Here’s the Trixie-Jim story.
Together At Last
by Steph
Trixie Belden, age 24, was returning to Sleepyside for Christmas and a little rest and relaxation after spending a year and a half working in Europe for Scotland Yard. She was scheduled to return in March but wasn’t sure if she would. She had had a wonderful time but also was anxious to see if Honey was ready to get their agency going yet.
As she flew home, Trixie thought about everything that was going on back home. Jim was teaching at the Junior-Senior High School while working on preparations for the school he was hoping to open in a couple of years. Brian was a resident at Sleepyside Hospital. Mart taught agriculture at the local college. Honey worked at the library along with Hallie who was now living in Sleepyside. Dan was chief of police in Sleepyside. Di was number two in command at the art museum. She couldn’t wait to see everyone since she had missed them so.
Trixie couldn’t help but let her thoughts drift to Jim. She fingered the id bracelet she still wore that he had given her all those years ago. She wouldn't take it off for all the tea in china. They had so many unresolved issues between them. They had feelings but never pursued them. She felt that maybe that was another thing they should get resolved before she made her decision whether to return permanently.
Mr. and Mrs. Belden arrived to pick Trixie up at the airport and when they arrived at Crabapple Farm, everyone was waiting to greet her and after she said hello to everyone, they all sat down and talked about what had been going on in everyone’s lives over the last year and a half. Trixie told some stories of her life in Europe. Everyone noticed how Trixie and Jim kept looking at each other all evening.
Finally everyone realized that Trixie really needed to get some rest after her traveling so they all parted with Trixie promising to stop by and see everyone the next day while she rediscovered her hometown. She said she had really missed everyone and everything in Sleepyside.
The next morning Mrs. Belden came into Trixie’s room to help her unpack. "It’s so good to have you home," she said. "We’ve really all missed you a lot this past year and a half and you look fantastic, by the way. I hope you decide to stay around for good but these next few months will be fun no matter what."
"There are some things I need to decide first," said Trixie. "First, find out if Honey and maybe Hallie are ready to start our agency. Also, what’s going on with Jim. I wonder if there’s anything to pursue there?"
"I think there is," Mrs. Belden told her. "He comes over for dinner every once in awhile and your father and I think of him almost like another son. I know he isn’t seeing anyone right now. I hope you wind up together. I always felt that you belonged together."
After she finished unpacking, Trixie made the rounds of her friends and family. She talked to Honey who said she felt she was about ready to get the agency going and they talked about her and Brian. Honey said they were serious but she didn’t know what would happen next. They also talked about Mart and Di and Dan and Hallie. Then Honey said, "Now that the others are together I think it’s time for you and Jim to get together. I always thought you’d be the first."
"I have to find out how he feels," Trixie said. "I heard he doesn’t have a girlfriend. I just have to find and talk to him. He wasn’t home when I stopped by."
Trixie finally decided to get a cola at Wimpy's and there she saw Jim and asked if he minded her sitting with him. He said it was fine with him so she sat down.
"I was hoping I’d get a chance to see you," said Jim. "How are you doing? We didn’t get a chance to talk last night at all."
"I was looking for you and lucked out when I decided that I needed a coke. I’m doing great and it’s nice to be home at last."
They talked for a little while and then it was time to leave and they promised to talk more later.
On Christmas Eve, everyone gathered at Crabapple Farm for dinner before going to church. They had a wonderful time.
"I heard our friend from high school, Mark Baker is the new minister," said Trixie. "I’m looking forward to seeing him again. He was always so nice and such a good writer in our English class."
Soon, everyone was gathered at the church. The service was wonderful and afterwards, they saw Mark at the back door and hugs were exchanged.
"It's going to be wonderful going to church with you as the pastor," Trixie told him. "If you write sermons nearly as well as you wrote things for English, they’ll be terrific!"
On the twenty-seventh, Jim called Trixie and asked her to be his date for the New Year’s Ball at the country club and she accepted. They had been able to spend some time together since her return and their friendship was as strong as ever. The old feelings were coming back.
Finally, it was New Year’s Eve. Jim arrived to pick her up looking dashing and handsome in a black tuxedo and he was almost knocked over backwards when she came down the stairs in an ice blue silk ballgown that matched her eyes as her parents snapped pictures.
When she came to the bottom of the stairs, he kissed her hand. "Wow," he said softly, "you are going to knock them dead tonight."
"You look very handsome yourself," Trixie replied with a smile.
The ball was wonderful as they danced the night away and talked to their friends. Everyone noticed how lost Jim and Trixie were in each other’s arms. When the clock struck midnight, they shared a quick midnight kissed and both realized it was love.
Over the next few weeks they dated but neither was able to admit their feelings for the other. Each was sure the other would say something if the feeling were mutual. They had a good time together but were miserable thinking their love for each other was unrequited.
Trixie and Honey also decided to definitely let Hallie in on the agency. They decided that they would get it started in the next year in New York City which would allow them to be close to home and still have plenty of clients.
Brian and Honey started to get exasperated with Trixie and Jim being obviously madly in love with each other but neither willing to say it out loud, so finally they decided to take action on Valentine’s Day when there was a big ball at the country club for charity. They knew that Trixie and Jim were going to be there together.
A few days before the ball, Honey confronted Trixie and got her to admit that she was in love with Jim. Meanwhile, Brian confronted Jim to get the same confession about Trixie to make sure that they were right about the feelings that were there.
When Trixie and Jim arrived at the country club, they were greeted by Honey and Brian who said that they had urgent business with the two of them in the room off to the side of the ballroom.
When they reached the room, Honey said, "We are your best friends and we love you both very much but you’re driving us up the wall. You two are madly in love with each other and won’t say it! It’s about time you did. We are going to leave you two alone and don’t come out until you say how you feel." She and Brian left the room.
After they were gone, Jim walked over to Trixie and took her hand. "Trixie," he said, "Honey’s absolutely right. I am in love with you and it’s time I get it out in the open. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Trixie was almost crying tears of joy."Jim," she said, "I love you, too and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
They kissed for a few moments and then Jim pulled back his head and looked into her eyes. "When I say the rest of my life, I really mean it," he said. "This may seem impulsive but we’ve waited long enough. Trixie, will you marry me?"
She was surprised but didn’t hesitate for a second. "Yes!"
They kissed some more and then they headed to the ballroom where they saw all their friends and family were. Honey and Brian had given them the lowdown so they were prepared to see them together at last but weren’t prepared for Jim's announcement. "I’ve asked Trixie to marry me and she said ‘yes’!"
Everyone surrounded and congratulated them. Someone started singing "Chapel of Love" and everyone joined in.
Afterwards, Mr. Belden proposed a toast. "To my beautiful daughter and her man of destiny. May the rest of their lives be as wonderful as tonight!"
The morning after the ball Mrs. Belden woke Trixie up with breakfast in bed. "We have to start wedding plans right away," said Mrs. Belden. "Do you have any idea when it's going to be? You know somehow I always knew you'd wind up marrying Jim and your father and I love him very much. He's already like another son to us and we know you're going to be very happy"
"We sort of talked about my birthday on the ride home," said Trixie. "I know that's only two and a half months away but we don't want anything too fancy. Like I always thought it would be--the ceremony in the backyard and a nice reception afterwards. We can have our high school friend, Mark Baker, perform the ceremony. I can't believe we're engaged! Only yesterday I was pretty miserable thinking he only wanted to be friends and now we're getting married!"
"I think two and a half months should be plenty of time to make something very special," Mrs. Belden said. "Later on, I'll get my wedding dress out and we can see how it fits. I think you are almost exactly the same size I was when I married your father and you're going to look sensational."
Jim arrived in the early afternoon and he and Trixie talked for a little while and made some important decisions. First, the wedding would definitely be May first, her birthday, at Crabapple Farm and either inside or outside depending on the weather. They would have the reception at Manor House as Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler had requested and they'd agreed. It wouldn't be too fancy, but very special. They also wanted to add their own touches to it with music, poetry and their own vows. They decided on a four-thirty start time with the reception immediately afterwards.
That evening Trixie went into her parents' bedroom and her mother had her wedding dress out. It was a beautiful dress, floor length in front with a short train in back, made of white silk with long puffed sleeves, lace inserts and a simple bodice with white sequins and pearls sewn in in a beautiful flowery pattern. She tried it on and it fit perfectly, no need for alterations. She would have to get a veil, but the dress was perfect.
Over the next few days, Trixie and Jim finalized most of their plans. They asked Honey to be their maid of honor and Brian to be their best man. Dan, Bobby and Mart would be groomsmen. Hallie, Honey and Juliana would be the bridesmaids. Juliana and Hans' son, Hans Jr., would be ring bearer and Tom and Celia's daughter, Susannah, would be the flower girl. They asked Regan, Miss Trask and Uncle Andrew to do poetry readings during the service. They also asked Bob and Barbara Hubbell to sing.
Naturally when they designed their wedding invitations Trixie insisted on one thing so the wedding invitations read:
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Belden
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their beloved daughter
Trixie Marie
to
Mr. James Winthrop Frayne II
On Saturday, the first of May
at four-thirty in the afternoon
Crabapple Farm
Sleepyside-on-the Hudson, New York
There was no way she would even think about putting Beatrix on her wedding invitations!
The next weeks were full of parties, preparations and a lot of love. Jim gave her a beautiful diamond engagement ring in early March and they selected matching gold bands for their wedding rings.
As May first approached, their out of town guests arrived and soon Sleepyside was packed seemingly with people for their wedding. They also couldn't help but notice that, beginning shortly after he arrived, Uncle Andrew didn't seem to be seen without Miss Trask and soon everyone sensed that there was romance in the air and couldn't be happier for them.
Finally, it was the day of the wedding! The morning was spent getting the backyard ready with one group working there along with the florists and another group over at Manor House getting it ready for the reception. Finally, everyone gathered in the Crabapple Farm dining room for a lunch.
Neither Trixie nor Jim felt like eating because the butterflies were flitting around in their stomachs going up, down and everywhere, so they held hands and smiled at each other through the entire lunch. Then when it was done, Mrs. Belden said, "I think we better get the bride upstairs so she can get ready. The wedding is in less than three hours. We'll see you all back here around four-thirty, does that sound good?"
Jim kissed Trixie. "I'll be waiting for you at the end of the aisle at four-thirty," he said and then he was off.
Jim went with his parents and the men in the wedding party over to Manor House to get ready. The men were all wearing black tuxedos and would look dashingly handsome for the ceremony.
Trixie went upstairs to her parents bedroom with her mother while the other women dressed in her old bedroom. The women in the wedding party were all wearing pink ankle length dresses with white lace tops and the mothers were wearing simple pink dresses.
Trixie took a shower and then joined her mother again. Her mother was ready and looked beautiful."Trixie, now it's time for you to get ready. This is what every mother dreams about--helping her daughter get ready on her wedding day and you're going to look sensational."
Just then, the other women came in and everyone helped Trixie get ready. Di did her hair and makeup since she was the most knowledgeable of the group in such matters. They all helped her with the dress and then with the veil. She had chosen a simple pearl crown with a waist length tulle layer in front and a floor length one in back. When she was ready, everyone stepped back to look at her and said she looked absolutely perfect.
"I think we can head downstairs," said Honey. "I think the group is back from Manor House. I also think mother and daughter need some time alone." She and the other women grabbed their bouquets of pink and white roses and headed down to the backyard.
When they were all gone, Trixie said, "I'm so nervous I think I have a butterfly colony in my stomach, but, as soon as I see Jim at the other end of the aisle waiting for me, that should all go away. I'm so glad we have perfect weather today, not a cloud in the sky and temperature around 75. We couldn't have custom designed a more perfect day."
"I'm so happy that means we can have the ceremony outside, too," said Mrs. Belden, "because it's so much nicer that way. I can hardly believe you're getting married and starting out life with the man of your dreams. It seems like just yesterday you were a little girl. Time sure flies. The most important thing is that you are marrying a wonderful man and he's going to do everything he can to make you happy forever, and when the time comes, he'll make a wonderful father."
"We kind of hope that time comes pretty quickly," said Trixie, "maybe in a year and a half or so, but let's concentrate on the wedding first."
Meanwhile, down in the backyard, everything was set up and looked perfect. The organist was there playing a chorus of love songs. There were flowers and ribbon everywhere. Honey found her brother and said, "Wait until you see Trixie. She looks absolutely gorgeous and you make a handsome groom yourself. Nervous?"
"Just a little," admitted Jim, "but I'm marrying the woman I think I've known I would marry for about ten years and we're starting the rest of our lives together today."
"Sometimes dreams do come true," said Brian.
"With a lot of help from our friends," Jim said. "Goodness knows what would have happened if you two hadn't decided to take matters into your own hands with us. We can never thank you enough. Trixie confided in me that she was almost ready to go back to Europe. But that's all water under the bridge now."
At quarter-past four, Mr. Belden came upstairs to collect his daughter and when he saw her, he had tears in his eyes. "Trixie," he said, "I've known, of course, that this day was coming since the day you were born, but nothing can prepare a father for the emotion he feels. I'm afraid I'll cry like a baby walking you down the aisle."
Trixie hugged him."Don't worry, I may get a little emotional myself. Shall we head downstairs?" She paused and then she hugged both her parents and said, "Thanks for everything. I just hope that when the time comes, Jim and I can be half as wonderful to our children as you have been to Brian, Mart, Bobby and me."
They gathered by the door to the back porch with her attendants as they helped her make last minute adjustments. Mrs. Wheeler, Miss Trask, Dan, Bobby and Mart joined them, also.
Finally at four-thirty, Bob and Barbara opened the ceremony by singing "Always" by Atlantic Star. Then as Jim, Brian and Hans Jr. came from the side following Reverend Baker to their places on one side of the altar, Dan escorted Miss Trask, then Bobby escorted Mrs. Wheeler and then Mart escorted Mrs. Belden to their places in the front pews as Barbara sang "The Wedding Song (There Is Love)". Then Trixie's attendants walked down the aisle as Bob sang "On The Wings Of Love".
After they were in their places, Bob and Barbara sang "Up Where We Belong" and then it was time for Trixie and her father to walk down the aisle.
They walked down the aisle to the traditional wedding march and Trixie held on to her father, but the minute she saw Jim waiting for her her nervousness was suddenly gone. When they reached the altar, Mr. Belden lifted the front layer of Trixie's veil. "There has never been a more beautiful bride, he said. " Take good care of her, son." He went to his place next to his wife and Jim took Trixie's hand and the ceremony was ready to begin.
They first had the traditional wedding service which opened with Reverend Baker saying, "Performing weddings is probably the happiest job of any minister and especially for me, in this case, when I've known Trixie since kindergarten and Jim since high school. There's an old legend that says that a couple is originally made as one but are broken apart and born into different families and are always meant to find each other eventually and marry and start their own families."
After the traditional service, they had the poetry readings and more music from Bob and Barbara and then it was time for their own vows.
Jim began. "Trixie, sometimes I think this day was destined to happen from the day you walked into the old mansion and found me. From that day forward, we were meant to be together for now and forever. We fit so perfectly that it's almost scary. There are so many things I love about you: your spirit, your willingness to help others, the way you love people unconditionally and fully and the way you can dazzle me with your smile just to name a few. I want to just make all our dreams come true and grow old together with a house full of children, then grandchildren and so on. So on this, our wedding day, I pledge myself to you body, heart and soul, forever and ever and ever. I'm yours, my love."
Then it was Trixie's turn. "Jim," she said, "my heart, body and soul are with you. This is the first day of the rest of our lives. I want to share every part of the future with you, both the good and any of the bad, because we have always been there for each other no matter what and always will be. There are days when I am convinced that I have loved you since the day we met and as you said that this day has been destined to be ever since. So now, in front of our family and friends, the people we love so much, I take you as my husband and as the old saying goes: I love you, you love me and the best is yet to be."
Then Reverend Baker said, "Whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder. I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
They put their arms around each other and kissed as everyone cheered and then Mark said. "It is with the greatest pleasure that I present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Frayne." They headed back down the aisle to the traditional recessional as everyone cheered.
They went into the house and kissed until they were joined by their parents and attendants, everyone talking at once. They all hugged and everyone said that the ceremony had been perfect. "We're going to wait a little while," said Jim, "and take some pictures and then head over to Manor House."
They waited for the guests to clear out and then posed for some pictures and when that was done, it was time to go to the reception where their guests were waiting.
"With Regan's help we have arranged a special surprise for you," said Mr. Wheeler. He whistled and a horse drawn carriage pulled up and they got in for the trip to Manor House while everyone else headed over in two waiting limousines.
When they were finally able to talk, Jim said, "I thought my knees were going to melt to the ground when I saw you walking toward me. You are beautiful beyond words and I'm so happy we're finally married!"
"I thought I would melt when I saw you," Trixie said with a smile. "I think everything was perfect and now it's time to go to our party"
When they arrived at the Manor House, everyone greeted them with cheers and the reception began. After the receiving line and some mixing, it was time for dinner buffet-style and the toasts.
Brian as best man was, of course, the first. "Jim has been my best friend since we were 15 and has always been like a brother to me and now we finally really are brothers and I couldn't be happier. Trixie, nobody could ever ask for a more wonderful sister. I know you're going to be very happy together. So, to Trixie and Jim, may this wonderful beginning to your marriage be just the start of many wonderful days."
After the toasts were over, it was time for Trixie to throw her bouquet. She headed to the stairs and turned around and threw it quite obviously at Honey who caught it which meant she would be the next to be married.
Then Jim threw her garter at Brian and immediately Brian decided to take matters into his own hands and got down on one knee in front of everyone. "Honey, will you marry me?" he asked.
"Yes!" she answered happily.
After everyone congratulated them, it was time for the dancing. Trixie and Jim had the first dance to what had become their special song-- "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" and then Trixie danced with her father to "Daddy's Little Girl" and then everyone joined in the dancing.
The reception grew late and finally it was time for them to leave for their first night at Glen Road Inn before heading for 10 days in the Poconos. They changed into their going away clothes and then they headed to the waiting limousine in a shower of rice, flower petals and confetti. As they headed to the Glen Road Inn, Jim turned to Trixie and said, "Now we have a date for the best times of our lives, starting right now."
After a wonderful honeymoon in the Poconos, Trixie and Jim settled back home in Sleepyside in the house he had had built on the grounds of the old Ten Acres estate where work on building his school had already begun. They also soon settled into helping Brian and Honey plan their wedding.
Time seemed to fly quickly by for everyone. As the end of summer approached, Trixie, Honey and Hallie finally rented out office space in White Plains where they had settled on opening their agency and would open it in October after Honey and Brian’s wedding.
Honey and Brian were married on a beautiful Saturday in September at Manor House with Trixie serving as matron of honor and Mart as best man. Their wedding was traditional and a little on the fancy side. Honey’s dress was perfect, silk and lace with a long train and veil.
The reception was also held at Manor House and everyone had a wonderful time. It was outside for the most part and the whole grounds were decorated for it.
Trixie and Honey were delighted to be double sisters-in-law at last. Honey and Brian left for their honeymoon to France amid the usual shower of rice, flower petals and confetti to send them on their way to married life.
When Honey and Brian returned, final preparations were made, and on October first with a big ribbon cutting ceremony, the Frayne-Belden- Wheeler detective agency was opened. It was named that now although signs all pointed to the Belden part being changed to Mangan in the very near future as Hallie and Dan were moving towards a wedding and so were Mart and Di, but no official engagement announcement had come yet.
On Thanksgiving, everyone attended the Beldens' big annual open house at Crabapple Farm. As soon as everyone had arrived, Dan and Hallie announced their engagement and plans to marry Christmas Eve. They decided that they had waited long enough and thought Christmas was a wonderful time to get married during. Also, Dan could take some time off and they knew that while the agency had gotten off to a good start, the holidays would probably be a slow time.
Trixie and Jim loved being married and decided that they would recommend it to everyone. They had decided to put off having kids for a little while as he was trying to finalize plans for his school and she wanted to get the agency off the ground. They wanted a large family but knew that they had plenty of time since they were only in their mid-twenties.
On Christmas Eve, Dan and Hallie were married in a beautiful ceremony at the church in Sleepyside where Mark Baker was the minister and they had a reception/Christmas party at Crabapple Farm afterwards. There, Uncle Andrew, who had stayed in Sleepyside ninety percent of the time since Trixie and Jim’s wedding, announced that he and Miss Trask were going to marry on Valentine’s Day and live primarily in Sleepyside but visit his homes in Iowa and the Ozarks frequently.
Uncle Andrew and Miss Trask’s wedding was beautiful, two people in their late fifties who had finally found love with each other. They acted like teenagers almost and took off for their honeymoon to Florida and then returned to settle into a nice apartment that they had rented in Sleepyside.
Everyone was kind of wondering about Mart and Di and why they weren’t jumping on the marriage bandwagon and noticed that they were together and in love but didn’t get engaged despite encouragement from their blissfully happy friends and family. They also endured some good-natured teasing from everyone but insisted that they weren’t ready yet.
On May first, Trixie and Jim celebrated their first wedding anniversary as well as her birthday with a party at their house and Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler presented them with the anniversary present of a week in Maine for some time alone and they gladly accepted because they needed to get away. The school was finally going to open in a year and plans were well underway and the agency was doing very well so she was very busy and they rarely had time together.
Trixie and Jim spent a very romantic perfect week in Maine talking about their future and how happy they were together. They pretty much decided to wait a little longer for a baby even though their parents were starting to drop hints about grandchildren on them frequently.
A few weeks after their return to Sleepyside, Trixie was feeling out of sorts and went to her doctor, Dr. Shana Powers; a young woman who was considered one of the best young doctors in Westchester County, and a sister of a classmate. When the test results came back, Trixie was shocked to learn that she was pregnant and due in February and the baby had been conceived during their Maine trip.
When she got home that night, she made dinner and then Jim came home and noticed that she was obviously a bit distracted about something and asked her what was wrong.
She was nervous about telling him since they had decided to wait a little longer before starting their family but finally she blurted out, "Jim, we’re having a baby."
He was stunned, but then kissed her and said, "That’s a surprise! When?"
She said, "February. It must have happened when we were in Maine. You know, I know we hadn’t planned on this yet, but I’m happy."
Jim said, "So am I. How are you feeling? Can I get you anything? Do you need to lie down? What did the doctor say? Okay, I’m already a wreck and we have eight months to go."
Trixie kissed him and said, "I’m feeling fine. Dr. Powers says everything looks fine to her and she gave me some books and pamphlets and also a prescription for vitamins that I’m supposed to take and all these restrictions and guidelines. When should we make our news public?"
Jim said, "Well, tomorrow night at Manor House is my parents anniversary party. What a present we will be giving them! I know all our parents will be thrilled."
Trixie said, "I’m having lunch with Moms tomorrow. Is it all right with you if I tell her then? She’s probably going to guess. She can read me like a book. It’s mother’s instinct which is something I’ll learn about soon."
They had a wonderful evening together talking about names already, the nursery and everything. He insisted she go to sleep early and she knew that he was going to probably drive her crazy for the next eight months but she didn’t care.
The next afternoon she met her mother in White Plains for lunch and when Trixie asked for milk instead of her usual coffee, Mrs. Belden sensed something was going on and also guessed to herself what it was and what she hoped it was.
Finally Trixie ended her suspense by saying, "Moms, I wanted you to be the first to know that Jim and I are expecting a baby in February. We’re going to tell everyone else tonight at the Wheelers' anniversary party, so please try and keep this a secret until then."
Mrs. Belden kissed her cheek and said, "Wow, I’m thrilled and so will your father be, I know. He’s been talking about semi-retiring already and I know that he wants to be a doting grandfather when the time comes. How are you doing?"
Trixie said, "Everything is fine and my doctor is Dr. Shana Powers, you know who she is. You’re the one who told me about the article you read about her in the Sleepyside Sun and I went to high school with her sister. We can’t wait to tell everyone."
They had a nice lunch talking about babies and pregnancy and everything. Mrs. Belden told her some funny stories and also went into her own history since Trixie needed to know it to tell her doctor anything that could be important.
Trixie and Jim arrived late at the party that night because she had had a bout of queasiness. As soon as they saw them arrive, Mart and Di called for everyone’s attention and Mart announced, "This afternoon over lunch at the country club, I asked this beautiful woman to marry me and she said yes! We’re getting married in February after the class I signed up for a semester in Boston is over."
Everyone surrounded and congratulated them and then Trixie said, "Mart and Di, there might be a little problem. You see if you want me to be in the wedding party that might be difficult since I’ll be nine months pregnant!"
Everyone then congratulated Trixie and Jim and Di said, "That’s wonderful maybe we’ll make it late January or something. We can figure it out by then!"
Everyone was very happy for them and made her sit down right away and she knew that she was going to be treated like china for eight months. As Mrs. Belden had predicted, Mr. Belden immediately said that those semi-retirement plans would now go into high gear so he could spoil his grandchild. Mr. Wheeler was already semi-retired and said that he hoped to make up some of the time he had missed with Honey and Jim with his grandchildren.
The weeks seemed to fly by after that. Trixie and Jim did argue a little over her detective work but she promised to be more careful and they talked with Dr. Powers about any restrictions she should go under and she promised to help her with any decisions she needed to make. Mart and Di also decided to be married on New Year’s Eve. The baby was due on Valentine’s Day so there was some breathing room there.
Jim started teaching one more year at Sleepyside Junior Senior high since his school would open in July the next year. Brian was still a resident at Sleepyside Hospital and would be finished with it in time to be the resident doctor. Mart went to his class in Boston with Di staying behind but traveling there on weekends when she could.
As the holidays approached, Trixie and Jim started the nursery and he started to drive her even goofier with his worrying and fussing over her, treating her like she was as fragile as crystal even though everything was going fine. In early December, they started Lamaze classes at the hospital since he was going to be with her in the delivery room, of course. He also went with her to every doctor’s appointment and asked more questions than she did and read even more than she did.
The whole family fussed over her at Thanksgiving at Crabapple Farm. She was six and a half months along and radiant. They had been to Dr. Powers’ office the day before and had had a sonogram and said they didn’t want to know the sex yet. They showed everyone the video and Honey said that she and Brian had decided to start trying to have a baby inspired by how happy Trixie and Jim were.
Christmas flew by and then it was New Year's and Mart and Di were married in a beautiful ceremony at the Lynch mansion. Trixie was a little self conscious being seven and a half months pregnant in her bridesmaid’s dress but everyone assured her that she looked perfect. Jim still drove her crazy by insisting she put her feet up at the reception and not dance too much! She wanted to dance a little although her feet hurt somewhat and he was concerned of course about her and the baby and finally she sat down in a bit of a huff.
Right before midnight, Mr. Belden gathered everyone around him and said "This year has been magnificent but now we enter a brand new year with everyone being happy, new marriages blossoming and the start of a new generation in a few weeks. So here’s to us all, may the New Year be full of happy beginnings and love for everyone."
Over the next couple of weeks, Jim drove Trixie to distraction until finally she decided she needed a break and decided to go back to Crabapple Farm for one night. There she sat in the kitchen and had a long talk with her mother who said, "Trixie, Jim is being a typical father to be. Maybe going a little overboard but he loves both you and the baby so much and he just wants everything to be fine. Please try and understand. Your father was almost as bad when I was pregnant with Brian but mellowed out each of the following times more and more."
Trixie said, "I guess I’m worried enough about everything being fine myself and he makes me worry even more but there’s only a few weeks to go. It’s January twentieth, so twenty-five days until d-day! We’ve decided on names, but we aren’t going to tell anyone until the baby comes."
Trixie went home the next morning and Jim promised to be a little less goofy and she apologized for overreacting a bit.
On February seventh, a week before her due date and cutting it pretty close, Mrs. Belden and Honey gave her a surprise baby shower at Crabapple Farm. She was brought over on the pretense of lunch with her mother and was surprised to find the room full of her friends.
She received many wonderful gifts including the last one which was a box of various things for the baby and she said "Ooooh" suddenly and Mrs. Belden said "I’m glad you like it. I know these are things you’ll need."
Trixie said, "I like the present, but that’s not quite what I was reacting to. My water just broke. Maybe this backache I’ve been having all day was something more than just a backache and I did have some contractions this morning, but I thought they were just Braxton-Hicks contractions."
Everyone reacted in surprise and then started talking at once. Honey called Dr. Powers who relayed questions for her to ask and then told them to bring her in right away to be examined. Di called Jim on her cell phone and he said he’d meet them at the hospital with her suitcase.
Mrs. Belden and Honey drove Trixie to the hospital with everyone else staying behind to pack up the presents and take them to the house and then go home and wait for news.
Jim was pacing in the front entrance of the hospital with Brian with him trying to help him calm down when they arrived and she assured him that she was okay as they took her up to maternity where Dr. Powers examined her and said, "Trixie, you’re pretty far along already! 6 centimeters dilated! That backache you were talking about must have been labor! It probably won’t be very long now!"
Mrs. Belden and Honey went into the waiting room where they were joined by Mr. Belden and Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler who Di had called and they told them it wouldn’t be long. Mrs. Belden said, "I hope so for Trixie’s sake. With Brian it took 21 hours!"
It really wasn’t very long at all and a couple hours later Trixie and Jim were the proud parents of a beautiful, healthy 7 pound 4 ounce baby girl who they named Katje Helen Frayne after their mothers.
They held her with tears in their eyes as they counted fingers and toes and everything else. She had Jim’s red hair and Trixie’s blue eyes.
A few minutes later Jim went into the waiting room and announced the news and then Honey offered to call people for them as the brand-new grandparents rushed up to the nursery to see their grandchild and soon the entire family was gathered at the hospital.
Later at the nursery, Mrs. Belden and Mrs. Wheeler stood at the window admiring their granddaughter and both agreed that they were too young to be grandmothers, and definitely looked too young and joked about coming up with a different name for the title something like "Mother, the sequel" but they both were wrapped around Katje’s little finger already.
After everyone had gone home finally, Jim said, "I’m going to go home and catch some shuteye. I’ll take baby Katje out to the nursery so you can get a little sleep yourself. I have never been more in love with you in my entire life."
She fell asleep and Jim took Katje back to the nursery and rocked her to sleep while singing "Daddy’s Little Girl".
The first weeks seemed to fly by and then when she was six weeks old, Trixie and Jim had Katje christened at the Sleepyside Community Church with Reverend Baker officiating in a beautiful ceremony with Brian and Honey, who had announced that they were expecting in November earlier that day, serving as Godparents.
That night at a party at Trixie and Jim’s house, Mr. Wheeler was the toastmaster as he said, "To the new generation of our families. May it grow and prosper and may all our lives be full of love and happiness now and forever."
The End