Anne with an E The Next Chapter

Lies With Good Intentions

After a few days of being home at Avonlea Jerry had caught up on his chores and found a day to himself. On Sunday, he generally went to church with his family and then spent the entire afternoon with them at the old farm house he grew up in. During the winter, his mom always made a roast with potatoes, carrots and onions. The minute you entered the house, you could smell the fragrant ragout of flavours. There was always a delicious dessert of Pouding Chomeur with hot caramel sauce. His dad started serving him ale that he had made himself, as soon as Jerry had turned 18- it was like a right of passage and a way the men bonded. Sundays were the happiest for Jerry. Although he'd grown up and liked working and making money for himself, he always loved being home with his family. His mom would dote on him and his little brothers and sisters adored him. He felt entirely loved and connected to his roots on those days.

Today would not be one of those days. He'd have to make something up after church and tell his mom that he couldn't make it. He'd tell her he was under the weather and she would insist he get straight home to bed, knowing Monday he'd have to be right back to work. Church went by with its usual lengthy, drawn out custom. Jerry was a Catholic, but he wasn't as thrilled as the other adults in his life about church. The long sermon felt like a lecture even on a good day, and Jerry was starting to feel like the Priest was directing all his sermons right at him. The lessons always seemed to be about honesty and virtue and doing good by your family. Jerry's guilt was starting to press in and more and more he felt this need to finally come clean with his family about why he ended his relationship with Amélie.

The service finally ended and the bells began to chime. Jerry hugged his family and told his mom he couldn't make it home today. Another lie. His family wished him well and promised to pop by this week to check in on him. As he rode away on horseback, he felt for the little pewter key in his pocket.

After church on Sunday, Anne made sure she kept an eye on Ruby as the congregation was filling out. She pressed past a group of chatting old ladies to grab hold of Ruby's hand.

"Excuse me... so sorry, I just need to squeeze by here, thank you!!!"

"Tsk" sounds came from little Mrs. Margaret Williams who never seemed to have any fondness for Anne at all.

"Ruby... Ruby... hi"

"Oh, hi Anne, how are you?"

"I'm great, yes really good, how have you been?"

"Fine thank you".

"Do you have time to come with me to Gilbert's for lunch? He leaves tomorrow morning early and I'm sure he'd be happy to see you. We'd love to show you the cottage".

Ruby looked around awkwardly for her mother, hoping she'd start to nag her to get home, but for some reason she was nowhere in sight.

"Today, uhh I don't think I can, my mom is going to need help getting lunch prepared. My Uncle and his family are coming for lunch".

"Dont be silly Ruby, go with Anne and Gilbert" her mother said, suddenly appearing from behind her. To be true, her mother had been concerned about Ruby and felt thrilled to hear someone inviting her out at this point. Her daughter was always home in her room if she wasn't out at work.

"Oh Mother, I couldn't".

"Yes Ruby, I completely insist.... Go with Anne".

"Great!!!" Anne said grabbing Ruby by the arm.

They walked together from the church to the cottage and had a chance to catch up.

"So, how are things. You didn't seem yourself at Bash and Muriel's wedding. I've been so worried about you. I would have come to see you sooner but I needed to go and see Diana and..." Uhhh she'd said too much.