Part Two

Trixie felt her mother's hand on her forehead as tears ran from her closed eyelids.

"It’s okay, honey," her mother soothed as she again wiped the tears away.

"I have lost him, Moms."

"No, you haven’t, Trixie. He loves you."

"But I hurt him so much. I made him so angry."

"He is angry at the moment, but he will calm down. He always does."

"How’s your head, Trix?" asked Brian.

She looked over at him. "It is sore, but not too bad. I wish I could remember what happened."

"What do you remember?"

"Jim and I were arguing and he stormed out. I ran after him and I tripped, I think."

"You hit your head on the ground. Thank goodness, Jim heard you and looked around or you might still be lying there. He rang me and, luckily, I was here. I rushed down to the clubhouse and when I had checked you over Jim carried you home. He waited long enough to make sure you were okay and then he left."

"I wish he had waited until I could talk to him."

"Jim has never stayed mad at you, Trix."

"But I really hurt him, Brian."

"When you are feeling better you can call him. I am sure he will be over as soon as you ring."

"But some of the things he said..." She stopped.

"What things, Trix?"

"Dan, what are you doing here?"

Moms stood up. "I will go and start on lunch," she told them. "You are all welcome to stay."

A round of thank yous followed her out of the room.

Dan walked over to Trixie and sat beside her.  "I heard what happened and I came over as soon as I could. Now, what things? Maybe we can help you?"

"I don’t think so."

"All the Bob-Whites are here and there is nothing we cannot do together."

"Jim isn’t here," she sighed.

"Then let us figure out how to get him here."

Trixie sat up slightly and looked at all her friends sat around the room.  She reached beside her and pulled out the box and everyone gasped.

Honey and Di moved closer. "Open it, Trix."

She shook her head. "Not until Jim gives it to me."

"I don’t understand," Di said. "I thought he already did.

Trixie sighed and told everyone what had happened in the clubhouse. When she had finished Honey sat beside her and took her hand. "I knew that something had happened when Jim came storming in. Then Brian rang me and I hurried over."

"He is so mad, Honey."

"I think he is just upset, Trix."

"I have lost him, Honey."

"Listen to me, Trix. When you love someone as much as you and Jim do, a silly argument will not stop them loving you."

Dan looked down at the realisation in Honey's face. He smiled slightly knowing his secret was out. But he also knew that she would never tell. "Now, Trix, I have an idea but it will take all of the Bob-Whites involvement."

"Involve away." Mart smiled.

Dan laughed. "Then gather around and I will tell you my plan."

*     *     *

Jim lay on his bed and sighed for the hundredth time that day. He had so much to do but he could not put a hand to anything.

Wallowing in self-pity, Frayne, he admonished himself. Just go and talk to her. You were both angry. And she does love you.  He sat up and then with a groan fell back down onto the bed. Or did. He sighed again.

The ringing of his phone broke into his thoughts and he picked it up. He was not going to answer it, but then he recognised the number. "Hello?"

"Jim?"

"Trixie, how are you?"

"I am fine. Could you come over? I think we need to talk."

He let out his first breath since the beginning of the conversation. "When?"

"Now, if you can make it."

"I will be down within the next half an hour."

"Thanks, Jim." And she was gone.

She is breaking up with you, Frayne, and you have only yourself the blame.

He stood up and pulled on a sweater. He looked at his shaking hands.

"You had better walk," he told himself. "You are not safe to drive tonight."

*     *     *

Trixie turned to her friends. "He will be here within the next half an hour."

Honey smiled. "Then let’s get you ready."

*     *     *

Jim stood outside the kitchen door and took a deep breath. He then knocked.

Moms opened the door. "Hi, Jim, come on in. Trixie is in the living room."

Jim looked at all the other Bob-Whites around the table. He sighed inwardly. It was going to be bad, very bad.

Jim walked towards the living room and put his hand on the doorknob. You can do this, Frayne.

He opened the door.

His eyes opened in shocked surprise. The room had been totally transformed. Above his head black material covered the rafters. Gold and silver stars had been attached to the material and in the centre of the room a large mirror ball swung gently around. Christmas lights were draped around the room making the ball glow with a rainbow of colours. All the furniture had been moved back and in the middle of the room a table had been set for two complete with a candle. As he tried to take it all in he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye and he turned and his breath stopped in his lungs. Trixie stood in one corner. He did not see the bandage on her forehead or the worried look in her eye. He was totally mesmerised by her beauty. She wore a black strapless dress that showed her figure to perfection. As she moved slightly the dress shimmered with a golden glow that was enhanced by the lights in the room. He looked up into the face he loved more than any other and smiled.

"Hi, Trix," he whispered.

She moved slowly towards him and held out her hands. He took them like a lifeline.

"I know this is what you wanted for me and I am so sorry that I hurt you by getting angry," she said.

"How did you accomplish all this so fast?"

She smiled. "Bob-White magic."

He looked again around the room and saw the box placed on the table. He then turned back to her. "I am sorry I got so angry."

She smiled again and his heart stopped for a moment and then caught up, thundering against his chest.

"I love you, Trixie Belden," he told her. "I have wanted to talk to you about my past for such a long time but there never seemed to be a right time."

"How about now?"

He watched her for a moment and noticed that her face looked paler. He saw the look in her eyes and at that instant he reached down and lifted her up into his arms.

"Jim, what are you doing?"

He walked over towards the couch. "I can tell that you are not feeling very well." He placed her gently on the couch and sat beside her.

"Just a little dizzy," she assured him, taking his hands.

He looked into the face he loved and smiled. "Okay, Detective Belden, I will talk."

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly,

"I don’t really remember too much about my father, only images in my mind. I do remember though how much my mother would cry. When Jonesy came into our lives, I accepted him wholeheartedly at first. He made my mother smile again. But within a few weeks I began to see the real man behind the mask he put on for my mother. I tried to get on with him but he just wouldn’t allow me in. Even before my mother died, he would hit me, but neither of us would tell her. But it got so much worse after she died. He knew I would one day come into money so he would keep me fed and clothed. But the beatings became unbearable. I was almost willing to give him the money so he would leave me alone. So I left and you know the rest."

"There is more isn’t there, Jim?"

He nodded. "But let that be enough for now. I promise you that I will tell you more someday."

She looked deep into his eyes. "I am here when you want to talk, my Jim."

He stood up and walked towards the table. He picked up the box that was there. "What did you think of the ring?" he asked her, his back still turned towards her.

"I didn’t open it."

He turned. "What?"

She sat up and then carefully stood up. She walked towards him. "How could I look at what was in the box unless you were there to show me? I didn’t even know it if would still be mine."

He looked down at the box in his hand and a second later dropped to his knee before her.

She gasped.

"My beautiful and wonderful, Trixie, I love you more than life itself and I could not imagine spending the rest of my life with you not in it. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

Her knees collapsed and he caught her as she landed beside him.

"Are you sure?" she asked him quietly.

"As sure as the sun will rise in the morning, I want you to be Mrs Jim Frayne." He watched the play of emotions on her face. "Well, Trixie?"

She sighed and his heart stopped.

"I couldn’t imagine my life without you in it either. With my whole heart, I will definitely marry you."

Jim let out a whoop that made her jump. In the kitchen, everyone heard and began to celebrate.

In the living room, Jim stood up and gently lifted Trixie into his arms.

"I love you, my Trixie."

"I love you, my Jim."

His lips joined with hers in a kiss that bonded them together for all eternity.

The End

I also am receiving no renumeration for this story from Random House.

TBH Main