“Come on, squaw, get off the computer and give someone else a chance,” Mart demanded, frustrated after repeated trips to the office. “You’ve been online for hours.”
“You know, it’s much better when it’s just Bobby and me,” Trixie retorted. “I can’t wait until your Christmas break is over and you go back to college.”
“Yeah, me too. At least there I don’t have to wait for hours to use a computer.”
“I’m sorry, Mart,
I’m just
having trouble finding something. And it’s frustrating me that...
hey, wait… you’re a guy,” Trixie said, turning around in her
seat.
Mart arched an eyebrow. “Your powers of observation continually amaze me.”
“Oh, shut up! Look, just tell me what a guy would like for Christmas,” Trixie muttered, pushing her curls out of her face and staring back at the computer.
Mart turned and looked at the screen as well, recognizing the L.L. Bean website. “Well, from my relatives, I’d be happy with flannel shirts. But, if perchance we’re talking about what I’d like to receive from my girlfriend, definitely not clothes… at least not practical ones.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.” Trixie sighed loudly and lowered her head into her hands. Then, realizing Mart’s words, she raised up her head. “How’d you know I was looking for a gift for Jim?”
Mart smiled as he sat down in the second chair and pointed at the screen. “Cause you’re looking at all the green shirts. But I can’t believe you’ve waited this long to look for a gift for Jim, sister of mine.”
“I haven’t,” Trixie protested. “I’ve been looking for months. I just haven’t been able to find the right gift for him. And this year, I want it to be perfect.” Trixie pouted at the computer screen, then looked over when she again remembered Mart’s words. “Hey, wait a minute, Mart, what did you mean by at least not practical clothes?”
“Well… if you were buying something, well, sexy or something, like silk boxers, it would be okay to buy clothes. But you’d better not be at the stage where you’re buying Jim silk boxers,” Mart said, scowling.
Trixie blushed. “Oh God, I’m not, I can’t even picture buying him that... and I don’t want to hear about it if Di’s buying you things like that either.”
This time, Mart blushed. “No, no, she hasn’t. And I doubt she’ll be buying me any this year either.” Mart eyed his sister. “Actually, do you have any idea what she bought me?”
“Maybe,” Trixie teased. “Why?” Trixie laughed when Mart looked uncomfortable. “Oh, let me guess, you haven’t found a gift for her, have you?” She laughed again when Mart just glared at her. “Now, don’t tell me, brother of mine, that you’ve waited this long to look for a gift for Diana.”
He sprang out of the chair and raked his fingers through the hair that he had finally allowed to grow out. “No, I’m just having the same problem you are. I want to find the perfect gift for her. I mean, she was happy with the purple scarf and glove set I got her last year…”
“They weren’t purple, Mart,” Trixie interrupted. “They were dark orchid.”
“Whatever. Anyway, that was so common and uninspired. This year, I want to let her know just how special she is to me. How much I miss her while I'm away at college.”
Trixie sighed. “Yeah, that’s what I want to tell Jim too. And a stupid old shirt’s not going to demonstrate that, is it? Oh, this is hopeless. The computer’s all yours,” she said, closing out the website. She stood up and started walking out the door, looking up in Mart’s face when he blocked the way out. “What?”
“Look, I’ve got an idea,” Mart said earnestly. “Why don’t you and I go to the mall? Brian and Jim aren’t due home until much later tonight, so we have plenty of time to go shopping. You can help me pick out the perfect gift for Di, and I’ll help you with Jim’s gift.”
“Really?” Trixie said, surprised at his offer. “Sure, that… that would be nice. Let’s just check it with Moms.”
They both sprinted down the stairs and into the warmth of the kitchen. Moms looked up from the stove as her two middle children burst into the room.
“Hey Moms, Mart and I are gonna head over and go shopping in White Plains, is that okay?”
“I suppose that would be fine. Just be back in time for dinner, it should be ready by six when your father comes home,” Moms said, working on her pot roast.
Trixie looked at her watch. “Cool! That gives us three hours.”
“Hey, can I come too?” Bobby asked, running in from the living room. “I’d like to buy some presents for some of my girlfriends.”
“Girlfriends? As in plural?” Mart asked as his eyebrows shot up.
“Oh yeah, short stuff is quite the ladies’ man,” Trixie teased.
Bobby snorted. “Short stuff? I’m almost as tall as you are, Trixie, and I’m only ten. So… can I come along?” he asked, with pleading eyes at Mart. “Trixie never takes me anywhere anymore.”
“Nope, not since Jim and I finally revealed we were dating, and I could finally stop you from blackmailing me,” Trixie said, putting on her coat. She looked over at Mart and exchanged meaningful looks. “Fine, Bobby, come along, we’ll consider it a Christmas gift.”
“No way, Trixie. You’re not getting off that cheaply with me, I still want a gift,” Bobby said, shrugging happily into his jacket.
“I don’t mean for you, Bobby, I mean for Moms, by getting you out of her hair for a while.” Trixie gave Moms a quick kiss on the cheek and headed out the door with Mart, both of them laughing.
“Ha ha ha,” Bobby muttered as he too gave Moms a goodbye kiss, albeit a bit reluctantly. Part of him felt he was getting too old for goodbye kisses, even if he had just seen Mart do the same.
As the door shut behind her children, Moms paused for a moment and savored the silence. She turned and looked around the empty kitchen, smiling happily. Although she couldn’t wait until tonight when Brian would return from college and she’d have all of her children back at home, she still had to enjoy the quiet. Realizing that she now had at least two , probably three hours before anyone would return, she crossed over to the phone and quickly dialed. “Peter, why don’t you come home a little earlier today? Actually, why don’t you come home right now?”
When they got back from the mall, Trixie desperately tried to ignore the fact that Moms was still cooking dinner, in fact, it didn’t look like she had gotten much further along in the process since she had left for shopping. Since her father was already home and looking rather relaxed sitting down at the kitchen table and perusing the mail, she suspected she knew what had delayed her mother’s cooking.
Great, she
thought to herself while rolling her eyes, my parents got
luckier than I did.
Trixie sighed deeply; the shopping trip had been futile. Nothing had appealed to her as the perfect gift for Jim, or when she found something adequate, like a nice silk tie, Mart had nixed it outright. And Mart had been just as unlucky. Trixie was fairly certain they had looked at every purple item in both the Galleria and The Westchester Mall. Mart had been just as dissatisfied with the gift ideas there... or Trixie had to tell him that Diana already had bought that for herself, like the purple... no, dark orchid glassware set he had seen at Crate and Barrel.
Bobby
was the only one who had enjoyed a successful shopping trip. He had
managed to find gifts for a number of his girlfriends and had headed
upstairs immediately to wrap up all the presents. And Trixie had to
give him credit; he had done a darn good job of choosing really sweet
gifts. The world was going to have to look out when Robert Belden
truly came of age.
Maybe
Mart and I should have gone to him for advice, rather than each
other. Actually, Trixie and
Mart had enjoyed their time together, even if their respective
searches had been fruitless. Mart was a lot more relaxed now that he
was off at college and, even though Trixie would never admit it, she
really missed her almost twin and was glad that he had come back home
a couple of days early. It let the two of them get to spend some
quality time
together before Brian got home that night.
And coming home with him... Jim. Trixie alternated between smiling and frowning as she thought of Jim’s return. As happy as she would be at being able to see him daily again, she was still frustrated that she hadn’t been able to find him that perfect gift. And now it would be almost impossible for her to go shopping with him around. Whenever he was home on breaks, the two of them usually tried to spend as much time as possible together, either off alone or with the other Bob-Whites.
“So, any luck, Trixie?” Moms asked, having already been asked for advice the day before on the perfect gift.
As Trixie slowly shook her head, Moms turned to Mart. “And you?”
“No luck,” Mart said, risking slapped hands by sneaking a taste of dinner.
“Luck with what?” Mr. Belden asked, coming back from the office where he had been putting away the mail.
“Oh, we’re both having difficulty finding that perfect gift,” Trixie said glumly as she set the table.
“For me?” Mr. Belden teased, even though he knew full well that it could only be young love causing such drama and dismay over the lack of the perfect Christmas present.
“No, Dad, not for you. We’ve had your gift chosen forever. I just don’t know what to buy for Jim. I’ve looked and looked and can’t find the right gift. Hey...” Trixie said, looking at her father.
“This is where she’s going to brilliantly realize that you are a male, Dad. She came to that conclusion with me earlier,” Mart said as he went back for another taste. “Ow!” This time he wasn't fast enough.
“Ah... so you want my advice for a gift for Jim?” Mr. Belden said. “How about some potassium nitrate?”
“Peter!” Mrs. Belden exclaimed, turning around from the kitchen stove while Trixie sat there confused and Mart started laughing. Mr. Belden just smiled at his frowning wife and corrected his words. “Sorry, Trixie, I suppose that should be my gift to Jim.”
“What is that?” Trixie asked, frustrated when Mart continued laughing.
“What is what?” Mr. Belden asked with an innocent smile.
“Dad! What you said before, potassium nitrate or something or other.”
“Ah, well, ask your brother, I’m sure he has the encyclopedia version of it. I need to go wash up.” With that, he rose from the chair and headed towards the bathroom, yelping in surprise when Mrs. Belden managed to snap a dishtowel on his backside.
Trixie looked expectantly at Mart.
“Ah... potassium nitrate is more commonly knowns as saltpeter.” He paused and then reluctantly continued at Trixie’s blank look. “Well, it’s commonly used as an ingredient in gunpowder, but that’s not why Dad’s interested in providing it for Jim. It’s... well, it’s rumored to be an anaphrodisiac... as in it’s supposed to decrease sexual appetite.” Even though Mart did his best to inform his sister in the most scientific of terms, he still couldn’t help but turn bright red.
But his blush couldn’t even begin to rival his sister’s. Luckily, Bobby returned from putting away his presents before Mr. Belden returned from washing up, so the topic was quickly dropped. Trixie couldn’t help but look at the clock all through dinner, while clearing the table, and washing the dishes. But her anticipation of Jim’s return was still dampened by the fact that even after her shopping trip today, and weeks before of searching for a present, she still couldn’t find the right gift for him. She had everyone else’s gifts picked out, purchased, and wrapped, but that one perfect gift for Jim still eluded her.
Still, she ran outside and down the stairs when she heard the crunch of tires on snow. And just as quickly, ran to Jim and crushed her body to his in a giant hug, ignoring the frigid air around them and basking in the warmth of his arms.
Oh, if only I could give him a present that would make him feel as good as I do whenever I’m with him. If I could just bottle that feeling.
After soaking up the smell and feel of him for a few moments, Trixie drew back and smiled up at Jim.
“So, I guess this means you missed me, huh, Shamus?” Jim teased.
“You bet I did. And since you’re here and not at the Manor House, I suppose that means you missed me too,” Trixie teased back. “Talking about the Manor House, shall I assume that’s where my eldest brother is?”
“Guilty as charged. We both decided to stop by our girlfriend’s house before heading to our own homes.”
“Yeah?” Trixie lifted up on her tip-toes to whisper in Jim’s ear. “Too bad you can’t spend the night here instead of heading home.”
Jim swallowed audibly and then looked over at the porch to see if anyone had followed Trixie outside. Although he didn’t see anyone, he knew that her parents where probably right inside, so he whispered back. “I thought we learned our lesson about that in April, Trixie. You and I and a bed seem to be a rather bad combination. Well, more like a good combination, a really good combination, but not if we want to wait until you’re eighteen.”
Trixie smiled at Jim and waited for his usual follow-up sentence, which by this point, had become a running joke. He didn’t disappoint her. “You do still want to wait, right?”
“What would you do if I replied no to that question, Jim Frayne?” Trixie said, her eyes sparkling as brightly as the stars above.
Jim raised both eyebrows in surprise. “Why don’t you not risk that answer, Trixie.”
Trixie laughed and raised up on tip-toe again, intending on giving Jim a quick kiss. Jim, however, had other intentions, and when he finally released her, Trixie was shivering, and not from the cold.
“You’re right, maybe I shouldn’t test you,” she said, looking up at him with glazed eyes.
“No, and I probably shouldn’t test your father’s patience any longer. Here, let me drop off your brother’s stuff and then I should probably head up home.” He grinned widely at Trixie’s pout, and couldn’t quite resist kissing that pout off her face.
Grabbing Brian’s duffle bag with one hand and Trixie with the other, Jim walked over to the sidewalk. “So, you all ready for Christmas?” Jim asked casually, surprised when Trixie didn’t answer him. He looked over, concerned, to find her biting her lip and staring at the ground. “What’s wrong, Trix?”
Trixie looked up and flushed as she saw Jim staring at her intently. “Oh, um... nothing. Of course I’m ready for Christmas, how about you?” She smiled brightly, but wasn’t surprised when Jim just looked at her more intently; he knew her far too well. He gave her a look that clearly conveyed they’d talk about this later and opened up the door to the brightly lit kitchen.
“Good evening, Jim,” Mrs. Belden called out from the living room. “Shall we assume Brian is up at the Manor House?”
“Good evening, Mrs. Belden, Mr. Belden,” Jim said politely. “That’s correct, but he should be here shortly.”
“And you’ll be heading home as well soon, right?” Mr. Belden asked pointedly.
Jim smiled, he was learning not to take Mr. Belden’ overprotective routine personally. He suspected it was mainly an act, but not one he wanted to test too much. “Yes, sir. I’d just like to take a quick walk with Trixie to spend a little time with her, and then I’ll head home.” He turned back to his girlfriend. “Let me just throw this in Brian’s room, say a quick hello to Mart and Bobby, and then we can talk.”
Trixie rolled her eyes once Jim was out of sight. Just once, just one time, she’d like to be able to keep something from him.
Before she even had time to compose her thoughts and figure out what to say to Jim, he was back downstairs and heading towards the closet to grab a warm coat for her. Holding the coat so Trixie could slip her arms through, he whispered in her ear. “I’m just going to bug you until you tell me, so why don’t you just say what’s bothering you?”
Trixie scowled as Jim led her outside and down the porch stairs. “You know, I don’t have to tell you everything, James.”
“No, Beatrix, you don’t. But I hate to see you unhappy, and I’ll just be worried about you until you tell me.” He smiled at her as he laid down the rest of the guilt trip. “And you don’t want me to worry about you, do you?”
Trixie sighed heavily and pulled her gloved hand away from Jim’s. She headed over to the picnic table the Beldens had installed and plopped down, looking up at Jim. “God, you’re good at manipulating me. I hope you can persuade your students to listen to you as easily as you can get me to listen to you.”
“You listen to me? Since when?”
Trixie stuck her tongue out at him. He just smiled and sat down next to her, putting his arm around her shoulders and drawing her towards him. “Seriously, Trixie, what’s wrong? You usually love Christmas.”
“I do... but well, I’m just having trouble this year finding presents,” she admitted reluctantly.
“Really?” Jim asked. “You’re usually really good at finding the perfect present. I always figured it’s because you’re so good at reading people .”
Trixie sprung to her feet. “Well, that’s the problem. I can’t find the perfect present. At least... at least not for you.”
“For me?” Jim asked, getting up and walking over to Trixie. Grabbing both of her hands in his, he looked her in the eyes. “Trixie, you are my perfect present. I don’t need or want anything else but you.”
Trixie melted, knowing that Jim was completely serious. “I know. I know. But I wanted to give you something so that you’d know how important you are to me and how much I miss you when you’re gone.”
Jim kissed her softly. “I already know that, Trixie, since that’s how I feel. And you’ve already given me so much, Trixie. A home, a new family, security, and most importantly, your love.”
“Yeah, but I wanted to give you something you could touch.” She stopped and had to laugh at Jim’s wicked grin. “Not like that, Jim Frayne!”
“Anyway, Trixie, don’t worry about finding the 'perfect' gift, okay? After all, you’re going to have plenty of more Christmases with me.” He kissed her hard this time. “Right?”
“Right,” she said, kissing him back. “Anyway, I guess I should be going back inside.” This time, Trixie grabbed Jim’s hand as they traipsed back through the snow. “But... is there anything you’d like to have for this Christmas?”
“Just you, Trixie. Just you. If I could take you back with me when I head back to college, now that would be the perfect gift.”
“That would be nice, wouldn’t it?” Trixie said, turning to give Jim a goodbye kiss. “Drive carefully, okay?”
“Up the hill?” Jim said, laughing as he looked towards his house. “I think I can handle it.”
After he left, Trixie walked back in the house, thinking the entire time. Although she felt better, she still wished she could come up with the right present. Yeah, a me to take back with him would be the perfect present. Sadly, they don’t clone humans.
Suddenly, she smiled. Looking quickly at the clock, she calculated whether 10:30pm was too late to make a phone call. Deciding to risk it, she went over to the phone and, after looking up his number, quickly dialed. “Hello, Nick? This is Trixie. I hope this isn’t too late to call. I was hoping you could do me a really big favor.”
Trixie was thrilled when she woke up Christmas morning to newly fallen snow. There was nothing, in her mind, better than a white Christmas. And she couldn’t wait to give Jim his gift. She couldn’t believe that just five days before, she had been terrified about what to get him.
And now, both Mart and I have the perfect gifts for Di and Jim! I can’t believe my brother is so romantic though.
Trixie ran downstairs, happy to spend the holidays at Crabapple Farm. Although she had enjoyed the Christmas in Arizona and New Year’s at Mead’s Mountain, there was still nothing better than home. The smell of freshly baked cookies mixed with the real pine tree; the crazy, confused noise of her family wishing each other Merry Christmas ; the abundance of family heirloom Christmas decorations all over the house made for the most wonderful environment for holiday celebrations.
“Come on, Trixie, let’s open presents,” Bobby said. He might have been a whole ten years old and too old for kissing his mother, but Christmas --- and Christmas presents--- now that was another matter.
In fact, all the Beldens tore into their presents. Trixie especially enjoyed seeing others open her gifts. As she was getting older, she enjoyed the giving part of Christmas more than she enjoyed the receiving. Mart, Brian, and Bobby were thrilled with their computer games. Moms loved the gift certificate to the Spa in White Plains, purchased by all her children with a note from each of them that described why she deserved it. She laughed at the horror stories each of her children remembered having done.
For her father, Trixie had found an interesting book that detailed the history of the Underground Railroad in the State of New York. Trixie had carefully marked the page where Crabapple Farm was mentioned. Her father had been obviously thrilled with that gift, but was less thrilled with the container of saltpeter that his wife had wrapped up and given to him with a smile.
But most of all, Trixie couldn’t wait to give Jim his gift. And a few hours later, she found herself up at the Manor House, impatiently waiting to exchange gifts at the Bob-White celebration.
First, she enjoyed watching as Diana opened up Mart’s present. Diana’s face always showed her emotions so well, and Trixie enjoyed watching her excitement change to confusion and then change again. She wasn’t surprised to see tears well up in Diana’s beautiful eyes as she realized what it was that Mart had given her.
“What is it?” Honey asked, realizing that something special had just happened.
After Diana was able to speak, she explained. “Well, it’s a thank you note. Mart had it framed.”
“And?” Dan asked. “We can see it’s a thank you note. What’s so special about this one?”
“Well, it’s one that I wrote. When I was six years old.” She stopped, holding her hand up to her mouth.
Mart blushed as all eyes turned to him when Diana was unable to go on. “Well, she had written it to Moms, to thank Moms when she visited for the first time to spend the night with Trixie. And, well... I... I kinda kept it.”
Brian started laughing. “I remember that note. He was all excited about it, because in addition to Di thanking Moms for the food and the hospitality, she also said that it was very nice getting to meet Mart. Mart was over the moon when he read that.”
“Really? ” Honey asked. “But you were, what, seven years old?” At Mart’s nod, she too started to tear up. “And you kept it this long.”
“Well, even then I knew that Diana was the one for me,” Mart said softly. He blushed when Diana got up from her chair and gave him a huge kiss in front of everyone.
“Okay, enough of the mushy stuff,” Dan said, drawing the attention away from his embarrassed friend. “Trixie, I see you also have something framed for Jim’s gift. Did you also frame the thank you card from your first meeting with Jim?'
Honey laughed before Trixie could answer. “Well, considering that Trixie and Jim’s first meeting involved him aiming a shotgun at us , I don’t believe any thank you cards were exchanged. I don’t even think Miss Lefferts would expect a thank you card in that situation.”
The Bob-Whites all laughed and then, one by one, turned curious eyes towards Trixie. Finding herself the center of attention this time, she blushed. “Well, it’s not a thank you card. Actually, well, here... just open it.”Jim unwrapped the gift, carefully unfolding each corner as Trixie stood there, fidgeting. When he got to the front of what was obviously a painting or picture of some sort, he just sat and stared.
“What is it?” Brian asked, wanting to know.
“It... it’s Trixie,” Jim said , after clearing his throat. Impatient to see the portrait, each of the Bob-Whites crowded around Jim to look at the portrait.
“Oh, that’s beautiful, Trixie. You look gorgeous,” Honey said.
“Did Nick Roberts paint that?” Di asked, trying to read the signature in the corner.
“Yeah,” Trixie began. “Remember after the bikeathon when Nick drew that funny, but really appropriate picture of me being lectured by Sergeant Molinson? Well, Nick offered to do a real portrait of me and I finally took him up on it. I guess you like it, Jim?”
Jim stood up and turned around. By unspoken agreement, the rest of the Bob-Whites filtered out of the room to give them some privacy.
“I love it, Trixie. And it’s just what I wanted,” Jim said, taking her in his arms. “This way I do get to take you to college with me.” He softly kissed her cheeks, her forehead, her mouth.
“That’s kinda what I was thinking when I asked Nick to paint it.” Trixie put her arms around him, happy that he was happy.
Jim leaned down and spoke softly in her ear. “It’s the perfect gift.”
Author's notes
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone! Since
I wrote this story for AprilW, I tried to include her favorite things,
like Jim and Trixie
smush moments, Mart and Di smush moments, Mr. and Mrs. Belden getting
some action, Bobby, and of course, dark orchid. And the title of the
story and in part, the entire concept came from the thread she had
started about the perfect gift.
Thanks also to Trish and Mary
for last minute editing and thanks to Trish for suggestions for
presents that Trixie could her family. I especially loved the
Underground Railroad book. Thanks to Susi for designing the
lovely border, and Terry for formatting this and for hosting all the
stories during the initial Secret Santa Exchange.
Thanks to LILisa for the
fantastic idea of the fan fic exchange. I'm sorry that your
illness stopped you from being able to participate.
Thanks to Steph and Terry for all their help with the 1st Annual Secret Santa Fan Fic exchange.