Velma took a good look at Felix King. He had changed quite a bit since she last saw him five years ago. He was taller and more handsome; that was for sure. Yet she had no idea the twenty-year-old standing in front of her was engaged to be married.
Not Velma Bugle, Felix thought to himself. Adeline Hodgson would be okay. I could even tolerate Greta Steig! But Velma Bugle?! Velma "skim milk trying to be cream" Bugle?! Give me a break!
Felix quickly released his hands from Velma's grasp. This action left her stunned. She walked behind the reception desk, leaned against it, and asked, "What's wrong, Felix?" Her words had a very sultry tone to them.
He became very annoyed by then. Suddenly his words returned, and he asked her, in an angry tone, "What in Halifax are you doing here?"
"Oh, I think you know what I'm doing here." Velma began to reach for his left arm to stroke it lightly. Felix saw her and moved away as quickly as he could. "What's wrong, Felix King? Afraid to play a little one-on-one with me, if you know what I mean?"
"Velma, could you please just get out of here? I'm trying to get some work done."
"Oh, come on," Velma said with a pouty tone. "You know you want to."
"You don't know anything!"
Just then, Simon Tremayne emerged from the dining room. "Is something wrong, Felix?"
"Yes. She is bothering me while I'm trying to get some work done," he replied, pointing at Velma.
Simon walked over to Velma and asked, "Would you please leave? We are very busy here, and we can't stand you harassing the employees."
She sighed deeply and made her way outside. Before she exited, she looked at Felix and whispered, "I'll be back."
After she was gone, Felix looked at Simon and told him, "She's a nut."
"She is?" Simon was extremely curious now.
"She has been on to me since the bachelor's auction nearly six years ago. She knew I wasn't interested then, but she remained very persistent."
"Does she know you're engaged to Izzy?"
"No. I haven't told her yet."
"Uh-oh."
"I suppose I should tell her, huh?"
"Yes. Well, I'm going up to my office. If you need anything, you know where I'll be."
"Thanks." With that, Simon went upstairs, and Felix went back to work, keeping a close eye on the front door.
* * * * *
Izzy was on her way back to her house. She and Sara and Felicity had finally decided on a dress design--short sleeves, moderately low neckline (similar to Felicity's wedding dress), and a little bit of lace on the edge of the sleeves. It had taken nearly two hours for the three of them to decide on a design that was agreeable with Izzy's figure, yet attractive and elegant at the same time. As Izzy began to get lost in her thoughts, Cecily ran out of the telegraph office, exclaiming her name. Izzy ran toward her best friend asking, "What's wrong?"
"I got a telegram from your father just now. He and Muriel are on their way here," Cecily replied, handing Izzy the telegram. It read:
To: Miss Isolde Pettibone
Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Muriel and I are leaving for Charlottetown this afternoon. We will be staying with Arthur tonight and will arrive in Avonlea tomorrow afternoon. Believe me, we need to talk.
Lovingly, Father
"'We need to talk?' What does that mean?" Cecily wanted to know.
"I don't know, but it doesn't sound good, Cess."
"I hope it's not bad."
"I hope not, either. I've gotta go. Do you think you can get tomorrow morning off? I want to take you, Dora, and Sara to the store to look at patterns for bridesmaids dresses."
"I'll see what I can do. Bye."
"See you later."
Cecily went back into the telegraph office, while Izzy went into her house. She decided to get supper started; Felix was coming over that night, and she wanted everything to be perfect.
* * * * *
Felix began making his way to Izzy's house at six that evening--right as he got off work. While he drove in his wagon down the road, he met up with none other than Velma Bugle. He mumbled a few choice words to himself and ignored her completely. As he drove past her, she said to herself, "He knows he wants to take me, ravish me, and make a woman out of me. He just needs some coaxing."
Several minutes later, Felix entered Izzy's house. She was at the door to greet him--apron, cooking utensils, and all. After he took off his coat, he gave her a quick kiss and followed her into the kitchen. He smelled the air in there and said, "Something smells good. What are you making?"
"You'll see in a minute. I'm almost done," she replied. "Tell me, how was work?"
"Slow. Guess who showed up at the White Sands today."
"Who?"
"Velma Bugle."
"Velma Bugle?! Miss 'skim milk trying to be cream' Velma Bugle?"
"Unfortunately."
"Oh my God. Greta Steig I could handle, but Velma Bugle?! Does she know about us?"
"No."
"Well, you better tell her about us!"
"Don't worry, Iz. I fully intend to tell her."
"Well, in the words of Mrs. Lynde, 'You're never safe from surprise till you're dead.'"
"Tell me about it. How was your day? Better than mine, I hope."
"Well, I went with Sara and Felicity to look for fabric for my wedding dress. After I found what I wanted, I went back to King Farm with them, and it took us two hours to come up with a design we all liked. After that, I came home, and I've been cooking supper ever since. Oh, Dora Keith came back today."
"She did? What about Davey?"
"She's back, but Davey's still in Vancouver. He'll be back later, hopefully in time for the wedding. I also got a telegram from Father today. He and Muriel are arriving tomorrow afternoon. He also said, in the telegram, 'We need to talk.'"
"I hope he's not angry."
"I hope not, either."
A minute later, Izzy served her fiancé supper--chicken pot pie, biscuits, green salad, and apple pie for desert. Felix took one bite of the pot pie and was overwhelmed. "This is good, Iz," he said in between mouthfuls. "I'm glad you invited me to supper."
"Thanks; I'm glad you came, too."
Twenty minutes later, it was time for dessert. Izzy finally asked, "What are you going to do?"
"About what?"
"About Velma! She's got to find out about us sooner or later."
"I don't know yet. Got any ideas?"
"Felix, I think you should just tell her flat out. Don't sugar-coat it for her; just tell her the plain, simple truth."
"Thanks, Izzy."
"No problem." She leaned over to Felix and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He smiled at her, then gave her one on the lips.
"Oh, your dinner was delicious."
They leaned in for yet another kiss, and Izzy replied, "Thank you. Now, will you help me clean up?"
"Of course."
They brought the plates over to the sink and began to clean them off. While doing that, Felix gave Izzy a little splash. She set her dishes aside, gave him a sarcastic look, and asked, "What was that for?" Then she wet her hand and splashed him back.
"Izzy!"
They started to splash each other all the more, laughing and carrying on as they did. Several splashes later, Felix grabbed Izzy's arm, as she was about to get him again. He then brought her closer to him, and they exchanged a long, passionate kiss. Eventually, one kiss became two, two became three, and they also got longer and deeper. A couple of minutes later, they stopped to catch their breath. "I wish I could stay longer," Felix told his fiancée.
"I wish you could, too," Izzy added. "I can't believe Father and Muriel will be home tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?!"
"Yeah. I told you during supper, remember?"
"Oh, yeah. I guess I got so caught up in our little moment that I forgot."
"It's alright."
"Yeah. I suppose I should go, huh?"
"Unfortunately, yeah. Good night, Felix."
"Good night, Iz."
* * * * *
"They're coming home tomorrow?"
Dora, Cecily, Sara, and Izzy were checking out some patterns for bridesmaids dresses in the store when Izzy told them that Clive and Muriel were coming home that afternoon. Sara was stunned. "That's right, Sara," Izzy replied. "I got a telegram from Father yesterday. In it he said, 'We need to talk,' whatever that's supposed to mean."
"I hope he's not angry," Dora told her.
"I hope not, either."
"If he is, what are you going to do?"
"The only thing I can do is explain that Felix and I are in love, and we want to be married, and we want his blessing."
"Well, he should give it to you anyway," Cecily pointed out. "I mean, wouldn't he want you to be happy?"
"Really, Izzy," Sara added. "He's your father; he should want to see you happy."
"You all are right," Izzy returned. "I was only concerned because he said, 'We need to talk.'"
"Maybe you do. Maybe he's concerned you're rushing into this."
"Do you all think Felix and I are rushing into this?"
"No."
"Definitely not," Dora said.
"Of course not," Cecily answered. "Come on, even my aunt Hetty is thrilled for you and Felix. If she can be so excited for you two, so can your father."
"Cecily's right," Sara returned.
Izzy sighed deeply. She knew Cecily was right, yet deep down she had a feeling her father didn't approve of her marriage to Felix.
* * * * *
Felix was back at the White Sands front desk again, about ready to go on a ten-minute break. He was thinking of Izzy, picturing how beautiful a bride she would be in about three months time. He envisioned her walking down the church aisle on her father's arm, just beaming in her happiness. Suddenly he was ushered out of his reverie when he heard Velma Bugle approach him, saying, "Were you thinking about me, Felix King? Because I was thinking of you."
"Hello, Velma," Felix replied sarcastically. "No, I was not thinking of you."
In a pouty voice, she said, "That's too bad."
"Actually, it's not."
"What? Felix, I'm insulted."
"Well, now, that's too bad."
"What's the matter, Felix?" she asked in a sultry tone. "You know you want to be with me; you know I'm all you'll ever need and want."
"You know what? You'll have to just erase that thought out of your mind for good."
"And why is that?"
"Because I don't love you!" Felix softened his voice somewhat and continued. "Velma, I'm engaged. In three months, I'm marrying Izzy Pettibone. I love her, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her."
Velma was deeply saddened by what Felix said. "You don't love me?"
"No, I don't. Someday, you'll find your soul-mate, but I'm not the one for you. My heart is with Izzy."
Velma didn't know what else to say. She ran out of the hotel lobby, sobbing uncontrollably. As she ran out, Simon walked in, asking, "What did you do to her, Felix?"
"I told Velma I don't love her, and that I'm engaged to Izzy."
"She obviously didn't take it too well."
"No, she didn't."
"Well, you told her about you and Izzy; that's the important thing."
"True."
Simon then went upstairs to his office, while Felix went back to work at the front desk.
* * * * *
Izzy looked up at the clock in the parlor of her house. It was nearly two o'clock. She needed to go meet her father and Muriel at the train station. She looked around the house, making sure everything was fine and orderly, so they wouldn't freak out when they arrived. A few minutes later, she hitched up her wagon and drove to the train station. As she pulled up, she looked around for Clive and Muriel. She didn't have to look around for long; they found her approaching the platform. She gave each of them a hug and helped them load their things into the wagon.
"Where's Felix?" Muriel asked, curious as to why her future son-in-law wasn't there to greet them.
"Felix is working, Muriel," Izzy replied.
"I see. Well, it's alright; we'll get to see him eventually."
"You definitely will." With that, the Pettibones went back to Izzy's house. She helped them get settled back into their old room without complications. Later, they sat in the parlor, and Izzy told them about the New Year's Eve party, especially about Felix proposing.
"Wow!" Muriel was mesmerized. To her, the way Felix proposed--on bended knee, along the shore, on New Year's Eve--was extremely romantic. "He really did all that?"
"Yes, he did."
Clive looked at them with a strange look. They were acting like a couple of schoolgirls to him. Then again, it had been nearly a month since Izzy returned to Avonlea, so they had a lot of catching up to do. "So, tell me what you two did on New Year's Eve," Izzy said.
"Oh, it was so wonderful," Muriel began. "We had dinner at home; I made one of my dishes from India. Then we took a walk along the docks and shared our resolutions. Later we went back to our house and watched the fireworks at midnight. They went all out, too. It was a great way to lift our spirits."
"I am happy for you two."
"Thank you."
Clive continued to look at them strangely. Izzy was becoming annoyed with it; she told him, "Father, stop it; say something."
Finally, Clive lost his self-control. "What's wrong with you, Izzy?" he asked. "You've gone and gotten engaged now?! You're too young to get married!"
"Father, I'm nineteen years old. Most girls my age are either already married or engaged by then."
"So?"
"How old was Mother when she married you?"
"About sixteen."
"You see? Even Mother was younger than I am now when she married you."
"Times are changing, Izzy. Nineteen isn't what it was when your mother and I were younger."
"You don't have to remind me about time changing everything. Just look at what's happened in the past six months!"
"I know! Now, you listen to me, Isolde Pettibone. You're not getting married. You got that?"
Izzy looked at him in shock. "Listen. I love Felix, okay?" she said, nearly choking on her words. "We may have had our spats over the years, but I love him. I want to become Izzy King in April. Can't you just be happy for us and give us your blessing?"
"You're not getting married," Clive repeated.
With that, Izzy stormed out of her house and began to walk down the road, with tears in her eyes. How could her father be so heartless? She couldn't take it. She continued down the road until she started to lose all control of her emotions, and she collapsed along the side of it. Soon after, she fell asleep there...just as snow started to fall.
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