Lavender - {G.B}

neuf

Alice had barely been going to school. She hasn't seen Gilbert anywhere either. When she visited his home, sheets were thrown over tables and sofas. Diana would visit Alice occasionally, asking about Gilbert, but Alice was too in thought.

She has spent weeks, going through numerous parchment paper to plan an idea of what to do. Diana had also told Alice the event happening with Green Gables. At that moment, Alice gave Diana some of the money George gained when he sold the opal pendant.

Alice was taking a break from attempting to come up with a plan to stop George. She walked around town, in and out of shops. She walked out of another pawn shop and found the red-haired girl, a boy with blood and bruises, and the curly-haired boy who she hasn't seen in days.

"Gilbert?" Alice questioned, walking up to the three of them. She looked at the boy. "Anne? What happened?" Alice asked looking at the boy.

"I remember you two...from the big fire," the boy said, looking up at Alice and Gilbert. "Jerry."

"Gilbert." He shook his hand.

"Alice." She shook his hand. Anne stood up.

"Need my - " Alice looked up at Gilbert. "-our help with anything?" Alice asked.

"Just take care of yourself." Anne looked up at Gilbert. "Come home one day. Would you like to accompany us, Alice?"

"That would sound lovely, but I have my own problems. Did Diana give you the money I offered?" Alice asked. Anne nodded with a smile. "Hope everything works out."

"For you, too. Both of you," Anne replied.

Anne and Jerry left and Alice turned towards Gilbert. She crossed her arms, pulling the thick coat tighter around her. Gilbert sighed, grabbing her hand, pulling her into an alley for privacy. He placed his things down onto the snow and Alice backed up against the brick wall.

"Where have you been?" Alice asked, slightly annoyed.

"I am so sorry, Allie, I truly am. I was going to tell you, but I couldn't bring myself to do it," Gilbert explained.

"So am I not important enough for you to tell me where you'd be?" Alice questioned.

"No!" Gilbert shook his head. "No, that's not it at all. You're too important, that's why I couldn't bring myself to tell you. I want to see some of the world. If I come back to Avonlea-"

"If?" Alice questioned.

"I want it to be my choice, not an obligation. If I left without telling you, it would have made it easier. I knew I'd just come right back for you." Alice looked up at him at his words. "I've liked you since even before I left. Maybe even loved."

"Maybe?" Alice laughed, looking down, her hair hiding her blush. "Okay, you are beginning to sound like a little kid."

"You're not even going to tell me how you're feeling?" Gilbert looked down at his feet.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Alice asked, knowing Gilbert only asked to actually say that she's liked him from some time.

"Only picked up on it when I came back to Avonlea." Gilbert nodded, smiling.

"So basically the whole time." Alice slowly nodded her head, feeling embarrassed at how obvious she somehow made it.

"So how is it going with George selling the house?" Gilbert asked, picking up his things.

"I've gone through many pieces of parchment and still don't know what to do," Alice groaned in frustration.

"The creative Alice Miller can't think of anything to do?" Gilbert chuckled. "I'm sure you'll think of something."

"I hope. I'm not sure when the family is moving in either so I could literally be kicked out today."

"Perhaps ask the Cuthberts or the Barry's," Gilbert suggested. Alice thought of that idea, but she didn't want to be a burden, especially now with the Cuthbert's happening to be poor.

"They've got so much on their hands, I couldn't. You must be going now. I'm sorry to have kept you," Alice apologized.

"No, no, it's okay. Happy Birthday, Allie. I might not be here when the time comes for me to leave." Gilbert took out a fountain pen from his coat. Gilbert stumbled back as Alice hugged him tightly. Gilbert wrapped his arm around her, bringing her closer into the hug. "I'll write to you as much as I can."

"You better, Blythe." Alice sighed. "And you better come back home one day."

-

It was Christmas Eve, a wonderful time of the year for every family. Alice had found the family that had bought the house. She asked if she could stay, explaining her situation and the woman had agreed as long as she helped out, which wasn't a problem for Alice. It was as simple as that and everyone would win. The woman wasn't moving until George was ready. He was secretly packing, still thinking that Alice had no idea what he had done.

Alice grabbed a lantern and pulled on a royal blue coat. She took lavenders and roses from the counter and exited She walked down to her family's graves to spend the few hours with them. She set the lantern between the two graves and set the lavenders and roses on top of each one's graves, even if Alice hadn't met her grandmother or aunts before.

"Angels we have heard on high..." Alice heard people singing the Christmas Carol. She looked behind her as the school choir was behind her, the women wearing white dresses and a beige coat with a red scarf. The men wore red and green scarfs and sweaters. Moody held a staff with a star, Ruby held a cane. Alice was surprised to see Josie there as well.

She stood up slowly and hugged Diana as they continued singing. Next was Ruby and the other girls, then Moody and Charlie. Once they had finished, Alice thanked them all.

"I am sorry about your mother. None of us knew until Anne told us that you would most likely be here during Christmas," Diana explained.

"Thank you, Diana." Alice smiled at her. "It means a lot."