"Okay, Trixie, what do you want to hear on the way home?" asked Honey Wheeler. "Matchbox 20, or N*sync?"
"Uh, Matchbox 20, and turn it to that If You're Gone song, OK?" answered Trixie.
"Can do!" replied Honey.
I think you're already gone
I think I'm finally scared now
You think I'm so weak-but I think you're wrong
I think you're already leaving
The words filled the car as Honey Wheeler drove Trixie home from the hospital to an unknown "Welcome Home" party Trixie's parents were throwing her."Honey," started Trixie,"how do you think Dan feels now that I left him?"
"Well, to be totally honest, Trixie, relieved. I think you guys love each other very much, but I don't think you were ever in love. That's something special and rare, ya know?" was Honey's response.
"That is exactly how I feel. I don't think I should have ever said yes to
marry him. My heart is somewhere else, but I don't know where it is," Trixie said sadly.
"Oh, I think you do Trixie," said Honey.
"If you're thinking Jim ... you're right. He's just so wonderful! He was the first person in the hospital room when I was there. He's always been there for me, but I'm not sure how he feels about me." Trixie stared at the floor of the car.
"I know how he feels about you, Trix," said Honey, "but I think it's up to you two to make things happen. I am not playing Cupid here." She turned onto the bumping road down to Crabapple Farm.
"I know, and now that I am all better, maybe something will happen between the two of us ... after I talk to Dan."
"I think that would be a very good idea, Watson, if I do say so myself," said Honey in a deep English accent.
The two of them broke out into a fit of laughter as they approached the house.
* * *
Inside the Belden House:
"Okay everybody, they're walking up the sidewalk. When I say 3, everybody yell 'Welcome Home Trixie," said Mrs. Belden. "Okay, 1.....2.....3.""WELCOME HOME TRIXIE," shouted everybody.
"Oh my goodness! Thank You!" said Trixie, with a tear in her eye.
"Okay, everybody, let's not make her all teary here!" said Mart Belden, Trixie's almost twin.
"I am not getting teary Mart Belden! So shut your trap!" said Trixie.
"Uh, Trixie, can we talk alone?"asked Jim. "I know it's early and all but-"
"Um, Jim, could you wait about 10 minutes, I really need to talk to-"
"Dan?" Jim finished.
"Yeah, but I need to talk to you to, so don't go anywhere, okay?" said
Trixie.
"Sure."
"Okay...don't go anywhere," demanded Trixie.
"Okay," Jim answered.
Trixie walked away and Jim went outside on the deck.
"Um, Dan, can I talk to you, please?" Trixie asked shyly.
"Yeah," Dan answered, swallowing the last of his orange punch. "What's up?"
"Don't act like you don't know what I am going to say. We need to talk about this!" shouted Trixie.
"How about we forgive and forget?" replied Dan. "Then we can move on with our lives! We all know who you really love. Jim, of course!"
"How can you be so immature, Dan? I left you at the chapel!"Dan stayed eerily calm. "Trixie, I love you and you know it, but we
are not in love with each other anymore, and I'm not sure if we ever were. Listen, we both know we would never be happy together, and I don't think we need to talk about this. We already know what we are going to say, so let's just skip it. It's over, okay? End of discussion!"
"Okay, Dan, you're right. I'll see ya around, 'kay?" Trixie asked.
"Hey, you know it!" said Dan. They hugged and walked in separate
directions. Dan went over to talk to Mr. Maypenny. Before Trixie went to talk with Jim, she went to her Mom.
"Hey, Moms!" said a very cheerful Trixie.
"Oh, honey, I am so happy to see you so happy, and oh, give me a hug!" said Helen Belden.They hugged and then Trixie continued. "Well, everything is worked out between Dan and me, I guess." She smiled.
"And, I think that you have one other thing to work out, don't you, sweetie?" Helen asked looking at the door.
"Oh, yeah, how'd you know?" she asked.
"Oh, mothers have their ways! Now go on and talk."
"Thanks, Moms!"
They hugged again, and Trixie headed out the door.
* * *
On the deck:
"Jim-"
"Trixie-"
To Be Continued