Part 2 of "The Three of Us"

204. The Facts of Life

*The Facts of Life*

All right y'all, we are now beginning preparations for the wedding (!)

And this chapter is about....InTimAte rELaTiOnS.

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"It's called Called to Action at Christmas," Rachel said. "The Presbyterian Committee has challenged ministers to give up their comfortable Christmas at home to go on a mission trip."

"That's nice- though it leaves our church without anyone to lead Christmas services," Marilla pointed out.

"There's no sermon at the Christmas Eve service, anyway," Rachel pointed out. "It's only reading and singing, anyone can do that."

"That is true," Marilla thought, thinking that Anne might enjoy doing some of the readings up in front of the congregation. She'd certainly be dramatic enough to keep people interested! She began, "I wonder if Anne-"

"What about me?" Anne asked curiously, coming down the stairs.

Rachel said brightly, "The reverend will be gone for Christmas and other people will be taking over the readings in the Christmas Eve service. You'd be an excellent reader, do you think you'd like to do it, Anne?"

"What do you mean, he'll be gone?" Anne asked, upset.

"Oh, dear," Marilla said, shaking her head. "I wasn't thinking."

"What? What is it?" Rachel asked, looking back and forth from Anne to Marilla.

"The wedding..." Marilla said, crushed. "The wedding was going to be at Christmas."

Rachel, unhappy with her, exclaimed, "You told me they were engaged, Marilla, but you didn't say the wedding was planned for Christmas."

Marilla nodded slowly. "Well, we haven't started planning, really. They only just got engaged. And there's still six months to go! Why, I never dreamed of the reverend not being here for Christmas!"

Anne looked ready to panic and Marilla said to her, "Now let's not get upset, just because he'll be gone for Christmas doesn't mean he'll be gone for weeks. He could do the wedding before he leaves...when will he be leaving, Rachel?"

"December 20th," Rachel provided. "He's supposed to be at his mission five days before Christmas and stay for five days after."

Marilla said calmly to Anne, "See, now there's no reason for upset! He could do the wedding maybe on December 18th or 19th, if he doesn't mind. Or— you could wait till January 1st- that's a lovely idea, really, to start a new year with a wedding!"

But Anne was already shaking her head. "That won't work," she said, despondent. "That won't work at all. The whole reason we chose Christmas is so that our old school friends would be back in town! The girls can't get away before the 20th! And by new year's they'll have to travel back! Oh, Marilla, no one will be able to come!"

"You ought to wait till spring or summer," Rachel directed to Anne. "I've never heard of a wedding in December. I must say, Anne, you've strange notions, that's what! Now a June wedding is so much more...ordinary."

"But we don't want to wait," Anne said pitifully.

"You've waited nearly five years, you can wait a few more months," Rachel waved that away. "Gilbert should be able to understand, a summer wedding-"

"Gilbert's fine with waiting," Anne interrupted. "I'm not."

She plopped down at the table with them as Rachel exchanged glances with Marilla.