Forever Starts Tonight: Prom 2000

By Misty

Prologue
Friday, March 2000

Crabapple Farm

Honey closed the door to the farmhouse behind her and smiled. The usually boisterous kitchen was in an uproar that rivaled any it had previously seen.

Wow, Moms is pregnant, Honey thought to herself as she made her way up the path to her home. She had been invited to stay through today, but thought she would give the family a little time to gather their thoughts. Besides, she was bursting with excitement and wanted desperately to tell someone. This time she'd be the one sharing news with Celia instead of the other way around. She smiled at the thought of the good-natured, if sometimes gossipy maid. She was still smiling to herself when she heard someone behind her calling her name.

"Honey!" he shouted.

She turned around in time to see Brian jogging towards her. She stopped and waited, still smiling.

"Hey, can I walk you home?" he asked breathlessly when he finally caught up to her.

"Sure," she replied. Everything seemed amusing to her that morning. She tried to wipe the huge grin off her face, but was unable to. It just made her smile more.

Brian saw her and his grin widened. "You just can't stop smiling, can you?" he asked, seeking to confirm that she felt the same way he did.

She started walking again. "No, it's just too wonderful. I've never been around a baby before, at least not since Dodgy. This is so exciting for me!" Honey exclaimed. She turned to Brian quickly, excitement shining in her eyes. "Do you think your mom will let me baby-sit sometime?" she asked breathlessly.

Brian laughed, amused that something the rest of them thought of as a chore was actually exciting for Honey. "I think you'll be sorry you asked that question in about another year," he replied.

They stopped in front of the veranda. "I better get back. I don't want to get signed up for 3 a.m. feedings or anything while I'm out," Brian said wryly. "I wanted to ask you something, though."

"Sure. Shoot!" Honey smiled encouragingly.

"Well, I know you hadn't planned to go to the prom because Trixie wasn't. Now that she's going, I was wondering if you'd like to go with me?" he asked shyly, biting his bottom lip while he waited for her response.

"Are you asking me because you want to go with me or because you just want to go and keep an eye on Trixie?" she asked suspiciously.

Brian looked up and met her eyes. "Both," he answered honestly. "I think it would be a lot of fun to go with you and I do want to keep my eyes on Christian," he continued. "Are you telling me you're not worried, too?" he demanded when she didn't say anything.

She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. "Yes, I'm a little worried. . ." her voice trailed off. She stood for a moment, thinking to herself. "Alright, I'll go with you," she said. She smiled again, unable to control herself. "It'll be fun," she said, not sure if she was trying to assure him or herself.

Brian smiled, relieved. "Great. I'll get the details from you as it gets closer. I need to get back before I'm the sole caregiver to this kid."

Honey watched him jog back towards the farm before climbing the steps up the veranda. She was grinning stupidly to herself, oblivious to everything around her, when a voice spoke up.

"What's so funny?" Jim asked.

Honey yelped and jumped, startled. She put her hand over her heart and turned around and glared at him.

Jim just grinned at her, pleased that he'd startled her. What else are big brothers for? he reasoned.

"Oh Jim, it's the most wonderful news! Mrs. Belden is pregnant!" she squealed.

"What?" he asked, dumbfounded.

She ran over and plopped on the seat next to him, her hands waving wildly in front of her. "Yes! There was this phone call and we were eating breakfast, but Bobby wasn't there and Mrs. Belden answered it and she said 'Pregnant' and everyone looked at Trixie first - honest, I thought you were going to be a dead man right then- but Moms said 'no, it's me'," she said, pausing to take a breath.

"Said it was you?" Jim asked, seizing Honey's flailing arms and his opportunity to talk.

Honey rolled her eyes. "No. She said it was her, when everyone thought it was Trixie. Moms is pregnant!" she exclaimed, trying to get the point across to her brother.

Jim whistled. "Wow!" he said. "So that's what Brian was doing up here," he asked, trying to understand.

"Oh, that. No, he asked me to go to the prom with him," she said offhandedly. In the excitement of telling Jim about the new baby, she'd almost forgotten about the Prom. It just wasn't as exciting to her.

Jim raised his eyebrow slightly. Brian and his sister going on a date? Well that's . . . interesting, he thought to himself. "Well, it looks like I'll see you there, then," Jim said casually.

It was Honey's turn to look surprised. "Oh really? Are you going to enroll in high school again, dear brother?" she asked sarcastically.

"No, I have a date who's in high school, little sister," he replied just as sarcastically. "Since Dan's going with Ruthie, it looks as if it'll be the whole gang. Together again," he laughed ironically before standing up. "I'm starving. I think I'm going to go see if there's anything left for breakfast." He walked around the seat on the porch, mussing Honey's hair as he walked by, and into the house.

Honey sat by herself for a few moments, her earlier smiles having faded from worry. She sighed and stood up, letting herself into the house. "Yeah, together again," she muttered as the door slammed behind her.

To Be Continued . . .