OLLIE ➪ GILBERT BLYTHE

FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR ; THE TRUTH ABOUT FAMILY AND THE PAIN IT CAUSES

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"BASH." A GRIME COVERED Gilbert Blythe calls out to the man in the hammock diagonal to his own. "Bash do you want to talk about it?"

Bash, the beautifully dark skinned man ignored Gilbert and just stares at the wooden ceiling above him.

"Bash, I know you're not a sleep. Your eyes are open." Gilbert chuckles but gets no response. "Sebastian."

This perks the interest of another man in the hammock to the left of Gilbert. "Your born name is Sebastian?" Bash rolls his eyes. "Sounds like you should own this boat. Here I thought Bash meant you liked to rough a fellar up." He let's out a teasing laugh. "Good to know."

Bash looks unimpressed as he stares Gilbert down. "You have ruined my reputation, I could hit you two top myself."

Gilbert ignores his threat and rests his arm on his knee. "There was this girl back in Avonlea...Ollie. One time I called her a brown headed ditz and she slapped me right in the face."

"Well I give her right on 'dat." Bash says sarcastically.

"She hated it when I called her Ollie. Her full name was Olivia but she would get mad if her friends called her anything but Ollie. She had a fiery temper for a French girl." Gilbert shakes his head with a smile playing on his lips.

"She shoulda done more than slap you." Sebastian continues but Gilbert pays no mind to him.

Gilbert stares ahead but his eyes are clouded with the image of the girl above him jumping into the lake. "I wonder if I'll ever see her again." He shakes his head. "I hope I do but, if I go home I may never be able to leave again."

"Boy," The other man calls out to Gilbert. "you call that a problem? Some of us ain't have no home, or no girl to be waitin for us when we get back."

Gilbert hesitates with his response. His eyes shift downwards and he sighs. "I'm not sure if I have that girl waiting. Not anymore."

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Rain was plummeting to the Earth in the town of Avonlea while Olivia made her way to the Abrim's shoe store. The air was cool but the harsh wind made it colder than it really was. Icy droplets hit her clothes and soon enough she was drenched. When she reached the shop, her shaking fingers pushed open the door and a bell sounded. Hattie walked out, ready to greet a customer but her mouth lighted up in a smile when she saw Olivia.

"Good afternoon Olivia." She said happily but her eyes widen when she saw the girl dripping with water. "Oh my, here, let me fetch you a towel. She walked into the back and Olivia took off her coat and hat, laying them to dry on a nearby chair. Hattie came back with a dark towel and Olivia took it, wringing out her hair. "I believe my father has you on sewing today. There probably won't be many customers so we're all going to be working in the back."