"The ties that bind us are sometimes impossible to see, but their presence is felt in every beat of the heart." - Victoria Black
Chapter 16 - Shadows of Decision
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Saturday dawned clear- and bright, the day that held the promise of small joys and cherished moments. Ever since her mother mentioned Anne's tea invitation, Lydia had been looking forward to this day with a quiet eagerness. The very idea of an afternoon spent in Anne's company, along with their mutual friend and Lydia's sister Diana, filled Lydia with a delightful anticipation.
As they approached Anne's house, Diana, the more assertive of the two, led the way to the front door and knocked. Lydia stood a step behind, her heart skipping in sync with the knock. Moments later, the door swung open to reveal Anne, her face lit with a welcoming smile that seemed to draw them in.
"Won't you please come in?" Anne's voice was as warm as the sunlight spilling behind them, inviting them into the sanctuary of her home.
Diana and Lydia stepped over the threshold, their eyes adjusting to the interior's familiar coziness—a testament to Anne's knack for making any space feel like home. Lydia's gaze wandered, taking in the unchanged yet ever-comforting surroundings, before Anne's gentle inquiry brought her attention back.
"May I take both your hats and coats?" Anne offered her hands already reaching out in a gesture of hospitality.
"Why, thank you," Diana responded with a grateful smile, slipping out of her coat with practiced ease.
"Yes, please," Lydia echoed, her smile mirroring Diana's as she too shed her outer layers, handing them to Anne.
With their coats and hats safely entrusted to Anne's care, the girls found themselves fully enveloped in the warm ambiance of the home. Anne's next question, tender and genuinely interested, sought to bridge any distance the outside world might have imposed on them since their last gathering.
"I trust your family is well?" she inquired, her gaze flitting between her two guests.
"Quite well, thank you kindly," Diana replied, her voice carrying the comfortable familiarity of long friendships.
Lydia offered a nod in agreement, her thoughts briefly wandering to her and Diana's family before being pulled back into the moment by the collective warmth of the room. As Anne carefully hung up their hats and coats, the anticipation of the afternoon's gathering seemed to hang in the air alongside them. With the formalities of arrival behind them, they moved together toward the heart of Anne's home, where a beautifully set table awaited them. The sight that greeted Lydia and Diana as they stepped into the dining area was nothing short of enchanting.
Adorned with an array of flowers and wild plants, the table stood as a testament to Anne's meticulous attention to detail and her innate ability to weave beauty into the simplest of settings. The delicate floral arrangements complemented the spread of snacks and teas perfectly, creating a scene that was both inviting and picturesque.
"Your table is exquisite!" Diana couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes wide with genuine excitement and admiration. Her voice carried a note of delight that echoed the collective sentiment.
"It looks lovely," Lydia added, her smile reflective of the warmth and beauty that surrounded them. She looked around at Anne, her expression filled with appreciation for the effort that had gone into preparing such a welcoming atmosphere.
"How nice of you to say," Anne responded, her smile broadening at their compliments. There was a spark of pride in her eyes, a visible sign of the joy she found in hosting her friends. "Won't you both please sit down whilst I set the tea to steep and fetch the cordial?" she offered, her tone both gracious and slightly apologetic for the brief departure that hosting duties necessitated.
"There are ever so many responsibilities when one is hosting company," Anne mused aloud, a hint of reflection in her voice as she momentarily pondered the complexities of social gatherings.
Lydia and Diana gracefully took their seats at the meticulously arranged table, their movements filled with a respectful acknowledgment of the effort Anne had poured into the afternoon. As Anne retreated to the kitchen to attend to the final touches, Diana and Lydia exchanged smiles, their attention momentarily captured by the decorations that adorned the table. Each detail, from the placement of the cutlery to the choice of floral centerpieces, spoke volumes of Anne's dedication to creating a memorable experience for her guests.
Anne returned and settled herself back at the table, rejoining her friends in the cozy
ambiance that had enveloped them throughout the afternoon. The conversation soon drifted to the topic of the winter past, a subject that seemed to resonate with each of them. Diana, with a slight furrow in her brow, expressed her hope for a milder season ahead. "And we very much hope it won't be as harsh this year," she said, a hint of complaint in her tone.
Lydia, more of a listener at this moment, nodded her agreement, her thoughts momentarily adrift to the snow-laden memories of the previous winter.
"Winter can indeed be savage," Anne concurred as she returned to the table, her hands carefully balancing the teapot and a bottle of brightly colored cordial.
As they each reached for their wine glasses, Anne insisted on pouring for them, a small but meaningful gesture of hospitality. "Please, allow me," she said with a smile, her actions echoing the warmth that filled the room.
"You're too kind," Diana said, her smile wide and thankful.
"Thank you," Lydia added, her gratitude matching Diana's.
Anne, holding the bottle of bright red cordial, couldn't help but share a personal fondness. "I love bright-red drinks, don't you? They taste twice as good as any other color," she mused, her eyes twinkling with a mixture of whimsy and earnestness.
The conversation, as vibrant and varied as the drinks, took a delightful turn when Diana, in a moment of spontaneity, thanked Anne in flawless French, "Je vous remercie de vos belles manieres."
"That's French!" Anne exclaimed, a mixture of surprise and admiration coloring her voice.
Lydia, equally astonished, turned to Diana with wide eyes. "You speak French?!" she echoed Anne's exclamation, her surprise mirroring that of their host.
The revelation that Diana spoke French fluently added an unexpected layer of sophistication and charm to the afternoon tea. "Oui, je parle français, couramment," Diana's confession, wrapped in the melody of the French language, floated across the table, leaving a trace of awe and admiration in its wake.
Anne, always one to appreciate the finer things in life, couldn't hide her delight. "Could there be anything more perfect than you speaking a romantic language?" she gushed, her enthusiasm undimmed by the day's simple pleasures. "My two favorite things together."
With a flourish that matched the moment's camaraderie, Anne raised her glass in a toast. Lydia and Diana caught up in the spirit of the revelation and the intimate warmth that had enveloped them since their arrival, mirrored the gesture. Their glasses clinked in unison, a soft, tinkling sound that seemed to seal the moment, and they all giggled, a shared burst of happiness that felt as light and effervescent as the bubbles in their drinks.
The conversation took another turn when Diana, perhaps emboldened by the intimacy of the gathering, mentioned their mother's plans for the future. "Mother plans to send us to finishing school in France," she said, a statement that dripped with both excitement and the promise of adventure.
Lydia's reaction was immediate and visceral. Her eyes widened in shock, a mirror to her fluttering heart. This was news to her, news that seemed as foreign as the language Diana had just flawlessly spoken. "Pardon me?" she managed, her voice a mix of confusion and surprise.
The table fell silent for a moment, the weight of Lydia's shock palpable in the air. Diana's eyes, too, widened as she realized the oversight, the unintentional secret she had just revealed. "Mother is going to teach you French soon," Diana corrected hastily, her smile a tentative bridge over the gap of surprise she had inadvertently created.
Lydia's mind swirled with a whirlwind of emotions as Diana's casual revelation about their potential journey to France unfolded. A part of her buzzed with the exciting possibility of such an adventure, yet another part hesitated, tethered by the unknowns that such a drastic change entailed. She momentarily pushed these conflicting feelings aside, instead of immersing herself in the immediate joy and camaraderie that filled Anne's cozy sitting room.
Anne's vivacious spirit cut through Lydia's trance, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm and a touch of pleading. "Really? Will you and Lydia take me with you? You both simply must take me!" Her eyes shone with a mix of longing and excitement, painting pictures of adventures yet to be had, of shared laughter in foreign lands.
Diana, with a mischievous glint in her eye, responded in French, "Si vous m'en donnez un peu plus," her words flowing with an effortless elegance hinting at the sophisticated education that awaited them. Her smile broadened as she teasingly held her glass out for another serving of the sweet, intoxicating cordial.
"Oui..." Anne's reply lingered in the air, a blend of confusion and curiosity coloring her tone, a sentiment echoed by Lydia's equally puzzled look. The moment of confusion quickly gave way to shared laughter, a testament to the ease and comfort found in their friendship.
As Diana signaled for more cordial, Anne gracefully obliged, pouring the liquid with a steadiness that belied the festive atmosphere. Lydia, in turn, reached for a cookie, its sweetness a perfect counterpart to the heady cordial, each bite a reminder of the simple yet profound joy of their gathering.
Anne, her glass delicately poised in hand, remarked with a hint of nostalgia, "This cordial seems to be a different blend from the one we toasted with when I became a Cuthbert, but I find this one even more to my liking." There was a sparkle in her eye, reflective of the many shared moments and the deeper connection they celebrated with each sip.
"I could happily drink this for the rest of my life," Diana declared, her laughter mingling with the light-hearted ambiance, her sentiment a mirror to the contentment that filled the room.
"Me too," Lydia agreed, her laughter joining the chorus, the weight of her earlier concerns momentarily lifted by the warmth of their friendship and the enchanting afternoon.
It was then that Anne, her words weaving a tapestry of heartfelt yet tipsy declarations, made a bold proclamation. "I'm going to make... a proclamation," she announced, her voice laden with the sweet influence of the cordial. "I've decided... that I love... being a woman."
Lydia and Diana responded with peals of laughter, touched by the sincerity and the slightly inebriated courage behind Anne's declaration. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated joy, a declaration of their shared journey into womanhood, underscored by the heady optimism of youth.
"There is so much to look forward to when we're even older!" Anne continued her words painting visions of a future filled with endless possibilities, her voice rich with the intoxicating blend of dreams and the sweet cordial that seemed to promise endless summers and adventures yet to come.
The air was thick with the sweet scent of cordial and the warm, comforting aroma of freshly baked treats, now mostly devoured. It was in this cozy setting that Diana, with a sudden burst of enthusiasm, exclaimed, "Bosoms!" Her declaration, bold and unexpected, was like a spark that set off a cascade of laughter among them.
The giggles and chuckles were barely subsiding when Anne leaned in closer, her voice dropping to an excited whisper as if she were sharing a secret known only to them, "We get to wear corsets." The anticipation and wonder in her voice were palpable, painting a picture of their future selves, adorned in the trappings of womanhood.
"Because we'll have bosoms!" Diana added, her whisper escalating to a shout by the end, her words imbued with the thrill of their shared journey into the mysteries of becoming women. This sent them into another round of shared laughter, their joy weaving a tapestry of friendship and sisterhood in the golden afternoon light.
As their laughter subsided, Anne looked at her friends with warmth in her eyes, saying, "Isn't it wonderful how we agree on everything?" It was a rhetorical question that spoke volumes of their bond, a bond that went beyond mere friendship and ventured into the realms of kinship and soul connection.
"Isn't it wonderful to be so grown up?" Diana mused, her smile like a beacon of hope and excitement for the future. Her words hung in the air, a testament to their dreams and the paths they were yet to walk, together and apart.
A peaceful quiet settled over the group for a moment, a gentle pause in their revelry. It was a calm that spoke of contentment and the deep, unspoken understanding that existed between them. But this serene interlude was suddenly broken by Anne's exclamation, "Oh, no." Concern flickered in Diana and Lydia's eyes as they turned to Anne, wondering what could have possibly gone amiss.
"I forgot the tea," Anne confessed, her eyes meeting theirs, a sheepish grin spreading across her face.
After the laughter had subsided, a new spark of mischief glinted in Anne's eyes. She leaned forward, her voice carrying a hint of excitement as she proposed, "Let's go upstairs." Lydia and Diana, buoyed by the light-hearted atmosphere and a bit wobbly from their drinks, nodded eagerly, their agreement interlaced with drunken giggles.
Anne pushed herself up from her chair, but her legs, unsteady and betraying her enthusiasm, caused her to stumble slightly. Noticing Anne's precarious balance, Lydia and Diana, in a display of camaraderie, quickly rose to their feet, though they too swayed a bit, mirroring Anne's unsteadiness. Each took hold of one of Anne's arms, and together, they formed a supportive trio. With giggles punctuating their movements like playful notes in a melody, they made their way upstairs, their steps uneven but determined.
Reaching the top, they halted in front of a wooden door that stood closed, a barrier to whatever new adventures Anne had in mind. Anne, the ever-present gleam of adventure in her eyes, turned to Lydia and Diana, her smile wide and infectious. "Ready," she announced, her voice tinged with a thrill that promised something exciting lay just beyond the door.
"One..." she began, the anticipation building with each number. Lydia and Diana caught up in the moment, and could hardly contain their laughter, the sound of their joy filling the hallway.
"Two..." Anne continued, her voice steady, the moment stretching, teetering on the edge of revelation.
"Three!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices harmonizing in a chorus of exhilaration. The declaration was more than just a count; it was an incantation, summoning the courage and unity that would carry them through the door and into whatever adventures awaited.
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Anne burst into the room, her appearance a whirlwind of eccentric charm. Draped in the most outlandishly stylish attire she could muster, complete with a black fancy hat perched atop her head, she immediately became the embodiment of dramatic flair. With a grandiose gesture, she clung to the wall beside the closet for support, as if the very act of dressing up had imbued her with the spirit of a seasoned actress.
"Jerry, hurry and hitch up the buggy," she declared with an air of urgency, her voice echoing through the room as she sashayed towards the bed. "Or I shall be late for the ball!" Her words were met with the rustle of fabric as she theatrically threw a sheet off herself and collapsed onto the bed in feigned exhaustion, igniting peals of laughter from Lydia and Diana.
Seizing the moment to join in the playful charade, Diana, inspired by Anne's performance, dramatically called out, "Jerry, fetch me some rose water before I have a fainting spell!" Her declaration was a perfect echo of Anne's theatrics, as she followed suit with an equally exaggerated pose.
Lydia, not to be outdone, chimed in with her demand, "Jerry, would you get me some tea, my mouth is very thirsty," her voice tinged with mirth as she giggled, emulating the antics of her sister and Anne.
The room was filled with the sound of their collective laughter, a testament to the joy of their shared imagination. Diana and Anne, momentarily caught up in the make-believe elegance of a grand ball, began to dance around the room, their laughter mingling with the airy steps of their dance. Lydia, seated on the bed, watched them with amusement, her laughter a bright note in the chorus of their joy.
Eventually, the dancers paused, their energy spent, and they joined Lydia on the bed. Together, they laughed, a trio united in friendship and fun.
Then, amidst the laughter, Anne began to sing, her voice soft but filled with a melody, "Beautiful Dreamer." Her song was a siren call, inviting Diana and Lydia to join in, which they did with enthusiasm.
"Wake unto me," Lydia added her voice to the song, her tone blending perfectly with Anne's.
"Dream..." Diana contributed, her voice harmonizing with the others, creating a moment of pure, unbridled joy.
They continued to sing, lost in the music and the magic of their shared fantasy, oblivious to the world beyond their room. However, their performance was not without an audience. Diana's sudden exclamation, "Mother!" cut through their song, bringing their imaginative world crashing down to reality.
Lydia and Anne turned to follow Diana's gaze, only to find Lydia's and Diana's mother standing in the doorway. The sudden appearance of an audience they had not anticipated brought an abrupt end to their performance. Quickly, they sat up, their expressions a mixture of surprise and sheepishness, awaiting her reaction to their impromptu concert.
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In the somber ambiance of the living room, Lydia, Diana, and Anne found themselves facing an unexpected tribunal. Mrs. Barry stood firmly before them, her eyes scanning each girl with a mix of disappointment and disbelief, as they awaited the arrival of Miss Cuthbert. The tension was palpable, a heavy cloud that seemed to press down upon the room. The moment Marilla Cuthbert entered, the air shifted, anticipation hanging on every silent second that followed.
Marilla, with a deliberate pace, moved to the center of the room, her gaze falling upon an empty wine bottle resting on the table. The curiosity piqued, and she picked it up, bringing it to her nose for a tentative sniff. The sharp, tangy residue of currant wine lingered, a silent testament to the evening's escapades.
"As you can see, this is a disgraceful scene," Mrs. Barry declared, breaking the silence with her stern voice, and addressing Marilla directly. She began to pace, a lioness surveying her territory, her gaze flicking between the embarrassed trio and Marilla, seeking an ally in her condemnation.
Marilla, turning to Anne with a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of countless such incidents, couldn't help but remark, "My word, Anne, you certainly have a genius for getting into trouble." Her tone was a mix of exasperation and a hint of begrudging admiration for Anne's unintended knack for chaos.
Admitting to a perplexing oversight, Marilla confessed, "I didn't even know I had any currant wine left in the house." This revelation seemed to add another layer of complexity to the unfolding drama.
Mrs. Barry, seizing upon Marilla's admission, eyed her with a sharpness that could cut glass. "I can't imagine why you had any in the first place," she retorted, her words heavy with judgment and a veiled accusation.
"It was for medicinal purposes," Marilla countered firmly, her response a fortified defense against the insinuation of impropriety. She then added, "But when the minister disapproved, I threw the remainder away long ago. Or so I thought." Her voice trailed a mix of confusion and a dawning realization of the unintended consequences of her oversight.
Mrs. Barry, undeterred, turned her critical gaze back to the young girls, her voice taking on a colder edge. "Your... charge..." she began, her words pointedly directed at Marilla, "is a bad influence on my daughters." The accusation hung in the air, a stark declaration that set the stage for a confrontation not just between Marilla and Mrs. Barry, but between differing views on youth, innocence, and the trials of growing up.
In the tense atmosphere of the living room, Marilla stepped forward, a mixture of determination and resignation in her voice. "Anne made an honest mistake. I'm to blame," she confessed to Mrs. Barry, attempting to shield Anne from the brunt of the blame. However, Mrs. Barry's resolve remained unshaken, her voice laden with finality as she declared, "This is the last time my Lydia and Diana will ever set foot in this house."
Anne, her heart heavy with guilt and fear of losing her dear friends, found her voice amidst the brewing storm. "Please, Mrs. Barry, I didn't mean to set Lydia and Diana drunk!" Her plea, earnest and fraught with anxiety, sought forgiveness, a chance to mend the unintended rift her actions had caused.
Mrs. Barry, unmoved and stern, turned her gaze upon Anne, her words cutting through the air like a knife. "You are not a fit little girl for Diana and Lydia to associate with." The judgment delivered, Mrs. Barry sealed the fate of their friendship with an ironclad decree.
"But it wasn't on purpose!" Anne's shout was a mixture of desperation and defiance, a last attempt to sway Mrs. Barry's stern judgment.
Unyielding, Mrs. Barry laid down further restrictions, her voice resonating with authority. "Moreover, the girls are not to sit together at school. They are not to fraternize in any manner at any time." The edict threatened to tear asunder the bonds of friendship that had blossomed among the three girls, leaving them in shock and disbelief.
Marilla, ever the voice of reason, sought a middle ground, acknowledging the need for discipline while hoping to soften Mrs. Barry's stance. "I don't disagree that the girls should be punished for all that has transpired," she conceded. "Might I suggest two weeks?" Her proposal was a plea for moderation, an olive branch extended in the hope of reconciliation.
Lydia, Diana, and Anne united in their moment of trial, clasped each other's hands, their eyes darting between Mrs. Barry and Marilla, searching for any sign of leniency, any hope of reprieve.
However, Mrs. Barry's resolve was as firm as a stone, her protective instinct for her daughters overriding any plea for clemency. "I must preserve my Diana and Lydia from the contaminations of further intimacy with such a child!" she proclaimed, her voice rising in a crescendo of maternal fervor. Seizing Lydia's and Diana's arms, she made her judgment known, irrevocable, and final. The words hung heavily in the room, a somber conclusion to an evening that had begun with laughter and joy but ended in tears and separation.
As Mrs. Barry's firm grip encircled Lydia's and Diana's arms, she ushered them away from Anne's tearful pleas and Marilla's attempts at mediation. The air was thick with the tension of farewells left unsaid, the silent acknowledgment of a bond being forcibly severed. Anne's voice, laden with desperation, reached out to them, an echo fading into the distance as Mrs. Barry propelled her daughters forward, heedless of their protests.
Lydia, with a spark of rebellion flickering within her, attempted to resist, pulling against her mother's relentless grasp. Beside her, Diana's entreaties painted the evening air, a futile attempt to soften their mother's resolve. Their resistance, however, was no match for Mrs. Barry's determined stride, her mind set on distancing her daughters from what she perceived as a corrupting influence.
The journey back home was marked by a heavy silence, each step away from Green Gables deepening the chasm between the girls. Upon arriving, Mrs. Barry released them, a symbolic gesture that the ties to their recent past, to Anne and the joyous times shared, were now to be considered severed. The threshold of their home, once a welcoming beacon, now felt like the barrier to a chapter of their lives prematurely concluded.
Inside the Barry household, the atmosphere was charged with unspoken words and stifled emotions. Mrs. Barry, having executed her maternal duty as she saw fit, expected a return to normalcy, a reclamation of the decorum she felt had been disrupted. Yet, the air was thick with the residue of the day's events, a palpable tension that settled over the household like a heavy cloak.
Lydia and Diana, still processing the abrupt end to their evening, found themselves caught in a tumult of emotions. The laughter and lightness that had filled their hearts just hours before now seemed distant memories, overshadowed by the stark reality of their mother's decree. The isolation from Anne, a friend who had brought them so much joy and adventure, was a bitter pill to swallow, leaving a void that could not easily be filled.
As they retreated to their respective corners of solace within the house, the weight of the day's events hung heavily upon them. The lessons learned, the friendships tested, and the harsh introduction to the complexities of adult expectations would leave an indelible mark on their young lives. In the quiet of the night, they grappled with their thoughts, each sister wrestling with the loss of innocence and the dawning realization that the world was far more complicated than they had ever imagined.
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[A/n: Hey guys, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Remember to comment and vote for this chapter. Okay bye!!! - Celia]