Author’s Note: Trixie Belden and related characters are the properly of Golden Publishing, and I am receiving no compensation for writing this story. The new characters introduced here are a product of my overactive imagination. Leda Regan was introduced in "Second Chances."
The Gift
by Lissa
The baby cried, flailing her little arms in the arms in the air. Picking up the child, the young woman settled herself in the old but well-polished rocking chair and began gently rocking. She looked at the small miracle in her arms and kissed the soft, downy hair. After eighteen months, she still looked at her daughter with a sense of wonder.
As the baby’s sobs subsided, Leda looked around the neat little room and felt a deep sense of accomplishment and contentment. That morning, she had scrubbed and polished the little rooms until they shone and had wrapped her gifts. She had only selected two presents, but had been purchased with money earned by her own efforts, and she was satisfied with them.
Leda continued rocking the baby. She began singing softly and didn’t hear the door open or the quiet footsteps in the kitchen.
The young man paused in the doorway, his cheerful greeting suddenly silenced. He carefully shut the door so it didn’t make a sound. Resting his tall, lean body against the doorway of the tiny galley kitchen, he watched the scene before him.
"Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay,
Close by me forever and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And take us to Heaven to live with Thee there."
While singing to the child in her arms, Leda thought about how far they had come. Two years ago they had been runaways with little money and with no roof over their head. They had worked hard since they had left New York, but now had their little apartment, education and a tiny savings account to show for their diligence.
After being taken in by a friend of Will’s father, Leda and Will worked from dawn until late each evening to earn their room and board as well as a little money which was carefully saved. Will worked as a groom and handyman, and Leda helped the cook and maids in the mornings and late afternoons. The Randolphs’ kind governess cared for Leda’s thriving infant, but as one of the conditions of their employment, Leda had to attend the local high school where she was now a senior. Evenings were spent studying, playing with Darcy and falling further in love with each other.
The young man looked around their tiny apartment and wished as he had everyday since they had come to Virginia that he could give Leda the kind of home she deserved. The three tiny rooms of over the garage were clean and neat, but held no items of luxury. How could someone accustomed to a fine New York penthouse ever be contented in his world?
As he fought the doubts in this own mind, Leda turned to look at him and smiled. She held out her slim hand to him in a welcoming gesture. He quietly walked across the room and kissed Leda. He ran his hand through the silky dark hair.
"You don’t like it, do you?" she asked fingering the short hair at on her neck.
"It suits you," he replied. "It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful."
She looked older with the soft, gamine cut, but then two difficult years had made her grown up fast. But in spite of the difficulties she had faced, there was little of the old defiance and challenge in her face. Only determination and love radiated from her sparkling blue eyes
"Will, you need to get dressed so that we can go the candlelight service," Leda reminded as she stood up and shifted their daughter to her hip. "I want you to open your present before we go," she continued as she heard him turn on the shower in the tiny bathroom.
She picked up Darcy’s present and Will’s from under the small Christmas tree.
"Don’t I get a Christmas present?" she asked as she noted no other packages were under the tree.
"You already got one present," he replied laughing. "Don’t get greedy."
"When your birthday is 3 days before Christmas, you always get shortchanged on gifts," retorted Leda. "As if getting named Noel wasn’t bad enough. And people actually ask why I go by Aleda!"
In spite of her tirade, Leda smiled as she touched the locket at her throat. Will had placed Darcy’s picture in one side of the beautiful locket, and Leda had promptly snipped off one of Darcy’s curls as well as a piece of his darker red hair to fill the other side.
"You’ll get your present tonight," Will promised.
He quickly shaved and dressed and came to sit beside Leda and Darcy.
"You clean up nicely," Leda teased, straightening his tie.
"You look gorgeous," he said touching the skirt of her pale silvery silk dress. "I like this."
"Mrs. Randolph gave it to me for Christmas. I told her it was too much, but she said it would be perfect for tonight." Leda who sang beautifully had been asked to perform a solo of "O Holy Night" that evening. She stood up and spun around to show off the full skirt that swirled just above her ankles. The simply cut dress clung to her slender body.
"It’s perfect for tonight. Just perfect," he said silently thanking his clever ally.
Ten minutes later, Leda was showing Darcy her new teddy bear, but Darcy was much more interested in the bits of paper littering the floor.
Will meticulously opened his large present, and gasped. Leda watched him remove the finely tooled riding boots from the box and loving run his callused hands over the beautiful leather. His long, slender fingers traced the "R" beautifully worked into the rich leather.
"You like them?" she asked, uncertainly.
Will didn’t answer but instead firmly but gently kissed her.
The old church glowed softly in the candlelight. Leda, Will and the Randolphs had been among the last to arrive. Darcy would sleep soundly in the nursery of the main house until morning, so Leda was free to relax and enjoy the evening.
The snow crunched under Leda’s silver shoes as she and Will climbed the steps to the doorway. When they reached the top Will stopped walking.
"Leda," he began hesitantly, "will you marry me?"
"Of course. I told you two years ago that I would," she said laughing.
"No, he said shaking his head. Will you marry me now? Tonight." He slipped his hand into pocket and withdrew his parents' wedding rings. "You turned eighteen two days ago," he reminded her. "I have a license here," he continued patting his coat pocket.
Her porcelain skin turned white. In a moment, she found her voice.
"Yes," she said softly and kissed Will.
They turned to face the expectant Randolphs.
"Yes!" she exclaimed laughing.
"You had better tell the Father Timothy that we are on," Robert Randolph said shooing Will away.
Will gave Leda’s ring to the younger Robert who was to be his best man and the two young men entered the church.
"I would be honored to give you away," Mr. Randolph said to Leda. Leda responded by throwing her arms around the man who had been like a father to her in the past two years.
Fourteen-year-old Christina Randolph had been the last the leave the car, and she now appeared carrying a huge bouquet of flowers and her mother’s wedding veil.
"Something old and borrowed," she said handing the veil to the mother. "Something blue is the ribbons on the bouquet and your dress is new."
"Yes, the dress was rather convenient," Leda said looking at Judith Randolph before turning around the have the veil pinned to her hair. Judith answered with a laugh.
"You are a beautiful bride, dear," the lady said stepping back to survey her work.
The congregation was filled with many of the young couple’s friends who were delighted to be treated to the simple wedding in addition to their Christmas Eve service. As the music began to play, they stood and turned to watch the beautiful young bride walk down the aisle.
Moments later, Leda stood beside Will in the candlelit church and pledged her love and devotion to her new husband.
"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Regan," Will whispered before kissing his bride.
The End