Fulfilling Another Dream
Part IV
Trixie slowly moved her head. She was tired, but not cold. In fact, she felt pleasantly warm. She slowly opened her eyes. The room she was in was dark. But she had a feeling she wasn’t alone. She felt something on the bed beside her.
Moistening her lips, she had to know who was in the room with her. “Who’s there?”
“Hmm,” a voice said.
A moment later a light clicked on. Blinking against the brightness, Trixie opened her eyes and realized Jim was in the room.
Jim smiled at her. “I’m glad you’re awake.”
Trixie looked around. The room didn’t look familiar. “Where am I?”
“You’re in the hospital.” Jim said down on the edge of the bed beside her. He brushed the hair off her forehead with his right hand.
She stared at Jim. His face was pale. He also had stubble on his face as if he hadn’t shaved in a couple days. She had so many questions, but one stood out. “How did you find me?”
Jim took her right hand in his left. “Well, we knew something was wrong when you didn’t return after a little while. By that time the storm was raging. Brian and I went out searching, but by the time darkness settled in, we still hadn’t been able to find you. We returned to the house and there was a note. There was also a photo.” Trixie closed her eyes recalling Jonesy taking her picture. “I wanted to find you so bad.”
“What did the note say? Did it ask for money?”
Trixie opened her eyes as Jim shook his head. “The note said something about me never seeing you ever again.”
“Oh, Jim.”
“But I wasn’t going to give you up without a fight.” Jim squeezed her hand. “After I got control of my anger, we called Honey. She then called Dan to come back to help search for you.”
“How did you know where to look?”
“With the storm raging, we knew we wouldn’t have any luck searching. From the photo, we could tell you weren’t out in the elements.
“When Dan arrived, he had the list of suspects you two had compiled. Everyone on the list had been accounted for as far as Dan could tell.”
“But how…?”
“Let me finish,” Jim said interrupting her question. “We gave Dan the note and photo. He quickly realized you were in one of the storage sheds. I guess all that time working for Mr. Maypenney helped for him to recognize the shed.
“Dan pinpointed the sheds on the map, and as soon as it was light, we split up and began searching, but we just didn’t know which shed you were in. Dan and I finally found some tracks. We followed them. That’s when we saw the door open and more tracks leading away. We followed the tracks and found you unconscious by a tree. We picked you up and brought you to the hospital.”
Trixie took her left hand and touched her forehead. She could feel the lump. She knew a lot had gone on.
“How long was I unconscious?” she asked.
“About two days.”
“What?” She brought her hand down and put it on her stomach, shocked. She felt her stomach. She realized she was no longer pregnant. “Jim, the baby. What happened?”
“Calm down,” Jim said soothingly.
“But what about the baby? Where is it?”
“Shh,” Jim said, putting his fingers on her mouth. “The baby is all right.”
Trixie closed her eyes letting out a breath. “What happened?”
“I think the stress caused you to go into labor,” Jim said. “The doctor delivered the baby and…it is doing fine.”
“Where’s our baby? I want to see our baby.”
“The baby is in the nursery.”
Before she could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Jim said, “Come in.”
The door opened and Brian came into the room. He moved to the bed. “How are you feeling, Trix?”
“A little sore. Tired.” She looked at her brother. “I want to see the baby.”
Brian smiled. “I think that can be arranged.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be back in a few minutes with your…”
“Don’t say it,” Jim said quickly. “I want her to be surprised.”
“I understand. I’ll be back.”
Brian left the room as Trixie looked at her husband. Jim brushed the hair away from her face. He said, “You will be surprised. I was. I couldn’t believe it when I held our child in my arms.”
“Won’t you give me a hint?”
“I’m not giving this away.” Jim smiled as he leaned in to give her a kiss.
As she waited for the baby to be brought down, she had butterflies in her stomach. She wanted to hold their child so much.
There was a knock on the door and Brian poked his head in. “Is Mom ready to hold her first child?”
Trixie pulled herself up slightly. “Absolutely.”
“Close your eyes,” Jim said.
She closed her eyes as the door opened and closed. She heard footsteps.
“Put your arms out,” Jim said.
She felt something in a blanket get set into her arms.
“Open your eyes,” Brian said.
She opened her eyes and looked down. The baby was wrapped in a yellow and green blanket. With her right hand, she pulled the blanket away from the baby’s face.
She smiled at the baby’s little features. She felt tears stream down her face. This was their baby.
Jim moved closer to her. He put his hand on top of hers. He said, “This is our little girl.”
Trixie looked at Jim. She was so happy. She leaned toward her husband and gave him a kiss.
“I’ll be back in a little while,” Brian said and left the room.
Trixie looked back at their daughter. She couldn’t believe they had really started their family.
“I can’t believe it,” she said touching the baby’s little fingers.
“I know. I couldn’t believe it either.” Jim wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “When I held her the first time, I couldn’t believe she was ours.”
“We’ve finally started our family.”
“We need to decide on a name,” Jim said. “We can’t keep calling her baby or it.”
“I know we thought about a lot of names, but I think there is only one that works.”
“What’s that?”
Trixie looked at Jim. “Katje Helen Frayne.”
She saw a look of surprise on his face. They had talked about names, but he had never thought of using their mothers’.
He stared at her. “Are you serious?”
“I think it’s perfect for our little girl.” She looked at their daughter and then back at Jim. “But, if you think we should use a different name…”
“This is fine.” He leaned over and kissed the baby. “This is our Katje Helen Frayne.”
“Have our parents seen her?”
“They were up to the nursery the day she was born. All four grandparents are ecstatic.”
“I’m glad they’re happy.”
Jim looked at her. “Are you happy?”
She smiled at Jim. “I’m very happy.”
Jim gave her a kiss. “I am so glad you are here with me. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.”
As they focused on their daughter, Jim said, “Tell me what happened.”
“After we fought, I went for a walk and ended up in the clubhouse.” She went on to explain everything including how she was grabbed and how she got away without saying who actually did it.
When she finished, Jim asked, “Who was it? Was it someone you know?”
Trixie pulled Katje closer to her chest. “I know who it was.”
“Who?”
Trixie lifted Katje to her shoulder and closed her eyes. She said softly, “Jonesy.”
She didn’t hear anything. She opened her eyes and looked at Jim. He was pale and trying to breathe. “Jim, stop. You’re scaring me.”
He continued gasping. Trixie reached for the nurse’s call button and pressed it. She continued pressing it until someone came. A moment later the door opened and Brian came in with a nurse. Trixie said, “Help Jim.”
She watched as Brian took one look at Jim before hurrying to his best friend. Just as he neared his friend’s side, Jim slumped on the bed.
“Get some smelling salts!” Brian yelled.
“What happened to him?” Trixie asked as the nurse hurried out of the room.
“I’m not sure.” Brian took his stethoscope and placed it over Jim’s heart. After a minute he looked at her. “What did you say before this happened?”
“I told him who grabbed me.”
“Who was it?”
“Jonesy.”
“Oh no.”
At that moment the nurse returned and handed Brian the smelling salts. Trixie asked, “What is wrong with him?”
“I think you shocked him,” Brian answered.
Trixie watched as Brian administered the smelling salts. After a moment, Jim started moving his head. She saw Jim finally open his eyes.
“How are you feeling?” Brian asked.
“What happened?” Jim asked slowly.
“You passed out.”
“Oh.”
“Can you sit up?” Brian asked.
Jim nodded and pushed himself to a sitting position. He turned and looked at Trixie.
“Oh, Trixie. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Jim touched her face. “I really am sorry.”
“I know.” She reached for him and he gave her a hug. She asked, “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I guess the lack of sleep these past couple days caught up with me.” Jim leaned back and looked at her.
“Do you remember what you were talking about?” Brian asked.
“She was telling me about what happened.”
“What was the last thing she said?” Brian asked.
“She said she knew who had taken her.”
“And?” Brian prompted.
Jim looked at Trixie with hatred in his eyes. “Jonesy.”
Trixie nodded.
“That’s not a good thing,” Brian admitted.
Jim shook his head. “Could you call Honey and Dan?”
“I’ve got it.” Brian left the room with the nurse.
Jim looked at Trixie. He touched her face. “I’m sorry. I never thought I would hear that name again.”
“I’m sorry too.”
His hand moved to her cheek. He fingered her lips. “Jonesy hit you, didn’t he?”
Trixie looked down at the bed. She knew Jim knew the answer before he asked the question.
“Oh, Trixie.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
At that moment Katje started crying. They both focused their attention on their daughter. Jim grabbed the bottle the nurse had left and handed it to Trixie.
They sat in silence watching their little girl eat. They both had a lot on their minds.
This is supposed to be a happy time for us, she thought. But look what we’re doing. We’re worried about a man who has caused us so many problems in the past. Who knows what he will do to us now?
* * * * *
Half an hour later, there was a knock on the door just as Katje finished her bottle. The door opened, and Honey and Dan entered and came over to the bed.
“How are you feeling?” Honey asked.
“I’m doing all right.”
“Brian asked us to come over,” Dan said. “What’s going on?”
“A lot,” Jim said. “But most importantly, we know who took Trixie.”
“Who?” Dan asked.
Trixie looked at Honey and watched her best friends’ face go white.
“Trixie, it wasn’t…” Honey didn’t finish the sentence.
“Who?” Dan asked.
Trixie nodded her head.
“Oh, Jim,” Honey said.
“Would someone like to fill me in?” Dan asked.
“Sorry,” Jim said. “The person who did it was my stepfather, Jonesy.”
“Your stepfather?” Dan asked.
Jim nodded. “We need to find him. He’s desperate and capable of anything. With our daughter here, we can’t risk something happening to her.”
“I’ve a description, and will pass it along,” Dan said. “I’ll also get the information to the Sleepyside officers.”
“Do you think he would try something?” Honey asked.
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Jim said. “He’d do anything to hurt me. Trixie helped me get away from him. He knows how much she means to me. If he could cause me the most pain, he would go to the one thing that means the world to me.”
“And that’s Trixie and your daughter,” Dan concluded.
“Right,” Jim said.
“All right,” Dan said. “We’ll take care of it. We will find him.”
“We appreciate it,” Trixie said smiling at Dan.
Dan turned and left the room. Honey asked, “How are mother and daughter doing otherwise?”
“Terrific,” Trixie said, cradling Katje in her arms.
“Have you two decided on a name?” Honey asked. “Jim said he wasn’t going to tell anyone of us until you woke up.”
“We did decide,” Jim said moving to Trixie, who handed their daughter to him. Jim moved to Honey and handed her the baby. “Honey, allow me to introduce you to your niece, Katje Helen Frayne.”
“Oh, Jim. That’s wonderful. She’s named after your mothers.”
“That was Trixie’s idea.”
“I thought it would be a great way to start our family.” Trixie covered her mouth as she yawned.
“Oh, Trixie,” Honey said. “If you were tired, you just had to say something.”
“I’m all right,” she said, struggling to keep her eyes open.
“Well, I’m going to see what I can do to help Dan track down Jonesy,” Honey said, handing Katje back to Jim.
“Be careful,” Jim warned. “Who knows what Jonesy will do when he realizes Trixie is all right.”
“I’ll be careful.” Honey gave Jim a kiss on the cheek and then Trixie a hug. “I’ll see you both later.”
“Bye.”
Honey left the room as Trixie settled back against the bed.
“You do look tired,” Jim said. “We’ve been through a lot today.”
“Are you going anywhere?” she asked softly as he eyes closed.
“I’ll be right here.” Jim sat down on the bed beside her. “I love you.”
“I love you,” she murmured as she drifted to sleep.
* * * * *
Both families welcomed Trixie and Katje home a few days later. A small reception was held at Ten Acres for them.
The thought of Jonesy lurking around slipped from Trixie’s mind. She was more excited about being home with her daughter. She had checked with Honey and Dan, but they had not found any sign of the man.
Upon their arrival, all four grandparents were there and took turns holding the newest grandchild. All of them were pleased with the name chosen for the little girl.
After a while, the grandparents left realizing mother and baby needed some rest. They left with the promise to return a couple days.
Trixie took their little girl up to the nursery she and Jim had decorated. She walked into the room and set a sleeping Katje in the basinet. She stood there and watched her sleep. I can’t believe I’m finally a mother, she thought. It’s one dream I’ve always had, and it finally came true. Hopefully this is just the start for the two of us. I want to have a few more. I don’t want Katje to grow up as an only child.
“Hey,” a voice said interrupting her thoughts.
Trixie turned and saw Jim standing in the doorway. She smiled at him and then looked back at the basinet.
“How’s our little angel doing?” Jim asked softly as he came into the room.
“She’s sound asleep.”
Jim wrapped his arms around her and looked at Katje over Trixie’s shoulder. “She is beautiful. Just like her mother.”
“Thank you.”
“Have I told you how happy I am that we are starting our family?”
“You are as happy as I am.”
“Come on,” Jim said. “Let’s let the little one sleep.”
“All right.”
Trixie and Jim made their way back downstairs and sat on the couch. Trixie leaned against Jim as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
“It’s been a long day,” Jim said.
“Uh-huh,” she said, closing her eyes.
“I think we deserve this time together.”
“Hmmm,” Trixie murmured.
She felt Jim place a blanket on top of her. He said, “I love you Trixie Belden Frayne.”
* * * * *
The sound of a door banging woke Trixie. She slowly opened her eyes. The banging continued. She figured the kitchen door was blowing in the wind. Trixie realized she was alone on the couch. She got to her feet and made her way into the kitchen. She stopped short when she saw Jonesy standing there.
“Hello.” Jonesy smiled at her.
“JIM!” Trixie screamed. “JIM!”
“Stop that,” Jonesy said. “He won’t hear you.”
“What did you do to Jim?” Trixie tried to figure out a way to protect herself and Katje. She thought if she stalled Jonesy, she could come up with a plan.
“Your beloved husband won’t be coming back anytime soon.”
“Where’s Jim?”
Jonesy took a step toward her. “He’s taking a nice little nap out near the stable.”
“Stay away from me Jonesy. The police know you’re in the area. They’ll catch you.”
“Those police officers you’re referring to are idiots. They couldn’t catch an old woman in a walker.” Jonesy took another step. The smile faded from his face. “You and I have some business to finish.”
“There’s nothing for us to discuss,” Trixie said. “Get out of my house!”
“Not until I finish what I came here to do.” Jonesy took another step.
Trixie turned and hurried up the stairs. Jonesy was right behind her. She hurried to Katje’s room and went inside. She closed the door and leaned against it. She felt Jonesy push against the door. All of a sudden she was thrown to the floor as the door flew open.
Katje started crying at the booming noise.
“Well, well,” Jonesy said.
“Leave her alone,” Trixie said, scrambling to her feet.
“Quiet!” Jonesy yelled. “I’ve heard enough from you.”
Jonesy lunged at Trixie and grabbed her around the neck with both hands. He pushed her against the wall as he squeezed her throat.
Trixie struggled to break Jonesy’s grasp, but couldn’t. Her head began to throb as she gasped for air. She heard Katje cry even harder.
I’m sorry, my darling little girl, she thought. I never meant for you to live without me. I love you so much.
Trixie blacked out.
* * * * *
“Trixie,” a voice said in the distance.
Her head throbbed. She couldn’t remember what had happened. The voice was louder. “Come on, Trix. Open your eyes.”
She felt something cool on her forehead. She wondered why her head throbbed. She had no idea. Trixie forced her eyes open. She blinked a few times trying to focus on who was sitting beside her. She finally realized it was Brian.
“Hi,” she said. She was surprised at how scratchy her voice sounded.
“How are you feeling?”
Trixie stared at her brother. Her head was throbbing a little. She told her brother where she hurt.
“You’ll be fine,” Brian said. “Just get a lot of rest.”
“Brian, what are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d come by and check on you.” He took the cloth off her forehead. “What’s the last thing you remember?”
Trixie was quiet for a moment. She suddenly realized she had been with Jonesy. He had tried to strangle her.
“Jonesy!” she yelled.
“Calm down,” Brian said taking her hands in his. “Jonesy is not here.”
“What a relief.” Trixie let out a breath. She looked at her brother and could tell he was keeping something from her. He couldn’t look her in the eye. “Brian, I get the feeling you’re not telling me everything. What is it?”
Before he could answer, another voice asked, “How’s she doing?”
“She’ll be all right, Honey,” Brian answered. “How’s the other patient?”
“He’s a little groggy.”
“He?” Trixie asked. “Jim?”
“Easy,” Brian said. “It looks like he was hit pretty hard.”
“Jonesy hit him,” she said, struggling to sit up. “Where is he?”
“In the kitchen.”
Trixie got off the couch and hurried into the kitchen. She stopped quickly when she saw Jim sitting at the table. He had an ice pack against the back of his head. He was covered with a blanket, but his face was pale.
“Jim.”
He looked at her. She saw he had a bump on his forehead. She moved to Jim and wrapped her arms around him.
“I’m all right,” Jim said. He held her tight. “What about you? Are you all right?”
“I’m okay.” She leaned back and looked at him. “What happened?”
Jim lowered the ice pack as she sat down close beside him. “After you fell asleep, I watched the news. Then Regan called, saying there was an emergency at home. He asked me to make sure the horses were taken care of. After a little while I went to the stables. Before I stepped through the door, someone hit me on the head.”
“Oh, Jim.” “I don’t know how much time passed before I woke up. I made it to the phone and called Brian. I didn’t want you to worry.”
“We entered the stable and got Jim to his feet,” Brian said coming into the kitchen. “We brought him back here since it is warmer.”
“Do you know who hit you?” Trixie asked, even thought she knew the answer.
“I didn’t see the person’s face.”
“It was Jonesy,” Trixie said.
Jim looked at her. He reached over and touched her face before pulling her close.
“How can you be sure it was Jonesy who hit Jim?” Honey asked.
“Because he told me.”
Jim leaned back and looked at her. He reached over and touched her neck. “Jonesy did this to you, didn’t he?” Trixie put her hand to her throat. Jim said, “Tell me what happened.”
She explained what happened with Jonesy telling her about what he did to Jim and then following her upstairs to Katje’s room.
“Katje? Where is she?” Jim asked.
Trixie looked at Brian and Honey. Her brother had his arm around his wife. Trixie watched her best friend swallow.
“Where’s our daughter?” Trixie asked.
“She’s not here,” Brian said.
Author’s Notes: Once again my esteemed appreciation goes to Kaye and Amy for the edit. And more thanks goes to Amy for making my site look as good as it does.
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.
|