Anne with an E The Next Chapter

The Tiping point

The next morning Marilla gave Jerry a quick rundown of the day and told him breakfast was on the stove. She was in a huff because Gilbert was on his way to pick up Anne and her for a meeting with the Minister at 8 Am to plan a prayer mass for Matthew.

"Why so early?".

"BECAUSE...on Saturdays he has several housecalls to make and has to prepare for 4 PM service and don't get me started on weddings and baptisms. The man has a fuller day than we could possibly know. Can you handle your breakfast on your own?"

"Bien sur! " He said with his hands up in an act of surrender. Marilla was in quite a state and Jerry shot Anne a look from across the room.

"Ok Marilla, Jerry has this covered, let's go wait for Gilbert outside, shall we. Goodbye Diana " Anne shouted from the kitchen.

Up in Anne's bedroom, Diana dressed quickly and combed her hair, hoping to be down in the kitchen before Jerry was up so she could avoid an awkward encounter with him. It was bad enough she would have to endure the ride home on the buggy with him, she could barely imagine having todeal with his contempt over toast.

Diana was relieved to find herself alone in the kitchen assuming Jerry had gone out to the barn to do a few morning chores. Sheput the kettle on and watched the pot as she waited for it to come to a rolling oil. Deep in thought, she didn't notice Jerry entering the kitchen for the parlor.

He watched her and recognized that proud and willful behavior, acting as though she didn't hear him enter. He could see this was going to be a game with her, disregarding him completely. He approach the stove to serve himself some porridge in silence, giving her up same ridiculous attitude. As he reached over to grab the spoon she sensed a presence off to her right and turned in surprise, letting out a shout

"Oh Jerry my goodness you startled me!"

He cracked a small grin, laughing at how tightly she was wound, even at 8 in the morning.

"Sorry" he said with a shrug.

They sat there, at the large table quietly eating breakfast without so much as a glance at one another. Diana butterred her toastin brisk little movements that annoyed him out of an othersie quiet breakfast.

"Are you still going home today?" he asked looking up with his dark eyes, fringed by his hair which was freshly washed and swooped across his forehead.

"Yes" she said looking up at him "can you still give me a lift?"

"Yes, I guess. You can't very well drag your suitcases across the field.

After breakfast, Jerry met Diana at the gate and instructed her to open and close it after he was through. As she hopped up on the buggy, he gave her his hand and then she climbed up next to him, the small seat feeling a bit too cozy. Regardless, it would have to do.

Jerry was tempted to ask her about the social scene at Queens but couldn't think of the right question to ask.

"How was it in college?"

Diana smiled and gave him a short synopsis about all her amazing teachers and friends she had made and especially how excited she was to start looking for work and put her skills to the test.

"So, no finishing school, no Paris?"

"No" she said "none of that. I realize that's not what I wanted. I want to be independent and learn more about life than how to host a dinner party".

Jerry scoffed at this and looked at her, noticing her newly destroyed boots again. She caught him laughing at them to herslef and she'd finally had enough of his snide comments and of him mocking her.