Tempting Fate
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this fic!
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Trixie trotted down the stairs two at a time, having successfully put Lexie down for her afternoon nap, and hummed quietly to herself. She came to a sudden stop in the living room. "Hey," she greeted him, almost shyly, and felt her infamous telltale blush start to work its way across her face.
He could read the emotions sliding across her overly expressive face. It wasn't too hard, since he was sure they were mirrored on his face, too. Their earlier kiss wasn't far from either of their minds, had been there all day as they had gone through the morning and early afternoon together, alternately working on emptying boxes and playing with Lexie. He took a step towards her as she moved closer to him, almost as if there was a magnetic pull drawing them to each other, only to have that pull dashed.
"Hello? Anyone home?" Honey called out loudly from the back porch. Unmindful of what she could be disturbing, she let herself in, closed the screen door behind her with a small bang, and found herself amazed at the changes in the room. It had been a skeleton of a kitchen before. Now it looked homey, warm, and inviting. After taking a moment to study the changes to the kitchen with cheerful approval, she started down the hall.
He released a pent-up breath, could feel the disappointment all the way to his toes. "I don't think it's our day, Trix," Jim murmured lowly. He reached out and smoothed a hand over her curls, loving the soft silky feel of her hair.
She felt regret shoot through her. "I guess you're right, Jim. First Lexie, now Honey," she whispered back. "It's a good thing we love them so much."
Jim chuckled and stepped back. He fished his keys out of his pocket and informed her, "I have some work to do over at Mrs. Elliott's anyway. She called earlier this morning. She has some steps on her front porch that need repaired. I told her I'd come over as soon as possible to fix them. It shouldn't take me too long. I already have the supplies that I need loaded in the truck."
"Don't worry about me and Honey. I'm sure I can find something to keep us occupied." Trixie gave a sarcastic wave of her hand towards the small army of boxes practically begging to be unpacked.
Honey paused in the hallway, delighted by the way Trixie and Jim were staring at each other. Both were smiling, obviously happy, and were very comfortable with the other. There didn't seem to be any awkwardness or uneasiness. In fact, they were very close to resembling the couple they had been before destiny had delivered them such a nasty blow. Everything seemed to be falling into place. She clasped her hands together. It wouldn't take too much longer before they were right where they needed to be. When neither noticed her, only continued to stare at each other as if they couldn't get enough, she smothered a small laugh and announced again, "Hi, Trix! Hello, Jim!"
They turned as one towards Honey, Trixie slightly embarrassed and Jim with a sheepish grin. Both had forgotten that she was there. "Hi, Honey," Trixie answered back. She brushed back a wayward curl and walked over to her friend.
Honey enveloped her in her arms. She was so pleased she felt like jumping up and down and screaming. She settled for whispering in Trixie's ear, "I'm so happy for you." Louder, she added, "I came over to see if you needed any help unpacking. I can tell from all the boxes lying around that you do."
"I see I'm leaving Trixie in good hands," Jim proclaimed to the girls. "I'll be back in a bit." With a wave he was out the door and on his way over help out Mrs. Elliott.
"Where is he going?" Honey questioned curiously although she was thankful he had left. She wanted Trixie all to herself. She had a few questions that she needed answered.
"He has a few repairs to do for Mrs. Elliott," Trixie replied and headed back into the living room. "Are you sure you would you like to help unpack? There's an awful lot," she put in warningly. At Honey's affirmative nod, she sat down in front of the entertainment center, dragged a box of movies towards her, and motioned to the multitude of boxes surrounding them. "As you can see, we have a lot of work to do. I can't imagine ever getting all of these boxes unpacked!"
"I'll say," Honey responded after a quick glance around the room. It looked foreboding. She gave a small shiver, imagining what the other rooms looked like. If they resembled anything like the living room, then Trixie could use all the help that she could get. She swiftly joined her friend and started taking movies out of the box. "Do you have any special order for your movies?"
She arched an eyebrow, waited a beat, and then smirked. "Really, Honey, you should know me better than that. As long as they are on the shelf, I don't particularly care. If Jim wants to rearrange them afterwards, he can be my guest."
"True," Honey giggled. She took out a handful and placed them neatly on the shelf. A few titles caught her eye and made her giggle some more. "Hmm, I must say that your choice in movies has certainly changed over the past few years. I'm not sure if it's for the better or not." She held up a copy of Dora Saves the Snow Princess and an episode of The Wiggles and lifted an eyebrow. "Oscar winners, I am sure."
Trixie laughed with her. "Hey, don't knock them until you've actually watched them. Really, after the fortieth or fiftieth time, you realize that they really aren't that bad. It's even worse when you realize that you can recite the dialogue and sing any of the songs on request."
Honey studied the two movies closely. "I think we may need to get you some help," she commented, only half-joking. "You can recite these?"
"And many more," Trixie shared, giggling. They made quick work of the first box and started on the next one. "I was saying the other day to Moms how much I'd like to be busier," she mentioned with a small groan. "It looks like I got my wish." The task of unpacking was a monumental one.
"You certainly did." Honey blew out a breath and slid a third box over to them. She wasted no time in emptying that one, too. "From what I've seen, it'll take you months before you have everything put away. I bet upstairs is packed as full as downstairs. I can't believe how much stuff you accumulated over the past three years."
Trixie didn't take offense. She knew her weaknesses well. "I know." She spread her hands out in supplication and laughed at herself. "I can't take credit for the furniture. That was already in the house when I moved in. But the stuff.." She gave a shake of her head, sending her curls bouncing. "That's all mine, and Lexie's, too."
"Well, I don't have to go in to work until this evening. Brian's already at work so you're stuck with me. I'll be glad to stay and help out as much as I can," Honey offered with a pretty smile. She always felt the most fulfilled when she was helping others out, especially if the person she was helping was one of her loved ones. "With both of us working we may be able to put a dent in this room, at the very least."
"Thanks, Honey. Lexie's napping, too, so that's a bonus. We should have at least an hour more before she wakes up. If we're lucky, she may even nap longer." It felt like old times, the two of them working on a project together. They could almost have been fourteen again. They fell into the old routine quickly. There were times when they worked in silence. There were also times when they laughed and joked and teased each other. It wasn't long before the movies were shelved and it was time to move on to the photo albums and scrapbooks.
"Are these shelves all right for them?" Honey questioned, pointing to the empty bottom shelves of the bookcase in the corner of the room.
Trixie nodded. It didn't matter to her where they went as long as there were more empty boxes. "You know, Honey," she began, deciding to bring up the question she had circulating through her mind, "I've been thinking a lot over past few days. Now that I'm back in Sleepyside, I'm really going to have to decide what I am going to do. I've felt at loose ends for the past few days. Everyone's been going off to work except me."
"Isn't she precious?" she crooned, only half-listening, as she was sidetracked by a picture of an adorable smiling baby Lexie. She ran her finger over the picture. Lexie looked so much like Trixie it was uncanny. "What were you saying, Trix?" she asked apologetically.
Trixie glanced up at the ceiling and chuckled, no offense taken. "I was saying that I'm thinking about going back to school and finishing out my degree. I can't be the only Bob-White without a job."
Honey stopped, album in mid-air, and let out a cheerful yelp. She jumped up, dropped the album to the ground, and threw her arms around Trixie, happy for her friend. "That's wonderful, Trixie! How are you going to do it?"
"I've started doing research on some of the on-line colleges. It doesn't make sense for me to live on a campus now. I really don't want to leave home, especially with Lexie, so I think completing it from home is my best option." The words were tumbling out fast. She was excited about the prospect of finishing her degree and then starting her chosen career in criminal justice. It would take awhile but she knew she could balance it and motherhood, too. "Now that I'm home I'd like to pursue it."
Honey's grin reached from ear-to-ear. She caught how Trixie referred to Ten Acres as 'home' a number of times in her explanation and was even more excited for her. She wondered if Trixie realized what she had let slip. "I'm even happier for you than I was when I first got here. I could tell that something was starting to bother you over the past few days but I didn't know what it was. I couldn't put my finger on it. Now I know. You've been feeling a little adrift, haven't you?"
She nodded, not surprised that Honey had been so perceptive. There were times when it seemed like the two of them could read each other's minds. "It's been a little hard to hear all of you talking about your jobs and me not being able to add much to that. I was starting to be a little envious." She blew out a breath and hesitated before bringing up the part of her plan she hoped Honey wanted to be included in. "If all goes well, it should take me a year or maybe a little more before I get my degree. Once I get my degree, I'd love to start the agency up with you."
"It really is a dream come true!" Honey absolutely beamed, pure sunshine and absolutely delighted. She hugged Trixie even tighter. "I'll be right there with you, Trix! Have no doubt about that."
Trixie hugged her back, relieved. She hadn't been able to guess how Honey would react and had mentally prepared herself for Honey to politely and tactfully refuse to join her in the agency. "You mean you still want to open the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency with me?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Honey practically shouted. She blushed when Trixie motioned for her to keep it down. "Oh, sorry, Trix." She cocked an ear towards the stairs but didn't hear any feet and gave a relieved sigh. "I don't think I woke Lexie up. I think we're okay."
"I was afraid you wouldn't want to," Trixie confessed, a pile of unshelved albums fanned out, forgotten, at her feet. "I thought maybe you liked nursing more and..."
Honey interrupted, her words tripping over themselves in her hurry to get them out, "Trixie, I love being a nurse. It's a lot of fun helping people and it's also rewarding, too. Plus there's the extra benefit of seeing my husband at work," she put in with a sweet smile. Then she grabbed hold of Trixie's hands and held on tight. "But I love working with you more. I always have. Just like I said, it will be an absolute dream come to true for me to finally open our detective agency. We'll have so much fun. It will be the time of our lives, I know that from the bottom of my heart. Although..."
"What is that?" Trixie asked nervously when Honey's voice trailed off.
"We're going to have to work on that name. Belden-Wheeler doesn't quite fit anymore." Honey sent Trixie a mischievous grin and her eyes twinkled with mirth.
"Yeah, I hadn't thought about that. It is outdated, isn't it? Belden-Belden is more like it now." Trixie had to chuckle. That name sounded absurd.
She shook a finger at Trixie. "Now don't laugh at that name. Belden-Belden would be good. I happen to be very fond of the last name myself, but that's not what I meant." Honey took the album out of Trixie's hands and coyly explained,"I was thinking more along the lines of The Frayne-Belden Detective Agency." She arched an eyebrow and waited for Trixie's reaction.
She didn't have long to wait. Another one of her damned blushes spread across her face. It seemed to be the day for them. "Ah, yes, well, we'll, I guess we'll have to see about that," she sputtered out, unsure of herself. Trixie busied herself as much as possible, hoping to forestall the sudden flow of the conversation, and spent an inordinate amount of time placing one album on an empty shelf.
Honey pulled the album away and covered Trixie's hands with hers. She wasn't going to let Trixie hide from her questions, nosy though they may be, and interjected quietly, "I believe it's time we had a little talk, Trix."
She blew out a breath and gave in with ill grace. When Honey got that tone to her voice there would be no denying her. "I see that, Honey. What would you like to talk about?" She hated asking the question. She already knew the answer.
Honey sat back on her heels, sent an arch look around the new and much-improved look to the living room, and then turned back to Trixie. "Gee, I wonder what could be going through my mind right now," she stated sarcastically.
"Sarcasm has never suited you, Honey," Trixie retorted but knew she wasn't going to get out of it. When a militant look entered her friend's eyes, she threw up her hands in defeat and sat back. "I give up, Honey. Shoot. Ask me anything you want. My life is an open book to you."
"With all that's happened to you, I bet it would be a best-seller," Honey quipped back. When Trixie only smirked again, Honey got serious. "So, now you're living at Ten Acres. Not only are you living at Ten Acres but you're living with my brother," Honey began, keeping a close eye on her friend. She couldn't mistake the blush that was back in its full, furious force and hid a smile. "How does that feel?"
Wonderful, amazing, outstanding, take your pick, Trixie thought, but she settled for, "Fine. It's fine, Honey. We survived our first night here." She prayed that would be the end of it but no such luck.
With a roll of her eyes, Honey leaned forward. "You can do better than that, Trixie Belden. I want it all."
Hoping to appease, Trixie offered a partial truth. "Lexie loves living here, Honey. I can already tell that. She fell in love with her room. She also loves living with her father. She has acclimated herself to it so quickly it's almost like we were never not living here, if you know what I mean."
"Of course I do." Only Honey could understand that statement. "But what about you, Trix? I know that your hand was forced a bit. Dan stopped by yesterday and told us how Jim moved you in without your permission. He mentioned that you, well, that you were pretty mad. Of course, that's completely understandable, given the circumstances, but, well, how are you feeling about it now?"
"I'm over my anger. You know how my temper is, Honey. It blows over just as quickly as it comes on." She stacked the photo albums and placed them on the shelf. "Besides, I got a little even with Jim. I invited my parents to dinner last night and then forced Jim and my father together."
Honey had seen the almost hostile sentiments her father-in-law recently had for her brother. She covered her mouth in shocked appreciation. "Good for you. Although I'm glad that you're living here, Jim certainly deserved that. He was rather sneaky about the whole thing."
"They got along famously well, though, so I guess it backfired on me in the end." Trixie admired the row of photo albums and reached for more.
"Well, you certainly settled a few questions I had in my mind. There's only one more." Honey grabbed Trixie's arm and looked her in the eyes. "You told me that Lexie loves living here but you've been sidestepping the other issue. How do you feel about living here?"
Trixie hesitated before adding lowly,"I love it here, too."
That was what Honey wanted to hear. Her smile was wide and sweet and her hazel eyes danced with joy. "Excellent! I couldn't be happier, Trix. Now all we need to do is get you and Jim back together as an official couple and..." She stopped when she noticed yet another blush attacking Trixie's face. "All right, all right, Trixie. Normally I wouldn't press an issue involving you and my brother but these are extenuating circumstances. You're holding out on me. What have I already missed?"
"Gleeps, I feel like a teenager again," Trixie muttered and covered her red face with her hands. It felt like her face was on fire. She had never taken it well when Honey or Di would grill her about Jim during their adolescent years.
Her eyes narrowed as Honey studied Trixie closely. It took her a second to come up with the right scenario. Her lips tilted up at the corner, impressed. It seemed things were progressing faster than she had predicted. "Good for you, Trix. You've already kissed him."
Trixie pressed her lips together and glanced up at the ceiling, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole. She hated divulging personal information like this. Her eyes pleaded with Honey. "I think that's enough for the afternoon, Honey. Can we please move on to something else?"
Honey took pity on her friend. She leaned forward, squeezed Trixie's knee, and gifted her with a grand smile. "I'll let you off the hook, Trix, as long as you promise me one thing."
"What is that?" Trixie bit her lip and braced herself, unsure if she really wanted to know what Honey wanted her to do.
"Don't take it slow this time," Honey advised meaningfully. "You and Jim have lost too much time, through no fault of your own. Take what you can, when you can, but don't go as slow as you did in the past. You both deserve all the happiness you can get."
She thought back to the way Jim moved her into the house and then to the early morning kiss on the porch. Her confidence in their relationship was returning. She was becoming more certain of herself around Jim. She knew what she wanted. A soft, dreamy look entered her eyes, one that Honey had rarely seen on her friend. "I doubt that will be a problem this time, Honey. I really do."