A Rapidly Approaching Day
Rated yellow star for adult situations and some mild language
“Gosh, I wish I’d been there to see your grandmother’s face,” Trixie chortled.
“To be fair, she wasn’t the only one who thought the hunter’s stew idea was a little out there.” The two women were at Honey and Brian’s apartment on the outskirts of Sleepyside.
Trixie laughed again. “Your mother got on board pretty fast when you explained how you wanted Mr.Maypenny to feel like he was contributing to your special day.”
“And I know the boys, especially, love his stew,” Honey added with a grin of her own. “Oh, Trix, he was so touched when Brian and I went out there to ask him. He’s even making a vegetarian version as well, so that everyone can have some.”
“You won’t hear any complaints from me,” Trixie said. “I love hunter’s stew, too.”
“Well.” Honey tossed her golden hair. “We’ve got twice-cooked pork belly and baked trout, and homemade gnocchi with pumpkin and pine nuts and lobster bisque and—”
“Don’t,” Trixie begged. “I’m already ravenous. If you keep talking, I may decide to eat you, and Brian would never forgive me.”
“Come on, let’s raid the refrigerator. Brian and I ordered Chinese last night and we’ve got heaps left over.”
They sat together at the small table in Honey’s apartment. Brian had only moved in a few weeks earlier, now that he was finally installed in his new position at White Plains hospital.
“I just can’t believe I missed all the drama of your grandmother’s first visit.” Trixie said as Honey pulled the leftovers out of the refrigerator and placed them in the microwave.
“Well, you and Jim had driven down to visit the Smiths, and I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Bother me!” Trixie shook her head in disbelief. “Honestly, Hon. It must have been awful—your grandmother flailing around the floor and you and your mother worried to death and the ambulance coming. And after all of that drama she was fine.”
Jim, who’d talked to his father the previous evening when they’d arrived home, had filled her in on what had happened, and Trixie had her own ideas about Gabrielle Hart’s incident.
“It seems almost funny, now,” Honey admitted guiltily. “But it was pretty horrible at the time. I felt as if it were all my fault.”
“Exactly how you were meant to feel, I imagine.”
Honey smiled at her friend and placed the now-heated food on the table.
“Anyway, I had a big fight with Brian.”
“You what?” Trixie paused the spoon she had been using to dish up the delicious-smelling food. The spoon hovered over her plate, forgotten, as she stared at Honey. “You and Brian had a fight! I don’t believe it!”
“We do argue sometimes,” Honey said. “It doesn’t signal the coming of end times.”
“You’re not going to split up again, are you? ‘Cause I couldn’t handle that.” Trixie placed a hand on her pregnant belly and rounded her blue eyes.
“Of course not!” Honey denied hotly. “We love each other more than anything. It’s just taking us a while to get a handle on the whole fighting thing. Neither one of us has ever been very good at it.”
Trixie moved her hand and placed it over Honey’s. “You know you can come to me, right, Hon? I am an expert fighter. Jim and I can give you and Brian tips anytime you want.”
Honey laughed. “Your fights never last long, and I think you might even enjoy them.”
Trixie tried to look wounded but failed. “It’s funny, isn’t it? I hate fighting with most people—it makes feel kind of queasy, but Jim and Mart, I’m perfectly fine arguing with them.”
“Maybe it’s because you know they both can hold their own in an argument, and they’re crazy about you—in very different ways,” Honey mused.
“You could be right. I hate it when we fight, though.”
“Me too. But Brian and I agreed ages ago that we wouldn’t hide stuff from one another, and that we’d try to be honest about stuff that upsets us. So, we had an argument about what had happened, well more about Brian’s reaction to it, but…anyway, it doesn’t matter. Everything’s fine now. We made up, which is always fun—lots of fun.”
“Please. I’m about to eat.”
“Eat then and stop dissecting my love life.”
“You’re the bride—I have to do what you ask.”
“Can I get that in writing?” Honey waited until Trixie had filled her plate and then served herself.
“This is good,” Trixie said happily as she tucked into her chicken with garlic sauce.
“Have some of this spicy pork too,” Honey said. “Dan was supposed to be joining us for dinner, but he got called in on a case, so that’s why we have so much extra.”
“Speaking of cases, I was talking to Jim and he suggested with the wedding and all, we might want to hold off on taking on too many more.”
Honey, who knew full well that her brother had been trying to get his pregnant wife to slow down a little, nodded her head. “Would you mind very much, Trix? It is stressing me out a little. Especially after all this trouble with grandmother.” Surely she could get something out of that whole mess?
“Well, we can’t have a stressed out bride, can we? I think Belden-Wheeler Investigations can hold off adding to their caseload for a few weeks.”
“Thanks, Trix.” Honey threw her arms around her best friend. “You know, Brian and I are only taking five days for our honeymoon, so it won’t really be for long. And we can still work on existing cases, and I can handle all of the paperwork.”
Trixie’s blue eyes narrowed. “You seem to have everything under control, for someone’s who’s feeling stressed.”
“You know me and lists. I’ve been making them since Brian and I decided to get married sooner rather than later.” Honey hoped her best friend was buying her explanation. “I’ve been driving him crazy.”
“You and your lists,” Trixie said affectionately. “And no matter what you do, my brother has always been crazy about you.”
“Funny.” Honey made a face, but her hazel eyes danced, and she and Trixie turned their attention to the delicious leftovers.
“How are the plans coming along?” Matthew Wheeler shook the martini container and poured drinks for himself and his wife, before joining her on the sofa.
“Well, I think,” Madeleine returned. “Diana’s been marvellous.”
“A little bird told me that your mother was here again today.” Matt slid an arm around his wife’s slender shoulders.
“Did she, indeed? Didn’t she fill you in?”
Her husband shook his head. “Apparently she was on her way to meet Trixie, but she wanted me to know how wonderful her mother had been.”
“Really?” Madeleine’s hazel eyes met her husband’s green ones, and for a moment it was like having his daughter look at him. His wife’s expression was at once hopeful and uncertain. It had been some time since he’d seen that look on her face. One thing Madeleine Hart Wheeler had learned over the years was composure.
“Yes. You bearded the dragon and emerged triumphant.” He saw her lips twitch and gave a laugh. “I suppose it isn’t exactly polite for me to compare your mother to a dragon.”
“No, it isn’t,” she scolded gently. “Mother can’t help being the way she is.”
Matt raised his brows.
“Well,” Madeleine allowed with a small smile, “perhaps, she can, but habits are very hard to break.”
“That I will agree to,” his face softened. “I know it couldn’t have been easy for you.”
“Easier than disappointing our daughter.” Madeleine Wheeler was well aware she’d done that in the past. When Honey had called saying she and Brian wanted to keep to their original plan, she had told her daughter that she would take care of informing Gabrielle Hart. It hadn’t been an easy phone call, but she’d been quietly insistent and, much to her surprise, her mother had eventually agreed to come back to Sleepyside.
“You know, Matthew, I look at the relationship I have with my mother and am so grateful that Honey and I are close. Perhaps, not the same sort of closeness Helen has with her children…but, so much closer than we could have been.” It had hurt her at first to see how drawn Honey was to the Beldens, to their cosy farmhouse and especially to Helen. But slowly she began to see it as a positive thing. Honey had blossomed, thrived even, in Sleepyside, and no mother could resent anyone who’d played a part in that.
“Honey loves you very much,” Matthew Wheeler said, dropping a kiss on his wife’s temple. “She loves us both, in spite of our less-than-stellar early parenting.”
“That says more about her than it does about us.”
“We’ve done okay, though, haven’t we? We have good relationships with both of our children.”
Madeleine nodded. “I thank God every day for Jim. He’s a big part of the reason we are a family. And Trixie. I’m so happy she’s part of our family, too.”
“And that there’s going to be a new addition to that family soon?” Matt Wheeler had grown used to finding all sorts of baby-related items in bags and boxes around the place.
“Two new additions,” Madeleine corrected. “We have our first grandchild on the way, and we’re gaining another son. I used to worry about how we were going to protect Honey from some money hungry smooth talker. She’s so trusting.”
“I like to think that she’s learned who she can and can’t trust, and one thing we can be sure of where Brian is concerned—he’s not after her money.”
“Definitely not.” Madeleine’s laugh was light. “And I hope you remember that that is a good thing when he resists your desire to shower our little girl with extravagant gifts.”
“You may need to remind me,” her husband admitted. “I can’t help but admire Brian’s independence and self-reliance, but the father in me wants to spoil our daughter, or at least make sure she doesn’t need to struggle through life.”
“A perfectly understandable desire, but I’m not sure she would be all that comfortable taking from us. She’s learned to like paying her own way.”
“Don’t I know it? Anyway,” Matt continued, “when Brian talked to me before he proposed, he did promise his stubborn pride would never get in the way of Honey’s happiness again, if he could help it.”
“Is that his description or yours?”
“His. He was pretty keen to prove to me that she was in safe hands. In some ways the two of them spending time apart has worked in our favour.”
“Matthew!”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I’m just looking for the silver lining in a bad situation.”
“I’m sure you are.”
“Did you talk to Honey about our paying for a honeymoon trip?”
“I did, and they’ve already decided what they want to do.”
“Camp in the game preserve? Borrow the Swan?” Matthew said, trying to imagine the low-budget options his practical son-in-law to be and daughter might have chosen.
“Honey wanted to know if we’d mind if they went up to the Maine cottage. They’ve spent time there before and they both love it.”
Matthew Wheeler smiled at this news. “Well, that’s something.”
“Before you ask, they want to drive, not use the plane, but I did get Honey to say yes to a welcome basket.”
“Fine! You know, I’d give them the place if I thought they’d take it. We don’t get up there much and it’s the one piece of property we own that Honey had a hand in choosing.”
“Yes, and I imagine one day we can do that. In the meantime, our daughter and new son-in-law are able to take a budget honeymoon without compromising on their accommodations and that’s a good thing.”
“Yes, it is,” Matt leaned across and gave his beautiful wife another kiss. “Now, tell me, what exactly can we put in that welcome basket?”
The men dutifully turned up for suit fittings and alterations. Dan organized the guest book and the seating for the actual ceremony, whilst Jim helped out with reception seating and tables and the giant marquee that was being set up alongside the expansive Manor House patio.
Mart proved himself as valuable as his lovely wife. He brought in his landscaping work team and, in conjunction with the Wheelers’ regular gardener, created a beautiful bower for the ceremony and winding paths of flowers and pots to lead guests along the covered walkway through to the reception area. In consultation with the bride and groom, he hired a band and he also made contact with overseas invitees who were not able to get to the wedding. Regan, Mr. Maypenny, Peter Belden, and a host of others volunteered their time to ensure the couple’s day would be perfect. As the day drew nearer, more and more things came together.
A few days before the wedding, the female contingent all gathered at the Manor House for final fittings and a champagne breakfast. Honey had insisted Celia and Miss Trask join them and the three, along with the Wheelers’ regular maid, had set up a delicious buffet, along with buckets of champagne on ice and sparkling grape juice.
“I’m guessing that’s for me?” Trixie said with a roll of her eyes, spying the latter.
“Yes, missy,” Honey said with a laugh, “that is for you and anyone else who’d prefer a non-alcoholic drink. There’s also tea and pots of coffee.”
“Decaf, of course,” her best friend grumbled.
“I can’t trust you around the real stuff,” Honey said, laughing again.
“Are you sure all this food and drink is a good idea given the fact that you girls are trying on your dresses?” Helen Belden said, accepting a glass of champagne from Honey and selecting a miniature bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese.
“We’ll be careful, Mrs. Belden, I promise,” Honey said. “Fittings will take place way over there,” she waved her slender hand. “Everything will be fine.”
“Don’t you think you could call me Moms, Honey, dear? You really are almost family now.”
Honey shook her golden head. It wasn’t the first time it had been suggested. “Not until it’s official,” she insisted. “That is just another perk of becoming a Belden.” She turned to hand a glass to her own mother and for a moment, her hazel eyes clouded. “Not that I haven’t been utterly spoiled being a Wheeler my whole life,” she added.
Knowing exactly what her daughter was thinking, Madeleine took the champagne and used her free hand to gently stroke Honey’s cheek. “We’re the ones who’ve been spoiled,” she said and Honey smiled, relieved she hadn’t hurt her mother’s feelings.
Trixie sipped her grape juice and munched happily on a tiny white chocolate and raspberry muffin. “This mini stuff was a good idea,” she said. “You feel perfectly entitled to eat dozens of these things.”
Diana’s dark brows shot up, and she shook her head with an affectionate smile, but Honey grinned and helped herself to a little quiche, filled with bacon and leek. “My feelings exactly,” she said. “That’s also why our dresses are so perfect. The styles allow for a little pre-wedding weight gain.”
“As if you’ve ever had to worry about that.” Di wrinkled her nose at her friend, but her violet eyes danced.
“Well, if I were half as beautiful and talented as you, I wouldn’t worry about such a silly detail anyway,” Honey huffed.
“What has being talented got to do with anything? Not that I am,” Diana demanded. She had been called pretty and beautiful all of her life, but it still tickled her when her friends referred to her talents or smarts.
“I’m guessing that seeing Honey is the bride, we’re going to have to go along with everything she says for the duration.” Trixie grinned and helped herself to a piece of bruschetta.
“Considering some of the demands I made when I was getting married, I can live with that,” Diana agreed.
“You were a perfectly reasonable bride,” Honey protested automatically.
Diana laughed and raised her dark brows.
“Practically perfectly reasonable,” Honey amended with a laugh of her own.
“Now, who wants to try their dress on first?” Madeleine asked.
“Might as well be me,” Trixie gave a resigned sigh. “If I wait until after Di and Honey I’m going to feel a whole lot worse by comparison.”
“Trixie,” Helen Belden scolded her only daughter. “You look beautiful.”
“I second that,” Margery Trask said.
“I think the easiest way to prove that we are right and Trixie wrong is to get her into her dress,” Madeleine Wheeler said knowingly.
“Exactly,” Honey glared at her best friend. “If you don’t stop making rude remarks about yourself, I am going to go bridezilla on you!”
Trixie laughed. “We can’t have that, can we?” She crossed the room and Ella Kline, who’d been helping with the fittings, picked up one of the hanging garment bags and handed it to Trixie, who disappeared behind the screen that had been set up.
“How’s the guest list looking, Madeleine?” Helen Belden smiled at her hostess.
“Well, if our family were as quick and courteous as yours in responding, it would be far closer to finalized.”
“Andrew is so excited that they, as he puts it, are ‘finally taking the plunge’. I know Harold and Susan wish they could have come but at least Hallie and Cap will be here. And Alicia.”
“Oh, don’t remind me,” a disembodied voice groaned from behind the screen. “She’s sure to have something fussy and pink to give me—and she’ll expect me to wear it.”
The gathered women all laughed.
“Never fear, Trix,” Honey sang out. “There will be no pink, fussy things at my wedding.”
“Oh, dear,” Celia said. “My dress is deep pink. Does that mean my invitation is cancelled?”
Honey shook her head vigorously. “No way. Pink is fine for my guests, just not for wedding party. At least not for my maid of honour.”
“You’re a real friend, Hon,” Trixie emerged from behind the screen. “What do you think?”
Honey had chosen a soft, lightweight jersey crepe fabric for Trixie’s dress. It was in a deep blue, a colour that suited the sandy-haired young woman perfectly. It had a high empire waist and fell in loose folds over her rounded belly, highlighting and flattering her condition at the same time. It was full length, but it was easy to see that Trixie would not need high heels to keep the dress off the ground.
“Trixie, you look just gorgeous,” Honey’s mother clapped her hands.
“Beautiful,” Helen added, beaming at her daughter.
“Absolutely lovely,” Margery Trask added.
“They’re right, Trix,” Diana said with a nod of her dark head. “Ella, the dress is wonderful.”
“Well, that’s down to Miss Honey’s design,” Ella said quickly. “She knew exactly what she wanted.
“I actually feel pretty,” Trixie said, shaking her soft short curls in disbelief. “I love the colour and it’s so comfortable. I won’t even need any idiotic heels.”
“I have some shoes you can try if you like,” Honey hurried over and pulled out a box from under a table. She opened it and held it out to her friend.
Trixie examined the contents and a half-smile formed on her attractive face. She withdrew the dark blue shoes and slipped her feet into them, the smile widening. “Honey, you genius. These look like regular shoes, but they’re all soft and squishy inside. My feet haven’t been this comfortable in anything but sneakers or flat boots in ages.”
“They’re a little chunky,” Madeleine Wheeler said as Trixie held her dress up and paraded around the room.
“You won’t see anything but the tips,” Diana announced after studying her friend for a moment. “And they look quite elegant. Show us, Trix.”
“They do, too.” Mrs. Wheeler agreed, as Trixie obediently let go of her dress and continued to walk around without any hesitation or mishap.
It was Diana’s turn next and even though the dark haired young woman’s beauty was always in evidence, she seemed especially pleased with the dress Honey had chosen for her. It was a deep lavender and flowed around her slender, yet curvy form, skimming over her hourglass figure in all of the right places. The deep v-neck revealed the swell of her creamy breasts and the empire waist, fabric and length echoed the style of Trixie’s gown.
“I love it,” she said. “And it was so sweet of you, Honey, to pick our favourite colours for our dresses rather than making us wear the same thing.”
“Why would I make my two wonderfully individual best friends wear exactly the same thing?” Honey asked. “And that blue and lavendar both go with my green and coffee and gold beautifully.”
“They do,” Celia said with a smile. “Especially with the flower arrangements you’ve chosen.”
“And you look divine, Diana,” Madeleine Wheeler said approvingly. “I think it was very clever of my daughter to choose blue piping for your dress and lavender for Trixie’s, as it ties everything together beautifully.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” Diana agreed twirling around. “And this fabric is lovely.”
“It’s kind of like Honey’s wedding dress, isn’t it?” Trixie didn’t sound entirely sure. “The fabric, I mean and all of the dresses are sort of simple and not too...” she waved her hands around, “big and fussy—my stomach not withstanding.”
“I’m not sure they’d use that exact description in Style but you are quite correct, Trixie. And your stomach is absolutely beautiful!” Mrs. Wheeler smiled affectionately at her daughter-in-law.
“It certainly is,” Helen Belden agreed.
“I think you both look wonderful,” Honey said. “And I don’t care what Style would say, they…” she trailed off her hazel eyes widening in alarm. “They’re not going to be here, are they?” The very thought was horrifying.
“Absolutely not” Her mother hurried to reassure her. “I did have to promise your grandmother that you would select two photos to send to them. I thought I’d told you,” Madeleine’s brow creased with concern. “She’d been insisting on some press, and I felt it was a reasonable compromise and it ensured the wedding itself would stay private. I’m sorry if it makes you unhappy, darling.”
Honey was at her mother’s side within seconds and she threw her arms around her. “I should have realised she’d be hassling you, and I think that’s a compromise we can very easily make.”
Margery Trask smiled approvingly at her former charge and then caught Helen Belden’s eye, the two women exchanging looks. Although they had known the Wheelers for well over a decade, the latter had never felt completely comfortable around Madeleine Wheeler. They got on well enough, and when Trixie married Jim the two women did get to know one another a little better, but it was in these past few weeks since Honey and Brian had announced their engagement that she’d realized that the always elegant, society born woman had a few insecurities when it came to motherhood.
Of course, she’d known that Honey’s relationship with her parents, particularly her mother, had been far from ideal before moving to Sleepyside. She also knew that Honey was a loving and forgiving person who embraced her new life and the chance it gave her to know her mother and father better. But working with Madeleine on the wedding had revealed a vulnerability that made Helen see the other woman in a whole new light.
She hated the idea that she might disappoint Honey again and wanted to be the sort of mother her child could count on. Right at this moment, watching the two together, it seemed as if she had her wish. Looking up and catching her own daughter’s eye and seeing the love reflected in there, Helen Belden knew that they were all lucky.
“So, come on,” Trixie prompted. “Where’s the main attraction? Show us your stuff, Honey.”
“Oh, you’ve seen me in my dress. Ella’s hardly had to alter it, just a little tuck here and there.”
“Does that mean we can concentrate on eating and drinking now?” Trixie demanded with an impish grin.
“I think that sounds like an excellent idea,” Honey said.
“Are you sure we don’t have to do anything else?” Di asked. “This seems way too easy.”
“Guess I’m just lucky having such perfectly perfect friends to be in my wedding party. I think Mother wants to run over the list you’ve been working on together but we can do that while we eat.”
“Well, it won’t be long now,” Trixie observed, “and those lists will be history, and you, Honey, will be an old married lady.”
Honey beamed at her best friend. “That is something I’ll raise my glass to.”
Mart turned pulled his car into Brian and Honey’s apartment lot and switched off the engine. He glanced at his watch and grinned. “Way before midnight, no strippers, and you haven’t had a single drink, bro, so we should be in the good books.”
Brian laughed. “I guess I have totally lived up to my boring Brian rep as usual. Some bucks night.”
“Don’t expect me to agree with you,” Mart said. “An evening at Wimpy’s, dining on double cheeseburgers, fries and chocolate shakes is my idea of a great night out.”
His older brother shrugged. “I guess I was feeling kind of nostalgic.”
“We’ve had our share of meals there.”
“And Honey came into our lives just as I was getting a taste of almost adult independence, so going there in the Queen and then in the Bob-White station wagon, it’s all tied up together—so many memories.”
“I hear you.” Mart smiled. “You know, I’m really glad you and Honey are getting married.”
“Thanks for not saying finally,” Brian said with a rueful grin.
“Guess you’ve heard that a few times recently.”
“You could say that. And I know it’s warranted, but…”
“But nothing,” Mart interrupted. “You love one another and you’re getting married now. Well, in two days’ time to be more accurate.”
“Thanks for all your help. We couldn’t have done it without you, and Di. Di’s been amazing.”
“Well, she is kind of fond of both of you.”
“I knew how talented she was,” Brian observed. “But she is super organised, too. No wonder she’s so good at her job.”
“She is, isn’t she,” Mart said proudly.
“I hope I can be as good a husband and father as you are.” Brian’s dark eyes were warm with affection.
“Hey!” Mart said, shuffling his feet. “Comments like that leave me lost for words, and you know how much I hate that.”
“It’s good for you to be out of your comfort zone,” Brian laughed.
“Thanks, though. Having looked up to you my whole life, it’s nice to hear.”
“I’m not all that admirable,” his brother protested. “Let’s not forget I was stupid enough to be apart from Honey for over a year.”
“My guess is we didn’t help with that,” Mart observed with a wry grin. “I don’t know all of the details and I don’t need to, but I get the impression that when I Trix and I prattled on about Honey happily dating, it didn’t help.”
Brian laughed again. “It’s true that when I heard that I crawled back into my grumpy shell. It shouldn’t have stopped me from being honest with her even if she had told me to go jump in the lake.”
“As if!” Mart snorted. “She’s been nuts about you practically from the first time she saw you.”
“I’ll never know why, but I sure am glad about it. And on that note, thanks for tonight, Mart and thanks for being my brother. I am going upstairs to my soon-to-be wife. Tomorrow night we’re both going back to our respective childhood homes and I intend to make the most of tonight.”
Mart held his hand up. “No more details, thanks. On top of two cheeseburgers and a double serve of fries, my stomach can’t stand it.”
“Your stomach is cast iron. It can stand anything.”
“Probably true. I’ll see you tomorrow big brother. Your last day as a single man.”
“Amen to that!”
It was strange being back at the farm, knowing that Honey was ensconced in her room at the Manor House, just as she had been for so much of the time they’d known one another. The ritual of a family dinner, cleaning up in the kitchen, coffee on the terrace, all felt so normal and reassuring. Not quite ready to turn in, Brian had strolled around the farm’s yard before taking a seat in the old-fashioned swing. A slight sound made him turn his head.
“What are you doing here?” Brian asked, his lips curving in a smile. “Isn’t it bad luck or something?”
The evening was mild for September, a light breeze stirred the night air and the inky darkness was scattered with stars. He’d been gazing into that sky thinking about how fortunate he was. His life, his family, his love. As if to magnify his thoughts, his love emerged from the darkness, a smile on the face he knew so well.
Honey joined him on the swing. “It’s bad luck to see me in my dress,” she informed him. “And some people say it’s bad luck to see the bride on the day of the wedding, before the actual ceremony, that is, because if it were bad luck to see her generally on that day, well that would make it hard to actually get married, seeing that…” she trailed off as the man beside her began to shake with silent laughter. “You know what I mean,” she added, slapping him lightly on the arm.
“Always,” he said, turning his head so that he could gaze into her eyes. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers.
When he drew back Honey nestled closer, placing her head on his shoulder. “Anyway,” she said. “It’s ten-twenty on the night before our wedding, so there is no bad luck whatsoever involved.”
“I have a hard time believing that seeing you could ever be bad luck,” Brian said, wrapping his arm around her. “I do know that the very first time I ever saw you, you were running down that hill.” He nodded into the darkness, toward the lights of the Manor House, perched above the hollow. “This hair…” He fingered a lock of her honey gold hair, “was streaming out behind you as you ran and from that moment I—”
“Thought very little about me,” Honey finished teasingly. “You were more interested in Jim at that point.” A small silence hung between them and Brian raised his dark brows. “Not in any weird way,” she said. “Not that it is weird or would have been weird, but…”
“But in light of the fact that we’re getting married tomorrow and Jim is already married to my sister, then a ‘special’ interest might well seem a little weird.”
“Exactly,” Honey agreed. “Still, I was just glad that you and Mart seemed to like me. I loved Trixie so much that it was important to me that her brothers approved.”
“Oh they approved alright,” Brian said with a hug and a grin. “And while I’m willing to admit it might not have been love at first sight, it was definitely notice at first sight.”
“Me too,” she said. “I liked you both, but you were the best-looking boy I’d ever seen.”
“Were?”
“Were, are, always will be,” she said, kissing him again.
“I tried to resist you, you know.” His fingers gently brushed her hair back behind her ear. “Falling in love with the girl next door. Marrying the first girl I had a crush on, did not seem very…”
“Practical? Realistic?” Honey supplied.
“Well, we’ve had this conversation before, but yes.”
“Statistically, you had doubts,” she added, her hazel eyes twinkling.
“I’d always been able to rationalize everything,” her fiancé said. “I made plans and set goals and analysed situations and made assessments.”
“My wonderfully scientific, logical Brian,” Honey said.
“It’s never worked with you, though. I’ve never been able to keep you in that place.”
“Is that your way of telling me that loving me is not practical or logical?” she teased.
“It’s immutable,” Brian said. “I can’t not love you.”
“I’m very glad about that.”
“I know I’ve put us through some hoops,” he said, referring to the two times during the more than decade-long relationship that they had spent time apart.
Seeing the concern in his face Honey was quick to respond. “The first time we decided together. I was only seventeen, we hadn’t become…intimate, and I wanted to make sure we more than just a safe, comfortable fit, too. The second time you were an idiot, but we’ve been over that and I’ve forgiven you.”
“Thank god,” Brian laughed.
“It just turned out that we’re bad at dating,” Honey said. “Other people, I mean, not each other.” She was quiet for a moment. “Do you suppose that eventually we would have found someone else?”
“That’s a funny question to ask a guy the night before his wedding.” Brian shook his dark head. “But honestly? I guess we would have, Honey. People tend to move on with their lives even after great loss or failure. But I do know that I could never have found anyone to love the way I love you.”
Honey nodded slowly. His answer suited her.
“And as we both know, I made a hell of a mess of things when I wasn’t with you.”
“I wasn’t much better,” she said, recalling her dating life when she and Brian weren’t together.
“Something I’m very grateful for.”
“It’s nice that we appreciate each other’s ability to fail miserably,” Honey said with a light laugh.
“You do know that we will probably argue occasionally, and that it’s perfectly normal, don’t you?” Brian traced a longer finger down the side of Honey’s face and along her jaw line.
She gave a soft laugh. “In case it’s slipped your mind, I am not the world’s best arguer. This past couple of weeks not withstanding.”
“Granted, but even you can get fed up sometimes—especially when you consider that you’re marrying a stubborn, overprotective, single-minded jerk.”
“Don’t forget grumpy,” she reminded him, hazel eyes twinkling.
“Right, how could I forget?”
“I just adore grumpy Brian,” Honey said with sigh.
“Weirdo,” Brian returned affectionately. “You might not if he shows up too often.”
“I’ll take my chances.” She studied his beloved face for a moment, seeing beyond the classically handsome features to the strength, passion and vulnerability that lay beneath the surface. “And for the record, I know there will be disagreements and disappointments, on both sides—I have my flaws, too—I should have fought for us when you were an idiot, for instance, but we’ll work it out—and we have learned from experience that making up again after a fight can be fun.”
“All too true.” Brian pulled back from her a little, his expression suddenly serious. “How did I get so lucky?” he asked. “You love me, and tomorrow we get to start the rest of our lives together.”
“I’m the lucky one.” Honey fingers brushed that lock of wavy hair that always strayed to his forehead.
“Don’t correct your elders,” he teased.
“You’re not going to be one of those husband’s are you?” Honey knew that sometimes people thought Brian influenced her thoughts and actions. They thought Trixie did too, in their working life. The truth was more often than not she agreed with her husband-to-be and her best friend.
Sometimes she went along with them because she loved them and whatever it was they were discussing or considering was more important to them than it was to her. And sometimes when it mattered to her she stood her ground, and it was rare for her to be ignored on those occasions. In the end she decided she didn’t much care if people thought she was a pushover. She knew the truth.
“Because you should remember that we have not included that archaic obey in our vows.”
“Knew I’d forgotten something.”
They kissed, gently, tenderly and then Brian reluctantly let her go. “I’m guessing we should head for bed. Unfortunately, not together. This does feel familiar. There were so many nights when we were growing up that I wanted to go with you.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, and with a smile slipped off the swing and headed back up the path to the Manor House.
Brian watched her go as he had so many times before: his friend, his girl, his love, and soon…his wife.
THE MANOR HOUSE LIBRARY
NEXT
Word Count 6145
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Everything here that works and makes sense is probably down to Dana's skills as both and editor and a friend. Hugs. Everything that doesn't is my fault. Trixie Belden et al belong to random House and not to me. No profit is being made from these scribblings.
“To be fair, she wasn’t the only one who thought the hunter’s stew idea was a little out there.” The two women were at Honey and Brian’s apartment on the outskirts of Sleepyside.
Trixie laughed again. “Your mother got on board pretty fast when you explained how you wanted Mr.Maypenny to feel like he was contributing to your special day.”
“And I know the boys, especially, love his stew,” Honey added with a grin of her own. “Oh, Trix, he was so touched when Brian and I went out there to ask him. He’s even making a vegetarian version as well, so that everyone can have some.”
“You won’t hear any complaints from me,” Trixie said. “I love hunter’s stew, too.”
“Well.” Honey tossed her golden hair. “We’ve got twice-cooked pork belly and baked trout, and homemade gnocchi with pumpkin and pine nuts and lobster bisque and—”
“Don’t,” Trixie begged. “I’m already ravenous. If you keep talking, I may decide to eat you, and Brian would never forgive me.”
“Come on, let’s raid the refrigerator. Brian and I ordered Chinese last night and we’ve got heaps left over.”
They sat together at the small table in Honey’s apartment. Brian had only moved in a few weeks earlier, now that he was finally installed in his new position at White Plains hospital.
“I just can’t believe I missed all the drama of your grandmother’s first visit.” Trixie said as Honey pulled the leftovers out of the refrigerator and placed them in the microwave.
“Well, you and Jim had driven down to visit the Smiths, and I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Bother me!” Trixie shook her head in disbelief. “Honestly, Hon. It must have been awful—your grandmother flailing around the floor and you and your mother worried to death and the ambulance coming. And after all of that drama she was fine.”
Jim, who’d talked to his father the previous evening when they’d arrived home, had filled her in on what had happened, and Trixie had her own ideas about Gabrielle Hart’s incident.
“It seems almost funny, now,” Honey admitted guiltily. “But it was pretty horrible at the time. I felt as if it were all my fault.”
“Exactly how you were meant to feel, I imagine.”
Honey smiled at her friend and placed the now-heated food on the table.
“Anyway, I had a big fight with Brian.”
“You what?” Trixie paused the spoon she had been using to dish up the delicious-smelling food. The spoon hovered over her plate, forgotten, as she stared at Honey. “You and Brian had a fight! I don’t believe it!”
“We do argue sometimes,” Honey said. “It doesn’t signal the coming of end times.”
“You’re not going to split up again, are you? ‘Cause I couldn’t handle that.” Trixie placed a hand on her pregnant belly and rounded her blue eyes.
“Of course not!” Honey denied hotly. “We love each other more than anything. It’s just taking us a while to get a handle on the whole fighting thing. Neither one of us has ever been very good at it.”
Trixie moved her hand and placed it over Honey’s. “You know you can come to me, right, Hon? I am an expert fighter. Jim and I can give you and Brian tips anytime you want.”
Honey laughed. “Your fights never last long, and I think you might even enjoy them.”
Trixie tried to look wounded but failed. “It’s funny, isn’t it? I hate fighting with most people—it makes feel kind of queasy, but Jim and Mart, I’m perfectly fine arguing with them.”
“Maybe it’s because you know they both can hold their own in an argument, and they’re crazy about you—in very different ways,” Honey mused.
“You could be right. I hate it when we fight, though.”
“Me too. But Brian and I agreed ages ago that we wouldn’t hide stuff from one another, and that we’d try to be honest about stuff that upsets us. So, we had an argument about what had happened, well more about Brian’s reaction to it, but…anyway, it doesn’t matter. Everything’s fine now. We made up, which is always fun—lots of fun.”
“Please. I’m about to eat.”
“Eat then and stop dissecting my love life.”
“You’re the bride—I have to do what you ask.”
“Can I get that in writing?” Honey waited until Trixie had filled her plate and then served herself.
“This is good,” Trixie said happily as she tucked into her chicken with garlic sauce.
“Have some of this spicy pork too,” Honey said. “Dan was supposed to be joining us for dinner, but he got called in on a case, so that’s why we have so much extra.”
“Speaking of cases, I was talking to Jim and he suggested with the wedding and all, we might want to hold off on taking on too many more.”
Honey, who knew full well that her brother had been trying to get his pregnant wife to slow down a little, nodded her head. “Would you mind very much, Trix? It is stressing me out a little. Especially after all this trouble with grandmother.” Surely she could get something out of that whole mess?
“Well, we can’t have a stressed out bride, can we? I think Belden-Wheeler Investigations can hold off adding to their caseload for a few weeks.”
“Thanks, Trix.” Honey threw her arms around her best friend. “You know, Brian and I are only taking five days for our honeymoon, so it won’t really be for long. And we can still work on existing cases, and I can handle all of the paperwork.”
Trixie’s blue eyes narrowed. “You seem to have everything under control, for someone’s who’s feeling stressed.”
“You know me and lists. I’ve been making them since Brian and I decided to get married sooner rather than later.” Honey hoped her best friend was buying her explanation. “I’ve been driving him crazy.”
“You and your lists,” Trixie said affectionately. “And no matter what you do, my brother has always been crazy about you.”
“Funny.” Honey made a face, but her hazel eyes danced, and she and Trixie turned their attention to the delicious leftovers.
“How are the plans coming along?” Matthew Wheeler shook the martini container and poured drinks for himself and his wife, before joining her on the sofa.
“Well, I think,” Madeleine returned. “Diana’s been marvellous.”
“A little bird told me that your mother was here again today.” Matt slid an arm around his wife’s slender shoulders.
“Did she, indeed? Didn’t she fill you in?”
Her husband shook his head. “Apparently she was on her way to meet Trixie, but she wanted me to know how wonderful her mother had been.”
“Really?” Madeleine’s hazel eyes met her husband’s green ones, and for a moment it was like having his daughter look at him. His wife’s expression was at once hopeful and uncertain. It had been some time since he’d seen that look on her face. One thing Madeleine Hart Wheeler had learned over the years was composure.
“Yes. You bearded the dragon and emerged triumphant.” He saw her lips twitch and gave a laugh. “I suppose it isn’t exactly polite for me to compare your mother to a dragon.”
“No, it isn’t,” she scolded gently. “Mother can’t help being the way she is.”
Matt raised his brows.
“Well,” Madeleine allowed with a small smile, “perhaps, she can, but habits are very hard to break.”
“That I will agree to,” his face softened. “I know it couldn’t have been easy for you.”
“Easier than disappointing our daughter.” Madeleine Wheeler was well aware she’d done that in the past. When Honey had called saying she and Brian wanted to keep to their original plan, she had told her daughter that she would take care of informing Gabrielle Hart. It hadn’t been an easy phone call, but she’d been quietly insistent and, much to her surprise, her mother had eventually agreed to come back to Sleepyside.
“You know, Matthew, I look at the relationship I have with my mother and am so grateful that Honey and I are close. Perhaps, not the same sort of closeness Helen has with her children…but, so much closer than we could have been.” It had hurt her at first to see how drawn Honey was to the Beldens, to their cosy farmhouse and especially to Helen. But slowly she began to see it as a positive thing. Honey had blossomed, thrived even, in Sleepyside, and no mother could resent anyone who’d played a part in that.
“Honey loves you very much,” Matthew Wheeler said, dropping a kiss on his wife’s temple. “She loves us both, in spite of our less-than-stellar early parenting.”
“That says more about her than it does about us.”
“We’ve done okay, though, haven’t we? We have good relationships with both of our children.”
Madeleine nodded. “I thank God every day for Jim. He’s a big part of the reason we are a family. And Trixie. I’m so happy she’s part of our family, too.”
“And that there’s going to be a new addition to that family soon?” Matt Wheeler had grown used to finding all sorts of baby-related items in bags and boxes around the place.
“Two new additions,” Madeleine corrected. “We have our first grandchild on the way, and we’re gaining another son. I used to worry about how we were going to protect Honey from some money hungry smooth talker. She’s so trusting.”
“I like to think that she’s learned who she can and can’t trust, and one thing we can be sure of where Brian is concerned—he’s not after her money.”
“Definitely not.” Madeleine’s laugh was light. “And I hope you remember that that is a good thing when he resists your desire to shower our little girl with extravagant gifts.”
“You may need to remind me,” her husband admitted. “I can’t help but admire Brian’s independence and self-reliance, but the father in me wants to spoil our daughter, or at least make sure she doesn’t need to struggle through life.”
“A perfectly understandable desire, but I’m not sure she would be all that comfortable taking from us. She’s learned to like paying her own way.”
“Don’t I know it? Anyway,” Matt continued, “when Brian talked to me before he proposed, he did promise his stubborn pride would never get in the way of Honey’s happiness again, if he could help it.”
“Is that his description or yours?”
“His. He was pretty keen to prove to me that she was in safe hands. In some ways the two of them spending time apart has worked in our favour.”
“Matthew!”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I’m just looking for the silver lining in a bad situation.”
“I’m sure you are.”
“Did you talk to Honey about our paying for a honeymoon trip?”
“I did, and they’ve already decided what they want to do.”
“Camp in the game preserve? Borrow the Swan?” Matthew said, trying to imagine the low-budget options his practical son-in-law to be and daughter might have chosen.
“Honey wanted to know if we’d mind if they went up to the Maine cottage. They’ve spent time there before and they both love it.”
Matthew Wheeler smiled at this news. “Well, that’s something.”
“Before you ask, they want to drive, not use the plane, but I did get Honey to say yes to a welcome basket.”
“Fine! You know, I’d give them the place if I thought they’d take it. We don’t get up there much and it’s the one piece of property we own that Honey had a hand in choosing.”
“Yes, and I imagine one day we can do that. In the meantime, our daughter and new son-in-law are able to take a budget honeymoon without compromising on their accommodations and that’s a good thing.”
“Yes, it is,” Matt leaned across and gave his beautiful wife another kiss. “Now, tell me, what exactly can we put in that welcome basket?”
The men dutifully turned up for suit fittings and alterations. Dan organized the guest book and the seating for the actual ceremony, whilst Jim helped out with reception seating and tables and the giant marquee that was being set up alongside the expansive Manor House patio.
Mart proved himself as valuable as his lovely wife. He brought in his landscaping work team and, in conjunction with the Wheelers’ regular gardener, created a beautiful bower for the ceremony and winding paths of flowers and pots to lead guests along the covered walkway through to the reception area. In consultation with the bride and groom, he hired a band and he also made contact with overseas invitees who were not able to get to the wedding. Regan, Mr. Maypenny, Peter Belden, and a host of others volunteered their time to ensure the couple’s day would be perfect. As the day drew nearer, more and more things came together.
A few days before the wedding, the female contingent all gathered at the Manor House for final fittings and a champagne breakfast. Honey had insisted Celia and Miss Trask join them and the three, along with the Wheelers’ regular maid, had set up a delicious buffet, along with buckets of champagne on ice and sparkling grape juice.
“I’m guessing that’s for me?” Trixie said with a roll of her eyes, spying the latter.
“Yes, missy,” Honey said with a laugh, “that is for you and anyone else who’d prefer a non-alcoholic drink. There’s also tea and pots of coffee.”
“Decaf, of course,” her best friend grumbled.
“I can’t trust you around the real stuff,” Honey said, laughing again.
“Are you sure all this food and drink is a good idea given the fact that you girls are trying on your dresses?” Helen Belden said, accepting a glass of champagne from Honey and selecting a miniature bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese.
“We’ll be careful, Mrs. Belden, I promise,” Honey said. “Fittings will take place way over there,” she waved her slender hand. “Everything will be fine.”
“Don’t you think you could call me Moms, Honey, dear? You really are almost family now.”
Honey shook her golden head. It wasn’t the first time it had been suggested. “Not until it’s official,” she insisted. “That is just another perk of becoming a Belden.” She turned to hand a glass to her own mother and for a moment, her hazel eyes clouded. “Not that I haven’t been utterly spoiled being a Wheeler my whole life,” she added.
Knowing exactly what her daughter was thinking, Madeleine took the champagne and used her free hand to gently stroke Honey’s cheek. “We’re the ones who’ve been spoiled,” she said and Honey smiled, relieved she hadn’t hurt her mother’s feelings.
Trixie sipped her grape juice and munched happily on a tiny white chocolate and raspberry muffin. “This mini stuff was a good idea,” she said. “You feel perfectly entitled to eat dozens of these things.”
Diana’s dark brows shot up, and she shook her head with an affectionate smile, but Honey grinned and helped herself to a little quiche, filled with bacon and leek. “My feelings exactly,” she said. “That’s also why our dresses are so perfect. The styles allow for a little pre-wedding weight gain.”
“As if you’ve ever had to worry about that.” Di wrinkled her nose at her friend, but her violet eyes danced.
“Well, if I were half as beautiful and talented as you, I wouldn’t worry about such a silly detail anyway,” Honey huffed.
“What has being talented got to do with anything? Not that I am,” Diana demanded. She had been called pretty and beautiful all of her life, but it still tickled her when her friends referred to her talents or smarts.
“I’m guessing that seeing Honey is the bride, we’re going to have to go along with everything she says for the duration.” Trixie grinned and helped herself to a piece of bruschetta.
“Considering some of the demands I made when I was getting married, I can live with that,” Diana agreed.
“You were a perfectly reasonable bride,” Honey protested automatically.
Diana laughed and raised her dark brows.
“Practically perfectly reasonable,” Honey amended with a laugh of her own.
“Now, who wants to try their dress on first?” Madeleine asked.
“Might as well be me,” Trixie gave a resigned sigh. “If I wait until after Di and Honey I’m going to feel a whole lot worse by comparison.”
“Trixie,” Helen Belden scolded her only daughter. “You look beautiful.”
“I second that,” Margery Trask said.
“I think the easiest way to prove that we are right and Trixie wrong is to get her into her dress,” Madeleine Wheeler said knowingly.
“Exactly,” Honey glared at her best friend. “If you don’t stop making rude remarks about yourself, I am going to go bridezilla on you!”
Trixie laughed. “We can’t have that, can we?” She crossed the room and Ella Kline, who’d been helping with the fittings, picked up one of the hanging garment bags and handed it to Trixie, who disappeared behind the screen that had been set up.
“How’s the guest list looking, Madeleine?” Helen Belden smiled at her hostess.
“Well, if our family were as quick and courteous as yours in responding, it would be far closer to finalized.”
“Andrew is so excited that they, as he puts it, are ‘finally taking the plunge’. I know Harold and Susan wish they could have come but at least Hallie and Cap will be here. And Alicia.”
“Oh, don’t remind me,” a disembodied voice groaned from behind the screen. “She’s sure to have something fussy and pink to give me—and she’ll expect me to wear it.”
The gathered women all laughed.
“Never fear, Trix,” Honey sang out. “There will be no pink, fussy things at my wedding.”
“Oh, dear,” Celia said. “My dress is deep pink. Does that mean my invitation is cancelled?”
Honey shook her head vigorously. “No way. Pink is fine for my guests, just not for wedding party. At least not for my maid of honour.”
“You’re a real friend, Hon,” Trixie emerged from behind the screen. “What do you think?”
Honey had chosen a soft, lightweight jersey crepe fabric for Trixie’s dress. It was in a deep blue, a colour that suited the sandy-haired young woman perfectly. It had a high empire waist and fell in loose folds over her rounded belly, highlighting and flattering her condition at the same time. It was full length, but it was easy to see that Trixie would not need high heels to keep the dress off the ground.
“Trixie, you look just gorgeous,” Honey’s mother clapped her hands.
“Beautiful,” Helen added, beaming at her daughter.
“Absolutely lovely,” Margery Trask added.
“They’re right, Trix,” Diana said with a nod of her dark head. “Ella, the dress is wonderful.”
“Well, that’s down to Miss Honey’s design,” Ella said quickly. “She knew exactly what she wanted.
“I actually feel pretty,” Trixie said, shaking her soft short curls in disbelief. “I love the colour and it’s so comfortable. I won’t even need any idiotic heels.”
“I have some shoes you can try if you like,” Honey hurried over and pulled out a box from under a table. She opened it and held it out to her friend.
Trixie examined the contents and a half-smile formed on her attractive face. She withdrew the dark blue shoes and slipped her feet into them, the smile widening. “Honey, you genius. These look like regular shoes, but they’re all soft and squishy inside. My feet haven’t been this comfortable in anything but sneakers or flat boots in ages.”
“They’re a little chunky,” Madeleine Wheeler said as Trixie held her dress up and paraded around the room.
“You won’t see anything but the tips,” Diana announced after studying her friend for a moment. “And they look quite elegant. Show us, Trix.”
“They do, too.” Mrs. Wheeler agreed, as Trixie obediently let go of her dress and continued to walk around without any hesitation or mishap.
It was Diana’s turn next and even though the dark haired young woman’s beauty was always in evidence, she seemed especially pleased with the dress Honey had chosen for her. It was a deep lavender and flowed around her slender, yet curvy form, skimming over her hourglass figure in all of the right places. The deep v-neck revealed the swell of her creamy breasts and the empire waist, fabric and length echoed the style of Trixie’s gown.
“I love it,” she said. “And it was so sweet of you, Honey, to pick our favourite colours for our dresses rather than making us wear the same thing.”
“Why would I make my two wonderfully individual best friends wear exactly the same thing?” Honey asked. “And that blue and lavendar both go with my green and coffee and gold beautifully.”
“They do,” Celia said with a smile. “Especially with the flower arrangements you’ve chosen.”
“And you look divine, Diana,” Madeleine Wheeler said approvingly. “I think it was very clever of my daughter to choose blue piping for your dress and lavender for Trixie’s, as it ties everything together beautifully.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” Diana agreed twirling around. “And this fabric is lovely.”
“It’s kind of like Honey’s wedding dress, isn’t it?” Trixie didn’t sound entirely sure. “The fabric, I mean and all of the dresses are sort of simple and not too...” she waved her hands around, “big and fussy—my stomach not withstanding.”
“I’m not sure they’d use that exact description in Style but you are quite correct, Trixie. And your stomach is absolutely beautiful!” Mrs. Wheeler smiled affectionately at her daughter-in-law.
“It certainly is,” Helen Belden agreed.
“I think you both look wonderful,” Honey said. “And I don’t care what Style would say, they…” she trailed off her hazel eyes widening in alarm. “They’re not going to be here, are they?” The very thought was horrifying.
“Absolutely not” Her mother hurried to reassure her. “I did have to promise your grandmother that you would select two photos to send to them. I thought I’d told you,” Madeleine’s brow creased with concern. “She’d been insisting on some press, and I felt it was a reasonable compromise and it ensured the wedding itself would stay private. I’m sorry if it makes you unhappy, darling.”
Honey was at her mother’s side within seconds and she threw her arms around her. “I should have realised she’d be hassling you, and I think that’s a compromise we can very easily make.”
Margery Trask smiled approvingly at her former charge and then caught Helen Belden’s eye, the two women exchanging looks. Although they had known the Wheelers for well over a decade, the latter had never felt completely comfortable around Madeleine Wheeler. They got on well enough, and when Trixie married Jim the two women did get to know one another a little better, but it was in these past few weeks since Honey and Brian had announced their engagement that she’d realized that the always elegant, society born woman had a few insecurities when it came to motherhood.
Of course, she’d known that Honey’s relationship with her parents, particularly her mother, had been far from ideal before moving to Sleepyside. She also knew that Honey was a loving and forgiving person who embraced her new life and the chance it gave her to know her mother and father better. But working with Madeleine on the wedding had revealed a vulnerability that made Helen see the other woman in a whole new light.
She hated the idea that she might disappoint Honey again and wanted to be the sort of mother her child could count on. Right at this moment, watching the two together, it seemed as if she had her wish. Looking up and catching her own daughter’s eye and seeing the love reflected in there, Helen Belden knew that they were all lucky.
“So, come on,” Trixie prompted. “Where’s the main attraction? Show us your stuff, Honey.”
“Oh, you’ve seen me in my dress. Ella’s hardly had to alter it, just a little tuck here and there.”
“Does that mean we can concentrate on eating and drinking now?” Trixie demanded with an impish grin.
“I think that sounds like an excellent idea,” Honey said.
“Are you sure we don’t have to do anything else?” Di asked. “This seems way too easy.”
“Guess I’m just lucky having such perfectly perfect friends to be in my wedding party. I think Mother wants to run over the list you’ve been working on together but we can do that while we eat.”
“Well, it won’t be long now,” Trixie observed, “and those lists will be history, and you, Honey, will be an old married lady.”
Honey beamed at her best friend. “That is something I’ll raise my glass to.”
Mart turned pulled his car into Brian and Honey’s apartment lot and switched off the engine. He glanced at his watch and grinned. “Way before midnight, no strippers, and you haven’t had a single drink, bro, so we should be in the good books.”
Brian laughed. “I guess I have totally lived up to my boring Brian rep as usual. Some bucks night.”
“Don’t expect me to agree with you,” Mart said. “An evening at Wimpy’s, dining on double cheeseburgers, fries and chocolate shakes is my idea of a great night out.”
His older brother shrugged. “I guess I was feeling kind of nostalgic.”
“We’ve had our share of meals there.”
“And Honey came into our lives just as I was getting a taste of almost adult independence, so going there in the Queen and then in the Bob-White station wagon, it’s all tied up together—so many memories.”
“I hear you.” Mart smiled. “You know, I’m really glad you and Honey are getting married.”
“Thanks for not saying finally,” Brian said with a rueful grin.
“Guess you’ve heard that a few times recently.”
“You could say that. And I know it’s warranted, but…”
“But nothing,” Mart interrupted. “You love one another and you’re getting married now. Well, in two days’ time to be more accurate.”
“Thanks for all your help. We couldn’t have done it without you, and Di. Di’s been amazing.”
“Well, she is kind of fond of both of you.”
“I knew how talented she was,” Brian observed. “But she is super organised, too. No wonder she’s so good at her job.”
“She is, isn’t she,” Mart said proudly.
“I hope I can be as good a husband and father as you are.” Brian’s dark eyes were warm with affection.
“Hey!” Mart said, shuffling his feet. “Comments like that leave me lost for words, and you know how much I hate that.”
“It’s good for you to be out of your comfort zone,” Brian laughed.
“Thanks, though. Having looked up to you my whole life, it’s nice to hear.”
“I’m not all that admirable,” his brother protested. “Let’s not forget I was stupid enough to be apart from Honey for over a year.”
“My guess is we didn’t help with that,” Mart observed with a wry grin. “I don’t know all of the details and I don’t need to, but I get the impression that when I Trix and I prattled on about Honey happily dating, it didn’t help.”
Brian laughed again. “It’s true that when I heard that I crawled back into my grumpy shell. It shouldn’t have stopped me from being honest with her even if she had told me to go jump in the lake.”
“As if!” Mart snorted. “She’s been nuts about you practically from the first time she saw you.”
“I’ll never know why, but I sure am glad about it. And on that note, thanks for tonight, Mart and thanks for being my brother. I am going upstairs to my soon-to-be wife. Tomorrow night we’re both going back to our respective childhood homes and I intend to make the most of tonight.”
Mart held his hand up. “No more details, thanks. On top of two cheeseburgers and a double serve of fries, my stomach can’t stand it.”
“Your stomach is cast iron. It can stand anything.”
“Probably true. I’ll see you tomorrow big brother. Your last day as a single man.”
“Amen to that!”
It was strange being back at the farm, knowing that Honey was ensconced in her room at the Manor House, just as she had been for so much of the time they’d known one another. The ritual of a family dinner, cleaning up in the kitchen, coffee on the terrace, all felt so normal and reassuring. Not quite ready to turn in, Brian had strolled around the farm’s yard before taking a seat in the old-fashioned swing. A slight sound made him turn his head.
“What are you doing here?” Brian asked, his lips curving in a smile. “Isn’t it bad luck or something?”
The evening was mild for September, a light breeze stirred the night air and the inky darkness was scattered with stars. He’d been gazing into that sky thinking about how fortunate he was. His life, his family, his love. As if to magnify his thoughts, his love emerged from the darkness, a smile on the face he knew so well.
Honey joined him on the swing. “It’s bad luck to see me in my dress,” she informed him. “And some people say it’s bad luck to see the bride on the day of the wedding, before the actual ceremony, that is, because if it were bad luck to see her generally on that day, well that would make it hard to actually get married, seeing that…” she trailed off as the man beside her began to shake with silent laughter. “You know what I mean,” she added, slapping him lightly on the arm.
“Always,” he said, turning his head so that he could gaze into her eyes. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers.
When he drew back Honey nestled closer, placing her head on his shoulder. “Anyway,” she said. “It’s ten-twenty on the night before our wedding, so there is no bad luck whatsoever involved.”
“I have a hard time believing that seeing you could ever be bad luck,” Brian said, wrapping his arm around her. “I do know that the very first time I ever saw you, you were running down that hill.” He nodded into the darkness, toward the lights of the Manor House, perched above the hollow. “This hair…” He fingered a lock of her honey gold hair, “was streaming out behind you as you ran and from that moment I—”
“Thought very little about me,” Honey finished teasingly. “You were more interested in Jim at that point.” A small silence hung between them and Brian raised his dark brows. “Not in any weird way,” she said. “Not that it is weird or would have been weird, but…”
“But in light of the fact that we’re getting married tomorrow and Jim is already married to my sister, then a ‘special’ interest might well seem a little weird.”
“Exactly,” Honey agreed. “Still, I was just glad that you and Mart seemed to like me. I loved Trixie so much that it was important to me that her brothers approved.”
“Oh they approved alright,” Brian said with a hug and a grin. “And while I’m willing to admit it might not have been love at first sight, it was definitely notice at first sight.”
“Me too,” she said. “I liked you both, but you were the best-looking boy I’d ever seen.”
“Were?”
“Were, are, always will be,” she said, kissing him again.
“I tried to resist you, you know.” His fingers gently brushed her hair back behind her ear. “Falling in love with the girl next door. Marrying the first girl I had a crush on, did not seem very…”
“Practical? Realistic?” Honey supplied.
“Well, we’ve had this conversation before, but yes.”
“Statistically, you had doubts,” she added, her hazel eyes twinkling.
“I’d always been able to rationalize everything,” her fiancé said. “I made plans and set goals and analysed situations and made assessments.”
“My wonderfully scientific, logical Brian,” Honey said.
“It’s never worked with you, though. I’ve never been able to keep you in that place.”
“Is that your way of telling me that loving me is not practical or logical?” she teased.
“It’s immutable,” Brian said. “I can’t not love you.”
“I’m very glad about that.”
“I know I’ve put us through some hoops,” he said, referring to the two times during the more than decade-long relationship that they had spent time apart.
Seeing the concern in his face Honey was quick to respond. “The first time we decided together. I was only seventeen, we hadn’t become…intimate, and I wanted to make sure we more than just a safe, comfortable fit, too. The second time you were an idiot, but we’ve been over that and I’ve forgiven you.”
“Thank god,” Brian laughed.
“It just turned out that we’re bad at dating,” Honey said. “Other people, I mean, not each other.” She was quiet for a moment. “Do you suppose that eventually we would have found someone else?”
“That’s a funny question to ask a guy the night before his wedding.” Brian shook his dark head. “But honestly? I guess we would have, Honey. People tend to move on with their lives even after great loss or failure. But I do know that I could never have found anyone to love the way I love you.”
Honey nodded slowly. His answer suited her.
“And as we both know, I made a hell of a mess of things when I wasn’t with you.”
“I wasn’t much better,” she said, recalling her dating life when she and Brian weren’t together.
“Something I’m very grateful for.”
“It’s nice that we appreciate each other’s ability to fail miserably,” Honey said with a light laugh.
“You do know that we will probably argue occasionally, and that it’s perfectly normal, don’t you?” Brian traced a longer finger down the side of Honey’s face and along her jaw line.
She gave a soft laugh. “In case it’s slipped your mind, I am not the world’s best arguer. This past couple of weeks not withstanding.”
“Granted, but even you can get fed up sometimes—especially when you consider that you’re marrying a stubborn, overprotective, single-minded jerk.”
“Don’t forget grumpy,” she reminded him, hazel eyes twinkling.
“Right, how could I forget?”
“I just adore grumpy Brian,” Honey said with sigh.
“Weirdo,” Brian returned affectionately. “You might not if he shows up too often.”
“I’ll take my chances.” She studied his beloved face for a moment, seeing beyond the classically handsome features to the strength, passion and vulnerability that lay beneath the surface. “And for the record, I know there will be disagreements and disappointments, on both sides—I have my flaws, too—I should have fought for us when you were an idiot, for instance, but we’ll work it out—and we have learned from experience that making up again after a fight can be fun.”
“All too true.” Brian pulled back from her a little, his expression suddenly serious. “How did I get so lucky?” he asked. “You love me, and tomorrow we get to start the rest of our lives together.”
“I’m the lucky one.” Honey fingers brushed that lock of wavy hair that always strayed to his forehead.
“Don’t correct your elders,” he teased.
“You’re not going to be one of those husband’s are you?” Honey knew that sometimes people thought Brian influenced her thoughts and actions. They thought Trixie did too, in their working life. The truth was more often than not she agreed with her husband-to-be and her best friend.
Sometimes she went along with them because she loved them and whatever it was they were discussing or considering was more important to them than it was to her. And sometimes when it mattered to her she stood her ground, and it was rare for her to be ignored on those occasions. In the end she decided she didn’t much care if people thought she was a pushover. She knew the truth.
“Because you should remember that we have not included that archaic obey in our vows.”
“Knew I’d forgotten something.”
They kissed, gently, tenderly and then Brian reluctantly let her go. “I’m guessing we should head for bed. Unfortunately, not together. This does feel familiar. There were so many nights when we were growing up that I wanted to go with you.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, and with a smile slipped off the swing and headed back up the path to the Manor House.
Brian watched her go as he had so many times before: his friend, his girl, his love, and soon…his wife.
THE MANOR HOUSE LIBRARY
NEXT
Word Count 6145
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Everything here that works and makes sense is probably down to Dana's skills as both and editor and a friend. Hugs. Everything that doesn't is my fault. Trixie Belden et al belong to random House and not to me. No profit is being made from these scribblings.
