In the Woods When First We Met

149. Matthew

After Marilla brought Anne some water, she came downstairs again.

Matthew looked at her.

"She's all right," Marilla told him, "Just thirsty. She cried quite a bit earlier."

He nodded.

Then he asked, "Did she realize the Andrews came over?"

Marilla shook her head. "I don't think so. She didn't mention them, and I didn't tell her."

Marilla headed into the kitchen. "After I got Anne settled into bed, I got supper ready. I'll have to warm it up again in the oven, you were home later than I thought."

She began moving around the kitchen. In a few minutes she'd put together a tray. "I told Anne she could eat her supper in bed."

Then Marilla had a thought. "Why don't you take it up to her? She hasn't seen you yet."

He nodded, but once holding the tray, he just stood there, uncomfortable.

"Well?" Marilla asked.

"....What'll I say to her?" Matthew finally asked.

Marilla thought about this. "What do you want her to know?"

Matthew said simply, "That we love her."

Marilla nodded. "Then that's what you'll say."

Anne heard a soft knock at the door.

"Come in," she said softly. She still felt embarrassed that Matthew and Marilla knew about the act that had been done to her; she felt awkward at talking to Marilla and she was in no hurry to face Matthew.

Matthew opened the door slowly, balancing the tray against him while he turned the knob.

He came in without looking at her at first, and got the tray settled on her bedside table.

Once it was settled, he sat down on the edge of the bed and finally faced her.

"Marilla...told you?" she asked, her voice timid.

Matthew nodded. His eyes were red and watery.

Anne said, "I'm sorry."

Matthew shook his head. "You've got no cause for apologies."

"You don't blame me?" Anne was almost afraid to ask.

"No," Matthew said. "That boy wronged you. It wasn't your fault."

Tears came to Anne's eyes. "But I'm still sorry...I'm sorry you had to hear about it at all. And I'm sorry for having to...to put you through this."

Matthew shook his head. "You didn't have to keep this from us...I hope you didn't think you had to keep this from us."

"Are you angry that I hid it?" Anne asked.

"No." he said. "I just wish you hadn't felt it necessary."

He paused a moment, then said:

"You're new to this whole idea of a family, but I have something to tell you. A family isn't much of a family if they can only have good times. Sometimes...sometimes they have bad times. And it's how they pull together when the bad times come that make them a family."

What he had said made sense and that one phrase had taught her so much about families. But she said:

"I just hated to think of making you sad, Matthew..."

"You're sad, aren't you?" He asked.

"Yes," she whispered.

He took her small hand in his own strong ones and said, "Then why don't we be sad together?"