*All ages, future
The idea of Miss Trask and Uncle Andrew hit me a few years ago and this general story has been brewing in my silly little head for a long time.
It’s Never Too Late
by Steph
Andrew Belden, a nice looking man in his fifties, arrived in Sleepyside from his home in Iowa looking very much forward to his visit.
He was coming back to his hometown for the wedding of his nephew Mart to Diana Lynch, the graduation of his youngest nephew Bobby from high school and, in about six weeks, the birth of his grand-niece or nephew, as his niece Trixie and her husband, Jim Frayne, were expecting their first baby.
When he got off the plane he saw his brother and sister-in-law, Peter and Helen, waiting for him. After quick handshakes and hugs they headed off to get his bags. They talked about everything that was happening.
Jim had opened his school on the grounds of Ten Acres where, as planned, Brian was the resident doctor and Mart taught and ran the farm. Trixie and Honey, who was married to Brian for about a year, had their agency in Sleepyside along with Hallie who was married to Dan Mangan, who was the chief of police. Di was the curator of the Art Museum.
Then Helen Belden said, "And I’m sure a very special lady back waiting at the party at the farm is very anxious to see you."
Uncle Andrew blushed as he thought of Marge Trask. They had become close friends at first when he came in for Trixie and Jim’s wedding three years earlier, then Dan and Hallie’s wedding, then Brian and Honey’s wedding. They had exchanged a few letters and calls and looked forward to seeing each other again. He would be in Sleepyside for at least two months which would give them plenty of time to spend together.
When they pulled up in front of the farmhouse there was a big rush outside to greet him. As he hugged and shook hands, making a little fun joke about barely being able to get his arms around Trixie, they headed inside to the living room which was set up for the party.
Everyone couldn’t help but notice that he sat down next to Miss Trask after making sure that she didn’t need anything and the fact that they both blushed furiously when they saw everyone watching them.
To distract attention, Uncle Andrew said, "So, what’s going on? How are the wedding plans coming along, Mart and Di? Bobby, are you looking forward to escaping high school finally? And how’s the development of the beginning of the new generation, Trixie and Jim?"
Di was the first to answer and said, "Everything is really coming together for the wedding. First the graduation is day after tomorrow, then the wedding a week from today and then right after we come back, Trixie and Jim should be ready to welcome their precious little one to the world. It sure is going to be exciting around here this summer and we’re all so glad that you’re here to celebrate everything."
Trixie said, "And Uncle Harold, Aunt Eleanor, Cap and Knut and their wives all coming out tomorrow evening will make for a great family reunion. We should have weddings more often. Jim and I are so glad you’re going to be here when the baby arrives and then for the christening. The baby is fine and I think he or she has soccer or ballet aspirations with the way he or she is kicking me!"
Everyone laughed and Bobby said, "Well, right after graduation I have to wait for the baseball draft. They say I may go in the first round, maybe even in the first few picks. They like my 100 mph fastball and my curveball. Thank goodness we saw that scout who told us what we should do."
Bobby was considered a top pitching prospect having gone almost unbeaten and hit upon his entire high school career. He had college scholarship offers and would have a hard decision to make depending on where he was drafted. He was leaning towards going and playing baseball since he wasn’t a big student and putting the signing bonus away for college later if baseball didn’t work out.
After the party ended, Uncle Andrew offered to walk Miss Trask home. They didn’t say much as they walked over to Manor House where they sat down on the swing when they arrived.
Uncle Andrew said, "It’s so nice to see everyone so settled and happy. The way that Mart and Di look at each other and act together, a week away from their wedding. Brian and Honey act like their wedding was yesterday and so do Dan and Hallie. As for Trixie and Jim, I have never seen two people more blissfully happy together. They actually remind me quite a bit of Peter and Helen when they were expecting Brian."
Miss Trask asked, "Andrew, do you ever regret missing out on any of that? Sometimes, I do but helping raise Honey and Jim as much as I have has helped and the kids I taught in the past."
"When I see my nieces and nephews I think I really missed out on a lot. And when I see Helen and Peter still so happy after thirty years and Harold and Eleanor the same way, I do regret it a bit. I’ve had a happy life with friends and family but am open to falling in love still."
Miss Trask noticed the way he was looking at her. "Same here," she said quietly, blushing.
Uncle Andrew said, "Would you be my date for all the various events coming up this week with the graduation and wedding?"
Miss Trask said, "That sounds great to me. I really missed you when you were in Iowa and wished you could have stayed longer when you were here before."
"So do I, but now I’m pretty much retired and have much more free time."
"Same here. I still do some stuff for Madeleine and Matthew running the estate but am ready to turn the estate over to either Regan and Joan or Tom and Celia and get an apartment in town or something. I guess at almost sixty, I’m not sure. I always wanted to try my hand at writing."
They talked for a bit longer and then she walked back into the house smiling and he walked back to the farm smiling and happy.
Both were thinking to themselves that maybe they were finally falling in love for the first time in their lives.
The next morning at special invitation from Jim, Uncle Andrew went over to the school for the grand tour. They had opened six months ago on the same day that Trixie and Jim had found out they were expecting.
The school was very impressive. Mr. Wheeler and Jim had together bought twenty acres surrounding the original ten and Mr. Wheeler let them have open use of the game preserve for various activities. They had a main school building, a couple of dorms along with a house for Trixie and Jim, as well as Brian and Honey and Mart and Di. Dan and Hallie lived in a small house in town.
After the tour of the school, Jim drove Uncle Andrew to town to visit Trixie and Honey’s detective agency and to pick up his wife. Jim said, "Trixie doesn’t really like to drive anymore. She is getting pretty anxious about the baby. I guess we both are but we’re both so excited, too."
Uncle Andrew said,"Helen and Peter are pretty much counting the minutes, too. I know I said this on your wedding day to you but it definitely still applies: I’m so happy for you and Trixie and I think you’re perfect for each other."
They arrived at the office and were surprised to find Miss Trask there. She had stopped by while she was in town to do some errands. Trixie, Hallie, and Honey were finishing paperwork on their last case before Trixie took a couple of months off to have the baby.
Trixie hugged her uncle and Miss Trask shyly greeted him. Uncle Andrew said, "Trixie, you’re glowing. I always thought it was an expression but now I see that it really happens."
Trixie blushed and then said, "Why don’t we all head back to the farm early for the welcome party for the Idaho group. We’re done with the paperwork and I finished packing some stuff for my maternity leave so for the next three or four months you may use my brain, but physically I have something much more important to concentrate on." She patted her stomach and kissed Jim.
Everyone agreed and they left to head to Crabapple Farm.
The party was a lot of fun as the Beldens had a nice family reunion. Knut and Cap were both married to nice girls and worked in their father’s mining company in Idaho. Knut was second in command and Cap took care of all the environmental concerns. Neither had children so Trixie and Jim were going to have the first baby of the new generation of the entire family.
There was a fun, spirited argument as Helen Belden insisted she thought Trixie was carrying a girl and Aunt Eleanor insisted it was a boy. They asked Trixie what she thought and she said that she and Jim actually knew but weren’t telling anyone.
Everyone begged them to tell but they said that they had decided that it would be a surprise for everyone when the baby arrived.
Mrs. Belden said, "I’ll just have to spy and investigate to find out what Trixie and Jim are buying more of in colors!"
Trixie said, "We’re buying mostly neutral colored stuff, actually."
That night Uncle Andrew and Miss Trask spent several hours on the porch swing talking about their pasts and their wishes for the rest of their lives. At the end of the night, he surprised her with a kiss and she responded happily. Suddenly they both knew that they were meant to be and they weren’t getting younger.
Uncle Andrew was starting to walk towards Crabapple Farm but turned around and said, "Marge, there’s one more thing I want to say and that is I love you."
Marge said, "I love you, too." He ran to her and they kissed again feeling and acting like they were thirty years younger.
The next day Bobby graduated from high school and afterwards they all headed back to Crabapple Farm for a big party and then Bobby headed over to the big party the school held every year and everyone else went home. Uncle Andrew and Miss Trask admitted to everyone that they were in love and everyone was very happy for them.
The next week was full of all the last minute wedding preparations as Mart and Di excitedly prepared to be married. Di said, "I thought we were going to have the last wedding but looking at Uncle Andrew and Miss Trask together makes me think there will be another one soon."
Mrs. Belden said, "And I couldn’t be happier. It’s time both those wonderful people found love. I can’t believe I never thought of it before, but they are very good for each other--perfect really."
Finally it was the day of the wedding and after hours of excited last minute things, Mr. Lynch walked Di down the aisle to where she and Mart were married in a beautiful and simple ceremony.
After the church ceremony everyone headed over to the Lynch mansion for the reception where they all had a wonderful time. When Di threw the bouquet everyone suspected correctly that she threw it at Miss Trask who caught it as everyone cheered.
After the reception Mart and Di headed over to the Glen Road Inn for their wedding night. The next day they would head to Paris for their honeymoon.
The next few weeks, Uncle Andrew and Miss Trask spent almost every possible minute together. On July 3rd, Mart and Di returned from their honeymoon to a nice party at Crabapple Farm. Trixie was joking that she was going to need a crane to help her get up and around, being a week away from her due date.
The next day they went to the annual Fourth of July party and fireworks display in downtown Sleepyside. It was a lot of fun but Trixie and Jim had to leave a little early as she had a slight backache. Brian asked her if she was sure she was okay and she said that her back just hurt because she felt like the baby was leaning against it or something.
The next day Miss Trask, Honey, and Mrs. Belden got together and threw Trixie a shower at Crabapple Farm where she received many wonderful presents, everything that she and Jim needed and didn’t have yet.
Honey seemed to be smiling and glowing and hiding something and Trixie asked her and she whispered in her ear what the secret was.
Trixie smiled and hugged her and said, "I’ll keep it a secret until your parent’s thirtieth anniversary party tonight," knowing that everyone would be very happy.
That night everyone gathered at the country club for Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler’s 30th anniversary party. Trixie told Jim early that her backache was back but she wanted to enjoy the party.
During the party Brian walked over to Trixie and said, "I noticed you seem to not be feeling too well or something. Are you sure you’re okay?"
Trixie said, "Just another backache although it’s worse than yesterday."
Finally it was time for the toasts before dinner and Honey and Brian stood up and said, "We have an announcement to make. Mom and Dad, we gave you the books you wanted but there’s another present-- we’re having a baby in March."
Everyone surrounded and congratulated them and then Miss Trask stood up with Uncle Andrew and said, "I don’t mean to throw this on you at your anniversary party but we’re all sharing good news and I resign effective about a month from now to marry Andrew."
Everyone immediately surrounded and congratulated them except for Trixie and everyone turned to see her sitting down with a strange look on her face and asked her what was wrong.
She said, "I don’t want to upstage anyone but does anyone want to take me over to the hospital? My water just broke! This certainly has been a big evening!"
Mr. and Mrs. Belden went over with Trixie and Jim to the hospital while everyone waited at the country club for news and then went home after Mr. Belden called and said, "The doctor says it will be all night. After all this is a first baby."
It was the longest but, in the end, most rewarding night of Trixie and Jim’s life. At 9:16 the next morning they welcomed Katje Helen Frayne, 7 pounds, 3 ounces, 21 inches long and perfectly healthy. Of course they had named her after their mothers. After two days in the hospital they went home and everyone prepared for Miss Trask and Uncle Andrew’s wedding.
On August 10th, Miss Trask and Uncle Andrew were married in a beautiful and simple ceremony at Crabapple Farm with Mr. and Mrs. Belden serving as best man and matron of honor. After a nice reception they went to their honeymoon in Maine followed by a few weeks in Sleepyside before moving together to Uncle Andrew’s property in the Ozarks.
And they all lived happily ever after.
The End