Chapter 10

As they reached the farm, Brian broke the silence. “See,” he said, “I told you that you’d be almost dry before we got home.”

Trixie looked down and realized neither one of them had a shirt on. “We left our shirts at the clubhouse. I’ll run down and get them after supper.”

As the two entered the kitchen, Moms and Dad were working on getting dinner ready.

“Sorry we’re late,” said Brian. “Jim and I were fixing the roof of the clubhouse. When we were finished we took a quick swim and lost track of time.”

In a complete turnaround from the night before, their dad said, “That’s okay. We’re grilling hamburgers. It won’t take long. Go ahead and wash up. We’ll leave the clean-up to you guys.”

He never looked up from what he was doing so he never saw how his two children looked when they came in.

Brian grabbed the shower first. While she was waiting, Trixie went into her room to pick out her clothes. She debated whether or not to put on the black bra that was also part of Honey and Di’s birthday present. She had discovered she loved pretty lingerie. It gave her self-confidence when she wore it and she loved that she had a little secret to hold to herself. That Jim might get a glimpse of some lace or a bra strap was an added bonus.

She decided to throw caution to the wind and wear it along with the matching, barely there black silk thong. She had been surprised how comfortable it had been when she had put it on the first time. She loved the way it felt and the way it didn’t leave panty lines when she wore snug-fitting jeans.

Once she had decided on her undergarments, she went about choosing something to wear. She would have loved to put on something a little dressier for Jim but knew that if she did she would be asked too many unanswerable questions.

She went with her old favorite, jean shorts paired with a cute, button-front blouse. She loved the woven cotton of the shirt. It seemed cooler than the cotton knit fabric.

Brian was in and out of the shower in less than ten minutes. Trixie took a little while longer. She decided to shave her arms and legs and then took time fixing her hair and adding a little bit of makeup.

Brian appeared outside of his room just as Trixie had come out of hers. He was dressed in a nice pair of khaki cargo shorts and a polo shirt.

“I’ll stay here with Bobby tonight so you can have a nice evening with Jim,” Brian volunteered. “Honey is always so patient with him. Karate Kid 2i> just came out on video. I think Bobby would like it.” Brian had an ulterior motive. Bobby would make the perfect unknowing chaperone for him and Honey. Brian had spent a lot of his spare time daydreaming about Honey and what he wanted to do with her. After yesterday’s escapades, he was a little gun shy about picking up where they had left off.

“Thanks, Brian. Both Jim and I appreciate it. I just hope Dad won’t make a big fuss about me going up to Manor House. Miss Trask will be around.”

The two siblings headed downstairs and joined their parents and Bobby for dinner. Mart had been invited over to the Lynches for dinner. He and Diana had something special planned. After they were done eating, Peter and Helen headed upstairs to get dressed, and the kids cleaned up the kitchen.

When their parents came down the stairs, Trixie wolf whistled. Her dad was looking sharp in a fresh pair of jeans and a shirt and her mom also had on jeans and a form fitting t-shirt. “Don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do in the balcony of the Cameo,” she teased. Her mom blushed a little, but couldn’t hide the shy smile.

“Honey and I are going to stay here and watch Bobby tonight. We’ve got a movie and I’m sure Honey has some other activities planned as well,” Brian said.

“And I’m heading up to Manor House to watch a different movie with Jim. The Wheelers will be gone but Miss Trask will be around,” Trixie explained.

Their dad got serious when he said, “Just don’t do anything stupid.”

As their parents were leaving, Honey arrived. She was a little uncomfortable greeting them but tactfully smiled her way through it. She gave Brian a quick peck on the lips and then greeted Trixie and Bobby.

“Jim says not to keep him waiting too long. He was making popcorn when I left,” Honey said. “And Bobby, I’ve got a new riddle for you.”

Trixie headed out the door and up to the Manor House. She wanted to run as fast as she could. She decided that she better slow down though because she didn’t want to be all sweaty. As she walked, she thought about what the summer would bring. She hoped that she and Jim would grow enough in their relationship to move a little forward in it.

She was looking forward to working in the library this summer. The library was converting its check- out system to digital scanner. Trixie’s job was going to be working on getting every book entered into the system. It would take almost a year to get it done. She was guaranteed a job for the summer and also into the next school year.

She had thought about taking a summer school class, too. The school was offering some advanced English and Social Science classes as well some fun classes. She decided to pass on that though. The job would take up a lot of her time and she wanted to also have fun this summer. It might be the last time all of the Bob-Whites were in Sleepyside for the summer. Brian would be starting med school next year and Jim would be heading to graduate school.

Trixie knew that when Jim went to graduate school communication would be even harder and they would have to really put forth the effort. She would be in her first year of college. She hadn’t decided where she wanted to go yet, though she was leaning toward NYU. Jim wasn’t sure where he wanted to go for his graduate work. It would need to be some place that had a doctoral program as well. She wasn’t going to base where she was going to school on where Jim went, but she didn’t want to be too far apart either.

She was approaching the veranda of the Manor House when she saw Jim sitting on the steps waiting for her. He stood and walked toward her. They hugged and exchanged kisses.

“You smell wonderful,” Jim said. “Like flowers and sunshine and rain.”

“You can thank Bath and Body Works. It definitely isn’t Eau de Stable,” Trixie replied.

The two headed into the house, where Miss Trask was coming into the entryway. The two young adults greeted her and they visited for a few minutes. She would be retiring to her room to watch a wrestling match. Jim and Trixie headed into the den.

“I can’t wait to see this movie again,” Trixie said. “Those fighter pilot scenes are so cool.”

“You just like to see Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer with their shirts off,” Jim teased.

“I heard you practicing “Great Balls of Fire”. I know you’ve got the hots for Meg Ryan,” Trixie teased back.

All of a sudden Jim got very serious. “The only one I’ve got the hots for is you. It would take major amounts of ice to even begin to cool me down.”

Trixie blushed.

Before they started the movie, Jim went to the kitchen to get some drinks and the popcorn he had made. After he got the VCR set up and ready, he sat down next to Trixie and started the movie. The first part of the movie was all action. She loved when Maverick and Goose buzzed the tower, and the rivalry between him and Iceman was so exciting.

As the movie progressed and the popcorn dish had been emptied Trixie snuggled closer to Jim. She blushed a little at the bedroom scene between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis. When Goose, died she got a little choked up.

By the time the movie was over, Trixie was getting a little hot and bothered. Despite drooling over the ace pilot’s chests, they did not compete with Jim’s and she told him so. It was all she could do to keep herself from ripping off his shirt and running her hands all over his chest.

Jim was having a difficult time being honorable, as well. The love scene had put all kinds of ideas in his head. The incident the day before was too fresh in his mind to follow through.

He placed a kiss on Trixie’s perfect lips. “You are irresistible, do you know that?” he said.

“So are you,” Trixie said. “I had so much fun today. It was great just spending time with you, even if you did throw us in the water.”

Jim’s thoughts went back to the afternoon and how sexy Trixie had looked in her wet sports bra and shorts. He had been worried about getting out of the water too soon.

“We never did go and get our shirts that we left in the clubhouse,” Trixie said.

Jim was torn between suggesting going to pick them up and staying in the den. The walk may do them good, but then they would be out of a watchful eye as well. His determination was waning fast.

He finally gave in and said. “We could go down and get them.”

“That sounds like a great idea,” Trixie said. She stood up and they headed out the door. They had not even gotten down the steps when Jim stopped her, pulled her into his arms and placed a steamy kiss on her lips. She didn’t hesitate to return it.

It took quite some time for them to make it to the clubhouse. Every few feet they had to stop and do some exploring. One time Jim would place kisses along Trixie’s neck. The next time Trixie would kiss his chest above the opening of his shirt. By the time they had gotten to the clubhouse, Jim realized that the walk that he thought would cool him off had ignited him.

When they got into the clubhouse, Jim could not take any more. He told Trixie as much. “Trixie, you’re driving me crazy. I can’t take my hands off of you.”

“Well, between watching that movie and thinking about watching your chest this afternoon, I could say the same thing about you,” she replied. She closed the door and turned on a small light that gave off a warm glow. Jim pulled Trixie into his lap and started to kiss her. He gently explored every inch of her exposed skin.

Their hands explored one another but neither one was ready to explore what was underneath their clothes. After several minutes, Trixie said, “As much as I hate to end this, I think we need to go. It’s almost eleven o’clock and I don’t want to miss my curfew two days in a row.”

Jim placed one final kiss on her lips and then pulled her to her feet. They grabbed the four shirts and headed back to Crabapple Farm. Jim looked at his watch and said. “We’ve got less than ten minutes to make it home. You want to race?”

Trixie took off with Jim following quickly behind her. Fortunately, there was a full moon so they could better see where they were going. She led the whole way until they were on the Crabapple Farm driveway. Jim pulled up beside her and then passed her. When she realized that she wouldn’t beat him, she let up and let Jim fly pass her.

“You win,” she conceded between gasps of breath. “I’ve had enough exercise for the day.”

Jim walked back to Trixie to meet her and they finished the walk up the driveway hand in hand. As they stepped on the first step, they saw Trixie’s parents pull into the driveway.

“Perfect timing,” Jim said.

They waited on the top step for her parents to park the van and meet up with them. “How was the movie?” Trixie asked. It looked like her mother blushed a little and her dad couldn’t quite meet her eyes.

“It was okay. They just don’t make them like they used to,” Peter Belden replied.

“Yeah, all of those Japanese monster movies, they were so well made,” Trixie teased.

“Like that’s any better than Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” her dad replied.

The four of them walked into the kitchen. Brian and Honey came in from the living room.

“I hope you don’t mind, but we let Bobby fall asleep on the floor down here. He swore he could stay up for the second movie but was asleep before the opening credits were done,” Brian said. It was left unsaid that Honey and Brian thought it would look better if Bobby remained in the living room. Then his parents wouldn’t wonder if anything inappropriate had happened.

“How was the movie?” Honey asked.

“Okay,” Mrs. Belden repeated-blushing again.

Mr. Belden bent down and whispered into his wife’s ear, “It was like Campbell’s soup, mmm, mmm, good.”

The group talked for a few more minutes. Then Mr. and Mrs. Belden went into the living room to get Bobby and head upstairs. Honey and Brian went out on the porch for some privacy and Jim and Trixie stayed in the house. After their good night kisses, Jim and Trixie headed outside, making as much obnoxious noise as possible without waking up Bobby.

Jim and Honey headed up toward the Manor House while Trixie and Brian watched until they were out of sight.


Monday, June 1, 1987

The Bob-Whites took time out of their studying to celebrate Mart’s birthday. Moms served Mart’s favorite meal: hamburgers, baked beans, French fries, chocolate malteds and, for dessert, chocolate cake.

The rest of the week was hectic to say the least. Tensions were high at all households as the high school students were busy studying for their finals and trying to keep up with their daily chores. Jim and Brian helped all around to pick up the slack. They made sure the horses were taken care of and the game preserve was patrolled.

Every night when Trixie got home from school, Jim was waiting for her. He didn’t stay long but just long enough to give Trixie some encouragement and talk for a few minutes.

By mid-week, Trixie was exhausted. Finals ended on Thursday. She was relieved because Hallie, Knut and Cap would be coming into town. She hoped she would be able to spend time away from the farm, as Aunt Alicia would also be coming on Thursday.

Trixie had nightmares that her aunt would be insistent on teaching her how to sew or knit. Trixie had really tried to learn to sew when she was in junior high. She had had to take a home economics class that was an introductory course. It had taken all of Honey’s and Moms’ patience to get the simple shirt she constructed to look like a shirt. She really had tried but it just wasn’t meant to be. She did much better in the cooking part of the class and could now make a great lasagna and cherry pie.


 


back stories home next

 

Author's Notes

Thanks to Diana B., Beverly, and Bonnie H. for their tireless job keeping me in commas.
- Thanks to Mal as always for posting and creating the graphics for me.
- Top Gun is one of my all time favorite movies. I was reminded that this movie didn’t come out on video until the early 1990’s. Well, Mr. Wheeler pulled some strings and got a copy (and it’s not bootlegged).
- Karate Kid 2 was a pretty good sequel to the first Karate Kid. If it wasn’t released to the general public then Mr. Wheeler purchased this one as well.
- Word Count: 2611

Disclaimer: Trixie Belden® is a registered trademark of Random House books. These pages are not affiliated with Random House Books in any way, shape or form. No profit is made here, only entertainment. Images of Trixie Belden and other series characters are copyright © Random House books. All references and characters and are used lovingly and respectfully, albeit without permission.

This website is © 2005-2025 Mal. All rights reserved. All graphics created by Mal and may not be used without permission. Original "man and dog" image by Getty Images.