Jim walked into the room nervously, shutting the door behind him. When he turned to the Beldens, they were looking at him curiously. Peter looked a bit sterner than Helen, who smiled at Jim kindly.
"Well, well, Jim." Peter said it as if the whole thing were inevitable. His words were mirrored with another meaning. Here we are, finally. I knew this day would come.
Jim blushed slightly at the thought. It couldn't have been that obvious, could it? "Um, hello, sir," he said, standing in front of their bed, trying to look at Trixie's father.
"I guess you know why you're here," he said, looking expectantly at the red head.
"Yes sir," he repeated, nodding. "I—Trixie."
Peter couldn't help but smile a little. "Trixie," he agreed. "And you." He took a long look at the boy in front of him, as if reading every thought, studying everything about him; every fault, every desire, every goal. To make sure that he was suitable to even have a chance with his daughter.
"I must day, Jim, this isn't exactly the most least expected thing out there. I've known for a while, as well as everyone else has, that you've had no ordinary friendship with my daughter."
Jim blushed, but remained silent, nodding.
Peter chuckled wryly, thinking back. "Even when she first met you, she thought of you as 'The Most Wonderful Boy in the World'." Peter shook his head in wonder. "And I know that you have grown almost like siblings these last few years, just as the rest of the Bob-Whites have. But now," he said, looking carefully at Jim's expression, which had remained steady so far, if a little red, "you guys want to date."
Jim nodded, slightly flushed.
"To tell you the truth, I hadn't really thought my daughter would ever ask the question she came in here today to ask, at least not for a few years. I wasn't expecting it." He sighed, as if the thought of his daughter dating someone hurt him slightly. "And now, she has asked, and what I told her was that it depended on who." He looked at Jim. "Who my daughter was talking about, it seems, although it wasn't least expected, was you."
Jim nodded.
Peter sighed, as though strained. "The thing you've got to understand, Jim, is that it isn't easy for a father to give up his daughter, least of all into the hands of another man. So, if I do let you date Trixie, you'd have to know that it is no small decision I'd have made, and that I'd have to trust you quite a lot."
Jim nodded earnestly. "I promise, that if you did decide that it was okay, I'd make sure that you won't regret it."
Peter Belden nodded. "And I believe you, Jim. So, I want to leave the final decision to you. But consider the things that I have to say."
"Of course, sir."
"Well, first of all, there is the fact that you are two years older than her. Fifteen and seventeen are two very different ages, and the fact that you have skipped a grade and are now in college is another factor. You aren't able to see each other at school, and I wouldn't want a long distance relationship to interfere with your studies or your overall friendship."
Jim nodded at the point. Of course he'd thought about the fact whenever he thought about the possibility that he and Trixie could be together, something he'd thought about more times than he'd care to admit. But he hadn't thought about the fact the last day when they'd finally professed their feelings for each other; he'd been too busy trying to make their initial relationship real.
"Another thing that comes with that age difference is responsibility," Peter continued. "I know that you are quite honorable, Jim, but you are a teenaged boy. And I was one too, so I know that there are some things that you may want. I encourage you to think about those things when you consider dating Trixie. Because I mean it when I say that some things you are not getting from my daughter. Not for a long time."
Jim nodded earnestly. "Of course, sir. I would never try to… I'm aware of our age difference, and I'd make sure to never put her in any such position."
Peter smiled. "I know you'll try your hardest, Jim. I'm just saying; teenage boys have hormones."
Helen, who had been silent for the last little while, spoke. "And teenage girls have hormones, too. Don't forget that. If she wants something that you're not sure about, you have to remember that you're the older one, and that sometimes you may have to call the shots. But I'm not saying you shouldn't be fair and not consider her opinions. Or make her one of Artemis's hand maidens."
Peter snorted indignantly. "Virginity isn't such a bad thing."
Helen shook her head, rolling her eyes. "Only when it comes to your daughter," she muttered, so only her husband heard her. He flushed.
Jim shifted uncomfortably. "I—I'll remember that, Mrs. Belden. And, uh, the other thing, sir." He blushed.
Peter looked amusedly at the young man in front of him. "Oh, I'm sure you will."
"Another thing to consider," he started again. "I remind you that Trixie had brothers, one of which happens to be your best friend. So, I'd consider it from Brian's point of view as well."
Jim flushed. "Um, I think he knows already, sir. He kind of—Er, I mean- Dan, Honey, and Brian kind of already know." He blushed. "And Regan. And Dr. Ferris," he added.
"Do I want to know, son?" Peter asked tiredly. He was rather baffled at the news that his doctor knew about his daughter's relationship status before him, but wasn't sure he wanted the details, especially because of Jim's red-faced reaction to the facts.
"Um, no, sir, I don't think you do," Jim said, not meeting his eyes.
Peter cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Uh, well then. I believe I've given you enough to consider, so you can tell me your decision when you're ready."
Jim shuffled nervously. "Geez, sir, you've made me kind of guilty."
Peter smiled. "That's my job, son."
Helen smiled. "Don't think about it too hard, Jim. We all know what my daughter wants, and it's no secret what you want, either. We just want you both to be happy."
"And safe," Peter added, and it was clear that he meant in many more ways than one.
Jim flushed. "Well, uh…"
Helen looked sympathetically at him. "You don't have to do what you think Peter wants, Jim. You may think that he'd be unhappy at the thought of someone dating his daughter, but in truth, he wants her to be happy. And I have no doubt that she'd be more happy with you than she would without you."
Jim nodded, having made his decision. He looked at Mr. Belden. "Well, I really, really like Trixie, and I know that I'd never purposely do anything to hurt her." He smiled softly as he thought about the blonde whirlwind. "I care about her too much."
He snapped back to reality. "And I know that I'm in college, but I also know that I'll want to visit every chance I get."
"To see your parents," Peter guessed, raising an eyebrow in challenge.
"Um, yes. To see my parents. Not—" he shook his head, deciding not to go there. "And I know that at first things might be weird between Brian and I, but I know that we'll be able to work things out." A mischievous smile played around his lips. "Especially because of Honey." He decided to leave it to them to interpret what was meant by that.
"And so, I think that, if it were okay with you," he looked carefully at Mr. Belden. "I'd want to date Trixie. If you'd allow me." He held his breath and watched, anxiously waiting Mr. Belden's answer.
Peter sighed, but smiled none-the-less. "You can't seriously expect me to say no," he said finally, at which Jim let go of a breath he didn't even know he'd been holding.
Relief was evident on his face. "Thank you, sir."
Peter smiled. "No problem Jim. I trust you. And I trust my daughter."
But of course, he couldn't just end the whole thing on a joyful note. That would be terrible. So, "But, of course, we're not done yet, Jim," he said.
Jim looked curiously at him. "Sir?"
"Well, we have to go over some rules," he said, as if it were obvious. "But we should get Trixie first. Fetch her, will you?"
"Yes sir," he said before walking to the door. He was about to open it and leave, which he desperately needed to do, but he turned around. "And thank you, sir," he said. And he meant it.