Welcome to Avonlea

Chapter 10

After having a thorough bath. Marilla had a drink tea to warm us up. Ruby hasn't spoken a word and looked furious. "Now, I want you three to head upstairs and go to bed for a few hours. You all need rest after that terrible night." "I can help you I can fetch the eggs." "I can milk the cow." "You can but you won't. Now, up to bed with you. Anne, Lydia. Please see to it that your guest is comfortable." "Come along, Ruby. We have a lovely gable room, and the cherry tree is ever so friendly." I stood from the seat Matthew was usually in and went upstairs first and opened the bedroom door waiting for Anne and Ruby to come in. I closed it after them and waited for them to get into Anne's bed before heading to mine. Ruby was crying, and I felt bad for her. Turning over to face them, I saw Anne was still wide awake. "My first night in this room, I cried as you do now. Try as I might, there was no hope for my imagination that cold night. Princess Cordelia was nowhere to be found." "Princess Cordelia?" Ruby looked to me confused and I gave her a small smile and nodded towards Anne mouthing the word story.

She looked at Anne waiting for her to continue. I smiled when Anne stood up. "Well, she's a wise and solitary princess. She wears dresses of the finest silk, and velvet puff sleeves and ever so many flounces. One day... Princess Cordelia arrived at the most beautiful kingdom in the world. She knew not a soul, and was worried no one would like her." "All my dresses will be ruined from the smoke!" "You can borrow one of mine. I got two." Anne closed the curtains and went back to her bed. "A week really isn't that long when you plan out all the things you want to do. Maybe start imagining what color your room will be. I know for a fact that it's good to have things to look forward to. I've always been partial to robin's egg blue." Anne chuckled. "What color do you like? Pink would also be divine. I never usually think of pink. Being that I'm so redheaded, it's out of the question. But you would look so pretty in a pink room. We'll stay busy, Lydia and Marilla are teaching me how to bake. We can make biscuits for the boys, while they work." I glanced at Ruby. "If Gilbert's there you can take the credit. You don't have to tell him you like him. Show him." She looked at me and thought about it before nodding. "Diana thought he cut quite a heroic figure putting out the blaze on your behalf." "On my behalf? I haven't really thought of it like that. That's a good idea about the biscuits. It's a shame you're not in school anymore. You seem awful smart about things." "It's best for everyone I'm not there." Anne glanced at me and so did Ruby. I looked away and moved to face the wall again.

"Wait. If you want them to have a good shape use this." I held up a metal circle. "A cookie cutter?" "That's if you want them to be perfect. But it's up to you." "Yes. Please." Using a rolling pin, I showed them how much to leave so they weren't flat then used the cutter to make the shapes. Then rolling the batter over and doing it again until we filled the sheets putting them in the oven. "Where did you learn how to bake?" I glanced at Ruby while cleaning up. "Both Anne and I were in charge of making meals at our last home. If there was too much, I took over so she could take care of the children." "Oh. Why are you helping me? You said I should tell him." "It's your choice to do so. But showing your interest and getting to know each other and starting off as friends is best. Find things you have in common and that would be the best way to start a conversation." "How do I do that?" "Talk. Show him friendship first." "But, what if he doesn't like me like I like him?"

I sighed. "Ruby. You have to take chances in life. Let's say, if he doesn't. You travel somewhere and even if you feel your heart is broken. You may see someone and they see you, and you feel the connection of love at first sight. Your soulmate. Someone who will be with and love you for eternity even after you both pass. You can walk together in heaven still very much in love." She stared at me the same way Diana did. "Do you think you'll ever love someone?" I looked down and continued cleaning where I left off. "No. I don't think so." "Ruby. I've already imagined her wearing a beautiful wedding gown and a bouquet of sunflowers and red roses. Her beautiful face glowing while staring at the man she loves." I felt the fear of that word. Love sounded so wonderful but so scary at the same time.