Author’s note : These are not my characters, even though it feels like I know them well. Known them for over twenty years in fact. And definitely no-one’s paying me for this! I was inspired by the fan fiction, so if any parts bear a resemblance to other works, please accept my apologies and assurance that it was not intentional, and take it as a compliment. I am not American, and have not Americanised my spellings, though I have tried to stay true to words and expressions that Trixie has used. I am an incurable romantic, and have stuck with the traditional couplings.
Au Revoir
by Joanne
"Well, at least I don’t go around pretending to be honourable all over the place!" Trixie spat back.
"That’s it! I’ve had enough! I just can’t take any more of this. It’s only two weeks until the boys go off to college, and all the two of you do is fight. You hardly seem to draw breath between bouts."
Honey Wheeler threw her empty plate into the hamper, as the other Bob Whites looked up in surprise. Honey was the quiet one, the peacemaker, not the one they expected to hear shouting. That could usually be left to her best friend, 16 year old Trixie Belden. But right now, Trixie, head down and face bright red, was silent. So too was Honey’s adopted brother, 18 year old Jim Frayne. They both knew there was more than a grain of truth behind Honey’s outburst.
"And you’re not just fighting with each other, you’re fighting with the rest of us too. You’re spoiling the end of our last summer together."
Honey flicked her golden brown hair off her face and planted her hands firmly on her hips.
"I’m not going to take any more of this. The rest of us are going to pack up the picnic and go up to the house for dessert. The two of you are not welcome - at least not until you can speak civilly to each other."
With that Honey picked up the empty cooler, and marched up the hill from the lake towards the Manor House, where she and Jim lived, with their parents, and her former governess Miss Trask. Silently, Brian Belden, Trixie’s eldest brother, and Dan Mangan, carried the second cooler between them, while Trixie’s other brother, Mart, and Di Lynch brought up the rear with the hamper.
"Gleeps," Trixie muttered. "Even Honey’s mad at me. I might as well just throw myself in the lake." She bit down on her bottom lip, to stop the tears escaping.
She sensed rather than saw Jim move from his spot at the picnic table, to sit beside her on the fallen log at the lake’s edge. For almost five minutes, they sat there in silence, not looking at each other, but acutely aware of each other’s presence.
"Trix," Jim finally said. "Honey’s right. We do have to sort this out. We need to talk." Trixie looked out over the lake, her blue eyes swimming with tears. She took a deep breath, and dashed away a droplet before nodding. "I - I know, Jim," she said quietly.
"What’s happened to us, Trixie ? We used to be able to talk about anything. Even when you were deep on the trail of some mystery, you’d still usually confide in me. I’d got to the stage where I even thought I could read your mind a little. But now…" Jim trailed off.
Trixie clenched her fists, her short nails leaving red crescents in her palms. She still didn’t trust herself to speak, and she looked away into the woods at her left.
" I think it’s time we were honest with each other, Trixie," Jim continued. "I think we’ve been friends too long not to give each other that. Don’t you think ?"
Trixie swallowed hard, and nodded.
"We are still friends, aren’t we ? Whatever happens, I don’t want to lose that."
Trixie nodded again.
"Trixie," Jim pleaded. "Talk to me. Tell me what you’re thinking."
He sensed her struggle for control, and took her hand in his. But still she said nothing.
She finally turned to look at him, and he read the fear in her eyes. "Total honesty ?" she asked. "Total," Jim replied.
"Jim, I’m scared." She stopped, and turned away.
"Keep going," he urged.
She bit her lip and shook her head, and they again sat in silence.
Finally Jim, growing frustrated, said, "OK, then if you won’t talk, at least listen. Look, Trixie, you and me, we’ve always had a special friendship. But - I want to move on."
Unable to look at him, Trixie burst out, "I understand Jim. You’re going off to college, you’re going to a different world, and that’s great. I’m really happy for you. And I think you should take advantage of all the - the - the opportunities you’re going to have."
"No, you don’t understand. For pete’s sake Trixie, you’re meant to be the detective! I’m sorry, I’m not being very clear. I want to move on - with you. I want our relationship to move on. Or should I say, I want us to have a relationship," he added ironically.
Trixie turned to look up at Jim. His eyes reflected the fear he’d seen in hers. Would she reject him? He had asked her for total honesty, after all. Maybe she wanted to move on - without him. He knew there’d be plenty of guys lined up to take his place. He swallowed, and gazed deep into her clear blue eyes - eyes that were again filled with tears.
"Jim," she said uncertainly. "I’m not sure I do understand. What - what are you saying?"
"Oh Trixie, sweetheart, I’m trying to tell you I love you!"
"Oh Jim, Jim," was all Trixie could manage, as the tears spilled over. But her eyes were shining, and the smile on her face finally said it all to Jim. He very gently brushed away a tear with his thumb, then bent, and for the first time, kissed her.
He drew back to check her reaction, but her happiness couldn’t have been more evident. He moved to take her in his arms, and hold her close, as he kissed her again and again. Tentatively at first, then with more and more confidence, she returned his kisses, her arms sliding up over his chest and around his neck.
They moved apart a little, and just sat there, looking into each other’s smiling eyes.
"Trixie Belden, I love you." Jim waited expectantly.
"Yes, I know," Trixie responded with a twinkle in her eye, and jumped up from her seat on the log, to stand looking out at the sun setting over the lake.
Jim, coming up behind her, slipped his arms around her waist, and kissed her neck. "Trixie," he murmured warningly, as he nuzzled her ear.
Taking pity on him, she turned in the circle of his arms, looked up into his beautiful green eyes, and said clearly, "I love you too, Jim. I love you, James Winthrop Frayne the third!"
Jim pulled her close and buried his face in her sandy curls. Then he stepped back and took her face in his hands, and she saw the tears on his cheeks. She faltered for an instant, then realised his tears were from the same source as hers - happiness! She stood on tiptoe to kiss them away, and quietly repeated, "I love you Jim."
"Oh Trixie, I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful, beautiful, girl love me."
Trixie stepped back angrily. "Jim, we agreed on total honesty. Stop lying. You don’t have to pretend I’m beautiful!"
"You know I don’t lie, Trixie!" In turn, Jim’s eyes were blazing with anger. "I said you’re beautiful because it’s the truth. Don’t call me a liar!"
Trixie grinned ruefully. "Look at us, we’re arguing again! I’m sorry. I guess you’re allowed to call me beautiful now. But you have to admit you may be a little biased."
Jim’s temper died away as quickly as it had flared, and he smiled back and said, "Trixie, I might be biased, but I am not blind. You are beautiful, and when we get back home, I’m going to prove it to you."
He reached out and took her hand, and together they walked up the path. Bypassing the kitchen where they could hear the other Bob-Whites chatting, Jim led her up the stairs, and into Honey’s bedroom. Standing her in front of Honey’s full length mirror, Jim said, "Take a good look, and tell me what you see."
Trixie stared at her reflection in the mirror, taking in her sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks, but otherwise seeing nothing different. "You don’t see it, do you Trix," Jim said quietly, standing behind her. "Look at your beautiful shining eyes, your lips - so full, so kissable. Your dimples, I love your dimples. A strong chin, and velvety skin. And your neck, oh your neck…" he said, leaving a trail of kisses down to her shoulder. Then returning to look at her in the mirror, Jim’s eyes traced the line of her body from top to toe and back again. "You have the perfect figure - curves where they should be, gorgeous legs, and not an ounce of fat on you. Remember, I’ve seen you in your bathing suit!"
Trixie blushed, and dropped her gaze, but lifted it again to meet Jim’s in the mirror as he slipped his arms around her waist, his hands resting on her flat stomach. "Believe me now, beautiful?" he asked with a smile. "I still don’t look like Honey or Di," she replied. "No, Trixie, you look like you, and you are beautiful. And we are not going to argue any more, are we?" he added with a laugh.
"No sir," said Trixie meekly, but her eyes were shining as she turned to kiss him deeply. "Thank you for making me feel beautiful." They stood silently for a moment, staring into each other’s eyes.
"Come on, we’re missing dessert," Jim said, taking her hand and leading her back down the stairs to the kitchen.
"Mart Belden, you’d better have left us some dessert!" Trixie announced on entering the kitchen.
"I would have thought that your proclivity for poundage would have warranted fervent perpetual gratitude for my sacrifice in depriving you of kilojoules."
Trixie glared at her almost twin, but then remembered she was too happy to fight, so simply said, "Thank you, Mart." Mart, in the process of shovelling the last piece of cherry pie into his mouth, choked, and had to be thumped on the back by Dan.
"My sister said ‘Thank you’. She’s not well," Mart proclaimed, but Honey, ever the diplomat, interrupted to say she’d put two pieces aside for them before serving the others. "That is, as long as you’ve kissed and made up," she added. Then seeing the faces of her brother and best friend turn scarlet, she realised the implication of what she had said, and jumped up, flustered, knocking over her glass of soda, and so turning the attention of the Bob Whites to other matters. But Honey was determined to find out the details as soon as she could!
"Well, guys," said Brian. "We promised Moms and Dad we wouldn’t be late - we’ve got a full day in the garden tomorrow. So we’d better be going. We won’t see you tomorrow, so think of us slaving away under the hot sun, while you’re all lying by the lake!" "My heart bleeds for you, Brian," answered Honey, while Dan played an imaginary violin in the background.
"Good night all." Trixie and Jim, unsure how to say good bye in front of the others, managed to surreptitiously squeeze hands. "I’ll phone you tomorrow, Trixie," Honey called after her as she left.
Trixie lay in bed that night, reliving the evening’s events, feeling happier than she could ever remember. She fell asleep with a smile on her face, and her dreams were full of a man with deep green eyes.
When she looked in the mirror next morning, the smile seemed permanently etched on her face. "That Cheshire cat had nothing on me," she thought to herself, but if anyone noticed her demeanour at the breakfast table, no-one commented. But as the day wore on, and she smiled at the tomatoes, and the peppers, and her family, her brothers and father raised their eyebrows at each other, while her mother just smiled knowingly. Honey telephoned after lunch, but Trixie used the garden as an excuse not to talk for long, so Honey was left none the wiser. Jim had disappeared early, so Honey had got nothing out of him either!
Over dinner that night, Helen Belden announced that although they had all worked hard, there was still at least half a day’s work left to do. But she promised all of them the following afternoon and evening off, since Brian and Mart had already made plans to catch up with a friend from school.
By midday the next day, the heat had become almost unbearable, so Mrs Belden suggested they take a break and run up to the lake for a swim, before finishing the work. Brian rang Honey and Jim to meet them, and ten minutes later they were at the boathouse. Trixie, changing into her swimsuit, remembered Jim’s words, and blushed self-consciously. Honey saw the colour in her face, but realising that Trixie was not yet ready to talk, tactfully left her alone. Trixie was last out of the boathouse. Jim was already in the water, but his eyes had been straying to the doorway, watching for her appearance. He smiled to himself as she stood poised to dive off the jetty, the sunlight behind her silhouetting her figure. Brian’s eyes narrowed as he followed Jim’s gaze, but Honey’s splashing distracted him, and he joined in the game of tag. Trixie swam strongly out to the float, then back to where the others were playing. Jim managed to catch hold of her hand under the water for a minute, before she was tagged, and in turn took off after Mart. After finally tagging him, she announced that she needed a rest, and swam to the float. Jim, feigning tiredness, joined her shortly. They lay, side by side, on the float, talking quietly. "Yesterday was such a long day without you," Jim murmured. "I know," replied Trixie. "I think Moms has guessed. She kept looking at me and smiling. But the rest of them think I’ve gone nuts, because I keep smiling at everything!" "So you’re happy then?" asked Jim softly. "Very," said Trixie.
They lay in silence for a little while, their little fingers entwined. "Trixie, will you go out with me tonight, just the two of us? I thought we could go to dinner, and catch a movie, or something." "Oh, Jim, I’d love to. It will be our first real date!" "I’ll pick you up about seven," Jim told her quickly before the other Bob Whites swam up, and hauled themselves aboard the float. After fifteen minutes of lying lazily in the sun, Trixie reached out and pushed Mart off the float into the water. He came up spluttering, as Trixie did the same thing to Brian, and then jumped in after him. "Time for the Beldens to return to the grindstone," she said to the Honey and Jim. "See you later."
After Trixie and her brothers had left, Honey sat up on the float and looked inquiringly at Jim, who just grinned at her - and pushed her into the lake! He swam for the boathouse, and Honey, good swimmer though she was, couldn’t catch him. He had already left the lake, when Honey came out of the boathouse dressed. "I guess I’ll just have to be patient," she thought to herself.
The Belden family finished the garden chores, and had a late lunch. Mart and Brian left to visit their friend and Bobby went outside to play. Trixie was left sitting at the table with her parents. Taking a deep breath and blushing furiously, she asked, "May I go out to dinner with Jim tonight, please?" Her parents exchanged a glance, but Mrs Belden merely said, "Of course you may, dear," as she rose to start clearing the table. But when Trixie joined her in the kitchen, she gave her daughter a big hug, and asked, "What time is Jim picking you up?" "Seven," replied Trixie. "Well," said her mother, "that only gives you three and a half hours - you’d better start getting ready!" "Oh Moms, don’t tease!" cried Trixie. "It will only take me fifteen minutes." "No it won’t," said her mother sternly. "You can make a little more effort than that. Oh, Trixie, I think I might be more excited than you. Sweet sixteen, and never been kissed! - Or maybe not," she added after seeing Trixie blush again.
Jim arrived promptly at seven o’clock. Trixie, after having changed her outfit five times, came downstairs dressed in a navy blue dress with a short full skirt. "Trixie, you look stunning," said Jim. "Give us a twirl?" Trixie did as asked, and as her skirt flew up, so did her father’s eyebrows. Helen Belden frowned at him as he opened his mouth to protest. Jim, guessing what was passing through his girlfriend’s father’s mind, quickly changed the subject to the day’s gardening, and as they were ready to leave, asked "Is it OK if we’re home by midnight?" "That’s fine, Jim," said Helen Belden. "Enjoy your evening."
As the door closed behind them, Peter Belden frowned again and said, "Are you sure this is good idea?" Helen laughed and replied, "Calm down, dear. Jim has seen a lot more of her legs every day when they go swimming!"
The next morning Trixie awakened to the sound of horses’ hooves outside her window. She jumped up and looked out to see Honey astride Lady, and leading Susie, bridled and saddled. "Hi, Trixie," she called out. "How about an early ride? I’ve brought breakfast," she said, holding up a bag of blueberry muffins. "Honey, do you know what time it is - it’s only half past six." "I know," called Honey, "but I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I might as well wake you up too." "Well you have now, plus the rest of the neighbourhood, so I guess I might as well get up. Hang on, and I’ll throw on some clothes." A couple of minutes later, Trixie appeared through the back door, and mounted Susie. The two girls rode in silence for a couple of minutes, until Honey could contain herself no longer. "So Trixie, what did you do last night?"
"Honey, I thought I was the nosy one!" Honey looked mortified. "Trixie, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be nosy, I just wanted to…"
"...know," Trixie finished for her. Then she grinned. "OK, I’ll put you out of your misery. I went out - on a date - with - Jim."
Honey squealed. "Oh, I thought so. It happened down by the lake on Friday night, didn’t it. I knew it, I just knew it! Oh Trixie, that’s wonderful. Now tell me everything!"
"Everything?" asked Trixie mischievously. "Are you sure you want to know everything about your brother’s relationships?" "Trixie, stop teasing, I’m sure Jim behaved very honourably - didn’t he?" she added hesitantly. "Of course he did," Honey answered her own question. "Now I’m going to forget he’s my brother and just think of him as your boyfriend, so give!"
"Well, we went out to dinner, went to a movie, and came home." With that, Trixie tapped Susie’s flanks, and cantered ahead.
"Trixie Belden, you’re not going to get off that easy," Honey called after her, as she urged Lady on to follow. Trixie dismounted at the stream to rest and water Susie, then looped her reins over a nearby bush. She lay on her back under an oak tree, while Honey followed suit. "Now give," demanded Honey.
Trixie lay there smiling dreamily until Honey dug her in the ribs. "Give," she demanded again.
"Oh, Honey, everything’s just perfectly perfect! Jim is so sweet, and romantic, and just wonderful…" She trailed off. "So has he kissed you?" asked Honey.
"Mmmmm," replied Trixie, blushing. "Well, was it good?"
"Mmmmm."
"Trixie, this is like getting blood out of a stone. I want detail!"
"Yes, it was good, Honey. I least I think it was. I mean, I haven’t exactly got anything to compare it with. But Honey, when Jim kisses me, I feel like - like I’m floating, and oh, I can’t really describe it, but I just feel all, I don’t know - starry eyed! And, he insists I’m beautiful!"
"But Trixie, you are, you just don’t seem to know it," Honey interjected.
"Thanks Honey," said Trixie, rolling over to give her friend a quick hug. "And thanks for yelling at us on Friday. Otherwise we might still be moping around like idiots!"
"So tell me, what did you do last night?"
"I told you already, we had dinner, went to a movie and came home!" Trixie lay back and closed her eyes. The next second she jerked upright as Honey poured a handful of cold stream water on her face. "Trixie Belden that’s your final warning. Detail! Now!" Honey threatened.
"OK, OK. Jim picked me up at seven." "What was he wearing?" Honey interjected. "A white shirt, khaki pants and a sports jacket," replied Trixie, picturing Jim’s cool good looks in her mind. "And what were you wearing?" "You’re just one big question mark, aren’t you? Be quiet for five minutes and I’ll tell you. I had on that old blue dress, with the full skirt." She laughed. "Jim said Dad looked horrified when I twirled round and it floated up!"
"We went to a little French restaurant in White Plains that your Dad had recommended to Jim, called Mes Amis. I got a very quick lesson in French pronunciation from the waiter when I tried to order! But the food was delicious, and the desserts - they were to die for! At least I knew how to pronounce gateaux - after Mart nearly killing himself laughing at me in London that time! But Honey, it was all so wonderful. We just sat there together and talked. And sometimes we didn’t talk, we just sat there looking at each other with goofy smiles. And we held hands over the table between courses." Trixie stopped talking and thought back to how special the evening had been.
"Then what?" demanded Honey.
"We went to a movie - but to be honest, I don’t even remember what we went to see. I think it was some romantic comedy, but when we sat down, Jim put his arm around my shoulders, and I sort of snuggled up to him, and every now and then he’d kiss the top of my head or my ear, and I just couldn’t think of anything else but him. Goodness, listen to me, Honey, I sound so soppy!"
"Trixie it’s not soppy. It’s lovely - with the emphasis on love! Oh, Trixie, it would be so perfectly perfect to have you as my sister-in-law!"
"Honey, slow down!" Trixie exclaimed. "We’ve only just officially become a couple. You’ll have me becoming a grandmother tomorrow at the rate you’re going!"
Honey laughed, and insisted that her friend carry on with rest of her story. "Well, after the movie, we walked back to the car hand in hand, and when we got to the car, after he’d unlocked my door, Jim just put his arms around me and kissed me. In the middle of the street! And do you know, Honey, I didn’t care! I mean, I care about Jim. But I mean, I didn’t care who saw me! And then he asked me if I would go to the party with him on Saturday - as his girlfriend. So Saturday, we go public."
Trixie hesitated, then said, "I love Jim, Honey. And he loves me. Are - are you OK with that?"Honey reached out and squeezed her best friend’s hand. "Completely OK, Trix. It’s perfectly perfect."
Madeleine Wheeler, liking any excuse to dress up, had decided to give a black-tie farewell party for Jim and Brian, before they left for college the following weekend. All of their friends from school had been invited, as well as their parents, and many other friends and relations. It was going to be "a bit of a do". Now that Trixie and Jim were a couple, Trixie was pleased her mother had dragged her to White Plains two weeks ago to buy a new dress. At the time Trixie had insisted it was a waste of money, because she had absolutely no intention of going to the party, but her mother’s wishes had prevailed, and Trixie had returned home with not only a new dress, but also a new pair of high-heeled shoes - not that she’d be able to walk in them!
Aside from a brief stolen kiss behind the boatshed while the others were changing, Trixie and Jim hadn’t been able to spend any time alone during the week, but they had agreed over the phone that they wanted to make a grand debut on Saturday at the party, so they would keep a lid on things till then. But in many ways, Saturday came much too quickly for Trixie, who was very nervous about publicly acknowledging her feelings for Jim. Especially to Mart - she just knew he would tease her unmercifully. If only she didn’t blush so easily.
Saturday morning’s dusting seemed interminable, even though Trixie did little more than flick her dustcloth in the direction of the furniture. Her mother wisely made no comment, but managed to keep Trixie busy until the middle of the afternoon, when she ordered her off to commandeer the bathroom before the boys did. An hour spent lying in the bath helped restore Trixie’s sanity, before struggling with make-up sent her into a fresh frenzy. Four times she scrubbed away the foundation, and she was close to tears when her mother came to her rescue, and deftly applied a light touch of blusher, mascara and lipstick. "Less is definitely more on you," she advised, before leaving to get ready herself.
Brian and Mart had already left to pick up their dates by the time Trixie found the courage to appear. "Aren’t you coming with us, Trixie?" asked Bobby, who was being dropped off by his parents to stay the night with the Lynch twins. "No, Jim’s coming to pick me up, Bobby," answered Trixie, the colour rising to her cheeks. "Is Jim your boyfriend?" asked Bobby, giggling at the word boyfriend. Trixie’s face went fiery red, as she struggled for an answer. Finally, lifting her chin determinedly, she admitted, "Yes Bobby, Jim’s my boyfriend.
There was a knock at the door as Peter was helping his wife on with her wrap. "Quick, Trixie!" Helen said. "Back up to the landing. You want to make an entrance for Jim!" Trixie turned and scuttled back up the stairs, only narrowly missing tripping on her long skirt and falling flat on her face. "Jim, come in. Trixie’s just coming down. We’re going to drop Bobby off at the Lynches, so we’ll see you at the party." Helen moved towards the door, but her eyes were on Jim’s face as she heard her daughter start to descend the stairs, and the look of sheer pleasure she saw made her so proud. As they closed the door behind them, all they heard was, "Oh, Trixie…"
The deep burgundy velvet gown could have been tailor made for Trixie, and accented her curvaceous figure. The halter neck revealed the merest hint of cleavage, and her bare shoulders showed the colour of a summer spent in the sun. The split at the side meant she could walk without falling over, and even the high heels were yet to cause a problem.
Trixie had stopped on the last stair, and Jim came forward to meet her. Eye to eye, they smiled, then kissed gently. Jim held out to her the long stemmed red rose he had been carrying, and Trixie took it with a murmur of thanks. An enormous red bow was tied around the stem, and Jim looked down at the bow. Trixie, following his gaze, finally noticed the ring tied into it.
"It’s my class ring, Trixie, will you wear it?"
Trixie’s eyes filled with tears, and all she could do was nod.
Jim quickly untied it, and slipped it on the third finger of her right hand. Then he took her in his arms, and kissed her deeply. "I love you Trixie Belden," he announced, before taking her hand and leading her out to the waiting limousine.
Trixie dried her eyes on the short drive up to the Manor House, and turned to study Jim. He looked gorgeous in his dinner suit, his red hair a startling contrast above the black. His bow tie was hand tied - by Honey, Trixie suspected correctly, as her raised eyebrows were met by Jim’s answering grin. His smile relaxed her a little, but she tensed again as they drew to the top of the drive.
"I am so proud to be your boyfriend and have you wear my ring," Jim whispered as he helped her from the car. "Every male in the house is going to be jealous of me!"
Trixie’s confidence returned with his words, and she entered the house on cloud nine, her armed linked through Jim’s.
As they made their way to meet the other Bob Whites, they were stopped time and again by friends and relations who wanted to tell them how lovely they looked. Finally they reached their friends. Trixie’s brothers stood open mouthed, unnerved by the fact that Trixie had grown up without them noticing. Jim’s eyes shone with pride, as Honey, Di and Trixie all exclaimed over each other’s dresses, telling each other how beautiful they looked. Dan, with Hallie Belden on his arm, kissed Trixie’s cheek softly, and gave her a big smile, before leading Hallie on to the dance floor.
"Shall we?" asked Jim, nodding after them. He swept Trixie out into the middle, followed by the Belden boys and their girlfriends. As the tempo slowed, Jim slipped his arms around Trixie’s waist and pulled her close, staring down into her bright blue eyes. Then without warning, he kissed her.
"Jim!" she exclaimed, pulling back slightly. "Everybody’s watching!"
"I know," said Jim, with a wicked glint in his eye, before claiming her lips again. He held her tight until he felt her relax into the kiss.
"I guess he’s showing everybody where they stand," Matthew Wheeler said with a smile to his wife and the Beldens, as they watched their offspring on the dance floor.
The party was in full swing, and Trixie had spent most of the evening dancing with Jim, when Mart came over, smiled and crooked his elbow at his sister. "May I have the pleasure of this dance?" he asked. They danced together in silence, until Mart, a little sheepishly said, "Beatrix Belden, I will probably admit this only a couple of times in your entire life, but you look very beautiful."
"Why, Mart, thank you," said Trixie, squeezing his upper arm. "You look rather dashing yourself, my almost-twin." She smiled at him warmly, her face aglow from his unexpected compliment.
"Are you happy Trix?" he asked seriously.
"I’ve never been happier Mart," she confirmed. The music ended and Mart guided Trixie back to the group of Bob Whites, gathered at the buffet. He lightly tapped Jim on the arm and said quietly, "You take care of my sister, you hear?"
"Promise," replied Jim, looking him in the eye.
At that moment Matthew Wheeler tapped his glass with a knife, signalling for silence. "I don’t want to bore you all with long speeches, I know you’d much rather be enjoying the music, but I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words, before Jim and Brian head off. Many people find it hard to believe that Jim is not our natural son - his red hair and temper match mine perfectly! But we couldn’t love Jim any more, or be any prouder of him, if he were the fruit of our loins, so to speak. And I know Peter and Helen are just as proud of Brian. Both boys - I should stop calling them boys - both men have worked very hard to achieve their results. And we don’t need to wish them luck for the future - talent and hard work don’t rely on luck for fulfilment. But we do want to let them know that they have our support, now and in the future. And I would also like to commend them for their taste in girlfriends - of course since one of the ladies in question is my own daughter, you may think I’m a little biased! But we feel the same about Trixie as well - she has done so much already for our family, we consider her a part of it. And I know the girls’ support will be particularly important to our lads in their new lives. So ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses and toast Jim and Brian - may the wind be always at your back."
"Jim and Brian", the call went around the room, as glasses clinked. Jim and Trixie were both blushing, and even placid Brian and Honey looked a little embarrassed.
"Sounds like you and I are getting married," Jim said to Brian with a laugh. "Do you want to respond to Dad’s speech, or shall I?"
"Let’s both," said Brian, leading the way to where their parents stood. The room quietened as Brian cleared his throat.
"Mr Wheeler, we really appreciate your confidence in us, though I’m sure a little luck would never go astray. It’s a bit scary, leaving home, and leaving all of you behind, but we know that your love will be with us, and that will sustain us when we get homesick! I’d like to say a very big, very sincere thank you to my mother and father. I appreciate the sacrifices they have made to get me where I am, and to make me what I am. Bringing up four kids can’t be a piece of cake, but if I become half as good a parent as they are, then I’ll be happy." Spontaneous applause for the Belden parents interrupted Brian’s speech. When it had died away, he continued, "Our friends and family mean so much to us. And Mr Wheeler, I do agree your daughter is a very special lady - and I’m not in the least bit biased!" Brian stepped back to let Jim continue.
Slightly embarrassed at the attention, but realising the need to be candid, Jim said, "You often need to be without something to fully realise its value. I know firsthand how important a family is, and I can never, ever find the words to express how much my adopted family means to me. I love them so much, and I just hope that they know that, and I intend to give them every reason to be proud of me. And I would also like to thank Mr & Mrs Belden, firstly for welcoming Honey and I into their home, and secondly for raising such a wonderful daughter as Trixie. Trixie," Jim said, taking a deep breath and looking straight at her, "I love you." Loud cheers met Jim’s public declaration of love for his girlfriend, as he and Brian adjourned to the buffet table to replenish their drinks.
Trixie, the colour of her face matching her gown, was self-consciously twisting Jim’s ring around on her finger, and remembered that she hadn’t shown it to Honey. "Honey, look!" she said, waving her right hand at her friend. Honey gave her a strange look and waved back at her uncertainly. "No, dummy, look, my ring, well I mean, Jim’s ring, but my ring! Look!"
Honey jumped up excitedly and threw her arms around Trixie. "Trix, that’s wonderful. Hey, now that you two are official, we can go on double dates, or triple dates with Mart and Di!"
"Hmmm, I’m not too sure that I want to go out on a date with my brothers. Anyway, there’s not going to be much time left for dates. The boys leave next weekend." Both girls’ faces dropped at the thought, and when Brian and Jim returned with glasses of punch, they found the pair of them looking totally woebegone.
"What’s wrong?" the boys asked simultaneously.
Trixie swallowed hard. "Nothing," she said, putting a smile on her face. "Nothing," she repeated, determined not to spoil this special night.
"Honey?" Brian prompted.
"Nothing," reiterated Honey. "Come on, let’s dance."
As Trixie silently followed Jim onto the floor, he turned to her and asked, "Have you and Honey had a fight? Is she not happy about us?"
"Oh Jim, no, she’s over the moon. Gleeps, she’s already knitting for our grandchildren!"
"Then tell me what’s wrong," Jim insisted.
"We were just thinking about you both going away next week," Trixie admitted.
Jim smiled. "And that made you sad?"
"Well what do you think?" said Trixie, a little crossly.
"I’m sorry, sweetheart," Jim replied. "I just wanted to hear you admit it."
Trixie smiled ruefully. "Alright, I’ll admit it. Your suspicions are correct and I have broken down under your cross-examination. Guilty as charged. I’ll miss you dreadfully. And I know you won’t miss me because you’ll be surrounded by hundreds, no thousands of beautiful women just dying to …" She trailed off. Jim’s eyes were a deep unfathomable green as he looked down into hers. "Dying to ..?" he prodded. Trixie looked away. "Trixie," Jim pleaded, taking her chin in his hand. Turning her face up to his, he read the fear in her eyes. "Come with me. Let’s get some fresh air."
His hand on her arm, he propelled her firmly across the dance floor, and out the front door. He turned left to come across Mart and Di sitting on the porch swing, kissing, and when he turned in the opposite direction, there were Dan and Hallie, standing very close and talking quietly. Frustrated, Jim jumped off the end of the porch, and stopped to put his arms around Trixie’s waist to lift her down. He then took her hand, and led her down to the lake, Trixie stumbling in her long dress and unaccustomed high heels as she tried to keep pace with Jim’s strides. He slowed down as they neared the water’s edge, but Trixie, a little scared by Jim’s strong reaction, walked on alone, down the small jetty, and stood staring at the moonlight shimmering on the still lake.
She sensed Jim come up behind her, and she felt his breath on her neck as her kissed her ear. His left arm encircled her waist, while his right index finger traced a line across her bare shoulders, to be followed by his lips. Her skin tingled where he touched her, and he gently turned her to face him, before kissing her deeply. "Trixie, I’ve never lied to you, and I’ve no intention of starting now."
Trixie braced herself - she knew what was coming, that he would try to let her down gently. She knew he would instantly be the centre of attention of his fellow female students - all much more mature, and much more attractive than any high school girl. "I love you." Jim paused.
"But?" asked Trixie.
"No buts. I love you. Plain and simple. I don’t want any other woman. You are all I want. Trixie, trust me. Any other woman pales into insignificance beside you. I love you so much. And I will miss you so much. I’ve already been working out what weekends I can come home," he added with a little laugh.
The look in his eyes told Trixie he was speaking from his heart, and she knew then that she need have no fear of competition.
The next week flew by. Jim and Brian were busy getting organised for their first semester as freshmen, and the end of the canning season saw Trixie ensconced in the kitchen, her face the colour of the tomatoes she was scalding for her mother. It kept her hands busy, although it left her mind a little too free to dwell on the future. Still, her daydreams were usually pleasant, and tended to focus on the joy of the reunion, rather than the sorrow of the separation.
Saturday afternoon, Trixie and Jim stood beside the car, just holding hands, neither wanting to say goodbye. "I guess we’d better get going," Jim said finally. "Chin up, Trix, Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, and I’m sure I’ll be able to squeeze in a weekend at home before then."
Tears welled in Trixie’s eyes, but she blinked them back determinedly. There was no point bawling and making this harder than it already was. "Goodbye Jim," she said, tiptoeing to kiss his lips.
Jim shook his head. "Don’t say goodbye, Trixie, it’s sounds too final. Say ‘au revoir’."
"Of what?" she asked, puzzled.
"Au revoir," Jim repeated. "It’s French for ‘till we meet again’."
"Au revoir," Trixie echoed softly.
"Au revoir, my Trixie," Jim whispered, drawing her close for one last kiss.
The End