Eyes Wide Open
By Laura/MotownGirl
June 1940 – Sleepyside-on-Hudson, New York
Dan Mangan, the epitome of “tall, dark and handsome”, steered his roadster down dark, narrow Glen Road. He glanced over at the raven-haired beauty asleep in the passenger seat and smiled. Looking at her now, one would never know what a mouth she had on her, he reflected.
Dan’s passenger, Diana Lynch, had just finished typing up his dictation of a story that just might keep Paul Trent, publisher of Spy Magazine, from printing a story about Peter Belden’s alleged infidelity with a dancer in New York City. The sordid details were relayed to him by reporter Jim Frayne, who had arrived at Dan’s house after attending Trixie Belden Mangan’s engagement party, more than a little drunk and angry with the situation in which he’d been placed. Jim had quickly developed a serious crush on Trixie and didn’t want to hurt her, yet he was there to do a job.
Frayne and his photographer, Diana, had been sent by Trent to cover Trixie’s wedding to Benjamin Riker, a senior manager for Mr. Belden’s company and member of the nouveau riche. It was simple blackmail on Trent’s part; if Trixie didn’t allow them to exclusively cover the wedding, Trent would publish the story about her father. Trent had sent Dan, a former employee who happened to be Trixie’s ex-husband, to deliver the news and introduce Frayne and Lynch to Trixie and her mother. Trixie had been shocked to see Dan, who she hadn’t seen since the divorce. The last she had heard he was living out of the country and writing for some tabloid.
Trixie had reacted as Dan expected. She was rude and dismissive, and she accused him of enjoying his role as messenger of Trent’s blackmail. She generally had a fit before accepting the inevitable. She wanted to keep the reputation of her family intact, even though she was angry with her father. He and her mother were currently separated, and she suspected that the rumors of a dalliance with dancer Dot Murray might be true. The interlopers were to pose as friends of her brother Brian, who was a doctor currently working in South America. They were to stay at the Belden home, a mansion named Crabapple Farm, although there was nothing farm-like about it, and do a story about the wedding day of the society bride.
Why had Trent chosen Dan to be the bad guy? Because he knew Dan still had a soft spot for Trixie and her family, even though she had divorced him after a short marriage due to their constant fighting over his perceived inadequacies. Dan had dealt with his inability to please her by drinking - a lot.
Dan pulled his roadster up near the front door of the Belden mansion. Diana awakened and stretched as the car stopped. “Oh, I can’t imagine what makes me so sleepy.”
He smiled at her. “Couldn’t be the company, could it?”
Out of the shadows, an elderly man appeared with a flashlight. He approached the car. “Well, it’s you, Mister Mangan.”
“Hello, Maypenny.” Dan pulled his long, lean frame out of the car.
Maypenny smiled. “I heard you were about.”
“Any prowlers around?” he asked.
Maypenny shook his head. “No, no. No prowlers.”
Dan opened the passenger door of the car and helped Diana, dressed in a nice but conservative evening gown, out of her seat as Maypenny opened the front door for them. “Thanks, Maypenny. Good Night.”
“Good night, sir,” Maypenny said as he tipped his cap and moved off into the night.
Dan and Diana walked into the large, opulent entryway. “Well, home after a hard day’s blackmailing,” Diana cracked as she leaned over to take off her high heels. "When are you going to telephone Trent?"
“In time to get him here for the wedding,” Dan smirked.
“Why?” asked Diana, leaning against a large marble pillar.
Dan leaned against the other side of the pillar. He removed the typewritten story from the pocket of his plaid sports coat and looked at her. “Oh, a sort of wedding present.”
“If it works,” Diana said quickly, looking away.
He held the papers towards her. “I could still tear it up.”
She shook her head emphatically. “No, Jim’s only chance to become a really fine writer is to get fired.”
He smiled at her. “You’re a good number, Diana.”
“Oh, I just photograph well,” she replied as she turned and walked towards the wide staircase. “I sure am out of focus now.”
He looked up at her. “Why don’t you take a swim?”
She stopped on the landing to turn, looking questioningly at him. “A swim?”
“Sure,” he said, leaning against the banister. “Trixie and I always took a swim after a party.”
“Did you? Bet it was fun. I’ll have to try it with Jim sometime.” She turned away from him to start up the stairs again.
“Diana – why don’t you marry him?”
She stopped on the stairs. How could she explain her reasoning to this man she hardly knew, especially when Jim had shown signs of being quite smitten with Trixie? She turned quickly to face Dan. “You really want to know? He’s still got a lot to learn. I don’t want to get in his way for a while. OK?”
Dan climbed the stairs to the landing. “Okay. It’s risky though, Diana. Suppose another girl came along in the meantime?”
A determined look crossed Diana’s pretty face and fire flashed in her violet eyes. “I’d scratch her eyes out, I guess. That is, unless she was going to marry someone else the next day.” She continued up the stairs to go to bed.
She was dog-tired, first having had to witness Jim practically drooling over Trixie at her engagement party at the estate of Andrew Belden, and then trailing a tipsy Jim to Dan Mangan’s home. There she had found Jim spilling his guts about the nefarious activities of Paul Trent to Dan, who saw a perfect opportunity to put a stop to Trent’s blackmail by turning the tables. She’d happily typed up the story with Jim’s byline, knowing that when Trent saw it, Jim would be fired from his job at the tabloid. Then maybe he could focus on being the writer she knew he was.
***
Dan wandered through the study toward the French doors that opened onto the Belden’s terrace. The moon was out and the night was warm. He was thinking of the many nights that he and Trixie had spent frolicking in the pool at his home before continuing their fun in the privacy of their suite. He had never stopped loving her, but he knew he was a mess by the time she demanded a divorce. After two stints in a sanitarium, he no longer drank alcohol, and he had come to realize that it had been his own pride and weakness that caused him to turn to the bottle rather than deal with the problem of Trixie’s impossibly high standards. She expected perfection from him and everyone else, and he was a very imperfect man. But no one was perfect, right? Not even Trixie, although one could never convince her of that. She was raised in a wealthy household, spoiled and coddled by a sweet but clueless mother and a doting father.
Dan’s reminiscing was interrupted by the sight of Benjamin Riker, still dressed for the party, walking onto the terrace. Riker was tall with blond hair, and most would say he was handsome. He was staying in the Belden’s gatehouse until the wedding the next day. He didn’t like the man, but Trixie was going to marry him, so he figured he needed to learn to at least tolerate the man. He opened the doors and stepped onto the terrace. “Hey! Hello, Riker!” he said in greeting.
“What are you doing here?” Riker sneered at him.
Dan grinned. “I’m a friend of the family’s. I just dropped in for a chat.”
“Don’t try to be funny,” said Riker, adjusting his jacket. “I asked you a question.”
Dan looked at him sideways. “I could ask you the same question.”
Riker bristled. “Well, I telephoned Trixie and no one answered. I was worried so I walked over from the gatehouse.”
“I was worried, too.” Dan sauntered over to a nearby table. He noticed an open bottle of Pommery champagne and two glasses sitting on the table next to the radio and wondered who’d had their own private party that night.
“About what?” Benjamin demanded, bringing Dan out of his momentary reverie.
Dan looked up. “What do you think of this fellow Frayne?” He turned to face Riker. “Or do you?”
Benjamin turned red. “Listen, if you’re trying to insinuate –”
“My dear chap,” Dan interrupted, “I wouldn’t insinuate anything, only, uh…” he stopped suddenly as he spotted Trixie’s diamond bracelet and engagement ring on the table behind the radio. Looking out toward the pool he knew was beyond the trees, his eyes widened with the realization that Trixie might not only have gone for a swim, but that she was most likely not alone. Jim had left Dan’s house some time ago to return to the Beldens’, after all.
“Riker, I’d advise you to go to bed,” Dan urged.
“I don’t want your advice, Mangan. I’m staying right here.”
“You’re making a mistake,” replied Dan. “Somehow I don’t think you’ll understand –"
“You better leave that to--” He stopped suddenly, looking into the dark.
Wafting through the night, they could both hear a man’s voice singing. “Somewhere, over the rainbow…”
As Riker peered in the direction of the singing, Dan took the opportunity to slip Trixie’s bracelet and ring into his pocket.
“What’s that?” asked Riker.
“Oh, that’s Maypenny, the night watchman,” explained Dan. “Always singing. I’ll walk you around the house,” he added, taking Riker’s arm to try to get him started in a direction away from the terrace.
“Something’s going on here, and I’m staying,” said Riker, shaking his arm loose from Dan’s grip.
Dan turned as if to go back into the house and shrugged. “All right then. Take the works. Only heaven help you.”
The singing grew louder and more off-key as Jim Frayne appeared out of the darkness wearing a bathrobe. He was carrying Trixie, also in a bathrobe, in his arms, as well as a bundle of clothes. Her shapely legs were bare, her head was on his shoulder, and her arms were firmly wrapped around his neck.
“-- Way up, high, there’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby,” Jim continued as Trixie kicked her legs. They continued to move towards the terrace. “Dreams that I dream…Uh Oh,” Jim exclaimed as he spotted Dan and Riker.
Trixie, her eyes closed, slurred, “Don’t stop, Jimmy, keep crooning.”
Jim cleared his throat and resumed his song as he stepped onto the terrace. “Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high…”
“What is this, Frayne?” Riker interrupted as he gestured at the robe-clad couple.
“Now, now. Easy, old man,” Dan said to Riker. “She’s not hurt?”
“No, no.” Jim shook his head.
Trixie briefly lifted her head off of Jim’s shoulder but still didn’t open her eyes, her golden curls in disarray. “Not wounded, but dead,” she muttered.
“Seems the minute she hit the water the wine hit her,” Jim explained with a grin.
“Now look here Frayne –,” Riker stepped towards Jim and Trixie.
Dan suddenly stepped in front of Riker, facing Jim. “A likely story, Frayne.”
“What’d you say?” Jim gaped.
“I said, a likely story,” Dan repeated.
Jim straightened as much as possible while holding a limp Trixie. “Now, listen. If you think…”
“You’ll be down directly?” interrupted Dan.
“Yes, if you want,” Jim agreed.
“I want.” Dan looked back and forth between Riker and Jim. Trixie lifted her head slightly and opened her eyes and peered at Dan.
“Hello, Dan.” She then looked at Riker and greeted him in a deep voice, “Hullo, Ben”. Looking up at Jim, she smiled and wrapped her arms more tightly around him. “Hello, Jim.” As Dan and Riker watched, Jim moved to carry Trixie into the house.
“Second door, top of the stairs. Mind you don’t wake Bobby,” Dan called after him, referring to Trixie’s precocious twelve year-old brother.
Just as they reached the doorway Trixie blurted in a sing-song voice, “My feet are made of clay, made of clay. Did you know? Good night, Mother.” She waved at Dan and Riker.
Dan watched as Jim disappeared into the house with his burden. Trixie never drank since one unfortunate occasion years before, and she had no tolerance for those who over-indulged. Yet she had obviously had way too much to drink tonight.
Dan turned back to Riker with a smile. “How the mighty have fallen. Well, if I know
Trixie, and I know her well, she’ll remember little of this. For the second time in her life, she’ll draw quite a tidy little blank.”
Riker looked at Dan pensively as he nibbled on a cuticle. “Oh…”
“You don’t believe it then?” Dan asked him.
“Believe what?” Riker spoke quickly.
Dan spoke slowly. “Well, the…implications of what you saw, let us say.”
Riker began to pace back and forth. “Well, what else am I supposed to believe?”
“That’s entirely up to you.” He put his hands in his pockets and looked at Riker, curious to know if he would assume the worst.
“I’ve got eyes; I’ve got imagination, haven’t I?”
“I don’t know, have you?” Dan shot back, irritated. It was just as he thought – the guy assumed that Trixie had been up to no good with Jim!
“Oh, so you pretend not to believe it?” Riker glared.
Eyes wide, Dan replied, “Yes, I pretend not to.” On the surface, Dan looked calm. Inside, he was beginning to seethe. Who did Riker think he was to jump to such conclusions about his – about Trixie?
“Then you don’t know women,” Riker scoffed.
“That’s possible,” Dan acknowledged, struggling to keep his temper in check.
“And you’re a fool.”
“Well, that’s quite possible. You won’t be too hard on her, will you?” Dan inquired politely, inwardly thinking that Trixie was much too good for this man who obviously didn’t trust her.
“I’ll make up my own mind what I’ll be.”
He looks like a child about to have a tantrum, Dan observed. “We’re all only human, you know.”
Riker threw up his arms in disgust. “All of you, with your sophisticated ideas!”
“Ain’t it awful?” Dan grinned. Yep, here comes the tantrum. He saw Jim stepping through the doorway onto the terrace, still wearing a bath robe, after successfully depositing Trixie in her room.
Jim looked at Dan and Riker. “Well?” he asked, somewhat sarcastically.
Riker made straight for Jim, fist raised to take a swing. “Why you low --”
Dan suddenly leaped in front of Riker and hit Jim soundly in the jaw before Riker could connect. Jim staggered and dropped to the ground. That was close, thought Dan.
Riker angrily exclaimed, “Say, listen, what right have you – “
Dan stared at him evenly as he felt his knuckles gingerly. “A husband’s. ‘Til tomorrow, Riker.”
Riker threw a final glare at both Jim and Dan before stalking off towards the gatehouse.
Good riddance – we’re finally rid of him, for tonight anyway. How did Trixie ever fall for someone like him? Dan looked down where Jim still laid on the terrace. He bent down to rouse him. “Hey, hey fella.” He sat down on the ground next to Jim. “How do you feel?”
Jim looked up at Dan and shook his head as if to clear it. “Now look. If you think I -”
“I know,” Dan interrupted. “I’m sorry. But I thought I’d better hit you before he did. He’s in better shape than I am.”
“Well, you’ll do,” Jim said as he rubbed his jaw and sat up.
At that moment, Maypenny, having heard the commotion, hurried onto the terrace. “Hello again, Mr. Mangan. Anything wrong?”
“Not a thing, Maypenny,” Dan smiled. “Just as quiet as a church.”
Maypenny looked down at the man who was sitting with his hands covering his face. When the man looked up at him, he could see it was Jim. “Doggone it, I thought it might have been Mr. Riker,” he smiled.
“Well, we can’t have everything, Maypenny.” Dan laughed.
Maypenny nodded in agreement. With a “Good Night” and a wave, he headed back into the darkness.
As Dan helped Jim up from the terrace, they didn’t realize they were being observed from a second-floor window. Bobby Belden had heard every word of what transpired, and this was a secret too good to keep. Trixie couldn’t marry that horrible Ben Riker now! It was obvious that she was in love with Jim Frayne, and one couldn’t marry one person when they loved another, could they? He never understood why she and Dan had divorced. He simply adored Dan. But now she loved Jim. He went back to bed to think about what he had witnessed and what he needed to do.
***
The next morning, Andrew Belden, dressed in a morning coat and striped trousers, walked carefully down the staircase of his home. He had drunk quite too much champagne the night before, and his head felt like it might come off at any moment. The butler approached Andrew to hand him his top hat.
“Mr. Belden,” the butler said quietly as Andrew winced.
“Good grief, man, don’t scream at me at the top of your voice like that,” Andrew chided as he set his hat upon his head as if it hurt him to do so.
“Mr. Bobby is waiting for you, sir,” whispered the butler.
“Mr. Bobby, waiting for me? Where and why?”
“Just outside the door, sir. I don’t know why,” the butler added as he opened the front door for Andrew.
“This is one of those days which the pages of history teach us are best spent lying in bed,” Andrew muttered as he winced at the sunlight streaming through the door.
“Yes, sir,” the butler murmured, shutting the door behind his employer.
Andrew stepped outside to see Bobby sitting in a small pony-drawn cart. He was wearing a suit in which he looked none too comfortable.
Sighting his uncle, Bobby shouted “Uncle Andrew!” Andrew winced again and turned to go back inside, but Bobby jumped out of the cart and ran to him, grabbing his arm.
“Where are you going?” Bobby asked loudly.
“Back to bed unless you give me your oath you’ll speak in a civilized tone of voice,” Andrew said softly.
Bobby led Andrew back towards the cart saying somewhat more quietly, “I’ll be quiet, Uncle Andrew. It’s so important that I see you.”
“Must we ride in that?” asked Andrew, eyeing the cart dubiously. “Wouldn’t we be more comfortable on pogo sticks?”
Bobby giggled as they climbed into the cart. “I had to be alone with you, and this is very private.” He clucked at the pony to tell him to go, and the cart began moving down the road. Glen Road between Andrew’s home and Crabapple Farm was rather bumpy in places. As they hit a particularly bad pothole Andrew moaned and held his head.
“What’s the matter?” asked Bobby, looking at Andrew.
“Nothing, nothing. My head just fell off, that’s all,” Andrew replied.
Bobby proceeded to fill his uncle in on what he had overheard on the terrace the night before as they completed their short journey to the Farm. The details were somewhat garbled, as Bobby wasn’t the best communicator when he was excited. He continued his chatter when they arrived. Bobby led Andrew into the back yard, which was now gaily decorated for the wedding reception. Numerous tables and chairs, complete with centerpieces and place settings, filled the yard. A long table for the bridal party was on the terrace. On it sat a huge, elaborate wedding cake.
As Andrew sat down in a chair at the long table with a sigh, he asked Bobby, “Now what is all this gibberish about Mr. Frayne? What makes you suspect what and since when?”
“Last night and well into the morning, Uncle Andrew. Isn’t it my duty to tell Ben?”
“He might want to marry her anyway,” Andrew observed as he closed his eyes and leaned his head on his arm.
“But she can’t!” exclaimed Bobby. "If she marries anyone it’s just got to be Mr. Frayne!"
Dan, who had just arrived himself, sauntered over to the table as he lit his pipe, looking every bit the dapper playboy in a light-colored casual suit and shirt with no tie. “Why, Bobby, what makes you think she should?”
“Apparently the little cherub has heard or seen something,” Andrew explained.
“Ah, that’s my Bobby,” observed Dan.
Andrew looked closely at Dan. “I must say, you have a certain amount of cheek, walking in here on this of all mornings.”
“Do I?” asked Dan, looking innocent. He wasn’t about to miss the day’s festivities. Besides, he wasn’t sure how much, if any, Trixie would remember about the night before.
“Yes,” replied Andrew.
Dan turned to Bobby. “What’s all this about Mr. Frayne? What’s the matter? Did the party last night give you bad dreams?”
Bobby shook his head emphatically. “It wasn’t any dream.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure,” he said persuasively. “It’s pretty hard to tell once you’ve gone to sleep, isn’t it?” His eyes darted up towards Bobby’s window on the second floor and back to Bobby. I wonder if he was awake during the excitement last night, he thought.
“Is it?” asked Bobby slyly.
Meanwhile, Trixie had awakened with a pounding headache and a very upset stomach. When she attempted to open her eyes, the sunlight streaming through her window caused her to close them again immediately. Knowing she had to rise and dress for her wedding, she slowly made her way to the window, eyes still shut, and closed the curtains. She suddenly realized she was wearing her swimsuit and a bathrobe, not her nightclothes. Why in the world was she wearing a swimsuit? She had no memory of swimming the night before. She must have been very tired to forget a swim and then fall asleep before changing.
She slowly changed into a lovely, floor length white gown with flowing sleeves. It wasn’t a formal wedding gown, but quite fitting for a second wedding being held in the summer. She tamed her curls as best as possible and applied a bit of makeup. As she made a futile attempt to hide the evidence of what she perceived as a lack of sleep, her bare hands caught her attention. Oh no! Where was her engagement ring? And her diamond bracelet? She madly searched her dressing table, her jewelry box, and the bedding – no ring or bracelet. How was she going to explain the loss of her ring to Ben? She decided it was all too much to deal with when she felt like her head was about to explode. Perhaps there’s a simple explanation, she tried to tell herself.
As she was leaving her room, she almost stepped on something lying on the floor by the door. It was a man’s wristwatch. What in the world is this doing in my room? She wondered. She picked it up and made her way downstairs.
Hearing voices on the terrace, Trixie opened the French doors, took a step out into the bright sunlight, and then promptly put her arm over her eyes and turned to go back inside.
“What ho, the bride!” exclaimed Andrew as Bobby simultaneously yelled “Trixie!”
Trixie turned slowly to the group gathered on the terrace, hanging onto the doorframe for support. “Hello,” she said slowly. She put a hand on her stomach and took a deep breath. “Isn’t it a fine day though?”
She slowly made her way to the couch on the terrace and leaned against it as they stared at her. “Is everybody fine?” When she received no response she continued. “That’s fine. My, I’m hearty.” She sank slowly onto the couch, looking pale.
Dan approached her, sitting on the arm of the couch as Andrew rose to stand next to him and Bobby stood behind her.
“Well, how do you feel otherwise?” Dan asked her.
Trixie, squinting in the sunlight, responded “I don’t know what’s the matter with me. I must have had too much sun yesterday. My eyes don’t open properly.”
“Really?” asked Dan, leaning close to her and almost waving his pipe under her nose.
“Ugh!” exclaimed Trixie as she pulled away from the pipe. Her stomach turned as she begged, “Please go home, Dan.”
“Not until we’ve got those eyes open,” answered Dan with a devastating smile. She looked away from him, realizing that her uncle was still staring at her. “Uncle Andrew!” she exclaimed. “Good morning.”
“That remains to be seen,” replied Andrew.
Trixie looked puzzled. “Aren’t you here early, Uncle Andrew?”
“It’s nearly half past twelve!” cried Bobby.
“What? It can’t be.” Trixie looked panicked. “Where’s Mother?”
“She’s talking with the orchestra. Father is with the minister. And Mr. Frayne, he hasn’t come down yet,” Bobby added smugly.
“And it’s Saturday, your wedding day, remember?” Dan reminded her. He knew he shouldn’t be enjoying Trixie’s misery, but seeing her in this vulnerable state helped him remember the real Trixie beneath the façade of perfection.
“Thanks loads,” grimaced Trixie. "It’s nice to have things account—,”she stopped suddenly, looking down at the wristwatch she held in her hand. “Only I wonder what this might be?”
“That looks terribly like a wristwatch,” supplied Dan helpfully.
“But whose?” Trixie mused. "I found it in my room. I nearly stepped on it.” She smiled nervously. “Also, I think I was robbed at your house last night, Uncle Andrew. My bracelet and engagement ring are missing—,” she stopped as Dan pulled the jewelry out of his pocket and placed them in her hand.
“Here you are,” he smiled.
“But you weren’t at the party,” Trixie said slowly, looking even more puzzled.
“Wasn’t I?” asked Dan. Oh, he was definitely enjoying this.
Trixie looked up at him. “Were you?”
Dan laughed. “Now don’t tell me you don’t remember.”
Trixie laughed weakly. “I do. Now. Sort of. But there were such a lot of people… I stayed so late."
“Oh, you should’ve taken a quick swim when you got home,” Dan said, watching her closely.
“A swim?” Trixie looked toward the pool, blue eyes widening. “A swim?”
Dan grinned, “There, now they’re open!” She really has no idea what happened last night.
“That was just the beginning, and it was no dream!” Bobby interjected.
Dan rose and turned to Andrew. “Do you suppose, speaking of eye openers…"
“First sane remark I’ve heard today,” replied Andrew. "Come along, Dan. I know a formula said to pop the pennies off the eyelids of a dead Irishman.” Andrew headed into the house, presumably to mix said formula, with Dan following. Dan turned suddenly to speak to Bobby.
“Oh, Bobby, if the conversation should lag, you might want to tell Trixie about your dream.” Smiling again, he followed Andrew inside.
Trixie looked at Bobby. “What did he say?” Head throbbing, she wondered why Dan was not only at her home, but evidently trying to cause some sort of trouble. Or was he?
“Oh, nothing,” he replied as he sat on the arm of the couch and hugged her. “Trix, I hate for you to get married and go away.”
She leaned her head against Bobby’s hand. “I’ll miss you Bobby, I’ll miss you all.”
Bobby let go of her saying, “You know, I did have the funniest dream about you last night.”
Trixie sat up straight. “Did you? Do you like my dress, Bobby?”
He shrugged disinterestedly. “It’s nice, I guess.”
“It feels awfully heavy,” she said. She really didn’t feel well. She looked at the engagement ring on her hand as she smoothed a wrinkle out of her dress. She was happy to have the ring and bracelet back, but how in the world had they ended up in Dan’s pocket? She was sure he wasn’t at the engagement party. Part of her felt the need to solve this mystery, but not right now. She couldn’t think.
“It was all pretty rooty tooty,” spoke Bobby, breaking into her thoughts.
“What was?”
“My dream!” said Bobby, looking at Trixie scornfully.
Trixie rose slowly to lean against the doorframe once again, eyes closed. “Oh, Bobby,” she sighed.
Bobby continued as if she had said nothing. “I dreamed I got up and went over to the window. And guess what I dreamed I saw coming out of the woods?”
Trixie, eyes still closed, asked tiredly, “I haven’t the faintest idea. A skunk?”
“Well, sort of. It was Mr. Frayne,” Bobby chortled.
“Mr. Frayne?”
“Yes, with both his arms full of something, and guess what it turned out to be?”
“What?” asked Trixie hesitantly as she opened her eyes.
“You! And some clothes. Wasn’t it funny? It was sort of like as if you were coming from the pool.”
Trixie chewed her bottom lip worriedly. “The pool?” She shook her head. Did I go for a swim with Jim Frayne? Why would I have done that? “I’m going crazy,” she said aloud. “I’m standing here on my own two hands and going crazy.” She moved closer to Bobby, resisting the urge to grab him by the arms. “Then what?"
“Then, after a while, I opened my door a crack, and there he was in the hall…still coming along with you, puffing like a steam engine. His wind can’t be very good.” Bobby stood up and moved away from Trixie.
She immediately followed him and came around to stand in front of him. “Then what?” she demanded.
He looked up at her. “You were sort of crooning.”
“I’ve never crooned in my life,” she protested.
He shrugged again. “I’m only saying what it sounded like. And then he…Guess what?”
She ran her hand through her hair impatiently. “I couldn’t possibly.”
“He sailed right into your room with you. That scared me, so I got up and went to your door and peeked in to make sure you were all right. And guess what?"
“What?” she snapped.
“You were! He was gone by then,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Gone?” Trixie straightened. "Of course he was gone. He was never there!” Bobby had a silly dream, that’s all there is to it, she thought to herself.
Bobby smiled, “I know, Trixie.”
She sat down at the bridal table, breathing deeply to settle her stomach. “I should certainly hope you did.”
Bobby slowly picked up a dish of candy from the table and examined it. “I’m certainly glad I do. Because if I didn’t, and in a little while I heard the minister say ‘if anyone who knows any just cause or reason why these two should not be united in holy matrimony,’” Trixie looked at him in horror as he continued “-- I just wouldn’t know what to do! Dan says it’s a dream, too.”
“Dan?" she grabbed on to his arm. "You told Dan all that?”
He shook his head. “Not a word; not a single word. But you know how quick he is.”
Trixie clutched her hair. “Bobby, you little fiend, how can you stand there and say—“
At that moment, Peter Belden walked onto the terrace, dressed in his morning suit. “Bobby, your mother wants to have a good look at you.”
“I look wonderful,” boasted Bobby, “and I smell good, too.” He slowly returned the candy dish to the table, watching the interaction between Trixie and their father.
Trixie rose from her chair, surprised to see her father. With her parents separated, she had not expected him to attend the wedding. She slowly approached him. “Father?”
“Yes, Trixie?"
“I’m glad you came back. I’m glad you’re here.”
Mr. Belden looked surprised at her sentiment. “Why, thank you, child.”
Trixie looked at the ground as she said, “I’m sorry, I’m truly sorry I’m a disappointment to you.”
Peter looked at her kindly. “I never said that, daughter, and I never will.” At that, he turned and went back into the house.
Trixie stood alone, looking into the distance. She really was glad her father had come, especially since neither Brian nor her brother Mart, a professor at Cornell, could be here for the ceremony. She loved her father in spite of her anger at the pain his infidelity had caused her mother. Perhaps her parents would be able to work things out.
Jim Frayne chose that moment to walk slowly onto the terrace, dressed in a suit and tie but looking a bit worse for wear. “Good morning,” he said to Trixie.
Trixie jumped, startled out of her reverie. “Oh, hello.”
“Hello.” Jim sniffed the air. “Testing the air. I like it, but it doesn’t like me.” He noticed that both Trixie and Bobby, who was still lurking near the bridal table, were staring at him. “Hello, Bobby.”
“Hello,” Bobby replied, narrowing his eyes.
Trixie cleared her throat. “Did you have a good sleep?” she asked, thinking that he looked rather tired. Even his red hair didn’t seem quite as bright as usual.
Jim grinned. “Wonderful, wonderful. You?” He moved toward her as she took a step back.
“Mar-marvelous. Have you ever seen a handsomer day?” She continued to move backwards as he advanced. She stood behind a high-backed wicker chair to put space between them.
“Never, never. What did it set you back?” Jim stepped around the chair, once again entering her personal space.
Trixie summoned a smile, still attempting to believe everything was just fine. “I got it for nothing, for being a good girl.”
“Good, good,” Jim remarked. They looked at each other awkwardly, and then at Bobby, who stood listening to their interaction with great interest.
“Don’t worry, I’m going,” said Bobby.
“Why should you?” asked Trixie, realizing she would be left alone with Jim.
“Well, I guess you must have things to discuss. Only remember, it’s getting late.” With that, he went into the house to pester someone else.
“He’s always trying to make situations,” she apologized.
“Well…” He grinned, leaning very close to her.
“Well.” What is wrong with him? Why is he looking at me like that? She suddenly noticed a bruise on his chin. “What’s the matter with your chin?”
“Chin?” Jim touched his chin gingerly. “Oh, oh. Does it show very much?”
“A little,” she observed. “What happened?"
“I stuck it out too far,” he joked.
Her smile disappeared. “Into a door in the dark?” she asked, fervently hoping it hadn’t been her bedroom door he had run into.
He nodded. “Yes, yes. That’s it. Trixie, what about you? You all right?” He gently took her arm.
She pulled away from his warm touch. “Me? Oh, of course. Why shouldn’t I be?” Breathe, Trixie.
“Well, that was a lot of wine we drank,” he said, following her as she attempted to put space between them.
“I guess we’re lucky both to have such good heads,” she said. Did I get drunk last night? But I would never - yet the last thing I remember was dancing at the party – with Jim! Why can’t I remember?
“Yeah, yeah… I guess that’s it.” They both sat down at one of the small tables, Jim sitting very close to Trixie. Must he sit so close?
“Well, anyway, I had a simply wonderful evening. I hope you enjoyed it, too.” Trixie carefully watched for Jim’s reaction.
“I enjoyed the last part of it,” he said emphatically.
Trixie suddenly looked apprehensive. “Really? Why especially the last?” What in blazes had happened last night? She wondered.
He grinned. “Well, Trixie are you asking me?”
She laughed nervously as she struggled to think of a way to avoid letting Jim know she couldn’t remember a good portion of the prior evening’s events. Wait – she was wearing a swimsuit when she woke up this morning! “Oh, you mean the swim!”
“Well…” He laughed.
Trixie looked at his face, searching for a clue. “We did swim…and so forth, didn’t we? Jim…”
He looked at her adoringly. “Oh, Trixie darling…” He took both of her hands in his.
“Jim!” she blushed deeply and pulled her hands out of his.
“What can I say to you?” Jim implored. “Tell me, darling,” he said, moving closer to her.
Trixie stood up and turned away from him. “Not anything. Don’t say anything, and especially not darling.” What had she done for him to act this way?
He looked at her sadly. “Then you’re going through with it?”
“With what?” she asked sharply.
“The wedding!” he exclaimed.
“Why – why shouldn’t I?” she stuttered.
“Well, I made a funny discovery. In spite of the fact that somebody’s up from the bottom he can be quite a heel. And even though somebody else is born to the purple he can still be a very nice guy. Well, I’m just repeating what you said last night.” He rose to stand next to her.
Trixie closed her eyes and massaged her temples. “I said a lot of things last night, it seems.” And I evidently don’t remember any of it.
“OK, no dice. Also no regrets about last night, huh?” he asked her gently.
Trixie’s eyes grew wide as she turned to look at him. “Why should I have?” Her emotions were in turmoil. Had she really...no, it wasn’t possible!
He moved close to her. “Oh, Trixie, you’re wonderful,” he almost crooned as he moved to take her in his arms.
She pushed him away, running her hand through her curls and stamping her foot in exasperation. “You don’t understand what I mean. I’m asking you. Tell me straight out. Tell me the reason why I should have – No, don’t!” she exclaimed, holding out both hands in a “stop” motion. “Just tell me what time it is!” she finished, holding her head with one hand and her stomach with the other. Could this day get any worse?
Looking crestfallen, Jim noticed that his watch was missing. “Oh, I wonder what happened to my wristwatch.” He began checking his pockets.
Trixie’s face showed a look of dread. “Why, is it broken?” she asked hopefully.
“I must have lost it someplace,” he replied, still patting his pockets.
Trixie sighed deeply. “I can’t tell you how extremely sorry I am to hear that.” She pointed to his watch on the table where she had put it down. “There. On the table.”
He strapped on the watch. “I wonder who found it. I’d offer a reward or something.”
“I don’t think that any reward will be expected,” she said weakly.
“Funny it would pop up here, isn’t it?” He sighed, resigning himself to the fact that Trixie was determined to go forward with her marriage. “Hey, what about an eye-opener, huh?” he made an attempt to smile.
“My eyes are opened,” Trixie replied, looking at her hands. The presence of Jim’s watch in her room was the final clue. “You go ahead and get one if you want.”
“I think I will,” he said.
“All right,” she acknowledged absent-mindedly.
***
Jim entered the study to find Mrs. Belden on the phone. Her wedding attire included a large hat, which was perched on her head at an angle. She waved at him as she spoke into the phone. “Yes, yes. No, just give Mr. Riker a message. Tell him he’d better start immediately. Thank you.” She hung up the phone and turned to Jim. “Are you one of the musicians?”
Jim looked confused. “No,--“
“Of course,” Mrs. Belden interrupted. “You’re Brian’s friend. Only you’re not. You don’t have any violin strings, do you?”
Jim checked his pockets and held out a small container. “Aspirin. Will that do?”
Mrs. Belden thought for a moment. “I don’t think so. It’s for a violin. Oh well, don’t bother,” she said as she waved her arms and rushed out of the room.
Jim looked after her. “Oh, dear.” He really needed that eye-opener.
At that moment, the double doors off the study opened and Dan appeared, holding a glass of dark liquid.
“Hello, Frayne. How are you?” Dan asked with a smile.
“Well, just about as you’d think,” Jim replied. He gazed at Dan, who looked cool and collected. Of course, Dan wasn’t about to be fired. He wondered if Paul Trent had arrived. “You seen Trent?”
“No,” Dan replied. “I left a copy of the story at my house for him though.”
“And?”
“I’ll have it out with him after the wedding.” Dan shrugged.
Jim eyed the glass in Dan’s hand. “Is that an alcoholic beverage?”
“Yes, why?" Dan asked with a grin.
“For me?” asked Jim hopefully. His head was still pounding despite the aspirin he had taken earlier.
“It’s for Trixie,” Dan explained with a smile as he held the drink out of Jim’s reach. “Want one?”
“Listen, I’d sell my Great Aunt Nell for a drink,” joked Jim. “You know I love my Great Aunt Nell.”
“Well, Uncle Andrew’s in the pantry doing weird and wonderful things. Tell him I said one of the same.” Dan proceeded towards the terrace.
“Mind if I make it two?” Jim called after him.
Dan turned around with a grin. “That’s between you and your Great Aunt Nell.”
Dan found Trixie sitting in a chair at the edge of the pond looking down at her hands. He approached her slowly, sitting in front of her on the wall surrounding the pond. Placing the glass in her hands, he spoke gently. “Here. Doctor’s orders, Freckles.”
“What is it?” asked Trixie, looking up at him.
“Just the juice of a few flowers. It’s a type of stinger. It removes the sting,” he said kindly.
Trixie suddenly broke into tears. It seemed her whole world was falling apart. “Oh, Danny, don’t say that.”
"Why not, Freckles?” he asked in confusion.
“Nothing will. Nothing ever can,” she sobbed as she leaned towards him. "Oh, Danny, I…” she leaned back suddenly into her chair. “I’ve done the most terrible thing to you.”
His eyebrows rose. “To me?”
Trixie nodded.
“Oh, I doubt that. I doubt it very much, dear.”
Trixie placed her hand on his arm, still crying. “You don’t know. You don’t know.” How could she make him understand what she couldn’t put into words?
“Well, maybe I shouldn’t, huh?” The look in his dark eyes was kind, with no evidence of teasing. But she didn’t deserve his kindness!
Tears ran down her face. “But you must. You’ve got to. I couldn’t stand it if you didn’t. Dan, what am I going to do?” she asked desperately.
He looked at her gently. “But why to me, darling? Why ask me? Why do I come into it anymore? Aren’t you confusing me with someone else, some fellow named Riker or something?”
A look of realization crossed Trixie’s face. “Ben!” What would Ben think when he found out?
“Ben. Splendid chap, Benjamin. Very high morals. Very broad shoulders,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
“I’ve got to tell him!” she exclaimed. Ben deserved to know the truth, as hard as it was.
“Tell him what, darling?”
She handed her glass to Dan and rose, running towards the phone on the terrace. “I’ve got to tell him!”
He hurried to catch up to her, muttering to himself, “I’ve got to tell him, I’ve got to tell him? If he’s got any brains, he’ll see what a fool he’s made of himself.”
Trixie had already dialed the phone and was speaking. “Hello, Ben? This – yes, look Ben, I don’t care whether it’s bad luck or not, but I’ve got to see you for a minute before the wedding. What? No, I didn’t get it. Right, right. Come on the run.” She hung up and looked at Dan. “He sent a note over at ten o’clock.”
“Good. I told you he’d come to his senses.” Dan grinned.
Trixie’s eyes widened. “Was he here, too?”
“Sure.”
She threw up her hands. “Gleeps, why didn’t you sell tickets?” Dan offered her the drink once again, but she declined. She sat down at the bridal table and dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief as he leaned on the back of her chair. “Say something Danny. Say anything.”
“No, you do,” he replied quietly.
She sighed. “Oh, Danny, I’m such an unholy mess of a girl.”
He looked at her askance. “Well that’s no good. That’s not even conversation.”
“But never in my life…” She said slowly as she reached out to take Dan’s hand, still not looking at him, “not if I live to be a hundred will I forget how you tried to stand me on my own two feet again today.”
He scoffed. “You? You’re in great shape. Tell me, what did you think of my wedding present?” He sat next to her. “I like my presents at least acknowledged, you know.”
She smiled. Dan had given her a miniature version of the True Love, the sail boat on which they had spent their honeymoon, as his wedding gift. She had always loved that boat. “It was beautiful. And sweet, Danny.”
"Yes…yeah,” replied Dan quietly. “She was quite a boat, the True Love, wasn’t she?”
“Was…and is,” Trixie agreed.
“My, she was yare,” reminisced Dan.
“She was yare, all right,” Trixie replied before looking at him furtively. “I…wasn’t, was I?”
“Not very,” Dan acknowledged. “You were good at the bright work, though.”
She smiled a genuine smile. “I made her shine. Where is she now?”
“I’m going to sell her to Ruth Kettner.”
Her smile faded. “You’re going to sell the True Love? For money?”
“Sure.” He shrugged.
“To that fat old rumpot?” She asked incredulously.
“Oh, well, what does it matter?” he asked matter-of-factly. “When you’re through with a boat, you’re through. Besides, it was only comfortable for two people. Unless you want her.” He looked at her with an expression she couldn’t decipher.
She shook her head, tears trickling down her cheeks. “No, no, I don’t want her,” she almost whispered. The True Love was part of a life she had chosen to throw away.
“Well, I’m designing another one, anyway, along more practical lines,” he informed her.
She looked down, not making eye contact with him. “What will you call her?”
“I thought the True Love II. What do you think?” he asked in a challenging tone.
Trixie huffed, “Dan, if you call any boat that, I promise I’ll blow you and it out of the water. I’ll tell you what you can call her.”
“What?”
“In fond remembrance of me. The Easy Virtue.” She spoke sadly.
He glared at her. “Shut up, Freckles. I can’t have you thinking things like that about yourself.”
She turned to him, a look of resignation on her face. “Well, what am I supposed to think when I…? Oh, I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore.”
Dan smiled at her. “That sounds very helpful, Freckles. That sounds just fine.”
Trixie looked up at him in surprise as Mrs. Belden rushed onto the terrace and over to Trixie. “Trixie? We’re almost ready. Stand up dear, turn around.” Trixie obediently stood and twirled in front of her mother. “Oh, yes, lovely. I’m glad we decided against –” She suddenly noticed Dan’s presence. “Dan, you shouldn’t be here – against the blue one, dear.” Dan playfully moved to hide under the table. “Now, no games, Dan.” She turned her attention to Trixie once again as Dan resumed his seat. “Ben will be right over. I just phoned. Here’s a note he sent this morning.”
Trixie wordlessly took the note from her mother.
Mrs. Belden took a final look at the decorated yard and rushed back towards the house saying, “Oh, dear, doesn’t everything look lovely!” She was met at the door by Jim, Diana, and a balding man wearing religious robes. “Doctor Parsons!” she greeted.
“Trixie?” called Doctor Parsons, seeing her in the yard.
Mrs. Belden gently stopped him. “Oh, Mr. Riker hasn’t arrived yet, Doctor Parsons. Come along, I want you to meet Trixie’s Aunt Alicia.” She turned to Trixie saying, “Now, Trixie, don’t sit down again until after the ceremony. Oh, by the way, Dan, they telephoned from your house that a Mr. Paul Trent was there. I was to tell you that he’s reading it. Whatever on earth does that mean?”
Diana gave Jim a sideways look as Mrs. Belden, not waiting for an answer to her question, proceeded indoors with the minister.
Jim and Diana stepped out onto the terrace. “Well, I have a feeling it won’t be so hard for me to resign now,” Jim commented.
“And belts will be worn tighter this winter,” added Diana.
Dan stood up. “Well, Freckles, I’m afraid it’s the deadline.”
Trixie, who had been reading the note from Ben, said, “So is this – listen. 'My dear Trixie, I want you to know you will always be my friend but your conduct last night was so shocking to my ideals of womanhood that –'” she stopped as Jim and Diana made to leave. “No, don’t go. You might as well hear it, too.” She pressed on, “'to my ideals of womanhood that my attitude toward you and the prospect of a happy and useful life together has been changed materially. Your breach of common decency—'”
“Trixie!” An angry Ben, dressed in a morning suit and looking handsome but tired, walked up to her.
“Hello, Ben.”
“Trixie, all these people!” Ben sputtered.
“It’s only a letter from a friend. They’re my friends, too.” She looked around at them and continued, “'certainly entitles me to a full explanation before going through with our proposed marriage. In the light of day, I am sure that you will agree with me. Otherwise, with profound regrets and all best wishes, yours very sincere—'” She stopped and looked at Ben. “Yes, Ben, I quite agree with you. In the light of day and the dark of night, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sickness, and in health, and….thank you so very much for your good wishes at this time.”
Ben looked at her incredulously. “That’s all you have to say?”
Trixie threw up her hands. “What else? I wish for your sake as well as mine that I had an explanation, but unfortunately I’ve none. You’d better just say good riddance, Ben.” She looked down at her hands.
Ben looked downward. “It isn’t easy, you know?”
“I don’t see why.”
“Say something, stupid!” Diana urged Jim.
“Wait just a minute,” Jim protested.
“What for?” Diana demanded.
“On the very eve of your wedding, an affair with another man!” Ben exclaimed.
Trixie faced him. “I told you I agree, Ben! I’ll tell you again, good riddance to me!”
“Trixie, your attitude is a little difficult to understand.” Ben shook his head.
Trixie nodded. “Yes, I can see it would be.”
“Not necessarily,” Dan interjected.
Ben shook a finger at Dan. “You keep out of this!”
Dan smiled. “You forget, I am out of it.”
“Riker,” Jim said testily, “it may interest you to know that this so-called affair consisted of exactly two kisses and a rather late swim.”
Trixie interrupted him. “Thanks, Jim, but—"
“Which I thoroughly enjoyed, and the memory of which I wouldn’t part with for anything!” Jim continued as if Trixie hadn’t spoken.
“It’s no use Jim!” cried Trixie.
“After which I deposited Trixie on her bed in her room and promptly returned down here to you two,” Jim gestured to Dan and Ben, “which, doubtless, you remember.”
“Doubtless, without a doubt,” added Dan.
Ben looked at Jim, in disbelief. “You mean to say that’s all there was to it?”
Trixie looked confused as Jim nodded his head emphatically and responded, “I do!”
Trixie strode angrily up to Jim, almost standing on his feet as she tried to look him in the eye. “WHY? Was I so unattractive? So distant? So forbidding or something?” she almost shouted.
Ben looked at her with disgust. “This is fine talk, too!”
“I’m asking a question!” Trixie exclaimed, still in Jim’s face.
Jim looked down at her fondly. “You were extremely attractive! As for distant and forbidding, on the contrary, but you were also a little the worse, or better, for wine, and there are rules about that.”
Trixie stepped back with a grin. “Thank you, Jim. I think men are wonderful."
“The little dears,” Diana observed.
“I fail to see the humor in this situation, Miss Lynch!” fumed Ben.
“I can appreciate that,” she responded. “It was hard for me, too, at first.”
Trixie placed her hand on Diana’s arm, realizing that this woman not only loved Jim, she had behaved so much better than Trixie herself. “Oh, Diana, I—“
“Oh, it’s all right, Trixie,” Diana interrupted. “We all go haywire at times. And if we don’t, maybe we ought to.”
“Diana?” Trixie looked puzzled.
“You see,” Diana said, addressing Ben, “it wasn’t Trixie at all, Mr. Riker. It was another girl, a Miss Pommery, 1926.”
Ben faced Trixie accusingly. “You’d had too much to drink, Trixie!”
“That seems to be the consensus of opinion,” Trixie acknowledged.
“Will you promise me never to touch the stuff again?” he asked her.
“No, Ben, I don’t believe I will,” said Trixie with a toss of her head. “There are certain things about that other girl, that Miss Pommery, ‘26, I rather like.”
“But a man expects his wife—“
“To behave herself, naturally,” Trixie finished. Her patience with Ben was growing thin.
“To behave herself naturally!” Dan repeated with a glare at Ben. “Sorry,” he added with a wink and a smile at Trixie.
Ben was not swayed. “But if it hadn’t been for that drink last night, all this might not have happened.”
Trixie looked at him coolly. “Apparently nothing did. What made you think it had?”
Ben reddened. “Well, it didn’t take much imagination!”
“Not much perhaps, but just of a certain kind,” Trixie remarked. She was angry at Ben and sad at the same time. He had accused her of an affair with nothing but circumstantial evidence. True, she had assumed the worst herself, but that was partly due to the fact that she had no memory of the previous night’s events.
“It seems you didn’t think too well of yourself,” Ben shot back.
Trixie smiled sadly. “That’s the odd thing, Ben. Somehow I’d have hoped that you’d think better of me than I did.” Dan thought better of me and he saw the same things you did.
“I’m not going to quibble, Trixie. All the evidence was there.”
All the evidence? How dare he! “And I was guilty straight off. That is until I was proved innocent.”
“It’s downright un-American, if you ask me,” Dan interjected. Trixie noticed that he seemed to be enjoying himself, and she was surprised to realize that it didn’t bother her one bit. Dan was solidly in her corner, and she greatly appreciated it.
“Nobody is asking you!” shouted Ben, pointing at Dan.
A maid arrived holding a large summer hat with a wide ribbon flowing down the sides. “You forgot your hat, Miss Trixie.” Trixie took the hat as the maid added, “Oh, you look lovely, Miss Trixie. All our very best wishes.”
Trixie hugged the maid and kissed her cheek. As the maid hurried back into the house to resume the wedding preparations, Mrs. Belden blew onto the terrace and starting straightening chairs at the main table.
“Dan, I do wish you’d let me know when you invite people to Trixie’s weddings,” she said as she adjusted a chair just so.
Dan looked surprised. “Why, what happened, darling?”
Without looking up, Mrs. Belden replied, “A Mr. Paul Trent is here. He says he knows you.” She began counting the place settings.
Riker perked up. “Paul Trent is here himself?”
Dan looked at Ben disparagingly before asking, “What did Mr. Paul Trent have to say?”
“Oh, he sent the strangest message. He said, tell Mangan he wins. Tell him I’m licked. Wins what, Dan?”
“Well, it’s—” he stopped as she returned into the house without waiting for an answer. He shrugged and looked at Ben. “Mr. Paul Trent’s presence here makes the marriage of national importance.”
Ben puffed up importantly. “Well, I think it’s extremely kind and thoughtful of him.” He turned to Trixie and smiled. “Come on, Trixie. It must be late. Let’s let bygones be bygones. What do you say?”
Trixie sighed. A tabloid publisher shows up and Ben’s ready to let bygones be bygones? How had she ever thought she loved this shallow man? “Yes, and…goodbye, Ben."
Startled at her reply, Ben spoke sharply, “I don’t understand you.”
“Please, goodbye,” she pleaded.
“Look here Trixie--”
“You’re too good for me, Ben,” Trixie interrupted. “A hundred times too good.” She didn’t believe that for a minute, but she really wished he would leave.
“I never said--”
“And I’d make you unhappy, most unhappy, most. That is, I’d do my best to,” Trixie said honestly.
Ben looked at her closely. “Well, if that’s the way you want it.”
Trixie nodded firmly, her decision made. “That’s the way it is.”
“All right,” Ben conceded. “Possibly it’s just as well.”
Dan spoke up. “Yes, I thought you’d finally come to that conclusion.”
Ben angrily approached Dan. “I’ve a feeling you’ve had more to do with this than anyone.”
Dan smiled, putting his hands in his pockets. “Possibly, but you were a great help.”
Ben threw up his hands. “You, and your whole rotten class!”
“Class, my eye,” replied Dan coolly.
Ben looked at the assembled group. “You’re on the way out, the lot of you, and good riddance!” He stormed off in the direction of the gatehouse.
Jim pointed after him. “There goes Ben.”
Trixie sighed with relief as Dan laughed and began to hum a waltz, picking candles up off the table and “ringing” them as if they were bells. Diana and Jim began to dance as Trixie smiled at the scene. Suddenly, an orchestra began to play, signaling the beginning of the ceremony.
Trixie turned pale. “Oh, my sainted aunt!” As a group, they all rushed into the study. Trixie opened the door to the adjoining conservatory a crack, where dozens of wedding guests waited in their seats. She had absolutely no idea what to do. “That welter of faces!”
Diana took a peek as well. “Oh, my, they look solemn.”
Trixie closed the door, leaning against it with a panicked look. “What in the name of all that’s holy am I to do?”
Jim stepped up. “Trixie?”
“Yes Jim?” she asked impatiently. Could he possibly have a solution?
“Old Parsons, he’s never seen Riker before, has he?” He swallowed nervously and continued. “Now look, I got you into this thing, and I’ll get you out of it. Will you marry me, Trixie?”
Diana and Dan watched, both holding their breaths, Diana with tears in her eyes.
Oh my! How honorable! Trixie thought. She looked at Diana then shook her head, “No, Jim. Thanks, but no.”
“Listen, I’ve never asked a girl to marry me before. I’ve avoided it! But you’ve got me all confused now. Why not?” Jim persisted.
Trixie looked over at Diana. She had only known her for a short time, but she genuinely liked the smart, straightforward photographer. “Because I don’t think Diana would like it,” she replied as Diana smiled gratefully. “And I’m not sure you would, and I’m even a little doubtful about myself. But I am beholden to you, Jim. I’m most beholden."
Jim gestured toward the next room. “But they’re in there! They’re waiting!”
“Don’t get too conventional all at once, will you? There’ll be a reaction,” said Diana. She took Jim’s hand, and he then took both of hers in his.
They belong together, Trixie reflected. I made the right decision.
“Cheer up, Freckles,” Dan spoke up. “It’ll be all right. You’ve been got out of jams before.”
Trixie looked at him sharply. “Been got out of them, did you say?” He has some nerve saying such a thing, she thought, but he’s right.
“Certainly. Don’t worry, you always have been—” Trixie’s parents entered the study together and approached Trixie.
“Trixie,” began Mrs. Belden.
“Mother.” She hadn’t even begun to think of how to explain everything to her parents.
“We’ve seen Benjamin,” said Mrs. Belden. “It’s all right, dear. Your father will make a very simple announcement.”
Mr. Belden looked fondly at Trixie. “Is there anything special you want me to say, Trixie?”
The support of her parents brought tears to Trixie’s eyes. She shook her head firmly. “No, no. I’ll say it. Whatever it is, I’ll say it. I won’t be got out of anything anymore, thanks.”
She quickly opened the door to the ballroom, poking her head in to address the guests.
“I…I, uh,” Trixie floundered. She pushed her hat behind her towards Dan, who took it from her. “Good morning.” She gestured to the orchestra. “Stop that music.” The room grew silent. “I’m terribly sorry to have kept you waiting, but there’s been a slight hitch in the proceedings. I’ve made a terrible fool of myself, which isn’t unusual, and my fiancé, my fiancé that was, that is, he thinks we’d better call it a day, and I quite agree with him.”
Andrew, sitting up front with Bobby, looked skyward and muttered, “Peace is wonderful!”
Dan listened to Trixie thinking, That’s my Freckles! This was the woman he had fallen in love with. He had a plan, but he wasn’t sure she’d go along with it.
Trixie whispered back at Dan, standing behind her. “Uh, uh, Dan, Dan, what next?”
Dan realized this was the moment of truth. Would his plan work? He spoke quickly. “Two years ago I did you out of a wedding in this house by eloping to Maryland…”
Trixie repeated his words to the guests as Dan hurriedly handed Trixie’s hat to Mr. Belden. Looking around the room, he spied Mrs. Belden’s wedding ring. Taking it off of her finger he said, “Now dear, this is just a loan.” He handed the ring to Jim. “Here, put this in your vest pocket.”
“I don’t have a vest,” said a confused Jim.
“Then hold it in your hand!” Dan turned back to Trixie, who was anxiously awaiting her next line. “--which was very bad manners…”
“Which was very bad manners,” Trixie repeated.
“I hope to make it up to you by going through with it now as originally planned,” said Dan. Would she do it? Would she take a second chance on him?
“But I hope to make it up to you…” Trixie stopped and turned to Dan, looking at him lovingly. She took his hand in hers before finishing, “by going through with it now, as originally and most beautifully planned.”
Dan grinned as his heart soared. “So if you just keep your seats for a minute,” he added, as Trixie dutifully repeated the words, looking back at him.
“That’s all.”
“That’s all!” said Trixie, who closed the door and faced Dan with a big smile. “Danny, are you sure?”
He nodded, taking her hands in his. “I’ll risk it. Will you?” Please say yes.
“You bet!” she answered, curls quivering. “You didn’t do it just to soften the blow or save my face?”
Dan looked down at her. “Oh, it’s a nice little face.” God, he loved her.
“Oh, Danny, I’ll be yare now; I promise to be yare.”
“Be whatever you like,” answered Dan. “You’re my Freckles. Are you all set?”
“All set!” Trixie exclaimed.
Dan turned to Jim. “Best man?”
“Honored, Dan,” said Jim, rubbing his jaw.
“Maid of honor?” Trixie asked Diana.
“Matron of honor,” replied Diana. “Remember Nick Roberts.” Trixie nodded, remembering Diana’s story of her short-lived marriage to a penniless artist.
Trixie sighed happily. “Oh, how did this ever happen?” She put on her hat as Dan straightened his shirt and jacket.
Mr. Belden touched his wife’s arm. “You’d better tell Mr. Dutton to start the music.”
Mrs. Belden, looking happy but flustered, said “This can’t be happening. It can’t. But come with me Miss Lynch." Taking Diana’s arm, they left the study.
“Come on, let’s get in there, best man,” Dan said to Jim. "Got the ring?”
“Yeah,” answered Jim, looking at what both men were wearing. “But the way we’re dressed we look like a couple of stowaways.”
Dan winked at Trixie and threw her a kiss. “See you soon, Freckles!”
“See you soon, Danny!” Trixie answered.
He and Jim exited the same way Mrs. Belden and Diana had a moment before.
Mr. Belden hugged Trixie. “Trixie, darling.”
“I love you, Father.”
“I love you, too, Trixie.”
“Never in my life have I been so full of love before,” said Trixie, eyes shining. Her eyes had been opened today in a way they never had been before.
“Come along, come along,” replied Mr. Belden.
Trixie stopped suddenly. “How do I look?”
Mr. Belden smiled. “Like a queen. Like a goddess.”
Trixie smiled back. That was her father. “And you know how I feel?”
“How?”
“Like a human; like a human being.” And it feels surprisingly good.
“Do you know how I feel?” asked Mr. Belden.
“How?”
“Proud!” He replied.
Trixie’s eyes filled with tears. Her father was proud of her in spite of her failings. Maybe that’s part of what being human was all about. He gave her a kiss on the cheek before leading her out of the study to the back of the ballroom. Diana took her place as the music began to play and walked slowly up the aisle ahead of Trixie. Trixie followed on the arm of her father. She looked to the front of the room, where Dan stood tall and handsome, waiting for her with a huge grin on his face.
As she walked up the aisle, Trixie couldn’t believe her good fortune. She had literally driven Dan to drink with her unrealistic expectations and then discarded him when he could not live up to them. He had pulled his life together and become a better man, but she had stubbornly refused to see her role in the demise of their relationship. Her misadventure the night before had brought her back to earth and made her see not only how imperfect she was, but what she had lost. Dan had been there for her today, even after she had treated him so harshly, and he had tried to protect her family from Paul Trent as well. Now she had a second chance to make it right, and this time she was going to make it work. She wasn’t a goddess, she was a human being. She was Dan’s Freckles – and this time she would be yare!