Anne with an E The Next Chapter

Diana part 2

Anne, Gilbert and Aunt Josephine sat together in the parlour and made idle chit chat while Cole and Jerry stepped away.

"Is there something I should know Anne? You know i'm not one to conform to societies ridiculous rules, so if there is a problem with Diana, I would like to know so I can be of assistance" Aunt Josephine said with a somber look.

"I'm sure you'd be a wonderful ally to Diana, but it's not my place to share and I know she'll find a way to tell you when the time is right for her" Anne said. In the meantime Gilbert looked out the window at the snow. "It's not letting up Anne, if we want to make it back home safely, we'll need to leave before sundown" he said.

Aunt Jo rose from her seat to stand with Gilbert at the large window overlooking her gardens. The snow was falling in large and heavy clumps and the wind was also blowing and she could see for herself that the weather was not fit for travel.

"Rollings, could you come here please" she called out.

Rollings appeared briefly afterwards by the window and looked out with Aunt Jo and Gilbert.

"Do you supposed the weather is suitable for a safe passage to Avonlea?" she said.

"No ma'am I do not- I'll have Rose fix a rom for your guests".

"Splendid" she said. "Thank you. Anne, do you need to send word to Matthew and Marilla?"

"No, thank you, we did warn them that we might stay the night if the weather turned, but Aunt Josephine, we don't want to impose".

"Anne, I will tell you now that I am eternally grateful that you showed up here today. My niece needs her friends, and though I wanted to shield her from whatever was happening, I can see now that no truer friends ever existed than the three of you". She turned then to Anne and held both her hands, then turned to Gilbert and held one of his in hers small frail hand.

"I encourage you to stay the weekend and try, if you might, to pull her from this darkness in her heart" she said with tears rimming her aged eyes.

Anne was taken aback and pulled Aunt Jo to her chest and hugged her tightly. A sudden urgency filled her up as she squeezed the delicate woman in her arms. "May we see her now ?" she said in a whisper.

Aunt Jo walked Gilbert and Anne to Diana's quarters in the east wing of her vast victorian home. As she climbed the stairs slowly, she warned Gilbert and Anne that Diana wouldn't seem herself. "I'm afraid i've not even been able to get her to bathe in over a week- she is incredibly somber and hardly ever responds when I speak to her".

Anne swallowed hard, thinking how odd to think of her lovely Diana so sullen and disconnected. Even at Queens, Diana had a meticulous bedtime routine with careful attention to grooming and cleanliness. The walked the heavily carpeted hall down to Diana's room. As they approached, they saw the large wooden door ajar, the grey light filtered through the small opening. They could hear a soft and soothing voice over a quiet weeping. Aunt Jo pushed the door open and peered in seeing Jerry hunched over Diana's bed. She focused closer with curiosity at the sight before her. The young farmhand held her niece in his arms gently- he looked at her face with tenderness, he rubbed her back with kindness and soothed her quietly with the most nurturing tone.

She entered quietly and watched as Diana looked up at the young man and clutched his flannel vest, how she nestled her heavy head into the crook of his arms, looking at peace and safe. Jerry looked up as he heard them entering. "Oh...hello Ms. Josephine" he said as he attempted to stand up.

"No please, don't move on my account, Diana seems very safe with you dear friend. Diana...do you think you might have energy to sit up and entertain a visit?" Aunt Jo said, peering over Jerry's shoulder. Diana, looked up at Jerry who smiled at her encouragingly "you can do it" he said.