*some adult themes

Many,many thanks to my wonderful editor Mary.Without her this probably wouldn't make any sense. :)

It was the fourth of July.  The Bob-Whites of the Glen were gathered at Crabapple Farm for a barbecue/sleepover celebrating the fourth and Jim Frayne's twenty-first birthday which was the day before.  The elder Beldens had taken Bobby, the youngest Belden, to the beach where they were spending a couple of days.  The other Beldens stayed in Sleepyside so they could celebrate the holiday with their friends.  Gathered in the kitchen of Crabapple Farm were eighteen year olds Diana Lynch, Honey Wheeler, and Trixie Belden, who was seven months pregnant with triplets.  Outside manning the grill were nineteen year olds Mart Belden and Dan Mangan.  Twenty-one year old Brian Belden was supervising while Jim Frayne went to their clubhouse to retrieve some sports equipment for later that evening.

Inside the kitchen Trixie, Diana, and Honey were busy cooking and Diana and Honey were also trying to convince their friend to take a break.  Finally, Trixie allowed Honey to set her down at the table with a glass of water.  Diana, being the most artistic of the three, went on decorating Jim's birthday cake.  Honey went back to the stove, and Trixie insisted that she could at least chop fruit for the fruit salad.  They finished at about the same time the hamburgers were finished.  Carrying her bowl of fruit salad outside to the picnic table,  Trixie set it down among the grilled hamburgers, corn-on-the-cob, and garlic snap peas.  After setting it down she sank heavily down on the bench.

"We may need more weight on this end," Dan joked, indicating the opposite end of the bench Trixie was sitting on.

"I feel so heavy," Trixie said. "I'm as big as a barn.  And as ugly as one too," she muttered under her breath.

"Trix, you're beautiful," Jim admonished, sitting down beside his girlfriend.  After he had set his plate down he wrapped her in a hug and patted her belly.

Jim's taking this so well, thought Trixie. Considering that these aren't even his babies.  I'm glad that at least some people aren't treating me like I'm not a pariah or something.  Back in December, Trixie had been going through some tough times and had started hanging around with the wrong crowd.   Her boyfriend at the time, Paul Westaff,  had raped Trixie which had led to her pregnancy with the triplets.   When her parents found out, they told Paul that if he left Trixie's life, they wouldn't prosecute. He hadn't bothered Trixie since.

"Jim's right, Trixie," said Brian, snapping Trixie back to the present.

"Of course I'm right," said Jim in a fake haughty voice.  Once the laughter had subsided everyone got down to the business of eating.  When they had cleared their plates, Diana brought out her work of art.

Jim whistled as he caught his first glimpse of the cake. "Diana, you've really outdone yourself," he said as she set the cake down on the table.  Diana blushed.  She had gone all out on the cake.  Using his love of the outdoors as an inspiration, she had taken a tool used by professional cake decorators to spray designs on cakes and had sprayed a whole woodland scene on his cake. There was a clearing with a brook running through it,surrounded by pines.  And as a final, perfect touch, Diana had found a tiny plastic replica of a deer to 'drink' from the brook.

"Di, you could turn this into a business," said Dan. At Di's blush he continued, "No really, think about all the birthdays we have this month.Yours, Jim's, Mr.Wheeler's and Lacey and Larkin's," he said, mentioning Di's twin sisters who were turning eight in a few weeks.

"Yeah," said Trixie, catching onto Dan's enthusiasm.

To hide her embarrassment at their praise Di lit the candles on Jim's cake.

"Make a wish, Jim," said Trixie eagerly.

Jim inhaled hugely, paused for a second and exhaled dramatically.  The twenty-one candles flickered but didn't go out!  Jim drew in another deep breath and blew out.   Yet again the candles didn't go out.  Everyone at the table looked puzzled.   Jim drew in one final breath and blew.  The candles, true to form, remained lit.  Finally Mart couldn't take it anymore.  He burst out laughing.

"Mart!" shrieked Trixie and as quickly as her seven month pregnant body would allow her, she got out of her seat to start chasing Mart.

"Whoa Trix," said Jim as he leapt up and gently grabbed her around the middle.  "You can't just up and start running.  What about those babies?"

"Oh Jim, you're right," said Trixie, sounding frustrated. "I'm just tired of all these rules and restrictions!"

"Yeah, but it'll be worth it in the end," said Jim.

"Yeah, I guess it will," said Trixie.  Inwardly,she thought differently.   Was it really worth it?  She mentally shook herself. Of course it'll be worth it,  she thought, immediately feeling bad for questioning her want of the triplets.  She settled back down in her seat and helped Jim blow out his candles.

* * *

After supper that evening,the boys played a game of touch football while the girls cheered them on.  When it got dark, Honey brought blankets from the house and spread them on the ground.  Trixie snuggled down with Jim as they all watched the fireworks.   With Crabapple Farm being so close to Sleepyside they had a perfect view.   While the fireworks were going on,they roasted marshmallows in a small campfire.

"Mmmm,I just love toasted marshmallows," sighed Di.

"Me too," said Trixie. "I could eat about a hundred of these things."

"Better let me have the bag then," said Jim with a grin as he took the bag away from Trixie.

"Bully," said Trixie with a saucy grin.

"Take that back," said Jim.

"Never," said Trixie with a giggle.

"You have been warned then," said Jim and with that he started tickling Trixie.

"Ahhh!" shrieked Trixie. "Help! Honey! Di! Help!"  She rolled with laughter trying to escape Jim's tickling.  In a few short moments all seven were engaged in a tickling war.  After all the tickling had subsided and the fireworks had ended, the crew doused the fire, cleaned up their mess and went into the house.   Inside the house they all laid sleeping bags on the living room floor for everyone but Trixie.

"I can sleep on the floor as well as you can," she protested but still they made her set up her bed on the couch.

Later that night, after the giggling and talking were long over and everyone was asleep, Trixie woke up and got up to use the bathroom.  As she passed the front door on the way back to the living room she heard a funny noise.  Her detective skills kicking in, she doubled back and unlocked the front door.  Opening it, she got a huge surprise.

To Be Continued

TBH Main