The Lost
The 17-year-old stepped out of the apartment building in the city and took a deep breath. He wished he was back home, a home he was comfortable with, but knew that wasn’t possible. One incident had changed everyone and living in his home was no longer an option.
No one had expected it to happen, but it did. The phone call came that morning that she was missing, and no one had any idea where she had gone. Some thought she had run away, others were adamant that someone had taken her from her family and friends. The only thing that mattered to him was that she was gone, and so was a part of his heart.
They had searched throughout the small community, as well as the neighboring towns in search of her, but they had come up empty. The search had continued for more than a month, and it seemed that there was no hope in sight. She had just vanished. Even though some had stopped searching, he knew she was still out there, and that she hadn’t gone off of her own free will. He had taken time off from school to continue the search, but kept getting urges from his parents that he needed to return to classes so he could continue on the path he had planned for himself.
Now, seven months later, after that disheartening phone call, he was living in the city with his adopted parents, Matthew and Madeleine Wheeler, and his sister, Honey Wheeler. Jim Frayne had no say in where they were to live. Madeleine was adamant that Sleepyside was unsafe, and she didn’t want him and Honey living somewhere that they could be taken from their home. They left Sleepyside behind six months earlier, along with their friends.
Finishing his stretching, Jim headed toward the park where he ran daily. It was the only way he could clear his mind. Staying in the apartment made him feel as if the walls were closing in on him. He couldn’t breathe and always needed to be outside doing something.
As he ran through the park, he saw the usual people making their way to their jobs or taking a leisurely stroll along the paths. He felt at home in the park, realizing that he belonged in the outdoors and not inside a building. He wished he was back at home in Sleepyside. He felt out of place in the city. He was more comfortable in the country, having spent most of his younger years growing up there. Continuing along his usual path, he let his mind wander
I still have a hard time accepting all that has happened, he thought. The other day when I talked to Brian, he admitted that things were so different at the farm. They all seem so lost without her. We all are lost without her. She made such an impact on my life, and I always pictured her being here with me. This is nothing I expected. But what happened to her? Where is she? There was no ransom note; there were no clues as to who took her or where she had gone. I know she is out there somewhere, hoping to be found. But I wish there was some way I could get to her. I need to find her.
Cutting through the center of the park, Jim noticed two people who seemed out of place. They were sitting by the fountain, eating some food out of paper bags. As Jim got closer, he realized one was a man, and the other was a young woman. Both of them were wearing faded blue jeans and long-sleeved shirts. Jim was about to run past them, but for some reason, he felt the need to look at the woman again.
Looking at her, he saw her face was bent forward, and he couldn’t see her features very well. Her long, curly blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and there was a mark on the back of her neck. It was a moon, and he had seen that mark several times before on one person. It was Trixie.
He couldn’t believe she was there. He wanted to run to her and pull her into his arms. But he had a feeling he would be putting her in danger. Deciding he needed to discretely intervene, Jim continued running until he was on the other side of the fountain.
Jim slipped his phone out of his pocket and quickly dialed the emergency number, while at the same time, watching Trixie and the man from a safe distance.
“Emergency, how may I help you?”
“I think a missing girl taken from Sleepyside several months ago is in the park by the fountain.”
“What is she wearing?”
“She’s dressed in faded blue jeans and a green, long-sleeved, raggedy, old sweatshirt,” Jim said. “But she’s not alone. There is a man with her, dressed the same.”
“Is he threatening her?”
“Not that I can tell.”
“All right. Help is on the way. Just stay on the line with me. Officers are arriving at the park, and I will need you to relay their whereabouts in case they start moving.”
“Okay,” Jim said, focusing back on Trixie. He saw she was still looking at the ground. He hoped she was all right. She appeared complacent. She didn’t look at anyone or anything. Jim wondered if the man had hurt her emotionally. Jim hoped his old Trixie was there, somewhere.
A few moments later, Jim noticed several officers enter the park. He glanced in the other directions and saw they were coming in from each side. He hoped that they were able to get her away, unharmed.
“The police have arrived,” Jim said into the phone.
“All right,” the operator said and the call was ended.
Jim closed his phone and put it back in his pocket. He focused on the man as the police approached him. The man stood up and looked about, appearing shocked at all the officers. He looked around as if trying to find a way to escape, but there was none.
Watching, Jim saw the police talk to the man. Trixie stayed seated, looking at the ground. A moment later, the man was taken into custody. Jim hurried around the fountain toward Trixie, who had finally stood up.
Officers tried to stop him, but he made his way past them. He slid to a stop a few feet from her. He said breathlessly, “Trixie.”
She turned around, and her face went pale as her mouth fell open. She stammered, “Jim?”
“It’s me.”
Trixie ran at Jim, throwing her arms around his neck. He tightened his hold on her, pulling her close. He was grateful she was there. He could feel her crying on his chest. He could feel the tears forming in his own eyes.
“You’re okay,” Jim whispered. “You’re okay.”
“How, Jim? How did you find me?”
“That’s not important.” He squeezed her tightly once more before leaning back. Looking at her face, he noticed it was drawn, but he could see the smile of the Trixie he knew and knew she was going to be all right. “What’s important right now is that you are safe.”
“But, Jim…”
“No buts.” Jim took her hands in his. “These officers are going to want to talk with you and then get checked by a doctor.”
“But I’m all right.”
“I can see you are, but they will want to make sure.”
“Miss?”
Trixie and Jim turned to see an officer standing beside them. She asked, “Yes?”
“We’ll need you to come with us,” the officer said.
“All right.” She looked at Jim. “Are you coming?”
Jim smiled. “Of course.”
He wrapped his left arm around her shoulder, and they followed the officer out of the park.
* * * *
Four hours later, Jim was sitting in the lobby of the police station. Before arriving there, they had stopped at the hospital to have Trixie checked over. The doctors had a series of tests run, which turned up negative, making Jim breathe a small sigh of relief. When they had left the hospital, they had gone to the police station where Trixie was now giving her statement to authorities.
Jim was anxious to find out what happened to her. He knew she would be telling the story over and over again to everyone, but part of him was anxious to hear the details. Checking his watch again, he realized he should have returned to the apartment several hours earlier. Knowing his mother would be worried, he let the officer at the desk know he was stepping outside for a moment.
Once outside, Jim opened his phone and quickly dialed the number for the apartment. The phone was picked up on the second ring. A male voice answered, “Hello?”
“Hey, Dad. It’s me.”
“Where are you, Jim?” Matthew Wheeler asked. “Your run seems to have taken longer than usual, and your mother is worried.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. But I ran into a friend who needed some help, and I’m with her right now.”
“Do you know how long you’ll be?”
“I’m not sure,” Jim replied. “But I will keep you posted.”
“All right,” Matthew said. “I will talk to you later.”
“Okay. Bye.”
Jim hung up the phone and let out a breath. He knew he was being vague about who he was helping, but he didn’t want to cause a mad dash on Trixie. She had been through a lot and needed to regroup. He knew if his father found out that it was Trixie, he would have called Sleepyside, and her parents would’ve been there in no time flat. He wanted to give Trixie a chance to breathe before she went home.
Jim made his way back into the lobby, stopping only long enough to grab a can of soda. He returned to the chair he had been sitting in and continued his vigil. After another hour, the door where Trixie had gone into was opened, and she exited the room with several officers. He saw her scan the lobby. When she saw him, their eyes locked. He could see the apprehension on her face. He slowly stood up and waited where he was. Trixie stepped away from the officers and hurried to him. She quietly said, “I thought you had left.”
“I’ve been waiting right here,” Jim said. “Are you ready to get out of here?”
“Definitely,” Trixie said.
“Miss Belden?”
Trixie and Jim turned to see the officer standing there once again. Trixie asked, “Yes?”
“Miss, I see your friend is here with you, and I was wondering if there was a number we could contact you at in case we have more questions.”
“Umm…”
“You can call me,” Jim spoke up. “I’ll leave you my cell phone number, and you can reach her there.”
“All right.”
Jim gave the number to the officer, and they left the station. Once outside, they stood in place. Jim looked at Trixie, waiting to see what she wanted to do. As he observed her, he was finally able to take in all her changes. Most obvious was that her hair had grown longer, and she was a few inches taller. She still had her blue eyes and the smile that dazzled him the first day they had met.
“Jim?”
“Yeah?”
Trixie looked up at him and gave him a small smile. “Thank you for sticking around.”
“It was my pleasure,” Jim said. “Is there something you want to do now? Get something to eat? Go for a walk? Call your parents?”
“Actually, could we go to the store so I can get a change of clothes?” Trixie asked, looking down at her clothes. “These aren’t bad, but…”
“But you want a change,” Jim finished. “That’s fine. We can head to the store, and you can get whatever you need.”
“I don’t need a lot and will repay you.”
“There’s no need for that. Come on. Let’s go shopping.”
“All right.”
* * * * *
An hour later, Trixie had purchased the necessities she needed, along with a change of clothes. They started walking down the street, and Jim felt it was time to ask the questions he needed answers to and hoped Trixie would answer them. They had beat around the issue, and Trixie hadn’t asked about her family or friends. But Trixie started talking first.
“Jim, you don’t know how good it was to see you in the park earlier.”
“I was thrilled to see you too,” Jim admitted. “It was like a prayer being answered.”
“Exactly.”
“Trix, you haven’t said anything, but don’t you think you should let your family know you’re all right?”
Trixie looked at him quickly and then stopped walking. Jim immediately noticed a change in her demeanor. She was scared. He instinctively stepped closer to her and began to hug her. She flinched, and he knew she was terrified about something.
“Trixie, listen to me,” Jim began. “You are safe. You are with people who care about you, and nothing will happen to you again.”
“Jim.” Trixie said with a tremor in her voice. “Is there someplace we can go?”
“Of course.” Jim wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “It’s this way.”
As they continued walking, Jim could feel Trixie shudder every few minutes. He knew Trixie very well and knew that she was scared. It took a lot for her to be scared, and she was.
When they arrived at the apartment building, the doorman opened the door, and they went inside. Jim called the elevator, and they were soon rising to the tenth floor. They exited the elevator and moved to the door. Jim unlocked the door, and they went inside. A quick glance at the table by the door told him his parents and Honey were not there. He closed the door and looked at Trixie.
“Trix, I can tell you’re not ready to talk. How about you take some time to freshen up, and I’ll get us something to eat?”
“Would you mind?”
“Not at all. I’ll show you where everything is and you can just make yourself at home.”
“Home is a nice word.”
“It sure is. Now, come on,” Jim said, leading her down the hallway. “Everything’s this way.”
An hour later, Jim was sitting on the living room, waiting for Trixie to return. He had heard the water get shut off a while earlier and knew Trixie would come out when she was ready.
He was reading the paper when he heard footsteps. Looking up, he saw Trixie come into the living room, wearing a pair of his shorts and one of his long-sleeve shirts.
She was pulling on the bottom of the shirt that reached her knees. She looked at Jim. “I hope you don’t mind. I just wanted something really comfortable to wear.”
“That’s all right,” Jim said, standing up. “Are you thirsty? We have plenty of drinks in the kitchen.”
“Do you have any apple juice?”
“Of course. I’ll get it.”
Jim went into the kitchen and poured her some apple juice, then refilled his own glass of water. He headed back into the living room and saw Trixie was standing at the fireplace, staring at the pictures on the mantel.
She turned to him as he moved over to her, handing her the glass. “Thanks, Jim.”
“You’re welcome.”
They moved over to the couch and sat down. Jim watched Trixie pull her legs up underneath herself as she got settled. She took a sip of her juice and then looked at him.
“I know you want to know what I went through, but I’m not ready to talk about it just yet.”
“We don’t have to talk about it. We can talk about whatever you want.”
Trixie glanced around the room. “You know, I never thought the apartment would look so lived in. From the way you used to talk, it didn’t feel homey. But from looking around, it seems as if this place has been really lived in for a while.”
“Actually, it has been lived in. We’ve been staying here for the last six months.”
Trixie stared at Jim, confused. “How come?”
“Well, after you vanished, I guess you could say, Mother began to worry constantly about our safety and felt living in the country was the wrong place for us to be.”
“So, you went along with it?”
“I didn’t have much choice. Mother wouldn’t allow Honey or me to stay there.”
“What about the others? Are they still there?”
“Well, your family is still there as well as the Lynches.”
“What about Dan?”
“He’s still there, but I haven’t heard from him in several weeks.”
“Jim,” Trixie began softly, fingering her glass. “What happened after I went missing?”
“Well, that morning, we received a call from your parents looking for you. When we told them you weren’t there, we all began searching. No one knew what happened and couldn’t find a sign of you or a clue as to where you’d gone. The police joined in the search, and an alert was sent out for people to keep an eye out. But you were nowhere to be found.”
“What were people thinking and saying? Did they even consider me being taken from home?”
“Some did think that. Some others thought you had run away and would come back when you were ready.”
Trixie looked Jim in the eye. “What did you think?”
“I knew something had happened to you. I was positive you hadn’t run away. I just didn’t have the proof.”
“How are Moms and Dad? Are they upset?”
“Your parents are worried about you. They couldn’t understand what happened. Your dad spent weeks looking everywhere he could think of to find you, but we just came up empty. Honestly, they seemed lost without you.”
“I felt lost without them too.”
Before either of them could say anything else, they heard a door open, then close. Jim looked at the doorway, and a moment later, Honey stepped into view.
“Good, you’re home,” Honey said, rifling through her bag. “Mother was absolutely livid earlier when you didn’t return from your run as you normally do. She came close to calling the police, but Dad talked her out of it.”
Jim glanced at Trixie and saw she was staring at her best friend. He said, “I did talk to Dad earlier and apologized.”
Honey turned away from the living room and said, “Don’t forget we are to meet Mother and Dad for dinner.”
“Honey, look at me.”
Honey turned around and looked at Jim. He saw her gaze shift to the person sitting beside him. Honey’s bag fell to the floor with a thud.
“Hi, Honey,” Trixie said.
“Is…is it really you?” Honey whispered.
Trixie stood up. “It is.”
Honey took a step and then ran into the living room, giving Trixie a hug.
Jim watched them and saw Trixie flinch, but then succumb to the display of love from her friend. He could tell something was still bothering Trixie. He knew he would have to be patient until she was ready to talk to them.
Honey leaned back and looked at her. “You have definitely grown in the time you’ve been gone.”
“So have you,” Trixie said. “Your hair has gotten so long, and you look like you should be a senior in high school.”
“Oh, Trixie.” Honey hugged her again. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“So,” Honey said, leaning back once again. “Where have you been? What happened to you? How did you end up here?”
“Honey,” Jim said, standing up, “Trixie will talk about everything when she’s ready. We don’t need to pressure her.”
“I’m sorry,” Honey said. “I didn’t mean anything. I just…”
“It’s okay, Honey.”
“I’ve got to talk to Brian,” Honey said, moving to leave the living room. “He has to be ecstatic.”
“Honey, don’t call him,” Jim said.
She turned to face them. “Why not?”
“He doesn’t know,” Trixie said. “No one knows.”
“Why not?”
“I…I just haven’t gotten around to calling them.”
“Shouldn’t you? I mean, they should know that you’re okay.”
“I will let them know. I…I just…”
“Trixie has gone through a lot,” Jim spoke up. “She just needs some time to regroup. We can at least do that for her.”
“You’re right,” Honey said. “I’m sorry for jumping the gun.”
“It’s all right.” Trixie looked at Jim. “Would it be all right if I rested for a little while? I feel so overwhelmed.”
“Sure, go ahead,” Jim said. “If you need anything, just give a holler.”
“Thanks.” Trixie smiled softly and then left the living room.
Jim watched Trixie go and wondered if she was all right. He had never seen her look so tired, but he also knew she had never been away from her family for such a long time.
“Is she really all right?” Honey asked, quietly.
Jim looked at his sister. “She’s been through a lot. I would think this is normal for someone if they had been taken from their family.”
They moved over to the couch and sat down. “Jim, I don’t understand how Trixie got here.”
“Well, I’ll tell you what I know, which isn’t much.” Jim went on to explain how on his run that morning, he had spotted Trixie and how she had gotten away.
When he finished, Honey said, “I wish we knew what she went through while she was gone.”
“She’ll tell us when she’s ready,” Jim said. He looked at his watch. “You might want to get ready so you can meet Mother and Dad at the restaurant.”
Honey looked at him, perplexed. “Aren’t you coming?”
Jim shook his head. “I don’t want to leave Trixie here alone. I’ll call them and let them know my change of plans.” He looked Honey in the eye. “And you can’t say anything to Mother and Dad. They’ll find out when they get home.”
“Maybe I should stay too,” Honey suggested.
“If you stay here too, Mother and Dad will get suspicious. There will be plenty of time to help Trixie later.”
“All right. I better get ready then.” Honey got to her feet and started to leave the room. She stopped and turned back to Jim. “You do realize Mother and Dad will figure out what’s going on when they get home.”
“I know. But this buys Trixie a little more time to get comfortable.”
“Good thinking.” Honey left the room.
* * * * *
An hour after Honey left, Jim made his way to the room to check on Trixie. He checked the guest room and realized she wasn’t there. He glanced into his parents’ room and saw it was also empty. Looking into Honey’s open room, he saw her bed was also empty. Knowing there was only one room left, he stepped to the door and gently pushed it open.
Looking inside, he saw Trixie curled up in a ball on her side. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully, and he was relieved. As Jim was about to close the door and leave, he heard a whimper. Taking a closer look at Trixie, he saw her head moving slightly.
“No,” Trixie mumbled, moving her head.
Jim realized Trixie was dreaming. Trixie started moving her head even more and continued to cry out, “Please, no. Please.”
Jim settled on the bed beside her. “Trixie, wake up. Trixie.”
“NO!” Trixie yelled, sitting up quickly, her eyes wide and unseeing.
“Trixie! You’re dreaming!”
“Jim?” Trixie whispered, her body trembling.
“It’s me,” Jim said softly. “You’re all right. It was just a dream.”
“It wasn’t.” Trixie backed up against the headboard, pulling her knees to her chest and rested her head against them.
“Tell me about the dream,” Jim said softly.
He saw Trixie shiver and figured she was trying to decide what to tell him. Jim slid closer to her and put a hand on her knee. “Trix, talk to me.”
She finally lifted her head. Jim could see the terror in her eyes. He reached over and pulled her close, giving her a hug. He hoped his gesture would make her feel more comfortable.
The silence in the room continued until Trixie leaned back and said, “Thanks.”
“There are no thanks needed.” Jim reached over and took her hand in his. “Trixie, tell me what you want. I’m not going to pester you, because I know you will talk when you are ready. But I need you to tell me what you want. I want to be here to help you any way I can.”
“I appreciate it, Jim.”
“What do you need?”
Before Trixie could respond, they both heard her stomach grumble. She offered Jim a small smile. “I guess I’m a bit hungry.”
“Is there something specific you’d like to eat?”
Trixie was quiet for a moment and then said, “I would love to have some pizza.”
“Cheese and pepperoni?”
“That would be fine.”
“All right,” Jim said. “I’ll go order it then.” Jim got up and turned to leave the room.
“Jim?”
He turned around and looked at her. From the look on Trixie’s face, he knew what she was going to say. He smiled. “You’re welcome.”
* * * * *
An hour later, Trixie and Jim were sitting in the living room, eating the pizza that had been delivered a few minutes earlier. A movie was on the television creating a distraction so they wouldn’t have to talk about what was on their minds.
After a few minutes, Trixie said, “This is very good.”
“We order from them often, and they do a good job,” Jim admitted.
Trixie lowered her piece. “Often?”
“Oh, yeah,” Jim said. “We get pizza about once a week, and they seem to do the best job in the area.”
At that moment, they heard a door open, then close, and three voices talking.
Jim looked at Trixie and watched her drop her slice of pizza to her plate. Trixie put her plate on the table and stood up.
Just as Jim looked at the doorway, he saw his parents and Honey step into the room. “You know, Jim, you could have joined us for dinner,” Madeleine began. “We…”
He knew his parents had seen Trixie. Both of their eyes were wide and their mouths were hanging open.
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler,” Trixie said quietly.
“How…where…what…?” Madeleine stammered.
“Mother, Dad, why don’t you have a seat and we’ll explain,” Jim suggested.
Madeleine and Matthew sat down on the couch across from Jim as Trixie slowly sat down beside him. Honey pulled a stool close to Trixie.
“Trixie, this is so surprising,” Matthew said, breaking the silence. “You know we have a lot of questions.”
“I do, and I will answer them,” Trixie said.
“How about I tell you what’s happened?” Jim suggested.
“All right,” Matthew said.
Jim recounted what had happened that morning and up until they got to Matthew and Madeleine entering the apartment. When Jim finished, Matthew said, “Your parents must be thrilled you’ve been found, Trixie.”
“Actually, they don’t know yet,” Trixie said.
“Then we need to call them,” Madeleine said, getting to her feet. She moved toward the phone.
“Mother, wait,” Jim said.
Madeleine turned to face them. “Why should I wait? They should know their daughter has been found.”
“Mother, she was just rescued today,” Jim said. “She needs some time to get her bearings.”
“I plan to go there tomorrow,” Trixie said quickly, getting a feeling that she wasn’t welcomed there. “I didn’t think it would be appropriate to just call them. They may think it is a prank. I think they wouldn’t think it’s a joke if they saw me in person.” She got to her feet. “But, I guess I better head there now. Thanks for letting me stay here for a few hours.”
Trixie started to leave the living room, but Jim said, “Wait.” She turned to look at him.
Jim got to his feet and stared at his parents. He couldn’t believe his parents. “Actually, Mother, Dad, I told Trixie I would take her to Sleepyside in the morning.”
“You can’t take her in the morning,” Madeleine said. “You need to head over to the university to register for classes for the upcoming semester. You’ve already missed the first one. I really don’t think it would be wise for you to miss anymore.”
“I can go to the university when I get some time,” Jim said. “This is more important than registering for classes.”
“Jim, your mother is just thinking of your best interest,” Matthew said.
“I know, Dad,” Jim said. “But this is more important.”
“I have to agree with Jim,” Honey said. “We should be with her for support when she finally sees her family again after such a long time.”
Jim looked at his parents expectantly and could tell they were pondering what he was planning to do. Part of him felt that his parents were going to tell him that he couldn’t take her and knew that if that was their decision, he was going to go against their wishes.
“Jim, if you feel you must take Trixie to Sleepyside, then go ahead,” Madeleine said, and Jim smiled. “But…” Jim’s smile faltered. “I expect you back here in enough time to get to the university and register for class.”
Jim couldn’t believe what his mother was asking him to do. She wanted him to take Trixie to Sleepyside, drop her off and then rush back. He glanced at Trixie and saw the apprehension in her eyes.
“Jim, you don’t have to take me to Sleepyside,” Trixie said. “I…I can get there myself. But thanks for the offer.”
Trixie turned and left the living room, heading down the hall to the bedrooms.
Jim took a deep breath, his temper rising. He couldn’t believe how his parents made it seem as if Trixie was unwelcome. They had welcomed him with open arms to their family, and he had never thought they would treat one of their friends that way. He was shocked and disappointed. He knew they had their concerns after Trixie had disappeared, but he never thought they would knowingly treat someone poorly.
“I am going to make sure Trixie has everything she needs,” Jim said. He walked past his parents without a glance.
He went down the hall and knocked on his closed bedroom door.
“One minute, please,” Trixie called from inside.
A moment later, the door opened and Trixie ushered him inside. She closed the door behind him. He looked at her and saw she had changed into the jeans and shirt they had picked up earlier. She was fiddling with her hair, trying to get it out of her face.
“I really am sorry about all that,” Jim said, breaking the silence. “They…”
“You don’t have to explain,” Trixie said. “I understand.” Trixie moved past Jim and started gathering her belongings. “Don’t worry. I’ll be out of your hair shortly, and you can have your room back.”
“You don’t have to go,” Jim said.
“I do.” She looked at Jim. “Thank you so much for your help in getting away from him. I…I wasn’t sure I would ever get back to my family, and now that is going to happen.”
“It sure is.” Jim watched her and could see the sadness on her face. “Trix, tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I’m just trying to imagine what it will be like when I get home.”
“I think there is going to be a lot of crying, which will be happy tears and a lot of hugs.”
Trixie smiled softly. “Thanks, Jim. I needed to hear that.” She looked around. “Well, I guess that’s everything.” She looked at Jim. “I guess I will talk to you later.”
Jim put his hand on her shoulder. “Trix, you don’t have to go.”
“I do, Jim. And as I said before, I appreciate everything you’ve done.”
Trixie grabbed her things and left the room, with Jim staring after her. He couldn’t believe she was walking away. He realized he couldn’t let her go. He had been devastated when she had vanished, and right then, he wasn’t going to let her walk away from him. He knew what he had to do, even if his parents did become upset with him.
Quickly hurrying toward the bedroom door, Jim saw Trixie about to exit the apartment. He quickly made his way toward her and said, “Trixie, wait.”
She turned to look at him. “What do you need?”
“I’ll give you a ride to the train station,” Jim said. “And don’t say that I don’t have to. I want to.”
Trixie smiled. “Thanks, Jim.”
“Just let me tell them where I’m going.”
“Okay.”
As Trixie stepped out into the hall, Jim went into the living room. “Mother, Dad, I’m driving Trixie to the train station so she can head to Sleepyside.”
“All right, son,” Matthew said. “We’ll see you later.”
As Jim turned to leave, Honey hurried out of the living room with him and moved toward the apartment door. She saw Trixie standing in the hall and quickly gave her a hug. Honey said, “Give me a call whenever you want to talk, and I’ll be here to listen.”
Jim watched Trixie squeeze Honey. “I will.”
Honey leaned back. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye,” Trixie said.
Honey looked at Jim. He saw the look and had a feeling Honey knew what he was planning. She gave him a hug and whispered, “Take care of her.”
“I will,” Jim replied softly.
They broke apart just as the elevator arrived. Jim and Trixie climbed in and waved to Honey just before the doors closed. Silence continued between the two of them as Jim led the way to the parking garage, and they got into his car. Trixie settled back against the plush seat as Jim started the engine and pulled out of the garage.
“You know, Jim, taking me to the train station is a good idea, but there is one little problem,” Trixie said, breaking the silence as they traveled through the streets of the city.
“Money is not a problem,” Jim said. “I have no trouble paying for your ticket.”
“That’s not what I was talking about.”
Jim glanced at her and then back at the road. “What do you mean?”
“Unless life has really changed, I don’t think the train runs all the way to Sleepyside.”
Jim smiled. “You’re absolutely right. The train doesn’t reach Sleepyside.”
“So, how am I going to get to Sleepyside?”
“You’ll see.”
As Jim drove along, Trixie looked at the buildings. Jim knew she was trying to figure out what was going on. He was very surprised she wasn’t asking a lot of questions. She used to question everything they passed by in an attempt to figure out their destination.
After a little more traveling, Jim said, pointing out a building, “That is the train station.”
“All right,” Trixie said and looked to make sure she hadn’t dropped anything.
Jim turned past the train station and continued driving along. Trixie looked back out the window as they passed the building and then her gaze shifted to Jim. “I thought you said that was the train station.”
“It was.”
“Then, where are we going?” Trixie asked. “You told your parents you were taking me to the train station.”
“I did,” Jim said with a smile. “I took you to the train station. I just never said anything about dropping you off there.” He glanced at her with a twinkle in his eye. “We’re heading to Sleepyside.”
“Jim, your parents are going to freak out,” Trixie said. “I can’t let you get in trouble for me.”
“If I get into trouble, then it’s my own fault,” Jim said. “I wanted to help you and that’s what I’m doing.” Jim focused on the road. “Do you really want to know why I didn’t register for classes for this first semester?”
“I guess,” Trixie said slowly.
Jim looked at her for a moment. “Because I wanted to find you. Trixie, when you vanished, I had spent any waking time that I had trying to find you. Mother and Dad insisted that I finish my high school courses so I could graduate, but any time out of school, I was searching wherever I could. I have been searching for you since graduation. I wasn’t going to stop. I think it was pure luck that I spotted you in the park this morning.”
“You don’t know how much I missed all of you,” Trixie said softly. “I never thought that I would see you again or any of the others.”
“But you’re back now, and that’s all that matters.”
“You’re right. But I still feel bad. Your parents are going to get really upset for this.”
“Then I’ll deal with it,” Jim said. “It was my decision, and if they don’t like it, well, too bad.”
* * * * *
It was in the early hours of the morning when Jim entered Sleepyside. He glanced at Trixie and saw she was sleeping peacefully, reclined in her seat, his jacket as a pillow. He didn’t have the heart to wake her to let her know they were there. Instead, he traveled through the streets, looking at the places that made him feel at home, such as Wimpy’s. the high school and the movie theater where they had spent many nights. He didn’t think it was appropriate to stop at Crabapple Farm at that hour, so he decided to head to the Manor House, which was up the hill from Trixie’s home. He figured they could stay there until morning and then go down to see her family.
Pulling up the driveway to the house, Jim was grateful his parents kept the house, even though they had not been there in almost six months. He knew there wouldn’t be much food around, but they could make do and get something in the morning. Turning the engine off, Jim turned to Trixie and gently shook her shoulder.
“Trix, wake up.”
She moved her head slightly and slowly opened her eyes. She mumbled, “What?”
“Come on. Let’s go inside and get some sleep.”
“Okay,” Trixie said sleepily.
They unhooked their seatbelts and then made their way to the front door. Jim kept his arm around her shoulder, knowing she was still sleepy and could lose her balance. Once inside, Jim locked the door, and they made their way upstairs to the bedrooms. He turned the hallway light on before ushering Trixie into one of the spare bedrooms. He watched her make a beeline for the bed and then sink onto it, her head hitting the pillow, quickly returning to a deep slumber.
Jim watched her for a few minutes, wondering what dreams were going through her head. He hoped that her reunion with her parents was better than the one she had with his. Closing the door gently, Jim turned and went to his old room. He sat down on the bed and put his head in his hands. He knew his parents were going to be angry, but he felt that taking care of his friends had to come first. He just hoped they would understand his reasoning when all was said and done. He quickly set the alarm on his watch, then slid off his shoes, ready to get some sleep.
* * * * *
A shrill beeping woke Jim from his sleep. He reached for his watch and immediately shut off the alarm. He was exhausted and wanted to go back to sleep, but knew that if he did, they wouldn’t be able to do what they were there for. Jim sat up and wiped the sleep out of his eyes. He knew they had some time to get cleaned up before they went next door.
Getting to his feet, Jim made his way to the guest room. He knocked on the door and listened for a response. When he didn’t get one, he pushed the door open and saw Trixie was curled up in a ball again, still sleeping.
He moved over to the bed and sat down on the edge. Jim reached over and gently shook her shoulder. “Trix, you need to wake up.”
“Hmm,” Trixie mumbled, moving her head slightly.
“Come on, Trix. We have places to go and we don’t want to be late.”
“All right,” Trixie whispered. She opened her eyes slightly, and a smile appeared on her face. “Please tell me I’m dreaming.”
“It’s no dream. I’m right here and soon, you will be back at your house.”
Trixie’s smile grew bigger. “I can’t wait.”
“I’m not sure I can offer you any breakfast, but there are clean towels in the bathroom if you want to freshen up.”
“I think I will,” Trixie said, uncurling from her ball. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. Looking at Jim, she said, “I really appreciate you bringing me back home.”
“Anytime,” Jim said with a smile. “Now, go get cleaned up. We have to go visit the neighbors.”
“All right.”
* * * * *
Forty-five minutes later, Jim found Trixie standing in the dining room, looking out the window at the house in the valley below. He stood beside her for a moment and looked down. He could see the dog running around the yard and knew someone had let the dog out.
Breaking the silence, Jim asked, “You ready?”
Trixie took a breath and looked at Jim. “I guess so.”
“Then let’s go.”
They exited the house, and Jim took hold of Trixie’s hand. They got into his car and drove down the road.
As they pulled up to the house, Jim could see Trixie begin to tremble and knew she was worried about how her family would react to her sudden appearance after so many months.
“You will be fine,” Jim said. “They have missed you as much as you’ve missed them.”
“I know,” Trixie said quietly.
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah.”
They climbed out of the car and made their way to the kitchen door. As they approached, they heard a radio playing and knew someone was inside. Jim stepped up to the door and knocked.
“Coming,” a voice inside said.
Jim glanced at Trixie and saw she was taking several deep breaths to calm her nerves.
The footsteps came closer, and he looked back at the door. It was opened by Helen Belden. “Jim!” she exclaimed. “It’s so good to see you. What are you doing here?”
“Actually, I’m here with a friend.” Jim turned his gaze to the side, and Helen looked in the same direction.
“Hi, Moms,” Trixie said, quietly.
“Oh, my,” Helen said, putting a hand to her mouth, her face going pale. “Is it…is it really you?”
Trixie nodded her head. Jim could see the tears in both their eyes and knew it was a matter of moments before those tears were coursing down each of their faces.
“My little girl,” Helen said, exiting the house and pulling Trixie into her arms, crying uncontrollably.
“Oh, Moms.”
As they hugged one another, Jim heard another pair of footsteps coming toward them. He turned and saw Trixie’s father, Peter, stepping up to the door. “What’s going…?”
Trixie lifted her head off her mother’s chest and looked at the door. “Daddy.”
“Trixie?”
She nodded her head, and Peter quickly exited the house, hugging her as tightly as he could.
Jim smiled as he watched the reunited family. He felt happy for them that they were one unit again and that he had played a role in making that happen.
“You must be starving,” Helen said, stepping back and looking at her daughter. “You look so thin. We need to get some home-cooked food into your system.”
“I agree with your mother,” Peter said, keeping an arm around her shoulder. He then looked at Jim. “Will you join us? I think you may be able to answer some of our questions.”
“I’d like to stay if that’s not a problem,” Jim said. “But the answers you are looking for will probably come from Trixie.”
“Well, that can wait for now,” Helen said. “All that matters is that my little girl is back home.”
Jim followed the Beldens into the kitchen and felt a sense of comfort wash over him. He knew he had felt something different the last time he had been there. He hadn’t been sure what it was, but now knew that what he had been feeling was that Trixie wasn’t around.
They moved to the dining room table and they all sat down. Jim could see Peter and Helen didn’t want to let go of Trixie. He asked, “Are the guys home?”
“Actually, Mart and Bobby are upstairs,” Peter said. “I think I’ll go wake them.”
“That will work,” Helen said. “Just tell them there’s a surprise down here.”
“All right.” Peter got to his feet and then squeezed Trixie’s shoulder, then went upstairs.
Helen looked at Trixie. “So, sweetie, what would you like for breakfast? I really don’t have anything planned, but I could make whatever you want.”
“Anything would be fine, Moms,” Trixie said.
“All right.”
Helen got to her feet and made her way into the kitchen. Jim looked at Trixie and saw the smile he remembered lighting up her face. “You are happy.”
“I am,” Trixie admitted. “I really am.”
Hearing several pairs of footsteps coming down the stairs, Trixie got to her feet and turned around.
“Why did we have to get up so early?” a young male voice asked.
“There’s a surprise in the dining room,” Peter answered. “Just go downstairs.”
Jim watched as three people entered the dining room. He saw Bobby and Mart stop short, their mouths hanging open.
“Is it…is it really you?” Bobby asked, staring at his sister.
“It’s me, Bobby.”
“Trixie?” Mart asked.
“Mart,” she replied.
Bobby and Mart sprung into action hurrying to her side. They both hugged her and Jim could see the tears streaming down their faces.
“Oh, Trix,” Bobby said, trying not to cry.
“I’m all right,” Trixie said. “I’m all right.”
“We’ve missed you so much,” Mart said.
“You have no idea how much I’ve missed all of you.”
“And all that can be discussed over breakfast,” Peter said. “I can already tell your mother is hard at work getting a well packed meal prepared.”
Mart leaned back from Trixie, wiping his eyes. “I’ve got to call Di and Dan. They need to know the good news.” He left the kitchen.
“Does Honey know?” Bobby asked, leaning back from Trixie.
“She does,” Jim answered. “She found out late yesterday.”
“How did you get here?” Bobby asked. “How were you found?”
“How about I explain that while we eat?” Trixie suggested. “It’s a bit of a story.”
“That’s fine.” Bobby hugged her again. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
“It’s good to be home.”
“Dan and Di are on their way,” Mart said, returning to the dining room.
“What did you tell them?” Trixie asked as she sat back down.
“I just told them that it was an emergency, and they needed to get here. Besides, I’m not sure they would’ve believed me if I told them you were here over the phone.”
“I felt the same way. That’s why Jim brought me here.”
At that moment, Jim’s phone rang. Jim let out a breath, knowing exactly who was on the other end. Pulling the phone out, Jim looked at the ID and realized it was his parents.
“Excuse me,” Jim said, getting to his feet and exiting the house. He put the phone to his ear. “Hello?”
“You better not be there,” Matthew said angrily.
“Dad, I know you’re angry…”
“I’m not angry,” Matthew snapped. “I’m furious. You knew we didn’t want you going to Sleepyside, but you went anyway.”
“Dad, I did it for Trixie. She needed to get home, and I brought her here.”
“Well then, you’ve accomplished that, and you can now get back here.”
“Dad, I’m going to stay here to make sure she’s okay. She’s been through a lot and needs all the support she can get.”
“She’s got the support of her family,” Matthew said. “I expect to see you here at the apartment in two hours.” Click.
Jim let out a long breath and turned off the phone. He couldn’t believe this was happening. He didn’t want to disobey his parents anymore, but he also didn’t want to abandon Trixie. He couldn’t believe he had been put in this predicament. He had been grateful when the Wheelers had taken him in. It had been a gesture of love. But somehow, that love had changed. Knowing they already disapproved of his actions, he didn’t mind disobeying them even more. In his heart, he knew he was making the right choice.
“Jim?”
He turned around and saw Trixie standing on the porch. She appeared all right, but he saw a flicker of fear in her eyes. Jim slid his phone into his pocket. “Are you all right?”
Trixie nodded her head. “I…I just wanted to let you know that breakfast is ready.”
“Okay.” Jim stepped closer to her and took her hand in his. “Come on. Let’s join your family.”
Trixie and Jim reentered the house and joined the others who were already seated. Jim sat in the chair beside Trixie, figuring she might need some strength as she told her story.
They had just started to eat when they heard knocking on the kitchen door. A moment later, the door opened, then slammed shut. Two pairs of footsteps were heard coming toward them.
Jim looked up just in time to see Dan and Di slide to a stop. He saw both of their faces showed surprise and knew the two of them had noticed Trixie.
“Is…is it really you?” Dan asked.
Trixie smiled. “It is so good to see you both.”
Di squealed as she hurried around the table and tightly hugged Trixie. Tears streamed down Trixie’s face.
Jim cleared his throat after a moment. “I think there’s someone else who wants a hug.”
“That’s all right,” Dan said with a dismissive wave. “I’m fine.”
Trixie released her hold on Di and got to her feet. She moved around the table and gave Dan a hug. Dan said, “It’s so good that you’re back.”
“It’s good to be back.”
“So, what happened?” Dan asked.
“Have a seat and we’ll fill you in,” Jim said.
Dan and Di settled in chairs, and Di asked, “So, what happened?”
“Well, yesterday morning I had gone for my morning jog,” Jim began. “Each day I’ve gone to the park and got a good workout in. When I went through the park, I noticed two people who seemed out of place. I ran past, but turned back to get a second look. I saw something that gave me a clue to the one person’s identity.” Jim reached over and brushed the curls behind Trixie’s ear. “I saw this moon birthmark and knew it was Trixie.”
“What happened next?” Peter asked.
“Well, I called the authorities, and they arrived on the scene a little while later.”
“If this happened yesterday, why didn’t you come home then?” Helen asked.
“The police insisted I get checked over at the hospital, and then I spent a lot of time at the police station giving them a statement,” Trixie answered.
“So, your abductor is in custody?” Mart asked.
“He is,” Trixie said.
“Trixie, sweetheart, why didn’t you call us when you left the police station?” Helen asked.
“I was afraid you would think the call was a joke. I didn’t want you to hang up on me.” Tears filled Trixie’s eyes. “I figured if you saw me, you would know it wasn’t a prank.”
“Oh, sweetie,” Helen said.
“Well, I guess all that matters now is that Trixie is back home,” Peter said. He moved behind her and gave her a hug.
“I agree,” Helen said.
“Well, I think this is a reason to celebrate,” Mart said.
“The celebration will have to wait until later,” Peter said. “You all need to be getting ready for school.”
“But, Dad,” Bobby began.
“No buts about it,” Peter stated. “Neither of you need to miss any classes. Besides, we have all weekend to celebrate.”
“Okay,” Mart said. “Come on, Bobby. We need to get ready.”
Mart and Bobby got to their feet and made their way upstairs to get ready for school.
“Moms, do you know what Brian’s schedule is?” Trixie asked. “I want to talk to him and let him know that I’m home.”
Helen looked at her watch. “I think we can catch him before he heads to class. Come on. I’ll talk to him first so you don’t give him a heart attack.”
“Thanks, Moms.”
As Trixie and Helen left the room, Dan and Di headed for the kitchen. Peter looked at Jim. “Was she really checked out by doctors?”
“She was,” Jim said. “She was checked over thoroughly. They wanted to make sure she was really all right.”
“Jim, has Trixie said anything to you about why or how she was taken from us?”
He shook his head. “She hasn’t said a word.”
“Do you think she’s forgotten?”
“I don’t think so,” Jim said. “She spent quite a while with the police yesterday. I guess she was telling them what had happened since the day she disappeared.”
“But you’re not sure?”
“Not really. After we left the police station, we picked her up some clothes and then went to my parents’ apartment. She was exhausted and went to get some sleep. She woke from a nightmare, but wouldn’t tell me what it was.”
“So, she’s probably burying what happened.”
“I think she may want to talk to someone, but she may be wanting to feel safe again before she relates what she’s gone through.”
“Maybe she needs to have all the Bob-Whites together for her to feel secure once again.”
“It would probably be what she needs. But I’m not sure how we can do it.”
“I have an idea,” Peter said. “If you would take the others to school, you can let them know they are all invited to spend the weekend here.”
“But what about Brian and Honey?”
“I’ll take care of that,” Peter said.
At that moment, Helen returned to the kitchen. She moved over and sat down beside Peter, who asked, “How did it go?”
“Brian was surprised and is happy she’s home.”
“Is she still on the phone?”
“Yeah,” Helen said. “It’ll be a few minutes before she’s done.”
“Well, we’re ready for school,” Mart said, coming down the stairs with Bobby close behind. “But I think we’ve missed the bus.”
“That’s all right,” Peter said. “Jim volunteered to take you and the others to school.”
Trixie entered the kitchen at that moment. “You’re leaving, Jim?”
Jim looked at her and saw the apprehension in her eyes. “I’ll only be gone for a little while. I will be back.”
“All right.”
“We need to get going, or we’ll be late.”
“Okay.” Jim got to his feet and looked at Trixie. “I’ll be back soon.”
“I’ll…I’ll be here.”
Jim moved toward her and squeezed her hand. Peter tossed him the keys to the Belden station wagon since it would fit more people. Jim glanced at Mart and Bobby, who followed him into the kitchen to get Dan and Di.
“Jim’s giving us a ride to school,” Mart said.
“Then we better get a move on,” Dan said.
They went out and climbed into the Belden station wagon. Jim started the engine once they were all in and headed into town.
“You don’t know good it feels to have Trixie home,” Mart said. “I would love to be back home with her instead of at school.”
“Well, you’ll have the entire weekend to be with her.”
“What do you mean?” Dan asked.
“The Beldens are having all the Bob-Whites at the farm this weekend.”
“Really?” Di asked.
“Are they sure they want a house full of people?” Dan asked. “I mean, Trixie has just come home. I thought they would want it to be just family.”
“The Bob-Whites are part of the family,” Mart stated.
“And Trixie is going to need all of her family,” Jim said.
“Then we’ll be there for her,” Di said.
Jim dropped Bobby off first and then took the others to the high school. When he pulled to a stop, Di and Dan quickly got out. Mart turned to look at Jim.
“Jim, I know you’ve been around Trixie a little more than we have since she’s been found, but something about her behavior is bothering me. I was wondering if you were having the same feeling.”
“Trixie is trying to get readjusted to being home again. You’re probably just feeling her uneasiness.”
“I hope you’re right,” Mart said. He locked eyes with Jim. “Will you please keep an eye on her?”
Jim smiled. “Absolutely.”
Mart nodded his head, then climbed out of the car. Once the door was closed, Jim put the station wagon in gear and headed back to Crabapple Farm.