In the Woods When First We Met

180. Delay

First, thank you so much for reviews, it is really nice to log in and see what people are thinking!

I did not plan for Anne to attack Billy, I planned for him to just walk out of the house. But it came out in the moment, and it felt great. I am not a violent person I promise but it made me feel like I got some justice for myself by writing about Anne getting justice!!

So...a recent reviewer asked if I could write about what happens after they get married, and so I wanted to tell them (and anyone else who wants to know) that yes, in a way. ...I want to keep the ending of this story just about her healing, since that's why I wrote it. ...BUT, I thought it would be interesting to explore the complicated feelings of having a baby when she herself was an orphan who felt unwanted, so I am starting to write sort of an "alternate ending" to this story. In the alternate ending, she does have a baby where in this story she didn't. And then later she and Gilbert end up marrying and having a life together and she finds that marriage and motherhood can be wonderful things despite the pain she went through in her past.

So, on we go- we are reaching close to the end!!!

And I can't believe how long this became, so if you're still reading, thank you. ...I will leave you with something funny: When I typed that Gilbert was going to drive the buggy, I accidentally said he grabbed his keys. LOL. ...Because you need keys to start your buggy. : p

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Gilbert's respect for Anne had not allowed him to sit on the bed with her, but his love for Anne had not allowed him to deny her. Love won out, and he sat on the bed with her for just a little while, until finally he said, "Anne?"

"Hmmm?" she asked, looking up.

"I'd hate for the day we said we loved each other to be the day we're forbidden from ever seeing each other again. We better get up out of this bed before your family comes in."

Anne sighed. She found that she did not need to stay in Marilla's bed. She had found another safe place, and she hated to get up out of his arms. ...But he was right.

They stood up, and looked at the bed. "Why don't we go ahead and get these soaking? That way Miss Cuthbert won't walk in to see this mess. We can explain to her what happened."

Anne agreed. She looked until she found another set of sheets, and Gilbert helped her pull the old ones off and put the new ones on. They took the old sheets put them in the washtub, filling it with cold water. Anne put Marilla's nightgown in the washtub, with a silent prayer the stains would come out.

Gilbert went into the parlor, Anne following, and Anne picked up the spatula from the floor while Gilbert shut and locked the door.

"They'll wonder why the door is locked," Anne said.

Gilbert said, "When we explain, they'll understand."

They just stood there a moment, not knowing what to do next.

"Maybe I should go in my buggy and look for them. Do you know where they went?"

"Well, they said that after church they might go talk to the Andrews..."   She looked upset. "They said they weren't sure, but they might, if anything came up. ...Oh Gilbert, I don't know why they have to go talk to them at all! Can't they just-"   She stopped as realization hit her.   "That's why Billy came here. Matthew and Marilla must have spoken to the Andrews- Billy said his parents knew, now. I wonder why they believe it now? They didn't before..."

Gilbert slowly said, "They might still be there now. Do you want to go with me? I don't want to leave you..."

Anne bit her lip. She really wanted Matthew and Marilla here with her right now. But she didn't want Gilbert to leave her alone to go find them. And she didn't want to go with him, either, since that would mean driving up to the Andrews house. Suddenly she held her arms out. He hugged her to his side. After a moment she decided, "Let's just wait. I'm here with you and they'll come back eventually."

Across town, the Andrews were quickly trying to usher the Cuthberts out, but Matthew and Marilla were sitting in their parlor, stoic and unsympathetic, intending to continue their confrontation of the Andrews, regardless of the fact that Mrs. Andrews was in tears and Mr. Andrews was getting angrier by the minute- not at Billy, but at Jane for betraying them to the Cuthberts and at the Cuthberts themselves for bringing that orphan into their lives to begin with.

Mrs. Andrews said in a soft, pleading voice, "I understand you want to discuss what happened, but I just can't discuss a thing until I know where my son is!"

Matthew actually tried to say something for once, but he was talked over by Mr. Andrews, who said rather loudly: "Look, if you intend to take us to trial there's nothing we can do about that, but could we please discuss it another time? We have to find our son and deal with him ourselves first."

Marilla relented. "All right," she said, getting up to go. Matthew followed.

But at the door they turned back, Marilla saying, "If we leave here knowing when we are discussing this again."

Mrs. Andrews was holding onto the front door as if she just couldn't wait to shut it, but now Marilla was refusing to move out of the doorway until they agreed on a date.

Mrs. Andrews looked put upon. "I don't know, and we're a bit upset at the moment, so-"

Marilla said crisply, "We've been a bit upset for quite some time now."

Mrs. Andrews touched her hanky to her nose, sniffing. Mr. Andrews put his arm around her. "Give us a couple of days."

Marilla and Matthew looked at each other.

Finally Marilla said, "We will come back at two in the afternoon, the day after tomorrow. If you back out, it won't matter, we'll get a lawyer and begin trial proceedings ourselves. We don't need anything from you to get a trial started. I only want to meet with you because there are other things to discuss besides that." 

While they had no intention of taking it to trial, they had every intention of making the Andrews believe they were serious about standing up for Anne. 

The Andrews didn't respond. Once Matthew and Marilla were out of the doorway, they shut- and locked- the door.

Billy saw them leave. He was lurking nearby, waiting.