Chapter Text
Chapter One: New Beginnings
Anne flopped down exhausted onto the bench in her new back garden. Yes, Anne Shirley Cuthbert had an actual back garden again. Well, the cottage she was now living in had an actual back garden and one with a twisted apple tree to boot. After the last few months she had endured, this moment felt momentous. She had finally managed to disentangle herself from… but no she refused to think about what she had escaped from. A new start, a clean slate that was what today represented, she would not think about anything negative. This garden felt pure and clean and she wanted to keep it that way.
Although it was only early May the afternoon sunshine still had warmth but not enough to bother Anne’s pale skin that accompanied her distinctive red hair. As a child Anne used to hate her hair, it made her easy pickings for the bullies that she came across in the parade of schools she attended as a foster child shipped from home to home. However, as she had grown a combination of the security she had found with her adoptive parents, the discovery that she shared her vivid locks with her birth mother and the fact that these days it was more of a deep auburn as opposed to carrot orange had all led to her feeling if not a fondness then at least an acceptance of her crowning glory.
“Well my amazingly resilient girl, how does it feel to have such a quaint old cottage as your new sanctuary. This place must already be fueling your vivid imagination, it is like it was conjured from the pages of a fairy tale book.” Cole threw his tall, lean frame into the opposite garden chair and blew ineffectually at his strawberry blonde fringe that had fallen into his dancing blue eyes. Anne grinned at him.
“I don’t know how I will ever be able to repay Thomas for finding this darling house. I am in raptures, this place feels calm and welcoming. It is almost as though I am returning home, which is ridiculous as I never even travelled this far north before, never mind lived here.” Anne sighed, she finally felt that she could stop running.
“Well, what can I say I have impeccable taste, not just in friends but in my amazing life partner.” Cole grinned lazily at Anne and gently took her hand in his.
Anne was so grateful for this man by her side. They had become friends years ago when both being what she called misfits, they had found each other skulking behind the ROSLA block at school, each keen to avoid the teasing of their peers. She had been the weirdly talkative new girl who had been adopted by a brother and sister and Cole had been wrestling with understanding why he felt different to other boys. Cole had insisted from the start that they were not misfits but just extraordinarily unusual. Whatever the correct label, and Anne actually really hated labels of any sort, they quickly established a connection which had only grown stronger over the ten years they had been friends.
Anne had been there as Cole finally realised that he was gay, she had supported him through his first few messy relationships, telling his parents and then being heartbreakingly disowned. She was fiercely protective of him and the fact that her adoptive parents had willingly opened their house to him meant that they had lived the last two years before university as brother and sister along with Jerry, another boy that Matthew had originally hired to do some odd jobs around the smallholding that they lived on.
Matthew had been taken seriously ill only a year into Anne’s life at Green Gables and she had been terrified of losing the security she had finally found. Jerry came from a very large family and he had been looking for paid work to fit around his school hours in order to help support his many younger siblings. It was a perfect fit, he kept the small farm running with Cole’s help during the long summer holidays that year whilst Matthew had a triple heart bypass. After that he came to the house every day after school to ensure that Matthew did not take on any of the heavy lifting.
Once Marilla had realised that Jerry was struggling to study for his A levels due to the fact that he shared a room with two younger siblings she kitted out the final spare room in the house as a bedroom/study for him and eventually he spent more time at Green Gables than he did at home. They were definitely not what would be called a traditional family set up but in that house Anne learned that the best families are those that we choose for ourselves. Green Gables had always been her sanctuary, there she had discovered love and acceptance and the fact that right now she could not return was breaking her heart. Especially as she had no one to blame but herself.
She must have started to look pensive as Cole squeezed her hand and said. “ No tears today, we agreed. Today is a new start.”
There was a large crashing noise from inside the house and Anne jumped up quickly hurrying to see what the commotion was. She found Jerry standing in the backroom just off her new tiny kitchen swearing fluently in French. His family were all bi-lingual due to an English dad and a French mum.
“Just because I can’t understand you does not mean that I don’t know that you are currently being very rude.” Anne admonished. “And what have you done to my precious books?”
Jerry glared, hopping on one foot. “What have I done to your books? How about what have your ridiculously heavy books done to my poor toes? What on earth possessed you to pack the complete works of Jane Austen, not to mention the whole Harry Potter series all in hardback into a box designed to hold crisps!?”
“Oh I am sorry Jerry, it was the only box I could find at the time. I didn’t think. I packed in a bit of a hurry.” Anne dropped to her knees trying to dispel the feeling of panic that engulfed her when she thought of that day, frantically throwing her possessions into whatever boxes she could find. All the time terrified that …….. Nope she refused to do this. These books had been her friends and companions during her years in the foster system, the one constant that helped her to stay sane. She would not allow them to be tarnished by bad memories.
Jerry was quickly on his knees beside her. “No, I am sorry Anne, I shouldn’t have yelled at you. It is my own fault for wearing these stupid converse instead of my boots. I know how important these books are to you. Are they all OK?”
Anne knew this was Jerry’s way of checking she was coping, he knew her too well and would have immediately picked up on her sense of panic. “Both the books and I are absolutely fine, now let's get my long suffering literary companions onto the beautiful old book case in the front room. Where they will be on display for all to see.” She rose carefully with all thirteen books balanced in a precarious tower.
“I think that is just ever so slightly ambitious Anne. Let me take these top six so they have at least a chance to make it to their new home in one piece.” Jerry winked and squeezed her shoulder. She allowed herself a couple of seconds to draw strength from his tall comforting presence before heading purposefully into the third and final room that made up the downstairs of her cottage.
She lovingly put the books in order of publication on the shelves that filled the left hand recess of the chimney breast. All the books had a well loved look about them and Anne had lost count of how many times she had read them over the years. Somewhere among the last few boxes that Thomas and Cole were ferrying into the house were the film adaptations of all these stories. Although nowadays DVD’s were very much seen as historical items Anne liked to have actual physical things to hold. Downloads or Netflix just didn’t feel the same.
Also, as much as the adaptations of Harry’s story at Hogwarts frustrated her, (Who read that amazing story and then brought it to life without mentioning that Neville’s parents were still alive but insane or that Kreacher had actually had the most amazing story arc and turned up to lead the house elves in the battle of Hogwarts?) the visuals always drew Anne in. She loved to see the castle and Diagon Alley appear just as they did in her imagination. So she overlooked the fact that film Hermione was quite frankly annoying and film Ginny a wimp because she loved their book personalities.
A few hours later all boxes were out of the three cars used to transport them and at least in the house. Plus the most important, the book box and the box containing all the stuff necessary to make tea, had been unpacked. Thomas and Cole had put clean bedding on the beds in both bedrooms and Jerry had got the small AGA in the kitchen running so it was just about hot enough now to boil a kettle.
Thomas had headed out in search of fish and chips as he knew the area better than anyone and Cole, Jerry and Anne were crashed out round the small table under the crab-apple tree each cradling a large mug of tea. Cole was busy telling a tale about some snobbish woman who had come to the art museum he worked at and talked utter nonsense to try and impress the man she was with.
“He was clearly even more clueless than her though, so was lapping it up. Honestly, I was so tempted to call her out on her twaddle but apparently embarrassing a patroness of the museum is a big no no.” Cole declared raising his hands in a gesture of helplessness.
Jerry was chuckling whilst Anne looked at Cole with incredulity. “How you have kept that job I will never know, tact has never been your strong point.”
Suddenly there was what sounded like a knock and the face of a young woman appeared over the top of the fence. Anne smiled in what she hoped was a welcoming way. “Oh hello, I am sorry were we being a bit too noisy?”
She watched with relief as the girl's face broke into a wide grin. “Oh no, it is just I knew Aunt Jo had gone on a prolonged holiday so I wondered who was in here. She said she intended to find a house sitter, but I have been away for the last couple of weeks so I didn’t realise she had actually found one.”
Anne was standing up now so as to try and converse more easily, the young woman's face barely peaked above the fence.
“Yes my name is Anne, and I will be staying here for the duration of Miss Barry’s trip.” she said, careful not to reveal her last name. She was still not in the habit of using the pseudonym that she and Marilla devised that used her adoptive grandmother's maiden name.
“Look, why don’t you pop round.” suggested Cole. “Thomas has gone to source sustenance and he always buys far more than we can ever eat. It will give you and Anne a chance to get to know each other if you are to be neighbours.”
The dark haired girl nodded excitedly and disappeared from view.
Anne felt nervous. “Cole, I am not sure………” she began but he cut her off.
“Look you don’t know a soul up here, both Jerry and I will feel better if we know you are at least on speaking terms with the people who live next door.” he said firmly.
Anne sighed and set off to answer the gentle knocking at the door which was no doubt her new neighbour. So much for keeping a low profile.
On opening the door Anne could immediately see why the young woman had had trouble seeing over the fence, she was incredibly petite in stature. Anne had always considered herself quite small, probably because she spent most of her teenage years with Cole and Jerry, both of whom towered over her. However this girl was slightly shorter than even she was. She had on a pretty 1950’s style summer dress in various shades of pale blue, over which she had thrown a large chunky hand knitted navy cardigan. Anne felt suddenly underdressed in her scruffy jeans and Ravenclaw sweatshirt.
“I am sorry if I look a bit overdressed for sitting in the garden but I have been helping out at a 1950’s afternoon tea with my friend and I couldn’t be bothered getting changed back.” the girl smiled shyly. She was conventionally pretty, with dark tumbling curls that she currently had caught up in a high ponytail, delicate English rose skin and hopeful big brown eyes.
Anne couldn’t help wondering what on earth this very poised young woman thought of Anne in her scruffy clothes, plaited hair and freckle marked skin.
She sighed inwardly and moved aside, gesturing for the woman to come in. “Not at all, it should be me apologising, I expect I look a real state. Moving house is a messy, sweaty business. Come through we are, as you saw in the garden.”
“Thank you, you really are very kind. I am sure the last thing you need is visitors when you are trying to unpack. Are you sure this is OK.” The woman seemed suddenly unsure which helped Anne to warm up to her a little. Maybe she was not as polished as she first appeared.
Smiling honestly she said, “Absolutely, as Cole said we will have more food than we need and as I am very new to this area it will be nice to have at least one friendly face when my removals team finally leave me to it. Sorry I don’t think I caught your name.”
“Oh I probably didn’t tell you. I am Diana, Diana Barry. As in Miss Barry? It is my Aunt Jo who normally lives here.” the girl said lightly.
They had now made the short journey back outside and Anne made sure to be a good host and introduce Diana to Cole and Jerry but they hardly had time to reply when the voice of Thomas came drifting through from the house.
“A little help here would not go a miss. This lot is hot and heavy.”
Anne jumped up and rushed in, surprised that Diana had jumped up to join her. She must have looked confused because Diana said quickly.
“Put me to work, I have crashed your house warming and you are feeding me. It is the least I can do.”
Anne grinned. “Ok but we will have to shoo Thomas out. The kitchen is tiny.”
“Hey Anne. Oh I see you have made friends already. Why am I not surprised? I got a handful of those wooden forks as I couldn’t remember if you brought your own cutlery and I wasn’t sure if there were some in the kitchen.” Thomas puffed as he placed three carrier bags full of the most wonderfully smelling fish and chips on the kitchen side.
Thomas was over six feet tall, played rugby in his spare time and was built like a prop forward. He literally filled Anne’s tiny kitchen, so she quickly pushed him out of the way by telling him he was an angel, handing him a mug and pointing him towards the pot of tea on the table outside.
Diana was staring just a little moony eyed at the door through which Thomas had just exited. Anne smiled knowingly. Thomas tended to have that effect on both men and women alike. He was a very good looking man, his thick sandy coloured hair cut into a trendy peaky blinders style. The best thing about him was that he had not got a vain bone in his body and so he had no idea how attractive he really was. This and the fact that he clearly adored Cole meant that he was one of Anne’s favourite people.
Diana wheeled round to stare at her. “Where am I going wrong? I have lived here for two years and have never in all that time managed to get an attractive man into my garden. You have been here two minutes and you have three of them.”
Anne laughed as she removed all the various containers from their plastic bags. “The plates are in the AGA, careful they will likely be very hot. There should be a mit here somewhere. I think it will be easier if we just carry everything out and then let everyone help themselves rather than trying to plate up in here.”
“Ok I will get the plates. But first spill who are those three lovely boys, you called them your removal team. I think I might have to move house so that I can hire them too.”
Anne shook her head grinning. “Sorry they only do this for me, not as a job. They are my kindred spirits…...family I suppose. Well Cole and Jerry are my brothers anyway.”
With that she set off towards the garden. A slightly bemused Diana, following on behind her.
It took around ten minutes for everyone to fill their plates before there was time for more conversation.
Diana explained that she was a music teacher and worked for the local music service travelling round schools as well as teaching some pupils privately at home. “I also play for some of the local Am Dram associations when they do musicals as a rehearsal pianist and then for the week of the show in the pit.”
“Pit?” questioned Jerry. “What? Like down a mine?”
Cole nearly choked on a chip laughing. “No you philistine, she means pit as in pit orchestra. How have you attended so many theatres with Anne over the years and not even picked up the language.”
Jerry blushed and muttered, “Because I am usually dragged there by Anne kicking and screaming. I like musicals as much as the next man, but when Anne plays the soundtrack to Wicked on repeat for four weeks straight I feel like seeing if she can defy gravity when I throw her out of the window along with her Alexa.”
Diana snorted and Jerry grinned sheepishly. Anne just raised her hands in mock surrender. “Guilty as charged. I do tend to have a bit of an addictive personality. Just be thankful that it is books, films and theatre as opposed to……..”
“Sex, drugs and alcohol?” Cole suggested slyly.
Now it was Anne’s turn to blush. “Cole, we have a guest, stop trying to embarrass me. I don’t need any help with that thank you.”
Diana giggled. “Well you certainly act like siblings but how did your parents manage to have a red head, a blonde and a dark haired baby. That is some gene pool.”
“We all have different parents, that's how.” explained Jerry, his eyes twinkling.
Confusion flooded the small brunette’s face.
Anne decided to put her out of her misery and explained the complicated chain of events that had led to them all coming together.
“Wow.” said Diana when she had finished. “That is some story, your adoptive parents must be amazingly warm and loving.”
Anne felt herself tearing up as she replied. “Yes they really are.”
Diana seemed to sense that she had maybe touched a nerve and tried to change the subject to lighten the mood.
“And what about you Thomas? What is your role in all this? I assume you are Anne’s boyfriend?”
There was a moment of complete silence before the other four roared with laughter. Cole recovered himself first.
“No Diana, I am very proud to say that I get to claim Thomas as my boyfriend.”
Diana’s face flushed bright red at her misunderstanding. “Oh God, I am so sorry, talk about putting my foot in it.”
“No you are fine, you are not the first to make that mistake and I doubt you will be the last.” Cole smiled reassuringly.
“Anne has used it to her advantage on more than one night out when we were at university to scare away potentially unsuitable suitors.” Jerry grinned.
Anne tried to smile but the talk of suitors was vering too close to a subject she did not want aired.
“Who wants a cookie? I have a fresh batch of smartie ones that I baked yesterday evening.”
Diana left about an hour later, claiming that if she stayed any longer they would have to roll her home as she had eaten so much.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to stay tonight?” Cole was asking Anne earnestly. “We can just crash in the front room, I really hate leaving you here alone.”
“What am I scotch mist?” complained Jerry.
As much as Anne wanted to take Cole up on his offer she knew she had to start breaking ties sooner rather than later if she was going to stand on her own two feet anytime soon. “No, you need to get back down to London, it is already going to be gone midnight when you arrive home and you both have work in the morning. Thank you for today, for everything really. I don’t know where I would be without you.”
She flung herself into Cole’s arms and Thomas enveloped them both in his big bear hug saying.
“Just stay in touch Anne, you have a phone. This one will fret if he does not hear from you at least twice a day for the first fortnight. Stick to text messages and off any form of social media which includes WhatsApp and Messenger and you will be fine.”
Anne nodded. “I will and thank you again. I don’t know how you found this place but I am so grateful. I think I can be happy here.”
“We know you can.” Cole confirmed. “And Jerry, remember your job for the next few days is to support Anne, not flirt with her pretty neighbour, so stay focused.”
Jerry made a very rude hand gesture as he pulled Anne towards him protectively. “Get lost McKenzie and drive safely, the pair of you.”
Anne managed to stay positive as she and Jerry chatted whilst washing up the plates. They then gave themselves another hour to try and sort out the kitchen stuff. As she was just house sitting the house was fully furnished but Anne had brought a few bits and pieces of her own such as a tile depicting a Jersey cow similar to the ones that they kept on Green Gables and some of her favourite baking tins.
Anne could tell that Jerry was treating her with kid gloves because he agreed to watch the film of Sense and Sensibility with her. Normally she could only ever get him to agree to watch Northanger Abbey as he had a celebrity crush on the girl who played Catherine Moorland. He said that Marianne in Sense and Sensibility was just annoying and he always wished she had succumbed to her fever. Tonight however he watched in silence even allowing Anne to stretch her legs over his on the sofa.
Climbing into her bed that night she was glad of her brother's presence across the hallway. She just needed a few days to settle and then she would be fine alone but tonight she was glad he was not far away. She thought about her new neighbour as she hovered between waking and dreams. Maybe she would become a true friend. Anne had a good feeling, the girl felt like she could be a kindred spirit despite her obviously privileged upbringing. On the whole, today had been a good day.