She was in his office that morning, along with Felix, of course. The doctor was cleaning up Felix's scrapes while Izzy explained what happened. "You two were very brave that night," the doctor commented. "Especially you, Felix. You got hurt like this and still managed to fight off the bear. That's very courageous."
"I did it for Izzy, and I did it for Elbert and any other Canadian who has died so far in this war," Felix explained.
"Well, good for you. I'm done cleaning your wounds now. It seems like the bleeding has stopped, but I'm going to re-bandage them anyway, because even the slightest movement might get them to start bleeding again."
"Can't you just stitch them up?"
"I could, but you would probably break them open very easily. It'll be easier if I re-bandage them. Just be sure to have them changed every day until the scars disappear. They should heal fairly quickly, especially the ones on your back."
"That's good. What about work, though?"
"You can still work, Felix," Dr. Snow replied as he began to re-bandage Felix's wounds. "This will not hinder you any."
The doctor continued with his work. Izzy assisted him by throwing away the old bandages and by rolling up new ones for Felix so he could take them home. She wasn't going to stand around and do nothing while her "one and only" and the doctor were occupied. When she finished, she took the rolled-up bandages and brought them to Felix. "Here; you'll need these," she told him.
"Thanks."
"Okay; I'm done now," said Dr. Snow. "You can put your shirt back on, Felix. Thank you for helping me out, Izzy."
Felix put his shirt back on, and he handed the bandages back to Izzy and told her to take them out to the sleigh. Meanwhile, he paid Dr. Snow for the work and let him know how his arm was doing. Afterward, he joined Izzy outside.
"I put the bandages in your suitcase," she told him.
"Thanks. Why don't you come over for supper tonight? I'd hate for you to eat in a big, empty house alone."
"Sure, Felix; I'd love to. I'll see you tonight, then. I'll ask Cecily to give me a ride."
"Yeah. See you tonight. I love you."
"Love you more."
They exchanged a quick kiss. Then Felix got in the sleigh and drove to the White Sands. Just as he was leaving, Cecily came running out of the telegraph office with a piece of paper in her hand, frantically screaming, "Izzy! Izzy!"
"Cecily! Calm down! What is it?"
"It's...it's..." Cecily was obviously out of breath from running all that time.
"What? Tell me!"
She finally caught her breath. "It's your brother Morgan. He's been drafted. He says in this telegram in my hand that he's leaving tomorrow. He says he loves you and he's sorry he can't come here personally to say goodbye."
Izzy was stunned. She couldn't believe her brother was going away to Europe to fight in that distant war--the same one Felix came back from only days earlier. She hoped Morgan wouldn't return in the same way Felix did. Izzy made up her mind. "Cecily, I need to send a couple of telegrams to Halifax right away."
The two young women went into the telegraph office. Cecily sat at her desk, and Izzy pulled up a chair next to her. "I'm ready when you are," Cecily said.
"Okay. The first one is to my parents." Cecily entered the codes for their names. "The telegram should read: 'Doing well. Settled in alright. I love you. Don't worry about me. Love, Izzy.'"
Cecily finished sending the first telegram and told Izzy, "How about you write down your next message, and I'll send it in a minute. That way the line will stay clear for a little while."
She handed Izzy a pen and a sheet of paper, and she wrote:
To: Morgan Pettibone
Halifax, Nova Scotia, CanadaDear Morgan,
I found out the sad news about you being drafted. I love you and wish you the best. I don't care what Father says; you've made me proud. Remember to come home in one piece--in mind, body and spirit. Good luck.Love, Izzy
"I'll get that right out," Cecily promised. "By the way, how's Felix doing?"
"Much better now. I went to see him last night. After I mentioned Elbert, he finally told me everything. I wonder if Elbert's family knows he's dead."
"Last I heard, he was also listed as missing. I haven't--" Cecily was interrupted by the telegraph. She began to write down the incoming message. "It's the War Office." Cecily continued to write down the message. After she finished, she read it to herself with a measure of sorrow in her face.
"What's wrong?" Izzy wondered.
"They found Elbert's body two days ago. They're shipping it back today, and it'll get here a few days after New Year's."
"You should go see the family," Izzy told her. She paused for a minute, then added, "Maybe we should get Felix, too. He told me Elbert made him promise to see his folks if anything happened."
"Good idea. We'll go right now."
The two of them left for the White Sands. When they arrived, Felix was at the front desk taking a reservation. Cecily and Izzy waited for another minute. When Felix finished, he was surprised to see them there. "What are you two doing here?" he asked.
Cecily showed him the telegram and told him she thought he should be there when she told the family. He added, "Elbert did want me to go see them if anything happened. I'll go ask Mr. Tremayne if I can go."
He went to find Simon, and Cecily and Izzy went to sit down on one of the sofas nearby. A few minutes later, Felix returned, saying he could go, but he had to come straight back. With that, they went outside. Felix decided it would be better if he took his own sleigh, so he could return to work faster. Izzy chose to ride with him on the way there. After that, the three left for the Werts' house.
* * * * *
"Oh my God!" Mrs. Werts cried. "Not my Elbert!"
Elbert's mother was horrified. Cecily had just told her the bad news. Felix walked over to her and gave her a hug. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Werts. I tried to save him, but there was nothing I could do. However, Elbert did ask me, before he died, to come see you if anything happened to him."
"Oh, Felix. Thank you for trying to save him. I'm sure you felt horrible when he died, too."
"I did, ma'am. But I've dealt with it now. Someday you will, too."
"Thank you. I know I'll get through this somehow."
"Well, we've gotta go. I am sorry for your loss, Mrs. Werts," Cecily told her. "Just know that he'll always be in our hearts."
"Yes, Cecily, he will be. Thank you all for your kindness."
Cecily walked back to her sleigh. Izzy gave Mrs. Werts a hug and offered her condolences. Then she and Felix walked back up to the sleighs, hand in hand. She got in with Cecily and drove back to town, while Felix ascended into the other one and drove back to the White Sands.
* * * * *
"I can't believe Morgan's going over there," Izzy told her best friend. "He swore he'd never be like Father. Now he's going over there to fight in that awful war."
"Me either," Cecily reassured her as she finished sending Izzy's second telegram (the one to Morgan). "But you have to keep hope that he will come home."
"What if he doesn't, Cecily?"
"Don't give me that guff, Izzy Pettibone. Your brother will come home. Felix did; so will Morgan."
"I'm sure you're right."
Suddenly, another message began to come in. Cecily wrote it down while Izzy waited patiently. It wasn't from the War Office, because Cecily was smiling. "It's from Sara for Felicity," she said.
Izzy became very excited. She hadn't heard anything about Sara since Gus and Felicity's wedding. "What does it say?" she wanted to know.
After Cecily wrote down the rest of the message, she replied, "She says she's coming home in a couple of weeks. They're closing her school down for the duration of the war. It's going to be used as a hospital for the wounded soldiers."
"So, she'll be here in Avonlea for a while?"
"Yeah. She'll probably visit her Nanny Louisa in Montreal as well while she's over here." Under her breath, Cecily added, "Controlling tramp."
"Cecily King!"
"It's true. When Sara first came here she insisted on staying here with her. Of course, Aunt Hetty sent her away, because she had no room. A year later, Sara's nanny returned for Uncle Blair's funeral."
"Who's your uncle Blair?"
"Sara's father. Anyway, Nanny Louisa, after the funeral, wanted Sara to move back to Montreal. We all know she refused."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Come back to my house and we'll talk about it some more."
"I'd like that."
They went out to the sleigh and drove to King Farm. It was already eleven in the morning, and Cecily was on the road for the second time that day. She didn't care, though. Going places was the best part of her job.
As they drove to King Farm, Izzy said, "Sara's nanny came back when you were away, too, you know."
"She did?"
"Yeah. It was before she went away to Paris. Louisa and your aunt Hetty were arguing over her future. Your aunt wanted to take her on a train trip across Canada, but her nanny wanted to take her on a trip across Europe. Sara wanted to study in Paris. When she told them that, both of them wanted to move there as well, so they could keep an eye on her. However, Sara made them realize she was growing up, she loved them both equally, and that she needed to do this on her own.
"Not only that, but amid all that conflict, she had time for one more scheme. She helped me send love letters to Felix, and she helped him give love letters to me, but he thought it was to some girl named Greta who was working as a housekeeper at the White Sands. At one point we had to meet at the lighthouse. He was expecting Greta, but he found me. I was stunned!"
"I imagine you were. Do you remember anything else?"
"Yeah. Meanwhile, she still felt bad because of your aunt Hetty and her nanny arguing over her. She would go to the lighthouse to clear her head. At the same time, Arthur was home from school; she confided in him a lot. Sara got into trouble for that; her nanny thought she was making moves on him, which wasn't true. I'm glad the whole mess got sorted out before it got worse."
"I know. That was awful," Cecily remarked as she pulled up to her house. They went inside to look for Felicity, forgetting she was in Charlottetown with Hetty. Alec was in the kitchen having a cup of coffee when Cecily found him. "Hello, Cecily, Izzy. What are you two doing here?"
"I had a telegram for Felicity, but she's not here. Where is she?"
"In Charlottetown with your aunt Hetty, remember?"
"Oh yeah. I forgot about that. The telegram's for Felicity from Sara."
"Give it to me; I'll make sure she gets it."
"Are you here alone, Father? It doesn't seem like anyone else is here."
"Yeah, I was alone. Your mother, Aunt Eliza, and Daniel are in Carmody today."
"Oh, yeah; that's right. Do you want us to stay and have lunch with you?"
"If you like."
Cecily fixed some sandwiches for the three of them. They sat in the kitchen together, reminiscing about the "good old days" when Sara and the other King children were young and innocent--a time when Felicity was a stuck-up girl proclaiming to be a woman when she was far from it, when Felix would (and still did, on occasion) eat everything in sight and come up with lots of money-making schemes, when Cecily was still young enough to form her own ideas about everything (and everyone), when Andrew longed to see his father again, while wondering where he belonged in the world, and when Sara won her struggle to be accepted into the family, especially Felicity's acceptance.
Now, of course, was so different. The five cousins were eleven years older and were going in such different directions. Felicity was married, a soon-to-be instructor to the deaf, and was expecting her first child. Felix was working at the White Sands again after experiencing a tremendous loss during what would become one of the bloodiest wars in history. Cecily had finally become a mature young woman, remaining true to her dear Avonlea and working at the telegraph office, and would inherit the farm later on. Andrew was living in Halifax and was attending Dalhousie University where his father taught on geology until he died of unknown causes a year and a half ago. Sara had seen the world (again) and moved to Paris to study writing and would be back in Avonlea before long. In any case, times had definitely changed.
As Alec, Cecily, and Izzy continued to reminisce, they heard a noise outside. They went outside to see what it was. Sure enough, it was Janet, Eliza, and Daniel pulling up to the house in a motorcar. "Janet King!" Alec exclaimed. "What in Providence did you do?" He was astonished, yet mostly shocked.
"What does it look like I've done? I got us a motorcar. Do you like it?"
"Yeah; it's nice. What did you do with the horse and sleigh?"
"The horse is back in town; the sleigh is in Carmody. Please, Alec. My sister has one. Almost everyone else here on the Island is getting one. Why can't we?"
Alec thought about it for a minute. Then he replied, "Well, soon enough everyone will have one. Times are changing, and we're just going to have to change with it. So, why not? We'll keep it!"
Janet jumped out of the car, ran over to her husband, and smothered him with hugs and kisses. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she exclaimed happily.
"Careful, Alec," Eliza warned. "She's giddy."
"I don't mind, though," he told her. "I love her anyway."
"I love you too," Janet replied. "I guess when Felicity and Hetty come home later, we'll have to bring the car. Cecily, do you and Izzy want to ride back in it?"
"Thanks, Mother, but I should probably drive back to town myself," she replied. "I'll ride in it another time."
"That's fine. See you tonight. Izzy, would you like to join us? You're more than welcome, you know."
"Thanks. I believe I will," Izzy said. "See you all later."
She and Cecily climbed back into the sleigh and drove back to town. Meanwhile, Janet made herself, Daniel, and Eliza some lunch.
* * * * *
"I can't believe it, Cecily. Everything's changing. We're changing. I don't mean just in looks, either. Our ideals are changing too. When Felix went off to fight, I had no idea about how everything would change, how one person's life and a distant war would affect our lives here at home. So many lives have been lost, Cecily, and for what?"
The young women were back at the telegraph office. Izzy was still shocked about the fact that Morgan was going to fight overseas. She felt everything was changing too fast for her to keep up. She also didn't understand, as many others didn't, what the reason was for this war.
"I wish I could tell you a reason for the war, but the truth is that I don't know, either," replied Cecily. "It's just senseless."
"I know. I think the hardest part must be finding out that someone you know was killed in action, or was taken prisoner, or anything like that. Today I saw that it's also hard on you--informing the families when something happens."
"Yeah. It was extremely hard for me to tell Mother about Felix when he was listed missing. She didn't take it well, but Father managed to keep hope. So did Felicity. Aunt Hetty suddenly became obsessed about duty, honor, and pride--so obsessed that she drove Mother insane. Thank God Felix came home."
"Yeah. How did you feel?"
"When I found out about Felix, you mean?"
"Yeah."
"I was horrified, upset, and mostly scared. Somehow, I managed to remain optimistic. I knew, somehow, that my big brother would come home. I also knew his fate was up to Providence, but I was still hopeful."
"That's good." Izzy looked at the clock on the wall; it was ten minutes to four. "Do you think your aunt Hetty and Felicity are back now?"
"Probably. Mother and Aunt Eliza probably met them by now. Maybe we should go to the station just in case. Besides, it's going pretty slow here anyway."
"Good idea."
They left for the third and last time for the day.
* * * * *
Cecily and Izzy arrived at the train station in Avonlea at four-thirty. Janet and Eliza were there waiting as well. The train wasn't due for another ten minutes, so Cecily and Izzy went to sit with Janet and Eliza in the car. "Mother, do you think Aunt Hetty will be surprised to see the new car?" Cecily wondered.
"Actually, I think she'll probably ring your mother's neck. Then she'll go back to your house and ask your father how he could allow her to keep 'such a contraption' and tell him," Izzy paused and changed her voice to sound like Hetty and said, "'You and Janet don't have the sense God gave geese!'"
Cecily laughed hysterically. "Yeah, Iz. That sounds about right."
Just then, the train pulled up about seven minutes early. The four women rushed over to the platform to welcome Felicity and Hetty back to Avonlea. A minute later, Felicity and Hetty got off and met with the other four. "How's your back?" Eliza asked Hetty, who was walking with a cane.
"It's better, but I have to walk around with this blasted cane for another three weeks," she replied.
"You'll never believe what Mother bought in Carmody today," Cecily told her aunt and sister.
"What?" Felicity wondered.
The six of them walked over to the new car. Neither Hetty nor Felicity knew what to say. Finally Hetty spoke up. "What were you thinking, Janet King? What did Alec have to say about this?"
"He was shocked at first, but then decided that we should keep it."
"Merciful Providence! Have you two taken leave of your senses?"
"Hetty! I'm surprised! You've ridden in a motorcar before. Come to think of it, you've even driven one before, too."
"So? It doesn't mean I enjoyed it!"
"Fine, Hetty. You may ride in the sleigh with Cecily and Izzy, then. Felicity, would you like to ride home in the car?"
"Sure, Mother," she replied.
Felicity, Janet, and Eliza drove away in the car, while Hetty and Cecily drove back to King Farm in the sleigh.
* * * * *
"I still can't believe my parents, of all people, own a motorcar," Felicity remarked as she helped her mother serve supper--pasta and tossed salad.
"Me either. I think it's great," said Felix. "Mind if I drive it sometime?" he asked, winking at Izzy who was sitting next to him.
"We'll see," Alec replied.
"I liked it," Daniel told everyone before taking a bite of the salad.
"Yeah, and you'll probably brag about it to everyone at school, right?"
"Oh, I'm sure about that," said Janet.
As everyone passed around and helped themselves to the food, there was a knock on the door. Alec got up to answer it, and when he opened it, he was surprised to see Andrew standing there with another young man that he didn't recognize. Both of them were handsome and dressed in Naval officer's uniforms.
"Hello, Uncle Alec," Andrew told him. "Sorry to drop in unannounced like this. You remember Peter Craig, right?" he added, gesturing toward the young, dark-haired man standing next to him.
"You're Peter Craig?" Alec wondered. "It's been, what, seven years since we last saw you?"
"Approximately," he replied. "May we come in?"
"Of course."
Andrew and Peter followed Alec into the kitchen, where everyone else was still eating supper. Janet looked up as they walked in and exclaimed, "Andrew King and Peter Craig!? What in Providence are you doing here?"
Everyone else looked up and noticed Andrew and Peter, tall and in uniform. Nobody knew what to think, not even Hetty, and she was the one forever lecturing about doing one's duty to the Empire, especially during this great war.
"Peter and I have an announcement to make," Andrew explained. "We're leaving for Europe on New Year's Eve."
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