Anne with an E The Next Chapter

Distance

Marilla saw the postman coming up the road and jumped up from her chair by the window.

"Oh my goodness what news does he bring".

Jerry ran out to fetch the message running at full speed. He returned from the lane out of breath. It was a telegram from Dr Ward. Marilla's hands shook and she looked like she would be sick. She handed it to Gilbert and sat down with Anne coming to comfort her. Gilbert opened the telegram and read quietly looking up to see the 4 faces waiting with bated breath.

"He's stable. They managed to get his heart beating at a normal rate and he woke up briefly this morning. He will stay for the next week under strict observation. No visitors though. He runs the risk of a setback. The week will be precarious." 

A collective sigh rang out. "He's not out of the woods- I want to be clear- but so far this is good news".

"Oh my word" Marilla said as she started to cry silently with relief. She thanked Gilbert for reading it for her. She felt quite tired and weak and said she needed to take a rest. Gilbert walked over to Anne who was watching Marilla go up the stairs. He laced his fingers with her and asked her to walk to the Orchard with him. Anne quickly asked Diana if she wanted to join feeling suddenly panicked at the thought of being alone with him. Diana watched Gilbert's expression change "I'll meet you outside" he said as we walked out by the screen door.

Diana told Anne privately that she thought Gilbert might just want to be with and that she was happy to just stay in Anne's room and read for a while. She gave her a quick squeeze "you're sure?" she said.

"Yes, and it was a long night and you haven't seen Gilbert in months, don't you think you should reconnect with him" she smiled but wondered how they would interact without this strain or tragedy to join them.

Anne and Gilbert started the long walk back to the orchard and Anne wondered aloud if the two should just take Willow and Bell for a ride that way Gilbert could get home to his family and she could be home quicker. Gilbert looked at her mid stride and asked "will you be OK tonight, you don't want me to stay?"

"I'll be OK" she said rather coolly, "it's time to face reality. In the next few weeks i have to take care of things alone with Marella and that's how it will be."

You're not alone, we're here" he said.

"I mean, yes but you know what it's like, you want to make your own way". She turned on her heels and started to saddle up her horse. She started to leave without a word and Gilbert felt to get a pang of grief remembering his own experiences trying to put on a brave face. He realized she was probably still reeling from the news from yesterday . He felt disappointed that the horses could probably prevent them from any possible connection. He'd hoped to hold her hand and walk with her a bit. She really needed a walk, but he respected her pragmatic approach to what she needed to do.

Anne felt uncomfortable as an awkward silence crept up between them. This was all too heavy of a burden for Gilbert and she thought he should be enjoying his summer before he headed back to Toronto in August, not looking after her. She was ruining it all for him. Gilbert looked at Anne and wondered what was up with her as they arrived. Anne dismounted her horse and she was looking forward to seeing Bash and Delphine again. Gilbert caught up to her as she approached the house. She was moving at warp speed and felt to him like a frigid winter instead of her usually warm summer breeze. He opened the door and called in the house which was quiet and dark. They walked through and drew the curtains and opened the doors "looks like they've gone" Gilbert said. Anne looked around furiously unable to look at him in his eyes. "oh well OK I guess I should be off".

"Wait, Anne can you stay a moment?" She was cornered now, with her back against the counter and Gilbert walking slowly and closing in on her. He looked at her pleadingly, the look that made it hard for her to look away. He came closer to her, maybe half a foot between them. He touched her arms with both hands, the feeling of his touch made a flood of guilt fill her up inside her. He ran his hands down the length of her arm until he felt her hands and twisted his fingers with hers. For someone who chattered on as much as she did she was completely unable to form words. She  looked up at his amazing hazel eyes For maybe the first time she had in months. Their short time together at Queens had been the last time they really locked eyes this way and she couldn't look away.