𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 (𝐆.𝐁.) (𝐁.𝐀.)

Nineteen.

A few days later and the town was holding a meeting, all thanks to how bad Mrs. Lynde can keep a secret.

Right after Anne had told her about what she heard, Mrs. Lynde informed everyone in town. They were all furious, hoping that Nate wouldn't tell the company so they won't steal their gold.

Lavinia scoffed as she sat upstairs with Anne, Jane, Diana, and Ruby.

"How can this town be so gullible?"

"Hey!" Diana frowned, "That's our parents you're talking about, and yours."

The girl laughed at Diana, "Father is quite preoccupied at the prospect."

"Do you really think we'll all be rich like you, Lavinia?"

The girls continued listening, leaving a shocked Lavinia in the end.

She gaped at Nate who had just told everyone he'll quit his job and get in Avonlea.

She opened her mouth to speak, but it turned into a mumble, "There really is gold in Avonlea."

"You have to write to Gilbert!" Jane whispered, "You have to let him know about the gold!"

Ruby frowned at this, "Gilbert?"

"But she doesn't even know where he is." Diana whispered back to stop Ruby from eavesdropping.

"I think I have a way I can find out." The younger girl stood up, heading to the exit.

She quickly made her way to her house, which lucky for her was pretty close.

She searched the house for paper, asking the maids if they have some. But she found none.

She decided to enter her parents room before they returned from the meeting.

She went to the dresser that belonged to her mothers, seeing a pile of empty paper stacked there.

She snatched one and was about to leave when something caught her eye. It was a paper with something written on it and it had her fathers signature on it.

She stood there emotionless as she read everything.

She took the paper with her, putting it in her room before sitting in the living room. Waiting for her father to come so she could talk to him.

-

Mr. Laurent came back laughing with his wife, happy to know that they could get even richer.

He quickly stopped laughing once he saw his daughters angry face, staring at him.

"Why did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"You sent Gilbert away?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Did you send Gilbert away?" She raised her voice to hide the trembling.

"He asked for a job, I couldn't say no. He sounded desperate."

"Sweetheart," her mother sat down beside her, "I encouraged him to give Gilbert the job. I needed him away from you as soon as possible after that...talk you had."

Lavinia scrunched her face, "What talk?"

"The one in the pub."

Mary.

The girl moved away from her mother, looking at her with tears in her eyes.

"You sent him away?" She whispered, avoiding eye contact.

She was in agony. She knew her parents would do anything to avoid people lesser than them, but she didn't know they would go that far.

"It was for the best," Her mother put a hand on her daughters shoulder, which she shook off.

Lavinia quickly stood up, glaring at her mother, "Why are you so worried about everyone I talk to? You are so desperate to fix me so I don't end up falling for someone below us, just like you did!"

Her mother widened her eyes, while her father looked at them not knowing what she was talking about.

"Mr. Blythe told me all about you guys. How you were in love and how you were forced to leave him to marry dad-"

"Enough of this none sense!" Mrs. Laurent quickly left, stopping her daughter from making this any worse.

Her father gave his daughter a confused, hurt look. Before following her mother, wanting an explanation from her. Leaving Lavinia all alone.

The girl quickly looked back at the hallway, where Mary was passing by. She glared daggers at her, making Mary scurry away in fear.

She wiped the tears that had fallen, now more determined than ever to write to Gilbert to get him back in town.

Not only because she missed him, but so she can prove her mother nothing can stop her.

-

She couldn't concentrate with all the fighting her parents were doing. She was supposed to be used to it by now, But the screaming just seemed to get louder each time they spoke.

She was even more distracted than ever after that conversation she just had.

She decided to head to Jane's house, since Diana was already there.

She entered the house, walking straight to the living room and sitting down beside her best friends.

She didn't look up at them, or even greet them. She just sat there, pondering on what to write to Gilbert.

"Hey, Lavinia. I thought you were going to write the letter at your house?"

"Yeah, it's just.." The girl put her hands on her face, sighing as she hid the tears. She pressed on her mouth tightly, trying to stop the sob.

She whispered, not trusting her voice, "Mother and Father are fighting again."

That, and the fact that her mother was the reason she felt miserable for months. The reason she felt so depressed and lonely after Gilbert's departure. But she could never tell them that.

Both girls went to hug her, telling her they're here for her. She whimpered as she wrapped her arms around them, enjoying the comfort they gave her.

She wanted to bawl right there and then, but she wasn't in the comfort of her room. She was already embarrassed enough.

She wiped her watery eyes, "I need help writing a letter to Gilbert about the gold. I would really appreciate your help."

Her best friends nodded, sitting down beside her as they helped her choose the right words, helping her with the spelling. Helping her with everything because she didn't want to make a single mistake.

In the end, she had wrote one whole page. Half talking about the gold and the other half asking about how he was and if he would ever come back.

She didn't want to sound desperate, but she missed him. She had the right to know if he had any intention of ever coming back.

-