The Night

"Where is it?" Trixie demanded as she rummaged through the items littered on her dresser. She knew she had just had it, but couldn't figure out where she had placed it.

"Where was the last place you saw it?" a male voice asked.

Trixie turned away from the dresser to stare at her husband of a year.

"I just had it a little while ago before I went to get ready for the ball. I swear I placed it on the dresser before I went to shower and now it's gone."

"It can't be too far," he said. "It's not like it can get up and walk away on its own."

"You're not helping," Trixie said angrily. "If it was something really important to you, this would be your reaction as well, but being that you're so...so..."

"Relaxed?"

"JUST STOP IT!" Trixie yelled. "This isn't funny."

He moved over to her and pulled her close in a hug. "I know it's not funny and I'm not trying to joke about this."

"That's the way it sounded," Trixie said, feeling the tears forming in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound that way."

Trixie blinked hard to keep the tears from falling.

"Come on. Let's retrace your steps like a scavenger hunt and I know we will find it before our ride arrives."

"All right," Trixie sighed and leaned back from her husband, keeping her gaze to the floor so he wouldn't see her fighting the tears.

"Okay. Let's start with this morning and go through your day to figure out where it could be."

Trixie took a breath. "After breakfast, I went into town to pickup a few items and you were chopping up some wood for the fireplace. I had it before I left and when I returned because it got caught on the umbrella strap when I was trying to close it when I got inside."

"All right. What happened next?"

"Well, Honey called and said she e-mailed me a design for the logo for our business cards and wanted to get my opinion since we needed to get it done."

"Was this the logo with the magnifying glass on the left side and the company name and information on the right?"

"That's the one. I'm glad you looked at it and agreed it looked right. I mean, we've seen so many other designs and nothing, absolutely nothing seemed to catch our eye when we need something that will pop and grab everyone's attention so that we can get lots of business to make the agency a success which has been our dream for so many years which is finally coming true even though there have been people who really don't think this is a profession for women but the need to think about all we've accomplished to know that when we put our minds to something that it becomes a reality and..."

He gave her a kiss before she could say anymore. When they broke apart, he said, "If we are going to find it before our ride pulls into the driveway, we need to stay focused." He kissed her nose. "And you were on your way to sounding like Miss Nonsense of America."

"Thank you for stopping me. I definitely don't want to sound like her. I have brain cells that work."

He chuckled. "So, after agreeing to the design, what else did you do?"

"We went for a ride and then walked back to the house from the stable and you were complaining about your hand hurting."

"I wouldn't have hurt if you hadn't suggested we take a break from riding and take a quiet boat ride on the Water Witch. I hadn't expected you to step on my hand when you got out of the boat at the dock."

Trixie giggled. "I'm sorry. It was an accident."

"Sure," he said sarcastically.

She tried to hold back the laughter and it seemed to be a losing battle.

"And then we came back here and had a late lunch before we started getting ready for the ball."

"Exactly," Trixie said, throwing her hands in the air. "And I don't know where it went. I put it on my dresser and it's gone."

Before he could say anything, the doorbell rang.

"Our ride is here. We need to go or we'll be late."

"But what about it?" Trixie asked.

"I'm sure we will find it. I'll scour the entire house when we get home tonight to find it. I promise."

Trixie sighed. She wanted it, but knew she couldn't find it. They had to leave.

"All right," Trixie said quietly with disappointment. She grabbed her small evening bag that matched her dress. "Let's go."

Stepping outside the house, Trixie stopped short at the sight before her. A white carriage with red velvet seats was being pulled by two white horses.

"We're going in that?" she asked as a man in a black suit and top hat came around the rear of the carriage and opened the door.

"How else should a princess go to a ball?" He offered her his arm, which she gratefully accepted. "Let's go."

* * * * *

They arrived at the country club where the ball was being held. Music could be heard as they pulled up to the entrance.

Trixie was assisted out of the carriage and she smoothed the fabric of her satin gown, making sure it hung as it was supposed to.

"Ready?"

Trixie looked up to the most handsome face she has ever seen and smiled. "Ready."

Arm in arm they entered the country club and were swept up in the grandeur. Without a word, they moved out onto the dance floor. They moved in perfect synchronization to the music as if their two bodies were one.

Trixie nestled her head on his chest and felt perfectly matched to the man she loved. She doubted she would ever love him more.

The two of them spent the majority of the evening on the dance floor, lost in a world all their own.

It was nearing midnight and the ball seemed to be winding down. Couples were departing and saying good-bye to their friends and family in attendance.

"This has been a good evening," Trixie said, as she looked up at her husband.

"It has, and I have a surprise for you."

"What is it?" Trixie asked as her eyes began to dance.

Seeing the excitement, he put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a light blue velvet box that matched her eyes. He held the box up so that her eyes focused on it.

"That's for me?" Trixie squeaked.

He nodded. "I wanted to get you something special to mark our first year of marriage together."

"Oh, sweetheart."

Trixie took the box and slowly opened it.

"It's my ring. The one I've been searching for and you've had it all this time." Trixie's excited eyes turned angry. "How could you do this to me knowing I was terrified I had lost it?"

"Calm down, Trixie. Please let me explain." He took the ring out of the box and held it up for her to see. "The ring you thought you lost was actually a duplicate."

"A duplicate?"

He nodded. "This is your actual diamond ring. I needed to borrow it so that I could have it made more special."

"What did you do?" Trixie asked curiously taking the right to get a better look at it."

"I had our birthstones added to either side of the diamond."

"It's so beautiful. Thank you." She leaned up and gave him a kiss. "It's even more special now than before."

"I'm sorry you thought you lost it. I was trying to switch them when you came back into the room, but didn't get the chance. I wanted you to find it, but I just wasn't fast enough.  I'm so sorry."

"It's all right," Trixie said as she looked at the diamond. "This is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen from the most wonderful man in the world. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Will you put it on me?"

"Of course."

He took the ring from her and slowly slid it on her ring finger where it belonged. He kissed her knuckles and spoke softly. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too," Trixie said. "Thank you."

Their lips met and they resumed dancing.

The End

Author's Notes: This story is submitted for Wendy and Dana's Virtual Trixie Camp Writing Challenge.

This was a fun story to write and I thank the two of you for creating this challenge. It really helped to get the muses talking to me again.

Disclaimer: This is an unauthorized fan fiction site and is not affiliated with Random House in any way. No profit is being made from these pages.

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