I'm In

Why else would I be standing around here so tongue-tied?
If I knew what I was doing, I'd be doing it right now.
And I would be the best damn poet; Silver words out of my mouth.
My words might not be magic, but they cut straight to the truth.
So if you need a lover and a friend,
Baby, I'm in. I'm in.

 

“Look, Jim. It’s not that we don’t understand.” Matthew Wheeler tugged at his tie, frustrated with the feeling of being rushed. He had just returned from a grueling business trip. Unfortunately, his schedule was compromised by other plans. The Wheelers were hosting a brunch for the various volunteers assisting with the fundraiser for Jim’s school. The event, which had been scheduled months earlier, was slated to begin in only a few hours.

“Half of our friends are already congratulating us on your engagement to Trixie. We need to know what to say when they want to know when it’s going to be announced.”

“Tell them you’ll let them know when I let you know.” Jim ran a hand through his hair, his redheaded temper beginning to flare.

Grace held up a hand to stop Matthew from responding. “It’s not that simple, dear. Honey is going to start hearing the same thing, and it’s very likely Brian will be standing right beside her when she does. What kind of position is that going to put Trixie in? Not to mention Helen and Peter.”

“Mother, I understand. Truly, I do. But you can’t just ask a girl to marry you without making it something special.”

“Of course you can!” Matthew insisted. “People do it every day.”

“You’re right of course, but, well … the truth is, I can’t. I’ve already blown it.”

Matthew and Grace exchanged puzzled looks. “How did you blow it?”

Jim shoved his hands in his pockets and looked away. “I told Mr. Langham she was my fiancée,” he finally admitted, his face beet red. “While she was standing there.”

“Jim! What on earth possessed you to do such a thing?” Grace was aghast.

“He was … he had …” His right hand came out of his pocket and he started waving it, trying to come up with the right words. “He was pawing her. She took care of him before I could even open my mouth, and then, well … it just came out.”

“For heaven’s sake, son. Why didn’t you just follow-up with a proposal right then and there?”

“Because it didn’t feel like the right time. It was too … sordid.”

“You could’ve taken her to dinner the next night,” Matthew said bluntly. “Hell, you’re both in the city. There’s the top of the Empire State Building, Central Park, the Chrysler building, even the Staten Island Ferry … all of those are perfectly suitable for a proposal.” Matthew counted the various New York City landmarks on his fingers.

Jim’s eyes narrowed as he noticed his mother choke back a laugh.

“I suppose,” he replied reluctantly. “By the way, Dad, I don’t think you’ve ever told me. Where exactly did you propose to Mother?”

“None of your damn –”

“All of those places,” Grace interrupted. “He proposed to me at every single one of those places he just mentioned. Along with a few others.”

Jim’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding, right?”

Matthew glared at his wife. “It wasn’t funny at the time.”

She smiled lovingly at him. “Perhaps not to you, but if you hadn’t been so persistent, we wouldn’t be standing here arguing with Jim right now, would we?”

Jim looked on in amazement as his parents exchanged lovesick grins with each other. As much as he missed his biological parents at times, he couldn’t help but consider himself fortunate that he had found a home with the Wheelers. When it became apparent they had forgotten the current conversation, he cleared his throat.

“So Dad, which one of those places was the one where she said yes? I’ll just take Trixie straight there.”

Matthew quickly transitioned from mooning at his wife to giving his son a baleful glare. “None of them. You’ll need to come up with your own location; it’s not going to be possible for you to use mine.”

“Why not?” he asked.

“Because it’s not there anymore, dear,” Grace said intervening. “Now, just let it be. We all agree you’re going to take care of this, right? None of us want Trixie embarrassed, much less Helen, or Peter.”

Jim sighed. “Yes, I’ll take care of it.” He turned and left the room as his parents looked on in amusement. Once he had shut the door behind him, Matthew gave Grace’s hand a decided tug and she ended up sitting in his lap. His arms moved to encircle her in an embrace. “Did Harold tell Tammy about the engagement?”

“Yes, of course he did. She was quite excited when she called and told me.” She leaned into his chest and played with the buttons on his shirt, as if contemplating a new activity.

“But you didn’t tell me until I got home from this trip. Why?” He captured her hand and brought it up to his lips for a kiss.

Grace shrugged. “I was waiting to see if Jim was going to tell us himself. I have to tell you, dear …” She paused as she moved his hand from her blouse. “I really feel sorry for him. He’s making himself miserable over this proposal.”

“At least you didn’t tell him where it was we got engaged,” he said, dropping a kiss on her lips.

She giggled. “Parents deserve to have some secrets from their children, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” he agreed, glancing thoughtfully over at the closed door. “But what do you think Jim and Honey would think if they found out that in the end, their mother proposed to me?”

 

 

“Jim!” What on earth are you doing here?” Helen asked in amazement as she looked at her watch. “We were just going to leave for the Manor House. Is everything okay?”

“Yes, Mrs. Belden, everything is fine. I was hoping …” Jim found himself at a loss for words. “Do you think I could just speak to you and Mr. Belden for a moment?”

“Of course, Jim. Let me find Peter. Go on, have a seat.” Helen waved toward the comfortable chairs in the family den. “I’ll only be a minute.”

For Jim, the short time seemed like hours as he found himself staring at his hands, wondering what to say to Trixie’s parents. A familiar voice interrupted his musing sooner than he desired.

“Hey, Jim,” Brian spoke from the doorway. “I figured you’d be up to your elbows in planning right about now.”

Jim jerked suddenly. He had no idea Brian was at Crabapple Farm. “Mother and Margery have everything under control. There’s really nothing for me to –” He stopped suddenly as a terrible thought entered his head. “When did you get here?”

“Trixie and I arrived late last night,” he said, nodding toward the upstairs. “She’s getting ready right now.”

Jim groaned. “Great. That’s just great.”

Brian’s eyes narrowed as he crossed the room to stand in front of Jim. “Are you avoiding my sister? Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“No, of course not. Why would you think that?”

Brian shrugged. “All reports from the Big Apple have been that you two have been almost inseparable. I just figured …” He let his voice trail off.

“What did you figure?”

“I figured maybe you were serious about my sister. If you’re not, then there’s going to be a problem between us, Frayne.”

“Oh, there’s a problem all right, but it’s not between us,” Jim muttered. For the second time that day, he found himself shoving his hands into his pockets in frustration. He wanted to hit something.

Brian took a step closer. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing!” Jim practically shouted the word. “That’s the problem. There’s absolutely nothing going on. Your sister, she’s a freaking workaholic. She works twelve hour days, running from her office to clients’ offices, to the dog pound, to the marina, to churches, she goes on and on and on, just like that stupid Energizer bunny. She has time to solve the problems of all of New York’s most well respected businessmen, but she has no time for me. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been trying to propose to her?” Jim didn’t even stop to breathe. “Weeks! Weeks, I’ve been trying to pop the question. But if isn’t for her stupid clients, then it’s her brother coming to stay with her, or her employees walking in on us, or some stupid paparazzi nearby just waiting to snap our picture. You just try and get some alone time with her and see how you fare!” He glared at Brian. “At least you get to spend the night with her!”

Brian stepped back in shock. “Dude!” It was all he could manage.

As things turned out, it was all there was time to manage.

“It sure seems strange that you forgot to mention to Brian about all those days you were in Washington meeting with Mike about your school.” Trixie spoke from the bottom of the stairs, where she stood with her parents. It was obvious to both Brian and Jim that the three of them had heard every word of Jim’s tirade.

“That was work!”

She gave a careless shrug and crossed to stand midway between him and Brian. “Mine was work as well. What’s the diff?”

Jim shot Brian a desperate look, his eyes pleading for help. Brian grinned and took a step back, clearly conveying the message that Jim was on his own.

“There’s no difference,” Jim finally admitted. “I just … Trix, you know how I feel about you. I want, well, I wanted to propose to you in a way that would be memorable. You know, so that when we’re old and gray you’ll look back on the moment and smile. You wouldn’t forget how it happened.”

“Oh, I don’t think any of us are going to forget this.” Mart spoke from the kitchen, where Diana was standing beside him.

Jim groaned. “Is there anyone in your family who’s not here?”

“Bobby’s at school. Which is a real shame because I think he’d enjoy this moment more than anyone.” Trixie crossed her arms and studied him carefully.

Jim shook his head. “You’re not going to make this easy for me are you?”

“Do you want it to be easy?” she asked. Her hands moved to her hips and she leaned forward slightly. Her blue eyes were serious as they demanded his answer.

Jim stared back. He realized what she was asking, the hidden meaning behind her question. She was telling him their life together, their future, would never be easy. But he knew it would be worth it. More than worth it.

“Easy is for wimps!” Removing his hands from his pocket, he reached out and grabbed her hands in his own. In one fluid movement, he was down on one knee.

“Trixie Belden …” he started.

“Yes.”

“But I didn’t ask you yet!” he protested.

“Yes, you did.” She smiled and gave his hand a tug indicating he should stand back up. “Oh, yes you did!”

 

 

Matthew smiled as he watched Jim and Trixie receive another set of congratulations on their engagement from Bitsy and Mitsy Thornhill. Grace gave him an unobtrusive elbow to the ribs. “Stop beaming like you had something to do with that,” she admonished.

Matthew chuckled. “He still refuses to tell me where it happened. He said he’ll tell me where if I’ll tell him where.”

Grace laughed. “I’m afraid it’s not much of a secret. Diana has almost the entire thing on video. For once, I have to admit I’m in favor of the gadgets our children are so wild about. Maybe you should think about getting me an iPod.”

“Yes, dear. Just as soon as Tiffany’s offers a version, I’m sure it will go to the top of your list,” he joked. “But I’ll have to track down Diana and get a good look at that video.”

“They do look happy,” she murmured. “Now if she could just get that case of hers solved, we could start planning some weddings!”

“Grace, my dear. Aren’t you forgetting a little matter of a fundraiser on Saturday?” he reminded her mildly. “Our son. Guggenheim.” He waved his arm to encompass all the volunteers. “The reason we’re hosting this brunch.”

“Don’t be silly, dear.” She smiled at her old friend Bebe Mortimer and gave her a friendly nod from across the room. “That will all be over on Saturday.”

“Yes, but will her case?” he asked under his breath as the Mortimers approached.

 

 

“Honey’s going to kill me,” Brian said, for at least the sixth time in Jim’s presence. “What did she say when you called her?”

“’What took you so long?’” Jim quoted his sister’s response verbatim. “She’s not going to be upset. Diana has almost the entire thing on her iPod and has already emailed it to her. What about some sympathy for me here? You know, in the name of the bond of friendship. I’m never going to live this down.”

“What’s to live down?” Brian asked pragmatically. “You’re happy. Trixie’s obviously happy. All the ‘rents are happy.” He nodded toward both sets of parents, who stood talking amid a large group of people in one corner of the room. “Everyone seems happy.”

Jim gave him an odd look. “Everyone?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“I’m getting the strangest feeling that doesn’t include you, my friend.”

 

 

“What about a ring?” Mitsy asked pointedly, looking back and forth between Diana and Trixie. “When do you think he’ll give you a ring?”

“Oh, he gave me the ring almost 15 years ago,” Trixie answered immediately.

Diana burst out laughing at Mitsy’s puzzled look. “Really, he did,” she assured the confused woman. “It’s beautiful. I’ve seen it myself.”

“What does it look like?” Mitsy asked.

“It’s a diamond,” Trixie answered.

Diana laughed again. “I don’t think that’s what she means, Trix.” Diana chewed her lip for a moment as she pictured the ring in her head. The last time she remembered Trixie wearing the ring had been prom. “Antique. Edwardian. European cut with a solitaire setting in gorgeous platinum. The diamond seems to float since it has a pierced and milgrained mounting.”

“How on earth can you remember all that?” Trixie demanded.

Diana shrugged. “It’s considered art. Besides, you’re the only female I know that wouldn’t know all that about such a gorgeous piece of jewelry.”

“Well I can’t wait to see it,” Mitsy said. “It sounds lovely. Was it a family ring?”

“Yes, it belonged to Jim’s great-aunt, Nell. You’ll see it at the fundraiser. I’m sure to have it by then. Although …” she cast a merry eye towards her father, “if my Dad had anything to say about it, I’d already have it. He’s been muttering about stupid bank security regulations, coded keys, and time locks quite a bit. It’s still in his safe deposit box at the bank.” Trixie caught Jim’s eye and flushed. He had already explained to her that he had gone to Crabapple Farm to tell her parents of his intentions and to ask her Dad about the ring. He felt bad about not having the ring for the big moment, although Trixie wouldn’t have had it any other way.

“Did you see the video?” Diana asked Mitsy.

“Video? You have a video of the ring?”

Diana giggled and pulled her iPod out of her pocket. “No, I have a video of the proposal. It’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever seen.”

Trixie groaned. “We’ll never live it down. I swear Diana, if you so much as think about putting that video up on YouTube, I’ll …. I’ll …”

Diana smiled sweetly. “You know me better than that! But let’s just say, you might want to, um, do a little investigating of a betting pool that took place earlier this year.”

 

 

“You are not spending the night at your parents.”

Trixie blushed. “I’m not?”

“No, you’re not.” Jim’s voice was quiet but still forceful. “I know your dad is hinting for you to stay with them tonight. He’d like nothing better than for us to go the bank with him in the morning.”

“I’d really planned to go back to the city this afternoon,” Trixie explained. “I need to be at work first thing in the morning, and I have some reports to file tonight. There are so many activities planned for all of us later in the week, I need to, uh, tie up as many loose ends as I can before Honey gets into town.”

“Is Brian going back with you?” he growled.

Trixie smiled as she ran her fingers seductively up Jim’s arm. “As a matter of fact, he’s not. He’s planning to spend a couple of days with Moms and Dad. So if you wanted to go back to the city with me …” her voice trailed off with the suggestion.

“You could stay here with me,” he countered.

Trixie looked around and shook her head. “Jim, I don’t think your parents would approve of the two of us –”

He gently placed a finger over her lips effectively stopping her protest. Smiling, he dropped a kiss on the now-quiet lips and smiled. “Not here at Manor House. Here as in Sleepyside. My house is –” he stopped and corrected himself immediately. “What I meant to say was, our house is habitable at the moment. It may not be completely furnished, but we could still stay there.”

Trixie’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You have furniture?”

“Not exactly,” he hedged.

Her eyes narrowed as she put her hands on her hips. “What exactly do you have?”

“Sleeping bags,” he admitted with a rueful grin. “But I’ve got a couple of them.”

Trixie giggled. “Tempting. No one would ever accuse you of over-indulging your girl,” she teased.

“Come on, Trix,” he pleaded. “You know I wanted us to pick out furniture and fixtures together.”

“I know,” she said softly, deciding to give in and cut Jim some slack. “But I was serious about the work thing. I really do need to get back to the city.” Jim had no way of knowing she needed to get a report from Sean and Amy, as well as see if the police had turned up any additional evidence on Harold’s shooting. Sean was furiously working to unravel a plethora of offshore banking accounts to trace the final account for the payee of the check Harold had written for the yacht. Amy was hoping to receive confirmations on the various background checks she had been conducting, and she owed a report to her boss in Chicago as well.

“What’s your dad going to say if neither one of us is here in the morning to go in with him when the bank opens?” Jim asked. “Can’t you hear me now? ‘Sorry, Peter. I had to spend the night with your daughter, so I wasn’t able to pick up her engagement ring from you.’”

Trixie smiled. “There are early trains. That is, unless you want to wait until later. The bank doesn’t open until nine.”

“How early? What time would I have to be awake and ready to make it to the bank with your Dad at nine tomorrow?”

“Oh!” Trixie covered her mouth with her hand in an exaggerated fashion, as she fluttered her eyelashes. “I didn’t realize you were planning on sleeping.”

 

 

“This entire New York social scene is one big incestuous family,” Amy muttered as she clicked her keyboard. “I don’t believe it.”

“Believe what?” Sean asked as he looked up at Amy’s comment. “Because you’re not going to believe who Harold Langham’s girlfriend is, was, whatever.”

“You remember Fannie, Ted’s ex-wife and Madji’s ex-girlfriend and Richard Hoffman’s current squeeze?”

“Yes.”

“She’s dated half of New York, including numerous suspects.”

Sean snorted. “I can beat that. Remember the girl we saw at dinner that night with Charlie. Buffy Patterson?”

Amy nodded.

“I’m willing to be my next paycheck that she’s Harold Langham’s girlfriend!”

Amy’s jaw dropped. “But she only got engaged in January. Are you sure?” she said.

“Noooo,” the answer was drawn out. “But I got a feeling. It’s the name. Elizabeth. Buffy. Bette. She has a juvenile record, for one thing.”

“How on earth did you find that in the system?” she asked. “Wouldn’t it be sealed?”

“Good question,” he said, punching more keys on his computer. He shook his head and looked up. “Juvenile record, it’s sealed,” he muttered as he punched some more keys. “Guess that’s why you didn’t find it before.”

“Did you just hear the door ding?” Amy stood and moved towards the entrance to their conference room. They had made sure to wipe down the white board earlier that day. She nearly ran into Mike King, who had just entered the offices.

“Hi Mike,” Sean stood up easily. “We weren’t expecting you.”

“Yeah, hope it's okay. Trixie said it would be fine to work here, that both of you were working today.”

Both agents suppressed grins at her unfamiliar nickname, but their amusement quickly moved to openmouthed shock with his next comment.

“What on earth are you doing with a picture of my crazy ex-girlfriend on your computer?” He pointed a finger at Sean’s display.

They both turned in horror to look at Mike. Sean spoke first.

“Elizabeth Patterson is your former fiancée?”

Mike had barely started nodding when Amy interjected.

“We thought her name was Liza.”

“Yeah, that’s what we always called her. She goes by Buffy now. She always said that was the thing she liked best about her name; she could be whoever she wanted to be at any given moment.”

“Liza is Buffy,” Amy whispered.

“Buffy is Bette,” Sean added as the two agents stared at each other in horror. Another piece of the puzzle had snapped into the correct space.