September, 1919

"How wonderful it is to finally be home!" thought Faith Meredith as she got off the train at the Glen St. Mary station. "I can't wait to get to the manse. Everyone is going to be surprised to see me."

Faith made arrangements with the new stationmaster, Mr. Clarke, to pick up her trunk later. Mr. Clarke, who had been in Glen for only a month, didn't know who the striking young woman in the blue dress was, but he thought her quite beautiful. Like many travelers, she looked a little tired, but her brown eyes seemed to sparkle with delight, her fair skin was flawless, and her golden brown hair had the luster of a full moon on a clear night. This captivating young woman seemed to be in a hurry. She didn't even tell him her name when she said someone would be by for her trunk later.

Because she didn't want anyone to see her before her family did, Faith decided to walk home through the woods rather than through town. She'd almost forgotten what an enchanted place Glen could be at twilight, with the regal purple haze of the sunset hanging over the horizon and the luxuriant greenery of the grass and trees juxtaposed against the deep red soil of the roads. Nothing in London could compare with the splendor of Prince Edward Island's natural beauty.

As Faith savored her walk home by way of her old childhood haunts, Jem Blythe arrived at the train station and asked Mr. Clarke if the medical supplies Dr. Blythe was expecting had arrived on the late afternoon train. While he waited for the stationmaster to check, he noticed a familiar-looking trunk on the platform. Walking over to inspect it more closely, he saw that Faith Meredith's initials were engraved on it. His heart joyfully leapt into his throat as he wondered if she could possibly be home.

"Mr. Clarke, is this Faith Meredith's trunk?" Jem asked when the stationmaster returned with the medical supplies.

"I don't know," he replied. "The young lady was in such a hurry to get to wherever she was going that she didn't tell me her name. Just said someone would be by for the trunk later this evening."

"Thank you," Jem said, as he rushed off towards the manse.

Mr. Clarke, who was still holding the two small boxes Jem had come for, called out after him, "Mr. Blythe, what about these medical supplies?"

Not only did Jem not hear the question, he had completely forgotten about the errand that had brought him to the train station in the first place. All he could think about was seeing Faith.

When Faith reached the manse, she was pleased with herself, knowing that she had succeeded in surprising her family with her earlier-than-expected return. However, the surprise was on her. The door was locked, an uncommon occurrence at the manse. Faith knocked, but there was no answer.

Faith laughed at her predicament and said to herself, "Well, that's what I get for not telling anyone of my plans – no one to greet me."

Faith remembered that when she had left Glen, the lock on her bedroom window was broken. Walking around to the side of the house near her bedroom, she hoped nobody had fixed the lock in her absence. She looked up at the second-story window and decided that she would climb up the trellis that ran along side the window and try to get in the house that way. She had just put her foot on the second rung when she heard a voice behind her.

"Faith, what are you doing? That's dangerous!"

"Jem," she exclaimed when she turned around and saw him. She quickly jumped down from the trellis. "What are you doing here? I thought you left for Kingsport last week."

Although Jem was eager to find out why Faith had been climbing up the trellis, and Faith was just as eager to learn why Jem was still in Glen, each of them was more interested in being in the other's arms. After the type of passionate greeting one would expect from young lovers who had been separated for five months, they began their explanations.

"We didn't think you'd be home for at least another fortnight," Jem said.

"I finished my work a little sooner than I anticipated. My supervisor offered the opportunity to come home early, so naturally I took it."

"Why didn't you tell us?" he asked as he gazed into her shining brown eyes, which at this moment radiated joy.

"I wanted to surprise everyone by unexpectedly walking through the door two weeks early. But unfortunately the door is locked, and it appears no one is home."

"So you were going to break into the minister's house like a common thief?" Jem asked teasingly.

Faith pretended to be hurt by his description. "You once told me there was nothing common about me?"

"True," he said, smiling. "So you were going to break into the minister's house like an uncommon thief?"

"My bedroom window doesn't lock. Or at least it didn't when I left, so I thought I'd just climb up the trellis and enter my room through the window."

"Did it occur to you that you could fall and break your neck?" he asked in a tone of mock severity.

"I never thought of that," she confessed.

"My beautiful, impulsive wife," he said, as he pulled her close and kissed her again. "What am I going to do with you?"

"I like what you're doing now," she said playfully. He needed no more encouragement to kiss her a third time.

"Tell me what you're doing here," she said. "How did you know where to find me?"

"The medical wing at Redmond was damaged by a fire two weeks ago, and the start of classes had to be delayed so repairs could be made. I'm leaving the day after tomorrow, which will give us all of tomorrow to spend together. As for knowing where to find you, I saw your trunk at the station. I'm only sorry that you weren't still there with it. I could have saved you your trip here," he said, looking at the manse.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean that not only is no one home now, no one will be home until tomorrow. Your parents took Bruce with them to Summerside on church business, and Jerry is in Charlottetown with his business partner, Mr. Logan. And of course Una and Carl left for Redmond early last week."

"Having you here more than makes up for their temporary absences," she told him gleefully.

"I'm glad to hear that," he said, smiling. "Of course, I can't let you stay here alone tonight."

Faith smiled impishly. "That's a scandalous suggestion, my dear husband. After all, no one knows we're married."

Jem laughed and said, "I love the idea of staying here with you tonight, Mrs. Blythe, but that's not what I meant. You'll stay at Ingleside. And unless I can convince you that we should tell my family about our marriage tonight, I imagine you'll sleep in Nan and Di's room while I sleep in my room."

"If Dad and Rosemary were here, I'd say let's tell everyone tonight. But since they aren't, I'm afraid they'd be hurt if we made our big announcement to your family tonight," she said, hoping he wouldn't argue. Though she was usually very stubborn, Faith feared she might acquiesce if he made much of an effort to sway her.

"I guess since we've waited more than a year and a half, one more night won't make any difference," her told her.

"Thank you for understanding," she said.

"My family is going to be thrilled to see you. I'll take you to Ingleside and then I'll borrow Dad's car so I can go pick up your trunk at the station," he said.

"I don't want to impose on your family," protested Faith.

"You could never impose. They consider you family, Faith. Besides, the house seems empty with Nan and Di away teaching, Shirley at Redmond, and …" His voice trailed off, and Faith could tell by the pained look in his eyes that he was thinking of Walter.

"I'm sorry, Jem," she said gently.

"It's hard to get used to the idea he's never coming back," Jem said hoarsely as Faith put her arms around him in a comforting embrace.