They walked slowly back towards the King Farm, savouring the peace and tranquility that is an Island morning in early fall. The golden grasses tugged at their legs as they navigated the path back towards the road. Neither felt the need to talk, and so they didn't. All too soon it seemed, they were rounding the bend and walking down the lane way to the old blue house tucked into the trees. The busy sounds of dinner being prepared wafted out of the house as they climbed the stairs. Gus, his eyes struggling to adjust to the shadow of the porch, couldn't quite make out the figure that lay sprawled on the porch swing, snoring contentedly. Felicity certainly could.
"Felix King!"
At the sound of her voice, Felix leapt from the swing as if prodded with a pitchfork. Confusion covered him as he looked around wildly, rubbing sleep from his eyes. When they finally cleared, he looked down into the laughing face of his older sister. He grinned sheepishly and then joined in her merriment. "How did you get here?" he asked, when the laughter had subsided. "I thought I was going to get the newlyweds."
Gus and Felicity looked at each other and smiled. "Decided to walk, Felix," Gus replied. "Did it enough times as youngsters. The mornin' was just beautiful…"
The screen door banging open interrupted him and out trooped the entire King connection. The bride and groom were hugged all over again and finally, the group was gathered around the table, which ‘groaned' in the fashion that society columns dictate.
Felicity felt as though she were in a dream – of course, she and Gus would return, but the King farm would never again be her home. Could she really be leaving forever? Looking around the worn wooden table at the faces of those she loved, Felicity felt a small cloud cast over her happiness. But one look at Gus and she knew where she belonged. Her life was with him, their love all the sweeter from having been snatched from the clutches of death itself.
The meal was over and the collected company dawdled over the their tea, prolonging the time before the parting must come. Finally, Alec scraped back his chair and rose. Felicity swallowed hard, folding her napkin delicately on the table. Suddenly, her father was behind her, his hands resting on her slim shoulders. The assembled group grew quiet as Hetty sniffed suspiciously at the end of the table. "A fine girl," Alec said gruffly. "Couldn't have asked for a better daughter." One of his hands moved to Gus' shoulder. "Your love for one another has brought you a long way – it'll carry you even farther."
The quiet moment was shattered by a suddenly a gasp of horror. Hopping serenely amongst the plates and cups was a fine specimen of frog, liberated by Montgomery Dale from the pocket prison in which it had lain through supper. Olivia struggled to hand Alicia to Jasper as she reached for the offending amphibian. "Montgomery Dale!" she shrieked, as the frog leapt once again and landed gently in the potatoes.
"My frog!" cried Montgomery, his pudgy fist diving directly into the potatoes to rescue his pet.
Embarrassment etched on her pretty face, Olivia sat her son firmly down in his seat. She retook her own chair, and in doing so, met Cecily's eyes, full of repressed laughter. Daniel broke the silence with a loud giggle and soon the entire group was laughing. With the echoes of happiness ringing in her ears, Felicity rose from the table.
* * * * *
It was a large and jovial crowd that gathered to see them off at the station. Alec and Janet; Felix and Sara; the children from the Foundling Home, shadowed by the faithful Cecily; Aunt Hetty; Olivia and Jasper; Montgomery and Daniel. As goodbyes were said and luggage was safely stowed, the Pettibone rig drove up, depositing Arthur and Izzy on the platform. Izzy, looking pale, had a tight hold on her older brother's arm. Once glance told Felix that this was not the time to broach any discussion.
Felicity attempted to kiss them all again, but as the whistle blew with unrepentant finality, Gus pulled her gently back towards the train. They carefully climbed the stairs, and turned to wave at the crowd. The train started. Goodbyes rang out in the autumn air as smoke billowed up into the clear blue sky. The train rounded the corner, seemingly devoured by the dark pines that lined the track.
They were gone.
The crowd slowly broke up. The children disappeared, their laughter and shouts ringing through the woods behind the station. Soon only Sara, deep in conversation with Arthur Pettibone, and Felix remained on the platform. He looked around – Izzy was no where to be seen. Taking a deep breath, he headed down the path towards the shore – perhaps a few moments in the bracing salt air would clear his head.
His feet had just touched the sand when he saw her. She sat on a hillock covered in sweet grass. Her hat lay be her side, her glossy brown hair gleaming in the fall sunshine. She was lost in thought, gazing out to the azure sea. With uncharacteristic hesitancy, Felix moved quietly across the shore, not wanting to disturb the picture in front of him. As he drew closer, he could see that she held a piece of paper in her hand – his letter?
Izzy was not even aware of his approach, but when his tall shadow fell over her, she knew without looking up who it was. She hesitated for the briefest of moments, knowing that meeting his eyes would change both their lives forever. His lanky form lowered to the grass beside her; he said nothing. For the first time in his short life, Felix King found silence to be a friend. Izzy took a deep breath and looked up at him. Felix met her gaze, falling into her brook-brown eyes. Could he really believe what he thought he saw there? She finally spoke.
"Yes."
For a seemingly endless time, their world began and ended with themselves. At the magical sound of that word, he had bent his dark head and touched his lips to hers. Her head reeling, Izzy reveled in the feeling of his arms about her. Her head was tucked under his chin when she spoke. "Felix," she began softly, but her voice was blotted out by his kiss. She started again. "Felix King, this is important."
She gently pushed him away, setting some distance between them. Felix felt a pang of distrust cross his heart. "There are two conditions on my acceptance," she said quietly. "I hope you can live with them."
Felix held his breath.
"I want you to go to the Navy for your tour," she said determinedly, despite the tears that welled in her eyes. "You were right – it is the right thing for you to do now."
Felix could feel his world falling out from under him. A stranger's voice, very much like his own, spoke. "And the other condition?"
"Please, let's keep this between us for now – let's not tell anyone else."
He looked down at her face, which was valiantly trying to maintain its composure. He felt the hurt rising in his heart. "Why would you want that Izzy?" he said earnestly, his voice cracking with emotion. "You must know how proud I am of you, how honoured I am that you've agreed to marry me…I just want to tell everyone…" His voice trailed off as he looked over her head at the sea.
"I know Felix," Izzy replied softly. "But are we really ready to tell our parents, our families, when we know full well we won't be married for a few years yet?"
"I was prepared to marry you now," Felix said stonily. He refused to meet her gaze.
"Felix, I'm not even seventeen years old," Izzy said sharply. "I still haven't decided on school and work, and what I want to do with my life!"
"But you still think you'll want to marry me," he said flatly.
Izzy slid her hands up his neck, framing his handsome face. She braved a smile, despite the tears in her eyes. "Even if I don't know much else about my future, I do know I want you. I just want to keep this between ourselves for now. We can decide about telling other folks before you leave – how about that?"
Felix relaxed slightly and his face broke into a wobbly smile. He nodded, rose, and reached out his hand to her. "Let me walk you home then," he said, as he pulled her to her feet.
They turned and headed back up the road. With one hand firmly holding hers, Felix slid the other into his pocket. Suddenly, he gasped and stopped dead in his tracks. Izzy looked up in alarm. "Felix – what is it?" she exclaimed.
"The letter!" he groaned. "Sally Potts gave me a letter for Felicity and I forgot to give it to her before she and Gus left." He held it out to her. "See?"
"Miss Felicity King…" Izzy mused softly, turning the mysterious post over in her hands. "No return address either. Any idea where it might be from?"
Felix shook his head solemnly, and tucked the letter back in his pocket. Swinging their clasped hands between them, they resumed their slow pace up the shore road, sharing secret smiles in the late summer sun.
* * * * *
"Can I give you a ride home, Sara?" Arthur asked solicitously, as he looked around at the empty platform.
"Oh no, Arthur, that's all right," she replied, craning her neck to look up at his tall figure. "I can walk – it's not that far. Serves me right for talking so long that I missed my ride! And you have to take Izzy home…." Her voice trailed off as she looked around and realized that they were alone. "Well, maybe not…"
Arthur sighed. "Izzy was gone before the train even left," he said quietly. "She simply isn't herself – I don't know what the problem is. Ever since the wedding, she's been nervous and well, just odd."
Sara laughed at his solemn face. "Arthur Pettibone! Don't tell me you don't know what the problem is!" she said, her tone teasing. "I suspect it's a certain young man in a snappy naval uniform!"
"Felix?" he replied. "Well I know they're sweet on each other, but really, she's only a child!" He looked darkly off down the tracks.
"A child!" Sara smiled slightly. "She's almost seventeen – the same age as Felicity when you and Gus were fighting over her!"
Arthur's handsome face flushed and he looked intently at his feet. "Well, that was different," he said flatly, forcing himself to meet Sara's eyes. Sara said nothing in response, but smiled demurely and took his arm.
"You know, I think I will take that ride home, if you don't mind," she said evenly, her eyes sparkling with devilment. Arthur smiled ruefully as they walked towards the buggy.
* * * * *
Felix sat at the table, his handsome face pensive. He turned the letter over and over in his hands, looking across the kitchen table at his cousin's serious countenance. Sara had arrived at the near empty King Farm only minutes before. Upon her arrival at Rose Cottage, she had discovered Hetty, Alec, Janet, Olivia, and Jasper in the throes of another discussion as to the division of the King principle. Hetty, having reluctantly agreed that Olivia was to receive her share, was now making it as difficult as possible. Sara was glad to escape to the relative peace of her uncle's home.
"What do you think, Sara?" Felix asked earnestly. "Should we open it?"
Sara reached across and took the letter from his hand. "You really shouldn't open someone else's mail," she replied, holding the epistle up to the light. "But it might be important…" her voice trailed off as she strained to read the faint writing through the envelope.
Felix turned abruptly in his seat and took a knife from the counter. He quickly pinched the letter from Sara's small hand, and in a second, the letter was open. "There, done!" he said decisively, smiling at Sara's shocked glance. "You can blame me."
He carefully unfolded the pages and laid them on the table between them. Sara quickly flipped to the signature adorning the final page of the letter. They both gaped. Sara was the first to speak; her voice came in a whisper. "It's from Ezekiel Crane!"
The fine penmanship of the letter belied the tough sea captain's hard background. Two pages, closely written, concisely addressed Felicity:
Dear Miss King,
I trust this letter finds you in good health and spirits. Eliza and I have been slowly recovering from the shock of Gus' death – Eliza finds it particularly hard. I know that his death must have been a severe blow to you as his intended, but it is of Gus that I wish to speak.
The letter told a fantastical tale of the extended visit of an old crony of Captain Crane to his home in Jamaica. On seeing a photo of Gus, the old sailor friend had insisted that he had seen that very boy in Charleston the previous spring, in a mission home. Crane had questioned the man extensively, and in the end, had believed his story.
I have to conclude, Miss King, that there is a strong possibility that Gus is in fact alive, although he may be injured in some fashion. I know that you have struggled to rebuild your life without him, but I feel it is only fair to ask your blessing on my efforts to find him. His mother has lived such a cruel life and Gus' death was a heartless blow. If I can find the boy, perhaps it will bring some light to her life, and perhaps, to yours as well. Please contact me at your earliest convenience with regards to this matter.I remain, faithfully yours, Ezekiel Crane
Sara and Felix stared at one another.
"Captain Crane doesn't realize that Gus is alive?" she asked incredulously. "Didn't anyone think to tell him?"
Felix shrugged. "I never really thought of it – I assumed that Gus had contacted them once he returned to Avonlea." He looked up quickly. "We have to let him know!"
Sara bit the inside of her lip, a worried expression crossing her face. "Do you really think so – what about this Eliza he spoke of – she's not really all there, is she?" Sara pondered. "I mean, we don't even really know for sure that these are Gus' parents."
"Sara – read the letter – Captain Crane is openly admitting that he and Eliza are his parents! Believe me, I helped dig up that coffin and I believe him." Felix bounded up and into the parlour, returning with a sheaf of papers in his hand. "Here," he shoved the stack in her direction. "You're a good writer – you write Captain Crane a letter." Sara took the papers with a resigned air. "Oh come on Sara – it'll be great!"
"I hope you're right about this, Felix King," she said, a warning tone in her voice, her silken skirts swishing as she left the kitchen.
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