Barmaid on Duty!

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

Elaine is very glad she slept for most of the day tonight.

She's got a very bad headache, and the room still looks...fuzzy.

Also, she's not really with it.

Yeah, she's a tad hungover.

But she'll deal with it. It's better for her to work, anyway.

Even if she does look like hell.

Comments

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

"Yes," she says quietly. "For a man used to being active, it can be quite difficult to have so much free time."

Elaine pauses. "He could start tutoring, maybe...I know I could not read when I first came here. Maybe there are others like that here, as well."

[avonlea-girl.livejournal.com]

Anne's eyes light up, and she gives Elaine an impromptu hug.

"That's a lovely idea! I'll tell him that, and we'll see what he says."

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

Elaine laughs in surprise and hugs Anne back. "I'm glad you approve. I do hope we can give him something to do."

She knows Ryan was often very bored here, after all.

She hopes desperately that he's at peace, wherever he is.

[avonlea-girl.livejournal.com]

Anne hugs her tightly for a moment, before pulling away.

"I'm sure he'd appreciate any ideas at all, really," she says, earnestly. "I don't think he's feeling quite at home enough to introduce himself to people he doesn't already know yet, and this will help."

She sits nearby, and looks up at Elaine.

"Would you like to go apple-picking, when we have our outing?"

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

She laughs, and it's genuine. "I didn't even know we had an orchard after all this time! That would be lovely, and I should show you the flowers I grow."

[avonlea-girl.livejournal.com]

"Oh," Anne laughs, "I don't know if there's an orchard, but I thought there might be a few apple trees along the edges of the woods, grown from apple cores people have tossed aside. It'll be an adventure to find, won't it?"

And she smiles, at the thought. "You grow flowers, Elaine? Oh, I'd love to see them!"

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

Elaine laughs. She has wonderful friends. "Yes, it certainly shall be a pleasant sort of adventure. And I think you'd like my flowers--and I think they'd like you as well."

[avonlea-girl.livejournal.com]

"The flowers would like me?"

Anne's smile turns wistful.

"Oh, Elaine, what a beautiful thought. What kind of flowers are they? Lilies?"

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

"I've got lilies, yes. And orchids and dasies and poppies. Oh, violets and stephanotis, too. It's lovely in there."

[avonlea-girl.livejournal.com]

"And do they live all through the winter?" Anne asks, interested.

"I would so love to be able to go among fresh flowers when it's cold outside."

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

"Yes, the greenhouse is quite snug and warm, even in the winter. It gets quite cold around here."

[avonlea-girl.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure it does," she says, and doesn't let herself think about still being here when winter comes around.

"Well, dear, I should get these up to the room before they start to wilt, I think, but I'm so glad I caught you for a moment."

She stands to give Elaine another hug, and smiles at her.

"I'll look forward to our outing, alright? And I'll be sure to tell Gilbert what you said."

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

"Wonderful, Anne. I hope you have a most pleasant evening, dear." She hugs Anne warmly.

It was good to have friends.