"I've been doing well. I got in this morning. Felix found me on his way to work, and he drove me here," Sara explained.
"How was school?"
"It was great. My professors were great. When I found out l'école was closing for the duration of the war, I had mixed feelings at first, but when I arrived here in Avonlea, I was overcome with happiness. I was so thrilled to be home."
"I'm sure you still are. Have you heard from Booth lately?"
"I wrote him before I left and told him I was coming here. I might get something from him soon. Maybe he'll find some way to come and see me, with him living back in the States and all."
"I hope so; I want to meet him." Cecily suddenly switched topics and said, "Do you know Felix and Izzy are engaged?"
"They are?! It's about time! Have they set a date yet?"
"I don't know. The family hasn't really talked about the wedding yet."
"Maybe they were waiting for me to come home."
"Maybe. Oh, have you heard about Peter and Andrew?"
"No. What about them?"
"They're on their way to Europe to fight in the war right now. They might even be there already. And speaking of Peter, well...we fell in love."
"You and Peter Craig?! Wasn't he in love with Felicity for a while?"
"He was, but then he realized he was actually in love with me. Plus, I realized I was in love with him."
"Well, that makes sense. How's Felicity doing? Aunt Olivia told me she was expecting her first child."
"She is. She's just starting to show a little bit. She's also over the morning sickness."
"Good. Too bad about the Foundling Home, though. At least Felicity's found something else to keep her occupied."
"Which is a good thing." Cecily checked her pendant watch; it was quarter past nine. "I suppose I should get back to work. I've been gone long enough as it is. Do you want to come with me?"
"Sure. I'll leave Felix a note."
Sara took a pencil and piece of paper out of her purse and wrote:
Dear Felix,I'm with Cecily at the telegraph office. Don't bother to come and get me. Cecily can take me back to King Farm. See you later.
Love from your favourite cousin, Sara
Sara left the note on the coffee table in the parlor before she and Cecily left. Meanwhile, Felix continued in his attempt to comfort Izzy. He was rocking her back and forth in his arms; she was still crying. It was obvious Morgan's death hit her hard. "This won't bring him back; you know that," Felix told his fiancée.
"I know, but the hurt is still there."
"I'm sure it is. You'll get through this. I'll help you; all of us will help you."
"Thank you. Would it be too much to say that I'm not coming to supper tonight? I think I want to be alone."
"No. That's fine. I have to work the late shift anyway; I'll probably eat there."
"Well, alright. I'll see you later."
They exchanged a quick kiss. Felix saw Sara's note on the table, read it to himself, and left. He went to the post office to get the mail for King Farm, Rose Cottage, and for Izzy. There was a letter from the Dean boys for Felicity, one for Cecily from Peter, another letter for the family from Andrew, and a letter from his aunt Abigail for Janet. In Izzy's box was a letter from her parents, one from Dora Keith, and one from Morgan. When Felix saw the last letter, he froze. He rushed out of the post office and went back to Izzy's house. He knocked on the door and waited. A few seconds later, Izzy answered the door, surprised to see him there. "Did you forget something, Felix?" she asked in a very stoic tone.
"No. I got your mail, though. There's something there from Morgan, which is why I returned so quickly."
Felix gave her the mail for her. "Thank you, Felix. I'll see you later." She shut the door and retreated back into her house, leaving Felix stunned. He knew what was happening with Izzy; it wasn't that long ago when he went through the same thing. He got into his sleigh and drove away.
* * * * *
All was quiet in the King farmhouse. Janet took Eliza to Charlottetown for the afternoon, Felicity was in Carmody visiting Alice at the orphanage, Cecily and Sara were at the telegraph office, and Daniel was at school and wouldn't be home for another hour. Alec was one of the only ones left there. He decided to go to the barn to check on everything. When he entered, he was surprised to see Felix up in the hay loft. Alec climbed up the ladder to talk to his eldest son. "What are you doing up here?" Alec asked, amazed. "I thought you'd be with Sara."
"She's with Cecily," Felix replied quickly.
"Is something wrong, Felix?"
"It's Izzy. Morgan was executed by the Germans last night. She found out this morning, and she's very upset. Sara and I went over to see her, and she was with Cecily. I tried the best I could to comfort her, but..." Felix's voice became softer and softer until he broke down and started crying. He rested his forehead on his knees and wrapped his arms around them. Alec put his arms around his hurting son.
"You hate seeing her hurt, don't you?"
"Yeah."
"Give her time. She'll come around sooner or later."
"I hope so."
"She will, Felix King. You just mind that."
* * * * *
Izzy sat in her room alone late that afternoon. She was still torn about the news of Morgan's execution. She decided to take out her diary and write:
January 5, 1915
Sad news. Morgan was executed last night by the Germans. I found out from Cecily this morning, and I was crushed. I still am. He was so young (only Felix's age--twenty years old) and had so much ahead of him. He was going to be an art teacher someday. He enlisted only days after Christmas and didn't even get to say goodbye to me personally. I don't know when they'll ship his body back to Canada to be buried; I don't even know if he'll be buried in Halifax or here in Avonlea. I hope he's buried here. I mean, to him this was home for so long.Coincidentally, I got a letter from Morgan today as well. I haven't read it yet, but I will now. I want to know what the last letter he ever wrote said.
--Izzy Pettibone (to be Izzy King in April), Age 19
Izzy closed her diary and put it away. Then she picked up the letter from Morgan and blankly stared at it for a minute before opening it. When she did open it, this is what she read:
January 3, 1915Dear Izzy,
As you probably know by now, I've been captured by the Germans. It's hell on earth here at the prison camp. I'm not even supposed to even write to you, but I feel as if I should, like it's Providential or something.It's very frightening here. I never know what will happen from one day to the next. Other soldiers--including other Canadians, French soldiers, and even British ones--are here. About ten soldiers are executed each day. Sometimes they're shot or killed trying to escape from this awful place. Maybe one of them will get out and get this sent to you. I sincerely hope so.
When my ship went down, I was scared out of my mind. Then when the Germans captured those of us that survived I was afraid for our own lives. I thought the Germans would murder us right there and be done with it. But they took us prisoner instead. For now I can only hope I can escape and come home before this bloody war ends.
Give my love to Father, Muriel, Arthur, and Felix. I hope to be out of here soon.
Love, Morgan
When Izzy read the last line, she burst into tears. Morgan wasn't coming home, and nothing could be done. She sat in her room all night sobbing.
* * * * *
It was close to midnight, and things were beginning to slow down at the White Sands. Felix decided to take a break from work. He went into the dining room, paper and pencil in hand, and sat down at one of the tables. He began to write a short letter to Izzy, which read:
Dearest Izzy,
I think you need to realise you're not the only one saddened by Morgan's sudden death. I was also friends with him, in case you forgot.When are you going to get over this? It won't bring Morgan back, just like my distraughtness wouldn't bring Elbert back. Neither one of them are coming back; you know it and I know it. I want the Izzy I remember to come back to me. Besides, we have a wedding to prepare, remember?
I'll come see you sometime tomorrow. I love you.
Lovingly, Felix
He folded the letter and put it in his pocket. Then he went to ask Simon Tremayne if he could deliver it to Izzy. He said it was fine, but he had to come straight back. Felix lit a lantern, went outside to his sleigh, and began driving toward Avonlea. He had driven for about four miles when he saw a young woman walking up the road. He stopped the sleigh and got out, lantern in hand, to see who it was. When he got closer and could make out the features, he began to sob quietly; there was no doubt in his mind who it was.
"Iz? What happened to you?"
Izzy stood in front of him, her long brown hair tangled in a big mess, and tears streaming down her pale face. All she had on was her nightgown and a pair of boots--nothing to keep her warm. It became obvious that she was very distraught; Felix became very concerned for his fiancée's health.
"You're going to freeze to death out here like that! Come back to the hotel with me and I'll get you warmed up."
"I have to find Morgan," she said in a ghostly voice.
Is she crazy? Felix thought. No, Felix; don't think like that. She's just very distraught and needs help, which you need to give her.
"Iz. Listen to me. You're obviously still shaken over Morgan's death, and you need help dealing with the pain. Please come back to the hotel with me."
"I have to find Morgan," she repeated.
Izzy began to walk down the road again. She barely got ten feet away from Felix when she fainted. He ran to her and carried her back to the sleigh. He got back in and drove back to the White Sands as fast as he could. After he got there, he carried Izzy inside and asked Mr. Tremayne to telephone Dr. Snow. Then Felix took Izzy up to one of the empty rooms and laid her on the bed under the covers. Half an hour later, Dr. Snow arrived. He examined her alone to make sure no damage to any of her organs or her brain was done. Afterward, he went into the hallway to talk to Felix.
"Izzy seems fine to me," the doctor began. "I'd use the smelling salts to wake her up, but I'm going to let her sleep it off tonight. Were you with her when she fainted?"
"I was. She kept saying something about finding Morgan."
"And where is Morgan?"
"He's dead. He was executed by the Germans last night."
"She might have been sleepwalking before she fainted. Has she ever done that before?"
"Not to my knowledge; no."
"She might still be disturbed by his death. You should keep a close eye on her."
"I will. Thank you."
Dr. Snow left after that. Meanwhile, Simon allowed Felix to stay with Izzy for the night. When morning came, he took Izzy home and gave her the note before leaving her alone for the day.
* * * * *
"Why is she acting this way, Sara? I don't understand," Felix told his cousin as they walked toward the lighthouse.
"She's going through hell right now. First your kidnaping, now Morgan's death. She's very miserable."
"I know. I went through it myself not that long ago. It seems like her hell is ten times worse than mine was, though."
"She loved Morgan dearly, Felix. Believe me, even though the loss of a friend hurts, the loss of a family member cuts like a knife, especially when you're close. I know when my father died, it was very hard for me to deal with it. If it weren't for Peter Craig, you, Felicity, Cecily, and everyone else, I don't know how I would've coped. It was extremely hard. But you can help Izzy get through her pain. I know you can."
"I'm afraid I'll let her and myself down."
"In the eleven years I've known you, you've never let anyone down, Felix King. Not when it comes to friendship. I have faith in you."
Felix let out a deep sigh. "You're right, Sara. I judge myself too harshly at times. I need to relax and go with things."
Sara put an arm around her cousin. "That's the spirit."
"I have an idea. Why don't we meet here at sunset--you, me, Felicity, Cecily, and Izzy if I can get her out of her house?"
"I'd love to. It's been so long since I've seen an Avonlea sunset. It's the most beautiful sight in the world, don't you think?"
"Definitely. Nothing in comparison to it."
"You talk to Izzy; I'll ask Felicity and Cecily."
"Sounds like a plan."
* * * * *
Felix knocked on Izzy's door, hoping she'd answer it. A minute later, she finally did, but when she saw Felix standing on the other side, she seemed angry. "What do you want, Felix? Can't you see I'm still in mourning?" she asked with an angry tone.
"That was a fine how-do-you-do, Iz."
"Go away, Felix."
"No. I'm not going to do that. You didn't abandon me when I hit rock bottom emotionally, and I'm sure as hell not going to abandon you."
"Just go away! Leave me alone!"
She slammed the door in his face and locked it, leaving him stunned. He turned around and ran back to King Farm as fast as he could. When he burst into the house, Sara and Felicity looked up from where they were sitting in the parlor. "Felix!" Felicity called out as he ran up the stairs. She hadn't seen him burst into the house like that since before he temporarily moved into the lighthouse. She and Sara ran upstairs after him. They found him in his bedroom, lying prostrate on his bed, sobbing uncontrollably.
"What is it, Felix?" Felicity asked quietly, sitting on the edge of his bed and stroking his back. "Have Sara and I upset you?"
Felix shook his head.
"Was it Cecily?"
He shook his head again.
"Mother or Father?"
He shook his head a third time.
"Was it Izzy?" Sara inquired from the other side of the bed.
Felix nodded. In between sobs he explained, "I went...to see her...to ask about coming...to see the sunset...and..."
He began to lose it again. Felicity and Sara continued to comfort him. "Did she kick you out of the house?" she wondered.
It took a few seconds, but Felix managed to blurt out, "Yes, she did," in response.
"That's horrible. She's obviously taking Morgan's death harder than any of us first imagined."
"I just hope she doesn't do anything drastic," Sara remarked.
"I agree."
Felix rolled over into his sister's arms and looked up at her. "I know what you two are saying. She's been through so much already. I'd hate for Iz to do something drastic. I don't know how or if I'd get over it if she did."
"You'd get over it," Felicity reassured him. "Now, are you still going to come with us to the lighthouse?"
"Yeah."
They left several minutes later.
* * * * *
Late that night, a restless Felix entered the kitchen to find something to eat. As he looked out the window above the sink, he saw someone walking down the road toward the lighthouse. The person had a lantern with them, and from the angle of the light on the body, Felix could tell the person was a woman. Suddenly he became suspicious. He ran back upstairs, got dressed quickly, grabbed and lit a lantern, and left to follow the young woman. Half an hour later, he got to the fields by the lighthouse. Near the cliffs, he saw the young woman standing there looking out to the vast sea. Felix walked a little closer and held his lantern higher to see if he could tell who she was. When he saw the long, brown hair flowing free and the relatively small figure, he was pretty sure it was...
"Izzy?!"
She turned to face Felix. It was definitely Izzy Pettibone standing there. "Stay back. Don't come any closer, or I'll jump."
He inched closer anyway and set the lantern down near him. "What do you think you're doing? Killing yourself isn't going to bring Morgan back, nor will it ease your sorrow. You need to get past this and move on, like I did. Stop blaming yourself, stop living the past, and embrace the present moment."
Unfeelingly, Izzy said, "I can't."
She began to step out onto the rocky ledge, but her foot slipped and she began to fall. Felix leaned out for her hand. "Izzy, no!"
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