*some violence
Taking Chances
By Diann
February 14
Manor HouseMatthew Wheeler straightened Jim's bow tie while Jim nervously fingered the small black velvet box in the right pocket of his tux pants. When the tie was perfectly aligned, Mr. Wheeler placed his hands on Jim's broad shoulders and looked into that face that was so much like his own.
Mr. Wheeler smiled at Jim. "Son, you're the most level-headed nineteen year old I've ever known. In fact, even more so than most of the adults I've known over the years. But as a father I still have to ask if you're sure about this."
Jim took the box out of his pocket and sat down on the edge of his bed, where his father joined him. He rubbed his fingers over the top of box that held the promise of his future. "Yes, Dad, I am. I've thought about it for several months now and I've worked everything out in my head. It's just time to put things into action now.
"I want to give Trixie this promise ring tonight after the dance. I know that I love her and I can't imagine my life without her. But I also know that we're too young to be engaged and thinking about marriage or making any kind of concrete plans. Plus I really feel like I need to spend my last year of college at UCLA to ensure that I can get into their Master's program. Their M.A. in Educational Administration is one of the best in the country and I'll need that kind of training to run my school.
"As soon as I'm finished with that, then I'll be back to start building the school and the future for Trixie and me. But in the meantime, I want her to know how I feel and to assure her that she means the world to me. I know I haven't done very well in that department in the past. It's just that I look at that cherubic face and my mind goes numb."
In a rare display of affection, Matthew gave his son a fierce hug and uttered a small chuckle. "Well, son, that's sounds like true love to me. There's some tough hombres in prison that would argue with your angelic description of Trixie." Matthew stood up and walked to the window to check the weather. It was a dark and stormy night--or least it had been. "It looks like a good time for you to make a run for it, Son. Looks like there's a break in the storm."
Crabapple Farm
Trixie had just put a touch of pink lip gloss on when she heard a soft knock at her door.
"Come in."
Helen Belden eased open the door. Tears immediately sprang to her eyes as she saw the vision of loveliness that was her daughter. She dabbed at her eyes with the corner of her yellow-checked apron. "Sweetheart, you are just beautiful. There are two very handsome men downstairs who are going to totally flummoxed when they see you."
Trixie smiled at her mother as she popped a Wintergreen Altoid mint into her mouth and picked up her small white evening bag from her dresser. "Flummoxed?! Oh, Moms, you've been hanging around Mart much too much lately! I do hope Jim likes the dress. We had such a good time picking it out for the Sweetheart Dance, didn't we, Moms? I'm glad you suggested I go for something other than my normal blue."
Trixie looked in the mirror and admired the white chiffon dress with the wide red satin ribbon around the waist that ended in a bow at the small of her back. The single strand of pearls she wore perfectly accented the modest scoop neckline. The petite size of the dress allowed Trixie to wear flat slippers, for which she was very grateful.
The two Belden women shared a heart-felt embrace.
Helen stepped back and patted Trixie on her shoulder. "I'd better get you downstairs before I muss you up. Turn around and let me make sure your bow is straight. You do have some quarters in your purse in case you need to use a pay phone, don't you?"
Trixie laughed. "Yes, Moms, and I have on clean underwear in case we have an accident and we're taken to the hospital! But I'll be with Jim. I don't think I'll be needing a pay phone."
"Well, it never hurts to be prepared."
Trixie stood behind her mother at the top of the steps looking down on the two men who were most dear in her life engaged in a serious conversation. Trixie had practiced all day what she was going to say to Jim that night. She knew it would either be the beginning or the end of their relationship, but she felt she had to know, especially since he was about to go away to school for at least two, possibly three years. Trixie knew that she loved Jim and that no one else would ever come close to him. His ideals and morals, sense of humor and adventure, his knowledge, and his good looks all blended to make Trixie's ideal man. Well, if it weren't for that little idiosyncrasy he had when it came to expressing romantic emotions.
The sound of Helen clearing her throat made both men look up.
"Ahem. Gentlemen, may I present Miss Trixie Belden." With that she stepped aside and Trixie came forward.
Peter's mouth flew open but the words caught in his throat. Jim's mouth went dry and his body trembled at the sight of her. Two sets of eyes watched in awe as Trixie seemed to float down the stairs.
Peter and Helen held on to each other as they saw Jim present a corsage to their beautiful daughter.
"Jim, thank you. This is so pretty! I think someone must have given you a hint that I wasn't wearing blue this evening. So would that someone please come help me pin this on?" Trixie asked, giving her mother a loving wink.
"Yes, please, Mrs. Belden. My hands are no good with small things and I'm afraid I would stab her with the pin. I would certainly hate to show up at the dance with my date bleeding!" Jim pleaded, not admitting that his shaking hands were the real problem.
Helen beamed as she removed the corsage of red sweetheart roses from where it nestled in the white and red tissue paper inside its container. Peter snapped a picture of Helen pinning it on the wide strap of Trixie's dress as Jim supervised.
Trixie and Jim sat on a bench in the hall outside of the school's gym, where the annual Sweetheart Dance of the Sleepyside Junior-Senior High School was being held. Trixie sipped her punch slowly, glad for the time to relax for just a moment and for the quiet time with Jim. It was also giving her time to summon up her courage to say what was on her mind.
The sounds of Dancing Queen came through the walls:
"You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen
Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen"Jim smiled and lightly touched the end of Trixie's nose. "That's you in that song, you know. You're young, sweet, seventeen and you've definitely been the Dancing Queen tonight. I think I'm going to have to rub liniment on my leg muscles as soon as I get home."
Trixie was too nervous to even attempt a smile. She mentally pumped herself up. "It's now or never, old girl. Go for it before you lose your nerve."
She turned to face Jim and took his hands in hers. "Jim, I, uh, well you know we've been close ever since we were young. Well, I know we're still both young, but since we were younger. Oh, darn, I'm getting this all mixed up from the start."
Jim felt like an oven door had just been opened and that rocks were growing in his stomach.
Trixie took a deep breath, drew their clasped hands to her lips and kissed the back of his hands. "What I'm trying to say, although not very well, is that I love you, I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and if you feel the same way, I'd like for us to begin tonight to make plans for our future together."
Trixie held her breath, her wide blue eyes searching his face for a clue to his response.
Jim was totally taken aback. Even though something similar was on his mind, he was in shock that she had taken the lead. "Well, uh, I, well…"
Trixie's heart slammed into a brick wall. She quickly released his hands and jumped up. "Oh my gosh! You don't feel the same. Oh no!" Trixie's face flushed as hot tears streamed down her face. Trixie jerked up her purse from the bench and turned to run.
Jim grabbed her by the shoulders. "Wait, Trixie, don't! Let me explain. I understand what you're saying. It's just that I have some other things to take care of."
Trixie whirled around to face him and jerked his hands away from her. "No, you don't have to explain anything. You don't have to say anything to me, ever again!"
Her tear-streaked face torn with grief and embarrassment was forever etched in his mind. The face that turned and ran from him and into the girls' locker room.When the Beldens arrived at the school that night, they found a panic-stricken Honey and Diana holding Trixie as she lay on the floor in the girls' locker room under the pay phone where she had called them from, sobbing uncontrollably and mumbling incoherently.
Three years later
Trixie sat cross-legged on her bed trying to make sense of the notes that had been mailed to Chief Molinson over the last month and a half. At 21 she was about to start her senior year of college and spending the third summer in a row as an intern for the Sleepyside Police Department. She was gaining experience and credits for college, plus earning a little pocket change.
Chief Molinson had just about thrown the first one away but something in the first note had caught Trixie's attention.
Revenge is sweet, not saccharine sweet but Honey sweet
The fact that the word Honey has been capitalized plus it twisted a phrase that she had only heard Mart use. She had talked Molinson into letting her keep it as an "Open and Active" file. When the second note arrived, he had actually had tossed an accolade her way. "Good spot, Belden. I agree with you that it looks like this might lead somewhere. The case is yours."
Trixie grinned as she recalled her reaction. She had just stood there like an idiot as Molinson had turned and walked away. "He agrees with me?" Trixie had asked out loud incredulously, drawing a smile from the desk sergeant.
The other notes arrived similarly: all in plain white envelopes with no return addresses, with the notes printed on plain white paper probably by a common laser jet printer. The only oddity was the stamps were always sideways, neatly placed and in alignment with the edges of the envelop but still sideways. Trixie had felt there was a definite Bob-White connection with the first one but the subsequent seven enforced that deduction:
Can you teach an old dog new Tricks? You better hope so.
Even Jungle Jim sometimes gets attacked by the animals.
Attention K-Mart shoppers! There's a blue light special in guns and knives.
The sounds of distant drumming say someone may have to Di.
If I only had a Brain. Oops, silly me, that's Brian, not brain.
Oh Danny Boy, I don't love you, love you so
Bob-Whites roasting on an open fire, red blood dripping out your nose
During the time the notes were arriving, little things were happening to the members of the Bob-Whites of the Glen but nothing overtly dangerous with no apparent link, if it hadn't been for the notes. Honey came out of the mall to find her car had been "keyed"--a key had been used to scrape down the driver's side, damaging the paint. Trixie and Di came back into the locker room after playing tennis at the country club and found that their lockers had been broken into and their clothes had been cut with scissors. Brian received a picture of an Irish setter with its head cut off. Dan's motorcycle was christened with fish heads. A dead quail had been duct-taped to the door to Mart's apartment and a few choice words had been spray painted underneath. Jim had called Honey to ask why she had mailed him a copy of the obituary column of The Sleepyside Sun since he had not recognized any of the names. He also told her that the jar of honey she had included in the package had arrived broken. Honey hadn't the foggiest notion about the package.
Jim. The very thought of him still caused Trixie great anguish. She leaned back against the pillows on her bed and closed her eyes, that too familiar feeling of her chest caving in making its return. Oh God, why does it still hurt so bad? It's been over three years. If I could just see him, just talk to him one more time.
Trixie never allowed herself more than 3.5 seconds of self-pity. She would have been a basket case otherwise. She jumped up and looked at her bedside clock.
"Let's see, Mrs. Moo Cow," she said to her stuffed friend. "It's 5:00 o'clock now. I need to be up at Manor House tonight at 7:00 for Honey and Brian's engagement party. So I guess I'd better put this stuff up and start getting ready. Oh, I guess I'd better call Honey to make sure the undercover officers have contacted her."
Although all the Bob-Whites knew about the notes and the potential for danger, she had not revealed to anyone her conclusions that the FBI profiler had labeled as "right on target." First, she felt that it must be someone who was inclined to performing arts, since several of the notes alluded to television shows, songs, and movies. The reference to guns, knives and blood and the incidences that happened made Trixie know that the person would resort to violence if necessary.
The sideways stamps were indicative of an eccentric personality. Her main concern was that, even though the perpetrator for some reason harbored ill feelings toward all seven of the Bob-Whites, it seemed apparent that he was particularly focused on Honey. For that reason, she had requested and received permission to use undercover officers from White Plains as guests at the party tonight.
Trixie punched in the number to Honey's direct line at the Manor House.
"Hey, Trixie!"
Trixie was momentarily stunned, thinking her friend has suddenly developed ESP, before remembering that Honey had recently added caller ID to her telephone service.
"How's the party plans going?"
Honey gave a short laugh. "Crazy as usual. But I'm so looking forward to the party tonight. I mean, the formal "adult" party next weekend will be nice, but tonight's will be with our friends and my family members who are my age. We can let loose, have some fun and do some dancing. Oh, speaking of which, it's been quite amusing seeing the caterers and the DJ butting heads. He'll set his speakers at just the perfect angle and the caterers will come through and move them just a touch to set up a table and he'll go nuts."
Trixie giggled at the mental image. "What was this fellow's name? Mart says he thinks maybe the guy was in school with us."
"He goes by DJ DaveMaster J but I don't think I remember seeing a full name. That's the way he signed the contract and insisted on being paid in cash."
"Have your cousins from Hartford arrived yet?" They had earlier agreed on that code for the undercover officers.
"They should be here around 5:30. They wanted to get here early to tour the house and stables since they've never been here."
Trixie and Honey continued with girl talk, what they were wearing and such, and hung up.
Tom Delanoy spotted the tall red-headed boy, check, make that man getting off the train and started walking toward him. As they reached each other, the two men embraced.
"Jim! It's so good to see you! My God, I can't believe it's been three years!" Tom said, grinning widely.
"You too, Tom. But with school and with all that happened, well, it was just difficult, you know?"
Tom could see the troubled look in Jim's eyes and threw his arm around Jim's shoulder. "Yeah, I know, but it's going to be much better. I can just feel in these old bones."
Jim poked Tom in the ribs with his elbow. "Old? Well, unless you've got some rare tropical jungle disease that's changed your aging process, I figure you're only 30, which to me is isn't too old."
The two men reminisced about the happy old times as they gathered up Jim's luggage and put it in the trunk of the Wheelers' Continental.
"So nobody suspected I was coming in tonight?" Jim asked after they got into the car.
"Nope, everyone thinks you're still in LA studying hard for your oral exams."
Jim wiggled his eyebrows. "So we pulled one over on them, huh? When I explained to my graduate committee that my sister was announcing her engagement to my best friend, they agreed to give my orals early. In fact, it helped them out as well, having one less to do next week."
"So how did you do, as though I can't guess."
"I passed 'em! I am so glad it's all over with, Tom. Now I can come home and start my life's dream." A dark shadow passed over Jim's face. "Well, at least part of my dream."
Tom didn't have to ask for an explanation. His heart ached for both Trixie and Jim. It had been a difficult period for everyone who loved and cared about them.
"Tom, please be honest with me. What happened with Trixie? My family tried to gloss things over and Brian and Mart tried to spare me as much as possible. They knew what I had planned for that night. Heck, I even asked for their blessing, but I had sworn them to secrecy. They knew I would never do anything to harm her, but Trixie is their sister and I knew they had to protect her as well. As a result, no one ever mentioned her. It was as if she didn't exist. Whenever I would ask how she was, they would answer 'fine' and immediately change the subject."
Tom eased the large sedan out of the parking lot and onto the main highway before answering Jim's question. His protective instinct wanted to let the whole thing drop, just call it water under the bridge, but there was something in Jim's tone that made him realize Jim truly wanted a straight answer.
"It was bad, Jim. Let's see, the dance was on Friday night and you left for UCLA on Sunday. You know that they took her from the school to the emergency room. Dr. Janice Dvorak was the doctor on duty that night, and she gave Trixie a sedative to calm her after Honey explained about how she was found and said she believed that the two of you must have had some kind of horrible disagreement. Dr. Dvorak wanted to keep her overnight but the Beldens were able to talk her into letting them take her home, especially since Brian would be there all weekend Dr. Dvorak stressed that Trixie must drink pretty of fluids and begin eating as soon as she was fully awake, or else she would take a turn for the worse and wind up back at the hospital.
"Trixie slept all day Saturday, woke up a little while Saturday night but refused to eat anything. She drank a swallow of water and then cried herself back to sleep. All night long she just kept moaning and crying out in her sleep, 'He doesn't love me, he doesn't want me.' Mrs. Belden was dozing in a rocking chair beside Trixie's bed when Trixie woke up around 9:00 Sunday morning. Mrs. Belden was more than ecstatic when Trixie asked for some orange juice.
"When Mrs. Belden came back upstairs with Trixie's juice, Bobby, who really didn't fully understand what was going on, stopped her outside Trixie's door. He asked if Trixie was better and then asked if you were coming to see her. Mrs. Belden explained that you had left earlier that morning going to California for a couple of years to go to school. Apparently Trixie overhead what was said and shrieked, 'No! No! No!' When Mrs. Belden reached her side, she was unconscious."
Tom could see the look of agony that engulfed Jim's face. "Jim, this isn't necessary, you know."
Jim mopped his face with his handkerchief. "Yes it is, Tom. I've got to know everything. My therapist tells me that I'll never have complete peace of mind until I face and come to grips with everything that happened." Jim paused and glanced sideways at Tom. "You didn't know about my being in therapy, did you? Well, not many people did, other than Mother and Dad. I never told Honey, but I suspect she knows. Please go on."
Tom winced as he recalled the events that happened next. "An ambulance was called and Trixie was taken to the hospital. She was admitted in a catatonic, dehydrated state. After extensive testing, Dr. Dvorak said there was no medical explanation for her condition, that it was just a continuation of her mental agitation."
Tom could see the tears rolling down Jim's face. "Please, Jim, just let it end here.
Jim shook his head. "No, finish, I have to hear the rest of it," he whispered hoarsely.
"Three days later Trixie regained consciousness and was allowed to go home under strict orders that she must drink plenty of liquids, eat, and agree to counseling. Trixie agreed and over the course of the next two weeks she became stronger but was still unable to return to school. The school board approved a home schooling program for Trixie and your parents insisted on paying for the private tutors and for the counselor. By the first of April Trixie was both physically and mentally ready to return to school and graduated at the end of May. She even made a B in Trigonometry that semester!"
That brought a smile to Jim's face, knowing how much Trixie hated math.
"Do you think Mr. and Mrs. Belden hate me, Tom?"
"Absolutely not, Jim. For a while, they never fully understood what had happened that night. They knew that something terrible had happened between you and Trixie, but they also knew that you would never hurt her physically or say anything cruel to her."
Jim's voice quivered as he asked the next question. "And Trixie, does she despise me now?"
Tom pulled into the parking lot of the Riverview Shopping Center and stopped the car. He turned in his seat to face Jim. "No, Jim, she doesn't. When they felt she was ready, Mart and Brian took her out for a horseback ride and talked to her. They betrayed your confidence, Jim, but under the circumstances, they felt you would understand. They told her about your plan for that night and about your plans for their future. When she began to cry, they nearly panicked, thinking they had sent her tumbling back into her black hole. But she began sobbing that she had ruined everything, how could she be so stupid, why had she let her temper ruin the best thing in her life.
On one hand, Mart and Brian were glad that she knew the truth and on the other, it was killing them to see her cry again. She took the blame for everything, Jim. There was no doubt in anyone's mind then and there's none now that she still loves you deeply. She just doesn't allow herself to think about it, and by an unspoken mutual agreement, no one mentions you to her."
Tom's revelations shook Jim to the core of his soul and he began to sob. Tom slid across the seat and held Jim in his arms, allowing Jim to flood the demons out of his body.
Jim finally was able to pull himself together. "Thanks, old friend. I appreciate your being here and helping me through this."
Tom smiled and asked, "And how are you now? You said you needed some help to get through it all."
Jim blew his nose and cleared his throat. "This has been the most difficult thing I've ever had to do. I'd suffer through another 20 years of Jonesy before I'd go through these past three years again. There's not a day that goes by that the look on her face with her tears streaking down her cheeks doesn’t haunt me, especially during those quirky summer showers where rain just seems to fall straight out of a clear blue sky.
"I couldn't eat or sleep and my grades were hovering around the D minus mark. I finally had to seek professional help. Dr. Bruch got me through some tough times and showed me how to handle the monsters in my past, the stress of school, and the uncertainties of the future. Dr. Bruch encouraged me to make this trip so that I could face Trixie and see if we couldn't work things out, even if that means we'll just remain friends."
Jim stopped and stared unseeing out the window for a moment before continuing.
"The one thing that Dr. Bruch encouraged me to do that I never could was date other people. I tried several times but no matter who I took out or where we went, after five minutes I was ready to go home. There's no one in the world like Trixie and I know that I will never love anyone like I do her. What about Trixie, Tom? Has she found anyone?"
"Yes, Jim, she did."
Jim's heart fell to his knees. He thought he was going to be physically ill but fought to keep himself under control.
"Yep, about eight years ago she found her perfect soul mate lying on a dirty mattress in a run-down mansion." Tom nodded at the illuminated clock on the dash. "Now, we'd better be getting on our way if you're going to be able to enjoy your sister's party."
Jim stood cloaked in the shadows and darkness of the veranda and watched the party in progress. A huge banner saying "Congratulations, Brian and Honey!" was hung by red streamers from the ceiling, and red, yellow, and blue streamers criss-crossed the ceiling and hung down the corners of the room. A rainbow of balloons were tied to tables, lamps, and to the back of each white padded guest chair brought in by the caterers. Two 12-foot long tables groaned under the weight of the party food, including meat, cheese and cracker trays; a selection of fruit; ham and turkey sandwiches; chicken fingers with dipping sauce; a multitude of desserts including walnut brownies, huge oatmeal-raisin cookies, and apple pie. On the opposite wall there was a separate taco and burrito bar and an ice-cream machine with a variety of topping. Tubs of canned soft drinks sat in convenient places throughout the room and a bar and bartender had also been provided.
He had spotted Honey first thing. How could he have not seen her. The golden glow that surrounded her would have lit up the house during a power outage. Her fiancé and his best friend Brian was just as happy. They were never more than six inches apart and never released their grip on each other. They were smiling and laughing, hugging and kissing, sometimes a part of the party and sometimes they never knew they were in a sea of well-wishers.
And yes, he had seen her. Her blond hair softly tumbling around her face, that smile that would melt the heart of the fiercest lion on the African plains. The pink in her shirt reflecting off her cheeks, enhancing the natural glow that always seemed to radiate from her. He saw that there was never a shortage of admirers but he also saw that she always politely turned and walked away if someone got too close or asked her to dance. He saw that she spent most of the evening with the other members of the BWGs--Honey, Brian, Mart, Dan, and Diana.
The fifty or so guests were having a blast. The continuous dance music and jive patter from the DJ kept everyone laughing and hopping on the dance floor. Jim's vantage point put him even with the DJ and Jim was quite fascinated with the electronic equipment and how fast he was able to switch CDs and tapes to keep the party lively. He laughed heartily when Honey, Di and Trixie tried to teach Brian, Mart and Dan the Electric Slide. He was glad the loud music covered for him.
If I had seen that guy on the street, I would have still known he was in the music business, Jim thought of the energetic fellow with the platinum-highlighted rooster-tailed hair and goatee, the purple sunglasses, and the groove-step in his walk as he would take the microphone out to the front of his platform and banter with the guests. He saw the DJ motion to a party-happy Mart and saw him whisper in Mart's ear. Mart then grinned, took a long swig of the red-colored fruit-laden beverage in his hand, and then high-five the DJ.
Well, I see Mart's favorite 'adult beverage' is still that War-Eagle Punch he learned to make when he took his summer seminar down at School of Agriculture at Auburn.
The music stopped and the partiers shouted their displeasure.
"Just hang on to your booties there, 'cause DJ DaveMaster J is turnin' the entertainment over to you. GET READY FOR KARAOKE! Come on and whoop it up for our first victim--Mart Belden!"
The guests started hollering and clapping and then starting chanting Mart's name.
Fortified from several glasses of War Eagle Punch, Mart leaped up on the platform and grabbed the microphone away from the DJ. "Okay, guys, if you are ready, I'm gonna' entertain you with a blast from the past, a golden oldie that'll make you sing along! Hit it, DaveMaster J!"
Three years of therapy nearly went down the drain as Jim recognized the opening strain of Dancing Queen. He grabbed hold of the door casing to steady himself. He looked in and saw Trixie staring at the speaker nearest to her. Oh my God, she's remembering too. Please, Trixie, hold it together, baby. Don't let it get to you. I swear I'm going to make all your hurt go away if you will take a chance on me.
His own words jolted a thought into Jim's mind. He called several times to the DJ to get his attention.
"Hey, man, what can I do ya' for?"
Jim explained what he wanted and the DJ responded, "No prob, man."
Jim's queasy stomach was telling him he had flown totally out of his tree for what he was about to do, but Jim kept consoling himself that he couldn't do any worse than Mart's howling through the old ABBA tune. But Mart wasn't fighting for the love of his life, either. Jim nervously gripped the wireless microphone the DJ handed to him and saw several of the guests look at the DJ inquisitively as he sat a chair in the middle of the dance floor.
"Yeah! Way to go, Mart!" The DJ shouted above the applause and cat-calls as Mart jumped off stage and made his way through the back-slapping crowd back to the taco bar. "Several copies of the song list are making their way through the crowd, so look it over and decide where your fortune is! While you're deciding, we have a mystery guest who's just arrived. He has a special song he wants to sing to a very special young lady!'
Trixie had just started toward the trash container with her plate and cup when she heard a tentative bass voice coming through the speaker system.
"If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me"Trixie dropped the plastic dishes, scattering cubes of ice and bits of uneaten sandwich and carrot sticks "No! It can't be!" Trixie's voice registering shock and uncertainty. Honey saw Trixie's reaction and raced to her side.
"It can't be Trix. He's at school, studying for his oral exams."
But the bass voice, getting stronger, was undeniable. And all doubts and questions were erased as Jim stepped in from the darkness of the veranda into the bright light of the room and walked straight for Trixie.
Trixie's emotional engine was running at 50,000 RPMs but she headed toward Jim, like a hummingbird drawn toward the sweet nectar of honeysuckle.
"If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try"The crowd parted and watched enchanted as Jim and Trixie moved toward each other. Jim reached his hand out for Trixie and she placed her small, trembling one in his sturdy but quivering one. He led her to the chair, where she sat and he got on his knees before her.
"Take a chance on me
That's all I ask of you honey
Take a chance on me
We can go dancing, we can go walking, as long as we're together
Listen to some music, maybe just talking, get to know you better
'Cos you know I've got
So much that I wanna do, when I dream I'm alone with you
It's magic
You want me to leave it there, afraid of a love affair
But I think you know
That I can't let go"
The rest of the Bob-Whites made their way to the scene and gathered in a semi-circle behind Trixie, each praying that this would be the rekindling of the love affair that should have never stopped.
"Oh you can take your time baby, I'm in no hurry, know I'm gonna get you
You don't wanna hurt me, baby don't worry, I ain't gonna let you
Let me tell you now
My love is strong enough to last when things are rough
It's magic
You say that I waste my time but I can't get you off my mind
No I can't let go
'Cos I love you so"
By now the other guests, sensing the magic in the air, had joined in the singing. Trixie's heart was singing a song of its own.
"If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best, baby can't you see
Gotta put me to the test, take a chance on me
Take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on meBa ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best, baby can't you see
Gotta put me to the test, take a chance on me
Take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on meBa ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa ba-ba
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me"As the last note of the song reverberated through the room, the BWGs joined hands and the crowd held its collective breath waiting for Trixie's response.
The room was eerily quiet as Trixie rose to her feet and pulled Jim up. She stood very still as the tears ran down her face, tears that finally washed away the hurt and turmoil of the past three years. She slowly raised her arms and encircled Jim's neck and buried her head into his chest. He ran his hands up and down her arms.
"Oh, Jim, I, Oh, Jim, I can't believe you're here," Trixie tried to whisper.
"Shush, baby, it's okay. We have the rest of our lives to talk about it," he crooned softly in her ear.
"I love you, Jim."
Jim threw his arms around Trixie's waist and lifted her off her feet and yelled, "She loves me! She still loves me!" The crowed cheered and clapped loudly as Brian, Honey, Mart, Dan and Diana closed in around, all seven unashamed of the tears and emotions being unleashed by the reunion.
"YOW! Another Kodak moment brought to you by DJ DaveMaster J! Okay, folks, I'm gonna take a little short pause for the cause and I'll be right back!"
Trixie's thoughts were bouncing inside her head like a box of overturned ping-pong balls.
"Jim, I thought I'd never see you again."
Jim was grinning so widely that his mouth began to ache at the edges, but he didn't care. His whole world was before him, this beautiful, wonderful lady still loved him. The miracle that was Trixie Belden. "Trixie, I'd like to quote a very wise woman. ‘What I'm trying to say, although not very well, is that I love you, I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and if you feel the same way, I'd like for us to begin tonight to make plans for our future together.’ So what do you say?"
It was Jim’s turn to hold his breath, his deep green eyes searching her face for a clue to her response. It was his turn to begin feeling that some giant gnarly hand had reached into his body and clutched his guts. That is, until that patented smile broke across her face.
"Yes, oh my heavens, Yes!"
"Jim.."
"Trixie.."
They both laughed and said, "You first." and then laughed again.
Jim took the lead. "Trixie, you’ve been ..Trixie? Trixie?" He had known Trixie long and well enough to recognize that distant look she had in her eyes.
Trixie held up her hand as a way to ask him to be silent for a moment as she tried to process the information that was being transmitted to her mind.
Take a short pause for the cause. Take a short pause for the cause. Why is that phrase sounding claxons inside my head? Trixie closed her eyes and allowed her mind to wander through its archives, searching for the answer. The image of the decorating committee for the Homecoming Queen’s float formed in Trixie’s mind. Oh, yeah, that scrawny twerp David Jancowsky kept saying that over and over, every 15 minutes so they would take a break. He kept wanting to go to the window of the gym because Honey’s P.E. class was outside playing volleyball. He had a huge crush on her, had even asked her to be his date to the football game, even though he knew she was dating Brian. David wrote a song for her and embarrassed the ying-yang out of her by playing his guitar and singing it to her in the middle of a crowded school hallway during class change.
David Jancowsky—musician. David Jancowsky--pitching a fit because the drape around the Queen's chair wasn't hanging perfectly. David Jancowsky—fixation on Honey. David Jancowsky—
"Holy cow! It's the DJ!" Trixie yelled, drawing strange looks from everyone in the room.
Jim, over the years, had grown used to Trixie’s sudden incomprehensible outbursts and calmly took Trixie by the hand. "Is there a problem?"
Trixie jumped up and looked wildly around the room for Honey and David but saw neither. She spotted Brian pulling two drinks out of a tub and dragged Jim across the room with her, the party guests giving her a wide berth. "Brian, Brian! Where’s Honey?"
Brian lifted one eyebrow and answered, "She said she wanted to step outside for a minute. She was so happy about you two.."
Trixie took off running toward the door. "Sorry! Excuse me! Oops! Pardon me!"
Jim and Brian were not a half a step behind her. "Trixie! What is it? Why do you need Honey? What’s the deal about the DJ?"
Trixie shoved the French doors open, causing them to bang against the house. She jerked her head back and forth, her trained eyes drinking in every detail of the moonlit lawn. "This way!" she screamed, pointing at a plastic cup lying on the grass, its dribbled-out contents turning the grass a funky shade of red-green.
The trio stopped short as a scream rang out from the area of the stables.
"Honey!" Brian yelled out in anguish.
"Brian, go back into the house and find the two undercover officers and bring them to the stable."
"But who are they, Trixie? Outside of our group and a couple of folks from the hospital, I don’t really know who most of these people are, other than being introduced to them tonight."
"They are posing as Honey’s cousins from Hartford. I don’t know who they are either. They must not have been in the room a while ago or they would have followed us out here. Just ask, Brian! Go!"
Brian sprinted back toward the house.
Jim grabbed Trixie by the hand. "Come on! We’ve got to help Honey!"
Trixie shook loose from Jim’s grasp. "No, Jim. You go call the police and let your parents know what’s going on. We don’t want them suddenly slapped in the face with the fact that Honey is in the clutches of a deranged man."
"But, Trixie.."
"Jim. I’m not a headstrong teenager anymore. This is what I’m trained to do, so please don’t argue with me now! For Honey’s sake!"
"Okay, Trixie! I’ll be down to the stables as soon as my mission is complete. But, be careful!"
Trixie couldn’t help but grin at the familiar admonition. A quick kiss on his cheek and she disappeared into the darkness.
Trixie eased up to the door of the stable and saw with horror the scene that was unfolding. Honey's ashen face spoke volumes of the sheer panic that totally enveloped her. David was standing behind her, his right leg wrapped around hers, his right hand holding a knife to her throat and his left hand caressing her face.
"Come on, Honey. You know how much I love you. I’ve loved you longer than Brian. He probably just wants your money. I’ve worshipped you ever since you moved here and I first saw you in Mrs. Smith’s English class. We’ll be so good together. I’ll make you proud of me. My band is going to be famous. We’ll travel all over the world together. They’ll be shouting for us, Honey, you and me."
Honey whimpered in total fear.
Trixie straightened up and stepped just inside the doorway, willing her body to move in a non-threatening manner. She spoke softly. "Hi, David. I thought I recognized you, although you’ve certainly changed since we decorated that float together." She stood about 20 feet away from David and Honey.
David lifted his glazed over eyes and stared at her. "Oh, so you want to be oh-so friendly now? Now that I’m taking away your best friend."
His words made Trixie’s blood boil but her training allowed her to remain calm. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Brian, Jim and the two undercover policemen inching toward her. She casually shifted her weight to the right side of the door frame so that her right hand was out of David’s view. She held up her hand and wagged it back and forth, signaling for them to stop and be quiet. She then nonchalantly stood up straight, drew in her arm so that he could see both hands plainly. Don’t give him any reason to hurt her.
"I’m sorry that you thought we were unfriendly in school, David. I mean, since we lived way out here, we really didn’t know anyone else but each other. I figured that someone as popular and as talented as you probably didn’t want to be friends with us country Beldens."
Trixie could see that they were standing in front of Jupiter’s stall and that Jupiter was becoming highly agitated.
"As a matter of fact, David, I think you’re right about Brian. I mean, he is my brother and everything, but I’m not sure he really loves her." Honey, please understand what I’m trying to do here. Trixie stepped inside and to the left two steps.
David clutched Honey’s throat a little tighter, causing her gasp in pain. "Whoa right there! Don’t you come any closer! I will cut her and cut her bad!"
Trixie slid sideways a bit more, causing David to twist their entwined bodies to the right so that he could see Trixie.
"But David, if you love her, why do you want to hurt her?"
David’s confused look allowed Trixie to step forward. When Jupiter let out a gruff whinny, David twisted his head around, letting Trixie move a bit closer.
David turned his head back and growled, "I don’t want to hurt her but I’ve got to make her see that it’s me that she needs."
Trixie could see the gleam of discontent in Jupe’s eyes. Trixie held out her hands, palms turned up. "Then give me the knife, David. That way you won't accidentally hurt her. Then you can leave. Her car is right outside and she always leaves her keys in it."
Honey's eyes were beginning to lose their light. Trixie prayed that her friend would find the inner strength to hang on.
Trixie took a quick step forward. David jerked them back into the door of Jupiter's stall. Jupiter had had enough of this intrusion and head-butted David. Startled, David threw open his arms and lurched forward. It was the opening Trixie needed.
She lunged forward, simultaneously pushing Honey out of the way and slamming the left side of her body into David's right arm. "Jim! Jim!" she cried out. Before David could recover, she crooked her left arm and rammed her elbow into David's stretched out abdomen.
Trixie quickly stepped aside as he dropped the knife, clutched his stomach, and fell to the floor, gasping in pain.
In a flash, Jim, Brian, and the two undercover officers were inside the stable. Detective Smouse flipped David over onto his stomach, pulled his arms behind him, and clicked handcuffs onto David's wrists while Officer Debras read him his rights.
Officer Smouse hauled David to his feet and looked at Trixie. "Good takedown, Belden. If you get tired of working with Molinson, you've got a standing offer from White Plains Detective Division."
The grandfather clock announced to the quiet house that it was 1:00 a.m. but time had no meaning for the two who were snuggled so close together on the library sofa. Trixie nestled contentedly against Jim, her arms around his waist. His right hand was holding her hand that wore a beautiful gold promise ring, his left hand affectionately playing with her hair.
"You know most hearts go lub-dub, lub-dub, but mine's different you know," Jim said in a low voice.
"Yeah? How's that?
"Mine goes, I-love, Trix-ie, I-love, Trix-ie."
The End