Chapter Ten: Discord and Unhappiness
The Beldens, the Wheelers and the Lynches had become friends because of their children. Normally, the couples wouldn't have travelled in the same social circles even though they were neighbors. Their paths would have only crossed when they passed each other on Glenn Road or at social events like this one. However, since their children's lives were so entwined, they had become more than neighborly acquaintances.
Tonight, the six adults watched as the Bob-Whites took the dance floor. With a sigh, Madeline Wheeler said, "Things are going so much more smoothly than I thought that they would go."
Helen Belden smiled tightly and asked, "Really? I never had any doubts that things would go smoothly." There was an uneasy silence for a moment before she continued, "Honey did an incredible job, Madeline. You must be very proud of her.
"Yes," the other woman agreed quickly. The Wheeler name and fortune had gained Madeline instant standing among Sleepyside's country club set. However, she had quickly learned that being Helen Belden's friend also had its advantages. Helen was very well thought of by everyone in the area. Her family had been citizens of the sleepy, little town for over three hundred years and even though she herself never acknowledged her family's ties to town history, everyone else in the community knew and respected them.
Peter Belden's recent promotion to president of the local bank had only increased the other woman's standing in the community. Everyone had expected the Beldens to join the country club. When they hadn't, several members had suggested that the Wheelers introduce them to the benefits of joining the prestigious institution. The other members thought that having a member of Sleepyside's oldest and most-respected families join the club would be a coup.
In addition, Helen was good to Jim and Honey and they loved her and the rest of her family. Honey and Trixie were as close as sisters and Brian and Jim were best friends. Insulting Trixie—even inadvertently—and offending Helen in front of the town's elite would be a personal and social disaster for Madeline.
"I am very proud of her," she responded, wondering how she could smooth over the gaffe she had made several minutes earlier. Luckily for her, fate and Sara Lynch were on her side.
"I, for one, am proud of all of Bob-Whites. They dress up rather nicely," Sara remarked proudly. With natural in-born graciousness, Helen agreed and Madeline sighed silently with relief. As the tension dissolved, the women turned away from the men to discuss their children's fashionable evening attire.
The men remained quiet as they stood watching the swaying couples.
After a few moments, Peter Belden muttered under his breath, "Maybe they dress up too nicely." He frowned as he watched a fireman slowly dance with his only daughter. The young man was holding Trixie entirely too closely. Peter's eyes narrowed as the uniformed man laughed at something she said, seemingly captivated by her.
"You really don't want to do that," Edward Lynch said as Peter contemplated walking across the dance floor and yanking Trixie out of the young philanderer's arms.
"Why the hell not?" he growled, his eyes not leaving the young couple.
"First, you'll embarrass yourself, Helen and Trixie. Second, it will be weeks before Helen will even consider forgiving you," his friend told him as he clapped him on the shoulder. "And third, if you give in to your desire to beat that young man to a pulp, I might give in to my desire to do the same to your son."
Peter's eyes flew to Edward's and then, across the room, to Mart and Diana. They were wound together so closely together that it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began.
"You know," he turned away from the dance floor. "I don't know if I'm going to survive this."
"Trixie is the belle of the ball," Matt Wheeler watched as the pretty blonde was claimed by another uniformed young man. "Maybe you need to put a sign on her. You know, one that says 'I'm only sixteen'."
When the other man frowned consideringly, his friends laughed at him. With a grin, Ed told him, "He was kidding."
Matt nodded and continued with a sideways glance at Edward Lynch, "Besides, Pete, it could be much worse."
"How's that?"
"You could have two more daughters."
Peter looked at Ed in horrified sympathy. "That's right. You're going to go through this with Julie and Ari, too."
Ed sighed dismally, his amusement at his friend's reaction fading into commiseration. "Yeah."
"You two are pathetic," Matt informed them.
Snorting, Ed agreed, "True, but the only reason you're not as pathetic as we are is that Honey has been too busy with her duties as a hostess to dance with any of those young bucks." Ed looked at Peter in apology, "No offense."
"None taken," Peter said, glancing toward his middle son. He could see where Ed might be annoyed with Mart.
The women in the group chose that moment to join the men's conversation. With cool smile she was famous for, Madeline said, "Matt and I have an invitation to issue." She glanced at her husband and at his brief nod, she continued. "We had a marvelous time in Tahiti but Honey was rather disconsolate. She kept complaining that she missed her friends…" She paused again and sent a measuring look at Helen. "…so since things are going so well, we thought all of the kids could spend the rest of the week with us in the city. There's more than enough room for all of them. They could go to Time Square and watch the ball drop on New Year's Eve."
Sara Lynch clapped her hands in delight. "Oh, Diana will be thrilled by the invitation. She's also been complaining about not getting to spend enough time with the others."
The two women looked at Helen in anticipation. The blonde woman sipped her champagne thoughtfully before saying, "Of course, Brian is old enough to make his own decision but I'm not sure Mart and Trixie will be able to go."
"Why not?" Madeline asked, seemingly distressed by Helen's statement.
"Mart is scheduled to work this week. He also has a journalism project that is due the day he goes back to school. As for Trixie, Peter and I weren't satisfied with her math grade this semester and have arranged for Mr. Crandall to begin tutoring her."
Matt nodded in understanding and then said, "I'm sure Mart's employer would understand what a wonderful opportunity this is and when I spoke with him in the receiving line, he said that his journalism project was finished."
Madeline took up where her husband left off. "Miss Trask is going with us and I'm sure she would be more than willing to help Trixie with her math."
"I have no problem with Mart going if he finishes his journalism project and can get off from work. However, Trixie knew that she had to maintain a certain grade point average in math and she didn't. I think that it's important for her to learn that her grades are important so that she doesn't make the same mistake again. This isn't the first time she's let her grades slip."
"But…"
"I'm sorry but my mind is made up."
Matt and Madeline looked from Helen to Peter who merely shrugged. "I agree with Helen. Trixie did promise to maintain a 'B' average in math. Letting Miss Trask tutor her while she goes to New York City would not be a suitable punishment."
"Oh, Honey will be so upset," Madeline murmured.
"So will Trixie," Peter stated. "However, they'll both get over it, Madeline."
Toward the end of the evening, Trixie saw that the rest of the Bob-Whites had gathered at a table on the other end of the ballroom and knew that it would seem strange if she didn't join them. Resolutely squaring her shoulders, Trixie excused herself from her dance partner and retrieved a glass of sparkling grape juice from one of the waiters. She sipped it as she crossed the room. When Trixie slipped into one of the chairs at the table where the rest of the BWGs were sitting, Honey and Di immediately turned toward her, showering her with comments and questions about the young men with whom she had danced.
"Oh my gosh," Honey said. "Scott is so charming. Why haven't you told us about him?"
"Charming?" Di scoffed. "Forget charming. He is really hot. No wonder you weren't upset about…" The violet-eyed girl trailed off suddenly and glanced warily around her. With a slight grimace, she noticed that Jim, Morgan and the rest of the Bob-Whites were listening to her.
Luckily for Di, Morgan didn't feel the sudden mood change and joined the conversation. "He seemed really nice and I'll second both charming and hot. Is he your boyfriend?" Everyone froze at her innocent question and waited tensely for Trixie's response.
Trixie was astounded. "My boyfriend?" After her initial amazement passed, she laughed good-naturedly. "Scott? Heavens, no. He's too old for me. There is no way my dad would let me go out with him."
Morgan looked away from Trixie and searched the room for the young officer. "That's a shame because I think he likes you."
"He likes me all right," the blonde girl laughed. When Morgan tilted her head and looked inquisitive, Trixie explained matter-of-factly. "He likes me like he likes a little sister or a family pet. Really, he's just a good friend-kind of like a big brother." Looking at her older siblings with a mock frown, she amended her statement. "A nice big brother."
"Well, he looks really good in his uniform. If he ever asks you out, I think you should try to think of him as something other than a brother," Morgan suggested encouragingly, making Trixie realize that under different circumstances, she might have liked the older girl. However, before Trixie could respond, Tad Webster walked up to the table and sat down beside Honey.
"Hi," he greeted the group. Then, he turned to Honey, focusing his attention on her. "I heard you had a lot to do with this, Honey. It's really great."
Honey blushed prettily. Smoothing her skirt, she smiled at Tad, "Thank you."
Nodding, Tad turned away from her and looked at Morgan. "So you're Jim's new girlfriend?" he asked when no one introduced the pretty brunette. At her nod, he continued, "I can't tell you how glad I am to meet you."
Interpreting his words as an insult to Trixie, Di and Honey exchanged horrified glances. Mart and Dan, however, frowned as the young man glanced at Trixie. With narrowed eyes, they watched Tad eye Trixie longingly. Chatting with Brian, the young blonde was unaware of his attention. Wetting his lips, he opened his mouth and then closed it. With a sigh of defeat, he turned back toward Honey and smiled.
At that moment, Spider Webster, Tad's older brother, joined them. He nodded a greeting to everyone and then asked Trixie, "So, Belden, do you want to dance?"
"No way, Webster," Trixie refused with an unladylike snort and then good-naturedly teased him about the self-defense class he had taught several weeks before. "I've seen how you treat women. You'd put me in a chokehold, throw me over your shoulder and then, pin me to the ground with a chicken wing arm lock."
Spider laughed. "I would never treat a lady like that, Belden." With a grin, he narrowed his eyes and looked at Trixie consideringly. "Then again, with you, I might be tempted. We'd better not risk it." He turned to Honey and bowed gallantly, "Miss Wheeler, would you dance with me?"
Honey smiled graciously and took his outstretched hand. As she lowered her lashes, no one saw the disappointed look in her eyes as Spider led her away from Tad and the other Bob-Whites.
When Honey returned from dancing with Spider, Tad had left but her parents, the Beldens and the Lynches had joined the Bob-Whites at the table. She sent her parents an inquiring look and when they nodded, she asked for everyone's attention.
"Mother, Dad, Jim and I would like to invite all of you to join us in the city for New Year's," she issued the invitation in a cool tone, imitating one that her mother often used. However, all of her friends could see the excitement sparkling in her beautiful hazel eyes.
Diana jumped up and looked at her parents. "May I go?" she asked excitedly, glancing from her mother to her father. "May I, please?"
"I don't see why not," Edward Lynch answered. His daughter smiled at him and then turned and threw her arms around Mart, causing her father to grumble with annoyance, "Two years ago, that hug would have belonged to me."
Peter Belden shrugged and nodded his head in sympathy before he told his son's girlfriend, "Don't get too excited yet, Di. Mart is scheduled to work this week. He needs to talk to the editor at The Times to see if he can take off. Plus, he can't go if his journalism project isn't finished."
"It's done, Dad," Mart told his father eagerly. "Plus Mr. Riordan already offered to let me have the week off. I told him I'd work since I didn't have any plans. I'm almost one hundred percent sure I'll be able to go."
"What about you, Dan?" Matthew Wheeler asked.
"I'm not working this week and I've finished all of my homework. I don't see why I can't go but I need to check with Uncle Bill and Mr. Maypenny first."
At the other end of the table, Honey turned to Trixie and hugged her. "We'll all be together. Isn't this great?"
"Great," Trixie echoed, smiling brilliantly even though her insides were churning at the thought of spending so much time with Jim and Morgan. Suddenly, she felt like throwing up. She wondered if she looked as green as she felt.
At her daughter's reply, Helen said, "Not so great. You won't be going, Trixie."
Honey's face fell and she bit her lip. "But…"
At the same time, Diana gasped in distress, "Oh, no…"
"I'm sorry, girls. Trixie promised me and her father that she would keep a 'B' average in her Algebra II class. She didn't do that this semester so she can't go. Mr. Crandall at the library has offered to tutor her. She starts tomorrow," Helen told Honey firmly.
"Mrs. Trask can tutor…" Honey started to suggest but trailed off when Helen shook her head.
"You know we've been through this before. Letting Trixie go and having someone tutor her while she's gone hasn't worked in the past and it won't work this time. I'm sorry but she can't go."
Honey and Diana stared at their best friend's mother hopelessly. If Peter Belden had made the pronouncement, they would have wheedled, cajoled and charmed him into changing his mind; however, both girls knew from experience that once Helen Belden made up her mind, she couldn't be swayed.
The male Bob-Whites had heard Helen's statement and watched as Trixie met her mother's eyes. With a sad smile, she turned toward Honey and Di, "Moms is right. I brought this on myself. I promised her and Dad that I would keep a 'B' average in math and I didn't. If I want to keep working and you know how much I love working at the police station, I have to get my math grade up."
Honey threw her arms around her best friend and whispered in a tear-soaked tone. "It won't be the same without you."
"Moms," Brian began.
"No, Brian."
"But, Moms, I could…" he tried again.
"I said no," Helen told him firmly and when he opened his mouth, she interrupted him, "I don't want to hear another word about it. She isn't going."
"Come on…" Brian started once more, gaining him a sharp look from his father.
"This discussion is over," Peter Belden told his oldest son in a tone that few had ever heard him use. "Helen, I believe the band is about to play the last song." He held out his hand and his wife took it with a somber smile. Peter tucked her hand under his arm and led her to the dance floor.
The other couples—the Wheelers, the Lynches, Jim and Morgan, and Mart and Diana—followed them, leaving Trixie, Brian, Dan and Honey standing together in an uneasy silence.
"I'm sorry, Trixie," Brian said. He still felt guilty about not telling Trixie about Jim and Morgan and had hoped to make amends by changing his mother's mind about Trixie going to the City.
Trixie shrugged. "I have no one to blame but myself." She put her arm around Honey and said with a smile, "Come on. Don't be all gloomy. You guys will have an awesome time."
Honey gave a tight-lipped smile and continued to look unhappy.
"It won't be the same without you."
As she spoke, the lights began to dim and the band began to play a slow song.
"Whoa," Dan said suddenly. "The wolves are descending."
The others looked around. Several young men including Tad Webster and his best friend, Ian Douglas, were headed for the small group. Quickly, Trixie turned to Dan and stared at him with wide eyes. Dan saw the odd look and narrowed his eyes on her face.
"What are you doing?" Dan asked Trixie suspiciously.
"I'm trying to give you that 'soulful stare' you use on all the girls so that you'll ask me to dance," she replied with a hopeful expression.
He laughed at her. "You need to work on it, Trix, because it's not working. Of course, I'd probably be immune anyway but I'll save you from the salivating hoards. Come on." He took her hand and led her through the young men to the dance floor.
Brian looked at Honey but his words were interrupted as Ian Douglas approached. Tad was no longer with him and Honey looked around for him. When she saw him walking toward the doors of the ballroom, she sighed silently. With a forced smile, she returned Ian's greeting and took his hand when he asked her dance.
When they stepped out onto the dance floor, she looked around at her friends and family. Mart and Diana were dancing so closely together that she thought one of the firemen might turn a hose on them. Dan was holding Trixie closely but respectfully as he whispered in her ear, making her laugh. She wondered if Trixie realized how Dan kept her turned away from where Jim and Morgan swayed to the music together. Probably, she thought.
As she danced slowly with Ian, Honey thought about the evening's events. All in all, everything had gone well and she knew that she should be happy—but she wasn't. She was miserable. She had made two Christmas wishes this year. First, she had wished that she and Trixie would spend New Year's Eve in the City with the rest of the Bob-Whites and second, she had wished that Tad Webster would ask her to dance. Neither wish had come true.