Chapter Three:

An Unexpected Visit

It was a lonely and daunting Sunday morning for Anne Shirley-Cuthbert. In her imaginings during the week, Sunday should have been as exciting as Saturday's day of baking, but her wonderful expectations of the weekend had been ceased by the return of Gilbert Blythe and the incidents that followed in his wake. Josie's last words had Anne spiralling back to her first weeks at Green Gables. The tight, aching anxiety of isolation by her peers was creeping back like a tangle of thorny vines around her chest, and she had been so careful to keep them at bay! The part of her that wanted to be happy that Gilbert had returned had been repressed so deeply in fear that she might betray her dearest Ruby – or more so Josie. That Pye could surely conjure up any reason to ruin the friendships Anne had worked so hard to secure.

Anne spent most of the morning before breakfast sitting in the chair by the windowsill in her east gable room, fogging up the frosted window with her breath and drawing little shapes on the glass. That afternoon was the winter picnic where the girls would be debuting their marvellous cake at the community church, and all Anne wanted to do was hide away in her little room and watch the snow catch on the empty braches of the tree outside her window. Whenever Anne fell into these ruts she couldn't even fathom the thought of facing her peers in the fear that she could read their judgemental thoughts of her, even if they were entirely delusional.

There was a knock at the door and Marilla stood in the entryway.

'Anne, why aren't you dressed yet?' Marilla said.

'I don't feel very well today,' Anne replied, not turning around.

'Well no doubt you do after falling into the river yesterday,' she tutted. 'You're very lucky that young Gilbert was there to rescue you from your sheer foolishness.'

When Anne did not reply, Marilla pressed further. 'I've dried out his coat and scarf, by the way. You would do well to get dressed and send them back over to him; it's the least you can do.'

This sparked a reaction in Anne. 'Oh Marilla, please don't make me!'

'Nonsense, Anne! The poor boy needs these things. It's winter, for goodness sake! I won't hear another word against it. I'll see you downstairs in five minutes sharp.'

Marilla closed the door behind her before Anne could retort. Defeated, Anne did as she was told and joined Marilla and Matthew in the kitchen.

'I've folded them by the door,' Marilla said as Anne took a measly three bites out of her toast.

Marilla wasn't even sure Anne had even heard her. Silence fell between the three in the room, and Marilla pondered aloud, 'Who would have thought that John Blythe's son would return to Avonlea after such a long absence? I was sure he'd follow in his father's footsteps.'

Matthew, who sat at the end of the table with his nose in a newspaper, said quietly, 'Well now, he sure has a lot to think about with that farm of his.'

'That boy won't have the slightest clue of how to get it back up to scratch after leaving it unmanaged for a year,' Marilla said.

'I said I'd help him before he left. Anne, be sure to remind him I said that when you go over there.'

Anne groaned audibly and sunk in her chair. 'Anything else you want me to do? Shine his shoes? Shovel the snow from his porch?'

'Anne! What has caused such an ill-mannered tone!' Marilla snapped.

Anne groaned again and put on her hat and coat and grabbed Gilbert's belongings from the table before excusing herself, leaving Marilla and Matthew stunned and bewildered.

'What has gotten into that girl?' Marilla said.

Matthew shrugged and went back to his newspaper.

The journey to Gilbert Blythe's house was long and wearing. Anne was coming to see why Diana hated walking through the snow, as the once pleasurable crunch beneath her boots was now more like a thick, heavy trek though sludge. The closer she got to his house, the faster her heart raced.

It was surely pounding in her chest when she reached his porch, and she scolded herself for being so unnecessarily nervous. 'Just drop them off and be on your way as quick as possible,' she said under her breath.

After a few knocks on the Blythe cottage door and a moment's wait in the crisp winter air, the door opened to reveal a dishevelled Gilbert.

'Anne, hi,' Gilbert said as he rubbed his groggy eyes. His cheeks were the faintest flush of pink, and unlike Anne's cheeks that were red from the cold walk over, his were from the warmth of bed. She tried not to stare too intently.

'I'm sorry, did I wake you?'

'Uh, yeah, but I'm glad you did. I've definitely overslept,' he said. The remnants of his sleep were slowly leaving his eyes and were replaced by intrigue for Anne's unexpected visit. Anne was trapped in his wandering stare, and had to remind herself why she was there in the first place.

'I've bought you your coat and scarf, clean and dried,' Anne said, producing the garments from her bag. She didn't meet his eyes when she handed them to him, and his never left her face as she did so.

'Thank you,' he said, trying to catch her gaze once more. The green of Anne's wide and fascinating eyes remained cast down, hidden beneath thick lashes that kissed her freckled cheeks. Out of instinct or desperation – Gilbert did not know – he reached out to touch the girl's arm. 'Anne…?'

'Matthew says that his offer still stands if you need help with your farm,' she said suddenly, and Gilbert's hand withdrew as quickly as her words had come. Gilbert used the same hand to smooth his tousled hair and he cleared his throat under his breath.

'Well, that is very kind of him. I'll be sure to give him my kindest regards.'

Anne nodded and went to make for the journey home, but in haste Gilbert said, 'Is that it?'

'What do you mean, 'is that it'?'

'I mean…we haven't seen each other in a year, and I'd hardly call yesterday an appropriate reunion.'

'I have to get back before the winter picnic,' Anne said. It wasn't entirely a lie, although Anne was in no hurry to make her appearance.

'I heard it wasn't starting until after noon. Surely you have time for tea? I can put a fresh pot on right now.'

Anne stiffened and prayed that Gilbert could not hear her heart rattling with every heave of her thin chest. He must have sensed her reluctance though, and said with more ardour, 'Is this because I've been gone so long? I promise I'm no stranger and I would love to share with you my journeys. I know you'd appreciate them more than anyone in this town.'

And there it was again, that unfamiliar swirl in the pit of Anne's stomach. She could not deny the want to listen to the recounts of Gilbert's year away, as she had sometimes daydreamed of his adventures on cliff sides in search for hidden beaches and riding horseback through the lands seldom kissed by man. But a stronger, more tangible imagining of Josie finding out that she had spent the morning with Gilbert Blythe, only a day apart from her threat, lead to Anne's decline.

'I have to go. Bye.'

Before Gilbert could say a word against it – heavens, before he could even take another breath! – Anne was running back through the snow and out of sight. Gilbert was left standing in the doorway with a face of disbelief, but he was not entirely surprised. Though the girl had defeated him once more, she still left trails of undiscovered wonders in her fiery wake. Some things had not changed.

Author's Note: Apologies for the late update! I had hoped to upload a new chapter every week but life just gets in the way. This is a short chapter, but I am already working on chapter 4. Hope you guys will stick around! - Kiki