*All ages, future
Author’s Note: This is a sequel to When You Love Someone, posted on Zap’s site. Although this is a song title also, the song makes no appearance in the story and is just that, a title. This takes place one year after When You Love Someone. Honey and Brian were married on New Year’s Eve prior to the time frame of this story. Dan and Hallie are suffering through a long-distance relationship, which may be explored in a later story. Thanks to Cathy and Steph for previewing it first! Also, I know that when you come back to the U.S. from a foreign country, you have to go through customs first...but my story worked better this way, so I did it the way that I wanted. J Enjoy!
Oh yeah…..I have a really funny disclaimer….but I can’t remember it! J It’s courtesy of my Aggie brother-in-law, so I’ll have to get him to write it down for me. So for now we’ll just say that none of the characters are owned by me, but I have taken the liberty of taking them out and dusting them off for a much-needed story!
One Week
By Karen C.
July 17
Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency
Sleepyside, New York"Honey? Can you come here for a second?" Trixie’s puzzled voice rang through the office of the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency. She stared at the e-mail on her new Dell computer, one of two in the office. The other belonging to Honey, of course.
"Sure, Trix. What’s up?" Honey asked, emerging from the bathroom, scrub brush in hand.
Trixie had to grin at the sight of her best friend, who had grown up in the lap of luxury, taking a break from cleaning the bathroom. "Now there’s something you would never have done when I first met you. You and your lily-white hands!"
Honey stuck her tongue out at the playfully insulting remark. "Remember that line from Ghostbusters when Jeanine asks Dr. Spangler if he’s got any hobbies, and he replies ‘I collect spores, mold, and fungus’? That’s our bathroom for you. Just remember, Trixie Frayne, next time it’s your turn to do this. And this time I mean it. You seem to get out of bathroom detail more times than I can count."
"Just trying to let you catch up for all those years I’ve got on you," Trixie replied with a chuckle. "Now take a look at this e-mail," she continued, her mood becoming serious once again.
Honey’s brow furrowed as she read the strange missive. " ‘You were there. I know you saw everything. Breathe one word to anybody and I’ll make sure it’s your last. You are being watched-closely. Don’t forget that.’ "
Honey turned to look incredulously at her partner. "Trixie, what on earth are they talking about? Do you know what they mean?"
Trixie shook her head, causing her sandy curls to come tumbling out of the bobby pin she had used to get them out of her face. "I haven’t a clue, Honey. And I don’t recognize the e-mail address. I haven’t been anywhere that I could have seen anything. No bank robberies, no car accidents, nothing. The only place I’ve been since I came back to work after being sick was to the mall to get Jim’s birthday present. And the only strange thing that happened there was….oooohhhh," she breathed, suddenly realizing who the message was from and what it was regarding.
"What is it, Trix? Are you okay? You know what this is about, don’t you? Don’t try to hide it from me, either. I know you too well. Now, what gives?" Honey demanded.
"I can’t tell, Honey. I promised not to," Trixie pleaded. "Please don’t make me say anything."
"Well, okay," Honey answered with a sly grin. "But is it my fault you umm…fell asleep on the couch and umm…talked in your sleep?"
A slow smile spread over Trixie’s face as she realized Honey’s motive. "Okay, but just let me get into position," she whispered stealthily as she stretched out on the blue and white plaid cushions and closed her eyes.
Meanwhile, in another part of town….
Mart Belden quickly erased the screen name he’d created. It had served its purpose. Logging off the computer, he smiled to himself. Hopefully that will give Trix and Honey something to chew on for a while.
Turning back to his desk, he groaned aloud at the stack of papers that awaited his red pen. Why the hell did I ever become a teacher? So I wouldn’t have a lot of paperwork? Then he chastised himself. He loved working with the kids at Jim’s school, he really did. But he was beginning to think there were other ways he wanted to work with them. He really liked getting to know the kids one on one. He was beginning to think Di had the right idea. He thought back to their last phone conversation.
"Have you ever thought of being a counselor, Mart? You relate to the kids so well on an individual level. It’s like you want to be their friend, rather than the teacher. Am I right?"
"Right as usual, Di. And as a matter of fact, I have thought about it. But I didn’t want to do anything about it until…I mean that is…never mind."
Mart jerked himself back to the present. Until I know that Di’s going to marry me and we have a stable life together, he thought.
Di was scheduled to return from France in one week. She had been studying art history on a fellowship from the Sorbonne for a year. Although she had come home for Brian and Honey’s wedding, and Mart had flown over there for a week during the academy’s spring break, it wasn’t enough to completely fill the void in his life that had been there since she left.
Guess that’s what happens when you’ve been with someone practically since you’ve been fifteen years old, Mart thought ruefully. But God, I can’t wait for her to come back. I’ve missed her so much.
And at the same time, an ocean away….
"Oui, Sophie. Au revoir." Diana Lynch replaced the heavy receiver into the cradle of the ancient telephone.
"That was Sophie?" Diana’s roommate asked. Catherine was a shy, petite young woman Diana’s age. The two had been sharing a flat ever since a chance meeting during Diana’s first day at the Sorbonne. She had become Diana’s best friend and confidante at the university.
"Yes, she just called to make sure I was leaving a week from today, and not today," Diana replied with a laugh. "I never thought I’d meet anybody who was worse with dates than I am. But Sophie takes the cake."
"I still cannot believe you really are going," Catherine sighed. "It will not be the same without you. And having to find another roommate…"
Di burst out laughing. "Now you know that you’re just as anxious for Pierre to move in here as I’m sure he is for me to leave. Everything’s going to be fine, I just know it." She hugged Catherine tightly.
"But you and Martin, you did not live together, did you? What if it’s not the right thing to do?" Catherine asked.
Di studied her friend’s face intently. "If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to go with your instincts. Is this really what you want to do?"
"Yes, I think so," Catherine replied staunchly.
"Then don’t let anyone or anything persuade you differently. Stick to your guns, as we say in America," Di said with a firm nod of her head.
"Like you? I do not think I could have been so strong if a man as good-looking as Vincent paid so much attention to me," Catherine teased.
"Now you know that Vincent and I were only friends. True, he wanted more, but I made it clear from the beginning that he never had a chance. My heart’s been in the same place since I was thirteen years old," Di stated, starry-eyed. "And now I’m going home to it."
July 23
The Frayne household"Okay, is everything set for Di’s welcome home party?" Trixie asked.
"Ribs, brisket, sausage….check!" Jim answered.
"Potato salad, macaroni salad….check!" Honey replied.
"Chips and dip…...check!" Dan chimed in.
"Sodas and ice…..check!" Brian added.
"Mart, what are you bringing again? I forgot," Trixie asked teasingly.
"For the last time….Di’s….favorite…..Italian…..cream…..cake!!" Mart retorted through gritted teeth. "Beatrix, can I talk to you for a minute…in private?" he hissed.
Trixie knew she had gone too far. "Sure, Mart. Help me bring in some drinks from the kitchen."
Trixie and Mart got up and hustled to the kitchen. Trixie began pulling Dr. Peppers out of the refrigerator while Mart began pulling at his hair.
"Trixie, for pete’s sake, I’ve been asking you not to tell anyone since the day you saw me buying the ring at the mall! Now every time we’re around the others, you drop hints left and right! Now please, I am asking you for the last time. I want it to be a surprise-not just to her, to everybody. That way, you and I will be the only ones who will know if she turns me down," he moaned.
Trixie stared disbelievingly at her almost-twin brother. "You actually think she would say no? What is with you, Mart? You said you two were closer than ever back in March."
"That’s not it, Trix. Every man has this lingering fear that the woman of his dreams will say no when he proposes. I’m sure Jim had it when he asked you, and Brian definitely had it when he proposed to Honey. Dan’s waiting to propose to Hallie because he’s afraid of that very thing. And every time you tease, Trix, it sharpens that fear and makes it even worse than it already is," Mart explained.
Trixie threw her arms around Mart and hugged him tightly. "I am so, so, sorry Mart. You know that I love you and you have my total support. I guess because I always knew I’d marry Jim someday, I never thought about how hard it is for a man to get up the courage to propose to the woman he loves." She stood up straight. "From now on, I promise not to say or do anything that could be misconstrued by you, by her, or by anyone else."
Mart smiled gratefully at his only sister. "Thanks, Trix. Now if I can just get through tomorrow..."
"Oh Mart, as long as we’re being honest about things…..I told Honey," Trixie said, flinching a little.
"Oh, Trix, I knew that ages ago. You two haven’t changed a bit when it comes to keeping secrets," he chuckled. "Now let’s get in there with these drinks before we have an angry mob on our hands."
July 24
Kennedy International Airport
New York"Flight 409, arriving from Paris at Gate 24," the flight attendant’s voice announced to no one in particular. Everyone who was there to meet someone was already waiting excitedly at the gate itself. As the passengers began deplaning, there were shouts of joy as families were reunited and longtime friends met again. However, there was complete and utter silence from two of the crowd. Mart Belden and Diana Lynch simply stood and beheld each other before falling into an embrace that topped even Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr rolling on the beach in From Here to Eternity.
Glistening tears of joy ran down Diana’s cheeks as she kissed Mart over and over again. "I have missed you so much. I can’t believe I’m home for good. There has been nothing else I’ve wanted for a whole year than just to be with you again, every day."
Mart returned each of her kisses with hot ones of his own. All at once, he grasped her shoulders and held her away from him. "Did you mean what you just said? That you want to be with me every day? Did you mean that?" His blue eyes stared deeply into her violet ones.
"Of course I mean it. Why on earth would you think I didn’t?" she asked, more than a little confused.
"Well, as long as I’ve got you in that frame of mind, there’s a question I want to ask you," Mart said tenderly. He dropped to one knee and pulled a velvet-covered box from his jeans pocket. "Open it, Princess."
Her mouth making a wide O, Di stood staring at the ring in the box. It was a wide plain gold band, with a pear-shaped half-carat diamond nestled exactly in the center. Looking up at him, her tears began flowing anew. "Ask me, Mart. I want to hear you say the words."
"Diana Lynch, exactly one year ago today you got on a plane and took my heart to France with you. Today, you’ve brought it back to me, and so much more. Diana, will you marry me?" Mart whispered.
"Do I have to say the words?" she whispered back.
Mart shook his head. Her searing kiss was answer enough.
The End