*All Ages
When It’s Meant to Be
by Erika
Trixie Belden, aged twenty-six, rushed to her apartment in downtown Sleepyside. She just had enough time to shower and change to attend her best friend and business partner in the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency, Honey Wheeler’s engagement party to her brother, Brian.
When she got out of the shower she reflected on how Brian and Honey had suddenly arrived home from a getaway to New York City and announced their engagement and that they were going to be married in two months. The engagement party was that night, the bridal shower two days later and the wedding itself nine days later. She knew that Honey’s wealthy parents would have loved to give her a huge wedding but she and Brian had wanted to be married right away.
After she was ready and looked at herself in the mirror one last time she thought of seeing her old friend and Honey’s older brother, Jim Frayne for the first time in almost three years.
Jim had moved to Los Angeles to teach at a school there to gain valuable experience in order to be ready to open his own school someday soon.
They had been friends for thirteen years. There had always been an underlying romantic current between them and many almost kisses and almost starts but it had never amounted to anything. Trixie had never been able to get the courage to say anything to him. She knew it was probably too late because she knew he had a very serious girlfriend back in L.A. and braced herself to meet her that night at the engagement party.
She still had the id bracelet he had given her all those years earlier but kept it in a jewelry box most of the time, only taking it out to look at it and remember every once in awhile.
She also knew he was planning to spend the summer in Sleepyside and last she heard this woman was coming with him. Honey had admitted that everyone was kind of expecting an engagement announcement from them.
Her date for the evening was Honey’s cousin, Ben Riker. They had surprised themselves by becoming good friends and as a lawyer in Sleepyside, he had helped her and Honey with the legal aspects of their detective agency. She had been involved with someone herself but they had had a nasty breakup. She couldn’t pinpoint the reason but suddenly she had felt it wasn’t right.
She felt bad about her breakup with Kevin but was glad that she had realized they weren’t meant to be before they had made any kind of commitment to each other.
She also couldn’t wait to see the other Bob-Whites at the party. Her other brother, Mart was teaching agricultural science at the local university. His girlfriend, Di Lynch was the curator at the art museum already at twenty-six. Their other friend, Dan Mangan was working his way through the ranks of detectives in Sleepyside and dating her cousin, Hallie who was a nurse at Sleepyside Hospital.
She couldn’t help but be extremely happy for Honey and Brian. Brian was just finishing his residency at Sleepyside Hospital and would join the pediatrics staff as an attending while waiting to someday become the resident doctor at Jim’s school.
Meanwhile Jim landed at Westchester County airport and took a cab to Manor House. He was pretty depressed about the recent breakup of his relationship with Kelly Aames, who he had thought was possibly the woman of his destiny. She had broken up with him by saying "Jim, you’re heart is not with me. For the last few weeks since your sister announced her engagement all you’ve talked about is how you can see your old friend, Trixie Belden, again. Before we could ever commit ourselves to each other you have to figure out where you and she stand."
He hadn’t told his family about their breakup yet but since the breakup he had realized that Kelly was right. She was not the woman for him. He also couldn’t help but think of the fact that his only serious girlfriend in his life had been blonde with blue eyes like Trixie.
He opened his wallet and out fell a picture of the Bob-Whites taken at his going away celebration. He saw all the old gang most of which he hadn’t seen since he left. He had only seen Honey and Brian who had come out to visit him a year earlier. He always kept that picture with him for when he was lonely.
He also knew Trixie was involved with a guy named Kevin last he heard from Honey. He wondered where that stood. Well, he had all summer to figure that out.
When he arrived at Manor House he saw all the engagement party preparations were in full swing. Honey rushed to greet him, looking gorgeous in a beautiful yellow dress and hugged him and asked, "Where’s Kelly? I thought she was coming with you!"
Jim didn’t want to put a damper on anyone’s happiness so he said, "She was suddenly called away and couldn’t come. Perhaps she’ll be here later this summer but she sent her apologies and best wishes to you and Brian."
At least that part was true. Kelly had even sent a present with him to give them. Honey had liked Kelly who she and Brian had met when they were visiting L.A.
He greeted his parents and Brian then and then hurried upstairs to shower and change into his suit and was downstairs just in time to join them all in greeting the guests.
Trixie and Ben were among the last to arrive. Jim was stunned to see them and was speechless when he saw how beautiful Trixie was. Of course she had always been beautiful but now she really had become a beautiful adult.
She dazzled him with a brilliant smile when she saw him and he walked over to her and Ben and they shared a brief hug and then he shook Ben’s hand.
Trixie asked, "Where’s Kelly? I was looking forward to meeting her tonight."
Jim said, "She couldn’t come at the last minute because of an emergency. She may come out later this summer. I thought you were seeing someone named Kevin."
"We broke up. Ben and I are just here as friends who didn’t have a date tonight. How have you been, old friend?"
"Really good. I really am looking forward to spending the summer here. I even have an offer on the table from Sleepyside Elementary to come there and teach this coming school year so maybe I’ll stay here. I miss everyone and everything here. Honey has told me the agency is really coming along great! I can’t wait to stop by the offices next week-- if I’m invited."
"Of course you are! Although Honey won’t be there next week. She’s off next week and then for three weeks during the honeymoon in Ireland. Maybe we can do lunch or something. Give me a call and we’ll set it up."
She and Ben headed over to say hello to the Wheelers and then her parents. They had an easy banter and Ben could see with the quick look that passed between Trixie and Jim that the romantic feelings he had begun to have towards her were probably hopeless especially if Jim decided to stay in Sleepyside and broke up with Kelly. But he had always known that she belonged with Jim of course.
He remembered making the comment about the ring many years earlier and smiled to himself.
The party was really a lot of fun. Everyone was so happy for Brian and Honey and over thirty people made toasts when the time came. Mr. and Mrs. Belden said that Honey had always been like another daughter to them and now it would be official.
Honey had sometimes always felt that she was closer to Mrs. Belden than she was to her own mother although they had become closer in recent years. Mr. Wheeler was semi-retired now and they were both home a lot more.
The next day Saturday and Trixie went into the office for a little bit and while she was there Jim called and said "I’ve been trying to reach you and ask when would be a good time next week for my office tour and lunch?"
Trixie said, "Monday would be great. Stop by about 11:30 and I’ll give you the grand tour. How about Wimpy’s for lunch for old times sake?"
"I was hoping you’d suggest that. I was looking forward to having one of their burgers again after all that tofu out in California. Brian told me that Mike still owns the place. He and Honey caught me up on all the news over breakfast this morning. I’ll see you then. I look forward to it."
"Me too. We can talk and it will be just like old times."
They hung up both with smiles on their faces and Trixie whistled to herself as she finished off her work and then headed home. Jim went off to run some errands for his parents and then went back to Manor House for dinner with Honey and his parents.
The next day was Honey’s shower at Crabapple Farm given to her by Mrs. Belden and Trixie. They had a lot of fun and Honey received all the things that she still needed, including a frilly nightgown and Mrs. Belden made a comment about wanting grandchildren soon.
Honey blushed and said, "We think we’re going to wait a little while but you won’t have to wait too long, I hope! Maybe a year and a half or so."
After cake and ice cream, Trixie drove Honey back to Manor House where she still lived with her parents. Mrs. Wheeler and Mrs. Belden were going to stay there and have coffee.
Trixie had gotten up the courage to move into her own apartment a few months earlier and after growing up with three brothers she was happy to be out on her own. Honey, knowing she and Brian were moving towards marriage had decided to stay with her parents until they were married. Brian had a nice apartment in Sleepyside but they were being traditional and wouldn’t move in together until they came back from their honeymoon.
When they arrived in Manor House, Honey noticed Trixie get out her compact and check her makeup before going inside with her. She knew that, although Trixie wouldn’t admit it in a million years, she was hoping to see Jim there and wanted to look her best.
They started to get everything out of the car and Jim rushed out to help them and they had a lot of banter as they took everything inside.
There they found Brian who also came out to help them sort through what would go back to his apartment. Most of Honey’s presents were things for her so she would have them at the house to pack for the honeymoon.
Suddenly Brian said, "It would be real cool for us to all go to my place, order pizza and talk about old times. It’s been a long time since we’ve done that. Our parents are all having dinner together tonight, Mart and Di are going to a movie and Hallie is with Dan in New York."
Trixie said, "That’s the best idea I’ve heard in years. I really miss our old get-togethers. I have another idea. How about we go to the old clubhouse for old times sake?"
Honey said, "Bobby and the Lynch twins have really kept it nice over the years. Isn’t it hard to believe that Bobby, Larry ,and Terry graduated high school last weekend? And that the girls will be Juniors next year? It would be fun to visit. I still go there sometimes when I need to think or something."
Trixie said, "Me too," and Brian then admitted that he did also.
They decided to walk over to the old clubhouse and walking in brought back so many memories and they all started talking, remembering all the good times they had shared there. They decided that they would definitely have to have a full club reunion meeting there someday soon-- maybe a short one once Dan and Hallie came back to town on Thursday.
After they were done they decided to stop and pick up Wimpy’s instead of ordering pizza. They walked in and Mike greeted Jim with a handshake. Jim said, "I knew I didn’t really want to wait until Trixie and I go to lunch tomorrow to eat some Wimpy burgers!"
They ordered the food to go and then headed to Brian’s apartment where they all had a wonderful evening, just the four of them. It was just like old times when Jim made room on the couch for Trixie to sit next to him and she did as Brian and Honey exchanged a look between them. Jim had confided in Brian about his breakup and he had told Honey but they really hadn’t had a chance to talk about it and Trixie didn’t know yet.
The subject didn’t come up as they spent most of the evening with more reminiscing and laughter. Then they talked about the wedding, the school and the agency along with Brian’s residency being over. Jim said that he was thinking he would be ready to open the school in two years.
When the subject came back to the wedding, Jim said, "I always knew that you two would be the first to marry, especially since you were the first to officially become a couple."
Honey said, "I always thought it would be you and Trixie actually, Jim." She immediately wished she could take the words back.
Trixie said, "We never moved beyond friendship. Everyone always thought we were in love but we’ve always been just friends. It’s you guys and Mart and Di and Dan and Hallie who are the couples. Jim, last I heard you were practically engaged to Kelly so I guess I’ll be the only single one left!"
Jim said quietly, "Trixie, actually Kelly and I broke up before I came here. I was originally going to wait until after the wedding to say anything but I wound up telling Brian who told Honey."
"I’m sorry, Jim. I really put my foot in my mouth. Sometimes I think I just open my mouth in order to change my feet in it." She was blushing with embarrassment.
"As long as I’ve known you, you’ve always had good things to say and the right thing to say."
That made Trixie blush even more and Honey quickly changed the subject to more wedding talk. Jim said he was going to have a fitting for his groomsman’s tuxedo the next morning and was honored to be included in the wedding even though he hadn’t had much time to help out being so far away.
When the party ended, Trixie offered to give Jim a ride to Manor House but Honey said, "I can drive him since I’m going home anyway. You want to get to the office anyway in the morning earlier and it’s almost midnight!"
Trixie said, "Well, then it’s bye and Jim, I’ll see you tomorrow morning at the office at 11:30, that’s if you still want to have lunch after my little faux pas earlier."
Jim said, "I definitely want to see you. 11:30 it is. I’ve really been looking forward to it and don’t worry about what you said. It was fine."
Trixie went off and as soon as she had left Honey kissed Brian goodnight and then she and Jim were off to Manor House. Finally Jim noticed Honey’s restlessness and said, "Out with it. What do you want to know, little sister?"
"What do you feel about Trixie? I sense that there is something having to do with her behind your breakup with Kelly. All you told me was it didn’t work out between you but I think there’s something more to it than that."
"I really don’t know what’s going on with Trixie to tell you the truth. I do know that seeing her again has reawakened those old special feelings I always had for her. I don’t know, maybe it’s too late and I have no idea how she feels about me."
"I think she still has feelings for you. What you had as teenagers was pretty special even though you never had any dates or anything besides going out with the rest of us. Why didn’t anything ever happen?"
"I don’t know. We went to college separately and then right after she graduated college I moved to L.A.. It seemed that every single time before when we had a chance to get together, something would happen. Maybe something will happen this summer. I have until August 1st to make my final decision on teaching here next year. If I don’t, the teacher that was going to retire will stay another year. And L.A. has a replacement for me lined up among the substitutes if I decide to stay."
Honey said, "I think it would be great if you stayed here. And remember, I’m a detective so if you ever want me to talk to Trixie and feel her out for you, I will."
They headed inside where they talked some more about the wedding and then went to bed.
The next morning Jim arrived at the Belden-Wheeler detective agency carrying a bouquet of flowers for Trixie and she gave him the tour. He was very impressed and then asked, "Since I know Honey is taking Brian’s last name, are you going to change the name of the agency to Belden-Belden or just the Belden detective agency? Or are you going to wait to get married?"
Trixie laughed and said, "We’re going to change it officially when they get back from their honeymoon. And as far as having to make a change down the road if I get married, that’s about as likely to happen as pigs landing on the moon. I think I’m destined to be the favorite aunt of Brian, Mart and Bobby’s children and be a spinster in my eighties living with tencats."
Jim laughed. "Somehow, I can’t picture that. You have too much love to give to be single forever. Let’s go to lunch. Even after last night, my stomach is crying out for a Wimpy burger and saying feed me Wimpy's!"
Trixie laughed again."I eat there almost every day still and still I love them every time I eat one. Let’s go, I’m famished!"
They walked over to Wimpy's and had a great time talking about Brian and Honey’s wedding, his teaching and the agency. They wound up being there for several hours, drinking cola after cola and Trixie never made it back to the office except to pack up her things from the day and make a couple of calls.
The next few days were all busy with the wedding preparations and final arrangements. The agency closed down on Wednesday afternoon so Trixie could fully concentrate on her maid of honor duties. Business was slow anyhow, as usual at the start of the summer.
On Thursday the group from Iowa arrived. Uncle Andrew had settled there for good but kept his place in the Ozarks.
He had finally fulfilled his dream of opening up a restaurant and Bob and Barbara Hubbell sang there. Barbara and Ned Schultz were dating pretty seriously and Bob was actually dating Dot Sloane, the girl that Jim had spent time with all those years earlier when they were visiting Iowa.
On the night before the wedding, everyone gathered at Crabapple Farm after the rehearsal for a big party and to help Brian and Honey get over last minute wedding jitters.
Brian said, "I’m still really nervous but this is right and what I’ve been dreaming of since that day Mart and I came home early from camp and I saw the girl of my dreams had moved in next door."
Honey kissed him and admitted that she had fallen for him immediately, too.
The party naturally broke up by midnight since Honey and Brian had to be separated by then or else risk bad wedding day luck as they finished the party by gathering around the piano for an old fashioned sing along as Di played. They sang "Chapel of Love", and "Wedding Bells (Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine)".
After that song was done Honey started singing, "I’m getting married in the morning, church bells for me are going to chime," and she and Brian finished the song together. Everyone joined in for some parts and when they were done with that, Brian started "The bells are ringing for me and my gal, the birds are singing for me and my gal."
When he was done they thought it was very sweet but decided that as a singer he really made a great doctor.
The party broke up with everyone talking and laughing and looking forward to the wedding ceremony at 11:30 the next morning.
They were being married at the Sleepyside Community Church with a reception at the country club. Early that morning all the women gathered in one dressing room and there was a flurry of excitement and nerves as they all helped turn Honey into a gorgeous bride. Her dress was of pure white silk and lace with a matching white tulle veil. Her attendants all were in yellow silk dresses.
After helping Honey get ready Trixie headed out to the vestibule to go get a drink of water and saw Jim standing there.
"You look really beautiful, Trixie."
Trixie blushed. "You look handsome yourself. This sure is a perfect day for a wedding and I’m so happy for Honey and Brian. They are meant to be together."
Jim nodded. "I couldn’t agree more. I’m going to go and wish my sister luck. I’ll see you a little later."
He went off to the dressing room and Trixie went into the other dressing room to say hello and good luck to Brian and suddenly it was 11:30 and time for the ceremony to begin.
They had a short and simple wedding ceremony, adding their own personal vows to the traditional ceremony along with some singing from Bob and Barbara Hubbell, who had come in from Iowa. Finally Honey and Brian were pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Brian Belden and their married life began!
The reception was a lunch at the country club and was a lot of fun. There were many beautiful toasts from their friends and family and they had their first dance as a married couple. It all ended about 4 in the afternoon as they had to leave for the airport and were off to their honeymoon in Ireland.
Before they left, Honey threw her bouquet. Everyone was right as they suspected she threw it at Trixie, who tried to avoid it but she caught it anyway, meaning that she was the next girl to be married. Then Jim caught the garter meaning he was the next man to be married.
Then they were off in a shower of rice and flower petals and everyone shouting, "Good bye! Have a great time in Ireland!"
Afterwards Trixie invited the rest of the Bob-Whites to her apartment. She gave them time to get changed saying be there at 6:30 so she'd have her own time to set up everything. They could order in dinner and have leftover wedding cake if anyone felt like eating after the delicious wedding food. Everyone accepted saying it was a good way to wind down after such a wonderful wedding.
Trixie hurried home and immediately took a quick shower and changed into jeans and a blouse. She still hated dresses even though the dress had been beautiful and really nice on her. She was beginning to discover that blue wasn’t her only good color.
At 6:00 the bell rang and she answered it and it was Jim, the first to arrive.
He said, "Sorry I’m early. With my parents out to dinner with your parents for a little post wedding parents' party and Honey off, Manor House seems awfully huge right now. I see some things never change as you already have gotten out of your maid of honor dress. But you still look beautiful."
Trixie blushed and said, "Thanks. Maybe you can help me set out some colas in the cooler. I also have the leftover food from the wedding reception in the fridge. We can put out some of the food on the dining room table."
Jim helped her and then asked for a tour of her apartment. She gave him one. "It’s not much," she told him. "I don’t need much being single."
He said, "It’s much nicer than the place I had in L.A. That was just a studio with a bed, desk, couch and TV pretty much besides the kitchen and bathroom. If I go back there this fall I definitely will get a new place."
They bantered for a few more minutes and then the others all started to arrive. They had a great time and everyone noticed that Trixie and Jim seemed to be getting closer but didn’t say anything thinking that they might be embarrassed and the party broke up at 11:00 with everyone going home because they had tired out from the wedding.
The next three weeks were very hectic for everyone. Jim decided to put some research into his school and made the decision to have it in Sleepyside and also decided that he wanted to try and open it the next fall. He turned in his notice to L.A. that he wasn’t coming back and accepted the job in Sleepyside for the coming school year.
He took Trixie to dinner and told him his plans. She said she was very happy that he was staying in Sleepyside since she hadn’t realized how much she liked talking to him and spending time with him still until he returned.
When the band started, he asked, "May I have this dance, Miss Belden?"
She said, "I thought you’d never ask."
They went out on the dance floor and soon found they enjoyed dancing together as much as they used to. They then discovered that their feelings were much stronger for each other than they thought as they gazed deeply into each other’s eyes as they danced to several songs and then went back as their dessert was served.
A few days later the day before Brian and Honey returned from their honeymoon, Mr. Wheeler asked Jim to meet him at his office. When Jim came in he sat him down and said he was afraid that he had some bad news about his inheritance.
Jim started to really worry and then was shocked when Mr. Wheeler said, "To be honest I haven’t really gone over the papers since we adopted you and never noticed this provision. It says you have to be married to inherit the money and I know you need it quickly in order to get the ball rolling on the school. The good news is with good investments and interest it’s actually well over two million dollars now. Do you have any idea of what you’re going to do? You have to be married at least six months to collect the money."
Jim said, "This is a total stunner. I had no clue."
He was very upset because he knew he needed the money soon to be able to do much of the work needed. He didn’t know what to do or say about it.
Mr. Wheeler said, "Did you think about maybe, I know this sounds absolutely crazy, talking to Trixie about it? Maybe she’ll marry you for the six months. You’re good friends, I think that you could make it work for that length of time and who knows, maybe by the time the six months are over, you’ll decide that you want to stay married."
"That does sound crazy. I’ll think about it. She’s at a meeting about her current case all day today so I won’t see her until tomorrow night at Brian and Honey’s welcome back party."
He left the office in a daze and thought to himself about the possibility. He had already begun to think about marrying her for love down the road, but for his inheritance? Well, he’d see what he could figure out but he really wanted to get everything started and he didn’t want to ask his father to float a loan until he got married since he never knew when that might happen.
The next evening, Trixie noticed that Jim seemed unusually quiet and seemed to be looking at her strangely. Finally, when everyone had left Brian and Honey’s apartment but Trixie and Jim, Jim said, "Brian and Honey, if you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to you all about something. Trixie, you’re a part of this, too."
They all sat around him and he explained the problem and when he was done, Trixie said, "There’s one easy solution. I’ll marry you. It will be only for six months and we could have a lot of fun. That’s if you’d accept the offer."
"Only if you’re absolutely sure. If you really want to, I’d like to be married in a few days, as soon as we can put something together and I also think we should be honest with our other friends and families about this. How about just going down to city hall?"
"That sounds like a great idea."
They discussed the logistics a little later and then called everyone and invited them to a meeting at Brian and Honey’s apartment the next evening.
Jim said, "I still want you to know that you are free to change your mind whenever you want to."
The next evening Trixie and Jim were the first to arrive and Trixie said "Jim, I’ve given this a lot of thought. I still want to marry you."
As soon as everyone was gathered at the apartment they dropped their bombshell and explained everything. Everyone said it sounded like the only thing they could do and then talked about wedding plans. It would be three days later, on July 1st. They would be married at City Hall with a small party at Manor House afterwards.
Trixie decided right away she would wear a simple blue suit since she wanted to save her mother’s dress for a real wedding. The next three days were spent in final preparations. They would live in Trixie’s apartment with her study being turned into a bedroom for him. They had to make appearances right in case anyone decided to check up on them to verify that they were really married according to the terms of the will.
On the night before the wedding Jim moved his things into Trixie’s apartment and some of their friends came over to help them unpack everything. He spent that night in his room after they had another long talk with him insisting she could still back out.
The next morning he made breakfast for them and then they nervously went off and got dressed, she in a blue dress and he in a black suit and then were off for City Hall.
When they arrived they found all their friends and family there and they were married in a simple but nice ceremony. They shared a light kiss on the cheek at the end and then were off to a small party at Manor House.
The next six months seemed to fly by for them and slowly they fell in love with each other. They liked the idea of staying married forever but since neither of them said anything to each other about how they truly felt they assumed it was going as planned.
They were both secretly miserable even though they put on a brave face and the papers went to the lawyers to be prepared a couple of days before Christmas.
Christmas was nice that year as they had the traditional Christmas Eve party at Manor House and then the Christmas Day open house at Crabapple Farm with midnight service at the community church in between.
Everyone noticed the way Trixie and Jim looked at each other and wondered why the annulment was still going to happen.
Two days before New Year's, Kelly arrived in town unexpectedly saying she had gone to see family in the area for Christmas and Trixie was extremely jealous when she and Jim went to breakfast together the next morning.
Over breakfast Jim told Kelly that whatever they had couldn’t be rekindled because he had realized that he loved Trixie and didn’t want the annulment to happen.
Kelly said, "I think I always knew that and best of luck to both of you. Remember to send me a birth announcement or two or three when the time comes. You're a great guy and deserve all the happiness that you can have."
That morning the annulment papers arrived in the mail. Trixie knew that Jim was going to Honey and Brian’s after breakfast to go over some school business so Trixie decided to head over there to present him with the papers and get it over with.
Jim had gotten into a conversation with Brian and Honey about who he loved and his breakfast with Kelly. He poured out his heart and didn’t notice the front door open as he finally blurted out, "I love her, I love her with all my heart."
It was Trixie who opened the unlocked door and dropped the papers to the floor. She asked quietly, "Who do you mean?"
Jim walked over to her and said, "How could you even ask? I just poured out my heart to Brian and Honey and told Kelly everything over breakfast this morning."
"I guess that means you still love Kelly. By the way, the annulment papers are right here. I’m ready to sign them and you’ll be free to marry her."
Jim decided not to say anything about being really in love with her since she obviously wanted to sign the papers and get their marriage over with.
She walked over to the table and put the papers down and as she was about to sign them she suddenly burst into tears. Sensing something was about to happen, Brian and Honey silently left the room but watched from the other room.
Jim walked over to her and said, "What’s wrong?"
Trixie said, "I guess it just hit me. This is not what I want. I love you."
Jim took the papers and ripped them into shreds and then took her in his arms and said, "Trixie, it’s you I love. That’s what I was telling Brian and Honey and told Kelly this morning. We belong together, we always have."
They kissed again and Trixie said, "Thank God, we finally let it out. Let’s go home and celebrate."
Jim said, "And let’s have a real wedding. How does Valentine’s Day sound? But also, let’s go away for a week or so together for a honeymoon. We never had one. I’ll talk to my Dad about using the ski lodge on Mead’s Mountain."
Trixie said, "That sounds perfectly perfect. Honey and Brian you can come in now. I know you’re dying to!"
Honey and Brian walked in and hugged and kissed them and then Jim said, "Please keep this a secret. I think it would be cool to make a big announcement tomorrow at the New Year’s party at the country club. Consider us to have a big Do Not Disturb sign on us!"
Trixie and Jim left walking home together and spent the next twenty-four hours celebrating being in love and being married and their new life together.
Meanwhile, Mr. Wheeler called the Beldens the next day and told them that he had found out that Trixie and Jim would receive the papers the day before and they were all worried that all they got was the answering machine when they tried Trixie and Jim’s apartment.
Mr. and Mrs. Belden also worried and Mrs. Belden said, "I really don’t think this is what they really want and I was surprised when they filed."
The others agreed and decided to wait to see what would happen at the party.
When Trixie and Jim arrived late to the big party they found all their friends and family there, so they went to the middle of the ballroom and called for everyone’s attention.
When everyone was looking at them, Jim announced, "Many of you know that Trixie and I were supposed to get an annulment. Well, to make a long story short, we came to our senses and decided that our marriage is forever. We’re deeply in love and would like to invite you on Valentine’s Day to join us as we are married for real!"
Everyone surrounded and congratulated them. Jim asked his father about Mead’s Mountain and he said it would be fine. Mr. Belden asked them if they would like to have the vows at Crabapple Farm and they said yes and Trixie asked if she could wear her mother’s wedding dress and Mrs. Belden said. "You better! I’ve been saving it for all these years!"
The party was wonderful and everyone had a good time. Everyone was very happy for Trixie and Jim as they were obviously very much in love and definitely belonged together.
They went to Mead’s Mountain a few days later and had a wonderful week there and then returned to Sleepyside to prepare for their "real wedding".
When they had had their other wedding they had called out of town family and friends and explained everything to them and everyone was very happy when they called them to tell them that they were having a real wedding and wanted everyone to come. Everyone said that they wouldn’t miss it for the world so the last week before the wedding was full of arrivals and happy preparations and excited talk about the wedding plans and the future.
On the morning of Valentine’s Day, Jim woke up to find Trixie dressed and ready to leave.
He said, "The wedding isn’t until six. I thought we were going over there about one to help get everything ready."
Trixie said, "I have an appointment in town. I will be back in a little bit. This came up and they can get me in right now and it’s really important. I need to find out some important information."
"Is it about the case you’re working on that you told me about?"
"No, but I don’t want to tell you anything yet until I know more." She kissed him and was off for her appointment.
Jim worried as he ate breakfast and read the morning paper. She hadn’t really been feeling well for a week or so. He answered the phone and it was Mrs. Belden asking for Trixie and he explained that she was gone for an appointment.
Mrs. Belden said, "That’s a surprise on this of all days. It must have been something she couldn’t change. Well, we’ll see you here about one o’clock then."
Finally Trixie got home from her appointment and Jim could tell that she was glowing. It had taken her longer than expected and it was 11:30 when she got back.
Jim said, "If you were much later I might have gone off without you."
Trixie said, "You have to marry me now. We’re pregnant!"
Jim sat down in surprise and then took her in his arms and she sat down on his lap and he was stunned speechless as she said, "That’s where I went today--to have a pregnancy test and also, a first checkup with my obstetrician, Dr. Lieber. The baby is due in October. I’m so happy. This is so perfect. You open your school next January, finally, so we’ll have three months after the baby comes."
He put his hand on her stomach and said, "Wow, there’s a baby in there! How are you feeling? I did notice you not feeling all that great the last week or so and was worried."
Trixie said, "Besides a little queasiness, it’s been fine. I just tire easily but Dr. Lieber says it’s perfectly natural and will probably last the first three months."
They kissed and talked about their ceremony and soon it was time and they headed over to Crabapple Farm to get ready.
They spent the afternoon decorating the living room with flowers and candles everywhere and chairs for the guests who would surround them in a circle with an aisle coming down the center aisle. The dining room was set up with a buffet and the wedding cake they had ordered.
They wouldn’t really have any attendants, just everyone would be there. Honey and Brian had stood up for them as witnesses at city hall. Since they were already legally married they would just speak their own vows to each other with a little music added. Everyone thought it was a beautiful and romantic idea.
At about five o'clock, Trixie, her mother, Honey, Di, Miss Trask, Hallie and Mrs. Wheeler all went up to Trixie’s old bedroom where she put on her mother’s wedding dress. Everyone noticed that she was glowing and Trixie just said she was so happy that they were having this ceremony. She and Jim had decided to announce their news after the ceremony.
Jim went up to Brian’s old room to change into his tuxedo and then headed downstairs to wait for six o’clock with everyone else. Everyone had noticed all day that Trixie and Jim were glowing but attributed it to their excitement over the wedding.
Finally at six o’clock Mr. Belden walked Trixie down the center aisle to where Jim was waiting as Bob Hubbell played the wedding march on his guitar. Then Barbara sang "Oh Promise Me" and then the ceremony began.
Trixie and Jim said simple vows that they had written very carefully to each other and Bob sang after that "Truly" and then he and Barbara sang "Up Where We Belong".
After that, Trixie and Jim said that they had one more thing to tell everyone and everyone was anxious to hear what it was.
Trixie said simply, "We’re having a baby in October!"
Everyone surrounded and congratulated them and when that was over they noticed Brian and Honey had strange looks on their faces and Brian said, "So are we!"
Everyone congratulated them and then they found out that the specific due date, October 15th, was the same.
Trixie said, "Honey, I know we are best friends and have shared everything over the years but this is just too weird!"
Everyone laughed and Honey said, "But it is perfectly perfect!"
Then they headed to the dining room where Trixie and Jim started everyone towards the buffet and they brought out the sparkling grape juice they had picked up for the kids but now Trixie and Honey both had to have it instead of champagne, of course.
After they cut and ate the cake they danced as Bob and Barbara sang their song "Friends in Love" and then she danced with her father to "Daddy’s Little Girl".
Soon after that the reception was over and they left for a week in New York before returning to Sleepyside and plans for their house, the school and their baby. Construction was going on already on the old Ten Acres site where the school was going to be and they put a haste order on the house they were having built on the grounds and discovered that it would be ready in August for their move.
In early April Dan and Hallie announced that they had eloped and a week later Mr. and Mrs. Belden gave them a reception at Crabapple Farm.
That night during the party, as if they weren’t enough reasons to celebrate, Mart and Di announced that they were engaged and planning to marry on July 4th and everyone was very happy for all of them.
Honey and Trixie still had their detective agency although as the weeks and months progressed they cut down on their caseloads, avoiding anything that seemed way too dangerous for pregnant women to be involved with. They loved comparing notes and thought it would be really neat if they both had their babies on the same day.
On July 4th Mart and Di were married in a beautiful ceremony at sunset in the middle of the town’s annual 4th of July celebration. They had decided to marry on that day and at that party because they had had their first kiss there 9 years earlier and had said I love you there 6 years earlier so it had very special meaning for them of course.
A month later Trixie and Jim moved into their house. Jim insisted that Trixie, at seven months pregnant and looking glowingly beautiful, just relax and watch and just unpack small stuff. She had had an easy pregnancy but still he constantly worried about her but she had gotten used to his constant worrying over the years.
As October 15th approached the final preparations were made for the babies to arrive. Trixie and Jim and Honey and Brian all went to the same Lamaze class at Sleepyside Hospital. Hallie was an obstetrics nurse and promised to be in both delivery rooms when the babies came. Honey and Brian moved into a house they had bought closer to town in late August and they all helped each other set up the nurseries.
On October 2nd Mrs. Wheeler and Mrs. Belden gave Trixie and Honey a combined shower at Crabapple Farm. Both young women looked fantastic and glowing and Hallie and Di said they couldn’t wait for their time to come but both thought it would be a ways off.
They received everything they needed for their babies and had discovered that they both had registered for the same things at the local baby gift registries. Everyone agreed that baby gift registries, like those for wedding gifts, were great ideas. At the end of the shower the men all arrived and Mr. Belden announced that he had a very special presentation.
First he and Mrs. Belden went into the other room and brought back two things covered with white sheets and everyone wondered what they were.
Mr. Belden said, "The only person who knows about this is my wife so this is a surprise to everyone else. Most of you do know that my favorite hobby is woodworking. Well, when I found out I was going to be a grandfather twice over, I started working on these and happily they are ready before the babies arrive, although I was working until two this morning!"
He took off the sheet to reveal two beautiful rocking chairs he had made from scratch. Trixie and Honey both squealed with delight and then sat down in them and said that they were perfect. Then they got up (actually were helped up by their husbands) and went over and hugged Mr. Belden and said that they were perfect.
Mr. Belden admitted to a little deception that he had done by paying off one of the clerks at one of the stores into marking the rocking chairs Trixie and Honey had registered for as bought to make sure that nobody bought them the chairs.
Honey said, "That is great because those were nice but not half as nice as these and they are made especially nice since they came from the heart."
Trixie agreed whole-heartedly and then Mr. Belden said, "I vote we get the cars packed with presents but then everyone stay for dinner. We’ll order in pizzas. Any special requests or cravings, Trixie or Honey? I wonder if they serve pickles on their pizzas?"
Everyone agreed to stay and they had a wonderful time. Everyone wanted to know if either Trixie or Honey knew what they were having and they both said no.
Mrs. Belden suggested the old wedding ring trick and Honey and Trixie agreed.
That idea was stopped though because nobody could agree with what direction meant what in the ring movement so they would just have to wait until the babies were born to find out.
The party ended relatively early as everyone split into two groups to help the different couples get their gifts home and brought inside since there was quite a bit for each.
The next two weeks went by very slowly as every member of their families and friends expected the call any minute and when they were with others, Trixie and Honey both knew that they were watched very carefully. One time Trixie stubbed her toe in the middle of dinner with Jim and their parents and said "Ouch" and everyone rushed over to her and she laughed and explained what happened.
On October 13th, two days before Trixie and Honey were due, everyone gathered at Manor House to celebrate Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler’s 30th wedding anniversary. Both of them hadn’t been feeling well all day but decided to attend the party anyway.
In the middle of the gift opening, Honey calmly announced that her water had just broken so they all rushed to the hospital where she was taken up to labor and delivery with Brian and Hallie and everyone waited downstairs for news.
About an hour later, Trixie said, "I don’t want to seem like a copycat but my water just broke, too!" and she headed upstairs with Jim and Dr. Lieber suddenly had his hands very full with two patients about to deliver at the same time.
It was a very long night for both couples as well as their friends and family waiting downstairs in the waiting room. Nobody left because they all wanted to be there to see the babies when they arrived as soon as they could, especially the grandparents to be.
The next morning Mrs. Belden went upstairs and spent time with both Trixie and Honey and when she came downstairs again she said, "Well, it won’t be too long now. They’re both being taken into delivery right now. And there’s two very nervous fathers to be that even though one’s a doctor, they might faint in the delivery room!"
Finally at 11:30 in the morning of October 14th, Brian and Honey became the proud parents of a healthy baby boy that they named Michael Wheeler Belden, who weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and was 20 inches long and perfect.
At 11:45 a.m. in the delivery room next door, Dr. Lieber got in there just in time to deliver Trixie and Jim’s first child, whom they promptly named Kathleen Helen Frayne after their mothers. They had changed Katje to Kathleen because Hans and Juliana had already named one of their daughters, Katje. She weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces, was 19 inches long and perfectly healthy.
Hallie managed to be in both delivery rooms at the right times and then headed downstairs and said, "Well, I’m here to announce the arrival of a boy for Honey and Brian and a girl for Trixie and Jim. Mothers and babies are doing fine. Brian and Honey’s son is named Michael Wheeler Belden and Trixie and Jim’s daughter is named Kathleen Helen Frayne. You can all follow me upstairs and the new dads will bring the babies in the visiting room in a few minutes."
Mr. Wheeler had gone out a little earlier so they were well supplied with flowers, balloons, champagne, sparkling grape juice, cups and ice. Trixie and Honey had arranged to share a room if they were in the hospital at the same time, so while the new moms were settled into their rooms and rechecked out, everyone else gathered in the visiting room.
First Brian came out and little Michael was passed around and then he went into Trixie and Honey’s room with the baby. Then Jim brought little Kathleen out and after she was passed around he went to the other room with the baby.
Everyone else decided to give them a few minutes and then went into the room where Mr. Wheeler passed out the flowers and balloons to the new mothers and then poured champagne into the cups or grape juice and passed them around.
As soon as everyone had their cups, Mr. Wheeler raised his and said, "To Michael and Kathleen and to this entire family and to the new generation!" and everyone joined in the toast.
That night at Uncle Andrew’s restaurant in Iowa, he posted a note on the births on the specials board and that night Bob and Barbara opened their singing with "What A Wonderful World" and dedicated it to the births. Most of the people there had met the four new parents during their visits to Iowa and all signed two big congratulatory cards to send back to them. Ned came over later and they called Sleepyside to congratulate them on the phone and promised to send the video of the restaurant that night.
Six weeks later they had a double christening at the community church. The new generation of the families was just starting and the future was very bright for them all.
The End