold air.
"It's so beautiful tonight." She stared up, smiling at the moon.
Gilbert glanced at her, seeing how the moon reflecting off the white snow made her seem to glow. "She is…" he said to himself barely above a whisper.
"Hmm?" Anne turned her head but Gilbert cleared his throat as he looked back up at the sky.
"Uh, I said the moon. It's beautiful."
Anne leaned her elbows on her knees, hiding her smile between her hands she'd placed on her cheeks.
Being alone with Anne like this felt different. He'd been alone with her before, he knew he'd flirted with her even. But this time it wasn't just a childish game. He was looking at her, really looking at her.
These past few days he'd realised something. He hadn't married Winifred because he knew he wasn't in love with her. But what he hadn't realised was that the reason he wasn't in love with Winifred was because he was already in love with Anne.
He'd always had some sort of feelings for her, but he thought they were just a schoolboy crush. But now he realised that wasn't the case.
Maybe Anne had changed. And that was why he was seeing her like this.
Or maybe she had always been this intoxicating and he'd never been brave enough to admit it to himself.
He felt like an idiot wasting all those years when he could've been doing these things with her, making these memories. Now he felt like he was running out of time. In a matter of days he would be back on a train to Toronto and Anne would be out of his reach again. Only this time he knew he couldn't let her go.
The road not taken was starting to look all too tempting. Their hands were just inches from each other and it was taking all his strength not to reach across and head down that road. It would change everything. But damn it all, if Gilbert was going to feel guilt about anything in his life then it might as well be this. She could shove him off and he could go back to Toronto broken-hearted but at least he would know. He wouldn't spend his days wondering "what if".
Anne kept her eyes fixed on the moon. She knew if she looked at Gilbert she would do something she might regret. The past few days she'd spent time alone with him, and it made those feelings she'd tried to ignore even stronger.
The moon was probably reflecting in his eyes, and his cheeks and nose would be an adorable shade of pink from the cold air. If she saw that then she knew she wouldn't be able to stop herself from reaching out.
Everything used to be so simple before she let herself admit that Gilbert was handsome. She could just ignore him and scoff when others swooned over him. But once she had danced with him, and smiled with him she'd seen that his handsomeness wasn't just skin deep. Even his soul was handsome.
But just when she gathered the courage to look at him, she felt his hand touch hers.
She looked down at their hands, then turned hers over so she could link her fingers through his. It was a bold move, but he had been the one to initiate. The feeling in her chest gave her courage and she looked into his eyes that sure enough, were shining in the moonlight like she'd imagined. His cheeks were pink, but little did she know it was because of her hand - well, part of it was the cold.
"Anne?" Gilbert said, looking up from their hands to meet her eyes.
"Yeah?" There was a hint of fear in her voice. Was he about to just end everything before it'd even begun.
"I have to know, before I go back to Toronto…" he said slowly, trying to read Anne's face. "Do you have feelings...for me?"
Anne didn't know how to respond. They were holding hands . But she figured he was still a boy after all and needed to be directly told.
She had planned to just say "yes", but something possessed her as she removed her hand from his, resting it on his cheek. The other had followed in one quick motion and before she could stop herself, she had lightly brushed her lips against his.
He froze momentarily, but when his brain had a chance to catch up, he responded, kissing her back. His hands were on her arms at first, but then moved to rest on her waist.
Anne was the first to pull away, letting out a small nervous laugh. She couldn't believe she'd just done that. But he had joined in.
She had to pinch herself, to make sure her imagination hadn't run wild and she hadn't actually kissed him.
Gilbert looked at her in mild alarm when she winced, and his hand instinctively reached out to touch hers.
"Sorry, I just had to make sure that was real."
His face softened, and his hand moved to gently brush her cheek. "Back in Toronto, I always felt like something was missing. And now I know what it was. It was you Anne, it always has been and it always will be."
"But what will we do? We're a thousand miles apart at college."
"We'll manage. I'll send you so many letters you'll be sick of me." He laughed, Anne's head falling against his forehead briefly.
"Swear it." Anne lifted her head, holding out a pinky finger.
Gilbert lifted his finger, linking it with her's. "I Gilbert Blythe, swear to write Anne Shirley Cuthbert every week whilst I am away."
Anne smiled happily, "And I, Anne Shirley Cuthbert, swear to write Gilbert Blythe every week."
They sat staring at each other, happy in the blossom of new love. Well, newly realised love.
But their moment was interrupted when Marilla and Matthew came out the door behind them. Anne immediately jumped up, hoping they hadn't noticed how close she had been sitting next to Gilbert.
"We're leaving already?" She said, trying to hide her disappointment.
But clearly she hadn't done it well because Marilla just said, "We're old and tired, but if you'd like to stay a bit longer - and it's alright with Bash and Gilbert - you may."
Gilbert stood up, "I'll make sure she gets home safely."
"See to it that you do." Marilla said, a little bit sterner than usual.
"Merry Christmas, Cuthberts." Gilbert said, watching them walk away.
He turned to Anne once they were gone, "Should we go inside?"
"What about Bash?" Anne glanced at the door. "Won't he know something has happened?"
Gilbert laughed, "I think he already knew before we did."
He linked Anne's arm through his as he lead her through the door. Neither knew what would happen once the evening was over, but right now they would focus on finally finding each other.