Part 2 of "The Three of Us"

201. A Fragile Mend

I know everyone's missing Gilbert, I just have to get this decision about the Andrews settled first! In this chapter Anne makes a decision and talks to them about it. I promise wedding planning is coming soon.

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Mrs. Andrews did not expect to see Anne at her front door. She was flustered for a moment when Anne asked, "Could I come in and speak to you?"

Mrs. Andrews led her into the parlor. "I know why you're here," she said quietly.

"You do?" Anne asked.

They sat down.

Mrs. Andrews' voice shook and she struggled to let the words out: "We won't disturb you again, Anne. Unless- unless you ever have some need- financial or otherwise- we would consider it a privilege if you would allow us to help. But otherwise, you won't hear from us." Her hands were folded in her lap, her face resigned.

Anne was confused. "You've...changed your mind about wanting him..." She'd never wanted Mrs. Andrews in Walter's life before, but she was fully prepared to be offended if they'd decided they didn'twant him now.

"We haven't changed our minds about Walter," Mrs. Andrews said with a sad smile. "We've only changed our minds about...infiltrating your life. We want you to have a peaceful life, Anne. And yesterday, after seeing you having to be in our home, and- well, I just felt that by pushing my way into Walter's life, I was forcing you to relive things you ought not have to relive. I'm sorry for that. Truly."

Anne stared at her. "So...you aren't going to try to see him anymore?"

Mrs. Andrews looked, to Anne, like she was in the depths of despair, but she said nothing, only shaking her head.

Anne sat there so long that Mrs. Andrews felt she was being rude by not getting up and offering her tea.

Anne finally came out of her silence. "Oh, no thank you. I only came to...to find out things."

Mrs. Andrews sat back down.

There was something bothering Anne; something in the back of her mind nagging at her, and she could not move forward without bringing it to the surface.

"Billy's never come back into town, has he? I know he's been here; Jane's warned me- uh, told me- when he's visiting- but he doesn't seem to go into town," Anne commented finally. "And I'm glad."

"He doesn't need to go into town while he's here. He just stays home with us for a few days and then he goes back. His life's all settled in Nova Scotia now, and Avonlea isn't his home anymore."

"How convenient," Anne said. She was glad that the Andrews had sent Billy away; she couldn't imagine how she'd cope if she had to see him here in town, or if she had to raise Walter with Billy nearby. Even so, she still found herself irritated that he'd been able to start anew and she had not.

"He should be finished with school now. Does he have plans?" Anne asked. Does he have plans that involve moving anywhere near my hometown or interacting in any way with people I know?

"He's at university," Mrs. Andrews told her.

Anne raised her eyebrows. "And how did he manage that?" She knew she sounded terribly rude, implying to a mother that her son was not smart enough to move ahead in school, but she did not care.

"He's really buckled down in the past few years," Mrs. Andrews told her lamely. That, and the fact that when one's parents become benefactors of a school...