A steady beep was coming from somewhere close by. Her body felt weighted down. She listened carefully, wondering if anyone was with her. She didn’t hear anyone. She had to know where she was.

She slowly forced her eyes open. Trixie blinked against the brightness as everything came into focus. Above her, she could see two bags hanging next to her.

I must be in the hospital, she thought looking up at the bags. But how did I end up here?

Her eyes roamed about the room. There was a table at the foot of the bed with a chart on it. Her gaze moved further about the room and stopped when she saw a redhead resting on the bed beside her arm. Trixie slowly moved her fingers. Her hand was stiff. She moved her fingers to his hand and squeezed.

All of a sudden, Jim looked up and focused on her face. She watched him smile as he took her hand in his. With his left hand, he reached up and brushed the hair off her forehead. “I’m so glad you’re awake, Trixie.”

Trixie tried to talk, but realized something was in her mouth.

“Whatever you want to say can wait.” Jim sat down on the bed beside her. “Your parents will be thrilled to know you are finally awake.”

Trixie had so much to ask, but knew she needed to get her strength back first. She looked at Jim and squeezed his hand.

He smiled. “Why don’t you rest? I’ll be here when you wake up.”

She nodded her head slightly as she closed her eyes.

*****

Trixie slowly woke, feeling someone brushing her hair off her forehead. The touch seemed familiar. She smiled as she slowly opened her eyes.

The room was as bright as the last time she woke up. She saw Jim was again sitting on the bed beside her. She noticed the stubble on his face and realized he hadn’t shaved in days.

“Hi,” she said weakly when she realized the tube that had been in her mouth was no longer there.

“Hi.” Jim moved closer. “How are you feeling?”

She took inventory of herself. Her arms and legs were a little stiff, but functioning. She noticed that when she breathed, her chest still hurt. She looked at him. “I think I’m all right.”

Jim tightened his hold on her hand. “There is so much I want to say to you, but here and now is not the right time or place. But when you are finally released, we need to talk.”

“All right,” Trixie agreed, confused.

But before she could question him further, the door to her room opened. Her parents hurried over to the bed and gave her a hug.

“Oh, sweetie, we were so worried about you,” Helen said, holding her tight.

Trixie held onto her mother. She knew everything was going to be all right.

Jim got off the bed. “I’m going to let you have some time with your parents,” he said. “I’ll be back in a little while.”

“I’ll be here,” Trixie said softly with a smile.

Jim smiled and left the room. Trixie looked at Helen as she sat on the bed beside her.

“How are you feeling?” Peter asked, pulling a chair close to her bed.

“Better. How long have I been here?”

“About a week,” Helen said.

Trixie stared at them. She couldn’t believe how much time had passed.

“Trixie, you should understand what happened,” Peter said. “The branch that fell on you caused some severe injuries. You broke one of your ribs and it punctured your lung. That’s why you were having trouble breathing.”

“Also, part of your stomach wall was torn,” Helen said, before adding quickly. “But those were your only injuries. The doctors repaired the damage and you’re going to be fine.”

“I don’t remember any of this,” Trixie said.

“You were unconscious when your brothers returned with help,” Helen said.

“What’s the last thing you do remember?” Peter asked.

Trixie thought back. She remembered helping out at the Halloween party. She recalled the lights going out. After that, her mind was blank.

“Don’t worry about it,” Peter said. “That’s not important.”

“Your father is right. All that matters is that you’re going to be fine.”

“You’re right,” Trixie said.

*****

A week later, Trixie was back at Crabapple Farm. She was under strict orders from the doctor to take it easy until her lung was healed completely, which would take a couple months.

When hearing the day Trixie would be released from the hospital, Brian insisted she sleep in the guest bedroom on the first floor until her doctor told her it would be okay to climb stairs. Her parents readily agreed. When she had finally come home, a lot of the items from her room had been brought down so she would feel comfortable.

As she dozed on the bed, she thought about all that had gone on since she came to in the hospital. Her friends and family had visited her during her stay at the hospital and kept coming to the house to see her. She enjoyed their company even though she tired easily. She knew the tiredness would go away as her strength returned.

“Come in,” she said, turning her head toward the door and opening her eyes.

Jim poked his head in. “Are you up for some company?”

“If it’s you, always.”

Jim closed the door and moved over to the bed. As he moved closer, she watched him walking with a purpose.

He had been so great through all this, she thought. He was at the hospital each time I woke and has spent countless hours being with me here.

“How are you feeling?” He asked, sitting on the edge of the bed beside her.

“Better.” She looked at the bedside clock, then at him. “Shouldn’t you be at the school?”

Jim smiled. “I took some time off for good behavior.”

She returned the smile. “You’ve taken a lot of time off for that.”

“I think I deserve it.” He reached over and took her left hand in his. He took a breath and looked her in the eye. She noticed his hand was trembling as it held hers. “Trix, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“It sounds serious.”

“It is. But if you’re not up to it, the discussion can wait.”

Trixie was concerned. “What is it, Jim? Is something wrong at the school?”

“Everything’s fine at the school.”

“Did something happen to one of the boys?”

“They’re fine.”

Trixie looked at Jim, perplexed, her eyebrows creased. “Then what is it?”

Trixie watched Jim take a deep breath and look down at their hands that were intertwined. She had a bad feeling about this conversation now.

“Trix,” he began.

“Don’t say it, Jim.”

Jim’s head jerked up and he looked at her, confused. “Say what?”

“Jim, I know you just want to be friends and nothing more. We don’t have to have a drawn out discussion. I do understand.”

“Trixie, I do want to be your friend...but I want more. Trix, I have loved you since you were 13.” Jim moved closer to her, squeezing her hand. “When you were gone those five years, I tried to move on, but I knew my heart only belonged to you, my shamus.”

Jim got off the bed and kneeled beside her as he pulled something out of his shirt pocket with his right hand. He struggled to keep the emotion out of his voice. “Trixie, you’re my best friend. The accident on Halloween and the days you were in the hospital made me realize that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Without you in my life, there doesn’t seem to be any meaning.”

Tears started streaming down her cheeks. She realized that what he said was also true for her.

He opened his hand to reveal a small diamond solitaire ring and looked into her eyes. His voice full of emotion. “Beatrix Belden, will you marry me?”

She stared at him with her mouth hanging open. She couldn’t believe Jim had just asked her to marry him! She never expected it, especially so soon!

Trixie looked into his emerald green eyes and knew there was only one answer.

“Jim, I... I... yes. YES! I will marry you!”

Jim slid the ring on her finger with a shaking hand and then gave her a kiss. “I love you, Trixie.”

“I love you, Jim.”

They kissed again.

-The End-

Author’s Notes: This is a submission for CWP #7 which requires the following elements: A holiday between Halloween and Valentine’s Day; snow covered pumpkins; red footwear that makes noise; Mr. Potato Head; unseasonable holiday weather; a three-legged cat; a pet or small child creating swatch of destruction; Jello wrestling or some other food fight; any holiday song that fits the mood for the holiday; and a carryover item which is a bouquet of dead flowers.

My thanks and a major round of applause goes to Susansuth for the wonderful words of wisdom and guidance through the parts that left me flustered and to get this story to go smoothly. Thank you so much my friend.

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