She had spent three days anguishing over the contents of the letter, shredding her initial attempts in frustration. Finally, she had a draft, which she showed to Felix. His nod of satisfaction proved she had hit the right tone, and she carefully recopied it. Now, as she stood in front of the small Avonlea postbox, she hesitated. Was this really the right thing to do – should she and Felix have waited for Gus' return? Should she have consulted Aunt Hetty or Aunt Olivia? Her eyes drifted up to the marvelous sky above her and she could feel her soul being swept away with the excitement of it all – imagine Captain Crane's happiness when he read about Gus' survival! How romantic it would be! Sara's face broke into a wonderful smile and she decisively dropped the letter into the box.
The September days were sliding away like amber beads on a golden rope. The leaves grew darker green, as if giving one last gasp of life, before quietly beginning to change to red and yellow. The salt air became more brisk; the sea, even more brilliant blue, with white caps dotting its surface, drawn up by the crisp breezes. Sara reveled in the season, the island, and her joy at being in Avonlea once more. With unabashed enthusiasm, she hitched up her skirts and dug potatoes in the garden at Rose Cottage. No more willing a helper was present when the early apples needed to be picked in the King Farm orchard. The increasingly cooler evenings found her at Rose Cottage or King Farm, basking in the merriment that followed her everywhere. Olivia, carefully hemming a new dress for Alicia one evening, watched from the shadows as Sara regaled Montgomery and Daniel with tale after tale; their wide eyes glistened and their small mouths gaped at the fantastical tales of pirates and buccaneers, horsemen and maidens, knights and heroes. How they reminded her of Felix, Felicity, and Cecily when they were young!
If only she could stay, Olivia thought, and immediately rebuked herself for the tears that threatened. Of course, Sara could not stay in Avonlea. One look at her elegant deportment, classical figure, and sophisticated charm bespoke of Paris, the continent, glamour, and wealth. Olivia sighed. Sara belonged to a world far beyond Avonlea.
And surely, there was no time for sadness – so many things to be enjoyed in the short time that she would be on the island! Sara had decided to stay for two months, and already a fortnight had passed. She had telephoned Nanny Louisa and it was agreed that Sara would spend the final week in Montreal, before boarding the steam ship for her return trip to France. Only one more year in the Collegiate, and she would receive her degree. Banishing the thoughts of the arduous school year that awaited her, Sara was determined to make the most of her vacation.
One afternoon found her and Felix helping out at the Foundling Home – Sara soundly beating rugs, while Felix wrestled the straw mattresses from the boys' beds downstairs. Felix dragged the unwieldy forms out to the lawn, whereupon he began to drag the hay from their interiors, intent on replacing it. At the sound of rustling from the bush surrounding the old Lloyd house, he sat back on his heels. His eyes lit up as Izzy popped out from the undergrowth, her cheeks pink from the exertion of her long walk.
"Izzy," he called out happily, bounding up from the ground. "Where are you headed?"
Izzy smiled at him, her eyes full of promise and happiness. Sara slowly stopped beating the offending mat, realizing that she was feeling rather like a third wheel. She looked about quickly, trying to find a polite way to make a hasty exit. She needn't have bothered. Felix and Izzy were apparently in their own world. "Well, Felix, I came to see if you wanted to go apple picking," she said. Surveying the half-filled mattresses on the ground, she paused, disappointment etched on her face. "But I see that you're busy…" her voice trailed off.
Felix looked quickly over this shoulder at Cecily, who had just emerged onto the porch to stand next to Sara. "Oh, that can wait," he exclaimed, tucking Izzy's hand under his arm. "Sara, Cecily, you can finish that up, can't you?"
Cecily opened her mouth to berate her brother, but stopped short when Sara's hand grabbed her arm – hard. Cecily looked at her cousin with amazement in her eyes. "No problem, Felix," was Sara's bright reply. "We can do these ones, right Cecily?"
Cecily nodded dumbly, as Izzy and Felix disappeared out the front gate. They were barely around the corner, when the younger girl turned to her older cousin.
"Sara Stanley!" she exclaimed. "Why did you let Felix off like that – he promised to help!" The two women knelt down and began pushing the fresh hay into the empty mattresses. Sara paused, brushing the golden straw from her fair hair.
"Well, Cecily," she said, sitting back, "Felix is leaving tomorrow for training in Charlottetown, and if I'm not mistaken, I think Izzy is going to miss him an awful lot when he goes to sea…"
She looked meaningfully at the younger girl. Cecily continued to scoop up the hay. "Of course she's going to miss him," she replied shortly. "They've been friends for years, and…" her voice trailed off and she looked up at Sara, realization hitting her slowly. "You don't think that, that, they're…" Her face lit up at the sight of Sara's vigorous nodding. Cecily squealed with delight and the two of them happily returned to their task, taking comfort in their roles as Avonlea's latest cupids.
* * * * *
The Charlottetown train station was crowded, with people bustling to and fro buying tickets, catching trains, bidding loved ones farewell. A young couple cautiously navigated the throngs. The man, obviously partially blind, held the arm of his beautiful wife, whose blue eyes carefully scanned the path in front for obstacles. At the sight of an empty seat, her relief was palpable. The gentleman sat slowly, his hands reaching down to their bags.
"Wait here, Gus," Felicity said quietly. "I'll get the tickets and be back in just a minute."
Gus nodded, his discomfort with the teeming crows very apparent. Felicity turned and her slim figure disappeared into the throng. Gus sat still, carefully listening to the people, his eyes straining to make out the figures around him. In the gloomy station, it was difficult, but he noted with grim satisfaction his improving ability to see bright colours. He settled back to await Felicity's return.
She was back in a few minutes, the excitement evident in her voice. "Look who I found, Gus!" she exclaimed. "Felix!"
Gus rose to his feet, and held out his hand to his new brother-in-law. Felix stared at the hand, and then wrapped the older man in a bear hug. "Gus – how are you doing?" he laughed. "How was your honeymoon?" Gus' broad smile was answer enough. Felix reached down and gathered their bags. "Are you heading home on this afternoon's train?" he inquired to Felicity, who nodded.
"Yes, we are – we didn't really tell anyone that we were coming home," she replied. "And what have you been doing? Why are you here in Charlottetown?" she inquired, as the three moved slowly towards the door.
Felix gestured towards his uniform. "Oh, just preparations for leaving," he replied, trying to keep the excitement from his voice. "Elbert's staying on an extra day, but I wanted to get home today." He sighed. "I think sailing's going to be a lot different than waiting tables," he confided ruefully.
Gus shook his head sagely. "Oh, I don't know about that, Felix," he replied. "There's a lot in common between washing dishes and swabbing decks."
Their laughter rang out through the station, attracting admiring glances from the surrounding crowd. The door swung open, and soon the three were standing on the platform, the engine beside them rumbling, spewing steam and smoke. Within minutes, they were seated, and the train was leaving the station, gathering speed as it headed across the island towards Avonlea. Felicity and Gus exchanged a glance, their memories both drawn back to the last time they had left this very station, after Felicity's fateful journey to Charleston. How things had changed! Their smiles lit up their faces.
Felix, watching this exchange, grinned to himself, and sat back in satisfaction. His hand felt the square box carefully tucked in the shirt pocket of his uniform. His mind wandered – would Izzy meet him at the station? He had been gone only three days, and he had told her when he would return – but she was working, and unsure of her ability to get away from her duties at the General Store. No matter, thought Felix, there was always this evening. His eyes closed, and he dozed.
* * * * *
Steaming out of the glorious fall afternoon, the engine was soon sweeping into the small Avonlea whistle stop with a plume of leaves in its wake. The elderly station master carefully consulted his list to ensure that all the cargo expected had been unloaded, and then looked to see if any passengers were disembarking. Three figures alighted from the train, and carefully placed their luggage at their feet. Odd that no one was there to meet them, the old man sighed to himself, reflecting on times when the arrival of the train was an occasion for the whole town to turn out. Young people these days - they just weren't the same, he concluded mournfully, as he turned back to his post inside the station.
Felix looked around expectantly – Felicity followed his curious gaze. "We didn't tell anyone when we were arriving. Are you expecting someone to meet you, Felix?" she inquired casually. Felix started, and his cheeks reddened.
"Uh, no, well uh maybe," he stammered a reply, saved from an explanation by the appearance on the path of Izzy driving her father's wagon. Felicity assessed the situation quickly and suppressed a smile. She smiled brightly up at Izzy.
"So nice of you to meet us!" she exclaimed. She turned to Gus. "Izzy is here," she mentioned, by way of explanation. Something in her tone made her husband nod knowingly.
"Good of her," he commented dryly.
Felicity turned back to Izzy. "Gus and I were actually planning to walk back to the Foundling Home – enjoy the fine weather, you know," she said evenly. "Could we ask you to bring our luggage?"
Izzy hopped down immediately, and looked up at Felix, whose face was broken by a wide smile at the realization that he was to have Izzy to himself. "Of course Felicity," she replied brightly. "I can drop it by after I leave Felix at King Farm."
Felicity nodded and took Gus' arm. "Well, then, we'll see you later on!" she said happily.
Felicity and Gus walked carefully across the platform and disappeared down the path. Felix turned back towards Izzy, took a surreptious look around, and swept her tiny figure into his arms. She buried her face in his chest, her cheek striking the hard box in his shirt pocket.
"Oh, it's good to see you again, Felix," she whispered, and felt him nod in agreement. She pulled her face back. "What's in your pocket – a present for me?" she smiled up at him, trying to be flirtatious, and failing miserably. Feminine wiles were not one of Isolde Pettibone's strong points.
"You'll see soon enough," was Felix's cryptic reply, as they began loading the luggage into the wagon.
* * * * *
Gus could feel the eagerness in Felicity's step, her arm pulling against his as she walked a step ahead of her husband. He gently pulled her back alongside him. "Hey," he admonished lightly, "wait for me! You're awfully anxious to get home, ain't ya?" He smiled down at her happy expression.
"Oh Gus," she sighed happily. "I had such a wonderful time in Halifax, but" and her pace increased again, "I can't wait to see the children!"
Gus laughed aloud at her enthusiasm. More than once since that fateful day in Charleston, Felicity had surprised him with how she had changed in the last two years. The headstrong, proud, and often selfish beauty to whom he had given his heart had grown into an ambitious, giving woman, full of love for the children whose lives she had sworn to protect and nurture. He could not be happier.
It was a rapturous reunion at the old home, as the children, surprised during their mid-afternoon playtime, poured across the lawn towards the happy couple. Soon, both Gus and Felicity were struggling to embrace all the arms that reached up to them. Felicity smiled across the sea of children at Cecily, who tried in vain to kiss her sister and new brother-in-law, and gave up the futile effort with a smile. "You must be tired from the trip," she said solicitously. "Come in and I'll make you a cup of tea."
Felicity nodded in agreement, as she and Gus successfully extricated themselves from the tangle and walked towards the house. Duffy and Edgar scooped up their suitcases and ran ahead, as the children surged around the three adults, like waves around the shore rocks. Within a few minutes, Felicity and Gus sat on the porch, reveling in the sounds of rustling leaves and children's laughter. Cecily returned from the kitchen, cautiously balancing a tray in her hands. Sitting, she reached out to pour the tea.
"So, this is a surprise!" she said, laughing happily. "Why didn't you tell us you were coming home? I could have asked Father to pick you." She settled back in her chair. "Now, tell me all about your trip."
"Oh, we had such a wonderful time!" Felicity replied, as Gus nodded in agreement. "We visited the university and the harbour market, and Captain and Mrs. Ames, she's really very nice after all…"
Felicity was interrupted by the appearance around the corner of the porch of Janet and Hetty. Both were carrying large cloth-covered baskets that hinted at the delicacies hidden within. At the sight of the three young people sitting on the porch, Janet let out a cry and dropped her basket straight onto the ground. Within seconds, she had bounded up the steps of the old porch and swept Felicity into her arms.
Hetty, clicking her tongue disapprovingly, retrieved Janet's basket from the grass where it lay. Despite her best efforts, she could not hide her happiness at seeing Gus and Felicity again and she gave them both a sound hug, after depositing both baskets on the porch.
"Well, I suppose we'll have to hear the whole story of your trip," Hetty said dryly, her sarcasm always at its worst after any show of emotion. She sat primly in a chair that Cecily had pulled up for her. "Janet, goodness, let the children breathe!"
Janet threw an indulgent smile Hetty's way, but didn't move at all. Her worn hand rested on Felicity's knee. "Now," she said brightly, "tell us all about your honeymoon!"
Felicity smiled patiently, and began again. "Oh, it was wonderful, Mother! We visited the harbour, the university..."
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