Anne with an E The Next Chapter

Harvest

The summer flew by with everyone slowly moving forward since Matthew's return. He was getting back to his old self and working on his rehabilitation. There was so much work in the fields as spring and summer has been very good for harvest.  Diana had been keeping busy applying to teaching positions. She had secured a spot teaching in Carmody as a substitute for the head teacher who had fallen ill. She would have the fall semester contract, and possibly the winter as well. She was looking forward to it she found herself spending more time at Anne's and helping out where she could in the field. Anne had noticed a change in her friend and appreciated her more relaxed, well rounded approach to life. She laughed more and seemed less concerned with status.

Today she joined them wearing a particularly beautiful full length beige linen skirt and a new styled short-sleeved eyelet blouse. These were not working clothes by any means, but still a more "peasant style" attire that didn't make her stand out so much in the fields. Her black hair fell down her back in one long twisted curl,  under a large straw hat that cast a soft shadow over her beautiful face.

As she stopped to catch her breath she asked Anne, "Are you going to the dance tonight? Can I tag along with you and Gilbert?" she asked.

"You wouldn't be tagging along, of course you are coming with us!"

Jerry looked over at them, curious but pretending to be uninterested. 

Diana collected the last of the tomatoes and placed them in her basket. "I'll bring these in to Marilla and then I'll be off to get ready for tonight" she said.

"OK,  and we'll pick you up at seven". Diana flashed her a smile and started off with a wave.  Jerry watched her walking away with the long skirt trailing behind. Her soft tanned arms shining in the sunlight.

"What is with her? Why is she here all the time?"

"She wants to help, Jerry!"

"Yes but she doesn't belong in a field...she should be having tea somewhere or something" he said looking gravely annoyed as he kept working.

"I don't think so...she's really doing what makes her happy these days. She doesn't really care about all that, but she does she live in a world where things are expected of her. I think she's trying hard to find a balance for that, you know. You and I never had to contend with things like that.. we don't know what it's like. You shouldn't judge her so harshly" said Anne. He hated how she always defended everyone.

But truth be told, he'd never really thought about it that way. Maybe Diana was trapped in her own life. He kept working but had a troubled look on his face that told Anne something else was bothering him.

"Jerry?"

"But she could never be with someone common" he said "say for example, someone like me, right?" 

Anne stopped and looked at him, "I don't know, maybe?"  He kept working at the plants without a word.

Anne continued..."I mean look at Bash and Muriel. No one could have guessed that it was possible for them but here we are, ready to celebrate their union. It won't be easy for them, but you know, anything is possible in matters of the heart".

Jerry didn't acknowledge Anne but she knew him well enough to know he was mulling this over in his head. 

"Jerry, can I ask... do you still have feelings for Diana?"

"I wasn't talking about me,  it was an example. Never mind,  I have Amélie now and I'll grow to love her!" It spilled out of him quickly, thoughtlessly, and he hated himself for saying it.

Anne looked over and stood with her hands on her hips, in her dramatic Anne way.

Jerry rolled his eyes at her.

"Number one, Jerry, you should never commit to someone for life on a whim! Saying that you might grow to love her...that's not fair to you or to her. Life is hard enough and you should at least be passionate about the person you're going to marry". 

"Number two, if you care for Diana, you should at least let her know. You might be cheating three people out of a happy life" she said.

"Anne, I wasn't talking about me... just forget it. Why does it interest you anyway, it doesn't concern you!"

"It concerns me because I love Diana and I love you and I want you to be happy".

"I couldn't make her happy anyways" he looked angry now. "Wouldn't be appropriate to have me at her fancy parties".

"Jerry you're one of the kindest people I know. You always have been!  You're so helpful, you making people laugh, you're hard-working. What on earth makes you think you wouldn't make her happy".

"Her family would never except me, that would be the end of us".

"Well they could grow to love you" she said exaggeratedly.

He smirked but looked sad and doubtful.

Silence filled the time between them and the work had to be finished.

"OK well, we better head in to have dinner and then get ready for the barn dance tonight right!"

"Right!" he said "I'll be along in a minute. You go on ahead".

Anne and started to head back to the house when Jerry called to her. "Anne, she hasn't said anything to you about me right?" 

"No she hasn't. But she's my best friend, she doesn't have to".

With a small wink and a smile, she turned and he registered a silly grin coming across his face. She felt sorry for the two of them. She had a feeling that the adventure ahead of them might be the stuff of tragical romances.