Felix, Izzy, Cecily, and Felicity arrived at the White Sands. All of them were noticeably quiet during the ride over, because their minds were still on Peter and Andrew leaving for Europe a mere forty-some minutes earlier. Nobody thought they would go fight in that distant war--not even Peter and Andrew themselves.
When the foursome entered the lobby, Mr. Tremayne was there to greet them. "Hello, everyone. What are you all doing here?"
"They're going to help me decorate," Felix replied.
"Ah, I see. Well, there are still some people in the dining area eating breakfast, but they'll be cleared out in about half an hour. Can you all wait that long?"
"Of course. Maybe we could make a New Year sign while we're waiting."
"Sure. I've got some paint, paper, and other supplies in my office. You can go right up if you like."
"Felicity, why don't you and Cecily go on up? Izzy and I will wait here."
"All right," Felicity told her brother. Then Simon escourted her and Cecily upstairs, leaving Felix and Izzy waiting in the lobby. They sat on one of the sofas and watched people leave the dining area. After the room was cleared out, Felix and Izzy got the rest of the decorations and went in to begin decorating.
"What are we going to do about the tables?" Izzy wondered.
"I don't know," Felix answered. "We'll probably put them end to end and have the food laid out on them."
"And the chairs?"
"We'll set them out in the lobby or on the porch, I suppose."
"Won't they get cold? The chairs, I mean."
"If we have to, we'll move them upstairs into storage. I'm very smart, you know."
Izzy walked over to Felix and put her arms around his waist. Then she leaned her head on his left arm and said, "I know you're smart, Felix. That's one of the many reasons I love you."
"I love you too. Shall we get started?"
"Please."
Izzy let go of him, and she and Felix commenced to move the chairs out of the dining room. Ten minutes later, they moved all the tables to the middle of the room to sit there temporarily. Then they proceeded to decorate. They got a couple of ladders out of storage, and Felix started hanging streamers on one side, while Izzy began hanging them on the other side. As they decorated, Hetty entered the dining area. "Gracious Providence, Felix King," she said as she slowly walked in. "What are you doing?"
"Well, Miss King, that's a fine 'how-do-you-do,'" Izzy remarked.
"We're decorating for the party, Aunt Hetty," Felix informed her.
"Well, you're doing it all wrong. You need my help," she told them.
"Don't start with us, Miss King. Besides, you can't do much of anything with your back anyway."
"I know, but you two will mess it all up. You need my expert advice."
"No, we don't, Aunt Hetty. I'm the one who came up with the idea of how to decorate the room, in case you forgot, so don't try to tell us how to do it. If anyone's going to give the advice, it'll be me."
"No, Felix King, it'll be me," Hetty argued, pointing her finger up.
"Aunt Hetty, do you have to criticize everything I do? I'm twenty years old. I'm not a child anymore; I know how everything works. You don't need to be there every time I try to do something. For once, let me do this on my own."
"Very well," she said hesitantly with a confused look on her face. Then she jumped in and added, "But I still think--"
"Shut up!" Felix and Izzy exclaimed at the same time.
"Why don't you go upstairs and see Mr. Tremayne?" Izzy suggested. "That way Felix and I can continue without your constant nagging."
"Fine," Hetty replied with a smug look on her face. Then she hobbled over to the stairs and carefully ascended them. Meanwhile, Felix and Izzy continued to decorate the dining room. About five minutes later, Felicity and Cecily entered with a sign reading "Happy 1915" in blue letters in their hands.
"What do you think, Felix?" Cecily asked him.
He looked at it and said, "That's great, sis. What do you think, Iz?"
She looked at it and added, "Yeah, that is excellent. Where should we put it, though?"
"What about over the entrance of the dining room?" Felicity suggested.
"Yeah," Izzy replied. "It would be a welcoming sight to everyone, especially with all that's happening."
"I agree," Felix told the women. "Go ahead and hang it there."
Felicity and Cecily left the sign on the front desk, went upstairs for a step ladder, and returned a couple of minutes later to hang up the sign. Afterward, they helped Felix and Izzy put up the rest of the streamers.
Half an hour later, they finished. The room eventually had red, white, and blue streamers grouped together into six groups on each side. Each streamer was twisted and stretched from a rope near the ceiling to the floor. Later, the four of them lined the tables up around the room. After that, they stood in the entryway to the dining room and looked at what they had accomplished that morning.
"Not bad, huh?" Felix inquired.
"No, not bad at all," replied Felicity.
"And without any help from Aunt Hetty either. Impressive," Cecily remarked.
"Yeah; I suppose we're done now," Izzy said.
"I'll drop you ladies off at Izzy's house if you like," Felix volunteered.
Felicity, Cecily, and Izzy agreed. With that, the foursome got their coats and hats, and left for town.
* * * * *
(10:28 am)
Felix stopped the sleigh in front of Izzy's house. Felicity got out as fast as she could and ran around to the back of the house to throw up. "Will she ever get over it?" Felix wondered.
"Eventually," Izzy responded. "Do you want to come in for a minute, Felix?"
"I'd love to, but I have to go to Carmody today. It's a surprise."
"What is it?"
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise."
"Good point. When were you going to come get me?"
"About eight. Is that too late?"
"No; that's fine. Come on, Cecily. See you at eight, Felix."
Izzy gave Felix a quick kiss and went into her house. Cecily remained in the sleigh, though; she had to know what her older brother was up to. "What are you going to do in Carmody?" she asked.
"I'm getting a New Year's present for Izzy. Do you know what her ring size is?"
"I think she told me size six." She thought about it for a second before deciding, "Yeah, six."
"Thanks, Cecily."
She got the dresses from under the back seat and went into Izzy's house. A minute later, Felicity entered as well, and Felix drove off toward Carmody. Meanwhile, Felicity fixed her sister and best friend some egg salad sandwiches for lunch. Forty-five minutes later, Cecily and Izzy began to re-do Felicity's dress, while Felicity herself went to the store to look for some black mesh fabric for the skirt of it.
"So, Cecily, who are you going to kiss at midnight?" Izzy wondered.
"Probably no one," she replied. "Why?"
"Just wondering. Kind of a hard choice for you, anyway. You can't kiss your father, obviously. You definitely won't kiss Daniel, because he's your little brother. Plus, you wouldn't kiss Felix since he's your older brother, and he'd be kissing me at midnight."
"True. I wouldn't kiss my boss, either. Very inappropriate. So, who would I kiss at midnight?"
"Probably Peter if he was still here, right?"
"Yeah. Speaking of Peter, I've got to tell you something." Cecily took a deep breath and added, "We kissed last night and told each other we loved each other."
Izzy was surprised. "You did?!"
"Yeah! And it was a real kiss, not a peck on the cheek."
"Wow." Now Izzy became intrigued. "Your first kiss?"
"Yeah. It was the most incredible feeling, like I was on Cloud Nine or something. I mean, we knew each other, but when he came back, it became an attraction and something other than friendship. We didn't say anything to you and Felix and Felicity because we were afraid for each other--that either Peter or me wouldn't want to be more than friends. Of course, last night after he sent you and Felix away, we finally let our feelings known. Let me tell you, Iz, it was soliberating!"
"I'm glad." Izzy leaned over and gave Cecily a hug before continuing to de-hem the waist of Felicity's black dress. Suddenly, another thought entered Izzy's mind. "I just thought of something! Who's Felicity going to kiss at midnight?!"
Suddenly, they heard the door shut and a voice reply, "She's gonna kiss me, of course!" It didn't take long for the young women to figure out who it was; it was a man with a very distinct Gaelic accent. Both of them knew right away it was...
"Gus!" They ran into the foyer and saw him standing by the door. His dark hair was shorter than it was when he left Avonlea last September. Izzy was the first to give him a "welcome home" hug. "When did you arrive in Avonlea?" she wanted to know.
"Twenty minutes ago. I sat at the station for about five minutes or so until Felix drove by and saw me," Gus explained. "He was as surprised to see me as you were, but then again, that was my intention. He told me you two and Felicity were here and offered to drive me here. Now here I am."
Cecily was extremely excited. She hugged her brother-in-law and asked, "How's your eyesight?"
"Gettin' better. Everything's much clearer now, but there's no color yet. Plus, I have to wear sunglasses when I'm outside, even in winter."
"Wow. I'm sure it'll be worth it in the long run, though, right?"
"Yeah. Well, you two are here; where's Felicity?"
"At the store. She'll be back soon, though. Let's go into the parlor."
The three of them walked into the parlor. While Izzy and Cecily continued to take the waists out of Felicity's dresses, Gus told them about Halifax and working at the telegraph office. Then Cecily told him about the goings-on in Avonlea, and about the New Year's Eve party. A few minutes later, Felicity returned with the mesh fabric. "Cecily, Izzy, I'm back!" she called to them.
When they didn't come to greet her, she walked into the parlor and saw Gus. She screamed his name, dropped the mesh, ran over to him, and gave him a hug so big it was close to suffocating. "I missed you so much!" she told him on the verge of tears. "How come you didn't tell me you were coming home?"
"I wanted to surprise you," he replied.
They finally let go of each other, and Felicity told him, "It was a very nice surprise." They gave each other a long, passionate kiss, and Gus went to sit back down while Felicity picked up the mesh up off the floor. She told Cecily and Izzy to go ahead and finish her dress, and she would pick it up later. Then she and Gus decided to take a long walk to catch up on everything.
"Well, that settled the 'who will kiss Felicity' issue." Cecily told her best friend. "Now, who's going to kiss me?"
"We know five guys that you won't kiss, but then who would you kiss?" Izzy wondered.
"That's definitely a tough one."
Izzy gazed out the window for a moment, and then was surprised at what she saw outside. "Oh my God. Is that my brother coming up the road?"
"Arthur?! Gracious Providence!"
"And he didn't even telephone me to tell me he was coming home. This day is full of surprises, I tell you. First Gus Pike comes home and now my brother--" Izzy paused, and she got an idea. "Cecily! I've got it! You could kiss Arthur at midnight!"
"What?! Why would I kiss him at midnight?"
"Think about it. He can't kiss me, 'cause I'm his sister, and I'm going to kiss Felix anyway. He can't kiss Felicity either, because she's married to and kissing Gus, plus they have the history."
"But why me?"
"Well, you're the only one available! Besides, to you it won't mean anything, 'cause you're in love with Peter Craig."
"Good point, now that I think of it. Let's ask him, then."
The two young women went into the foyer to wait for Arthur. A minute later, he entered the house, and Izzy and Cecily greeted him warmly. However, Cecily just had to ask, "What are you doing here?"
"Well, you didn't think I'd miss the New Year's Eve party, did you?" he wanted to know.
"Good point," Izzy replied. "Now, come into the parlor with us. Cecily and I have a proposition for you."
The three of them entered the parlor, and Izzy and Cecily went back to work on Felicity's dress. "Anyway," Izzy continued, "we were wondering if you would kiss Cecily at midnight."
"Cecily? At midnight? I was going to ask Felicity."
"Then Gus would have to kick your butt. They're married now."
"When?"
"Two and a half years ago. They're very happy, and they've got a child on the way."
"Oh," Arthur said with a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"Plus, Gus is back from his job in Halifax."
"Oh," he added with even more disappointment.
"Think about it, Arthur. It would be best for you if you kissed Cecily at midnight."
"What about you, Iz? Who's going to kiss you?"
"Felix. He's home, too. Come on, Arthur. Please?"
"Any other reasons why I should kiss her?"
"Her new-found sweetheart is on his way to Europe, so she needs a fill in. Please, for her."
"Well, you do have some good points. I suppose I'll kiss her at midnight, then."
"Thank you, Arthur." With that, he got up to get his suitcase, which was in the foyer. He took it upstairs and went back out for a walk. Meanwhile, Izzy and Cecily continued working on Felicity's dress.
* * * * *
(2:35 pm)
Felix returned from Carmody a nervous wreck. The time of the party was drawing nearer and nearer, and he was scared to death. It wasn't because it was almost 1915; it was because he had something important to ask Izzy that night. Before going back to King Farm, he decided to take a side trip to the lighthouse to clear his head. When he entered a few minutes later, he was surprised to see Gus and Felicity there.
"Felix! You should have knocked!" Felicity told him.
"I'm sorry; I didn't know you two were here," he explained. "Besides, I'm used to just entering."
"It's okay, Felix," Gus told him. "Just don't do it again."
"I won't. I'll just leave you two alone now."
As Felix turned around to leave, Felicity asked, "What's wrong? Usually when you come here, either something's wrong or you're in deep thought about something...or someone. Which is it?"
"It's Izzy."
"I thought it might be. Sit down and tell us." Felix went and re-joined Gus and Felicity on the bed. "Now, what about Izzy?"
Felix took a deep breath and replied, "I want to ask her to marry me, but I'm afraid she'll say no."
"Do you love her?" Gus wondered.
"Yeah."
"Does she love you?"
"Yeah, of course she does."
"Then what are you worried about? Just ask her, and if she does say no, grin and bear it," Felicity told him.
"Good point," Felix remarked. "Thanks, you guys."
He got up to leave. When he got to the door, he asked, "Felicity, do you want to go back to Izzy's to check on your dress?"
"Sure. Gus, do you want to come?"
"Might as well. Got nothin' else to do."
"Then let's go!" With that, the threesome left.
"You go ahead. Felix was going to show me around the White Sands," he replied.
"All right." She walked toward the gate, then turned and questioned, "How am I going to get home?"
"Izzy has a phone, right?" Felix wondered.
"Yeah."
"I'm sure Mother or Father would give you a ride in the car. Just telephone them when you're ready to go. Gus and I will be back at home before you know it."
"Okay. See you two later." With that, the men drove away, and Felicity entered Izzy's house.
"Girls, do you have my dress fini--?" Felicity stopped short of finishing her question when she saw Arthur come out of the parlor. "Arthur?! What are you doing back in Avonlea?"
"That was a fine 'how-do-you-do,' Felicity," Arthur interjected.
"You could have telephoned, or sent a telegram."
"I wanted to surprise Izzy. Besides, do you think I'd miss the New Year's Eve party?"
"You do have a point."
"Where's Gus?"
"Felix took him to the White Sands to show him around."
"Shunned his wife, eh? He'd rather look around some swanky hotel than be at his wife's side?"
She slapped Arthur across the face. "Don't you dare speak that way about my husband! We love each other very much and have been happily married for two and a half years, and we don't plan to get a divorce anytime soon."
"But is it fair to you that he left you behind for three months to work in Halifax, of all places? I wouldn't do that to you. You should have disregarded him and stayed with me."
"No, I wouldn't have! I love Gus, not you!"
By then, it had turned into a shouting match. Unbeknownst to Felicity and Arthur, Izzy and Cecily had heard every single word they said. In the parlor, Cecily told her best friend, "I've changed my mind. I'm not kissing him at midnight. I'll find someone else."
"Yeah. Shall we go break up the big fight?"
"Please."
They put Felicity's dress on the sofa and went into the foyer. Felicity and Arthur were yelling explitives at each other at the time. Soon after, Izzy yelled out, "SHUT UP!"
The foyer became deadly quiet. Then Izzy continued, "What's wrong with you two? You're acting like school children! I want you two to apologize to each other NOW!"
"Did you hear what he said about Gus?" Felicity asked.
"We heard everything. We also heard what you called Arthur, which we won't repeat. That's why both of you should apologize."
"If not now, at least separate and cool off first," Cecily suggested.
"Yeah," Izzy agreed. "Felicity, go into the parlor." She walked in that direction, then Izzy continued, "As for you, Arthur Pettibone, Cecily has changed her mind about kissing you at midnight."
"I'd rather kiss a pig," Cecily told him. "And you better make sure you stay away from my sister and my brother-in-law tonight."
"Fine. Be that way then. I don't care!" With that, Arthur went upstairs.
"Selfish pig," Cecily commented.
"Yeah."
They went to join Felicity in the parlor. She changed the subject momentarily and asked them, "How's my dress coming along?"
"Pretty good. We'll be done soon," Izzy replied. "Felicity, you should stay away from my brother tonight. It seems as if he's still distraught about your marriage to Gus. Don't let him get to you."
"I won't. Thanks."
The three women spent the next two hours on the dress. After it was finished, Felicity went into one of the rooms to try it on. When she returned, Cecily and Izzy were amazed at how well it turned out. It evolved from a simple black off-the-shoulders number to an exquisite black, off-the-shoulder top with a white skirt covered with shimmery black mesh. Felicity looked very elegant in it. "That's more like it," Izzy commented.
"Yeah. Much more sophisticated," Cecily added.
"Thanks for doing this," Felicity said. "Now, may I please use your phone?"
"Sure," Izzy replied.
Felicity telephoned her house, and ten minutes later, after changing back into her regular clothes, she went to King Farm to eat supper and get dressed. Before she left, she told Cecily that she and Gus would come and get her. With that, Felicity finally left, and everyone began counting the hours until 1915.
Close this window to return to the index