Note: This was written for Trixie fan Steph by fellow fans on the occasion of her wedding to Jon. It's a humorous fantasy.
Steph’s Dream Wedding
Trixie Belden twisted her small frame around to look at the spectacular stained glass that surrounded them in the old Chicago church. Just having turned eighteen, her blue eyes sparkled with excitement as she drank in the beauty of the church’s interior.
"Isn’t this just lovely?" exclaimed her best friend, Honey Wheeler, who was sitting on her left, her face echoing Trixie’s excitement.
Trixie nodded, feeling a small twinge of jealousy seeing Honey’s neat and composed outer appearance. Her light green dress complimented her hazel eyes perfectly, and not one hair on her honey-blonde head was out of place. She looked as cool and calm as she did when they stepped off the plane that afternoon.
Trixie, on the other hand, had long since discovered that Chicago was indeed the windy city, and gave up attempting to tame her curls that had been blown every which way. She glanced down at her dress, and wondered if the pale blue further emphasized the wrinkles. And was that a run in her stockings already? Wistfully she thought of her jeans in her bag back at the hotel.
Diana Lynch turned around from where she sat between Dan and Mart in the pew in front of them. "I just love the pink and white roses. They are so beautiful, and so…."
"Romantic!" chorused Dan and Mart, causing the girls to giggle softly.
"Well, they are." sighed Di, her violet eyes dreamily gazing at their surroundings. "Is there anything more romantic than a June wedding?"
Brian was perusing the wedding program and nudged Honey. "How many people did Steph say were going to be in the party?"
"Twenty-two family and friends. I can’t wait to see her gown--I’ve tried to picture it from her description in the chat room the other night."
Dan looked around the rapidly filling room. "Steph and Jon certainly have a lot of friends."
Trixie chuckled. "And these are just relatives and Chicago people. Imagine how full the church would be if all their on-line friends could attend. We would be packed in like sardines!"
Jim turned from studying the beautiful architecture of the building. "And the people from her charity work like Family Rescue and Cubs Care."
"Well, I don’t know Jon as well as I do Steph, but it’s no surprise the sanctuary is getting crowded. She’s so sweet and fun to ‘talk’ with. She has such enthusiasm for life!" Honey exclaimed.
"Especially life at Wrigley. Even I do not possess half the love of the game as she." Mart waved his program excitedly. "Hey, the Messmers are singing--remember when we heard them sing at the last Cubs game we were at?"
"Which mystery was that?" Jim teased. "We seem to get involved with as many cases out here as we do at home."
Trixie’s eyebrows hit the top of her head, and she turned to face Honey. "We? Did you hear what I heard, partner?"
Honey just smiled at her and changed the subject. "Do you think they will be doing much dancing? I mean, they both still have casts on."
Trixie grinned. "Well, I know she’s banning anyone who pitches for the Cubs from doing the hokey-pokey."
Everyone laughed except Diana, who just looked confused until Dan whispered "So they don’t put their elbows out" to her.
She blushed slightly and focused her attention on the aisle where the handsome ushers were now escorting members of the immediate families. "Who’s the nice looking extremely tall usher?"
"That’s her little brother. I understand he’s not a big pest which is an unusual trait for a male sibling." Trixie said, making a face at the back of Mart’s closely shorn head.
The change in the music and the excited murmur of voices cut his reply as the Mother of the Bride took her seat, and all eyes turned to the aisle. An expectant hush fell over the room and Honey and Trixie exchanged one last excited glance, both girls reveling in the joy of their friend’s ceremony.
Stephanie stood alone in the vestibule, clutching her bouquet nervously. As the tall wooden doors in front of her opened, she heard the opening swells of music from the huge pipe organ and her heart began to pound against her ribs.
She began to step forward. Immediately, she heard the rush of clothing as the assembled guests stood and turned, staring and smiling at her. Her aunts and uncles, cousins and friends, and all of Jon’s as well, crowded into every pew. Gosh! There sure are a lot more people here than I anticipated! I hope I ordered enough food from the caterer!
Halfway down the aisle, she spied the Sleepyside contingent. They smiled and glowed, the girls dabbing at their eyes with lace handkerchiefs, the boys nudging each other and grinning.
Then the music changed. Suddenly in front of her appeared the starting lineup for the Cubs. Each team member, in fresh uniforms, had lined up on either side of the aisle. They each held up a baseball bat at a 45º angle, forming an arch through which she would walk.
Stephanie smiled so hard her cheeks threatened to split open. Softly, the congregation began to sing in six-part harmony: Take me out to the ball game! Take me out to the show! Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack! I don’t care if I never get back!
That’s odd… I don’t remember asking for this to be played, she thought, but she walked through the arch anyway, delighted at the show of support from her friends on the team. As she neared the end of the aisle, she saw Jon, his face beaming with happiness, and she nearly floated toward the altar.
"Dearly beloved", the priest began. "We are gathered here today in the Sight of God and of these witnesses…"
Stephanie turned to see the congregation. The players had disappeared. That’s odd… I didn’t hear them go. She looked at Jon. Jon had the most curious expression on his face – he looked bored. Bored? Why would he be bored?
"Look, Father," Jon interrupted the priest. "Can’t you just get on with it? Cut to the chase or something? There’s a game on later."
The priest nodded, then jumped ahead to the next part. "Whosoever can show just cause why these two should not be lawfully joined in Holy Matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace." He waited and looked up.
Stephanie wondered why the priest paused. Usually, asking the question was just a formality. He was almost acting as if he expected someone to object.
The priest searched the congregation. "Come on now. Doesn’t anyone have an objection? Anyone at all? I’m in no rush. I can wait. Don’t be shy. Just stand up and tell us. Go ahead. Yes? You, there? Please. Tell us why they should not be married."
Stephanie was stunned. Someone was actually objecting? She turned, immediately sickened and shocked to see…
"Because I love her!" Jim Frayne stood straight and tall and spoke clearly. "I’ve loved her since the first day we met."
Beside him, Trixie jumped up. "It’s true! I’ve always known it! That’s why he could only give me fond looks and hold my hand! He’s been in love with you all these years, Steph!"
Stephanie turned to face the congregation, now rumbling with discord.
"Forget Jim!" a new voice shouted. "Take me instead!" A tall redhead strode straight down the middle of the aisle, his boots tracking manure and hay into the church.
"Regan?" The shout went up from the Sleepyside contingent. "What are you doing here?"
"Claiming my bride – if she’ll have me!"
"Hey!" Jon shouted. "She’s my bride! I claimed her first!"
From the side door, a tall, dark haired man with blue eyes dressed in a chauffeur’s uniform burst in, jangling a ring of car keys. "Marry me, Stephanie, and you’ll never have to take the train again!"
The sound of a motorcycle roared from the sacristy. Stephanie turned again to see a motorcycle cop and a young man seated behind him on a Harley drive up behind the lectern and cut the engine. "My brother and I, well… we want you to come home with us."
Tad Webster slid off the leather seat. "It’s true, Steph! You’ve haunted our thoughts most every night. My brother and me. We figure we can share."
Stephanie started backing up closer to Jon, but he wasn’t offering much support. "Who are all these people, anyway? What kind of life have you been leading behind my back?"
"What? Jon! How can you doubt that I love you?"
A young kid in knee pants carrying a woolen satchel over his shoulder tugged on her dress. "Paper, ma’am? It’s the Sun-Times!" He looked up at her hopefully, with sheer adoration in his eyes.
"Ugh! I only read the Tribune!" Stephanie pushed the little kid away from her. "At least that one was easy to refuse."
"Steph! Are you saying you can’t refuse the others?" Jon was horrified.
Stephanie stared at him. She loved him. Why couldn’t she seem to make him understand? These other men were just so… tempting…
Three men appeared from the sacristy. The first, well-dressed with a devilish smile said, "Wouldn’t you like to be the woman who tamed the rakish Ben Riker?" The second, with paint-stained fingers and an artist’s cap said, "Live with me and be my nude model, Steph! I long to paint your beautiful body! On canvas, I mean, although the other way sounds good, too…"
"Not Nick Roberts!" Stephanie moaned.
The third man dribbled a basketball, dodged the stunned altar boys, and pitched a smooth shot that bounced perfectly off the crucifixion and landed in the chalice on the altar. "How about it, Steph? That basketball contract will keep us rolling in green stuff for years!"
Jon nudged Stephanie. "I wouldn’t mind losing out to ol’ Ned, over there…"
Horrified, Stephanie turned to face him. "Excuse me?"
But there were more… many more…
"We could go sailing every day!" Pete from Cobbett’s Island called.
"Le’s all jes’ git hitched up, nice n’ proper-like, an’ roam this ol’ worl’ like a matched pair of them there prancin’ ponies!" Tenny drawled, happily.
Regan cheerfully slugged him hard, sending the dude ranch worker flying out the stained glass window. "I hate phony cowboys," he growled.
"I’m not sure just what I’m doing here," confessed Sgt. Molinson, "but if Steph’s the woman to marry, then I want a life of my own, too!"
"Stop it! All of you! This is too much!" Stephanie tried to shout over the ensuing arguing and fighting. It seemed everyone – absolutely everyone wanted to marry her. Where were these guys when I was dating?
She saw her family, blithely sitting in their pew, oblivious to the confusion around them. They were watching the Cubs play on their tiny remote TV. Suddenly, she heard the announcer say, "There goes yet another strikeout - dedicated to Steph Weiland! Steph, wherever you are, know that Sea Monkey’s playing his heart out for only you!"
"Oh, no!" Stephanie moaned. But at least his shoulder is ok.. That’s something…
Regan, pumped from tossing Tenny out on his ear, proceeded to threaten Tom. Jim, angry that Steph was ignoring him, started challenging Jon to ‘step outside’. Ben started examining the golden Eucharist plate while Nick began measuring Stephanie for a canvas. Ned began chattering on about sports and trying to figure out just how devoted Stephanie was to the Bulls.
"Peanuts! Get your fresh, roasted peanuts!"
"Hot dogs! Get your red hots!"
The sound of hawkers peddling sodas and food made Stephanie realize the reception was supposed to have begun by now. But no one was in their seat – everyone was yelling, shouting, angry and pleading with her. "Marry me!" they all screamed.
But one voice rose above them all…
"Stephanie! STEPHANIEEEEEE!!!"
She looked up. Where was that voice coming from? Heaven? God? No… from the choir loft. Her eyes focused on a tall man in black leather, his dark eyes brooding, his sensual mouth shouting for her… Dan Mangan.
Oh, no… I thought I had escaped this… What’s he doing here? Why’s he yelling for me?
"Stephanie! I love you! I want to marry you! Run away with me!! PLEASE!!" He began banging on the choir rail with each syllable of her name: STEPH (bang!) AN (bang!) NEEEE (bang!)
STEPHANIE! STEPHANIEEEE!!
Steph turned to the lovely ladies standing next to her, but Karen and Lori simply grinned like a pair of pink Cheshire cats. Desperate, she looked at the priest, but instead, Mr. Lytell peered back at her through a pair of wire-rimmed glasses, chuckling softly to himself.
"Jon! Jon! Aren’t you going to do anything?"
Jon merely waved at her from the crowd gathered around the small TV set. Steph was relieved to see Trixie join her at the altar, now wearing a beige trenchcoat, and with Terry Adams and Fox Mulder on either side of her.
The clamor of fighting and shouting increased to a frenzied pitch around them, as Steph begged Trixie to help her.
Trixie nodded and pulled Steph closer, pointing at Jon’s feet. "That’s not the real Jon! Look- he has two socks on. He must be an alien!"
"Then where is my Jon?"
A muffled yell from the choir loft revealed a disheveled Jon working his way free of the ropes that bound him.
Steph gazed at him suspiciously, until he stepped forward, revealing the fact he was shoeless, with only one sock that was nearly off his foot.
"All right, people, that’s enough! She’s Mine!" he yelled, wrapping one arm around her, and with the other shaking a Louisville Slugger at the crowd.
The radiant smile Steph gave to Jon froze on her face as she became aware of a twangy voice in the background. Oh, no, what now? she groaned. Someone was singing and the sound was getting louder!
"Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman
Giving all your love to just one man…"
Jon heard it too and keeping his arm around her, twisted around to see where the singing was coming from. It seemed to be coming from the ceiling! They looked up, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. With a gasp, Steph and Jon stared at each other, for suddenly they recognized the voice of Tammy Wynette singing:
"Stand by your man
And show the world you love him
Keep giving all the love you can
Stand by your man"
Steph and Jon began to laugh…and laugh. Leaning against each other, they laughed ‘til tears came to their eyes. Gasping for breath, they tried to hold onto each other, but Steph laughed so hard, she fell on the floor!
THUMP!
"Ouch!" She startled awake and sat up. She looked around the familiar bedroom and breathed a sigh of relief from her surprisingly hard spot on the floor. "I can’t believe I just fell out of bed!" she muttered. She was safe now, and she was going to marry the man of her – dreams?
I must remember to instruct the priest to skip the part about the objections…
Just then she heard the last twang of "Stand by your ma-an." With a grimace, (it was definitely not a favorite song), she looked up at the clock radio on the nightstand and blinked in surprise. That song must’ve wormed it’s way into my dream.
"That was Tammy and me, Roy Gregory, here at Q Country, wishing you a great morning! Up next, a little love from Tim McGraw and Faith Hill comin’ your way …" The announcer was altogether too chipper for this time of morning.
How did my alarm get changed to WCCQ? Steph wondered. Then a grin lit up her face. That brother of mine! I’ll bet Scott did it as a joke! And talking about joke…what a goofy dream! I can’t wait to tell Jon how wild it was… Jon! Steph jumped up as she realized that today was their wedding day! Today she would marry the man of her dreams! Well, her normal dreams, anyway. She glanced over to the window and smiled softly to see the golden sunlight stream in …it looked like the start of a perfect day.
As Steph reached out to shut off the radio, her hand paused mid-air as the words of the song that had begun to play hit her. She drew back her hand and sat down gently on the bed, listening intently and thinking of the love she shared with Jon.
"Oh, it’s a beautiful thing
Don’t think I can keep it all in
I just gotta let you know what it is that won’t let me goIt’s your love
It just does something to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can’t get enoughAnd if you wonder about the spell I’m under
Oh, it’s your loveBetter than I was
More than I am
And all of this happened by taking your hand
And who I am now is who I wanted to be
And now that we’re together
I’m stronger than ever
I’m happy and freeOh, it’s a beautiful thing
Don’t think I can keep it all in
If you asked me why I’ve changed
All I gotta do is say your sweet nameIt’s your love…"
"I love you, Jon," Steph whispered as she shut off the radio. Just a few more hours…
But first she had to log online. The people at the Trixie board would never believe this one!
Trixie looked around at all of her family and friends as they waited to be seated for Steph and Jons’ wedding. She could not believe that the big day had finally arrived, Steph and Jon had been planning this day for a long time and Trixie was excited that all the Bob-Whites and their families had been able to attend.
Helen Belden and Steph’s mother had met five years ago when they had both attended a weekend art exhibit in Chicago. The two women had found that they had a lot in common and quickly decided to make the weekend an annual event. Three years ago Helen had invited Madeleine Wheeler, Carolyn Lynch and Margery Trask to join them and now they all attended the "Chicago Weekend" as they loved to call it.
The Bob-Whites had gotten to know the family when they had decided to spend part of their summer vacation last year in Chicago. They had wanted to see the city that their mothers had all raved so much about. Since everyone had become such good friends the Belden/Wheeler/Lynch/Bob-White contingent that had been invited to attend the wedding was a large one.
Trixie could see her parents chatting with the Lynches and Wheelers as Bobby, Terry and Larry tried to keep the two young Lynch girls in one place. The girls were so excited about attending their very first wedding and were having a hard time standing still as they waited to be seated by the ushers.
All of sudden Trixie felt a nudge on her arm. She looked over at her best friend Honey who was pointing to where Miss Trask was talking to Trixie’s Uncle Andrew. Uncle Andrew’s annual visit to his brother and his family had fallen at the same time as the wedding and Steph had invited him too. The more the merrier had been her response to her mother’s request, she was so happy and wanted everyone to share in her day.
"What do you think of that, did you notice the way they talked all through dinner last night too? I wonder if the romance of the wedding will rub off on those two. As much as I hate to think of Miss Trask leaving us, I do think those two are perfect together." Honey whispered to Trixie.
Trixie looked at Honey stunned; she had never even considered the possibility before. "Wow, Honey, I never even noticed, and I am supposed to be a detective. I guess that is why we work so well together, what one of us misses the other one is sure to get."
"Oh no, she mentioned work! Please, my younger female sibling, I beg of you and your sidekick to refrain from pursuing a mystery during the nuptials of our near and dear friends Steph and Jon."
Trixie gave her brother Mart a dirty look as he came up behind her and Honey with the rest of the Bob-Whites. "For your information Mr. Smarty Pants, Honey and I were discussing the way Miss Trask and Uncle Andrew seem to enjoying each others company this weekend."
"I know, isn’t it so romantic?" Diana Lynch sighed.
"I agree, I think it is great to see Uncle Andrew so happy. You know I think he even blushed this morning at breakfast when I asked him is he was having fun this weekend," Hallie Belden answered Di. "I am so glad I was able to get time off from my summer job so I could come this weekend. It was so much fun listening to Steph plan this wedding last year when we were all here I would have hated to have miss the big event itself."
"I am really glad you are here too, it makes the whole weekend that much more special," Dan spoke and catching Hallie’s eye gave her a smile.
"I think blushing is a Belden tradition this weekend." Trixie laughed as her cousin’s cheeks turned red at Dan’s words. "Hey look -our families are being seated, we had better get up there so we can all sit together. There are so many of us we will need at least two pews!"
Jim put out his arm towards Trixie. "Ms. Belden, may I have the pleasure of escorting you?"
"I would be honored, Mr. Frayne." Trixie took Jim’s arm and they were followed by Brian and Honey, Mart and Di, and Dan and Hallie. They were soon all seated in their pew in the beautifully decorated church. The pink and white clusters of roses and all the decorations were gorgeous.
Everyone turned his or her heads towards the back of the church as the sound of the Wedding March being played signified that the bride had arrived. Trixie caught her breath at the sight of Steph standing at the end of the aisle. She was absolutely radiant as she began to walk to where Jon was waiting for her. The look of love that they shared as they met brought a lump to Trixie’s throat.
She watched the ceremony unfold in front of her and as they recited their vows to each other Trixie found herself blinking back tears of joy. She felt something brush her hand and glancing down she saw Jim holding out a tissue to her. She gave him a tremulous smile as she took it and dabbed her eyes. She noticed as she did so that the love and joy surrounding them was similarly affecting Honey, Di, and Hallie as they were dabbing tears from their eyes also.
All of the guests burst into applause as Steph and Jon were introduced for the first time as husband and wife and began their walk back up the aisle to greet their guests. The Bob-Whites all chatted about how lovely the wedding had been while they waited to reach the receiving line. They finally reached the happy couple to offer their congratulations.
"Oh Steph, what a beautiful wedding. You look stunning." Trixe reached over to give Steph a hug. "Thank you so much for letting us be a part of your day. It has been so perfect I feel like I must be dreaming."
At Trixie’s words Steph broke out laughing. As Trixie, Jon, and the rest of those around them just stared at her puzzled by her outburst, Steph took a deep breath to calm her laughter.
"Trixie, you have no idea what you just said! Dreaming indeed." Steph continued to giggle, "I promise to tell you all about it later but for now I will just say that Trixie, you are not dreaming and thankfully, finally, neither am I!"
The End