Haunted Memories
Part 2
Trixie stood in the airport terminal waiting for her flight to be called. But she wasn’t alone: her family was there to see her off along with her fellow Bob-Whites, minus Jim.
Honey and Trixie moved over to the window and watched as a plane landed.
“Are you nervous?” Honey asked.
“A little.” Trixie looked at Honey. “I’m sorry that I didn’t say anything sooner. I never expected to be accepted.”
“They accepted you because of all your hard work. You’ve worked hard for what you achieved.”
“Are you angry at me for keeping this a secret?”
“No.” Honey shook her head. “I can’t stay angry at my best friend.”
Trixie looked back out the window. “But Jim can.”
Honey put a hand on Trixie’s shoulder. “Trixie, I’m not sure, but I think he was more hurt than angry.”
“I didn’t want to keep this from him, but I did. And now…”
“Just give Jim some time to sort everything out. Once he calms down, I think everything will work out.”
“Couldn’t he have at least come to see me off with the rest of the Bob-Whites?” Trixie asked.
“I asked if he was coming, but he said he had an appointment he couldn’t change.”
Trixie had a feeling it was a cover so he wouldn’t have to come.
Before anything more could be said, her flight was called. After saying goodbye to her family and friends, Trixie boarded the plane.
Glancing out the plane window at the terminal, she whispered, “Goodbye everyone. Goodbye Jim.”
“Trixie, sweetie, why are you crying?” Jim’s voice interrupted her dream.
Trixie jerked up, breathing hard. She looked around and realized she was in their room at Ten Acres. Turning to Jim, she saw him pull himself up in bed and turn the light on.
He reached over and wiped her face. “Sweetie, what is it? Why were you crying in your sleep?”
Trixie tried to calm her breathing. “I don’t know.”
“You can’t remember?”
“No,” Trixie lied. She wiped her face with her hands.
Swinging her legs over the bed, she leaned her elbows on her knees and rubbed her face. She felt Jim slide over on the bed and massage her shoulders.
“That had to be some dream,” Jim said. “You’re really tense.”
“I think it’s because I can’t remember it.”
“Maybe that’s something you need to talk to the doctor about,” Jim said. “I know you’ve been having trouble sleeping these past few days.”
“Maybe it’s normal,” Trixie said lifting her head.
“Maybe.” Jim kissed the back of her neck. “How about I heat you some milk? That may help you sleep.”
“That sounds nice.”
Jim kissed her neck again. “I’ll be back.”
She watched Jim leave the room. She got to her feet and went in to their bathroom. Soaking a washcloth in cold water, she wiped her face and took a deep breath. Looking at her reflection, she could see the bags under her eyes and knew she needed to get some sleep.
Why do I keep thinking about those days more than six years ago? she wondered. Why are these memories coming back? Is there something I need to remember or is there a lesson I should have learned? I hope I can figure this out soon. This is so frustrating.
Turning off the lights, Trixie went back into the bedroom. She propped up a pillow behind her and leaned against the headboard. A moment later, Jim returned with a glass.
“Here, this should help,” Jim said handing her the glass.
“Thanks,” Trixie said as Jim moved around and climbed back into bed. She looked at him as he covered himself with the comforter. “You should get some sleep, Jim. It’s been a long day.”
“I’m all right.” Jim reached up and pushed a curl behind her ear. “Trixie, I do love you. Remember that.”
“I know.” She looked Jim in the eyes. “I love you, too.”
Jim leaned up and gave her a kiss. “Now, finish your milk so you can get to sleep.”
“All right.”
* * * * *
The next morning, Trixie woke to sunlight streaming through the bedroom window. She tried to keep her eyes closed, but knew she needed to get up.
Opening her eyes, she realized she had fallen asleep with her head on Jim’s chest. She knew he was still sleeping by his soft snoring. She gently slipped out of the bed without disturbing him. After getting ready for the day, Trixie made her way downstairs to get breakfast started for them. She wanted Jim to sleep since he had stayed up late with her the previous night.
Half an hour later, she had pancakes warming in the oven. As she was pouring the juice, she heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
“Something smells good,” Jim said entering the kitchen. He moved over and gave her a kiss.
“I hope you’re hungry. I made a lot.”
At that moment, Jim’s stomach grumbled and they both laughed. Jim said, “I guess that’s your answer.”
Trixie set the plate of hot pancakes on the table as Jim settled in his seat. Once they started eating, Jim asked, “How did you sleep after having your milk?”
“All right,” Trixie said. “You were sound asleep when I got up.”
“I think I was tired.” Jim set his fork down. “Trixie, I’m not trying to pry, but if there’s something bothering you and you want to talk about it, I am here to listen.”
“I know you are. But I’m fine.” She reached over and squeezed his hand. “Really.”
“Okay.” Jim picked up his fork.
As Trixie ate, she knew she could be honest with Jim about the dreams she had been having, but part of her didn’t want to tell him. She didn’t want him worrying about her dreams.
I just have to figure out the dreams myself, she thought. I thought I had gotten through all this when I was in California, but now everything is coming up again. There has to be a reason and I just have to figure out why.
* * * * *
Three hours later, Trixie and Jim were at the doctor’s office. They were waiting for the doctor to do the sonogram. Trixie was resting on the examination table with Jim standing beside her holding her hand. A nurse had taken her vitals and told them to wait.
“Are you as excited as I am about seeing our baby?” Trixie asked.
“Just as much.” Jim gave her a kiss. “I’m glad you’re having our baby.”
At that moment, Dr. Taylor walked in. “Hello, Trixie, Jim.”
“Hi, Dr. Taylor,” Trixie said.
Dr. Taylor set some papers on the counter and washed her hands. “How are you feeling, Trixie?”
“I’m all right.”
Dr. Taylor turned around as she dried her hands with a paper towel. “Really? You look tired.”
“She has been having trouble sleeping,” Jim said.
“What’s the problem?” Dr. Taylor asked.
“I just haven’t been sleeping well.”
Dr. Taylor picked the papers up and stared at them. “Your blood pressure is a little high, but I think that may have to do with you being anxious for this appointment. We’ll get the technician in here and we’ll see how your baby is doing.”
“All right,” Trixie said.
As they waited for the technician to arrive, Jim asked, “Could her high blood pressure be a problem?”
“It’s something we will have to monitor,” Dr. Taylor said. “I do suggest you try to avoid stressful activities from here on out.”
“I’ll do my best,” Trixie said as the technician came in.
A few minutes later, the technician put the scope to her stomach. The technician turned the screen for them to see, once Dr. Taylor assured them that they couldn’t tell whether it was a boy or girl.
“Well,” Dr. Taylor said. “Your baby looks healthy from here. You can see the baby’s arms and legs.” She smiled at them. “Everything looks fine.”
Trixie squeezed Jim’s hand. He leaned down and gave her a kiss.
Once everything was cleaned up, Jim helped Trixie to a sitting position. They looked at Dr. Taylor as the technician left the room.
“All right, Trixie. I want you to take care of yourself and come back in two weeks so we can check your blood pressure again.”
“Okay.”
“Enjoy this time. Your baby is doing wonderfully.”
“Thank you, Dr. Taylor,” Trixie said.
“You’re welcome,” Dr. Taylor said. “I’ll see you in two weeks.”
“See you then.”
Dr. Taylor left the room and Jim pulled Trixie into his arms. He said, “Our baby is so beautiful.”
“It sure is.” She leaned back and looked at Jim. “Are you having second thoughts about knowing whether it is a boy or a girl?”
“I want to be surprised and I know you do too. It’ll make it even more special.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
“Let’s.”
Once they left the doctor’s office, they climbed into Jim’s Jeep. Trixie hooked her seatbelt and then looked at Jim. As her eyes met his, he reached over, cupped her face in his hands and gave her a long, sensuous kiss.
Trixie was barely away of it when Jim leaned back. It had been a long time since he kissed her like that. Forcing her eyes open, she said softy, “Wow.”
“I’m glad you liked it.”
Trixie blinked and focused on Jim’s face. “That was a surprise.”
“But?”
“What?”
Jim stared at her. “Trix, did I do something wrong?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve been acting so differently. You’ve never responded like that before when I’ve kissed you.”
“As I said, it was a surprise.”
“I always kiss you like that.”
“I’m sorry, Jim. You caught me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting a kiss and you caught me off guard,” Trixie said looking down at her hands in her lap.
Jim reached over and caressed her cheek. “You don’t ever have to be sorry.” He lifted her chin and turned her face so she was looking at him. “I love you, Trixie.”
“I love you, too.”
Jim kissed her again and she knew he was right. He always kissed her like that. She wondered why she was having trouble remembering.
When they broke apart, Jim said, “Why don’t we go look at some trim for the nursery? I know you wanted to add something to the room to make it more inviting.”
“We don’t have to do that today. You probably need to get back to the school.”
“No, I don’t. Everything is being taken care of there, just like it was when we were on our honeymoon.” Jim gave her a smile. “Besides, last night you were really concerned that the nursery wouldn’t be ready by the time the baby arrives.”
Trixie looked at Jim. He seemed like he really wanted to work on the nursery with her and she knew she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. They both had been too busy in the past few weeks and this would be some quality time together.
“All right. Let’s go shopping.”
Jim laughed. “I never thought I would hear you say that, but I guess if it’s for our child, I can understand.”
Trixie smiled. “Then let’s get going.”
After starting the engine, Jim reached over and squeezed her hand. She was really enjoying their day now.
* * * * *
Late that afternoon, Trixie and Jim were finishing up the trim they had agreed on for the nursery. The trim had repeating wood scenes with squirrels, deer, chipmunks as well as trees. It seemed to fit perfectly with the room.
Jim had insisted he put the trim up because he didn’t want her climbing the ladder. She knew it was unwise. If she fell, she could hurt herself and the baby and knew neither of them wanted that to happen.
As Jim wiped the residue from the last piece of trim with a towel, he said, “If you want to go get cleaned up, I’ll take care of this mess.”
“Are you sure? I could help.”
“Go ahead,” Jim said climbing off the ladder. “I’m just going to toss out the garbage and put the rest of the stuff in the garage.”
“All right.”
Trixie made her way to the master bedroom and then into their bathroom. She smiled as she turned the hot water on to their extra large bathtub. She added some bubbles so she could soak. Quickly sliding out of her clothes, Trixie sank into the warm water. Leaning her head back against the rim of the tub, she closed her eyes.
Today was perfect, she thought. I got to spend the entire day with Jim after finding out our baby is doing really well. This day was the best.
She wasn’t sure how much time had elapsed when Jim asked, “Is there room for me?”
Opening her eyes, Trixie saw Jim standing beside the tub in his robe. She smiled at him. “I think I can make room.”
Trixie slid forward in the tub and waited for Jim to climb in behind her. Once he was in, she leaned back and closed her eyes once again. She felt Jim take the washcloth and slowly wash her arms.
“Hmm,” she murmured. “That’s nice.”
“I’ve missed this,” Jim said softly in her ear. She knew she didn’t have to say anything. “Sit up for a minute and I’ll do your back.”
Trixie leaned forward as Jim washed and rinsed her back. She immediately leaned back against him and he kissed her neck. She felt him reach forward and caress her extended stomach.
“I still can’t believe we’ll be parents in a few short months.”
“I can’t believe I have a human being growing inside of me,” Trixie said as she put her hands on top of Jim’s. “Jim, what if I’m no good at being a mother?”
“You’ll be a wonderful mother,” Jim whispered. “You’re already a wonderful wife.”
“But what if I’m not? I don’t think I can be like Moms.” Trixie opened her eyes.
“You don’t have to be like Moms, you just have to be you. I wouldn’t want you to be anyone else.”
Trixie looked at the water at her feet and wondered why she was having doubts about becoming a mother. It doesn’t make sense, she thought. If I am so worried about being a parent, why didn’t I have these thoughts before I became pregnant? Maybe I’m having these doubts because of my memories. But why? This is so frustrating. The more I think about it, the more confused I get.
“Are you asleep?” Jim asked, interrupting her thoughts.
“No. I was just enjoying the quiet time.”
Jim kissed her neck. “I’m enjoying it too.”
Before either of them could say anymore, Jim’s stomach rumbled and they both laughed.
“I think you’re hungry.”
“Maybe a little. We did work hard today.”
“I’ll go get dinner ready while you finish in here.” Trixie started to get to her feet but Jim grabbed her arm.
“What’s the rush?” Jim asked.
“What do you mean?” Trixie pulled her arm from Jim and grabbed a towel. She stepped out of the tub and slid her robe around herself, tying the belt in place.
Jim got to his feet and turned her to face him. “Trix, what is it? What’s bothering you?”
“Why do you think something is bothering me?”
“Come here,” Jim said softly.
She moved to Jim and he pulled her to his chest. He held her tight.
“Don’t worry about getting dinner together,” he said. “We’re both tired from working on the nursery. So, why don’t we order something and have it delivered? I don’t think either one of us wants to spend that time in the kitchen.”
“It wouldn’t be a problem, Jim.” Trixie leaned back and looked at his face.
“I know, but I want you to relax. You know what the doctor said about your blood pressure.”
Trixie let out a breath. She knew Jim was right, and part of her hated that thought. “Okay.”
“Really?”
Trixie nodded. “Finish up and then we’ll decide.”
Jim leaned to her and gave her a kiss. “I love you, Trixie.”
“I love you too. Now, move it.”
“I’ll only be a few minutes.”
“Okay.”
Trixie left the bathroom and went into the master bedroom. She slipped on a pair of comfortable pants and a sweatshirt. When she finished dressing, she heard the shower still going.
Exiting the bedroom, she moved to the study Jim had designed for her. Going inside, she turned on the light and moved over to the desk. Reaching into the bookcase above the desk, she pulled out one of her journals.
As soon as she opened it, she realized this was the journal she had started when she had arrived at college. She read her first entry as she slid into the desk chair.
I can’t believe I’m on the other side of the country. I’m looking forward to the classes and everything, but I miss Jim. I love him so much and now it’s over. We may have only been dating for three years, but he is the only boy who has ever held my heart. But it’s my own fault we ended this way. I shouldn’t have kept this from him. If I had told him sooner, we may have been able to continue our relationship. I miss him so much. I wish I could tell him one more time that I love him, but I don’t think that will change anything. I’m not sure he’ll ever talk to me again. But I have to try. Maybe we can try to be friends. I don’t want to lose that.
“But that didn’t work,” she murmured. I wrote him several letters and he never responded. I didn’t deserve his friendship, but at least we were able to get back to where we love one another. But we never really discussed our fight and that’s something we need to do.
Trixie was still deep in thought when she heard Jim call her name. She looked up and saw him standing in the doorway wearing jeans and a T-shirt.
“This is where you disappeared to,” Jim said coming into the room.
She set her journal down open on her desk. “I was just thinking.”
“You looked serious.”
Trixie knew he was right, but she didn’t want to discuss it right then. “Have you decided what you want to eat?”
“It doesn’t matter to me. Is there something you have a taste for?”
“How about pizza? We haven’t had that in a while.”
“That works for me. Do you want anything in particular?”
“Just the usual.”
“Okay. I’ll go order then.”
“All right,” Trixie said.
Trixie watched Jim leave the room. She felt it was time they talked about what happened before she left for college. She hoped it would help her nightmares go away.
* * * * *
A little while later, Trixie made her way downstairs. She heard soft music playing in the living room. As she stepped into the room, she saw Jim had already gotten their drinks and had them set on the table.
Looking up he said, “The food should be here soon.”
“That’s good.”
He moved over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’m glad we spent today together, Trix.”
“So am I.” Trixie heard a slow song coming on the radio. She dropped the journal she had been reading on the coffee table. “Dance with me.”
“Of course.”
Trixie leaned her head on Jim’s chest and closed her eyes. She felt Jim tighten his hold around her waist as they started to sway to the music.
I should have made an effort to try to rebuild everything while I was in college, she thought. Each day we’re together makes me wish we had never lost those five years. But I can’t change what has happened. I need to learn from my mistakes so it doesn’t happen again. Jim is my soul mate and I can’t lose him. The five years apart were a nightmare and I don’t think I could live without him.
“Jim…?”
The doorbell rang. Jim said, “That must be the pizza.”
As Jim headed to the door, Trixie let out a sigh. She wanted to talk to Jim but knew it had to wait. A moment later, Jim came into the living room carrying a pizza box. “Dinner is served.”
Trixie settled on the couch as Jim set the box on the table before sitting on the floor. Flipping the lid open, Trixie reached in and grabbed a piece of cheese and pepperoni. She took a bite and realized she was hungry.
As she reached for a second piece, she knew it was time they talked. “Jim.”
“Yes?”
“There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
She watched Jim swallow as he stared at her. “Are you all right?”
Trixie nodded. “I just need to talk about something.”
Jim got to his feet, moved over to the couch and sat down beside her. She leaned back against him. He asked, “What is it?”
Trixie set her pizza on her plate and then turned to face Jim. “What I want to talk about is important.”
“You sound serious.”
“I am.” Trixie took a breath. “I’ve been giving it some thought and I figured out why I keep having nightmares.”
Jim swallowed another bite of pizza. “And?”
Trixie looked down at her hands. “When I came home more than a year ago, I knew that life had changed us both since I went to college. I dreamed we would get back together, but I wasn’t going to push it. A lot of time had passed.”
“But it all worked out,” Jim said. “We made amends and focused on our love for one another.”
“I know we did, but we never talked about why we broke up in the first place.” She looked at Jim as he slowly put his half-eaten piece of pizza on his plate.
“Trixie, why are you bringing this up now?” Jim asked slowly.
“I think we have some unresolved issues and need to talk about them.” She looked at Jim and could feel her eyes tearing up. “I don’t want to fight, but I think it’s something we have to do. I think that’s part of the reason I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“Trix, I don’t see anything to talk about. We broke up, you went away to school and you came home five years later.”
She knew this wasn’t how she wanted to discuss the matter. She wanted them to express their feelings about what happened, but she knew that wasn’t going to happen.
“You’re right,” Trixie said. “I’m sorry for bringing it up.”
“You don’t have to be sorry.” Jim brushed a curl behind her ear. He touched her chin and gently lifted it so she was looking in his eyes. “I love you, Trix.”
“I love you, too.”
Jim leaned in and kissed her before pulling her into a hug.
As Trixie settled her head on his shoulder, she wondered why he so easily dismissed the conversation. She wondered if something else was going on that she was missing.
* * * * *
After climbing into bed, Trixie tossed and turned, unable to get to sleep. She was exhausted, but her mind wouldn’t slow down. She quietly slipped out of bed without disturbing Jim. She slid her robe on and then made her way to the study.
Opening the door, she turned the light on and pulled the door closed behind her. Moving over to her desk, she grabbed her newest journal and started writing. She needed to get her thoughts and feelings out. She knew that if she kept her emotions inside, she would burst. She had to get them out one way or another.
A while later, Trixie set her pen down flexing her fingers because she had written several pages. She let out a breath and got to her feet. Moving to the couch, she sat down and leaned back. She felt a little better but felt she needed to express her feelings to Jim.
As she tried to think of a way to talk to Jim, she drifted to sleep.
Walking into the house at Ten Acres, Trixie looked around searching for Jim. Going through the kitchen, and then the living room, she realized he wasn’t there. She made her way to the second floor and checked each room as she made her way toward the master bedroom.
When she reached the master bedroom, she pushed the door open and said, “Jim?”
She stopped short when she saw Jim standing in the room with just his pants on holding another woman. He turned quickly to face her, standing in front of the woman.
“What are you doing in my house?” Jim asked angrily.
“Your house?”
“That’s what I said.”
“I thought this was our house.”
Jim laughed. “No way. When you left for college, you lost your chance. Our relationship ended and I moved on.” He stared at her. “Now, get out of my house.”
Trixie just stared at Jim, shocked at his behavior “Jim, please, I want to talk about this.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. Now or ever. Now get out.”
She looked at him for a moment, then turned and fled, shocked at how angry Jim seemed.
Trixie sat up with a start, breathing hard. A quick glance around the room and she realized she was in her study. A feeling of panic washed over her and felt she needed to get out of the house.
Quietly making her way back to the master bedroom, she made her way in without waking Jim, grabbed some clothes and quickly changed.
Grabbing her keys, Trixie got into her Jeep and drove off, unaware of the blowing wind.
Why did I have that dream? she wondered. Was there a reason behind it or was my imagination in overdrive? Maybe I had the dream as a sign that we’re not supposed to be together. It must be my subconscious trying to tell me something. But what could it be? What am I missing? I have so many questions, but no answers. I wish I could understand what is going on.
Looking around, Trixie realized she was close to the agency office. She decided to head there. She figured she could distract herself for a little while and focus on some work.
A short while later, Trixie was seated at her desk flipping through the files. She and Honey had finished a case a few days earlier and she needed to document everything they did.
At least I have this going for me, she thought.
The phone rang at that moment and Trixie stared at it. The answering machine kicked on and she listened to the message. “Trix, are you there? Please, Trix. Pick up the phone. We need to talk. All right. Call me on my phone when you get this.”
The machine clicked off. She reached over and erased the message. She heard the urgency in Jim’s voice and realized she shouldn’t have left without saying something or leaving a note.
Feeling a little guilty, she picked up the phone and dialed. Before it rang a second time, she heard Jim say, “Hello?”
“It’s me,” she said.
“Trixie, where are you? I woke early and you were gone. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m at the office,” she said. “I woke early and knew there was a lot of work that needed to be done, so I came here.”
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine.” Trixie wanted to get off the phone. “Jim, I have a call on the other line. Can I call you later?”
“Sure,” Jim said, but she heard the disappointment in his voice. “Bye.”
“Bye, Jim.”
Trixie set the phone down and leaned back in her chair. She didn’t like lying to Jim, but she didn’t think they would actually talk like they needed to.
Pulling a legal pad out of her desk, Trixie continued writing from the previous night. She needed top clear her head so she could focus on work.
“Trixie?”
She looked up and saw Honey standing in front of her desk. “Good morning, Honey.”
“What are you doing here? I thought you were going to take a couple days off since we finished the last case.”
“I remembered there was some paperwork that needed to be taken care of.”
“It could have waited,” Honey said sitting down in the chair on the other side of Trixie’s desk. “But I have a feeling there’s another reason you are here besides the paperwork.”
Trixie set her pen down and leaned back in her chair. “Spit out what’s on your mind, Honey.”
“What’s going on with you?” Honey asked. “I got a frantic all from Jim telling me you left without a word. He was terrified something terrible had happened to you.”
“Jim knows I’m here.”
“Trixie, come on. I’m your best friend. Level with me. I can see something is bothering you. It’s been going on for a while.”
Trixie got to her feet and moved over to one of the filing cabinets. “There’s nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me,” Honey said harshly.
Trixie spun around to face her sister-in-law. “It’s none of your business.”
“It is my business if it affects Jim.” Honey took a breath and spoke calmly. “I’m sorry, but I’m worried about you. I can tell you haven’t been getting much sleep and that’s not good for you or the baby.”
Trixie put her hand on her stomach. She didn’t want to hurt their baby.
“Please, Trix, talk to me.”
“All right,” Trixie said and sat down in her chair. She leaned back and looked at Honey. “I keep having a hard time sleeping.”
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Have you been having nightmares?”
“You could say that.”
“What’s going on?” Honey asked softly.
“I’m wondering if coming back to Sleepyside was a wrong decision.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t think I belong here anymore.”
“Trixie, you’re not making sense,” Honey said.
Trixie got to her feet and started pacing. “I just feel out of place. I have tried to talk to Jim about when I left for college, but he doesn’t want to discuss it. He says there isn’t anything to talk about, but I know there is.
“We have to talk about what happened,” Trixie said. “When we got back together, we just left it behind. We never really expressed our feelings at that time. We won’t be able to really move on until we get through that.”
“Do you really think it has to be brought up?”
“I have been reliving that last week before I went to college in my dreams. I think the only way for the dreams to stop is to confront the issue.”
“Does Jim know you’ve been having trouble sleeping?” Honey asked,
Trixie nodded her head as she moved to the window. “I tried to talk with him last night. I told him I figured out why I wasn’t sleeping well and the reason, but he didn’t want to talk about it. He felt the issue should be left in the past.”
Trixie saw the trees in the distance were moving a lot in the wind. She had a feeling a storm was coming.
“Trix, you need to keep trying to talk to Jim. I saw how your leaving affected you both. This needs to be discussed. And even if Jim won’t admit it, he does need to talk about it.”
“But how do I get him to do that? He seemed to want to drop the subject even before I started talking.”
Honey got to her feet and moved over to the window. “You have to keep trying. That’s all I can tell you.”
Trixie looked at Honey. “Thanks for listening.”
Honey put her hand on Trixie’s arm. “I’m always here to listen.”
Trixie smiled.
At that moment, the lights in the office flickered, and then went out. Trixie said, “Well, I guess I won’t be getting anymore work done today.”
“Then go home. You need to sleep.”
“You’re right. Thanks again, Honey.”
“You’re welcome.”
Trixie gathered her things including the legal pad she had been writing in and made her way out to her Jeep. As she stepped out of the building, she struggled to stay upright since the wind was so strong. She finally made it to the Jeep. Once she was inside, she let out a breath, surprised at how strong the winds were.
Starting the engine, Trixie began the trek back to Ten Acres. As she drove, she thought about how she needed to get Jim to understand.
We really need to talk, she thought. I love Jim so much that I don’t want anything to ruin our future. The only way to make sure our marriage lasts is for us to be honest with one another. That’s the only way it’ll work. Hopefully Jim will be willing to listen.
All of a sudden, Trixie heard a loud cracking. Looking up, she saw a tree starting to fall in front of her. She slammed on the brakes hoping her Jeep stopped in time.
Author’s Notes: Once again my esteemed appreciation goes to Amy and Kaye for the editing of this story.
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