Daniel wrinkled his nose. "Do I have to?"
"Think of it this way: it's either that or mild old Lucille," Alec told his son.
"Did you say he was outside?"
Alec smiled as he watched his son leave. "Janet, what is it? You look tired."
Janet threw down her scrubber in exhaustion. "Oh, I am tired, Alec. I am tired of this war. I am tired of what it is doing to our children. And I am tired of going into Avonlea and always seeing another one of the children's playmates dressed in khaki."
Alec went to his wife and placed his arms about her. He convinced her to sit down on one of the kitchen chairs. "We'll get through this, Janet. We always do."
"Oh, Alec. You've said that a million times and each time it gets harder and harder for me to hear. What is wrong with those men? They said it would be over in a few months and it's not even close to coming to an end."
"It will end. We just have to wait it out." Janet closed her eyes and pressed her cheek against her husband's. They stayed there together, drawing strength from the comfort they gave one another. Finally, Janet opened her eyes and drew herself up. She turned to Alec and said affectionately, "Now why don't you bring me some milk from that ornery old cow?"
"Anything you ask, my dear." Alec released his wife from his arms and began making his way out the door. Janet smiled after him. On his way out, Alec passed Cecily and Eliza, who were just returning from their trip into Avonlea.
"How I would love a cup of tea, Cecily dear," Eliza told her grandniece as they hung up their coats.
"I'll get it for you then, Aunt Eliza," Cecily said, sharing a look with her mother.
"How was town?"
"Just fine," Cecily replied, preparing water for tea.
"Did you get that gingham Hetty wanted?"
"Yes, mother. And your darning needle. And Father's fencing."
Janet smiled at her daughter. "Was there any mail?"
"There's a package from Aunt Olivia and Uncle Jasper and something for Felicity from New York. Oh, and I got another letter from Izzy."
Janet saw that Cecily was looking rather glum. "Cecily, dear, why don't you go out and help your father in the barn?"
"Are you sure you don't need me?"
"It's fine, dear. I'll look after Aunt Eliza's tea."
Cecily's face suddenly brightened. She half ran past Eliza, grabbed her coat, and lightly skipped out the door.
"How I do pity girls like Cecily and Izzy," Eliza remarked after Cecily had gone. "I remember when I was their age. I hadn't a care in the world, except filling up my dance card and making sure I had lots of pretty dresses. This war is depriving them of something that can never be replaced, to be sure."
"Aunt Eliza!" Janet exclaimed. "That is a wonderful idea!"
"It's rather depressing to me, Janet dear."
"No! We could have a party for the people of Avonlea. To help everyone get through this difficult time. Something where we could all just forget about the war for a while and have things the way they used to be."
* * *
"A party?" asked Simon Tremayne in surprise.
"Yes," replied Janet earnestly. "I think a party is just what Avonlea needs to raise our spirits."
Simon nodded. "Yes, I know what you mean. It's been a difficult winter for everyone. A party would be good for the hotel as well. The inside is far too much of a mess, but I'm certain we could have a party on the lawn, providing it doesn't rain. Truth be told, I'm finding it harder and harder to keep the 'idle rich class' entertained. Perhaps I should ask your niece what is now fashionable among high society. I seem to not have a clue."
"So you'd consider it? Nothing fancy, just a simple affair."
"I'll speak to Hetty about it. Only the good Lord knows what she'll say."
"Thank you, Simon," Janet said gratefully and smiled. As she was leaving his office, she paused at the door. "And Simon?"
"Yes?"
"Don't say anything to Hetty about this being my idea."
* * *
"Janet," Alec said. He found his wife in the parlour, vacuuming the carpets. "Janet, I think it's time we had a talk."
"About what?"
"About Felix."
"What about him?" Janet's voice was strained.
"You know what a difficult time he's been having lately. I thought maybe...well, I've been thinking that maybe I could take him on a trip somewhere."
"A trip? Are you mad, Alec King?"
"Look, Felix isn't getting any better, Janet."
"Will you consider what he's been through?"
"I am considering it. I thought maybe a trip away from Avonlea would help him...help him to be able to sort out everything that's happened."
"Felix needs his family. He'll be all right." Janet suddenly threw down the handle of the vacuum in a frustration. "Don't you know how much it hurts me to see him like this? But I won't let you take him away."
"It would just be for a month. I thought maybe I could take Felix somewhere quiet."
"It's quiet enough here in Avonlea."
"But you said yourself that there are reminders of the war every day. I thought somewhere far away, where he could just be alone."
"If Felix is going to come around, the only way he'll do it is in his own good time," Janet said firmly.
"How do you know?"
"I just do," she responded without offering any further information. "This conversation is over. Now will you help me move that sofa so I can vacuum under it?"
Cecily came inside while her father was moving the sofa. She had a piece of paper in her hand that was rather wrinkled. She was hesitant to say anything to them about it. She knew she had to, though, so she waited.
"Hello, Cecily, dear," Janet said when she noticed Cecily's presence in the room. "What is it that you want?"
"The right to vote. But other than that, I'd like for Father to sign this."
"Oh, of course, Cecily. I'll have your father sign whatever it is. What is it?"
Cecily handed her the paper. "It's my application for enrolment at Dalhousie University."
"What?" Janet asked. She looked at Alec and gave him the paper.
"I want to go to college. Please?"
"Alec...." Janet had to sit down.
Alec was looking at the paper. "Are you sure that this is what you want to do, Cecily?"
"I am."
"Janet? Our daughter wants to go to college."
"Mother?" Cecily asked hopefully, knowing Janet would be the one to have the final say in the matter. Janet stood up and walked into the kitchen. Cecily followed.
"No. Absolutely not, Cecily. A university is no place for a girl your age," Janet told her as she fussed about the kitchen.
"But Izzy Pettibone goes to Dalhousie."
"Well, good for Izzy Pettibone. Besides, Felicity started school and decided she didn't want to finish."
"And she went back. Besides, I'm not Felicity. Isn't that what you all are constantly reminding me of?"
"Cecily King!" Janet exclaimed. "Don't take that tone of voice with me. You get that college business right out of your mind."
"Mother, listen, I know you and Father don't like to discuss these things with us, but if it's the money...if it's the money, I have nearly all of my earnings from the telegraph office. I sure that would pay my first year and as for the other three...."
"Four years. Four years away from home."
"I don't have to go the whole four years, Mother. Two or three...I'd be satisfied with one."
"I said no, Cecily."
"You didn't raise a fuss when Felicity wanted to go to medical school."
"That was different. Felicity..."
Cecily finished her sentence for her. "Felicity never had TB, isn't that what you were going to say, Mother?"
"Cecily dear-" her mother began.
"I don't believe this. I've been well for nearly five years. I haven't even had a cold. Now I suggest leaving Avonlea and you mention the consumption again."
"Mrs. Marsden told you not to overexert yourself. She said it could lead to a relapse. You know that as well as I do."
"I've done nothing but overexert myself since I came home from the san. What if I do get sick again? What if I die? At least I would have had some life. Would you rather have me stay in Avonlea and die of boredom?"
"Since when are you bored? You've always loved Avonlea and the farm. I simply don't know what's got into you lately, Cecily. You're not the same girl you once were." Janet began scrubbing the immaculately clean stove vigorously. "I don't want to hear another word of this college business, do you hear me?"
Cecily didn't respond. Janet shook her head at her child. It's the war, Janet thought. It's doing horrible things to all of us. "I only want what is best for you, dear."
Cecily refused to look at her mother. She stalked out of the room, growing more determined.
Alec appeared in the doorway after Cecily had gone. "We should let her do this, Janet."
"You've always favoured her, Alec," Janet said in an accusatory tone.
"Now, let's not start this."
"You have. You always give into her."
"I don't-"
"More than you ever did for Felix or Felicity or Daniel. They all know you favour her, Alec. You always have."
"Look, Janet, when Cecily first got sick you said you wanted her to be able to grow up to have the chance to go to teacher's college-to make something of herself. It's not favouritism or whatever else it is you want to call it to let her do that. We owe her this, Janet. After everything she's been through."
"It's exactly why she shouldn't go!"
"Janet, I'm not blaming you but...but maybe Cecily was a little ignored when she was growing up. She didn't get the attention-"
"And I suppose that's my fault?"
"I just said that it wasn't, Janet. Cecily-she was-the perfect child. She never misbehaved, she always was polite and she did what she was told. She had respect for her elders. We never had to parent her the way we had to with Felicity and Felix. You felt like she didn't need you to guide her."
"Don't tell me how I feel about my daughter, Alec King." Janet looked at him steadily. "She's not going," she said firmly.
Alec knew it was useless to try to talk to Janet. He turned to leave, but then stopped. He still held the paper in his hands. "If you aren't going to let Cecily at least have a chance, Janet, then...then maybe I will."
He went out the door of the summer kitchen and walked to the barn, thinking that that was where he'd find Cecily. He found her there, leaning against Prince's stall, her head bowed and her hands clasped in front of her. "Cecily," he said softly. She didn't look at him. Alec could see her tear stains on her cheeks. "Cecily, you have to understand that your mother is...going through a difficult time right now."
"I know," she said, sniffling.
"Well, with Felicity and Felix and the war on, she's easily upset."
"I know, Father. I know the strain she's under. I didn't mean to upset her, but-"
"But what?" Alec stood next to her and looked at her with concern in his tender brown eyes.
"Oh, Father. I don't know. I've always been expected to stay behind."
"Cecily, no one ever expected that of you," Alec insisted earnestly.
"You did. You did. That's how I felt anyway. I wasn't expected to do much of anything and I guess there for a while I didn't want to either...or at least I tried to convince myself of that." As Cecily spoke, Alec could see a reflection in his own life and some of the regrets he'd had over the years. "I didn't want to disappoint you or Mother," she continued. "I felt like I should sacrifice what I wanted to make certain Felicity and Felix had what they wanted."
Alec felt as though shards of glass were hitting him while he listened to Cecily. He never thought she was in so much pain. She'd always been such a happy, gentle child. "I thought you loved the farm," Alec said quietly.
"I did. I do. Truly, I do. But right now I just want to get away...I just want to find out what I can do. On my own. I can see you're disappointed already. That's why I didn't say anything."
"Cecily," Alec began, placing an arm around her. Many people thought Alec and Janet favoured Felicity the most out of their four children. He was certainly proud of his oldest child, but if Alec King had a favourite child, it was Cecily. She was so sweet and unselfish, always pleasant, always willing to lend a hand without complaint. She possessed more strength and courage than one would think. She had a gentle ease about her. These were the qualities he so admired in her. An uneasy consciousness that had been nagging on Alec re-emerged. Some people thought that Cecily had no spirit-even Alec had suspected this when she was younger. Oh, the girl had a fire in her; there was no doubt about that. The uneasy thought was that she reminded him of his sister Olivia and how she had been so cowed and had had her independence squashed by Hetty for thirty-odd years. Alec wasn't about to let that happen to Cecily.
"I tell you what," Alec said. "I tell you what. I'll-um-I'll speak to your mother about this."
Cecily looked up and brushed a rebellious lock of blonde hair away from her face. "Really? You want me to go?"
"I want this for your happiness, Cecily. And if college is what you want, then I'll do my darnedest to make sure college is what you get."
"Oh, Father!" she exclaimed and threw her arms around him. "Thank you!" She quickly remembered. "Father, what about the farm? Can you manage on your own? You can't-"
"Don't worry about the farm," he told her, although it wouldn't be the same without her there. He'd miss her horribly. "I've got plenty of help. Besides, pretty soon Felix will be able to do as much as he can." Alec's voice held a tinge of wishful thinking that they were both aware of. There was silence for a moment. Finally, Cecily spoke.
"Father, is Felix ever going to want to be a part of our family again?"
Alec, who had no answer to his daughter's question, simply put his arm around her and let her lean her head against his shoulder. "We've got to hope, Cecily. We've got to."
* * *
"Careful, miss," the Carmody stationmaster said as he held a gloved hand in his and helped a beautiful, elegant young lady descend to the ground. She gestured to the stationmaster to take her trunks for her and walked over to the station. She wore a navy blue and white travelling suit and a smart little white hat. Peeking beneath tendrils of curly blond hair were creamy pearl earrings that bobbed as she moved. A wicker basket that she held in her hand was meowing piteously.
"May I use the telephone?" she asked the man behind the booth.
"Yes, miss," he replied. After taking a look at her attire he said, "I can call the carriage from the White Sands." Her suit was a couple of years old, but it had seldom been worn and there was something about the wearer of it that ensured that it still passed for being at the height of fashion.
"Oh no," she replied and looked about her, smiling and loving every detail of what she saw, "No, I'm not staying at the hotel."
"Yes, miss. What number do you need?"
The young lady opened her mouth to respond. At that moment, she saw a horse-drawn wagon stop at the station. She turned to the man in the booth "Never mind," she said quietly. "I'll send for my trunks." She then ran over to the man atop the wagon.
"Excuse me, sir. May I have a lift from you? I'm going home to Avonlea."
The man, unaccustomed to having fashionable young ladies request rides in his sheep cart, gave a start and responded amiably. "Hop in if you like."
"Thank you." She placed her bags onto a pile of hay and jumped up on the back of the cart, swinging her legs freely.
The cart bumped along the muddy road in fits and starts and Sara loved every minute of it. She started a conversation with the man and discovered that he was a fisherman from South Rustico and had six small children. How good it is to be back in Avonlea! She thought as they drove along the seashore. Sara looked out onto the sparkling expanse of blue and smiled to herself. I love this place so much. Especially after... but she put those thoughts out of her head. She laughed to herself she thought of the shock her Aunt Hetty would receive when she saw her standing in the doorway of Rose Cottage. When she'd arrived in New York City, she had almost stayed there, but something pressed her forward. Something made her get on the ship to Nova Scotia. Once she was on the ferry to Prince Edward Island, once she'd seen the thin line of red grow larger and larger until she could see the cliffs, misty from a recent rain, she knew that what she had done was right. She knew that her aunt Olivia had been right. When she had been on the boat from Nova Scotia, she knew. Abegweit welcomed home one of her kindred.
The cart was bumping along past the lighthouse where Sara had spent so much time as a girl. She looked out and saw the ocean before her, a sparkling blue expanse. The sea looked so much different near Prince Edward Island than it did anywhere else. On the coast of France it was another shade of blue, still beautiful, but nothing like this. She couldn't pass it without taking a closer look. It murmured and Sara, like so many, felt like it was calling to her. "Please, sir," she said urgently. "Please stop the cart."
The man looked at her in surprise. "It's all right. I'd like to walk from here. I know the way. Here's money for you pains."
"That's not necessary, miss," he told her. "You're Island folk underneath all them fancy do-dads. I can tell by the way you look at the sea. She's beautiful today, 'salways. I'm always glad to welcome Islanders back where they belong. It's been a pleasure."
"Well, then. Here's money for your pleasure. Please take it."
"I thank you, miss."
He smiled at her and drove off and Sara waved. She stood on the cliff and just stared at the sea, drinking it all in with her eyes until they hurt her. Sara kept her writing folder within reach in her valise and she took it out and began to write.
To those of us who lived here, who ran along the pink beaches of the Island in our youth, will always have this place in our hearts. Wherever we may journey, wherever the golden road of our childhood bends into a glorious future, we will always know that this place by the sea, our Avonlea, will not vanish.
Sara stared off at the ocean for a long while and her thought reflected on her childhood in Avonlea. She remembered how she'd arrived, a frightened girl holding tightly to the hand of her Nanny Louisa. The lighthouse had been one of the first things she'd seen. Sara finally began walking, along the cliffs, through the forest, along a path she knew so well and had travelled so much during her childhood.
* * *
Sara opened the door of Rose Cottage and set her bags on the floor. She couldn't wait to see her aunt. "Aunt Hetty?" she called. Silence. "Aunt Hetty?" she called again, walking into the kitchen. "Aunt Hetty, I'm home. Aunt Hetty? Mrs. Lynde?"
Disappointed, Sara decided to walk over to King Farm. She guessed that she would find her aunt there.
* * *
Alec King was in front of the King barn, fixing a wagon wheel that was stubbornly refusing to be repaired. He accidentally dropped the wheel. "Oh, for the love of Providence!"
"Do you need any help, Father?" Daniel called from the barn above him.
"I've got it, my boy. My Danny boy." Daniel grinned at his father and Alec began to sing "O Danny Boy" to him. Alec had sung it to him when he was a little boy and he still liked to hear it.
Oh, Danny boy
The pipes, the pipes are calling you
From glen to glen
And down the mountainside
The summer's gone
And all the roses dying.
It's you, it's you must go
And I must bide.
Alec didn't at first notice when another voice began to sing with his.
But come ye back
When summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow.
Alec's eyes grew large as he realised whose voice was singing. He turned and saw Sara Stanley standing before him.
Yet I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh, Danny boy, Oh, Danny boy
I love you so.
"Uncle Alec," she said, smiling after she had finished singing the song she had learned when she came to the Island as a girl.
"Sara Stanley, is it really you?"
"It's me, Uncle Alec."
Alec folded Sara into his arms "Welcome home, my girl! You didn't let us know you were coming!"
"I know. I'm sorry. I'll explain everything later."
"Never mind that. It's good to have you home, Sara. Daniel!" Alec called. Daniel King ran out of the barn. He was curious who the young woman was who stood next to his father. "Look who it is, Daniel. It's your cousin Sara."
Daniel ran up to her and hugged her. He barely remembered her but he knew she had always been kind to him. So this was the mysterious Story Girl cousin he had heard so much about.
"I can't believe how big he is. You're almost as big as your brother Felix."
* * *
Felicity finished signing a sentence and smiled proudly at Cecily. "There," she said triumphantly.
"Felicity, you just told me to take a bucket of water and put it in my ear."
Felicity moaned and dropped her head onto the table in frustration. "I'll never get this, Cecily."
"Yes you will," she encouraged.
"I keep making mistakes."
"Felicity, it was just one. You're doing exceptionally well otherwise. Perhaps you need to take a rest. It's a nice day outside. Do you want to go sit on the porch swing? I could bring your needlework out-"
"No, Cecily," she replied. "You've helped me enough today. I'll be fine on my own. I think I'll just go out for a bit.
Felicity went outside and found her mother. Janet was doing the laundry, completely oblivious to what was going on near the barn.
"Mother," she heard Felicity's voice behind her.
"Oh, Felicity," she greeted cheerfully.
"Do you need help?"
"Oh, no, dear. I won't allow you to overexert yourself. I thought you were studying with Cecily."
"I was." Felicity paused a moment. "Mother, I've been meaning to speak to you about Cecily."
"Oh, Felicity," Janet began, exasperated.
"Mother, please listen. I know you're opposed to Cecily going away to college, but I was thinking that perhaps she needn't go away at all. Perhaps she could take a correspondence courses, like I'm doing."
"Felicity, no matter how you want to look at it, it's too much work for her. I won't allow it."
"But Mother, she is miserably unhappy."
"Felicity, don't you have enough of your own troubles to worry about? You should be concentrating on opening your school. As far as I'm concerned, the matter with Cecily is closed. She's not going and that's final." Felicity was silent. "Have you...heard anything from those people you wrote to?"
"Not yet," Felicity responded.
"Well, you and Gus can do this on your own, dear. I'm certain of it."
"Well, we are trying. Gus said that as soon as he's home, he'll...." Felicity's voice gradually trailed off. Janet looked up in surprise and, watching the change in Felicity's face, she soon became concerned.
"Felicity," she said anxiously. "What is it? What's wrong?" She touched her arm.
"N-nothing," Felicity responded, a huge smile spreading across her face. She suddenly broke out into a run that took Janet by surprise. "Sara!" she yelled, running as quickly as she could. "Sara!"
Sara saw her cousin and ran toward her, her arms outstretched. "Felicity!" She stopped when she noticed Felicity's swelled stomach. Her eyes widened in disbelief and she smiled. "Felicity!" They embraced, laughing.
"Well, I wrote and told you I was expecting."
"I know but...where's Gus?"
"He's still in Halifax working for the Naval Telegraphy Office. He's coming home next week. But you! You didn't send a telegram or write or.... Oh, Sara," she said, holding her tightly. "I'm so glad you're home!"
"Janet! Janet!" Alec exclaimed. "Look who's home!"
Janet was in complete shock. "Oh, Sara!" Janet exclaimed. She forgot about the washing and ran to embrace her niece. "Oh, Sara dear!"
"Oh, Sara, you must forgive us," Janet said, letting go of Sara. She immediately began to think of the large family dinner she was going to have to prepare that evening. "We didn't know you were coming, dear."
"I know. I know I should have told you. The decision to leave was last minute. It-it just wasn't safe in France. I was going to call you from the station but I wanted to surprise you. I couldn't wait to see everyone."
"Well, let's not leave Sara standing outside," Alec said. "Come along inside, Sara."
Daniel put his hand in Sara's and the four of them walked into King Farm together.
Cecily had been reading and was rather unconscious to the shouts and laughter outside. She then heard something, the sound of laughter; a laugh she hadn't heard in a long time. It couldn't be. She heard footsteps coming in the front door. "Cecily!" she heard her father's voice yell. "You won't believe who's home!"
Cecily ran to the door. "Sara?!" she exclaimed.
"Cecily!" The two girls hugged each other fiercely.
"I can't believe you're really here! Are you back for good?"
"Well, for the time being, anyway." They embraced again. "And you look so well!"
"I am well," Cecily said firmly.
"And-and so grown up!" Cecily smiled modestly.
The Kings escorted Sara in a body into the kitchen. Janet noticed how thin Sara had become and insisted that she must be famished.
"Really," Sara said. "Don't trouble yourselves. I'm not hungry."
"Don't be silly, Sara," Janet said. "Of course you are."
"Besides, it's not troubling, Sara," Alec said. "You're family, no matter how long you've been gone." Sara smiled broadly at Alec. "Don't you forget that." He kissed her forehead.
"I won't."
Eliza Ward entered the kitchen and smiled at Sara. "Sara Stanley."
"Hello, Aunt Eliza." Great Aunt Eliza made her way over to Sara and hugged her gently.
"Welcome back, my dear. You're a regular Parisienne."
"Thank you, Aunt Eliza."
"Look how sophisticated she is, Janet," Eliza said. "She doesn't belong in Avonlea."
"Oh, no," Sara protested. "I'm not sophisticated at all. I'm happy to be home," she said, looking at all of them. "I'm glad to be with my family again...all of you. All we need is for Gus to come home and we'll all be together again. Oh, and Felix! Oh, I'm absolutely dying to see him!" Sara saw the sad, disheartened looks on the faces of her family when she mentioned Felix's name. "W-what's wrong? Isn't he here?"
"Oh no, dear. Felix is here. He's upstairs." Janet told her.
"Well, why doesn't he come down then?"
Felicity looked at her parents for reassurance. "Felix came home weak from the war. He caught the influenza and it progressed into pneumonia. We thought he wouldn't pull through, but he did. He's recovering and it's taking time."
Cecily spoke up then. "That and we lost Elbert. He didn't make it back."
Sara's happy face had been turning increasingly grey as they spoke. She held her hand to her stomach, trying to quell the uneasy feeling that was growing there. "Elbert?" she said softly. Elbert Werts was dead. It was unreal. "Can I see him?" she asked. Felicity looked at her parents who looked at one another.
"Of course, Sara," said Janet. "Why don't you wait though? He's resting. Oh, where is Hetty?"
"Yes," said Alec, wishing to get back on a happier subject. "You must have given her quite a shock."
"Where is Aunt Hetty?" Sara asked.
"She's not at Rose Cottage?" Alec asked, concerned.
"No. I was just there."
At that moment, the unmistakable voice of Hetty King was heard outside. "Yoo-hoo!" she called. "Yoo-hoo! Alec! Janet!" Hetty's calls were followed by the oddest noise. The Kings made their way outside. Sara held back a bit, in order to surprise her.
The sight that the Kings beheld shocked the lot of them. There in front of the house were Hetty, Mrs. Lynde, Davey Keith and his sister Dora. They were all seated, with the exception of Hetty, who stood, in a brand new automobile, the horn of which Hetty was honking gleefully.
"A motorcar!" Daniel exclaimed as he ran toward it. "Can I go for a ride Aunt Hetty?"
"You certainly may, Daniel my boy!"
Alec spoke then. "Hetty, what in blazes-"
Hetty cut her brother off. "I went into Charlottetown today and purchased this fine automobile!" Hetty affirmed this with a resounding honk.
"Girl, have you gone mad? You always said you hated those 'infernal contraptions.'"
"One mustn't be a slave to one's own prejudices, Alec. We must explore all the riches life has to offer."
Alec turned to his wife, dumbfounded. She attempted an explanation for Hetty's odd behaviour. "I think her pain medicine has gone to her head."
Hetty suddenly put her hand over her heart and looked past the Kings with mixed happiness and disbelief in her eyes. Sara was standing on the porch. "Aunt Hetty," she said and ran toward her beloved aunt, who was still in the motorcar, and embraced her.
"Oh, Sara Stanley," was all Hetty was able to say. Tears brimmed in Hetty's eyes as she held her niece against her. When she composed herself, she said in her usual tone, "Good heavens! What is this, ya dropping on us from out of the blue? Goodness gracious, child. Sometimes I think ya're all Stanley."
"I can't believe you bought an automobile, Aunt Hetty. It's beautiful. I can't wait to get settled in again. Oh, but first, I want to see Felix."
"Oh, Sara," Janet began in a hesitating voice.
"I don't want to disturb him," Sara said. "I can wait. I just...have so much to tell him and-and everyone."
"I don't see that it would do much harm, Janet," Alec said. Alec viewed Sara's homecoming as more than the blessing of her safe return. He thought that she would be able to help them break through the wall that Felix had built around him since he came home from the war.
"Well, why don't we get you all settled in and you can see Felix tonight at supper," Janet suggested. It wasn't that Janet didn't want Sara to see Felix. They had always been close she very much wanted Sara to see him. But she was afraid of how Felix would react to her. She didn't want Sara to be upset by the change in Felix, especially with her just arriving. She wanted her niece's homecoming to be as cheerful as possible.
"All right," Sara agreed, smiling but wrinkling her brow a bit. Hetty approached Sara and put her hands on her shoulders.
"I think it's high time we get our Sara back at Rose Cottage, isn't it? Oh, but I don't know where we'll put ya, child. With Mrs. Lynde and the children--"
"Well, I could always stay at the hotel."
"Nonsense! I won't hear of it. That blasted Simon Tremayne has turned the hotel topsy-turvy. It surprises me how the man manages to stay in business at all. No, Sara. You'll stay at Rose Cottage and that's that. And afterwards, we'll all come back here for a nice family supper, all of us together. I daresay you need it. Heavens to Molly!" Hetty left her motorcar in the hands of Davey Keith and put her arms around Sara. "You're nothing but skin and bones, child!" she exclaimed. "Janet will have to fatten you up right away. Gracious, Sara!" Hetty said in a shocked half-whisper. "Are ya wearing any kind of petticoat at all?"
* * *
Alec and Davey entered Rose Cottage with a large steamer trunk in their arms. "We'll get you settled as quickly as possible, Sara."
"Thank you, Uncle Alec."
"What do you got in here, Sara?" Davey asked.
"Where exactly do you want this?" Alec asked.
"Just anywhere is fine. I'll take care of it. And there are lots of surprises in there so I don't want you and Dora snooping, Davey Keith."
Hetty was pacing in the parlour. "Now, Sara. We must decide on sleeping arrangements. We must move you back into your old room, absolutely. Oh, but I've put Dora in there."
"I don't want to be a bother, Aunt Hetty."
Hetty dismissed Sara's concern. "You're not a bother, child. Of course, Dora's only home for a day or two. She'll go back to KLC for graduation exercises soon. Oh, what with Cecily traipsing off to Halifax to visit Izzy Pettibone soon, I suppose we can move Dora into Davey's room and he could take the sofa. Then we could move the lad over to King Farm, couldn't we, Alec?"
"What?" Alec asked, entering the front door, his arms laden with hatboxes.
"Move Davey to King Farm."
"Yes, yes that's fine."
"The lad's been such a help to Alec these past few years. Oh, Dora, dear. You're going to drop that!" Hetty rushed over to assist the girl who was carrying a suitcase. She took the suitcase into her hands and, finding it was much to heavy for her, placed it in the parlour.
"Aunt Hetty! Your back! Are you sure you should be doing that?" Sara asked as her aunt cavorted around with the suitcase.
"Oh, yes. I'm perfectly fine, Sara. I've been given a clean bill of health, albeit by that nitwitted Arthur Pettibone."
"Aunt Hetty, I'd hardly call someone who graduated from medical school at the top of his class 'nitwitted.'"
"All doctors are nitwits, child. The way they have to poke and prod ya to tell ya what's wrong. Now that we've got you all settled, why don't you come into the kitchen, child? You must be famished. I know, I'll make you your favourite snack."
Sara followed her aunt into the kitchen. It was the same. That is what Sara thought she needed right then. Safe, predictable order and there was no one else in her life who excelled in those two departments as much as Hetty King.
Hetty was fussing about, looking for pots and pans and ingredients. "I'm so pleased to have ya back in Avonlea, where ya belong, Sara. Oh, the nights I couldn't sleep for fearing for your safety, child. I had a mind to sail to France and bring ya home myself."
"I was worried about you too, Aunt Hetty. You must tell me, you are well? The surgery was a success?"
"Oh, gracious yes. Don't you go worrying your pretty head over your aunt. It would take much more than some blasted growth to do away with me. I'm far too stubborn. And I'm far too busy. Where on earth did that Dora put the teapot? I rather enjoy having the children and Mrs. Lynde here. It's such a help to me, what with my teaching and writing and leading the Avonlea Red Cross and the Improvement Society; I haven't a single moment to spare. I'm completely left without support from this family. Your Aunt Janet, you know, is a-a pacifist," Hetty finished in a near whisper.
"It's not a dirty word, Aunt Hetty," Sara told her aunt.
"There are plenty who would disagree with ya about that, Sara Stanley."
"I hope we'll be able to spend some time together. But of course, if you're busy I can always occupy myself-"
"Don't think if it, child. I'll make reservations for us to have a nice supper at the White Sands tomorrow evening. Just the two of us, ya know."
"It sounds wonderful." Sara's attention was drawn to a pile of books and magazines that was on the table. "What's all this?" she asked her aunt.
"Oh, those are just some things I was reading during my convalescence, you see. I am a firm believer in concentrating on the improvement the mind while the body was healing."
Sara picked up a magazine from the pile. "Vanity Fair?" she asked, unable to keep the laughter out of her voice. Improvement of the mind, indeed. Hetty briskly grabbed the magazine from her niece's hands. "Oh, that's just some-some nonsense Felicity brought over, bless her heart," Hetty explained in a dignified yet somewhat defensive tone. "You know I'm not interested in such frippery as fashion and I must say, Sara, that what passes for art nowadays is positively indecent."
Sara knew that her aunt had read the magazines and had most likely thoroughly enjoyed them. Sara said nothing, as her aunt was in her reproachful, almost self-righteous element. Hetty removed all of the copies of Vanity Fair from the pile. "I thank ya for calling it to my attention, Sara. I must put these-these publications, and I use the term loosely, away at once. It wouldn't do to have them seen by an impressionable young lady like Dora or Cecily.... What are you staring at, child?"
"You. I missed you so much, Aunt Hetty." Sara flew over to her aunt and put her arms around her.
"Oh, really." Hetty released herself from Sara's grasp. "Let's not make such a fuss now. After you've eaten, I'll help ya unpack. Perhaps we could get the girls over here today. Felicity should perk right up now that ya're home. The two of you can have a good gab."
"If you don't mind, Aunt Hetty, I'd really like a chance to freshen up."
"Oh, of course ya do, child, after such a long journey. The washroom is right down the hall."
"I know, Aunt Hetty."
"Oh! Yes, yes, I suppose ya do. You wait right there and I'll draw a nice hot bath for ya."
"Thank you, Aunt Hetty."
* * *
Sara took her hair down from the elegant bun she wore it in and stripped down to her camisole and knickers. Hetty had poured some sweet-smelling liquid into the bath water and the scent permeated the room. Sara smiled at the thought of her aunt purchasing bath perfumes. It was most likely more frippery that she had acquired during her convalescence.
Sara approached the tub slowly. She slowly lowered one foot in and closed her eyes. "Hot water," she said to herself, grateful for the warmth of the water that surrounded her foot. There hadn't been hot water for months in Paris. Sara stood in the bathtub and began splashing around, just so happy for the hot water. She stopped suddenly when Hetty came in.
"Aunt Hetty!" she said in surprise.
"Hello, Sara," Hetty began rather slowly, as she had just caught a glimpse of Sara's dance in the bathtub. "I've just brought ya some nice clean towels."
"Thank you, Aunt Hetty."
"Yes. Oh, and Janet expects us for supper at King Farm at six o'clock. On the dot."
"Yes, Aunt Hetty."
"Very well, child. I'll-ah-I'll let ya get on with your bath, then."
"Thank you, Aunt Hetty." Hetty began to leave. "Aunt Hetty?"
"Yes?"
"I'm glad to be home."
Hetty smiled at her niece and shut the door. She walked into the parlour. Alec and Davey had left and Rachel and the children had gone over to King Farm, thinking Hetty and Sara would like some time alone together. She collapsed into a chair, overcome by gratitude that her darling Sara was finally and safely home.
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