This short is from the Black Jacket Mystery and occurs just after Trixie, Honey and Bobby rush off to the Manor House, having been excused from their chores by their mother. Helen has just smiled "saucily" at Peter. It’s amazing the images that the word "saucily" brings to mind.

I bow to the person at Random House who decided to keep publishing Trixie well after the original 4. You own ‘em. I get to play with ’em.

Sky Rockets In Flight

by Heather(Trix15)

 

Peter merely shook his head and moved into the living room where he sat down on the couch with his newspaper. Those children of his seemed to manage to get out of their chores more often than he realized. He was unaware of Helen moving to stand behind him.

"And after all Peter," she said lightly, as she put down the apron she’d taken off. "There is one benefit to letting the children out of their chores for now."

There was no mistaking the tone in his wife’s voice. He put the newspaper down and tilted his head to look up at her, his gaze barely making it past her bountiful breasts. "And what might that be?"

"Come upstairs and find out," she whispered gently. And she turned around and began walking towards the staircase. Pausing at the landing just briefly, she turned only her head around to him, her blonde hair softly covering one side of her face. With nary a word spoken she told him what she wanted and then began the climb to their bedroom.

Peter’s eyes followed his wife, marveling at what they saw. He pursed his lips and let out a silent whistle. After all these years, one thing could never have been more true. Helen Belden still had "it".

Much later, they lay in bed, replete with the aftermath of their lovemaking. Peter’s head lay upon the pillows propped against he headboard with Helen lying across his chest. The bedside clock radio played softly and the irony of the words to Afternoon Delight were not lost on them. As usual, their coupling had been of the nature that only two people with such love could have. It was more than a physical intimacy they shared. It had been a melding of the minds and hearts. Each and every time Helen and Peter believed that they fell more and more deeply in love.

"I’ve got to be the luckiest man in the world," Peter said. Helen had to strain to hear him, for his words came out soft and as spoken through lips that were too exhausted to open properly.

"I’m the lucky one," she answered him. She too was having difficulty speaking for she was not yet ready to get off her emotional plane.

"Maybe we’re just both equally lucky." Her head vibrated as his chest rumbled with soft laughter.

"Yes. Yes, we are lucky aren’t we? Four beautiful children, a wonderful home…."

Helen let out a giggle. "And all the excitement we could ever want every time Trixie finds another mystery to dig into."

"Where does she get it from – that need to know curiosity?" he replied with an earnestly confused tone to his voice.

She sighed. "I just don’t know. Everyone else, on both sides of our family has always chosen very safe, non-assuming paths in life. And along comes Trixie wanting to be a detective of all things."

"It is rare for a child of her age to know so completely what they want to do in life. And I suppose in the end, her choice of career is up to her. I just wish she’d not be practicing her ‘detective’ work quite so soon."

"If we feel this way, can you imagine how Matthew and Madeline feel? I’ve no doubt that they’re happy with the way Honey has blossomed since they moved here last summer. But I’ll wager they never imagined this for their daughter’s choice of career either."

Peter brushed his hand across her forehead, moving a few damp strands off her face. "Can’t take you up on that bet. I agree too much," he sighed.

"And even having Jim around hasn’t been able to slow her down. I had so hoped that her… friendship with him might reign her in just a bit – perhaps help her to become more of a girl rather than a tomboy with an insatiable thirst for mystery."

"Yes, but even there, maybe especially there," her husband growled, "I rather hope she doesn’t grow up too soon."

"But you like Jim."

"Of course, Helen. And there is no one I’d rather see Trixie develop a relationship with. But she’s 13. Isn’t it a bit too soon for that?"

Helen looked up at him and smiled. "Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already when we met? There you were. 12 years old and the nicest boy on the playground after Sunday school. But oh my, how you loved to tease."

He laughed, remembering some of his early pranks. His laugh cut off in a gasp as Helen’s hand traveled lower.

"I don’t know how I knew at 10. But somehow I did. I knew someday I’d marry you. And anyway, not so long ago, there was a time when Brian would already be married. And Trixie would be getting ready for hers."

Peter lightly grabbed her hand to prevent it from doing anything else that would cut off his ability to think. "Okay, okay. Well – that time period was a little ways ago. So for now, I guess I’ll just have to hope that she’s content to be our little girl for a little while longer. When it comes time for me to seriously think about her career, or Jim, then I’ll do so. I just pray it’s not that soon." He held her just a little tighter, thinking of some of Trixie’s more narrow escapes.

Helen closed her eyes, remembering the orchid that had arrived only a few weeks earlier. It might be sooner than you think, on one of those counts, she thought to herself. A mother can always dream about her daughter finally finding her Prince Charming. To Peter she said, "I should go downstairs and get started on the rest of the days work."

"It can wait," he answered, taking hold of her waist and lifting her to lie above his body. There are other, more important kinds of work to be done."

And soon, no more words were necessary, or possible.

The End