Thread by @lainasparetime

Okay, so, we're all nice and updated and the surprise today is a bonus thread! Since these two chapters are fairly short/light on notes, we're doing two today! #LainaReadsAnne

#LainaReadsAnne As they make their way to where the exam results are posted, Jane is one hundred percent certain Anne will win either the medal or the scholarship. Like it's already a fact to her. Which is honestly super sweet.

Anne? Not so much.

#LainaReadsAnne There's already much celebrating happening when they get there - Gilbert Blythe has won the medal.

Anne is so disappointed in herself for a moment, especially of the idea of disappointing Matthew. Oh, sweetie. I don't think he could ever be disappointed in you.

#LainaReadsAnne And then someone shouts out that she has won the Avery scholarship!

That's our girl!!!

#LainaReadsAnne Very soon after is their commencement and Matthew and Marilla come down for that. Anne wears the pale green dress Marilla had made for her. That is the kind of detail that makes my heart ache in the best way.

#LainaReadsAnne As they're look up at her on the stage, Matthew asks, "Reckon you're glad we kept her, Marilla?"

"'It's not the first time I've been glad,' retorted Marilla. 'You do like to rub things in, Matthew Cuthbert.'"

Awwwwww.

#LainaReadsAnne Anne goes home with them that night, and Diana is waiting for her in her room at Green Gables. Diana is a little jealous of Anne's friend Stella Maynard. Apparently Josie Pye said Anne was "infatuated" with Stella.

#LainaReadsAnne I feel like now is a good time to mention in the last chapter, it was stated Ruby Gillis was considered "the handsomest girl of the year at the Academy; in the Second Year classes Stella Maynard carried off the palm for beauty, with a small but critical (cont)

#LainaReadsAnne minority in favour of Anne Shirley."

Josie, do you like ship them or something? What even is your problem?

#LainaReadsAnne Anne reassures Diana that she's dearest in the world to Anne, and Anne loves her more than ever. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all.

#LainaReadsAnne Since she won the scholarship, Anne plans to go to Redmond College (university, where she can get a Bachelor of Arts) in September instead of teaching like many of her fellow classmates.

#LainaReadsAnne Jane's going to be teaching in Newbridge and Diana says Gilbert will be teaching as well. His father can't afford to send him to college in the fall. He'll probably get the Avonlea school if the current teacher leaves. (The current teacher is not anything special)

#LainaReadsAnne Anne feels... strange about that. She's not sure what she'll do without their rivalry and "her friend the enemy". Without Gilbert, she also won't know a single person at Redmond, which is a daunting idea, for sure.

#LainaReadsAnne The next morning at breakfast, Anne realizes Matthew is looking a lot greyer than the last time she saw him, and she asks Marilla if he's okay.

*deep breath*

He's been... not so well. More spells with his heart this spring, bad ones, and he still won't slow down

#LainaReadsAnne Matthew is a working man, and he doesn't know how to be anything else. Marilla hopes that having Anne home will encourage him to rest, as she always cheers him up. It's pretty clear he's been missing her dearly, too.

#LainaReadsAnne Oh boy this is a chapter. My feels.

Anne says Marilla is looking very tired herself, and she's going to take just the one day off to refresh herself and then she'll take over all the work for Marilla so she can rest.

#LainaReadsAnne "Marilla smiled affectionately at her girl." It's not the work. Her eyes have been bothering her a lot, causing more headaches and she can't comfortably read or sew. Glasses aren't helping anymore, either.

#LainaReadsAnne A "distinguished oculist" is coming to town end of June and the doctor wants her to see him.

They also talk about how the Abbey bank has talk of being shady lately - the bank where their every penny saved is.

#LainaReadsAnne Marilla wants to move to another bank, but Matthew was unsure as the head of the bank is an old family friend.

It's also really lovely how much Marilla has grown to respect Anne's opinion? Though she misses the little girl Anne was, she treats her as an adult.

#LainaReadsAnne Like clearly in today's world, Anne at sixteen is not an adult and putting this kind of adult conversation in her lap wouldn't be appropriate. But Anne has been living on her own for a year, basically, graduated Queen's, and about to start university.

#LainaReadsAnne Others in her peer group are starting careers at this point, and others may be getting married soon. Anne is, pretty much, a young adult and Marilla is treating her as such in a very respectful way.

#LainaReadsAnne Anne has her beautiful, perfect day. She spends it refinding all the pieces of nature that meant so much to her as a child, and, really, refinding herself and her balance. She also has a talk with Mrs Allan and in the evening goes to bring in the cows with Matthew

#LainaReadsAnne She lovingly scolds Matthew for working too hard, and asks why he won't take things easier. He says he can't seem to, "It's only that I'm getting old, Anne, and keep forgetting it."

*DEEP INHALE* I'm fine. I'm fine.

#LainaReadsAnne For a moment, Anne is wistful that she wasn't the boy she asked for, so she could help him more.

Matthew says, "I'd rather have you than a dozen boys, Anne."

I'm totally fine and not trying very hard not cry at all.

#LainaReadsAnne He says that "it wasn't a boy that took the Avery scholarship, was it? It was a girl - my girl - my girl that I'm proud of.'"

*sniffles*

#LainaReadsAnne That's pretty much where we leave the chapter. And what a beautiful moment.

Buckle in for tomorrow, kids. It's gonna be a hard one. Spoilers, but I don't want to wallop any of you.

CW for the death of a parent/grandparent figure, and intense grief.