Chapter 6: The Plan

"So everyone thinks I’m dead?"

"Yes Felix. Do you want to phone your family and tell them that you’re all right?" Olivia asked.

"No!" Felix exclaimed.

"No?" Sara interrupted. "What do you mean no?"

"I mean no. I think it would be fun to show up at my own funeral." He paused, pleased by the shock he’d given to his aunt and favourite cousin. "Aunt Olivia, you can phone and say you heard the news and that you, Monty, Alicia and Sara are coming over for the funeral. That way you can find out when it is and I can get there at the right day and time."

Sara stared, then laughed. "Of all your schemes Felix King this one is the best! Let’s do it Aunt Olivia. Don’t you want to see the look on everyone’s faces?"

After some persuasion Olivia agreed.

****

The phone rang at King Farm. Nobody wanted to get it for fear it was the War Office. Finally Cecily got up and answered.

"Oh, hello Aunt Olivia! Sure I’ll get father." She called her dad.

Alec and Olivia talked on the phone about when the funeral was. Afterwards they both switched and Sara told Gus about the plan.

****

Cecily was in her room thinking about her brother. How could Izzy be sure he was alive? She opened her keepsake drawer looking for the letters he’d written to her. Then something caught her eye. Her flowers from Felicity’s wedding. She lifted the bouquet and the bitter-sweetness of the faded roses filled the air. She closed her eyes and brought herself back to the day of her sister’s wedding. Seeing Felix in uniform, learning that he was leaving. Cecily opened her eyes. And now he was gone, dead, never to return.

****

Felix waved goodbye to Sara, his Aunt Olivia, Monty and Alicia (His Uncle Jasper still couldn’t leave England.) as the train pulled out of the station. He had three hours until his train came. He walked back to Sara’s house to make himself a snack.

****

Izzy looked up as a train pulled into the station. She stood to get a better look at the strange faces. Then she saw a familiar face, but not one she wanted to see.

The young woman with her hair tied back in the most unbecoming tight bun, wearing a white blouse and a red skirt saw Izzy and walked over to her with a confident smirk on her face.

"Hello Velma!" Izzy said. "What are you doing back in Avonlea?"

"Well, Miss. Pettibone, I came to visit my Felix." Izzy cringed. "I heard he came home for Valentine’s Day. Obviously hoping to see me!"

"You heard wrong! As a matter of fact, Felix’s ship went down. No survivors."

"Except for Felix," Velma protested.

"No, Felix went down, but I know he’s ali…"

"My Felix is gone!" Velma interrupted. "Oh no!" She started to dab away fake tears with a lace hankie.

"Good grief!" Izzy whispered under her breath. "Well goodbye Velma. See you at the funeral on Thursday!"

*fake sob, fake sob*

****

Felix checked his ticket. ‘I guess this is my train.’ He thought as he boarded. ‘Well goodbye Halifax! I’m going home to Avonlea, and Izzy.’