January 23, 1919General Rudolph Hamilton
Royal Canadian Army
The Citadel
Halifax, Nova ScotiaThis letter will serve to advise that I hereby resign my commission in the Royal Canadian Army, effective this date. It has been an honor serving under your command.
Sincerely,
Captain Felix A. King
Royal Canadian Army
As Felix reached across the desk to dip the pen in the inkwell in preparation to sign the letter which would end his service to his country, his eyes lit upon the photograph of he and Izzy, taken just over four years before. He thought to himself, as he was wont to do each time he looked at the photo, that Izzy made the most radiant bride that frosty day in January 1915 when they married. He remembered how she looked as she walked down the aisle towards him—it was odd, every time he recalled that scene he never saw her father next to her, nor the friends and family filling the pews. He only could see how Izzy looked like an angel from heaven as she seemingly floated down the aisle to join him at the altar. His mind wandered to how much had happened to them since that day, some good, some bad, but all with his loving wife by his side. It still frightened him to think what would have become of him had he not reunited with Izzy—it certainly would have been a much sadder existence.
It had not been the easiest life for Izzy in Halifax, with Felix being so busy with his army obligations. Being the daughter of a career military man had prepared her for some of it, and she made Felix’s life a lot smoother just being there for him and being his helpmate. But still, he knew it was a rather lonely existence for her.
With a smile, he lit his pipe as he thought of their children. Their oldest, Thomas Elbert, was a serious three year old who looked just like Izzy. Their next child was named Morgan Andrew for Izzy’s brother and Felix’s cousin who were killed at the battle of Courcelette, and he was just shy of two. There was another on the way--Felix hoped for a girl, they already decided if it was to name her Jessica after Izzy’s late mother.
It would be nice to have at least one child I don’t have to worry about sending to the fields of battle, he thought with a touch of bitterness, and shook his head thinking about all the friends and family lost to the war. In spite of all the time that had passed since the beginning of the war, he still could not believe the waste of all those lives, all that potential.
He dropped the pen after signing the letter and limped over to his office window. It was going to be strange leaving his office after all these years, and returning to the home of his youth. Until the war’s end, he had been too busy to think about how much he missed the red earth of Avonlea, but now that little village consumed his thoughts. He chuckled to himself—he was going to return to eventually take over the running of King Farm from his father. After all these years, Felix could scarcely believe that he actually wanted to be a farmer – he’d had enough adventure for his young life; it was time to settle down. He knew it would be difficult running the farm with his wounded leg, but he knew that with Izzy’s help he could do anything. He was fortunate that his father was still in pretty good health and the two men would run the farm together until Felix felt capable enough to step into Alec’s shoes. And in a few years the boys would be old enough to help, just as he did—a lifetime ago.
Izzy’s father had not been so fortunate. Morgan’s death hit him very hard, and he had a severe stroke a few weeks after they received the sad news. It didn’t help that Arthur had been gassed and was virtually an invalid. Thank God for Muriel, if she had not been there Izzy would have been torn up between the desire to stay with her husband and a feeling of responsibility to her father and brother.
Though he was looking forward to his return to the home of his childhood, he knew Avonlea would never be the same. The innocence which had blanketed the little hamlet was forever gone because of the war. But still, though it would be different, he knew it was the only place in which he could put his war experiences behind him and move on with his life.
Felix was idly fingering the dew on his office window when he was disturbed out of his daydreams by the voice of his assistant. "Captain King, your wife is here to see you."
"Thank you, corporal; please send her in," Felix replied, and moved towards the door to greet Izzy. The words were barely out of his mouth when little Morgan came stumbling on chubby toddler legs into the room, followed by Tommy and then Izzy. Felix and Izzy embraced and his heart was warmed by the sight of his boys and the glowing look on Izzy’s face. It wasn’t just her pregnancy; it was the fact that they were finally returning home. It was like a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
While the boys explored in the boxes which Felix had already packed up, he and Izzy went to his desk and he motioned towards the letter. "I just signed my resignation letter to make it official, but Major Hamilton has known for a while that today is my last day in the army. It’s over, Izzy, we’re finally going home."
"Home, that’s got to be the sweetest word in the entire dictionary, I think," she replied. "I can’t tell you how I’ve missed Avonlea."
"As have I. The first thing I’m going to do is go to my favorite fishing hole. I know it’s too cold to catch anything, but just to see it again," he finished nostalgically with a far away look in his eye.
"I spoke to Aunt Hetty today," Izzy deftly changed the subject. "She told me that she’s all moved into King Farm and the family will have Rose Cottage all ready for us when we get there."
"That’s good, I was afraid we’d be sleeping in the barn," Felix teased with a grin.
"That wouldn’t be so bad, just as long as I’m with you," Izzy reached up to stroke the side of his face her finger inadvertantly tracing the path of his scar, "What were you thinking about just now?" She had caught a quick glimpse through the door of the sadness that had crossed his face.
"You know me so well," he began, and put his arms around her slender shoulders. "Part of me still can’t fathom that it’s finally over, and when I think of all those we’ll never see again…" his voice broke but he quickly regained his composure and continued, "What a waste it has all been. I just pray that our sons will never have to go to war." Felix stared out the window, as if trying to see his sons’ future.
"I hope that prayer comes true, for everyone’s sons and brothers and fathers, but it’s in God’s hands. The only thing I want to do now is get my boys back to Avonlea – I want our children to grow up where there still is a little innocence left in the world. And I want to have a farmer for my husband; the captain has earned his retirement. And we all need time to heal."
"You’re right, my love, as always. In fact, why are we standing around here? Let’s go home and start our packing. I don’t want anything to delay our return to the island. It’s been delayed much too long as it is."
Izzy took Tommy’s hand and walked out the door as Felix picked little Morgan up. He took a quick look around the office, blew out the light and shut the door behind him.
Close this window to return to the index