A Long Journey Home for Christmas

 

By Elaine

 

 

 

Chapter 1

 

 

It was raining lightly when the jet touched down in Sleepyside. Trixie’s pulse quickened as she saw Jim standing by the limousine as they started walking towards it an extreme feeling of homesickness flooded over her as she saw how handsome he became since she saw him last.

 

“You got your cast off.” Honey hugged her adoptive brother the instant she reached his side. “I haven’t seen you in ages I am glad you chose to greet us this time.” Honey turned to eye her best friend getting out of the jet with a smile. She wasn’t actively trying to match make her best friend with her brother but down deep she hoped they might hit it off again this time.

 

“Yes finally, I am so glad.” Jim took her hug still having his eyes on Trixie who was holding her sleeping daughter. He noticed her daughters legs were covered with blue tights and her jeans skirt was covering her properly. Jim saw long legs dangling with bright black leather shoes on her feet. He could see light red curly hair peeking out from under her cap, but he her face wasn’t visible yet. He hadn’t met the little girl that Trixie had several years before because he and Trixie didn’t actually speak much after they broke up. She’d talk civilly but nothing more than hi Honey is not here or I’ll get your sister before she’d pass on the phone abruptly.

 

 A perfect version of Shirley Temple the movie classic star little girl came to mind. He expected her to be dressed more like a tomboy with blue jeans and a baseball cap, but instead she wasn’t what he envisioned. He bet the young girl would probably be as pretty as her mother when she was awake. His stomach churned with regret, he was tricked into that marriage. He never should have gone on that Vegas trip. He never should have drunk anything that swayed his judgment. He married that tramp on a whim after an argument with Trixie about well it was just silly now that he thought back, it was after his adopted mother convinced him that he should have the glamorous type to fit in with high society as if dressing for success would make him excel faster into the high society life.

 

“She looks heavy,” Jim said soberly. Why did he marry that liar? She swore she was pregnant. Julia never even had a baby. Two weeks after he married her she claimed to have a miscarriage. His chance to be a daddy died right then because Julia kept herself on birth control after that. He remembered his last argument with his wife before that accident she had killed her. He wanted a baby they fought over her not wanting the same things. Jim insisted he wanted a divorce so he could find a woman that did want children with him.

 

“She’s tired.” Matthew Wheeler turned to look at the sleeping six year old before he wrapped a blanket around her. He took the time to go pick up his daughter and her best friend and daughter using his private jet.

 

Trixie just climbed into the backseat of the limousine not saying anything. The urge to cry overwhelmed.

 

“Are you okay?” Jim asked as he sat directly across from her on the bench that faced her seat. Wondering what would make her tear up like that had his attention.

 

“I just haven’t been home in so long.” Trixie put her face down into her daughter’s curls and held her tighter. “I miss being home.” She added.

 

“Uh mommy,” Nikki started to wine, being woke up always made her very cranky

 

“Don’t start crying, we’ll be at Grandma’s in about a half hour,” Trixie said soberly.

 

“Did I miss seeing the big green lady?” she started crying anyway.

 

“It’s okay, Nikki, we’ll see the Statue of Liberty another time when you are awake,” Mr. Wheeler said soothingly. “I’ll even drive you to New York City and we’ll take a ferry over there and you can see her up close if you want to.”

 

“You shouldn’t have told her we’d be flying right past it,” Honey whispered to her father.

 

“Nicole, stop crying or we won’t fly past it going home and you’ll never see the famous green lady,” Trixie warned.

 

“Hey,” Jim scooted forward and held out a small little white poodle that was wearing a pink suede coat. “Would you like to see Miss Penny?”

 

“Oh,” Nikki sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Oh, it’s a puppy.” She gasped her big green eyes lit up as she took her from Jim’s hands.

 

“I don’t know what to do with her,” Jim added seeing her eyes light up made him continue “She’s an orphan.” He added.

 

“Oh,” Nikki hugged the wiggling dog and cooed. “You pretty little puppy.”

 

“Oh, no now you’ve done it.” Mr. Wheeler laughed loudly.

 

“Mommy, can I adopt her? I’ll take her, she’s an orphan. Like your story about helping save that orphan you and Aunt Honey once met. He didn’t have a mommy or a daddy either. I want to help an orphan too.”

 

“Well, sweetheart, maybe he wasn’t giving her away?” Trixie looked over at Jim with her eyes bulging a warning to stop before she had a wailing child on the entire trip.

 

“Oh.” Nikki got up and stood in the middle of the limousine staring at Jim soberly. “If you don’t like her mister… I love puppies.”

 

“Oh, I do like her.” Jim grinned. Nikki was the splitting image of her mother only with green eyes and red hair instead of blond. He quickly decided he could get another pet.

 

“But I am looking for her a really good home if you find someone that can do it you are welcome to let me know, but your mommy might not be able to let you have her once you go home. She’s a lap dog I would rather have a hunting dog because I like to go hunting and stuff.”

 

“Okay,” Nikki nodded understanding. “Mommy, you said I can’t have a pony now because we have no place to keep her, but a puppy doesn’t take up much room?”

 

“They cost pet deposits,” Trixie rolled her eyes. “James, is that dog housebroken?”

 

“Actually, yes, she is,” Jim tried not to laugh but couldn’t quite do it. “She is the daughter of Mr. Poo. Her pedigree is priceless or so Julia always said.”

 

“That’s right. July was the ‘got to have perfect’ type wasn’t she? She would have likely demanded the best of the best.” Trixie let off a snobbish air.

 

“Huh?” Nikki looked at her mother with a frown confused.

 

“Never mind Nikki, I know what she’s talking about.” Jim laughed. He hadn’t seen Trixie’s dramatic display of over acting in a long time she always amused him when she did that.

 

“Who is July, is that a person?” Nikki asked as she hugged the wiggling dog.

 

“She means Julia,” Honey giggled. Trixie never could say her name correctly. “Your mother prefers adopting pets from the homeless shelter, but now even properly pedigreed pups can need adoption.” Honey reminded Trixie.

 

“I am aware of that. We’ll see if the dog likes us enough to want to adopt us first Nicole you don’t adopt a dog you let it adopt you that is the proper way to get a happy animal.” Trixie nudged her best friend.

 

“I know that.” Nikki nodded understanding her mother always told her that. “If she adopts us can we keep her?”

 

“Maybe,” Trixie answered. “if Uncle Matthew doesn’t mind that we have a dog in his apartment. It is his apartment now.”

 

“I don’t mind.” Matthew grinned from ear to ear in response. “You young ladies are taking care of my penthouse very nicely.” He added. “I am glad I got the perfect house setters for that place.”

 

“I help keep it clean.” Nikki said loudly. “Don’t I help Nellie?” She knocked on the window between the seats that separated her from the front seat and the back seat.

 

Nellie just looked back and waved at them.

 

“You never get peoples names wrong? Why did you call her July? That is the name of a month when they shoot fireworks off, isn’t it?” Nikki frowned at her mother as Trixie made her get in her seatbelt so the car could start moving.

 

“I am not wrong, she’s July bubble pie.” Trixie added. “Seriously, Nikki, those are my nicknames for his late wife. Kind of like when I call Brad Broad because of his muscles, it is just for teasing him, but if it hurt his feelings I would never say that. We might hurt Jim’s feelings if we called his late wife July Bubble Pie okay?” Brad was Trixie’s partner at work in the Illinois State police office. Nikki already knew how her mother teased Brad about his broad shoulders and over developed muscles. Brad had a fitness obsession he loved to work out at the gym everyday. Her nickname for Julia became July bubble pie because she always considered her exuberant attitude like a bubble about to burst. She’d call her a bimbo but it wouldn’t be polite to Jim considering her married her.

 

“Oh,” Nikki nodded understanding. “Why is she late is she lost somewhere?” Nikki asked.

 

“No, that means she died Honey.” Matt answered.

 

“Oh, that is sad. Did she die like my daddy did?” Nikki asked.

 

“No, she drowned, after she drove her car into the Manor Lake.” Jim answered. “I think July Bubble Pie is funny though but Julia would have hated it.” Jim remembered how his wife never liked his best friend. She was extremely jealous of Trixie there was a reason for that it was because down deep he always loved Trixie even more than his wife and his wife sensed that and hated it.

 

“Aunt Honey says she was a drunken witch,” Nikki said.

 

“Nikki,” Honey warned. “Don’t say that it is not polite.”

 

“No, she’s right. She was a drunken witch,” Jim agreed. “She never could stop drinking to much. Julia had an alcoholic problem.”

 

“I would never do that,” Nikki said firmly. “Mommy says they have to take little kids out of cars hurt badly because of drunk drivers. They are stupid.”

 

“She is right, they are very stupid.” Jim nodded his head. Nikki crawled across the seat and sat next to Jim. “What is your name?” She turned her bright green eyes his direction.

 

“I am Jim I am Honey’s brother.” Jim put his arm around her.

 

“My name is Nikki Roberts. I never met you before. Mommy always made us leave when you were coming to visit aunt Honey we’d go to a hotel or stay at Brad’s and his wife’s house. Brad is real nice, but his wife can’t have kids so they spoil me a lot mommy says.” Nikki answered.

 

“Put your seatbelt on.” Trixie warned her. Nikki was in a talkative mood that was better than the wining mood but it could get annoying. She didn’t know how to keep a secret much like Trixie’s youngest brother when he was only 6 years old.

 

“Where is my booster seat?” Nikki asked when she looked around. “I won’t be able to see out the window without it mommy.”

 

“We left it at home.” Trixie answered as Jim pulled a small tab on the back of the seat he was on that revealed a booster seat for a little kid on it as the back, laid on the seat.

 

“Oh, wow neat car. This one is a lot nicer than ours mommy.” Nikki climbed onto it and settled down. “I can see outside where are we mommy? This town doesn’t look like Chicago.”

 

“No, it is Sleepyside.” Trixie answered as she looked out the window and started telling Nikki about everything they could see now.

 

“Will we see the headless horseman?” Nikki shouted.

 

“Oh brother,” Honey started to giggle. “We’ve told her a lot of stories about home.”

 

“Her Majesty is awake.” Trixie said to Matthew as he got into the car next and got settled again.

 

“Good, I like talking to Nikki.” Matthew Wheeler sat beside the little girl on the other side. He visited them so often that Nikki began to think of him as her father as much as Honey did.

 

“Who is going to drive?” Nikki asked.

 

“Andrea’s daddy is driving. He is the one getting into the drivers seat next to Nellie.” Trixie answered.

 

“Uncle Tom is out there?” Nikki shouted.

 

“Hello Nikki.” Tom’s voice responded through the speaker system he was sitting in the driver’s seat with Nanny Nellie sitting beside him. There was a window guard that separated the back seats from the front seat to speak to the driver you’d have to press a button to activate the microphone.

 

“Hello Uncle Tom where are you?” Nikki shouted.

 

“I am in the front seat.” Tom waved from the front.

 

“Oh cool, why is there a window, like in your cop’s car mommy?” Nikki said.

 

“That is because this is a chauffeured limousine. It is bulletproof” Matthew explained

 

The ride through town and the down Glen Road was colorful Nikki was asking thousands of questions about who lived in each house she wanted to meet everyone.

 

“Sorry guys,” Trixie groaned. “Baby, we don’t know who lives in every house. Settle down and play with Miss Penny.”

 

“I know most of the people.” Matthew laughed.

 

“Of course you rent them their houses or you sold them their property.” Jim looked at his adopted father as he spoke.

 

“Only on Glen Road,” Matthew answered. It was true he had a massive housing complex built on the outskirts of town that subdivision was named Wheeler estates even the roads were named after the Wheelers. There was a Madeline drive and a James court, a Matthew Street and a Wheeler Avenue in that subdivision filled with million dollar homes surrounding the picturesque view of the Hudson River valley.

 

“Wow, guys you really developed the country.” Trixie gasped as she noticed all the new buildings.

 

“I had to do something, the property taxes were horrible. I am actually in the business to make money.” Matthew winked at Trixie as he spoke.

 

“Is there still a game preserve?” Trixie asked.

 

“Yes, but it sets back a few acres off Glen road before it starts now. I downsized the 10 thousand acres I once owned to just 7 thousand acres. I have it all fenced in now so you’ll figure out where the new boundaries are soon enough.”

 

“I am glad to see it get more rural closer to home.” Trixie noticed the houses disappeared after about a mile and the country began with the large draping trees this was the time of year where they were leafless but it was still beautiful going up and down the hills that wound back toward the farm and the Manor.

 

“I didn’t want that many neighbors either. We made an agreement with Mr. Lynch and your father not to congest our homes. Actually what happened was Peter bought ten acres of ground from me and Mr. Lynch bought 50 acres from me and they refuse to allow development. Plus Jim’s ten acres on the other side of the Manor helps keep our area nice and quiet. He’s just built his one home and we use the rest of his ground now for horse grazing land and his gardens.” Matthew assured her.

 

Finally Tom turned into Crabapple Farms driveway to let Trixie and Nikki out of the car.

 

“This is Grandma’s house.” Trixie told her daughter.

 

“Oh, I like this house it is pretty,” Nikki shouted. “She’s got Christmas decorations all lit up. Santa’s sleigh is on the roof mommy Look I see a Christmas Angel. Oh boy it’s a country Christmas I love country Christmas’s.”

 

“You aren’t dressed to run through all that muddy slush. What ever snow they got last week is already melting.” Trixie gasped as Nikki let the dog down and then immediately ran after her.

 

Jim helped them get into the house and smiled as Trixie took hugs from her mom and dad who were so astonished to have her suddenly arrive. Her mother cried tears of happiness as she welcomed them inside. I can’t believe you are here.” Helen said over and over.

 

“Don’t tell Bobby I arrived. He called me earlier today and begged me to come home he’d even pay our tickets. I caught a ride back with Honey instead so it won’t cost him anything.” Trixie explained why they arrived so suddenly.

 

“Oh, Bobby is going to be thrilled. He’s really been missing you.” Her mom answered.

“It’s been a busy time of year working for Mr. Wheeler this year too so he’s feeling happy about being able to spend money on Christmas himself this year.”

“Especially, since he doesn’t have to shell out all that money for our tickets.” Nikki laughed. “I expect him to buy me a present instead.”

 

“You expect what?” Trixie looked at her daughter shocked.

 

“Well look at all that money he saved,” Nikki said reasonably. “He can buy me a video game and I’ll leave it here so we can always play it together when we visit.”

 

“I can tell you are your mother’s daughter. You even sound like your mother did at your age. I am sure Bobby would love to buy a video game for you and him to play together when you visit.” Peter laughed at the little girl.

 

Nikki suddenly grabbed Jim’s hand. “I want a tour of the house can you show me where my moms bedroom was. I need to put my things in there.”

 

“Yes, I can.” Jim answered her polite question as he watched her pick up her bags.

 

Trixie gave her daughter a funny look. Why did she ask Jim for help? He didn’t live there.

 

“Let them go,” Helen grabbed her arm. “She wants to put her bags away. That is cute. Jim hasn’t been over here in ages. What’s going on with that?” Helen asked when they were out of earshot distance.

 

“I don’t know mom,” Trixie answered in a whisper. “I only just met him about a half hour ago. He wanted to help with our luggage Nikki has already taken to him since he’s offered to give her his dog she’s instantly in love with Honey’s brother.”

 

“He got handsome didn’t he?” Helen whispered back. “He’s a full-fledged pediatrician now that is amazing.”

 

Trixie looked through the darkened hallway into the living room at the stairwell that led to the upstairs before she grinned. “No one was ever better looking than Jim I didn’t have any doubts of how handsome he’d become.”

 

Helen grinned from ear to ear before she grabbed another hug from her daughter. “I won’t actively try to match make him with you but girl he’s available again and so are you.”

 

Nikki ran down the steps a bit later shouting “Mommy I need a dusting rag you haven’t been home in a long time. Your room is dusty.”

 

“Oh.” Trixie burst into giggles.

 

“I guess I haven’t dusted your room in a few weeks.” Helen blushed.

 

“I got the blankets. Where is the laundry room?” She was carrying the blankets down the steps.

 

“Sorry,” Jim hurried after the little girl. “Is she a neatness freak?” He asked Trixie.

 

“Um, she knows that I am. It kind of comes with living around me to long.” Trixie took the quilt and pillowcases from her daughter.

 

“Sweetie that isn’t a polite thing to do you shouldn’t burst into the room demanding cleaning supplies from your host when you visit them.” Trixie warned.

 

“Oh, but we were unannounced. Grandma didn’t know to expect us so I am doing her work for her mommy. If she knew to expect us she would have cleaned up before we got here, but since we just showed up we can’t expect her to do this first. I don’t want her to lift a finger. We can do this stuff ourselves. Grandma doesn’t mind do you?” She looked over at her innocently.

 

“Of course I don’t mind.” Helen answered, she smiled real big. Nikki reminded her of Trixie when she was that age. She looked a lot like her mother, but she didn’t have those cute dimples when she smiled. “But your mother is right don’t do that to people you don’t know okay?”

 

“Okay,” Nikki nodded. “I just want to help I am a big helper.”

 

“You sure are.” Helen gave her a big hug.

 

Trixie disappeared into the laundry room with the blankets. She quickly turned on the machine throwing in the soap before she tossed it into the washing machine.

 

Jim was grinning at Nikki she was so cute he couldn’t help but smile. He stopped listening to the little girl to turn his attention towards Trixie when she walked out of the laundry room.

 

“She just knows what I do to prepare for someone to visit. I wash all the sheets and blankets in the spare bedroom so everything smells fresh. I’ll have to explain not to do that later.”

 

“I think it is adorable,” Jim whispered back “I don’t think your mom will mind.” Jim looked back towards the kitchen where Helen and Nikki were talking excitedly.

 

“I hope not,” Trixie agreed. “Nikki is barely six I am sure she remembers what her own kids were like at that age.”

 

“Oh gosh, what are you doing?” Trixie gasped at the next scene. Nikki was holding a cup of sugar and pouring it into a big bowl.

 

“She’s helping me bake cookies.” Helen said as she stood up from her pots and pans cabinet with her cookie sheets in her hands.

 

“I always promised her I’d teach her to bake our special Christmas cookies when she visited. We mustn’t keep her waiting to do that.” Helen looked happy.

 

“Oh, but it’s late.” Trixie gasped as she looked at her daughter in horror.

 

“We’ll have to wait until the blankets are dry anyway.” Nikki poured the ingredients into the bowl as she spoke. “I am not sleepy now Mommy.”

 

“Oh,” Trixie groaned. “I am sorry mom.”

 

“Oh, don’t be I am having fun,” Helen assured her. “I always loved teaching my kids to bake cookies. It’s even more fun now because I am making you clean up our mess.”

 

“Let me crack those eggs.” Trixie grabbed them from her hands.

 

“Oh, but mommy…” Nikki shouted.

 

“No, you’ll drop them,” Trixie said firmly. “Don’t misbehave I’ll spank your bottom.”

 

“I won’t.” Nikki stopped fussing and let her mom crack the eggs into the mixing bowl.

 

“She’s a handful,” Peter Belden said to Jim as he watched his reaction to Trixie’s threat to spank her.

 

“I’ll bet she is,” Jim nodded. “Do you think she’d really spank her?”

 

“Only if she needed it,” Peter motioned for him to follow they entered the living room and sat on the sofa together. “Old fashioned discipline does work as long as it is followed up with lots of love. Give the idea a chance. It helps keep the child under control. Too many families are losing control of their children now days. That new wave discipline isn’t really working. Trixie learned her form of child rearing from her mom. Helen did an excellent job rearing our kids. She really loves her mother now.” Peter pointed out.

 

“I know that.” Jim gave him a nod. It had been a long time since he had a heart to heart talk with Mr. Belden it seemed long over due. Jim liked Mr. And Mrs. Belden a lot because they reminded him of his parents when he was young. He missed not being on an every day speaking status like he once was, but after he married Julia he never really felt comfortable with talking to the Belden’s like he used to.

 

“They left with the limo should I give you a ride home?” Mr. Belden asked politely.

 

“Well, Tom is coming back around for me once he gets Honey and Dad squared off at the Manor.” Jim answered. “Oh, I want a little kid like that.”

 

He could hear Trixie and Nikki giggling together at the mess they were making rolling out the cookie dough in the kitchen.

 

“I know you do.” Peter looked over at his rambunctious granddaughter and his happy daughter playing with her and smiled. “Next time, don’t marry an uptight snob like Julia. She wasn’t the domesticating type you were used so badly. I think she just wanted you to marry her so she could gain in social status.”

 

“I realize that now,” Jim nodded agreeing. “Mother thought she’d suit me better, she only suited mother better I was miserable. Boy Trixie turned out really pretty.” Jim answered as he observed the obvious.

 

“Just like her mother. I never had a doubt that she’d grow up beautiful.” Peter smiled at Jim’s gaze back at his daughter.

 

Jim left a few minutes later.  He hadn’t been able to speak to Trixie very much; she was too busy keeping up with Nikki and her urge to bake cookies. He was able to realize while watching her how good of a mother she grew up to be, just like her mother before her, he thought to himself. Trixie domesticated comfortably, Nikki knew how to mind her and loved her completely.  He liked that.

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

When Tom pulled the limousine away from the driveway Jim sighed, his ride back to Ten Acres Mansion left a sad lonely feeling in the pit of his stomach. The mansion was beautiful inside and out, but still when he opened the front doors it was quiet and dark. He dismissed the servants that his wife demanded they have after she died because he felt he would rather clean up after himself.

 

He’d spend the rest of the night cleaning his house: polishing silver, washing off the windows and chandeliers until they sparkled brightly, vacuuming the rugs and mopping the hardwood floors until they shined. He even went to the attic and got out the Christmas decorations and decked the fireplaces with garland and Christmas stockings. He placed the mistletoe in the doorway and unrolled the pretty Christmas style table cloths for his expensive dining table all the while hoping Nikki and Trixie would be impressed with the fancy house when they arrived for a visit. He knew the decor was top of the line in fashion since his wife had a decorator hired to furnish the place. The next morning he was even outside putting out Christmas decorations on his lawn. His legs were hurting badly by the time he sat down around noon. He only had his cast removed a few days ago and all that work was taking its toll. That was when he noticed the horses in the yard through his brightly clean picture window. There were two horses one with two riders on it and the other with just one. As they drew closer, he smiled brightly.  His sister Honey rode one and Trixie and her daughter Nikki rode the other one. He was finished just in time for the visitors he hoped would arrive at his door. Suddenly the large chimes' ding dong sounds filled his ears.

 

“Wow, mommy this place is huge.” He heard Nikki’s comment as he opened the front door smiling brightly as he greeted them.

 

“Merry Christmas,” Jim said to the little girl directly.

 

“Hello Jim.” Nikki put the little white poodle down as the door opened and Miss Penny ran inside the house so fast her toes sounded like dancing clicking sounds on the hardwood floor.

 

“There she goes.” Jim looked through his door at the pretty little dog running. Nikki took off after the dog chasing her through the house.

 

“Gosh, I wish I had that energy,” Trixie groaned as she watched her daughter. “We came by to see if you wanted to go riding with us,” She asked Jim. “I wasn’t sure if you were up for climbing on horses yet, but the invitation is open.”

 

“Oh,” Jim looked down at his legs and cringed. “I was cleaning the house today so now I am tired maybe after while.” He put his cane off to the side as he spoke.

 

‘I am impressed.” Trixie looked around at the elaborate entry that gleamed with polish it had a smell of fresh lemons. “You duplicated the old mansion perfectly. I mean perfectly in my memory of before your aunt died when the house was still very clean and beautiful.”

 

“So am I,” Honey grinned as she looked around at the interior. “Did your ghost of the house help with the cleaning instead of messing it up?”

 

Jim laughed at his sister’s question. “Now Honey, I’ve never seen a ghost messing up this house before. That was Julia’s lie to pretend it wasn’t just her being a slob that made the house so messy before.”

 

“I’ve heard some pretty big stories about how the house got so messed up.” Honey giggled.

 

“I don’t know about that,” Trixie laughed. “Mr. Frayne used to say there was a ghost that messed up the house before.”

 

“That is because they were both slobs.” Honey giggled loudly.

 

“Hey, come have a cup of coffee with me.” Jim invited them both nicely.

 

“Mommy,” Nikki interrupted. “You said that I can help you find a daddy for me right?”

 

“Yes, why?” Trixie frowned at her daughter.

 

“Has it been long enough since Jim’s mommy died?” Nikki looked up at her innocently as she asked.

 

“Oh, Nikki,” Trixie gasped. “We don’t ask anyone a question like that. Don’t you dare?”

 

“Well Uncle Matt said Daddies were good for buying pony’s and houses in the country. Jim’s already got a huge house in the country. I saw a stable out back for horses. He just needs a wife and some kids to make this house seem lively.”

 

“That is enough.” Trixie said firmly. “No, you can’t help me find a daddy. We do not find them like that. Stop it this instant.”

 

Nikki teared up and started to cry. “I am sorry.”

 

“Trixie, it’s okay.” Jim gasped as he reached out to draw the little girl over for a hug. “She was just asking a question. And yes Honey it is two soon for me to be actively searching for a new wife. However your mother and I always were very good friends when we were younger.” He winked at Trixie. “I hope we are still very good friends. It is not too soon for me to adopt a daughter.”

 

“Really,” Nikki asked loudly. “You’d adopt me?”

 

“Yes, I would.” Jim’s kind eyes captivated Nicki’s heart she smiled at him curiously.

 

“Oh, but I don’t need adopting. I have the best mother in the whole entire world. She takes care of me just fine.”

 

“I know she does,” Jim winked at Trixie again. “Have you ever heard of a godfather?”

 

“Yes Uncle Matt is my godfather. He comes to visit aunt Honey all the time and he visits me too.” Nikki nodded eagerly.

 

“Well you can have more than one of those.” Honey grinned as she watched them.

 

“Are you that Jim guy that was the orphaned runaway?” Nikki asked.

 

“I think so.” Jim answered with a nod.

 

“Oh, I didn’t know that,” Nikki answered while wiggling down. “I don’t know, mister. You broke my mommy’s heart once.”

 

“Nikki,” Trixie gasped she blushed badly.

 

Jim looked over at her quickly he looked astonished almost speechless.

 

“My mommy is not unsafe she is a very safe person. We have a good life in Chicago and just because she is younger, don’t mean she would never grow up either.” She added with her hands on her hips. “She might not tell you what a cad you were but I will.” Nikki added. “I think you should grow up.  Mommy didn’t need to.”

 

“Okay,” Jim almost teared up.

 

Trixie grabbed her daughter’s mouth covering it with her gloved hand and holding it there.

 

“Jim and I are still friends. I don’t know what she is talking about. It’s only been a long time since we visited because it costs a lot of money to come home and I’ve been in college all my money goes to tuitions and book fees etc.”

 

“Of course,” Jim answered, knowing she was denying the problem she had with returning. A six year old telling him to grow up was shocking he wasn’t sure how to react to that but he held his temper and tried to consider what she said rationally he broke her heart what? Jim nearly passed out he had no idea she might have felt like that about him.

 

“Mommy, if it snows again, can I toboggan on that big hill in the backyard?” Nikki’s attention was already on the hill showing through the window.

 

“Yes, you can. I have several toboggans in the garage.” Jim answered quickly “Your mom and Honey can come with us and we can make a party out of it. Say have you ever gone Christmas Caroling before?”

 

“That would be fun no, mommy took me to the Christmas parade in Chicago before but I didn’t get to walk in it,” Nikki smiled brightly. “How long can we stay, Mommy?”

 

“I have two weeks cleared from work, but it might not snow in two weeks.”

Trixie said reasonably.”

 

“Oh, I hope it does, can I visit Santa Claus. I want to ask him to bring me some snow.”

 

“Well, I could rent a snow blower machine.” Jim winked at the adorable little girl. “I tell you what if it doesn’t snow before you are ready to leave. I’ll make it snow the day before you go.”

 

“Oh wow,” Nikki’s eyes lit up. “That is something Uncle Matt didn’t think of that a daddy can give me. He can make it snow.”

 

“Oh brother,” Trixie groaned. “You are going to get spoiled if I don’t get you out of here. Daddies aren’t just good for getting you things. Daddies are good for much more than just that. They can help you when you fall down and hurt yourself by giving you first aid. They can also help you with your math. God knows I suck at math without my dads help I’d have flunked out every year. They can give you all kinds of advice and answer all your questions about anything and everything under the sun, because Daddies know everything and if there is something they don’t know they can look it up on the World Wide Web and tell you the answer later. They can drive you to your cheerleading practices and just love you when no one else thinks you are worthy of loving too. They can teach you how to drive a car. They can even come and get you when you are in trouble sitting at the police station.” Trixie teared up. “My dad has done a lot of things for me over the years and the most cherished thing of all was when he was doing stuff for me that didn’t even cost a cent.”

 

“I love grandpa.” Nikki teared up with her. “We should move closer to Grandma and Grandpa.”

 

“He loves you, too, sweetheart,” Honey said.

 

“I am warmer now, Mom. Take me out to ride that pretty horse again,” Nikki said firmly as she tugged on her jacket.

 

“If you will wait a little bit and color in this coloring book instead, I’ll take you for a horse and buggy ride and we can sing Christmas carols.” Jim presented her with a big coloring book and a large box of crayons. “We can hitch Strawberry and Lady to my wagon in the shed.” Jim looked up at Trixie making eye contact as he spoke

 

“Okay, oh boy,” Nikki looked happy. “Can we ride all the way to my grandpa and grandma’s house?”

 

“I think we can do that,” Jim answered.

 

“How about we go to Grandma and Grandpa Roberts’s house?”

 

“I don’t know. That would be riding into town. It is illegal to take horses into town unless there is a parade.” Jim answered.

 

“We’ll have to settle for calling them and asking them to come out here and ride along with us,” Honey suggested.

 

“Oh boy,” Nikki answered. “Does my grandpa still look like my daddy did?”

 

“She’s a million questions.” Jim gasped making eye contact with Trixie.

 

“No, that is two million questions,” Trixie agreed. “Are your legs too tired for hitching the horses?”

 

“I’ll live, but I could use your help,” Jim answered. “Honey, would you watch her while we hitch the horse?”

 

“Sure,” Honey nodded.

 

Trixie followed Jim out to his shed in the backyard. “I am sorry she’s being such a bother.” Trixie apologized as she fell in step with him, Jim was limping on his sore leg but keeping up with her.

 

“That isn’t a bother. I always did want to have a bunch of kids running around.” Jim answered. “She’s at an inquisitive age.”

 

“Yes to inquisitive,” Trixie agreed. “She’s got that same stubborn anger management problem that Bobby had when he was six years old. But she still listens well enough so I think we can handle it. I wish she didn’t miss having a father so much it makes me cry trying to get her through that.”

 

“I’ll bet you were just like that at age six,” Jim agreed. “How did your mother take getting your bedroom cleaned up by the six year old housekeeper?”

 

“She didn’t mind at all,” Trixie answered. “Nellie has been making housekeeping a big game for her so she likes cleaning. It is fun.”  Trixie grasped the horses bridle and took it off the wall in his barn behind his house as she spoke

 

“For now anyway, next month she’ll probably be bored with it.” Jim laughed.

 

“True,” Trixie agreed as she hurried back through the yard to lead her horses toward the shed as they spoke. They hitched up the horses to the buggy and put the Christmas bell chain across them for the festivity of it.

 

“How much longer before you graduate college?” Jim asked suddenly.

 

“Well, if we pass the bar exam. We’ll be out of there by April.” She answered while clasping the tether strap to the harness that would reach to the wagon.

 

“Are you coming home to open your law office?” Jim asked hoping she’d say yes that was the plan.

 

“I’ve been kicking around the idea of becoming an assistant DA in Chicago, but Honey really wants to come home right away so the decision is still up for debate. I think Mart is going to ask her to marry him so I don’t know what is really going to happen if he does that. I don’t want to stand in her way of happiness. So we’ll likely part ways soon, at least I am expecting that.”

 

“Well Molinson could use another assistant DA in town.” Jim said soberly as he eyed her expression, knowing she knew that Del Molinson became the District Attorney after he passed the bar a few years before.

 

“Oh, I don’t know if I could work with him?” She sighed. “Is he still the grumpy old man?”

 

“Sort of, but he had respect for you.” Jim chuckled.

 

“Let’s call for the girls the wagon is ready.” Jim said after he finished with the cleaning the wagon out. It was shaped more like Santa’s sleigh only when there wasn’t snow the wheels would roll on the ground but he had sleighs to attach to the wagon under it once there was enough snow to use them all he had to do was let them down with the hydraulics system and lock them in place. Right now there wasn’t any snow so they would need the wheels.

 

“Wow, this looks nice.” Trixie stepped back to take a picture of it with her cell phone

 

“I built it especially for Christmas.” Jim climbed up into the front seat as he spoke he sat down carefully.

 

“You always were really good with carpentry work,” Trixie sighed. “I wouldn’t know the first thing about building a wagon.”

 

“It wasn’t that hard.” Jim answered following the conversation happily.

 

“Your leg must still hurt.” Trixie climbed up after him and sat by his side.

 

“No pain, no gain.” He answered as he rubbed his left leg.

 

“Oh, don’t over do it. I broke my leg once I know how long it takes to mend.”

 

“I’ve missed you Trix,” Jim said suddenly. “It has been such a long time since the days of our childhood. I always wished you would have stuck around after high school.”

 

“What for all my hopes and dreams were shattered. It was time to go.” She answered.

 

“All of mine were shattered back then two. Starting with that huge con Julia pulled on me ending with your never speaking to me again.”

 

“Don’t bring that up. We are coexisting just fine without talking about that.” Trixie warned. “I want to be friends again. Nikki needs for me to get over my need to stay away from here, she has grandparents that love her and keeping her from them isn’t fair I know this. Maybe we can attempt to be friends again I’ve missed you Jim.” She added.

 

Jim gently coaxed the horses to move forward and he led them around to the front of the house to pick up Honey and Nikki

 

“We got music.” Nikki carried out her IPod and a long wire that Honey promised would attach to the speakers on the wagon.

 

“Do you have Christmas songs on your Ipod?” Jim asked.

 

“I got loads of good ones.” Nikki promised as Jim helped her onto the wagon. “I called Grandma and Grandpa they want to sing with us.” Nikki said loudly. “We can pick up Grandma Roberts at Mr. Lytell’s store. Grandpa Peter said attach the hayrack because he thinks we’ll pick up a lot more people along the road is that true?”

 

“It might be.” Trixie tucked her in with a big quilt so she would stay warmer then she put the small deer antler head dress on her poodles head. After a couple more minutes they were off again walking the horses down the long winding driveway of cobble stone that led towards Crabapple Farm.

 

Helen hurried outside along with two old fashioned long metal handled baskets filled with hot stones heated by her fireplace. They could be rolled into blankets and used to help keep warm with.

 

“Good, you brought the bed warmers.” Trixie shivered.

 

“We’ll stay warmer. I filled up the long tin box with hot stones to put on the floor your father is bringing them it will help with heating the wagon. My great grandparents used that with their wagon in the winter.” Helen promised Nikki as she sat the tin box on the floor just under Nikki’s feet then they filled the box with long flat hot stones.

 

“That is warm. They are steaming look mommy it’s foggy.” Nikki nodded she liked that.

 

“I know that is because the stones are hot and it’s cold outside.” Trixie answered as they put the old quilts around their body tucking them inside.

 

“Oh, I feel warmer under this blanket now.” Nikki shouted.

 

“I just love radiant heat.” Helen smiled at her excited granddaughter happy to be visiting with them finally.

 

“Hush now, the song is about to start.” Trixie looked back at her daughter and her mom with a smile as Silent Night began to play as the horses trotted along they were singing loudly with the music and waving at the people driving by in cars some were taking pictures of the carolers. The wagon stopped to allow Peter to hitch the Hayrack to it Brian and Bobby jumped onboard with portable key boards and a drum set.

 

“Wow.” Their Christmas caroling was getting fun. Before they left the Manor two more horses were hitched to the wagon and Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler joined their song. There was more room for Miss Trask and Celia. Regan and Dan Mangan saddled other horses to ride along side the wagons. That is when her mother started handing out candles for everyone to hold. That is when Nikki saw several young children running up to the wagon to get inside with her. Kelly and Jenny arrived. She knew them they were her second cousins Hallie and Dan’s twin daughters.

 

They rode in the wagon pulled by the four beautiful horses all decked out in Christmas parade costume bridle all the way down Glen road towards the outskirts of town and through the large trail pathways that Mr. Wheeler used to pull his horse drawn wagons through routinely. The bells were jingling as the music began blaring. The caroling trip lasted all afternoon and even into the evening. Nikki was able to meet her grandparents when the Roberts arrived to sit right next to her.

 

“Are you cold, dear?” Mrs. Roberts asked the little one.

 

“I am okay. Grandma Belden gave me this bed warmer. It’s got hot rocks inside. I am keeping really toasty with this.” She lifted her blanket to show the warm basket.

 

“Oh, I like that idea.” Mrs. Roberts smiled with approval “I brought you some hot chocolate. You have red hair just like my mom used to. Did you know that?”

 

“Your mom had red hair?” Nikki gasped.

 

“Yes, she did.” Mrs. Roberts promised her. Nikki was sleeping by the time they finally arrived at Mr. Lytell’s grocery store Trixie let her grandparents take her until tomorrow so she could visit with them.

 

“Please tell her when she wakes up that I’ll be by to get her in the morning, and not to worry she can just call my cell phone if she wants to speak to me.”

 

 “We will, dear,” Mrs. Roberts promised “We’ve had a lovely time singing carols with the group.” She added to everyone still waiting in the wagons.

 

“So have we.” Trixie gave her mother-in-law a hug goodbye.

 

“Wow, this is getting tiring.” Trixie climbed back into the wagon with Jim.

 

“I agree. I hope no one would need me to help with anything because I think I am not up for climbing now.”

 

 

 

Chapter 3

 

 

Trixie hurried through the house as the doorbell started chiming early the next morning. Someone waited to be greeted.

 

“Hi.” Her stomach jumped funny as she opened the front door. Jim Frayne stood there looking nervous. He rehearsed in his head a dozen times how to ask her if she wanted to go to the Mall with him. He hoped she’d want to spend time with him.

 

“Hi Trixie,” Jim gulped that nervous anxiety down. “I was just about to go Christmas shopping in town and thought you might need to go shopping too.”

 

“Oh,” Trixie flashed a pretty smile observing that he appeared nervous she stepped back a step and invited him inside with a hand gesture.

 

“I do have people to buy for now,” she said politely. “I’d love a ride into town especially while Nikki is still gone I need to shop for her.”

 

“Say no more, my car is waiting.” Jim relaxed.

 

“I’ll get my coat and purse.” Trixie added as she turned to hurry for the coat room off the back of the house where her things were.

 

“Hi Jim,” her mother said as she entered the living room to see him standing in the entryway.

 

“Mrs. Belden,” Jim hesitated to step into the living room without being invited.

 

“Hey, is it snowing out there yet?” she asked.

 

“Not yet, but it’s getting closer.” Jim answered.

 

“Okay, I am ready.” Trixie returned with her coat half zipped up and her purse in hand.

 

“Wow, that was fast.” Jim wasn’t accustomed to a woman being ready within a couple minutes.

 

“I figured it was just the Mall. I didn’t need to change I just put this on.” Trixie flashed a smile.

 

“You are right, you don’t need an evening gown to go Christmas shopping.” He noticed her make up was already applied adequately enough anyway.  “Were you already planning a trip?” Jim asked.

 

“Actually, I was going to borrow Moms’ car.” Trixie giggled “You are saving me heaps of expensive gasoline.”

 

“I am always in favor of economical.” Jim held out his leather gloved hand for hers.

 

This was different. Trixie thought to herself as she put her hand in his letting him lead her from the house. She hadn’t held a, mans hand to the car since she last went someplace with Jim. He even opened the car door for her.

 

“Nice Hummer.” Trixie commented as she made herself comfortable and linked the seatbelt around her.

 

Jim hurried to his side of the car and got inside quickly. He knew his car was nice but he wasn’t much for bragging.

 

“Where would you like to shop?” he asked.

 

“The mall is fine but I’d love to see the new Wal-Mart that Bobby always raves about.”

 

“Ah everyone loves the new Wal-Mart. It has an indoor amusement park and a mini mall inside.”

 

“I have to see this store we don’t have anything that elaborate in Chicago yet.” Trixie nodded. “What about this car dealership they have?”

 

“Oh that,” Jim started to laugh he didn’t want to admit openly that he owned that dealership it was something that Julia insisted on running when she was alive so the money ended up invested in that but he was finding it a good investment. “They are having a raffle. You could sign up for the free car before we leave?”

 

“I wonder if I’d win.” She looked over at him curiously.

 

“Your chance is as good as anyone else’s,” Jim said.

 

“Jim, isn’t being a doctor enough work for you?” Trixie asked him.

 

Jim started laughing, “Honey told you, huh?”

 

“Yes, so since Julia needed a job you bought her one.” Trixie smiled at his humorous laughter.

 

“I am just Mr. Worthington’s silent partner. He’s doing all the hard work. The partnership with Wal-Mart’s newest idea for the mall is working out quite nicely. I’d sell off the interests in the car lot but it is a huge money maker.”

 

“I could use a new car Jimmy,” Trixie giggled. “What kind of deal could I wrangle out of your department? I don’t want to pay more than 200 a month with no money down and it has to have at least a 10 year warranty. The car also has to get at least 30 to 38 miles an hour.” Trixie rubbed her hands together as she started thinking of all she wanted in a new car.

 

“We have a nice little Kia,” Jim answered. “We could make that happen.”

 

Trixie just giggled thinking he was kidding.

 

“I don’t want to pay list price. I want it wholesale.”

 

“Trixie,” Jim said suddenly. Then he grinned. “I could make that happen for you but don’t tell anyone. Everyone would think they could get a car wholesale then I couldn’t make any money.”

 

Trixie giggled loudly. “I am not asking for special favors I am teasing, you baboon.”

 

“I know that,” Jim laughed. “Do you really need a new car?”

 

“Not exactly, but mine is several years old but it still runs great, it just has high mileage now.”

 

“They make great trade in cars. I’ll drive out there and pick it up if you want to trade.” Jim assured her.

 

“It’s a deal,” Trixie reached over and shook his hand. “Get me one at 200 a month and you got a deal. I don’t think you can do it though.”

 

“You’ll have to buy a raffle ticket first all proceeds goes to charity.” Jim assured her. “I picked toys for tots this year.”

 

“I have an extra 50 how many raffle tickets will that buy?” She asked.

 

“Ha, 10,” He laughed. After a few minutes of driving through traffic he pulled into a huge car lot and said. “We’re here,”

 

“This is a huge place,”  Trixie gasped as she looked around.  “I am impressed.”

 

“Now is the best time to buy a new car,” Tad told her.

 

“Good, sell me a car, Webster.” Trixie stuffed the raffle tickets into her pocket and stood up straight. “Do you have a blue one I don’t want any other color.”

 

“Don’t tell me let me guess. She wants blue jean blue,” Jim laughed.

 

“If you have it if not I’ll take turquoise blue or teal blue?” Trixie giggled. “Nikki is in favor of baby blue.”

 

“We’ll take a look at the lot,” Jim assured her.

 

Twenty minutes later she had the car she wanted in sight.

 

“So how are you getting your payment’s set up?” Tad asked once they were in his office.

 

“I guess I could call dad for a loan,” She answered. “Or do you take a personal check?”

 

“You have that in cash?” Tad blinked.

 

“Not quite yet,” She giggled “I mean I could have pocketed a bundle of cash from the last drug deal I busted but I didn’t take any so dang I guess I’ll have to take a loan.” She snorted into laughter. “Call the Sleepyside first National Savings and Loan let me speak to my father.”

 

“You got it.” Tad answered as he picked up the phone and dialed the number for her.

 

“Hey Daddy,” Trixie said as he answered the phone. “I am buying a new car Jim’s going to drive to Chicago to pick up the old Cadillac and what I need from you is a loan approval for what is left owing?”

 

“Okay, what is left owing?” Peter picked up his pen and reached over his desk to the loan applications.

 

“We’re still negotiating just run my social security number and see if my credit will approve for now. I’ll tell you what I actually owe in a few minutes.” Trixie told her father.

 

“Okay,” Peter answered “I’ll need your social.”

 

Trixie heard Jim and Tad arguing over the bottom line

 

 “She’s saved my life before shut up. I pick and choose what I am willing to take a loss on not you. I am selling this car. I am also not taking my commission,” Jim warned Tad.

 

“Okay,” Trixie answered.  “I’ll need a loan for nine grand.” Trixie said to her father.

 

“What I said!” Jim gasped

 

“I won’t accept a penny less.  Besides Tad is doing all the paperwork, James.  He deserves a commission.”

 

“That is really fair.” Her father remembered the year of her car because it once was his car before he gave it to her. “Your Cadillac is over 12 years old. It really isn’t worth, more than 3 grand, retail,” Peter commented. “He still likes you, Trixie.  He wouldn’t take a loss like that if he didn’t.”

 

“Daddy, just tell me does my credit pass?” She sighed heavily.

 

“Yes, it passes. I’ll cosign for you so if you don’t pay that off I’ll get that good deal,” Peter laughed. “I’ll see you at home tonight.”

 

“Trixie, I--,” Jim started to argue

 

“Jim, I love you for it, but no one gives me anything.” Trixie answered. “If you could just get my payments around 200 a month that is all I ask.”

 

“Okay,” He nodded. “If your loan is for anything more I’ll personally pay the difference and you can pay me the last year or so of your contract.”

 

“That shouldn’t be necessary. I’ll be out of law school and off this budget in less than 4 months.” She spontaneously hugged him.

 

“I love you too Trixie Belden.” Jim took her hug and gave her a big squeeze.

 

“Best Friendship,” Tad shook his head and grinned as he finished filling out all the paperwork. By the time he was finished Mr. Belden had her loan application approved at the bank and the money credited to her bill for the car it was all settled.

 

 “Well we’ll send your car into the detail department and you can pick it up tomorrow in the morning.” Tad said professionally.

 

 

“Nikki will be so excited. She will love the new car.” Trixie commented as she and Jim drove to the mall around on the other side of the parking circle lot.

 

“I wish you’d let me give you the other deal.” Jim said soberly.

 

“Hey, I have a chance at winning that free car deal.” Trixie flashed her dimples in a bright smile at him.

 

“Yes, and with 80 raffle tickets, your odds are pretty good.” Jim assured her.

 

“Wait I have 40 raffle tickets not 80?”

 

“Ah but my present to you was to buy you another 200 worth.” Jim flashed a crooked smile her direction.

 

Their trip through the store yielded presents for her parents and her brothers. She even got something for Diana and Honey.

 

“Jim, what do you want for Christmas?” she asked him seriously.

 

“Oh,” Jim stopped walking beside her to smile as he looked at her. “I want something money can’t buy.”

 

“Oops, then I probably can’t get it. What do you want… for it to snow on Christmas?”

 

“Yes, that would be nice especially since I promised Nikki we’d go tobogganing down my hill. What I really want money can’t buy because I am looking at what I really want.”

 

“Huh?” She gasped. Jim leaned down and kissed her lips.

 

“Well you scare me Jim Frayne.” She pulled back to say. “I have a daughter to protect and you change your mind mid swing without regards to my feelings. If you chose to lead me on then marry another bimbo just because she says she’s pregnant again. I’d have to hunt you down and rid you of your family maker for hurting my daughter like that.”

 

“Baby, that would never happen I’d never let another woman convince me of anything. And the last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt your daughter or you. I’ve missed you so much over the years I’ve gone insane with missing you.”

 

“So then I’d be getting an insane man?” She flashed a grin.

 

“No, my sanity would return because I would stop missing you.” Jim noticed her flirt and smiled with happiness.

 

“Oh,” Trixie giggled.  “For Nikki’s sake, I’d have to say keep that slow. She’s fragile and she very much wants her own daddy so much. I worry that she is making me vulnerable to the bad element the way she says things like. I asked Santa to bring me a new Daddy for Christmas this year. She’s saying that in front of people like she isn’t influencing people with that wish.”

 

“I think it is sweet,” Jim said. “She’s only six years old--she can’t possibly understand that Santa isn’t really going to send her a fairytale prince for her mommy yet.”

 

“I had a man hit on me after she said that back in Chi town. He was such a slob he even tried following me home. I had to flash my badge and threaten to arrest him to finally make him back off.”

 

“Oh, I can see where that would suck.” Jim laughed at the thought.

 

“We’ll take the relationship thing extremely slow. I can understand your fear but in the meantime will you allow me to give Nikki her Christmas wish. I’d love to adopt her as her unofficial godfather? You have what I always wanted and that is a child of your own and she’s a cutie pie.”

 

“Oh,” Trixie smiled again at his compliment. “Yes, you can unofficially adopt her as her unofficial godfather. That would be a good place to start, win her over Jim. Don’t try winning me over because the guy who wins my daughter over will have a much better chance with me in the long run. I want to find her a daddy that loves her as much as he wants to be with me. She’s a very special little girl that has to grow up without a daddy because he died only months after she was born.”

 

“I wish my mom would have thought about that when I was young." Jim sighed.

 

“I learned from her mistakes.” Trixie nodded as she pushed her shopping cart toward the cash registers. “I want the best for my daughter and I won’t settle for less. She’s better off without a daddy if all he’s going to be is abusive. Do you know what I mean? I’ve walked away from guys before because they weren’t the type to want a stepdaughter or they were telling me things like let’s send her to a top notch boarding school etc. No way she’s my baby and I wouldn’t do that to her.”

 

“I know exactly what you mean,” Jim said. He pulled out his wallet and handed the cashier the 300 dollar bill that Trixie was charged for the presents.

 

“Hey,” Trixie grabbed the receipt “I was paying for that.”

 

“No, you can get the charges the next time,” Jim argued. Trixie always made a fuss when he tried to pay for everything.

 

“James.”

 

“You can put my name on the presents too, can’t you?” he asked. “Come on, I hate shopping alone. I never know what to buy for anyone.”

 

“Oh, I suppose.” Trixie flashed a big grin. “That means I owe you half of this bill.” She looked at the receipt and grimaced. “I am glad it’s half that bill is huge.”

 

It was snowing lightly when they left the store.

 

“Uh oh I just heard thunder that is a bad sign.” Trixie commented as the looked up at the skies.

 

“Thunder snows are normally extremely heavy. Let’s get Nikki now.” Jim suggested. “I am glad I drove the Hummer it is all wheel drive.”

 

“Okay, thanks.”

 

“So is everyone coming to that Christmas Eve party?” Trixie asked a few minutes later.

 

“As far as I know most everyone is. Dan has to work because he’s flying out to take home Ben’s family in Long Island. They have to return as soon as the party is over because Ben and his dad, has to work on Christmas day.”

 

“That would suck.” Trixie answered. “What do they do?”

 

“They are in advertising,” Jim answered.  “They have to fly to the Bahamas so at least they will beat the winter blues.”

 

“True,” Trixie agreed. “Hallie is probably bummed out that Dan has to work.”

 

“She is, but she is happy that he is in the States. Being in the military was worse,” Jim said.

 

Jim flashed his wipers faster and the snow still covered faster then the blades could push it off. The radio just announced a blizzard warning. Blizzard was approaching from the east. “I can barely see.”

 

Trixie squinted, her eyes to look through the heavy falling snow. The Art Gallery is just up ahead.

 

They still had loads to do before Christmas, but for now it was time to get out of the storm.

 

The End

 

 

Happy Holidays X