Chapter Nine

Around 10:00 the next morning, Sergeant Molinson shadowed the doorway of Trixie's room.

"How are you doing?" he asked gruffly, surprising Trixie. The BWG's rarely saw the softer side of Sargeant Molinson.

"Good," said Trixie. "They said that I'll be able to leave this morning. Of course, I wasn't in the actual wreck, remember? They kept me in observation to make sure that I didn't go into labor."

"Yeah," said Molinson. "How's your brothers and Honey doing?"

"They're all doing good pretty good actually, besides Brian and Julie."

"Julie?"

"The baby that was left on our doorstep. We named her Julie."

"Oh. Now I need to ask you some questions about the accident."

"Okay, shoot."

"How did it happen?"

"It wasn't anybody's fault if that's what you're thinking!" exclaimed Trixie.

"I didn't say that it was," said Molinson, trying to calm Trixie down. "I just need to know so I can file a report."

"Okay," said Trixie. "Let's see. We were on our way home from a shopping trip in White Plains. Jim drove behind Brian with Di and I.

"We were driving along and everything was going great. We rounded a curve and there was a wreck on the road. Oil was everywhere.

"When Brian tried to brake, something went wrong, and he started to spin then slid across the road. That's when the jalopy ended up in ditch."

"We had a mechanic look at your brother's car," said Molinson. "He says that it looks like the brakes locked up on your brother."

"Oh man," said Trixie. "How did the car fare?"

"Well, when you take into consideration water damage, brake damage, damage to the underside of the car since it bottomed out going down the hill.... Well, I think that you've lost her."

Trixie grimaced. "Brian's going to be so bummed. He's had that jalopy since high school."

"Don't we all know it," said Molinson with a small smile. "I'll leave now so you can get some rest. I might need you to help me crack the case of who left Julie."

"Yes, sir!" said Trixie with a mock salute as the Sargeant left the room.

Not long after he left, Diana entered the room.

"The doctors are kicking you out!" she said cheerfully. "So let's get you ready to leave!"

"Good, I'm ready to leave the vampires," said Trixie jokingly, looking at a sore spot on her left arm where the nurce's needles had poked her.

With Diana's help, she took a quick shower and then dressed.

When Trixie was done, they packed up her stuff and went to the nurses station to check out. Thirty minutes later they were done and in the parking lot. Once they were settled in the car, Trixie turned to Diana.

"Can we please go see Dan before heading over to the farm?" asked Trixie as they pulled out of the parking lot.

"Sure," said Di, "He'll be glad to see you."

When they passed the turn-off to Mr Maypenny's, though, Trixie got confused.

"I thought that we were going to see Dan," said Trixie.

Di frowned. "We are." Her face suddenly cleared. "Oh! I didn't tell you? Dan's at Regan's apartment."

"He is?"

"Yeah, Regan came back last night and picked Dan up from the hospital."

"He did?!" This was news for Trixie. Regan had, at every opportunity, been at Saratoga visiting Joan. Or else Joan was in Sleepyside, visiting Regan. Trixie was waiting for them to get married any day.

"You sound as surprised as Dan looked," commented Di.

"I'll bet," said Trixie. "None of us hardly sees Regan anymore. Poor Dan. I've noticed that he's sorta withdrawn lately. Do you think that it has anything to do with Regan spending so much time with Joan?"

"It's possible," agreed Di. "We might be able to tell if Regan spends a lot of time here or not in the next couple of days."

"Yeah, let's keep an eye on Dan, okay? I worry about him."

"Me too," said Di.

About five minutes later they pulled up to the Manor House driveway and parked in front of the garage.

With a grunt, Trixie pulled herself up and out of the car and walked slowly up the stairs to Regan's apartment. Two short knocks later, Regan was ushering them into his apartment, insisting that Trixie should sit down.

"Honestly, Regan, I'm fine," said Trixie with a laugh. "It's just a long climb up those stairs of yours."

"Hmmm, maybe I should put in an elevator," said Regan, pretending to give it great consideration. Everybody laughed at this.

Dan was laying on the couch resting, but he moved over to make room for Trixie. Di took a seat in an arm chair.

Trixie took in Regan's apartment as he went to get her a glass of water. For a bachelor's apartment, it looked nice. Although sparsely furnished, it had a homey feel, and Trixie decided that she liked it.

"Thanks," she told Regan as he handed her a glass of water.

"How are you doing?" asked Di.

"Good," said Dan. "Sore, and my arm sorta throbs, but other than that, I'm doing good. How are you doing, Trix?"

"I'm doing good. My abdomen is so sore that I can barely move, but Dr. Mertz thinks that I'm past the risk of having the babies born early."

"Good," said Dan. When Trixie shifted her postition on the couch, though, she winced. Concerned, Dan lifted up the edge of her shirt to show a large, purple, nasty-looking bruise.

"Oh, Trix!" said Dan hoarsly.

"What happened, Trixie?" asked Regan concernedly.

"Yesterday, when I was moving around the front of the car, a strong current lifted me up and swept me into the rearveiw mirror."

Regan winced. "Man, that must have hurt. It's a wonder that you didn't go into labor."

"I know," sighed Trixie, "Everyone was expecting me to. Even myself."

Down below in the garage, they heard a car door slam. A minute later, feet were pounding up the stairs and a knock sounded on the door. Regan opened the door, revealing Joan, looking mad enough to spit fire.

"Bill Regan, I've got just one thing to say to you!" she stopped abruptly when she saw Dan, Di, and Trixie.

"I think we need to go," said Trixie, slowly standing up. Dan stood up and helped her with his free hand.

"I'll come with you," he said. Turning to Regan he said, "I'll go down to Crabapple Farm with them for awhile and give you some privacy."

"Okay, Dan," said Regan. "Thanks."

The trio went slowly down the stairs, Dan and Di helping Trixie along. They had not gotten half-way down the stairs before they heard Joan yelling.

"Yeesh," said Trixie as they reached the bottom. "Who shoved a stick up her butt?" This broke the tense mood, and they all started laughing.

"Hey!'' said Trixie, "Where's Jim?"

Di smiled. She had wondered how long it would take her to notice. "He's just a few yards away, probably still asleep."

"Hmmm," said Trixie. "I'm going to go see him for a minute. You too can go on ahead to the farm; Jim will bring me down."

"Okay," said Di with a grin. Trixie just shook her head and walked to the door. Celia was the one who opened it.

"Hi!" said Celia. "How are you doing?" She ushered Trixie into the large hall.

"Good," said Trixie. "How's Katrina?" One month-old Katrina Delanoy was Tom and Celia's first child.

"Good," said Celia with a smile. "She's sleeping in her bassinet so I can get some work done. Are you hear to see Jim?"

"Yeah, is he upstairs?"

"In his room, just go right on up.''

"Thanks, Celia," said Trixie as she went up the stairs. When she got to the top, she knocked lightly on Jim's door. When he didn't answer, she opened the door and peeked in. She smiled at the sweet picture in front of her. Jim, clad in boxers and a t-shirt, was sleeping peacefully on top of his bed.

Trixie tip-toed silently into his room and sat down on the edge of his bed. Softly, she smoothed a stray lock of hair off his forehead. Jim stirred and grabbed her hand. Putting it to his mouth, he kissed it and used to arm to roll her over onto the bed. Pulling her down on top of him, he started kissing her. It didn't take long for their kiss to deepen. Finally, Jim broke away and gently rolled Trixie off of him with a groan. Undaunted, Trixie leaned over and started kissing Jim again. Jim again broke away.

"Trixie," he said, breathing heavily, "We need to stop before we do something that we might later regret."

"You're right, Mr Honorable," teased Trixie. "I'm sorry."

"I'd better be Mr Honorable," said Jim, "otherwise, your older brothers will be after my head! And Trixie?"

"Hmmmm?"

"Don't be sorry," Jim said, right before kissing her again.

To Be Continued

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