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Part
Two
As a reminder, it’s a
cold, winter evening at Crabapple Farm, and Peter is feeling rather grouchy.
He spent all of part one grumbling about Jim Frayne and
remembering when Trixie was a little girl. Join us now for the conclusion of “Daddy’s
Girl”. BTW, this is Jixemitri
Special Edition CWP celebrating Jix’s Fifth Anniversary. Items in
red signify that they are an element of this CWP. Peter
smiled at the memory of shining shoes with his daughter. Although it had
happened less than two decades ago, it felt like it had been a million years. That little girl with the chubby cheeks who
used to climb onto his lap had grown up.
She still had the same insatiable curiosity, but she must’ve packed
away her unabashed adoration of him in the same box where she’d stored her
childhood toys. It had happened so
quickly. One day Trixie had been
complaining about the boys at school and the next she was gushing about how
wonderful their new neighbor was. Curse that redheaded kid and his lopsided
grin! Peter thought to himself. I
knew something was wrong when she asked for permission go to Autoville and
find him. When he came back to Sleepyside, I quickly figured out that Jim was
wonderful and I was chopped liver. Before
he could sink any further into his depths of despair, the front door flung
open and two bundled figures were chased inside by a gust of icy air. “Gleeps!
It’s cold out there!” Trixie exclaimed, shaking the ice crystals from the
powder blue scarf she’d just removed. She started to drop it onto the floor,
but Jim caught it in midair. With a
grin, he hung it neatly on the coat tree by the door. Peter
prepared to stand up to greet his visitors, but Jim held up a freckled hand
in protest. “No
need to get up on our account, Mr. Belden,” Jim told him. “We’re sorry to pop
in so unexpectedly, but Trixie insisted we drop by. And you know how
persuasive she can be when she gets an idea into her head.” Peter
grinned. “Yes, I surely do.” “Well,
excuuuse me for being concerned about my poor father,” Trixie sniffed. She
kicked aside her recently discarded shoes and stomped over to the seating
area. Although the couch and loveseat were vacant, she perched herself on the
arm of her father’s chair. “Dad, Moms told me that you were outside doing the
chores in this horrible weather. Are you finished, or do you have more to do
later?” “I’m
happy to say that the chickens are fed and watered and the woodbin is full,”
Peter answered. “Oh,
no! I didn’t want you to do all that by yourself, Dad!” Trixie exclaimed. “It
was so nasty out there. I wanted to get here in time to help you.” Suddenly,
life didn’t suck quite so much. Peter smiled, touched by his daughter’s
thoughtfulness. “Princess,
I appreciate that,” he told her. “You would’ve been a tremendous help to your
old man.” Trixie
shook her head in a disparaging manner. “You’re getting too old to work
outside in these temperatures, Dad.” Wincing
slightly, Peter tried to ignore the fact that his daughter had just called
him “old”, and instead focused on her concern. “I’m not ready for the nursing
home quite yet. For a man of my vintage, I do all right.” “Still,
Bobby should’ve stayed home to help you,” Trixie remarked sharply. “Where is the little prince?” “He’s
at Wart’s.” Trixie
rolled her eyes. “I should’ve known!” she thundered. “I don’t know how you
and Moms put up with his thoughtlessness!” “It
would’ve been nice to have some help,” Peter admitted, “but, like I said, I
didn’t have any trouble. Besides, I’ve been doing this myself for years. I
managed just fine.” “I’m
sorry we didn’t get here sooner, Dad, but we met Dan in town for dinner.”
Trixie paused to make a face. “With Jane Morgan snooping around, Jim and I
can’t go out to dinner by ourselves, especially since Di punched her in the
nose at Ruthie’s shower earlier today. We don’t want Jane stirring up
trouble, so I had to pretend to be Dan’s date. Anyway, what was I talking
about?” “We
met Dan in town for dinner,” Jim supplied.
“Oh,
yeah,” Trixie muttered. “As I as saying, we were eating at the Chinese restaurant
with Dan. Moms called just as our food came out. She said something about the
chores, so I decided to come over and help you. I ate as fast as I could, hoping to get
here in time.” “And she made sure that Dan and I wolfed
down our food as well,” Jim added with a wink. “Well,
I appreciate you thinking of me, sweetheart,” Peter murmured as he patted her
knee. “With all that you’ve got going
on, I’m surprised that you could spare your ol’ Dad a second thought.” “Don’t
be silly,” Trixie snorted. “I have a note written on my desk calendar that reminds me
to squeeze in at least one or two thoughts of you every day. And in case I get too busy to look at my
calendar, I have daily reminders from my phone so I don’t forget.” “How
flattering,” Peter remarked wryly. Trixie
giggled at his wounded expression. “I’m just kidding, Dad. I think about you
all the time and nobody even has to remind me to do it.” Her
laughter carried upstairs, and it wasn’t long before Helen came down to
investigate. “I
thought I heard voices down here,”
she said when she was downstairs. She smiled warmly at her daughter and
future son-in-law. “Well, if it isn’t the happy couple. What a nice surprise!
Trixie, when did you and Jim get here?” “Just
a few minutes ago,” Trixie answered. “Trixie
was worried about Mr. Belden doing the chores by himself in this weather,”
Jim explained. “That
was nice of you, sweetheart, but you and Jim shouldn’t be out on the roads
any more than necessary,” Helen chided gently. “Well,
if I can go out for Chinese, surely I can pop over to help Dad with the
chores,” Trixie argued. “What kind of daughter do you think I am? Like I’d
put sesame chicken ahead of my very own father!” Accustomed
to her daughter’s displays of drama, Helen just rolled her eyes. “The
roads really aren’t that bad, Mrs. Belden,” Jim interjected. “We didn’t have
any trouble in the Suburban.” “Yeah,
that thing goes like a tank, and it’s only a little bit smaller,” Trixie
commented tartly. “I’m
glad you didn’t have any trouble,” Helen said. “At least you took the
Suburban and not Trixie’s car.” “Why
does everyone insist on dissing my car?” Trixie demanded. “You’re even worse
than Brian, and that’s pretty bad, Moms.” Jim
grinned apologetically at Helen. “If
you couldn’t tell, Trixie’s a little testy this evening. I think all this
wedding planning is getting to her.” “I
am not testy,” Trixie snapped. “It
isn’t my fault that everyone keeps making me mad. First, Jane Morgan acted
like a real… witch… at Ruthie’s shower and almost ruined the whole thing.
Then, Dan had to go on our date so we wouldn’t look suspicious, which we
wouldn’t have to worry about if Jane wasn’t such a snoopy tramp. And finally,
Dan purposely took twenty years to eat his pepper steak—” “She
almost dumped her fried rice on Dan’s head,” Jim explained. “I
only threatened; I wouldn’t have
actually done it.” Trixie huffed loudly. “I was too hungry to waste my food
like that, even if he was getting
on my nerves.” “Trixie!”
Helen exclaimed. “He
was doing it just to be a smart a…aleck!” Trixie barked. “He knew I was in a
hurry to get to the Farm!” “In
Trixie’s defense, Dan was egging
her on, Mrs. Belden,” Jim pointed out. “If
anyone could force you to start a food fight, it would be Dan Mangan,” Helen
said teasingly. “And Jim, in a few months, you’re going to be my son-in-law.
Don’t you think you could drop the formalities and call Peter and me by our
first names?” “Personally,
I don’t have a problem with Jim calling me Mr. Belden,” Peter remarked
gruffly. Helen
shot a quizzical look at her husband.
“He’ll do no such thing.” She turned her attention back to Jim. “Don’t
listen to Peter. Trixie isn’t the only one who’s been grumpy all evening.” “Hey,
I am not grumpy!” Trixie retorted.
“Is it my fault that everyone is annoying me tonight?” “You’re
part of the family now, so I don’t want to hear anymore of this mister and
missus stuff,” Helen said, ignoring Trixie’s protests. “I’ll
do my best, Mrs…” Jim grinned sheepishly before he revised his earlier
statement. “I’ll do my best, Helen.
But it took me months to stop calling Marge ‘Miss Trask’, so it might take me
a while.” Trixie’s
nose wrinkled with curiosity as she regarded her mother’s rumpled clothes,
messy curls, and shiny face. “Uh, not to change the subject, but Moms, why do
you look… like me? You’re usually so neat, but you look really grubby
tonight.” “For
your information, I look grubby because I’ve been turning the house
upside-down, looking for my bridal veil,” Helen answered with a grin. “Oh!”
Trixie’s expression instantly went from curious to excited. “Did you find
it?” Helen
couldn’t help but smile at her exuberant daughter. “I sure did. Do you want
to take a look?” “Are
you kidding? I’m dying to see it!” Trixie jumped up from the side of the
recliner and bounded towards the staircase. Before she set foot on a single
step, she turned around and shot her fiancé a warning glance. “And Frayne,
don’t you even think about sneaking
up here to take a peek. You’re in enough trouble as it is for saying that I
was testy.” “Yes,
ma’am,” Jim retorted with a crisp salute. “Consider
yourself warned,” Trixie cautioned. In
spite of her warning, Jim couldn’t help but grin affectionately at her. His
admiring gaze lowered to her retreating backside as Trixie followed her
mother upstairs. A dry, hacking cough
coming from the vicinity of the recliner startled him from his thoughts and
caused him to look away from the staircase. A sheepish expression on his
face, he glanced over at his future father-in-law, but Peter didn’t appear to
have any interest in Jim. The older man had picked up the local newspaper on
his side table and was flipping through the Sun for something to read. “I
hate to say it, but unless Sleepyside gets more exciting, the Sun may have to go back to publishing
once a week,” Jim remarked. Peter
didn’t comment; he merely focused his attention on the newspaper. The fact
that he was staring intently at the legal notices didn’t seem to register. It
was Jim’s turn to clear his throat. “We’ve certainly been having a stretch of
bad weather. I don’t think spring will ever come.” Peter
shook his paper, and its rustling was the only sound coming from the
recliner. Sensing
something was amiss, Jim tugged nervously at the collar of his olive-green flannel
shirt. “So, how’re things at the
bank?” “Busy.” Jim
waited for his future father-in-law to elaborate, but after that one-word
answer, Peter apparently had said all he intended to say. Jim tried to think
of a clever response, but his mind went blank. Peter wasn’t as verbose as his
middle son, but the older man had never been this quiet around Jim before.
The redhead suspected he was getting the silent treatment, although he wasn’t
sure why. “Did
you catch the Syracuse game today?” Jim asked, hoping for some sort of
response. “Yep.” Jim
expelled an unsteady breath. Even a blind man could see that something wasn’t
right with Peter. Trixie’s dad was a sports fanatic, and the Syracuse
Orangemen had just won a big basketball game that afternoon. If Peter didn’t
want to brag about his alma mater, then something was wrong. And Jim got the
distinct feeling that it was him. If
the shoulder Peter was giving Jim got any colder, someone would end up with a
nasty case of bursitis. Shifting
uncomfortably, Jim glanced back at the stairway for any sign of Trixie or her
mother. Unfortunately, they were nowhere to be found. He was left on his own
in what he suspected was enemy territory— weaponless, without instruction,
and completely ignorant of what to expect next. And I thought the seedy section of Los Angeles was
intimidating when I was working on the Montage case, Jim thought with a rueful grin. Although
he hadn’t had much success as of yet, Jim decided to try one last angle
before he threw in the towel. This
was a surefire remedy for whatever was ailing his future father-in-law. If he knew Peter Belden, this was guaranteed to work. Surely this
could bridge the gulf between them. “The
wedding plans seem to be coming along well,” he replied cheerfully. “I know
Trixie seems a little stressed out, but I think she’s enjoying herself.” Peter
didn’t say a word; the only sound was the crumpling noise of the newspaper. Undeterred,
Jim plunged deeper. “Once we go public with the engagement, all the men in
the bridal party need to get fitted for tuxes. Will that be okay?” If
all the birds hadn’t migrated south for the winter, their chirping could’ve
been heard. “Dad
and I have our own tuxedos,” Jim continued, “but we’d like for everyone to
have matching ones. Will that be a problem for you?” Peter
rewarded Jim with a grunt. Jim wasn’t sure what it meant, but he was too
afraid to admit it. Instead he continued prattling on nervously. “We
need to gather some pictures for the photo
montage we’re showing at the reception.” This
time, Peter responded with a yawn. “Of
course, the thing I’m most worried about is the flowers,” Jim added. “We’ll
need an awful lot of orchids—” “Orchids?!”
Peter stormed. He threw down the paper and stared at his future son-in-law
through narrowed eyes. “Trixie’s favorite flower has always been
daisies. Since when does she like
orchids so much?” Although
Jim was pleased to have gotten a multi-word response, he hadn’t expected to
be on the receiving end of such anger. It was his turn to stammer for a
response. “Uh,
a-are you allergic to orchids?” he asked. “No,
but I don’t see why they’re so much better than daisies!” Peter snapped. Jim
shook his head, completely dumbfounded. “Hey, I’m just the groom. Trixie said
she wanted orchids, so we’re having orchids.” “Well,
of course she wants orchids!” Peter blustered. “Orchids are sooooooo wonderful that poor old
daisies can’t compete with them!” “Umm…”
Jim began hesitantly, “is something wrong, Mr…er, Peter? Because you’re
getting awfully upset—” “Of
course I’m upset!” Peter exploded. “One day my little girl likes daisies, and
the next she decides she prefers orchids! What’s up with that? You can’t just
change your mind like that! It’s not fair to the daisies! And by the way, my
name’s Mr. Belden!” “I…uh…
Sorry, Pe… er, Mr. Belden. If it means that much to you, I could talk to
Trixie about getting daisies instead—” “Don’t
bother!” Peter jumped to his feet and started wagging his index finger at
Jim. “Your time’s coming! Someday you’ll have a daughter who likes orchids
better than daisies, and when that happens, I hope I’m there to see it! Just
wait until—“ Before
he could continue, he was stopped by the sound of someone clearing her throat
behind him. He turned around to face his wife. His very angry wife. “Is
everything all right, Peter?” she asked icily. “Everything’s
fine, dear,” Peter answered in his most contrite voice. “Jim and I were just
having a discussion about the wedding.” One
look at Jim’s shell-shocked expression told Helen that the “discussion” had
gotten a little heated. She directed her next question to him. “Is
everything okay, Jim?” Although
Jim still looked a little dazed, not to mention a little frightened, he had
the sense to nod. “Uh, yeah, I guess so.” “Well,
if you gentlemen are finished with your ‘discussion’, Trixie has asked for
some assistance in the master bedroom,” Helen said. Jim immediately stood up, but Helen held out
a hand in protest. “Not
you, Jim. Trixie asked specifically for her father.” Jim
sat back down as Peter rose. Although he resisted the urge to stick out his
tongue at his future son-in-law, Peter did look back smugly at Jim before he
walked toward the staircase. He wasted
little time climbing the steps to the second floor. “What
was that about?” Helen asked once her husband was out of earshot. Jim
held out his arms, his hands turned upward in a gesture of surrender. “Heck
if I know. I’m not sure, but I don’t think Mr. Belden likes orchids very
much…”
Peter
rapped softly on the door to the master bedroom. “Trixie? It’s me.” “Come
in!” He
turned the knob and pushed open the door. The vision waiting for him inside
the room left him breathless. Trixie
stood in front of the cheval mirror, clad in her mother’s wedding dress.
Although the gown was much too small in the shoulders, it fit her perfectly
everywhere else. The ivory lace complemented her peaches and cream
complexion, and the A-line skirt accentuated her slim waist. The gauzy veil
covered her blonde corkscrew curls and made her look like an angel. Spying her father out of the corner of her
eye, Trixie twirled around to face him, making the full skirt swish around
her feet. “What
do you think, Dad?” She shot him a dimpled grin. “Do you like it?” Peter
had to clear his throat before he could speak. “Oh, Princess,” he finally murmured as he
walked towards her. “You’re so beautiful, sweetheart.” “Aw,
you’re just saying that,” Trixie muttered. In spite of her protests, she saw
her father’s look of adoration, and if she wasn’t mistaken, there were tears
glistening in his dark brown eyes. “I
mean it, Trixie,” Peter choked out. “You’re just as lovely as your mother was
on our wedding day. You’re so very, very beautiful.” “Thank
you, Daddy,” Trixie whispered as her father leaned down to kiss her
cheek. She was suddenly overcome with
giggles. “I’d reach up and hug you,
but these sleeves are so tight that I can’t bend my arms. I feel like the Tin
Man.” Peter
grinned as he appraised how tautly the fabric was stretched over Trixie’s
shoulders and arms. “Yeah, you may have your mother’s hair and coloring, but
you certainly got the Beldens’ broad shoulders.” “No
kidding,” Trixie snickered as she awkwardly flapped her straight arms. “Too
bad I wasn’t a boy. I could’ve been an awesome linebacker like Bobby.” “I’ve
already got one linebacker,” Peter murmured. “I’d rather have my little
girl.” “I’m
not so little now.” “Princess,
no matter how old you are, you’ll always
be my little girl,” Peter told her huskily. Trixie’s
cheeks glowed with pleasure. “I’m glad you got to see me in Moms’ dress, Dad.
She told me how much you wanted me to wear it. I wish it fit better, but at
least the veil works.” “Thanks
for the sneak peek. It means a lot to me, sweetheart.” “Hey,
that’s the least I can do for you,” Trixie proclaimed. “Because no matter how
old I am, you’ll always be my daddy.” Peter’s
eyes misted over as he heard the familiar term. “It seems like only yesterday
that you were playing dress up, and before you know it, you’ll be getting
married. Where did the time go?” “I
used to complain about time passing too slowly,” Trixie remarked
thoughtfully. “Now it feels like it’s flying by too quickly.” “What
do you mean?” “Oh,
I don’t know.” Trixie sighed deeply as she traced the lace along the scoop
neckline of the dress. “It’s just starting to hit me how much we have to do
and how little time we have to do it. July will be here before you know it.” Peter
carefully studied his daughter’s face. “Are you having doubts?” “About
Jim… No! Definitely not. About the wedding date…” After a dramatic pause, she
concluded, “I’m starting to think that maybe Mart was right; eloping isn’t
such a bad idea after all.” “Well, I doubt your brother had your best
interest at heart,” Peter teased. “I think Mart was just trying to get you
killed. Your mother would go on the warpath if you didn’t let her have this
wedding.” Trixie
sighed deeply. “I know Moms is having a blast with all the planning, but what
do you think about it, Dad?” “What
do I think?” Peter swallowed hard.
“Princess, it doesn’t matter what I think—” “Yes,
it does!” Trixie exclaimed. “Dad, you know how impetuous I am. Did I jump the
gun? Should we delay the wedding so I’ll have more time to plan? What should
I do?” “Trixie,
I can’t tell you—” “You
have to!” Trixie interrupted. “I really need your advice. You’re so wise,
Dad. I know that you can tell me what I should do.” This
was his chance. If he wanted to delay the wedding, this was the perfect
opportunity. And Trixie was the one
who opened the door! What luck! “Well,
Trixie, if you’re having doubts about getting married…” “Oh,
I don’t have any doubts about marrying Jim,” she interjected. “I’m just
confused about the date. What if I rushed into this wedding? What if I didn’t
give myself enough time to plan it right? It’s going to be a huge social
event, papers all over New England will cover it! It’s no wonder that I’m a
nervous wreck! What have I gotten myself into?” It
would be so easy to move in for the kill. He wasn’t totally heartless; he
just wanted her to delay the
wedding, not cancel it. And it was
for her own good…Wasn’t it? As a father, wasn’t it his responsibility to do
what was best for his baby girl? And was it wrong to want her to himself for
just a little bit longer? Peter
searched her face for any sign of uncertainty. He may have found worry and
fear, but there wasn’t any doubt. He
gulped back the lump that had risen in his throat and assumed his gentlest
tone. “Princess, as much as I want to tell you what to do, you’re the only
person who knows what’s best for you.” “But
can’t you give me a hint?” Trixie asked in a voice barely above a whisper.
“Please, Daddy? I need you.” Peter
brushed back the curl that had fallen in the center of Trixie’s forehead.
Although she was standing before him in a wedding dress, she was still his
little girl, and she still needed him. And, like any good father, he would be
there for her. “I’ll
answer your question by asking a few of my own,” he told her. “You love Jim,
don’t you?” “Oh,
yes! With all of my heart!” “And
you want to marry him, don’t you?” “Definitely!
More than anything!” Peter
smiled at the earnest expression on Trixie’s face. It made what he was about
to do much easier. “Then you need to ask yourself what’s more important:
Having the perfect wedding or being married to man you love. Would you rather delay the wedding so you
can pick out the perfect flowers, food, and napkins, or would you rather
begin your life with the most wonderful boy in the world?” Trixie
didn’t respond immediately. She was quiet for a few seconds, and then her
lips stretched into a plucky grin. “Although Mart’s very interested in the
menu, I don’t guess anyone else would care what the napkins look like. And I have waited a long time to marry Jim…” “Indeed
you have.” “Why,
the more I think about it, the more I realize that I am crazy!” Trixie exclaimed. “I’m crazy for not scheduling this
wedding sooner! Who cares if I don’t have a dress or haven’t picked out
wedding announcements! July can’t come soon enough! Maybe we ought to move
things up a month or two!” Peter
couldn’t help but chuckle at his daughter’s sudden exuberance. “Now, let’s
not get too crazy, sweetheart.” Once
again, Trixie’s mood changed, and she went from enthusiastic to serious.
“Thank you, Dad.” “What’re
you thanking me for?” “For
being so wonderful.” “Huh,”
he snorted. “I thought Jim was the
wonderful one. Isn’t he the most wonderful boy in the world?” Trixie
looked at her father, her eyes full of unabashed adoration. “What can I say?
I insisted on marrying a man just like my dad. You’re pretty wonderful
yourself. You set the standard pretty high, you know.” Tears
trickling down his cheek, Peter cupped her cheek. “I love you, Princess.” “And
I love you, too, Daddy,” she sniffled through tears of her own. “All the way
to Heaven and back!” Her
heart stretched to capacity with love, Trixie threw her arms around her
father. Unfortunately, the fabric of her mother’s dress wasn’t nearly so
flexible. A loud rip caused her to
giggle. “Oops!”
she said through her laughter. “Darn those broad Belden shoulders!” “Well,
I guess I’ll have to buy you a new
dress now,” Peter commented. “And
don’t forget the bridesmaids’ dresses.” “Oh,
yes. We can’t forget those.” “And
there’s also the flower girl’s dress,” Trixie added. “Can’t
leave that out.” “And
I’ll need lots and lots of orchids!” “Orchids?”
Peter repeated with disgust. “Are you
sure you don’t want daisies?” “Daddy!
It has to be orchids! Jim has always given me orchids!” Peter
sighed. “Well then, orchids it is. I’ll order a million of them, if you’d
like.” Her
battle won, Trixie smiled contentedly as she nestled closer and rested her
head on his chest. “You’re the most wonderful daddy in the whole world!” For now, he thought glumly. Just
wait until Jim’s a father. I’ll be chopped liver again. However,
at this point Peter would take what he could get. Trixie might prefer orchids
over daisies, but she would always be Daddy’s girl. And nobody could ever
change that. Not
even that stupid Jim Frayne.
Thank you so much to my wonderful editors, Ryl and Steph H.
You all are so wonderful! Thanks for all your hard work! As stated previously,
this is a Jixemitri Special Edition CWP, celebrating Jix’s fifth anniversary.
Elements include:
This
story was inspired by my husband and my daughter. Rachel is growing up into a
beautiful young lady, and she’s getting the attention of several boys. Daddy
doesn’t like this very well. His pouting inspired this story. Wart
has been mentioned in a previous story, “Days of Auld Lang Syne”. His real name is Kirby, and he
is the younger brother of Mike Larson who was a bad kid in school when Trixie
was there. The
reference to Ruthie’s shower can be found in the story, “The
Baby Blues”. Jim’s
Suburban is in memory of Damon’s beloved Suburban, Samson. May he rest in
peace. Since
Syracuse is a Big East team, I had them be Peter’s alma mater. The
reference to the Montage case can be found in “The Gumshoes”. The
phrase “You’re time’s coming!” was uttered by an old lady to Damon, and it
scarred him for life. “All
the way to Heaven and back” is how Rachel used to tell us she loved us.
*sigh*
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