Time To Get Going
The next morning, Trixie took a tray of juice and toast up to Jim after waking. She was surprised to see him awake.
“Morning,” she said, moving toward the bed.
“Good morning,” Jim said, pulling himself up slightly.
Trixie took in his appearance and was glad he wasn’t as pale as before. “How are you feeling?”
“Better.” He took a sip of the juice. “I think the prescription for rest is something I needed.”
Trixie sat down on the edge of the bed beside him. “We’ll just have to make sure we schedule that rest time.”
Jim smiled. “I like the sound of that.”
“You definitely sound better,” Trixie said, returning the grin.
“It’ll be a couple more days before I’m back to my old self, but I’m getting there.”
“That’s what I want.”
Jim set the juice glass on the tray. “How is the case you’re working on going?”
“We’ve gotten another loophole.” The smile left her face.
“You seem aggravated.”
“I assumed this would be easy, but the more we investigate, the more frustrated I get.” Trixie looked at her hands. “Part of me wonders if we will figure it out.”
Jim reached over and caressed her cheek. She looked at him. “You and Honey will figure this out. You’ve never let a case beat you, and I don’t see that ever happening.”
Trixie smiled. She was glad to have Jim’s support. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”
“Anytime.” Jim leaned back against the headboard.
Trixie lifted the tray off his lap. “Get some rest.”
“Are you going to the office?”
Trixie shook her head. “I’m working from here today. If you need anything, let me know.”
“Okay.”
Trixie left the room and went downstairs. Sitting at her laptop, she wondered what their next step would be.
Was Alexandria really scared that her little boy wasn’t going to a loving home? she thought. But why would she take him away from the hospital? This case is getting more confusing as it goes along. If Alexandria took the baby out of the hospital, the police would’ve been called. Back then, the press would have had a field day with this.
Searching for old news stories around the time of the birth, she hoped there would be something that would help bring this case to a close. After an hour of searching, she found what she was looking for. Grabbing the phone, she dialed the office as she scrolled through the story.
“Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency. How can I help you?”
“Honey, it’s me.”
“Hi,” Honey said.
“Are you in the middle of something?” Trixie asked.
“No. Why? What’s going on? Is Jim all right?”
“He’s fine and is starting to feel better.”
“That’s good,” Honey said with a sigh of relief. “So, what’s up?”
“You still have the journal, right?”
“I have it in front of me.”
“Good. I think I may have a lead.”
“What is it?”
“I thought about what you read to me from Alexandria’s journal and it kind of stuck in my head.”
“Tell me what you found.”
“Well, I thought back and figured if a baby was taken from the hospital, the police would’ve responded no matter what life was like.”
“And there was a news story in the paper,” Honey concluded.
“Exactly. The news story stated that a woman who was staying in a hotel across the street had taken a baby from the hospital. One of the employees turned the woman in once he heard about the missing baby because he had seen her check into the hotel without a child, and was then later seen with an infant.”
“The woman was arrested, right?”
“She was, and the baby was returned to the hospital.”
“Then the baby had to have gone with the family.”
“That’s right. There’s no need to consider another factor in this case of an unknown friend that was given the baby. We need to figure out who adopted him.”
“But you’ve already talked to all the possible people that could be Catherine’s brother.”
“I did, but I have a feeling that her brother has no clue he was adopted.”
“Ian?”
“That’s right. His mother seemed really determined to keep me from talking to him about this. My gut instinct tells me that he’s the one we’re looking for.”
“But we need definite proof.”
“I know,” Trixie said. “That’s something to figure out.”
“I’ll keep working here to see if there’s something we missed.”
“All right,” Trixie said. “Keep me posted.”
“I will. Bye.”
“Bye.”
Trixie set the phone down and thought, My gut instinct has to be right. It has to be.
* * * * *
Hours later, Trixie was still seated at the computer looking for some lead. She knew there was one somewhere and couldn’t find it.
The floor creaking caught her attention. Turning, Trixie saw Jim standing at the bottom of the stairs, wrapped in the comforter from their bed.
“What are you doing out of bed?” Trixie scolded, getting to her feet and moving toward him. “You should be resting.”
Jim gave her a small smile. “I missed you.”
Trixie gave Jim a hug. “I missed you, too. Why don’t you go settle yourself on the couch and I’ll make you some soup?”
“All right.”
As Jim went into the living room, Trixie heated up some soup. Once it was ready, she filled a bowl and took it into Jim. He was sitting at one end of the couch with his legs on the seat. He had wrapped the comforter around himself. After handing him the soup, she settled on the other end of the couch.
He ate a little and looked at her. “You’ve been busy, haven’t you?”
Trixie smiled. “I had to do something while you were sleeping.”
“Have you made any progress?”
“We have a few leads we’re following up, but nothing yet.”
“You’ll solve this.”
“Thanks for your support.”
Jim set the bowl on the table. Trixie moved to sit behind him and put his head on her lap. She pulled the comforter so it was up to his chin. With her right hand, she brushed his hair off his forehead.
“Your forehead is no longer hot to the touch. That’s a good sign.”
“I am feeling better. I’m just tired.”
“You’ll feel better once you get the rest you need.”
Jim pulled his hand out from underneath the comforter and caressed her cheek. “Did you get any sleep last night?”
“I got enough. Besides, I was taking care of you.”
“I’m glad it was you.”
“I’m glad I was here to do it.” She gave him a small smile. “I love you, Jim, and nothing will ever change that.”
“I love you, too.”
Trixie leaned down and kissed Jim’s forehead. As she leaned back, she saw he had closed his eyes. She watched him as he fell back to sleep a few minutes later. She continued to brush the hair off his forehead as her mind wandered.
Why is this case so difficult? We shouldn’t have any problems finding a lost relative, but this seems to be taking too long. Part of me really believes that Ian is the lost brother, but I don’t have any proof. His mother is so adamant that he wasn’t adopted. Maybe she acted that way trying to convince Ian and me that he wasn’t. There has to be a lead somewhere. We just need to find it.
Trixie gently lifted Jim up and slid out from underneath him. She lowered him back down and made sure he was covered by the comforter before heading into the kitchen.
She quickly got to work cleaning up the dishes from their dinner as a way to keep her mind off the case. But it didn’t work.
Within minutes, she was back at her computer scrolling through files, hoping to find some lead she might have missed.
When the phone rang a while later, she quickly grabbed it, hoping it hadn’t disturbed Jim. “Hello?”
“Hi, I’m looking for Trixie Frayne.”
“This is Trixie.”
“Trixie, this is Ian Archibald.”
“Hello, Ian. How are you doing?”
“I’m all right.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“There’s a reason I called,” Ian said. “I’ve been thinking about what you said the other day. I also questioned my mother, because what you said seemed to feel right.”
“What do you mean?”
“I confronted my mother, and she finally broke down.”
“And?”
“She admitted I wasn’t her child by birth.”
* * * * *
Trixie entered the office the next morning and turned the lights on. She hated leaving Jim alone at home while he was sick, but she knew she needed to have this meeting with Ian.
Settling into her chair behind the desk, she thought back to Ian’s call the previous night.
After he told her he wasn’t Margaret’s birth child, he went on to say how confused he was. Trixie knew there was a lot they needed to talk about, and Ian agreed to meet her at the office.
There was a knock on the door and Trixie said, “Come in.”
The door opened and Ian stepped into the office. “Thanks for meeting with me.”
“It’s my pleasure,” Trixie said.
As they sat down, Trixie noticed dark smudges under Ian’s eyes and figured he hadn’t gotten much sleep the previous night.
“So, what happened?” Trixie asked, getting down to business.
Ian took a breath. “Well, it all started after you left the other day. She was very angry you had been there and tried to convince me that everything you had said was a lie.” He paused. “She kept repeating over and over that I wasn’t adopted and that I had to believe her.”
“But then something made you question it.”
Ian nodded. “She ranted and raved for a while and finally calmed down a while later. Her insistence that I wasn’t adopted and that I should leave this alone made me wonder if it was true.”
“What did you do?”
“I dug into the records she has. Hers and mine were together. After looking at the blood types, I knew there was no way we could be related.” Ian looked at her. “I confronted her and she knew I had found something, so she admitted it was true.”
“What did she tell you?”
“She told me what happened and how I came to her.”
As Ian explained how he ended up with Margaret, she recognized it as what had been written in Alexandria’s journal. When he finished, he asked, “What do I do now?”
Before Trixie could answer, there was a knock on the door. Trixie said, “Come in.”
The door opened and Catherine walked in. “I’m sorry to show up unannounced, Mrs. Frayne, but I was checking to see if you or Mrs. Belden had come up with anything.”
“That’s all right,” Trixie said. “Come on in and have a seat.”
Catherine closed the door and moved toward the desk as Ian got to his feet and faced her.
“Catherine,” Trixie said getting to her feet. “I would like you to meet Ian Archibald. Ian, this is Catherine Williams.”
“How do you do?” Ian asked as he shook Catherine’s hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Catherine said.
Trixie watched them and saw Catherine was staring at Ian. She wondered if there was a connection between the two of them.
“Do I know you?” Catherine asked slowly.
“You might want to sit down,” Trixie said as their hands separated. Catherine settled into an empty chair as Ian sat back down in his seat. Trixie took a breath. “Catherine, what would you say if I told you that the agency may have possibly found your brother?”
“Is it true?” Catherine asked, leaning forward in the chair.
“It’s true,” Ian said.
Catherine looked at Ian. She asked slowly, “What do you mean?”
Ian took a breath. “I’m your brother.”
* * * * *
A week later, there was a party at the Manor House. The party was being held by the Wheelers’ as a pre-grand opening celebration for the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency. The party was also to celebrate the first case officially solved by agency.
Trixie stood off to the side watching the guests. Besides the Wheelers, her parents were in the room, as well as her older brothers and their wives. There were also a few of the residents of Sleepyside at the event.
There were also two special guests at the party, Catherine and Ian. Matthew Wheeler felt it was important for them to be there since they brought Trixie and Honey the first case for the agency.
She felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist and knew it was Jim as she leaned back against him. He asked softly in her ear, “What do you think of the party?”
“It’s terrific.”
“Do I hear a ‘but’ in your voice?” Jim asked, teasingly.
Trixie shook her head. “I’m being honest. This is great and it was so nice of your parents to have this for the agency.”
“I think its Dad and Mother’s way of showing their support for your decision to go ahead with the agency.”
Trixie turned in Jim’s arms and looked into his green eyes. “It’s nice to have that.”
Jim brushed a curl off her forehead. “They are proud of what you and Honey have done.”
“I know.”
“And I’m proud of you both as well.” Jim caressed her cheek with his hand. “I love you, Trixie.”
“I love you, Jim.”
He leaned down and gave her a kiss.
Their kiss was interrupted at the sound of glasses clinking. Turning, they saw Matthew Wheeler was getting everyone’s attention.
Trixie watched the room grow quiet as Jim tightened his hold on her waist. She was glad everyone who meant a lot to her and Honey were able to be there for the celebration. She saw Honey was standing off to the side with Brian. She noticed Honey seemed a little flushed and wondered if she was feeling all right.
“Thank you all for attending this evening,” Matthew said. “We are here to celebrate the opening of the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency.”
“Hear, hear!” Brian yelled.
“Even though the agency hasn’t officially opened, the first case has been solved,” Matthew continued. “I believe that is a sign of good things to come. The two of them have had this dream since they were teenagers, and now it is finally coming true. We all wish you the best for your future.” Matthew raised his glass. “To Honey and Trixie.”
“To Honey and Trixie!” Everyone chorused.
“Oh, no!” Honey cried out.
Silence filled the air as everyone turned to look at Honey, who was clutching her stomach. She said, “The baby’s coming.”
In one swift motion, Brian had Honey in his arms and was storming his way toward the front door.
“I can’t wait,” Trixie said excitedly.
“We should get to the hospital,” Jim said. “I want to be there when my niece or nephew enters this world.”
“Then let’s go.”
* * * * *
Deep into the early hours of the morning, the waiting room of the hospital was packed with people anticipating the news of Honey and Brian’s first child. Trixie and Jim sat off to the side, talking quietly.
“I bet you’re excited,” Trixie said.
“I am.” Jim wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
“You know, that’s something we haven’t talked about.” Trixie leaned her head against Jim’s shoulder.
“What haven’t we talked about?”
Trixie smiled. “A family.”
“We are a family.” Jim squeezed her shoulder.
“I know we are. But we never talked about children. And since Honey is about to give birth, I was just wondering...”
“If I see children in our future?” Jim finished.
“Well, yeah.”
“You’re right. That’s a discussion we haven’t had yet.”
Trixie leaned forward, turning her gaze back at Jim. “Don’t you want to have children?”
Jim reached forward and brushed a curl out of her eyes. “Of course I want children. But I’m not in any rush.”
Before Trixie could question Jim further, quick footsteps alerted them that there might be news about Honey. They saw Brian coming toward them and he had a big smile on his face. He stopped as everyone got to his or her feet. “It’s a boy. Peter Matthew Belden. He’s healthy and strong.”
A loud cheer rang out in the waiting room. Everyone was excited that there was another grandchild.
“Honey and the baby are fine, but they won’t be up for visitors until tomorrow.” Brian put his hand up at the groans. “The labor was a lot for Honey, and the doctor insisted Honey rest. She’s physically drained.”
“We understand,” Matthew said. “Give her our love and let her know we’ll be here first thing in the morning.”
“I will.” Brian said and headed back down the hall.
Once everyone gathered their things, they left the hospital. Trixie and Jim let the others get in the elevator and said they would catch the next one. She had a plan and knew it was a long shot. She was anxious to see her new nephew and wanted to at least get a look at the new Belden.
She turned to Jim and said, “Let’s go to the nursery and get a peek at Peter Matthew Belden.”
“We really shouldn’t,” Jim said. “Visiting hours are over.”
“Come on, Jim. This is your first nephew by your sister. Don’t you want to see him?”
Jim closed his eyes and ran his hands over his face. He finally looked at her. “Fine, but if we get caught, you’re the one getting in trouble.”
“Fine, now come on. The nursery is this way.”
Trixie led Jim through the halls to where the nursery was. There were nurses around, but they didn’t pay too much attention to them. They reached the nursery and looked in the window where the babies were. They saw a nurse was putting a bed in the middle of the room.
Trixie grabbed a pen and piece of notebook paper from her purse and wrote “Belden” on it. She placed the side of the paper with the word on it against the glass and looked pointedly at the nurse.
The nurse smiled and slowly moved the beds around before sliding a small bundle to the front of the group. Trixie and Jim looked down at the little bundle in front of them. He seemed so tiny and appeared to be asleep. There was just a little dark hair that could been seen on the top of his head. Trixie looked closely and saw that he had Honey’s nose.
Peter Matthew Belden was a perfect mix of Honey and Brian.
“He is absolutely adorable,” Jim said.
“He sure is,” Trixie agreed. “He sure is.”
A little while later as they headed for home, Trixie leaned her head against Jim’s shoulder as he drove.
“I’m so happy for Honey and Brian,” Trixie said.
“So am I.”
Trixie looked up at Jim. “Jim, how do you picture our family in the future?”
“What do you mean?”
“How do you picture our family? Do you see children? And if so, how many?”
“When I pictured having a family of my own with a woman who really cared for me, I saw us having several children. I don’t care how many as long as they are all healthy and happy.”
“That’s the way I pictured my own family too.”
Jim kissed the top of her head. “It seems like we’re thinking along the same lines again.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.” Trixie closed her eyes. “When do you want to start our family?”
“Let’s let nature take its course. We shouldn’t plan for when we want a baby. It should happen naturally.”
“I like that.”
As Trixie snuggled closer to Jim, she knew that when their family finally did begin, that their children would receive a lot of love from both of them.
The End
Author’s Notes: I would like to thank Susansuth for her assistance in the editing of this story. Without your assistance, I would be lost. Thanks Again.
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