We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Mart Belden’s sandy brows drew together and his blue eyes narrowed suspiciously as he eyed the sprawling building that lay in the distance. “This,” he said, “does not, to my admittedly, superficial observational scan, appear to resemble the much lauded ‘relaxing country retreat’ establishment promised for our Christmas celebration.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Honey said swiftly, seeing Trixie slumped in her seat up front next to Jim who was driving. “I think it’s pretty.”
“Blanketed in light snow,” Diana added. “I agree with Honey.”
“Light?” Dan quipped as he and Brian surveyed the property.
The SUV navigated the long, winding drive, “You have to admit,” Brian said, “it doesn’t look much like the pictures Trix showed us. Not,” he hastily added when his girlfriend poked him sharply, “that that’s a bad thing, necessarily.”
From the front passenger seat, Trixie resisted turning her head. Possibly because her well-honed detective instincts knew what they would see—her friends and family doing their best to keep their expressions neutral, some of them hiding the accusatory looks that she was beginning to suspect lurked beneath the surface of their casual appraisal of their imminent destination. Or maybe that was just her paranoia.
Jim pulled the car to a stop as they reached the sprawling old brick building and turned off the engine. No one spoke as the group alighted from the vehicle and studied the house with looks of growing concern.
“Oh thank goodness you’re here. I was beginning to worry.” A middle-aged woman emerged from the farmhouse and faced the gathered Bob-Whites, who were stretching their collective limbs after the long journey. Both her attire and the suitcase they could spy through the open door attested to her travel plans.
“Sorry about that,” Jim said, immediately polite, though in truth he had no real idea why he was apologizing.
“Well, we’re here now,” Trixie said brightly, feeling rather than seeing her friends increasingly wary gazes as they took in the rambling old farm house and the distant outbuildings.
“Good.” The woman smiled, revealing a face that was at once pretty and capable. “I’ve made notes and a list of everything that needs to be done. I’m afraid I’ve had to let a few things slide of late. It’s been a little difficult, but there’s plenty of firewood stored in the back porch so at least you won’t be cold. That wing,” she said, waving her hand towards the ell that jutted out from the main building, “is all closed off, but the rest is perfectly livable. There’s fresh linens and extra blankets in the bedrooms I’ve set up for you, and the refrigerator and freezer are all stocked up.” She favored the Bob-White males with another smile. “I know you young men will have healthy appetites.”
“Young women, too,” Mart added, shooting his sister a look.
“Yes, we do!” Honey’s hazel eyes flashed. “And why not?”
“Why not, indeed?” Diana queried and Mart held his hands up in a gesture of surrender.
“Fair enough,” he conceded with a grin. “We are all grateful for a well-stocked refrigerator.”
“Must be off, then,” the woman said, reaching into the hall behind her and dragging the suitcase out of the house. “Once I’m gone, you can pop your car in the old barn if you like.”
“Thank you,” Jim said as his friends exchanged uncertain glances.
“Just before you go,” Trixie spoke up. “Can you tell us which way to the village?”
“Village?” the woman repeated blankly.
“You know.” Diana smiled. “The one with the cafes and gift stores and galleries.”
The woman laughed. “Don’t you beat all, dear. The general store is about three miles down the road, but with the holidays, they may not be open much.”
She nodded her thanks as Dan took her suitcase and followed her to a barn that was tucked out of sight behind the house. The others trailed in their wake.
Within minutes the doors were open, the woman’s bag stowed, and she slid into her car. “Anyway,” she said after she started the motor, “you look like a reliable bunch of young people so I do hope you enjoy your working vacation.”
“Working vacation?” Mart squeaked and the woman nodded her head and smiled again.
“It’s not so bad really. Not once you get the hang of things, but I admit I’m looking forward to spending Christmas with my friends. You all take care now.” She rolled up her window, gave another wave, and within seconds disappeared down the winding drive.
There was a moment of silence before several voices spoke at once.
“Are you going to yell at me, too?” Trixie asked, her blue eyes cloudy. She’d stayed in the barn when her friends and family—after their initial verbal eruption—had delivered what felt like a series of decidedly reproachful looks. The rest had headed back to the car, presumably to transfer their bags into the house.
Honey, who had returned a few minutes later, glared at her. “I should, just for suggesting that I would, when, in all our years of friendship, I hardly ever have.” She frowned. “Did that come out right?”
“Yes.” Trixie managed a small, grateful smile.
“And,” Honey continued sternly. “No-one exactly yelled at you, it was more they all sort of spoke at once and got louder because no-one could hear what anyone else was saying.”
“Nice interpretation,” Trixie allowed. “Now, give it to me straight. How many times did the word Arizona come up in the last five minutes?”
Honey shrugged. “Once or twice, maybe.”
Trixie’s brows lifted and her friend gave another shrug. “Okay, so maybe slightly more than that, but so what? As Di reminded everyone, we had a wonderful Christmas in Arizona.”
“Eventually,” Trixie conceded. “I seem to recall that my name was mud or maybe it was sand, but it wasn’t good.”
“Oh, pooh!” Honey said dismissively. “It all turned out fine and so will this, now come on, get your butt inside. It’s freezing out here. Sometimes being the best friend is very trying.”
Trixie couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, but if I’m a lamb being led to the slaughter, promise me you’ll roast me, not boil me. I’d rather go slowly.”
Grabbing her friend by the hand, Honey dragged her from the barn and back towards the house. They were all together and that’s what mattered.
“So, this place is kind of nice,” Jim was saying as the two young women hurried in from the cold.
“And this range sure makes this room toasty warm,” Di said with an appreciative glance in the direction of the big old-fashioned stove.
Brian nodded his dark head. “The furnace could never cope on its own in this place, but at least it stops the house from being a total ice-box and the pipes from freezing, I imagine.”
All heads turned towards the new arrivals.
“Come on, let me have it.” Trixie declared. “I’ve messed up big time, and we might as well get it out of the way.”
“If I make take this opportunity to be the first to comment on our current predicament,” Mart said, clearing his throat.
“Kill me now,” Trixie begged. “It would be kinder.”
Mart shook his finger at her. “I shall ignore that interruption and just say that this situation is not entirely down to the errors of my female kinsman and our illustrious co-president.”
“Here, here!” Dan said, as he arranged mugs on the kitchen table.
“It must be said,” Mart continued, “that we all found the low-price of our confirmed vacation, puzzling, if not, suspicious, and our aforementioned trip-booker did suggest one of us check that all was well.”
“That is true.” Honey said with a decided nod of her golden head. “And I easily could have done that. Should have done that.”
Trixie rolled her eyes but relaxed a little and waited for her brother to go on.
“Believing ourselves to be in possession of advantageous financial good fortune, we declined. I, myself, was quite vocal about not looking a gift-horse in the mouth.”
“That’s true, too.” Di slipped her arm through his affectionately. “I’ve been picturing the website in my head, Trix,” she added.
“Because cell reception here, not so great,” Jim commented, waving his phone with a grin.
“And…” Di smiled sympathetically at her friend. “I think I vaguely remember a photo of this place, right next to the one we were originally looking at.”
“So we think,” Jim finished, “that it was just a little mistake of hitting the wrong button when booking. Could have happened to anyone.”
“Really?” Trixie’s blue eyes twinkled and she crossed the room to join him. “That’s what you think, huh?”
“I do!” Jim declared.
“So do I,” Di seconded.
“Me too,” Honey said.
“I’m easy.” Dan lifted the coffee pot he’d set to brewing and began to pour the dark steaming liquid into the awaiting mugs. “It’s only for five days anyway.”
“And we Belden brothers are way too smart to argue with you lot.” Brian moved past his sister, ruffling her sandy curls.
“I’ll try to make it up to you,” Trixie vowed.
Jim pulled her closer and bent his head to hers, lowering his voice. “I can think of several things that work for me.”
Mart stuck his fingers in his ears and made a face. “We can still hear you, you know. Now, let’s get to the important stuff. Who’s going to inventory the food?”
In spite of Mart’s request, Honey insisted that they choose their rooms before examining their menu choices. Being the only one traveling alone, Dan immediately bagged the single room off the kitchen. It was obviously used, at least at one time, by a cook or maid as it was quite small, but it was neat, clean and toasty warm.
“If the rest of this place is as cold as the entry hall, you may have a lot of company,” Jim quipped from the doorway while Dan dumped his bag in the room.
“My floor is your floor,” Dan returned magnanimously. “The rest of you sort out your digs and I’ll stoke up the living room fire.”
Nodding their collective agreement, the others began to explore the old farmhouse.
Upstairs, it did not take long to determine which three rooms had been prepared for guests. Fresh towels were folded at the ends of the beds and fires were laid in the fireplaces. The three couples moved quickly up and down the hall and then met back at the landing.
“Did anyone notice that there is one small issue with our potential accommodations, given the nature of our current inter-connections?” Mart demanded.
“If that garbled sentence meant did we spot the fact that one of the rooms has twin beds, then yes,” Trixie retorted.
“We could draw straws or something,” Diana suggested.
Trixie looked from one friend to the next and shrugged her shoulders. “It’s my screw-up; we’ll take the twin room.”
Jim nodded, though it was easy to see his disappointment. He’d been unable to get back to Sleepyside on weekends in recent months and he and Trixie had had a hard time coordinating their schedules during the semester.
Brian and Honey exchanged looks and the latter gave the slightest of nods. “We’ll take it,” Brian said.
“No!” Trixie looked from her friend to her brother. “How is that fair?”
“It’s not fair,” Brian returned. “It’s practical.”
“Practical?” Mart’s expression was puzzled. “Elucidate, esteemed fraternal sibling.”
“Honey and I are the slimmest male and female Bob-White, we take up less horizontal space than anyone else, should we decide to squeeze into one bed.”
“I’m not sure if that’s insulting or just too much information.” Trixie couldn’t help laughing.
“I think it’s sweet.” Di smiled at her friends.
“I think it’s inaccurate,” Mart challenged and all gazes shifted to him. He grinned knowingly. “Dan is actually the slimmest male Bob-White, so maybe…”
“Maybe you should shut up now,” Brian suggested with a warning grin of his own.
“Never gonna happen,” Mart said.
Food was next on the agenda and to Mart's—and everyone else’s delight— their lovely hostess had not been exaggerating about their supplies.
“There’s a turkey and chicken pieces for frying, and homemade burgers and bacon and steak, plus peas and beans and pies, cherry and apple, all in the freezer,” Diana reported happily as they gathered around the big farmhouse table to confer.
Dan had made more coffee and discovered a freshly baked walnut-maple coffee cake—both were delicious.
“The pantry’s full, too,” Brian said. “Eggs and bread, tea, coffee, tins of beans and corn, long life milk, popcorn, potato chips, cookies, potatoes and tomatoes. We certainly won’t starve.”
“The woodpile is impressive,” Jim said. “Even if we keep fires burning in all of the rooms we’re using, it should hold out. But if it doesn’t, there’s plenty more we can chop.”
“Is that where I come in?” Dan asked.
“Definitely not,” Mart said swiftly. “I’ll do any wood chopping that’s necessary. Di and I were talking when we were investigating the freezer contents.” He glanced at his girlfriend who nodded her dark head. “And,” Mart continued, “we thought that as we are not going to be able to buy our gifts at those quaint stores as planned, we could maybe give one another time off chores or something homemade as part of our gift exchange.”
“That’s a terrific idea.” Trixie beamed at her brother. “We should be able to find something to do or make for each other. That can take the place of gifts.”
“Unless of course one of us is super-crazily organized and already shopped,” Jim quipped.
All eyes turned to Honey.
“It’s not super-crazy organization,” she huffed. “Just plain old ordinary organization.”
“Shopping in November is not super organized?” Dan raised his dark brows disbelievingly.
“November?” Brian repeated with a grin.
“No, Honey,” Mart said. “Say it isn’t so.”
“I found a couple of things in October. What’s so strange about that?” Honey demanded.
“Nothing at all,” Brian said, slipping an arm around her shoulders.
“It just shows how perfectly brilliant you are,” Trixie declared. “And makes me gladder than ever that we’re partners. I could use a little organization in my life.”
“We just feel bad that we’re so ditsy and haven’t done our own shopping,” Di added.
Honey smiled gratefully. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, they are only small things. I was going to get things here, too.”
“I, for one, feel some relief at that information,” Mart confessed. “Now, how about that list of chores?”
The list, whilst quite lengthy, contained nothing that really gave any of the group pause.
“Brian and I can take care of mending the chicken coop,” Jim said and Mart noted that on the makeshift spreadsheet he’d created on his laptop. “And looking after the cow that might foal, is that the right word? Is definitely on Brian’s to do list.”
“Calve, cows calve,” Brian corrected. “And I hope you guys remember I’m doing people medicine. I’m no expert.”
“Your experter than the rest of us,” Trixie observed and the others laughed.
Brian shook his dark head. “What’s next?”
“I’m happy to take on the painting of the entry way,” Dan offered. “Though we’ll need to make sure the room isn’t too cold for that.”
“And I’ll help with that,” Di added. “And I saw a washer out back. I’ll take care of the laundry, too.”
“I’ll feed the sheep and the goats,” Mart said. “And make sure they’re in each night.”
“I wouldn’t mind helping with that,” Trixie said. “And I’ll collect the eggs from the newly fixed coop, too.”
“What about me?” Honey asked, frowning. “How am I going to do my share?”
Jim consulted the list, showed it to Trixie and the two turned sympathetic gazes on Honey.
“I don’t see a lot of alternatives,” Jim said with a sigh.
“Me neither,” Trixie agreed solemnly.
“What?” Honey demanded. “Do all the toilets and bathrooms need to be scrubbed or bleached or something?”
“Bleach is very bad for our environment, missy,” Dan scolded.
Honey wrinkled her nose.
“I’m almost certain that all of the ingredients for a fried chicken and mashed potato dinner are in our store cupboard,” Trixie observed, blinking her blue eyes at her best friend.
“That’s hardly contributing. We’re all going to have to chip in with meals and stuff,” Honey returned.
“It’s a good start,” Brian countered.
“It’s an excellent start,” Mart added. “Get to work, Ms Wheeler. We travelers are hungry.”
“Fine.” Honey shrugged her slender shoulders. “But I want a real job, too.”
“Sometimes, she is so weird,” Mart said affectionately.
“We love her anyway, though,” Di said with a smile. “Now, I’m going to make up our bed and unpack our things.”
“And I’ll do our room,” Jim said. “Brian, do you want to check on the animals? Get the lay of the land?”
“Sure,” Brian agreed. “Want to keep me company, Trix?”
Trixie nodded. “Sounds good.”
“I’ll bring some firewood in for all the rooms,” Mart said.
“And I’ll make more coffee, and look dashing, too.” Dan fluttered his dark lashes.
“Now, that will be hard work.” Mart grinned at his friend.
“Let’s get to it,” Jim said.
“We’ll make up our room later, okay?” Brian dropped a kiss on Honey’s head as he reached for one of the heavy jackets hanging by the door.
Honey nodded as she opened the pantry and reached for flour and breadcrumbs. “It won’t take long. Now, who wants corn fritters with our fried chicken?”
“Me!” chorused six voices and Honey smiled.
By the time the group had attended to their individual and collective chores, dinner was almost ready. As they reassembled downstairs, Mart offered to set the table and Di offered to take over the serving of the meal, whilst Honey ran upstairs to unpack. She hurried into the room she and Brian were sharing and stopped in the doorway. A fire crackled and burned in the fireplace behind a protective screen, the bedside lamps glowed a soft warm yellow, and the twin beds had been pushed together to create an enormous expanse covered with a prettily patterned quilt. There were even some branches of greenery in a vase on the mantle.
She blinked a couple of times, wondering if she’d come into the wrong room by mistake. The sight of her small suitcase and Brian’s bag made this highly unlikely. A movement behind her made her turn and Brian was there— freshly showered, smelling good.
“Did you do this?” she asked, eyes wide.
Brian shook his dark, damp head. “Not me. I thought you’d somehow worked magic.”
“It’s so lovely,” Honey said. Offering to take the twin room had seemed the right thing to do in the circumstances but the idea of spending the whole night wrapped in Brian’s arms was infinitely more appealing.
He apparently thought so, too. He pulled her into an embrace and kissed the tip of her ear. “Maybe we have a Christmas fairy in our midst,” he said.
“Well, whoever it is, I am more than grateful. I like sharing a bed with you.”
“Glad to hear it.” Brian trailed a kiss down her slender neck. “Because my life plan includes a lot of bed sharing.”
“With me, right?” Honey tilted her head to look up at him.
“Always you. Only you.”
Due to the combined efforts of several BWGs, the living areas of the lower floor were comfortably warm and the members of the group were able to remove their heavier jackets. Plates were filled as dishes of mashed potatoes and peas, and platters of fried chicken and corn fritters were passed from hand to hand.
“Sumptuous.” Mart sighed as he poured gravy over his chicken and potatoes.
“I think you mean scrumptious,” Dan corrected.
Mart rolled his eyes. “I consider this meal to be a full sensory experience. I’ll stick with my original description, thanks.”
“I think you’re both right,” Trixie grinned and forked more of her fritter.
“It’s all delicious,” Di agreed. “And this room feels so cozy now with the fire here and in the living room and the lamps all lit. I think it’s going to be a gorgeous holiday. And the rooms upstairs are lovely.”
“Speaking of upstairs rooms,” Honey said, her fork paused midair. “Do we have a Christmas fairy to thank for making Brian and my room more…”
“User friendly,” Brian supplied with a grin.
“What are you talking about?” Trixie asked, her expression clearly indicating her lack of knowledge on the subject.
“Some kind soul turned our twins into a king,” Brian said, his grin widening. “Very luxurious.”
“It’s beautiful, honestly.” Honey enthused. “Even the lamps have been swapped over.”
“Well it wasn’t me,” Jim said. “I sorted out Trixie's and my room, but ensuring my sister gets to sleep with my best friend was not at the top of my to-do list, not that I object really, because obviously, considering my own situation, that would be…” he trailed off. “That rambling thing is totally infectious.”
“I wish I had thought of it,” Di put in. “But I didn’t.”
“I was with him.” Trixie inclined her head in Brian’s direction.
“Well,” Mart began modestly. “I hate to brag about being the thoughtful, sensitive one of the group, but…”
“You’re not,” Trixie finished.
Honey’s gaze ran from one friend to the next, lingered on Mart, and moved on. “Dan? It was you, wasn’t it?”
“Consider it an early Christmas present—or part of one, anyway. I figured you two were as entitled as anyone, and I happened to read through the little flyer they have in the hall on this place and saw your room could be a twin or a king. Being in possession of some detective skills myself, though none to rival that of Belden-Wheeler, I managed to find a few things and throw them together.”
“It’s a perfect present,” Honey said warmly. “I especially loved how nicely you arranged the vase.”
“You did flowers?” Mart shook his sandy head. “Man that is…where did you get flowers?”
“Not flowers, just some greenery,” Dan corrected. “And I am delighted that Ms. Wheeler approves.”
“More than approves.” Honey crossed from her seat to his and bent to kiss his cheek. “She loves it.”
“Dan the decorator,” Mart quipped with another shake of his head. “I see a whole new career.”
“I’m a man of many talents,” Dan admitted.
“Maybe one of those reality shows,” Mart mused. “I think I’ll appoint myself your agent.”
“I think I just saw twenty percent of my income disappear, just like that.” Dan joked.
“Please.” Mart waved his hand airily. “I’m worth at least thirty.”
“And so endeth another career possibility.” Dan said, and they all laughed.
“Well, I love it,” Honey reiterated. “And I am really going to enjoy spending the night in that room, now.”
“Changing the topic of conversation,” Jim said, green eyes laughing. “Let’s take a look at the morning chores and divvy them up.”
“How did I let this happen?” Trixie grumbled as she wound her thick woolen scarf around her neck and stumbled down the stone path towards the chicken coop, the morning still thick and grey.
“Pretty sure you volunteered for this one, sis.” Mart grinned and turned up the collar of his coat.
“It’s freezing,” Trixie complained.
“It’s winter and it’s New Hampshire,” Mart returned.
“I should have picked New Zealand. Bet it’s not as cold there.”
“Considering that it’s summer in the southern hemisphere, I’m inclined to agree with you on that one.”
“If we’re not careful, we’ll end up with frozen eggs for breakfast instead of scrambled.”
Mart laughed. “That chicken coop is sweet, Trixie— or it will be once it’s fixed. I’m pretty sure we’ll be fine. Besides, there were a couple of dozen eggs in the pantry, so worst case scenario, our eggs can thaw.”
“You’re in a good mood.” Trixie eyed her brother with a smile. “You’re usually a lot grumpier in the mornings at home.”
“Well, I had an excellent night’s sleep in the arms of a beautiful woman. That helps.”
“I’m glad Di’s on breakfast duty.” Trixie yawned. “I can taste the pancakes now. I just wish I was inside with her. ”
“You could have swapped jobs with Honey.”
Trixie laughed. “No way. She makes a much better Cinderella than I do. Cleaning out the fireplaces and re-laying the fires—she’s welcome to that.”
“She did say she wanted a real job.”
“Dan offered to trade.” Trixie mused. “Though as someone who has slaved over bed-making for years, I understand why Honey said no.”
“Poor you.” Mart’s blue eyes twinkled as he unlatched the long nesting box.
Trixie held out the basket she carried, ready for eggs. “I suffer in silence,” she said solemnly.
Mart snorted and almost dropped the egg he was holding. “Don’t do that,” he begged. “There’s only so much a man can take this early in the morning—especially when it’s this cold.”
“I don’t know what you’re referring to. Now get a move on—even with gloves on, my fingers are going numb.”
“Eggs and pancakes,” Jim sighed happily. “Di, you are an awesome breakfast chef.”
“And this bacon is delicious,” Honey added, reaching for another rasher. “What’s your secret?”
Di smiled and took her seat at the table alongside her friends. “A splash of maple syrup and just a tiny drop of hot sauce.”
“That’s it.” Brian nodded his dark head approvingly. “It’s that hint of heat. Love it, Di.”
“And we need it,” Trixie dug her fork into the stack of pancakes and dropped one on her plate. “Trust me, you guys, it’s cold out there.”
“Something we failed to notice when we headed out to feed the sheep and check on the goats,” Brian observed.
“There’s a lot to do on a farm, isn’t there?” Honey said. “I mean, I know Crabapple Farm is a farm, I mean the name is a giveaway, and I know you guys work hard there, too. But this is like a farm, farm—there’s so much to do. That nice lady we met couldn’t possibly do it all by herself, could she?”
“Surely not?” Di agreed.
“She must be a force of nature if she does.” Dan poured himself some more coffee.
“Sorry again,” Trixie mumbled.
“What for?” Di asked.
“All this work.”
“I think I like it,” Honey declared. “It makes feel industrious, and kind of useful.”
“And the soot on your nose is fetching, too,” Brian said, dark eyes twinkling.
“Oh.” Honey rubbed at the tip of her nose and shrugged. “I’m still having fun.”
“As are we all. So stop apologizing.” Jim leaned across and dropped a kiss on Trixie’s forehead. “Let’s get to it, gang.”
“It’s beautiful,” Diana said violet eyes wide.
“Perfectly perfect.” Honey clapped her hands together.
“I figured this was one chopping of wood I’d be happy to handle.” Dan stood back and admired the fir tree that now stood proudly in the corner of the living room. They’d spent the rest of the day both working and planning and, after a dinner of burgers and fries prepared by Brian, Dan had led his friends into the living room. He’d spied the grove of trees on the hill behind the house on the very first day and, after lunch, once he’d had some time to himself, headed up to check out the possibilities.
“I think this might count as your Christmas present to us all,” Mart adjusted the tree in the old metal bucket, making sure it was secure.
“Especially when he scoured the attic and found this box of decorations as well.” Di smiled at her friend.
“It really does make everything more festive, doesn’t it?” Brian observed. “I don’t know if Christmas could ever feel like Christmas without a tree.”
“And real ones are so much Christmasier,” Honey added. Many of her early holiday celebrations had featured exquisitely decorated, expensive fake trees that didn’t spread needles all over equally expensive carpeted floors—they all knew how much she loved the traditional holiday trappings.
“What a great way to end a day,” Trixie said, blue eyes sparkling. “Decorating our very own tree. “
“I might just watch, actually. If it’s okay with you guys?” Di smiled hopefully at her friends. “I sort of thought my gift might be a series of sketches of all of us and our time here and this would be perfect.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Honey cried.
“Brilliant, in fact,” Mart said proudly.
“It’s a great idea, Di.” Jim added. “I vote we frame and hang one in the clubhouse. I know we don’t use it as much anymore, but it would be a terrific addition.”
“I second that motion,” Brian said and the others raised their hands in agreement.
“Well, then stop talking and start decorating,” Di teased. “Or I won’t have anything to sketch.”
Smiling and laughing, her friends obeyed.
”Why so glum, Shamus?” Jim tugged gently on his curl and sank down on the bed beside his girl.
The tree was decorated, fire banked, and screens in place. Their room was cozy and warm.
Trixie shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, everyone seems okay with being here now, and we are kind of having fun.”
“We are most definitely having fun.” Jim affirmed.
“But I still feel bad—especially about the Christmas thing. We were all looking forward to checking out those stores—local artisan items and a renowned second hand bookstore, a vintage clothing shop—there would have been something for everyone.”
Jim couldn’t stifle a laugh. “Well for my part, I’m okay without an item of vintage clothing.”
“Haha.” Trixie wrinkled her nose. “That was for Honey. She’s loving wearing her grandmother’s old things, and she looks good in them, too. I’d look like a total clown.”
“You would look good in anything,” Jim corrected. “Nothing, too.”
“Don’t try and distract me,” Trixie chided. “I’m struggling to come up with something I can do for people.”
“I know what you can do for me,” Jim quipped.
Trixie laughed. “You are way too easy—pun intended.”
“No one cares, Trix. You know that. Brian said he’ll probably give IOUs on car services, and I figure my gifts will consist of future promises, too—an easel for Di, a small desk that folds down on the wall for Dan. I’m really enjoying turning some of the fallen trees in the preserve into something practical.”
“But we said we’d do things for one another—here.” Trixie frowned. “Dan found the tree, Di’s doing the sketch for the clubhouse, Honey has gifts, Mart’s cleared on and around the little pond, so we can skate there—and found and cleaned skates for certain people who forgot to bring theirs with them. We don’t all have yours and Brian’s talents, you know. Brian promised to edit an essay I’ve written for extra credit, too, and that alone will probably lift my GPA.”
“You have plenty of talents. Your GPA is fine. Look at how well you’ve done in your course, and your internship with Blare Investigations—they love you.”
“So you want me to interrogate a suspect or shoot something?”
“Okay,” Jim conceded with a grin. “I can see how that might not work.”
“I did sort of have an idea, but it’s boring.”
“Why don’t I be the judge of that?”
Trixie expelled her breath in a big sigh. “Well, one thing I have had plenty of practice doing is helping Moms. So, I thought I could offer to cook the Christmas dinner. I‘m pretty sure I’d do an okay job.”
“You’d do an awesome job.” Jim said. “But, Trix, domestic activity is not exactly your favorite.”
“Isn’t that kind of the point?”
Jim stared at her for a moment then pulled her into his arms and planted a kiss on her lips. “That is so like you. You’re amazing. I love you, Trixie Belden. You know that, right.”
Trixie kissed him back and then pulled away, her face flushed. “You’re a weirdo, Frayne—it’s just dinner.”
“It’s Christmas dinner,” Jim corrected. “And it’s a perfectly perfect present.”
It seemed that everyone agreed with him when Trixie announced her intention the following morning over Brian’s breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage.
“Are you sure, Trixie?” Di asked. “That’s a lot of work.”
“And the kitchen is not exactly your preferred place in the world,” Mart added, helping himself to another spicy sausage.
“I like what’s in it,” Trixie said. “And so do you.”
Mart laughed. “Excellent point, sis. And just for that I’ll take care of the Christmas day clean-up.”
Trixie’s blue eyes lit up. “I have witnesses to that offer.”
Mart shrugged and nodded his head. “Then I guess it’s a done deal.”
The Bob-Whites had quickly developed a routine on the farm. Even with the chores and repairs, there was plenty of time for relaxing and exploring. The tiny township may not have had the stores they had originally been looking for, but there were wonderful jams and chutneys on sale as well as the food staples, toiletry basics and all manner of farm related items from feed to tools.
The farm’s extensive land offered picturesque walks, including the small pond Mart had earmarked for skating, as well as a stream, where ice floated amidst the running water. The grove where Dan found their tree was dense and delightful and looked down upon the house, making it seem small, but not insignificant.
Diana discovered a cupboard full of board games and during the afternoon and evening they played them before a roaring fire.
The old farmhouse blossomed in their presence. Rooms were painted, Trixie polished the furniture with lemon-wax and Honey washed, mended and re-hung the old dining room curtains. Several carpets and paintings had been dragged down from the attic and strategically placed around the home under Di’s supervision. Jim found an old plate rack in the barn and fixed it and when he was done, Brian hung it in the kitchen, where it was filled with lovely old plates.
Outside, Mart and Dan had worked wonders in the yard, dragging small pieces of machinery into sheds, clearing away broken tree branches, and even managed to get a coat of paint on the barn door. The new-born calf thrived under Brian’s tender care and the chickens happily clucked in their repaired coop.
“I can’t believe it’s Christmas tomorrow and we go home in two days' time.” Trixie sank back against the sofa cushions and sighed.
“I so like to do gifts on Christmas Eve,” Honey said, setting the tray of hot chocolate down on the old worn coffee table.
Jim smothered a laugh and she shot him a mock glare.
“To be fair, Hon, you like to do gifts pretty much anytime.” Brian dropped a kiss on his girlfriend’s head as he spoke.
Night before, morning of, day of, day after.” Mart grinned.
Honey wrinkled her nose at him.
“To be extra fair, she actually likes to give the gifts even more than likes getting them.” Trixie defended her best friend and won a smile.
“Considering our situation this year, I’d say that’s just as well,” Dan snagged a cookie off the plate and settled back into his chair.
“I think if Honey wants to hand out her gifts, who are we to argue?” Di said, accepting the cup of hot chocolate Mart passed her.
Honey clapped her hands and ran to the tree where a few small parcels sat alongside baskets of pine-cones and a pretty old nativity scene Dan had found in the attic.
“They really aren’t anything huge,” she explained as she reached for each one and passed them to the recipient.
Di’s violet eyes widened and her lips curved in a smile as she opened the flat wooden box she’d unwrapped. Pencils, crayons and narrow tubes of paint were all lined up inside. “They’re gorgeous,” she said, holding out the box for the others to see.
“Lilac, mauve, violet, lavender, orchid, amethyst, plum,” Dan read as he studied the contents. “Who knew there were so many shades of purple?”
“They’re all purple?” Mart queried, lifting his sandy brows.
Honey nodded. “I know Di has all sorts of art stuff, but I just thought this would be fun. I bought the box and then went around to several different stores to fill it with all things purple.”
“Heather, wisteria, eggplant.” Trixie shook her head. “Some of these things don’t even sound like colors—byzantium? Seriously?”
“I love it.” Di reached over and hugged her friend.
Dan was equally pleased with his history of the NYPD book, Mart loved his hand-knitted gloves, and Jim’s green eyes misted when he unwrapped a framed photo-montage of his mother Katje and her sister Betje, at various stages during their youth.
“Juliana sent the copies of the photos,” Honey explained. “I talked to her about what I was hoping for and we came up with this idea.”
“It’s terrific, little sister,” Jim crossed the room and gave her a hug.
“Me, now?” Trixie queried excitedly and Honey nodded. True to her nature, Trixie tore the paper from her gift and then held it out delightedly. “Look, oh, look!”
“What is it?” Diana asked, puzzled.
Trixie fingered the small leather item lovingly. “It’s an ankle holster.”
“For a gun?” Brian asked.
“No, for a hot dog,” Trixie returned.
“Then I want one, too,” Mart said.
“Very Christmassy,” Dan quipped.
“I think it’s awesome,” Trixie said happily.
“Now, lucky last, Brian.” Mart nodded towards his brother.
“Brian’s getting his present after we go to bed,” Honey announced and then turned bright red as laughter and hoots erupted. “That’s not what I mean.”
Brian looked crestfallen and sighed heavily, causing more laughter.
“So, I guess there’s just one more,” Dan said.
Honey frowned and shook her head. “No, sorry, guys, that’s everything.”
“Not quite,” Diana said.
Jim got up from his chair and crossed the room, bending down to pull a gaily wrapped parcel from behind the tree.
“We really felt you couldn’t be the only one without an actual gift,” Brian said.
“It is sort of cobbled together,” Trixie admitted. “But hopefully…”
True to her nature, Honey carefully unwrapped the gift. “Oh,” she breathed softly. A wooden frame, made from barn-board, held one of Diana’s sketches. In the centre was a sketch of the farmhouse and surrounding it, individual images of each of the Bob-Whites. Dan, standing by their Christmas tree, Mart, sharpening a skate, Brian, kneeling by the newborn calf, Jim, planing a piece of wood, Trixie, curls wispy, as she dressed a turkey, Diana, herself, pencil in hand and Honey, crouched before the tree, stowing presents.
“It’s incredible,” Honey said, her eyes welling. “Just perfect.”
“Jim made the frame,” Trixie said. “Dan made the backing board, Brian found and fixed the chain on the back to hang it with, and Mart rescued a piece of glass from the stuff we were told could be tossed.”
“And her royal highness here, whose image is predictive…” Mart coughed as he spoke.
“It was my idea,” Trixie finished with a slight wrinkle of her nose. “And I helped Jim choose the barn-board piece.”
“I’m still making the one for the clubhouse,” Diana explained. “But we thought you’d like this.”
“I love it. Thank you all.”
“Merry Christmas Eve!” Trixie cried, raising her cup.
Smiling, her friends raised theirs too.
Candles flickered and danced in holders, napkins in alternating green and red were folded elegantly by each place setting. Old crystal glasses caught the candle and lamp-light, bouncing it around the table, and the pretty green patterned china was flanked by heavy old silverware. Diana had fashioned a centerpiece out of a small branch, Dan had secured. Carefully tied bows and small ornaments gave it the appearance of a tiny unusually shaped tree. Tureens were filled with mashed potatoes and a green bean casserole. There were candied yams, cranberry sauce and an old-fashioned boat held steaming gravy.
“Dinner’s up!” Trixie yelled as her friends took their seats and she placed the huge platter of sliced turkey in the centre of the table.
Dan poured sparkling cranberry juice for them all as the dishes were passed from hand to hand.
“Let’s give thanks,” he said.
“For everything,” Trixie added.
“We’re the luckiest people in the world,” Honey said after Brian had finished the blessing.
“I’ll eat to that,” Mart said and the Christmas meal began.
“How about a Christmas song?” Diana asked, moving to the piano even as she spoke. “Dan and I can play together.”
“I’d be honored,” Dan said and moved to join his friend on the long bench at the piano. “Any requests?”
“Something funny,” Mart said.
“Something classic,” Honey countered.
“Don’t care,” Trixie declared. “So long as I don’t have to move from this sofa.”
“After preparing that amazing meal, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” Honey said with a decided nod of her head.
“Ever?” Trixie asked hopefully.
“Dream on, short-stuff,” Mart snorted.
“For the rest of the vacation,” Jim suggested. “Here and at home.”
“Favoritism, “ Dan shouted, but he was grinning.
“How about for the rest of today and tomorrow?” Brian offered.
“I can live with that.” Trixie snuggled into Jim’s arm.
“Me, too,” Mart conceded. “That Christmas dinner was super, sis.”
Trixie flushed. “Jim helped a lot and Di set the beautiful table. And Dan took care of the drinks.”
“Still, it was mainly you,” Brian said. “And we all appreciate it.”
“The turkey was to die for,” Honey said happily.
“Well, you’re going to be eating it tomorrow, too,” Trixie warned. “It’ll be turkey sandwiches for lunch and dinner, maybe even breakfast.”
“You won’t get an argument from me.” Dan licked his lips. “Now about the entertainment portion of the festivities…”
“I know what I want,” Honey said.
“Oh, play it for her,” Mart said with a mock roll of his eyes.
“Yeah,” Trixie added. “Play it, Dan.”
“Wrong movie, Sis.” Mart grinned.
“If we play it, you have to sing it, Honey,” Di warned.
“Not by myself,” Honey protested.
“Oh, Brian will help,” Mart said.
“Fine.” Brian stood and held out his hand to his girlfriend.
“It reminds of the time, just before you and Jim left for college.” Di smiled at the group.
“The benefit show.” Trixie nodded. “That was fun.”
“You, Miss Lynch, were magnificent,” Mart said.
“Why thank you, kind sir.” Diana ran her fingers lightly across the keys. “Are you ready partner?”
Dan nodded. “I will follow your lead.”
“I’ll sort of play an intro bit and then you two jump in whenever you’re ready.”
“Valentine’s day?” Honey suggested, knowing she would be ignored. The group settled back as Di and Dan began the timeless classic. After a moment, first Honey, then Brian began to sing.
“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas.
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where treetops glisten and children listen.
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.”
The words wrapped themselves around the group. Trixie nestled into Jim’s arms and Mart crossed the room to rest his hand on his girlfriend’s shoulder.
As the final words were sung and the notes played, Trixie smiled at the people she loved.
“As mistakes go,” she said. “Maybe this one wasn’t so bad after all.”
“You got that, sis.” Mart confirmed, while several heads nodded their agreement.
“Best mistake ever,” Honey added.
“To Trixie, for bringing us all together and reminding us that Christmas is about so much more than gifts and shops and all that stuff.” Dan picked up his glass and toasted.
Trixie beamed. “And to Wendy for letting us have this farmhouse Christmas. I don’t know how she keeps this place going the way she does.”
“To Wendy,” Brian echoed, and one and all the Bob-Whites toasted this very special Christmas and the woman who made it possible.
HOLIDAYS WITH THE BWGs
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Being a part of Secret Santa is such an honour. Jix is like an ever present present, if you know what I mean and writing a story for someone is a wonderful way to celebrate both the holiday and the site. I was so pleased to be writing for the amazing Wendy—she truly does have a cape and super powers in her day to day life. I know not much actually happens in this tale, but it felt right to focus on the gang and their connections and I can only hope that Wendy enjoys it. I know nothing about farming except that it's very hard work. I'm glad that my story Wendy got some time away from chores and that the BWGs were able to help out in some small way. My heartfelt thanks to Vivian who edited my story and whose every suggestion I took and used shamelessly. She is like a beautiful present too. Any errors are absolutely mine and mine alone. Word count: 7335
Trixie Belden et al are the property of Random House and do not belong to me. However, Christmas is the season for giving, so I'm just saying if they'd like to share...
