AN I'm so sorry, I forgot this chapter and it's kind of important to the plot so I hope you enjoy.

The Kitchen at Castaway's, New York State

0036hrs Saturday 19th February 2005

'Maddy,' Linnie spoke quietly as she arranged cups on the kitchen bench for the third time. She'd tried to keep silent after Honey pointed out the "Green Suite where I've put you and Mart for the weekend", but her anxiety got the better of her after Mart's affectionate display in the van. 'I don't want to sound like a prude or anything but…'

'You and Mart have decided to wait until you're married or at least engaged before you…' Embarrassed for her friend, Honey comfortingly put her arm around the girls shoulder. 'I'm sorry, when I made the arrangements I guess I assumed everyone would be…together.' Just, she suspected silently, as the others in this room do. I actually feel sorry for Trixie, missing out on what we have. She'd trapped and I can't see a way out for her, especially as we've uncovered her past relationship with Jim.

Feeling on safer ground, Linnie asked the question at the forefront of her mind. 'How long did you wait,' she asked in a small voice. 'I felt sorry for Jim and Trixie tonight. They must have loved each other very much to take that step in their relationship. I kind of understand because I want to but…'

'We all appreciate your morals,' Sally chimed in, hugging Linnie from the other side.

'I wouldn't use Dan and I as a measuring point,' Jo grinned, hoping to lighten the mood. 'He had a reputation when I met him. I think turning him down on the first date worked in my favour.'

'You'd be about the only one,' Honey shook her head, continuing the light tone. 'I had three boyfriends between Brian and Peter. Every one of them tried to get me into bed by the third date. We didn't get to a fourth.'

'You go girl,' Jo's feminism aroused, she turned to Linnie and concluded, 'if a man really loves you for who you are, Linnie, he'll wait.'

'Did you make Dan wait?' she asked in awe.

'No,' Jo gave an embarrassed little smile, 'we moved in together a month after we met.' Three pairs of eyes looked at her in askance. 'I knew,' she stated, shrugging her shoulders, 'I just knew and I wasn't about to let him get away.'

'Me too,' Honey added, 'Peter and I got to the fourth date the morning after the third. He's so much of a gentleman I had to give him some really big hints about staying the night.'

'Brian needed encouragement too,' Sally remembered, 'but once he started…'

Unable to keep the chuckle to herself, Honey used the spatula in her hand as a fan. 'Ah,' she agreed, 'I know exactly what you mean. They say you have to watch the quiet ones.'

'Oh, you've both…' Linnie allowed the words to tail off. 'That means Mart and Di…'

'Afraid so,' Honey broke the news cautiously.

Jo and Sally held their breaths. They'd all been through so much in the last few hours and needed time to take it all in. Hoping this wouldn't be the straw that broke the camel's back, the waited for Linnie's response.

'I made my peace a long time ago,' Sally squeezed Linnie's shoulder to help the shocked girl. 'I knew Brian had other relationships before me. I never thought I be friends…more than that now,' she fingered the cuff of her new jacket, 'with one of his ex's. Believe me if I thought it would make Brian Belden propose marriage to me any sooner, I'd hold out on him,' she confessed as much to break the tension between the four friends as to let the truth about her feeling show. Sadly, Sally took yet another longing look at the solitaire and wedding band gracing Jo's finger. 'Even if I'm feeling extremely angry and upset with him at the moment, I'd still say yes if he popped the question right at this very minute!'

'He's thinking about it, Sally,' Honey winked, as she started pouring milk into a huge pot on the stove, 'but you know how cautious Brian is.'

'What do you know that I don't Madeleine Wheeler?' Sally demanded, hands on hips and ignoring the drinking chocolate and liquor bottle before her. 'Why, now that I think about it, were you and Di the only one's not enamoured of Joanne's ring. I know how excited you became for Jo and Dan. The ring didn't mean anything to you, it's the fact she's married. Trixie I can understand, but I would have thought after four years with Peter, you'd want to get married too.'

'Oh do tell,' Linnie begged, glad to finally be in the loop now she'd become a fully-fledged BWG, 'about why you think Brian is going to propose to Sally, because Mart said something the other day about visiting a well-known jeweller with his brother. You're the only feminine influence, living in the same apartment with Brian, so you should know what's happening in his mind.'

'How do you know your boyfriend wasn't taking his big brother along with him when he went ring shopping,' Jo questioned lightly, trying to point out what had become very obvious to her, 'and not the other way around.'

'I hadn't thought about that,' Linnie blushed again, wondering if Jo could be right. Finding herself excited at the prospect, Linnie realised she wasn't quite so daunted at the vision of sharing a bed with Mart, if it were true.

'Or maybe they went together,' Honey suggested, turning her back on the three surprised women and giving all her attention to stirring the milk. 'You know men,' she exclaimed, rolling her eyes, 'they like to do embarrassing things, like choosing engagement rings, in groups. I know Peter did when…'

'Honey,' Sally turned her friend around, 'you can't drop a bombshell like that and not tell us the rest of your thoughts. I want to know why you think Brian and Mart went ring shopping, together. I want to know how you knew about Dan proposal, because you didn't seem quite as surprised as everyone else earlier today when he told the BWG's. But most of all I want to know what your last statement signifies with regard to your heart.'

'If Trixie can hold out,' sadness entered Honey's expression at the thought of all her best friend kept from them, and the agony Trixie had to cope with alone for so many years, 'so can I.'

'Oh, no you can't,' Jo informed her in no uncertain terms, determined to get the answers to the questions in her mind. It might just take Honey's mind off Trixie's problems too, she thought. 'I happen to know that Peter went along with Dan to choose my engagement ring before Christmas. My husband,' grinning at the title because it happened to be the first time she'd used in the presence of anyone else, Jo instantly diminished the tension which started to reappear between the friends, 'told me on the way to Serendipity tonight, that we wouldn't be the only married couple for very long. I also know Peter asked you father for your hand in marriage while you were home for the holiday…Oh, no, I wasn't supposed to say anything.'

'I guess my secrets out,' Honey laughed, pulling a square box out of her jacket pocket. Secretly, she felt relieved and overjoyed to be sharing her secret. 'I was going to tell everyone after telling Peter's and my parents on Wednesday night. Mother and Daddy come home from Mexico in the afternoon and we are taking them, and Peter's parents, out to dinner to announce our engagement.'

'Wow,' exclaimed Sally with wide eyes after being the first to enthusiastically congratulate Honey and try on her solitaire, 'what a rock. It must be nearly three carats.'

'Two and a half,' Honey explained, embarrassed by her friends admiration. 'It's called a champagne diamond from The Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia. They are supposed to be very rare, just like my Fiancé.'

'How big did you say Peter's income was,' Jo joked, comparing the diamond to her own. 'I'm going to have to tell Dan his offering pales into insignificance.'

'Oh, please don't,' Honey begged. 'Let me tell Peter tonight. Now this has happened, we can announce it to all the Bob Whites tomorrow.'

'If you insist, Honey,' Jo laughed. 'But I have to say that your man must build some pretty big yachts to treat you so well. Now, I want details. How did it happen? When and where will the wedding be? Most importantly you are going to have four bridesmaids, and a matron of honour, right?'

'Actually, it will only be three bridesmaids,' Honey started but became cut off by Sally and Linnie's gasps. I know what you thinking, but I wouldn't leave Trixie out of my wedding party for the world, not even if we are kind of estranged and she has hurt me with the secrets she's keeping. Sighing, Honey came to understand, Trixie is still my best friend, except for Peter, and I intend to repair the damage her secrets have caused because I can see how much they have hurt her and my brother. Honey fully intended to give both Trixie and Jim all her understanding, love and support over the weekend. Because I know they need each other more than they realise.

'I don't think it's what you guys are thinking,' Jo watched the blush rise up Honey's cheeks. 'Dan thought Nick and Di had a secret they were keeping. I thought they were just engaged, its more than that, isn't it Honey?'

Still unable to look Jo in the eye, Honey realised the girl had, at least partially, figured out Di and Nick's secret.

'Maybe I have the wrong end of the stick,' Jo watched Honey's body language and easily found the truth. 'They are going to have to get married and I guess they're going to beat all of us to the first child.'

'You might just be right,' Honey returned to the pot on the stove, 'but you didn't hear it from me even if Di had to tell me, when she asked for my help to arrange this weekend. Especially when the JP arrives tomorrow, oops that's later this morning for the rehearsal. I don't suppose it will hurt to tell you ceremony takes place tomorrow. We are going to be inundated by Lynch's, Robert's and Belden's very early Sunday morning.'

'Did you make her dress Honey?' Linnie asked, still stunned by the sudden changes taking place around her.

'Yes,' she nodded, 'and the brides attendants dresses, one for each of us. As I will for all of you, including your blessing if you would like Jo.'

'I'd be honoured, Honey,' Jo blushed, 'if you have the time?'

'Speaking of time, it's time we got this show on the road,' Honey lifted the boiling milk from the stove. 'If you ladies would just get your end of the Hot Chocolate's ready,' she berated, 'or we'll have several men invading the kitchen looking for us.'

'You really think that will happen,' Sally asked sarcastically. 'Given half an opportunity, Brian and I suspect Mart want to integrate Trixie.'

'Jim, too,' Honey added. 'I wish them luck. Getting anything out of my brother or Trix if they don't want to divulge their secrets will be harder than getting blood from a stone.'

'I've headed them off at the pass,' Di commented, leaning against the door frame. 'Thanks for keeping my secret Honey.'

'Hey,' she smile at her friend, 'mines out in the open too.'

'OK,' Di sighed, 'what do we do now?'

'I've got a plan,' Jo chimed in. 'Let's get these hot chocolates poured, answer all of Trixie's questions and then, leave her alone with Jim. I have a feeling if they can work out their issues we're all going to be a lot happier.'

'You did put them in the same room,' Linnie asked, 'didn't you?'

'Yes,' Di nodded, looking to Honey for support. 'We thought it might help…'

'Let's wait,' the shy girl managed to say, swallowing convulsively. 'I know this will all work out. It just has to because they belong together.' Jo, Sally, Honey and Di's jaws dropped. They hadn't expected the most introverted and conservative member of their group to be so supportive. 'What,' Linnie looked at them with an expression of incredulity, 'I might not have the highly educated and influential backgrounds you do,' she paused for effect, 'but even I can see when two people love each other. Come on, we have work to do.'