Cobbett's Island
Honey had hoped she and Brian might have a few more moments like the one they shared in the barn and during their time sailing with Cap, but apart from an occasional smile and glance they had not spent any time alone since. They had all helped set up for the clambake but now that they had eaten their fill, Brian seemed a little restless. When Peter suggested a walk, he agreed readily and the three of them and Diana set off down the long stretch of golden sand.
Peter walked quickly, and deliberately slowing her pace a little, Honey dropped back and Brian fell into step beside her, leaving their pretty dark-haired friend and the blond local boy to pull away from them.
“Did you enjoy the clambake?” Brian asked as they continued along side by side.
Honey nodded. “It was delicious and the chicken and corn, they were scrumptious. I’m so glad I left room for them.”
“I noticed you had a little of everything,” he said. “Very different from the girl my sister tells me, claimed to have almost no appetite.”
“I think moving to Sleepyside and meeting Trixie cured me of that forever,” Honey laughed, she a stole a quick glance at him from beneath her lashes. If he was watching her eat, maybe he thought she was greedy. She was still the slimmest of the girls and would never, she guessed, be curvy or fill out a swimsuit the way some girls did, but her legs and butt were rounder than they used to be. “I suppose,” she added. “I should start to watch what I eat a bit more. I did eat a lot today.” The thought was not appealing.
“We all ate a lot, and why on earth would you start watching what you eat?” Brian demanded. “I mean, I guess we all need to make sure we’re getting nutrition as well as calories, but you don’t have to worry about the latter- not even a little bit. None of the Bob-Whites do. We’re all perfectly normal and healthy.”
“Good,” Honey said, thinking that this was not on the list of topics she’d imagined discussing next time she and Brian were alone. She played with the cuff of her pale cable knit sweater. “It’s been a wonderful vacation so far.”
“Super,” Brian agreed, taking her hand in his. “And Peter’s been a big hit with you girls.”
Honey’s eyes widened. Was she mistaken or was there just the slightest hint of jealousy in sensible Brian Belden’s voice? “He’s terrific, isn’t he?” She said blithely. “But you guys seem to like him too.”
“It’s not exactly the same. We don’t keep talking about his dreamy eyes.”
“I suppose his eyes could be described as dreamy,” she said thoughtfully.
“I think we’ve worked that out,” Brian said, and there was definitely a hint of irritation in his voice.
When he’d found himself suddenly alone with Honey, Brian had been pleased. Especially when she fell back and let Peter and Diana walk on ahead. This vacation had turned out even better than he’d imagined. And it wasn’t just the sun and the surf and the island life in general. His mind drifted back to those few moments in the barn. He’d come so close to kissing her. Listening to her now, he wondered if he should have thrown caution to the winds and stopped being so sensible.
But how was a guy supposed to go against his nature and the warnings of parents, who seemed to think that in spite of his straight A grades, he could no longer calculate the difference between his and Honey’s ages. It wasn’t as if he expected them to start dating, but heck, an occasional hand hold, a lingering look—how could that possibly do any harm?
She’d clung to him when Peter’s boat had been late back and they’d worried about their friends’ safety. And she’d hugged him when they returned, safe and well. But Peter Kimball seemed to have caught all of the girls’ eyes to some extent. It was funny, because he’d never really experienced feelings of jealousy. A quick glance in Honey’s direction told him he didn’t much care for those feelings.
It was silly. He knew that. They were kids with their whole lives ahead of them. It was unlikely that they’d feel the same way in three years— in five— in twenty, a little voice added. He turned his attention back to his companion, who had moved a little closer to him.
“But I like dark eyes,” she returned, a little surprised at her own boldness.
“Do you?” Brian asked, drawing her a little closer.
“And dark hair,” she added, knowing she was blushing now.
“I guess Pete’s out of luck then.”
“I suppose he is.”
Brian took a quick look down and up the long expanse of sand. “Did I mention that I’m kind of partial to wide hazel eyes? Flecked with green and gold and even a tiny bit,” he leaned closer, “of blue/gray.”
“People don’t usually see that,” she said softly.
“Hopefully, because they don’t get that close to you.” He smiled down at her and she smiled back.
“Hey wait up, you two!” Honey looked up as Mart’s call broke the moment and Brian took a couple of steps back leaving some distance between them.
“A really super vacation,” he said and with a wink turned to greet his approaching brother.
I’m not alone in my love for this particular Trixie book and there were some lovely little Honey/Brian moments. Is it my fault that I wanted more?
