rated *
Coming Home
by Caroly
Prologue
“But, Daddy, why can’t we go?” Thirteen-year-old Trixie thought her heart would break. Neither her parents nor Honey’s would let them go on the trailer trip to find Jim.
“I’m sorry, Trixie, but you’re just too young. Let the police look for him. I’m sure they’ll find him.” Trixie’s father looked at her sympathetically, realizing what the young man he had just learned about meant to her – “the most wonderful boy” was a description he had never heard Trixie use before. But his only daughter was just thirteen years old, and he didn’t want her going on a search like this.
Trixie couldn’t stand it any longer. Turning away from her father, she ran upstairs to her room, throwing herself on her bed and bursting into tears. All the hopes she had for the future, a future in which she would have a special new friend, and in which her new best friend would gain her longed-for brother, began to disappear, overpowered by her fears. “I’ll never see him again,” she whispered.
Chapter 1
The redheaded young man stepped off the train, unable to contain a smile of excitement as he anticipated what the day might bring. It had been three years since he had been in this area, three long years that he had spent running from his past. But now his past could no longer hurt him: he was 18 and was free forever from the nightmare of his childhood. It was now time to revisit the only good memory he had from those times, and repay those who had helped him. He had finally returned to Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson.
Truth be told, though, he had never actually been in this part of Sleepyside. During his last visit, he stayed a couple miles outside of town, away form prying and curious eyes. It both excited and uplifted him when he realized that he could walk in the bright of day in the middle of town and had no need to hide He had been hiding for so long, and now he was free! It was both an exhilarating and frightening change, but he welcomed it with open arms; his was not a personality that allowed him to conceal things.
He walked out of the station to find a cab – he didn’t want to walk the several miles to his destination in the intense July heat and humidity. Before leaving his hotel this morning, he had carefully dressed in the clothes he had bought yesterday, right after stepping off the boat. He had been saving up for this trip for a long time (pretty much since the moment I left!), so he had been able to buy good quality, fashionable clothes that would make him look like just another respectable young man. He wanted to make a good impression on his return.
Hailing a cab, he climbed in, throwing his suitcase on the floor. “Crabapple Farm, on Glen Road,” he told the driver. The driver nodded cheerfully, and began chatting, telling various anecdotes to this apparent stranger. Jim nodded, and laughed in the appropriate places, but his mind was far away. What if she – I mean, they – don’t remember me? What if all the hopes I’ve had for this reunion have given me unreasonable expectations, and I’m disappointed because I can’t get what I’ve been dreaming of for so long? His mind was in turmoil, his stomach churning as his nervousness grew. He had sustained himself on the memories of that brief, happy time for so long now, the thought that he wouldn’t be able to reclaim that happiness threatened to crush all his hopes.
Coming back to the present, he saw that the cab was already on Glen Road, approaching the area he had come to know well during his brief stay three years ago. Suddenly, he was no longer as confident in his carefully crafted plan as he had been when he stepped off the train. “Stop here,” he told the driver. The driver seemed confused, but complied, and Jim paid him the fare, grabbed his suitcase, and stepped out of the cab onto Glen Road.
As the cab drove away behind him, Jim stared at the two houses on the side of the road, unable to prevent memories of the third house that had stood there, and its destruction. But with those memories came other, happier memories.
“Shake. My name’s Jim. What’s yours?”
“I’m Trixie Belden, and I live down there at Crabapple Farm.”
“And I’m Honey Wheeler, and I just moved into the large house on the hill.”
Propelled by these happy memories, he started walking past the place where the now burned house had once stood, and moved towards the white farmhouse where he had spent a few hours before his escape As he came within sight of the front porch, he saw a sight that made his heart leap for joy and his jaw drop to the ground. In the garden on the side of the house, were three figures: two very familiar, and one only vaguely so. For the first time in three years, he saw the only two friends he had made in his earlier life.
Trixie was kneeling in the garden, weeding the carrots, her still short blonde curls pulled off her neck with a blue bandanna. She was wearing cut-off shorts and a halter, showing clearly her petite yet curvaceous figure. There was no doubt about it: Trixie had grown up from the somewhat awkward thirteen-year-old he had known.
Kneeling next to her, as tanned and healthy looking as her friend, was Honey Wheeler. Her honey-colored hair was similarly pulled up, and she was wearing an outfit nearly identical to Trixie’s. The two were laughing as they worked, and their laughter was a tonic to his ears. Suddenly, he had hope again for the future – a future he had wanted three years ago, but that had been unavoidably delayed.
The third figure was less familiar, but based on his limited experience, he knew it was Bobby. Trixie’s younger brother had definitely aged, and didn’t look nearly as babyish as he had before. Predictably, it was Bobby who saw Jim first, and pointed him out to his sister and her friend.
“Who’s that?”
It was yet another hot and humid July morning, and sixteen-year-old Trixie would have liked nothing better than to go for a swim in the lake with her best friend, Honey. But Moms had caught a nasty summer cold, so Trixie was in charge of the house, taking care of both her sick mother and Bobby and all the other chores. Once again, Trixie mentally cursed her two older brothers, Brian and Mart, for going to work at camp for the fourth straight summer and leaving her with all the work and responsibility. At least Honey is here, or the summer would be unbearable. Thoughts of her best friend simultaneously brightened her mood and darkened it; she thought back to the summer they met, the summer they had both met Jim, and the summer he had left, never to be heard from again.
For the million and first time, Trixie thought back to the day her and Honey’s parents had refused their permission to let the girls go look for Jim. I just know that if we had been allowed to go, we would have found Jim, and the Wheelers would have adopted him, and we would have had so much fun, and…
“Trixie! Are you awake?” Her father’s call interrupted her thoughts, bringing her back to reality.
“Yes, Dad. I’ll be down in a minute.” Trixie hurriedly dressed, deciding on cut-offs and a halter in the hope that she would find the time to go swimming sometime during the day. She finished dressing, and started for the door to her room, when she suddenly stopped. Turning quickly, she moved to the hiding place she had devised not quite three years ago, which no one but she knew about. Inside, she saw several boxes, all but one wrapped. She picked up the unwrapped one, promising herself that she would wrap it soon. It was already late: his birthday was several days past now.
Three years ago, Trixie had been heartbroken over the loss of her friend, but had quickly come up with a plan to ease the pain: instead of focusing on the loss in the past, she focused on the future she hoped for. To that end, each year, for both Christmas and his birthday, she bought gifts for Jim. She intended to give them to him when he returned, like he had promised he would. His eighteenth birthday had been just a few days before, and when she had gone into town to get groceries and other supplies, she had stopped by Crimper’s and bought his gift. She had always bought them in secret; no one, not even Honey, knew about this. So far, she had six gifts, and she hoped the collection wouldn’t grow too much more before she had the chance to give them to their intended recipient.
Putting down the box, and carefully concealing her hiding place, she hurried out of her room and down to the cheerful red and white kitchen. Her father was making breakfast, as he had since Moms had become sick. Settling into the routine she had been doing for several days now, she gathered the dishes to put on the tray she would take up to her mother. For the next half hour, she made sure both her mother and Bobby had everything they needed.
Those preliminary chores done, she sat down to eat herself, when the kitchen door opened, and a very familiar honey-haired head stuck itself inside the door. “Yoo hoo, Trixie,” she called, giggling at the greeting.
Trixie grinned, and called her best friend in. “Yoo hoo, yourself, Honey Wheeler! Do you want some breakfast?”
Honey walked in, nodding. “Yes, please. The new cook is just awful! I’ve never had worse-tasting oatmeal!”
Trixie grinned again as she prepared a plate for her friend. “Worse than that time Ben put all that salt in your oatmeal?” she asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
“Yes, believe it or not! I didn’t think anything could be worse than that salty oatmeal, but I was wrong!” The girls started laughing together as they sat down at the table.
Sobering, Honey asked, “How’s your mother doing?”
Quickly swallowing the too-large bite she had taken, Trixie answered. “Better, though still not well enough to get out of bed. I’m afraid I’m stuck being the ‘mistress of the house’ for a few more days,” she finished, rolling her eyes at the title her parents had bestowed on her.
Honey giggled, and continued to eat, sometimes stopping to stare at her plate. Trixie knew that Honey was also dealing with the memories of three summers ago. Every year at this time, they were both prone to getting depressed, Honey more so than Trixie. Honey had wanted Jim for a brother so badly, the fact that he was gone was made even worse by the continued fragmentation of her family. Miss Trask had convinced Honey’s parents to let her stay in Sleepyside, but her parents were rarely there. Honey had always wanted her family to be more of a real family, and she was still convinced they might have become so if her parents had adopted Jim. Then her parents would have had to stay to get to know their new son, and in getting to know him, they would also have gotten to know her, and they would have all been close….
Trixie finished eating, and cleared her place at the table. She started the dishes, and was not surprised when Honey came over to help. Honey was at Crabapple Farm more than Manor House, and had become a member of the family to the extent of doing chores – though Moms never actually assigned her chores! When she had starting dating Trixie’s older brother Brian, it had seemed yet another indication that she was part of the family.
They did the dishes in silence, and afterwards rounded up Bobby and went to work in the garden. Although Bobby was not nearly so spoiled and troublesome and he used to be and didn’t require close watching, ever since he had been bitten by a snake three years ago, Trixie couldn’t help but be paranoid while watching him, and therefore kept him close. As they weeded, Honey told the other two about the latest antics of Tom and Celia Delanoy’s one-year-old son, Kris, which had them all laughing hysterically.
Suddenly, Bobby did a double take, and looked past the house to the road. “Who’s that?” he asked. Trixie turned around, and her jaw dropped open in shock; from the corner of her eye, she saw Honey’s face held a similar expression. She blinked her eyes, convinced that she was imagining it, but when she looked again, he was still there. He looked different: Less like a boy and more like a man, with his face and jaw more clearly defined. He was also wearing much nicer clothes than he had been the last time she saw him. But there was no doubt. Even with all the changes, it was definitely Jim.
Trixie looked into his eyes, and saw recognition and hope there. That was all she needed to know. What she had been dreaming of had finally come true: Jim was back. Without thinking, she stood and raced towards him, screaming, “JIM!!!!!!!” She threw herself into his arms, and found herself being lifted up and spun around. Then Honey threw herself at them, and the three of them stood there, hugging one another, grinning so much they thought their cheeks would split open.
Jim whispered, “I’ve missed you both so much.”
Trixie and Honey looked at one another through the tears in their eyes and said as one, “We’ve missed you, too!”
Jim stood, unsure of what to do, as Bobby said, “Who’s that?” Trixie and Honey both whirled around, and he saw the shock on their faces. They stared at him for what seemed to be an interminably long time, then Trixie looked into his eyes. He felt a shock run through him as their eyes met, but he saw the recognition and hope in her eyes. Suddenly, she was running towards him, screaming his name. He dropped his suitcase, and grabbed her when she threw herself into his arms, spinning her around. Too late, he realized that this wasn’t proper behavior (especially considering what she was, or rather, wasn’t, wearing). But he was too happy to care; she remembered him and was happy to see him, and nothing else mattered.
Then Honey was with them, throwing her arms around the both of them. They stood there, laughing and crying and hugging, still in shock that what was happening really was happening. Finally, Jim pulled back and looked at their tear-streaked faces, knowing that his must also be that way. Overcome by the emotional roller coaster he had been on for so long, he just whispered to them, “I’ve missed you both so much.” The girls looked at one another, and spoke in one voice, just as they had three years ago, though the words were different this time: “We’ve missed you, too!” Hearing them speak, Jim knew that he was finally home.
Helen Belden was dozing when she heard her only daughter scream. She sat up in bed, instantly awake, despite her illness. Grabbing her robe and climbing out of bed, she carefully listened for further screams. She thought she heard laughter, but it was too faint to tell. That stopped her for a moment. If she now heard laughter, then why had Trixie screamed? Thinking back to the scream, she realized it was not an incoherent scream of terror, but more like one of joy. And had it been a word? Maybe something starting with a “J.” Helen thought of all the words her daughter might scream that started with a “J,” and then smiled. Of course. Nothing else besides his return would cause her daughter to react that way.
She made her way to the bedroom window, but couldn’t see anyone outside. Tightening the sash on her robe, she went to the hallway window and saw what she was looking for. Her daughter and Honey were hugging a tall redhead, with Bobby staring at them skeptically from behind. Her hunch had been right: Jim had returned. Peter, Brian, and Mart will not be happy about this, Helen predicted. The men in her family had never understood Trixie’s preoccupation with the missing Jim Frayne. The reason for this preoccupation was now obvious, but Helen knew that her boys would like that even less.
Outside, Trixie grabbed both Jim’s suitcase and his hand, and started dragging him into the house, Honey and Bobby following close behind. Helen turned around and went back to her room to make herself presentable now that they had a guest. And now I get to see if all I’ve been told about Jim Frayne is true, and if he’s worthy of my daughter.
Trixie excitedly pulled Jim into the kitchen, babbling the entire time. Thankfully, as Honey and Bobby were also both babbling, she was sure Jim couldn’t hear how idiotic she sounded.
Dropping his suitcase on the ground, she steered him towards the table. “Are you hungry, Jim?” she asked.
“A little. I had a snack on the train.”
After pushing Jim to sit in one of the chairs, Trixie ran to the refrigerator and grabbed the makings for a sandwich. Hurriedly she made Jim a ham sandwich and poured him a glass of orange juice. She went back to the table, where Honey was excitedly clutching Jim’s arm and babbling. Trixie sat down on the other side of Jim and put his plate in front of him. She was about to start asking questions, when she heard a step behind her. Turning around, she saw her mother, dressed and looking as pretty as ever, smiling down at them.
“Moms! What are you doing up? You should be in bed,” Trixie cried, getting up to pull out a chair for her mother. Next to her, Jim stood as well, respectful and polite as always. Suddenly, Trixie realized she needed to introduce her mother to Jim. “Um, Moms,” she said, stammering in her sudden nervousness and need to have her mother approve her friend, “this is Jim. Jim, this is my mother, Helen Belden.”
Jim smiled (and was his smile a little wobbly? No, Jim couldn’t be nervous; he was always so confident) and held out his hand. “How do you do, Mrs. Belden? I’m sorry for arriving unannounced.”
Moms smiled at Jim and took his hand. “I’m very pleased to finally meet you, Jim. Trixie’s told us a great deal about you. I see I’ve interrupted your meal. Please, make yourself comfortable.” Moms held out her hand, motioning for Jim to sit, while she took the chair Trixie had pulled out for her. Trixie and Honey also sat back down.
Jim took a bite of his sandwich, while the others sat in silence, watching him. Trixie had a million questions she wanted to ask, but with her mother present, she was afraid to ask. The presence of an adult, an outsider, dampened their enthusiasm, and now Trixie, Honey, and Jim all seemed not to know what to do.
Moms, however, knew exactly what to do. Smiling in her calming, maternal way at them, they were all soon completely at ease in her presence. After Jim had taken a drink to wash down his sandwich, she asked, “Are you back in Sleepyside for good, Jim? The land from Ten Acres has been waiting for you.”
Jim nodded slowly. “I haven’t made any long term plans, yet, Mrs. Belden, but I would like to stay in this area. This is the only place where I have any connections anymore.” Briefly, a hint of pain appeared in his eyes as he spoke, but just as quickly disappeared. “But I need to figure out just what I am going to do.”
“Are you going to go to college, Jim?” Trixie broke in. She knew of his dream of having a school for orphaned boys, and was excited that he may finally be able to get started on it, but it was hard for her to think of him leaving again.
Jim shook his head. “No, I can’t yet. I managed to study some on my own the past three years, but I still have a year of high school to complete. I’m a little old, but I’ll still be 18 for graduation, so I’m hoping they’ll let me in. I just hope my scholarship is still good so I can afford college once I do graduate.”
Trixie couldn’t contain her excitement any longer. Apparently, neither could Honey, as they both started talking at once. “You don’t ever have to worry about money again, Jim – you inherited half a million dollars from your Uncle!” On the other side of Jim, Honey said almost the exact same thing.
Jim stared at her, then turned to stare at Honey, his face pale and his eyes wide. “What did you say?”
Before Trixie or Honey could respond, Moms held up a calming hand. “Your Uncle left you a trust fund, Jim, worth a half million dollars, in addition to the ten acres of land. So you shouldn’t have any problem paying for college, once you do graduate from high school. And I’m sure my husband would be happy to talk to the principal of the high school for you, to arrange your registration there.”
Jim just sat there, looking completely stunned. “A half million dollars.” The three women stared at him with concern. Hesitantly, Trixie asked, “Jim?”
Slowly, Jim turned to look at her, the color starting to come back into his face. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me; I didn’t mean to ignore you. It’s just that…well, I wasn’t expecting this.”
Once again, Mrs. Belden came to the rescue. “There’s no need to apologize, Jim. We understand what a shock this is for you, especially coming on what I’m sure was an eventful day.”
Eagerly, Trixie and Honey nodded their agreement. With her legendary tact, Honey added, “I think you’ve done a great job handling all these changes, Jim. This has been a lot to take in, in just one day.”
Trixie added, “I think you’re being just wonderful, Jim.” At the women’s reassurance, Jim started to come out of his shocked state, and at their words of praise, his face turned as red as his hair. And as Trixie praised him, his face became even redder, and Mrs. Belden smiled knowingly, both at her daughter’s effervescent praise, and at their guest’s reaction.
Coming back to reality, Jim realized that his situation had changed drastically in the past few hours, and that his plans were now outdated. Sitting in the Belden’s kitchen, surrounded by three women who had given him amazing, shocking news, and who were giving him more support than he had had since both his parents were alive, he felt more alive and hopeful than he ever had before. For the first time in almost ten years, he knew had a future.
Chapter 4
Jim set his suitcase on the bed of the Belden’s guestroom, and looked around. It was a comfortable, homey room, and he was very grateful that Mrs. Belden and Trixie had both insisted that he stay with them. His plan had been to get a room at the Glen Road Inn, but deep down inside, he had hoped to stay closer to his friends. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to or couldn’t pay for a room at the Inn – and with his newfound inheritance, that definitely wouldn’t be a problem. No, he wanted – needed – to be near the only people who had cared about him in a long time, and whom he cared about, too. It had been so long since he’d had a place to call home, with people who cared about him, maybe even loved him. Here, despite being in the guestroom, he felt at home.
His thoughts soon traveled to the place he had hoped would be his home the first time he came to Sleepyside: Ten Acres. Jim remembered the bitter disappointment he had felt upon discovering the building was abandoned and falling apart. He had arrived just a few hours too late to see his Great-Uncle James. If his exhaustion hadn’t overtaken him, heartbreak would have; Uncle James had been his last hope.
Uncle James had been gone for three years now and had left Jim a half million dollars. Jim sat heavily on the cheerful bedspread. A half million dollars. The amount was too much to be believed. Closing his eyes, he gave a silent thank you to Uncle James, wherever he was. No more scrounging and working himself as hard as he could, and then some, just to survive. No more worries about the future – at least the financial part of it.
Thanks to Uncle James, his dream might be able to become reality. He could give to orphaned boys what he never had as an orphan: Someone to care, someone to look after them, to teach them. He could teach them what his father taught him, so long ago. And maybe, with his inheritance, he’d be able to expand it to help orphan girls, too. They would certainly benefit from what he wanted to teach the boys; just look at Trixie and Honey! Trixie could match any boy for smarts, courage, and love of adventure. And Honey was much stronger and healthier than when he last saw her.
His thoughts were interrupted by a quiet knock on the door. He rose and opened it, finding himself staring into a pair of large blue eyes.
Trixie smiled, somewhat nervously. “Is everything ok, Jim?”
He smiled back at her, and was relieved to see her smile grow bigger and less tremulous. “Everything’s great, Trix. I can’t thank you or your mother enough.”
Trixie shook her head, causing blond curls to bounce around her face; Jim stared at them, fascinated. “We couldn’t let you go to the Inn, Jim! It wouldn’t be neighborly!”
Jim tore his attention away from the bouncing curls and smiled. “But, Trixie, I’m not a neighbor,” he said, watching her intently to see her reaction.
“Not a neighbor!” As he predicted, Trixie was indignant, and her curls bounced with greater energy than before. “Your uncle was our neighbor, and because you’re his family, that means you’re our neighbor, and you own Ten Acres now, so that also makes you our neighbor. And you stayed there three years ago – “
Jim held up a hand, and Trixie stopped in the middle of a sentence, staring at him. He smiled. “Relax, Trixie. I was just teasing. I’m glad you think of me as a neighbor, and I’m glad you’re treating me as one.”
“Oh, well, you’re welcome.” Trixie stared at the ground, her cheeks red. Jim decided her blush made a nice contrast even up against her tanned skin and sky-blue eyes. He’d have to make sure she blushed more.
Trixie started talking again. “So, um, Honey and I were wondering if you wanted to do anything. We can go swimming or riding.” She glanced up at him shyly, chewing on her lower lip. Jim began to fixate on it, until he realized just what he’d been doing the past several minutes. Did I really stare at her curls and decide to make her blush – AND start staring at her lip? Get a grip, Frayne!
Clearing his throat, he said, “Riding would be great, if it’s not too hot. But I’d really like to go up to Ten Acres.”
“It probably is too hot to ride the horses. But we can walk up to Ten Acres. I mean,” she stammered, “if you want me and Honey to go with you.”
He smiled reassuringly at her. “I just got here, Trixie. I’d love to spend some time with you two, and get to know you again. Shall we go now?” Trixie brightened at his reassurance, but Jim grew troubled. As much as he enjoyed Trixie and Honey’s company, the truth was he didn’t want to face the ruin of Ten Acres alone. Although some of the memories were good, mostly those when he was with the girls, the bad memories threatened to overwhelm him. Just the thought of going back brought back the despair he had felt, and the fear. And if Trixie hadn’t woken him that last night – Jim shuddered at the recollection.
Jim straightened his shoulders and walked proudly out of the room behind Trixie. He was a Frayne, and he would not let the past overcome him. The land was his now, and he would see it, bad memories or not. And he would go with his two best friends, who had saved him in more ways than one, three years ago.
For the first time in three years, Honey Wheeler set foot onto the grounds of Ten Acres. Trixie had often wanted to come back, undoubtedly to search for more treasure, but not Honey. Honey couldn’t look at the ruins without remembering that night, and the dashed hopes that came the day after. It was too painful for her; and because Trixie’s parents deemed it too dangerous, Trixie had been forbidden to go, which meant she never pressed Honey about it.
Honey looked at the figures in front of her and smiled. Trixie was chatting excitedly, and Jim seemed to be hanging on her every word. The connection between the two had been obvious to her three years ago, and they seemed to have picked up right where they left off. Despite being slightly jealous that Trixie was monopolizing Jim, Honey was glad Trixie had found someone to connect with like that – like Honey had with Trixie’s brother, Brian. Honey had never seen Jim the way Trixie saw him. He immediately felt like a brother to her, which was why she had been so quick to suggest that her parents adopt Jim three years ago.
Honey quickly stifled the sadness that thought caused in her. There was no reason to be sad anymore; Jim was back, and even if he was staying at the Belden’s, he could still be the older brother she always wanted. It just wouldn’t be official, but then, Honey reflected, it didn’t need to be.
Realizing just how close they were to the hedge, she hurried to catch up with the pair. Jim held branches to the side, allowing Trixie and herself to pass through unscathed. Once through the hedge, they turned to look where the house once had been. Instead of the dilapidated house Honey had seen when she moved here, there were only ruins. No clue remained as to what had once stood there. A newcomer would never have been able to guess that this area had been someone’s home.
With sadness in her eyes, Honey turned to look at Jim. Trixie did the same. His face was white, and the freckles stood out in sharp contrast. His jaw was clenched, as were his fists. Tentatively, Trixie touched his arm. “Jim,” she whispered. Honey came up to his other side and exchanged concerned glances with Trixie. She had known this would be hard for Jim, but she still didn’t know exactly what to do.
Slowly, Jim tore his gaze from the ruins and looked down at them, smiling slightly. “I’d forgotten just how bad it was,” he whispered. He took one of their hands in each of his, and together they walked to the ruin.
Even though three years had passed since the fire destroyed the house, a faint smell of smoke still lingered on, and was joined by the overwhelming smell of mold Honey had to stop herself from gagging as they walked closer. The smell permeated the entire area, hovering around it like a shroud. It was even more depressing now than it had been before, dark and forbidding, the foundations of the house rising from the ground in jagged spikes.
Letting go of the girls’ hands, Jim walked into the ruins, moving rubble aside with his feet as if searching for something. Standing at the edge of the ruins, Honey watched him closely as the emotions played across his face. His attempt at a stoic demeanor, though enough to fool most, could not hide his feelings from her. The sadness, loss, and anger he felt were obvious to her, and she admired him for facing this place. She hadn’t been able to come back here for three years, and it didn’t have nearly as much meaning to her as it did to him. Honey knew she was not nearly as timid as she had been when she first moved here, mostly due to Trixie’s influence, but there were still some things she couldn’t bring herself to face.
Trixie joined her, and together they watched him. After a few seconds, Trixie turned to her and whispered, “I hate just standing here and watching him. Do you think we should do something?”
Honey smiled. Trixie was her best friend, and Honey knew her well. It was not in Trixie’s nature to be patient or to sit around and watch while others suffered. Trixie obviously wanted to go to Jim and comfort him. But Honey knew Jim, too, and she knew he needed to do this right now by himself. Later, after they left here, then he would need them; probably Trixie more than her. But for now, Honey would have to gently convince Trixie of that. Easier said than done.
“I think Jim needs to do this by himself, Trixie.” As Trixie started to protest, Honey quickly added, “But he’ll need us later. We just have to wait for him to come to us, when he’s ready.” Trixie nodded, but pouted, and Honey hid a smile.
Turning away from Trixie, Honey looked again at Jim. He had stopped in the middle of the ruins and was staring off into the woods. Honey glanced at Trixie, who was already moving towards him, Honey’s earlier words apparently forgotten. Smiling to herself, she followed Trixie, but more slowly, allowing the blonde girl to get to Jim first.
Trixie reached Jim and took his hand in hers. “Jim,” she whispered, questioningly. Honey approached them but stood away, watching.
Slowly, Jim came back to his senses, the hardness of his expression melting as he looked at Trixie.
“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to zone out. It’s just…” He trailed off, looking into the trees again. Honey watched as Trixie squeezed his hand, looking intently at him, but staying silent, waiting for him to finish his sentence. After a few moments, Jim looked back at Trixie and gave her a slight smile. “Sorry, again. This was harder than I thought it would be.”
Trixie smiled encouragingly back at him. “You’re doing great, Jim.”
Honey came up to the two of them. “It’s been a really long day for you, Jim. Do you want to go back to Crabapple Farm?”
Jim smiled at her. “You’re probably right. But first, why don’t we try to find the summerhouse?” Without waiting for their assent, he began moving towards the summerhouse, Trixie going along with him, still holding his hand. Sighing, Honey followed.
They reached the summerhouse, now even more overgrown than it was three years ago. Letting go of Trixie’s hand, Jim knelt on the ground and started crawling to the entrance they had found before, Trixie still following right behind. Shuddering at the thought of the spiders and other bugs in the brush, Honey got to her knees and followed her two friends. She paused as she saw that they were stopped in front of the door.
Jim’s voice came through the branches. “The door is stuck. Give me a minute to open it.” Honey waited patiently as he worked, watching as Trixie moved up to help him. The two struggled with the door for several minutes, occasionally talking to one another. Honey smiled as she watched and listened to them. The connection between the two was growing stronger. They often finished one another’s sentences, or understood the other even when the sentences were not finished. Honey could only imagine what they would be like given more time, but she did know one thing for certain: Brian and Mart would not be happy with Trixie’s rekindled relationship with Jim, especially with how close that relationship was becoming.
After a few moments, they managed to open the door. Trixie started to charge in, but Jim grabbed her arm and held her back. Trixie looked back at him, startled.
“Let me go first, Trixie.”
Trixie opened her mouth, a protest undoubtedly on her lips, but it died as she looked into Jim’s stubbornly set face. But even in the face of red-headed stubbornness, Trixie wouldn’t back completely down. “I’m not afraid, Jim, and I’m no more likely to get hurt than you are.”
Honey held her breath, waiting for an eruption of temper. She was actually quite amazed Trixie had managed to control herself when Jim stopped her; the question was whether Jim could control his temper now that she had challenged him.
Jim stared at Trixie a moment, his eyes locked with hers. Slowly, Jim smiled, a crooked grin that broke the tension. “I know that,” he said, reaching up to tug one of the blond curls that had fallen onto Trixie’s forehead. “But I just got back, and I don’t want either of my friends to get hurt. Besides,” he added, “this is my property. I get to go first!”
Trixie grinned. “Well, all right, if you put it that way.” She moved out of his way and waved her arm for him to go forward. “Just hurry up – I want to go in, too!”
Jim crawled past her into the summerhouse, and Honey moved up next to Trixie. The summerhouse was dark, but after letting her eyes adjust to the poor light, she was able to make out the figure of Jim in the darkness, moving about the room, undoubtedly looking for anything that would cause a danger to his friends. Honey was happy to see that some things didn’t change, and was touched to know that he didn’t want them to get hurt.
“Ok, it’s safe to come in.” Trixie immediately scrambled into the summerhouse, letting Jim help her up into a standing position. Honey followed more slowly, gratefully accepting Jim’s free hand to help her up. Once standing, she looked around, not surprised to find that it hadn’t changed in the three years since she had last been in it.
“It’s amazing that the summerhouse wasn’t touched by the fire at all,” Trixie said quietly.
“I know. I was terrified the fire would spread over here while I was hiding.”
Honey shivered, despite the heat. “Let’s not talk about that, okay?”
Trixie and Jim looked at her guiltily, and both nodded. “Why don’t we go back to Crabapple Farm,” Trixie suggested. “Moms said we could go, but I really should look after Bobby and let her rest.”
Honey and Jim readily agreed, and the three teenagers left the summerhouse and began to walk down the hill to the small white farmhouse. Although Jim’s face was furrowed in concentration as he gripped his friends’ hands tightly while the three walked down the hill, he didn’t look over his shoulder at the ruins behind them.
To Be Continued
Author’s Notes: This work is for entertainment purposes only and no profit is being made from it.
As you probably noticed, this is an alternate universe, in which only The Secret of the Mansion happened. Many thanks to El and Rolyru for editing. Any mistakes that remain are mine.