…tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

Proverbs 4:3

Author’s note:

This story takes place the morning after “Let’s Start the New Year Right”. Although the Bob-Whites rung the new year in until the wee hours of the morning, one them has business in the cemetery. By the way, you might need a hanky for this one, if you have a particularly soft heart.

Early New Year’s morning…

The trek from Sleepyside to Rochester surprisingly didn’t take as long as usual. The highway was a barren wasteland, which wasn’t only a good thing but also a miracle considering it was a holiday weekend. Apparently, the New Year celebrants were all either safely tucked away in their beds or still making merry.

It was early. Very early. Not even the sun had awoken from its slumber to peek out of the gray, overcast clouds. The cold morning would’ve been far too daunting to entice most to leave their cozy beds at such an outrageously early hour, especially considering it was a holiday. However, for one person, there was no place better to be.

The vehicle pulled into the deserted cemetery, the headlights providing illumination for the otherwise somber sky. It slowed to a stop in front of Winthrop Frayne’s modest final resting place. Although the driver shut the engine off, the headlights remained on, lighting the path to the grave. A door opened slowly, and a pair of sturdy, winter boots stepped out onto the frozen ground, crunching the brittle snow underneath.

Win’s grave seemed lonely. There was a vacant spot beside him, where his beloved wife should’ve been laid to rest. However, she’d been buried in Albany in the Joneses’ family cemetery. There was no doubt in the visitor’s mind that even though Katje’s remains were in Albany, her heart had never veered from Win.

Several inches of precipitation had collected on Win’s headstone. A gloved hand reached out and brushed the snow away, lovingly cleaning out the letters that had been etched in the granite monument many years ago.

“I’m sorry that it’s been such a long time.” The husky voice sounded out of place in the tranquil surroundings. “I know I haven’t visited you for a while, but since the engagement, I’ve been so busy, but knowing you as I do, I’m sure you understand. There’s so much that I need to talk to you about.”

The speaker waited patiently, almost as if expecting a response.

“We did it; we finally set the date… July seventh, the day we met. I’m sure you already know the significance of that day, since you’ve been watching us.”

The speech had to be paused as a tear was deftly swiped away from a freckled cheek.

“I only wish you could be here with us; that’s the only thing that would make our wedding day more special. But I guess you will be there, just as you’ve been a part of everything else in our lives. Somehow, I’ve always felt you were there, guiding us together. Although you weren’t physically here with us, you were here, if that makes any sense. You’ve always been an important part of our lives, and I just couldn’t imagine telling everyone else before we told you.”

Another tear had to be wiped before it could be frozen by the biting wind. “I’m not sure what kind of wedding we’ll have. I have a few ideas, but I know our families will have a bunch of suggestions that we’ll be forced to consider. Everyone expects us to have a huge formal affair, but I don’t think we want that of hoopla, so it should be interesting.”

A grin parted the speaker’s lips. “The Wheelers will really be pushing us to have a fancy wedding. Somehow, I think if you were here, you’d know exactly how to handle Maddie. Of course, if you were here, she wouldn’t be helping with the wedding.”

That thought was particularly bittersweet.

“A summer wedding date will work out particularly well for the academy. The students will be on summer break, and although they’ll still be at Ten Acres, their academic courses won’t begin again until fall.”

A proud smile interrupted the oration. “You’d be so proud of the school. We’ll have ten in our first graduating class. I know that doesn’t seem like a lot, especially when you compare it to the kids out there who need help, but that’s ten lives salvaged. Ten! The best news is that all of our seniors have been accepted into college, and through money donated by some of our contributors, every single one of them will be able to go. Getting an education was so important to you, so I thought that would be something you’d want to know.

“Although you never got to start the school you’d planned, you’re such a part of Ten Acres. Everything about the academy has you in mind. Every class, every lab, every extracurricular activity… None of it would’ve been possible without you. After all, it was your dream first. You’d be so very, very proud…”

A choked sob interrupted the course of the one-sided conversation. “Well, here I am, rattling on and on, but I really need to get back. We’re attending a New Year’s dinner at Crabapple Farm later today.” A hand dug inside the folds of a black trench coat and pulled out a single long-stemmed red rose. “We’ll be telling everyone today that we’ve set the date, but it was very important to me that you were the first to know since we both love you so much.

“I only wish I’d been able to meet you before you died.”

Trixie’s voice broke as she gulped back more tears. After clearing her throat, she added poignantly, “But something tells me that I did meet you the day I met your son. Every day I spend with him, I get to know you more and more.

“Happy New Year, Win.” Trixie bent down and laid the flower on her future father-in-law’s grave, her gesture conveying her love and reverence for the man buried beneath. It was something she had done many times in secret the past twelve years. As she pulled her hand away, a sentimental smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “Thank you for all that you taught Jim. I know he’s the man he is today because of your influence, and I promise to love him just as Katie loved you, till death do we part.”

Tears still falling from her stormy eyes, Trixie blew a kiss toward Heaven, and then whispered, “I’ll never forget the legacy you’ve left behind, and I’ll do all I can to pass it on to our children.”

Without another word, she turned and left just as the sun’s first rays peeked through the overcast skies. Now that Win knew, Trixie felt much better about telling everyone else the wonderful news.

For without Win’s influence upon his young son, there would be no news.

The End

Credits:

First of all, thank you to my lovely friend, Steph H. Her editing keeps me on track, her cheerleading is an inspiration, her generosity knows no bounds, and most of all, her friendship is invaluable. I love you, sweetie, and thank you for all you do!

Photo provided by Steph H from iStock, so it’s legal! The rest of the graphics were created by Dark Orchid Graphics.

Originally, my New Year’s tale started out as a single story; however, after a year, it split into two separate stories. Then, Win Frayne began whispering in my ear, demanding some airtime, and how could I refuse? I had originally planned for Jim to visit his father’s grave, but then Trixie began whispering, and you all know how insistent she is. I quickly agreed with her, based upon my own life. I know my husband has always been very curious about my mother, who passed away many years before we were married, so this idea became near and dear to my heart.

I adore Win Frayne and have included him often in several different universes. I know there may be skeptics out there who wonder why I adore him so, but my response would be this. Jim had to put up with a regular devil as a stepfather. For him to turn out so well, Jim must have had some good instruction from Win while he was alive. The most wonderful boy in the boy must have had the most wonderful father in the world, who taught him to be the man he grew up to be. In watching my father with my brother, as well as my husband with son, I know the father/son relationship is essential to each and every boy. I fondly dedicate the memory of Win Frayne to every faithful father out there, committed to teaching his sons the ways of honor and integrity.

The trip from Rochester to Ossining is actually about five hours, so in order for Trixie to make this trip, she had to get up at dark o’clock. You could nitpick and doubt that she’d make such a long trip to do such a silly thing, but my argument is that once Trixie sets her mind to something, there’s no stopping her! And it was very important for her to talk to Win…

Trixie and Jim’s wedding date was set a few hours ago, at the stroke of midnight, during the story, “Let’s Start the New Year Right”.

In this story, I hoped to show that the things that were most important to Jim were important to Trixie. I always loved how enthusiastic she was about his school during the books, and feel she’d be equally supportive once it became a reality.

In The Cameo’s universes, Win Frayne first had the dream to open a school for underprivileged boys, a dream that becomes ironic when his own son is abused, homeless, and needy.

And yes, in The Cameo’s universes, Trixie has often visited Win Frayne. That may surprise you, because it surprised me when Trixie told me. I think she mourns Win and Katje almost as much as Jim…