Trixie Belden is the property of Random House and used with respect.

Christmas Memories

"Trixie!" Jim called to his wife with panic in his voice. "Trixie, baby, are you alright?"

"What?" Trixie looked around dazed. "Oh, my head! What happened?"

"Honey, you tripped and fell," Jim said as he ran a hand over the bump on her head. "You scared me to death, Trix."

Trixie looked at the handsome redhead. Frowning, she replied, "What kind of name is Trixie? It sounds like a hooker."

Laughing, Jim pulled her into a tight hug. "Well, it's your name and I love it."

Suddenly, Trixie pushed him away. "Who are you?" She looked at the lovely home and realized she was sitting in the floor at the bottom of a staircase. "And just where am I?"

"Trixie?" Jim looked at her in concern. "You're my wife and this is our home."

Nervously, Trixie bit her bottom lip. "I don't know. I mean, I don't remember you." Worriedly, Trixie glanced at Jim. He seemed nice enough. The home was beautiful and decorated for the holidays. Turning her attention back to Jim, she could feel the muscles in his arms and shoulders. This stranger was definitely breathtaking.

"Trixie, it's me, Jim." Jim stroked her face. "Let me help you up. Then I'll call Brian, sweetie. He'll know what to do."

"Brian?" Trixie asked as she felt Jim's strong arms lift her to her feet. With his arms around her waist, he walked her to the sofa.

"He's your brother, baby," Jim smiled reassuringly at her. "He's also a doctor. And he'll know just what to do."

Trixie glanced around the room as Jim went to make the call to Brian. The Christmas tree in the corner was beautiful. Presents were piled underneath. She wished she could remember and she wrinkled her forehead in an effort to do so. Sighing, she tried to listen to Jim's words to Brian but her headache made it impossible to concentrate on anything.

Jim came in and sat down beside Trixie. "Brian's coming over, Trix. He insists that you go to the hospital. He thinks you may have a concussion."

Confused, Trixie looked at Jim. With her eyes full of tears, she asked Jim in a trembling voice, "Is he a good doctor?"

"He's the best," Jim said and pulled her into a comforting embrace. "He's the best."

Trixie allowed Jim to hold her, surprised at the comfort she felt in this stranger's arms. They sat quietly until Brian arrived.

"She's in here, Brian," Jim led the way into the living room. Now that Brian was here Jim couldn't hide the worry in his voice.

"Hey, sis," Brian said, softly as he knelt in front of Trixie. "I hear you took a tumble down the stairs. I thought you had outgrown that by now."

Trixie looked up at the dark headed young man in front of her. She saw that he had a slender female with him. Puzzled, she looked at him. "You are Brian? And she is?"

"That's right, I'm Brian," Brian said as he examined her. "This is your sister-in-law, Honey."

"Honey?" Trixie chuckled. "Gee, with these names we could be hookers together."

Smiling, Honey sat down beside Trixie and gave her a hug. "You're going to regret saying that someday."

"Do you mind if we take a quick trip to the hospital?" Brian took his sister's hand. "Just do it for me, so I won't be up all night worrying."

"Okay," Trixie nodded. "I do have a bad headache and I feel a little dizzy."

Jim quickly got Trixie's coat and helped her into the back of Brian's SUV. Holding her hand the entire trip, Jim kept exchanging worried glances with Brian in his rearview mirror.

After the examination, the doctor felt it was best that Trixie stay overnight for observation. Seeing that Trixie was embarrassed to have Jim stay with her, Honey volunteered to stay with Trixie. Reluctantly, Jim and Brian promised to return early the next morning.

On the way home, Jim quizzed Brian incessantly. "Do you think they'll keep her in the hospital long? Remember how long it took Juliana to regain her memory?"

"If she checks out medically, they'll probably let her come home tomorrow, Jim," Brian advised him. "Honestly, I don't know how long it will take to get her memory back. All we can do is remind her of the past and hope something jogs her back to us."

The next morning, Jim and Brian were pleased to learn that all of Trixie's test results were normal. Her memory loss, they felt, was temporary. With that news, Jim and Brian entered Trixie's room.

"Hi, sweetie," Brian gave Honey a quick kiss. "Good news, Trixie. Your test results are fine. Jim can take you home today."

"Home?" Trixie swallowed nervously. Her blue eyes widened and her heart beat a little faster as she looked at Jim. "Is that okay with you?"

Mindful of Trixie's condition, Jim gave her a tender smile. "I promise, it's okay with me. Is it okay with you?"

"I really don't want to stay here," she admitted. "If you're sure it will be no problem for you."

Sensing her reluctance, Honey spoke up. "I'll go over with you and help you get settled in. "

Gratefully, Trixie gave this girl a smile. She must be a good friend.

Once they arrived at Ten Acres, Honey took Trixie on a tour of the house while Jim went to check on the school. Brian decided he would tell their respective families the news. He wanted to make sure Trixie wasn't overwhelmed by their visits and questions.

"Honey, this house is beautiful," Trixie said in awe. "Jim must have a lot of money to furnish it so well."

Honey laughed to herself. "That is something Trixie would never say." Seeing Trixie's flushed face, she continued, "It's so nice to hear you say things I'm sure everyone else is thinking."

They went upstairs to explore the bedrooms. When they got to the master, Trixie felt her cheeks grow warm again. "Is Jim in love with me? I mean, he won't expect me to, you know?"

"Of course not," Honey assured her. "Only if you want to. You and Jim were..are very passionate and crazy in love with each other."

"Wow, it sounds like I have a terrific life," Trixie commented in amazement. "I wonder why I can't remember something so wonderful."

"You will, Trix," Honey told her. Taking her hand, she said, "Let's go back downstairs and I'll tell you about your family. Your head is going to be full of wonderful."

All afternoon, Honey told Trixie about the Beldens, Hallie, Diana, and Dan. She told her about Manor House and the people who worked there and the stable full of horses.

Honey was giggling at one of Trixie's questions, when Jim walked in. Smiling, he had to stop himself from giving Trixie a loving kiss. He settled instead for a pull on his favorite curl.

"Now what have my two favorite girls been up to?" he asked. "It sounds like you were having a wonderful time."

"Oh, Jim, I was telling Trixie about Mart and his vocabulary," Honey laughed, again. "And she said, 'It sounds like he swallowed a dictionary.' That's just like the Trixie we know."

"Some things never change," he grinned. Turning to Trixie, he asked, "Are you hungry? I could fix something or we could go out."

"What do I usually do? I mean, am I a good cook or do I have a job?" she asked, uncertainly.

"Yes, you a good cook," Jim informed her. Sitting down beside her, he took her hand. "And yes, you have a job. You're a detective."

"A detective?" Trixie asked in surprise. "Isn't that dangerous for a woman?"

Jim had to laugh in spite of the situation. "Oh, Trixie, I've been telling you that for years. You better not let your partner here you say that."

"Me." Honey raised her hand in the air. "And I'm going to start recording everything you say. You won't believe us later."

Trixie sat in silence, while Honey said her goodbyes. What kind of person was I? she thought. She definitely did not want to do any detective work, not now or ever.

"Jim," Trixie questioned her handsome husband, "was I a good detective?"

"Oh, baby, the best," Jim grinned at her. "How do you think you found me? And you found me twice."

"Twice?"

"Let's go in the kitchen, Trix," Jim suggested, "and I'll tell you all about it while I fix dinner."

Following Jim, Trixie found that her interest and excitement was growing. Jim seemed so happy when she asked the question. Taking a seat at the counter, she turned to Jim, "Please tell me more."

"Let me think," Jim smiled and closed his eyes, recalling the first meeting. "You met me after I had run away. I was hiding in my great uncle's old mansion." He gestured with his hands. "It actually used to be right where we are now. We rebuilt it after we decided to get married."

"What happened to the first home?" Trixie asked, excitedly. "And why were you a runaway?"

"Hold on, Trix," Jim laughed as he gave her a strawberry soda. Seeing her frown, he added, "Trust me, it's your favorite drink."

"Okay," she eyed the drink, warily, "if you say so."

"Back to the story," Jim reminded her. "Honey and you had snuck in the house supposedly to make sure it was okay when you first saw me. I was asleep on an old mattress and you made such a commotion that it woke me up."

The girls stood frozen in their tracks as the boy woke up in a flash and grabbed the gun. There was no sign of friendliness on the boy's freckled face, and his green eyes were dark with suspicion.

Hone found her voice first. "Oh, please, don't shoot us," she almost sobbed. "We didn't mean to spy on you. Really we didn't."

The boy frowned and set his jaw. "What are you doing here?" he demanded sullenly. "You have no business in this house."

Trixie came out of her shocked trance then. "Neither have you," she said hotly. "This place belongs to Mr. James Winthrop Frayne, our neighbor. My father took him to the hospital this morning. We were just checking to be sure all the doors and windows were locked. But you," she finished tartly, "seem to have moved right in."

"So there you were," Jim couldn't help but give her curl a tug. "Standing with your hands on your hips, a bit of dirt smudged across your cheek, and not even caring that I had gun pointed in your face." His voice turned husky. "That's when I knew I wanted to know you better."

"It sounds like I was a foolish, bossy girl," she grimaced. "I must have changed quite a lot."

Laying a plate of sandwiches in front of her, he grinned. "You were never foolish, but bossy, well, someone has to be the boss sometimes."

Trixie's cheeks reddened. "I feel like I need to say I'm sorry for something here."

Jim noted the blushing on Trixie's face. I am so glad that hasn't changed, he thought. "Do you want to know how we finally got together?"

Trixie nodded as she hungrily bit into her sandwich.

"It was the summer you turned sixteen," he began, "but I had been crazy about you for years. I couldn't get the courage to go beyond fond glances and handholding. We were both so young."

"Just how old was I when we first met, anyway?" Trixie had been startled at his comment. "I mean, if you had known me for years."

"Thirteen," Jim smiled at her. "And I had wanted to kiss you since you were thirteen."

"What gave you the courage?" she asked shyly, suddenly full of emotions she didn't understand.

"Well, you don't know this part," he explained before continuing. "I was jealous of Dan. He started spending all his free time with you. It drove me nuts. Every time I got alone with you Dan would appear. It made me realize that I had better quit waiting on you to grow up."

"Jim, just how did we umm, finally, you know?" Trixie's heart was beating faster.

"Don't tell Honey that you know this, okay?" Jim took hold of Trixie's hand across the counter from him. "I got her to ask you to spend the night and then give us some time alone."

"Maybe I should thank her for this someday," Trixie said breathlessly.

"I already have," he assured her, "many times over."

"Did we kiss that night?" Trixie was surprised at her questions. They seemed so personal.

"Many times over," he grinned and brought her hand to his lips. "But then we spent the next few years playing cat and mouse. Our feelings were so strong that I think it scared us to commit to each other at such a young age."

"What broke the stalemate?" For some reason, Trixie needed desperately to know.

"I saw you one day on a spring break," he said as he caressed her cheek. "I knew I could never live without you in my life. I asked you to marry me."

Trixie looked at the wedding ring on his hand, then at hers. Suddenly, she knew what she wanted to do. "Jim, will you kiss me? Maybe it will bring back my memory."

Jim walked around the counter and pulled Trixie close to him. He felt her gasp right before he bent his head to kiss her. He deepened his kiss and then held her in a strong embrace.

Feeling Trixie trembling in his arms, he leaned back. "Did it work, baby?" he asked in a shaky voice.

With tears in her eyes, Trixie shook her head. "My body definitely remembers you but my brain is a little slow."

"It's okay, baby," Jim said as he felt the disappointment rising in his throat. "It will happen."