~Chapter 6~
A Winter Eden
(originally posted June 26, 2007)

“So, are you and Brian ever going to set a date?”

Honey ground her teeth as she handed the cashier her credit card.  She knew Trixie meant well, and she knew she wasn’t really prying or pushing either.  But if she’d had any idea how unbearably tired Honey was of hearing that question...

She forced a smile and turned to her best friend, who was standing behind her.  “We’re working on it.”

She and Brian had been engaged for two and a half years.  At the beginning, they had both agreed to wait until he finished medical school to get married.  But Brian had taken a year off during his undergraduate studies to volunteer in Africa.  And even though he had completed his pre-med studies in three years so that he was no longer behind schedule, he was only in his second year of med school right now.  That meant two more years of med school.  And then he’d be a resident, facing long shifts and sleepless nights and gargantuan amounts of stress.  Honey couldn’t imagine he’d want to deal with the added stress of a Wheeler wedding extravaganza then, but the thought of waiting another two or three years beyond that was unthinkable to Honey.  Why, oh why, had they decided to wait until they were married?  She was going to be the oldest virgin bride in history at this rate.

Trixie laid her purchases on the counter as Honey picked up her bags.  “Working on it?  It’s not rocket science, Honey.  What’s the problem?”

Normally placid Honey snapped, “Easy for you to say.  You and Dan didn’t wait for a wedding or even an engagement before you decided to shack up together.”  She clamped her mouth closed, shocked at her behavior and her language.  Without waiting for Trixie to finish checking out, she turned and fled the department store.

Snow was falling softly around her as she came out the door and sharply breathed in the cold air.  It was the week before Christmas and Trixie had taken the train down to New York City from Albany to meet her best friend so they could do some last minute Christmas shopping together.  Normally, Honey thought New York at the holidays was the most beautiful, romantic place on earth.  Couples in Central Park walking through the snow hand-in-hand sharing a bag of roasted chestnuts, “The Nutcracker” at the New York City Ballet, the glittering lights on the mammoth Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center towering over the skaters on the ice rink below, the elaborate window displays in the stores on Fifth Avenue.  Today however, she saw none of that.  Turning to her right, she started walking briskly down the sidewalk, fighting tears of frustration over her situation, and shame at how she’d treated her best friend.

She and Trixie Belden had been friends since junior high, when Honey’s family had moved to a large estate in Sleepyside-on-Hudson one summer.  Trixie had changed Honey’s whole life for the better and she knew, even during moments like these, that they would be best friends forever.  Honey’s fiancé Brian was Trixie’s oldest brother and Honey looked forward to the day when her best friend would become her sister as well...if that day ever came.

“Honey!”

Honey heard Trixie calling her name.  She didn’t stop, but she did slow down enough that Trixie soon caught up with her, bags rustling in her hands.

“What’s the matter, Honey?”

Honey couldn’t hold back her tears any longer.  She dropped her bags and put her hands to her face.  She heard glass breaking as the bags fell to the sidewalk.  It was the hand-blown Christmas ornament she had bought for Brian and Trixie’s mother, Helen.  That just made her cry harder.

Trixie stared at her friend in dismay.  She carefully put her bags on the ground and put her arms around her best friend.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Honey lowered her hands, sniffing.  She pulled a handkerchief out of her purse and dabbed at her eyes, then blew her nose.  “It’s not your fault.  I’m sorry I snapped at you.  I’m just on edge.”

“But, why?  Did you and Brian have a fight or something?”

Honey shook her head, “No, no.  Everything’s fine.  I love your stupid brother.”

Trixie tried hard not to smile.  “What has my stupid brother done this time?”

“Nothing!” Honey squeaked in a high-pitched voice, eliciting stares from passers-by.  “That’s the problem!  We’ve been engaged for a hundred years and I still can’t get him to even talk about a wedding date.”

Gently, not wanting to upset Honey any further, Trixie asked, “He’s not having second thoughts, is he?”

“No,” Honey sniffed.  She paused and Trixie could see she was carefully thinking it over.

“No,” she repeated, “He still acts like he’s madly in love with me.  And he’s always talking about ‘When we are married’.  I just don’t know how we’re ever going to get there!” she wailed.

“Okay,” Trixie said firmly, “Shopping is over for the day.”  She picked up Honey’s bags and handed them to her, then picked up her own and moved to the curb to hail a cab.  “Let’s go back to your place and get some cocoa or tea or something to warm up.  We’ll figure out what my stupid brother’s problem is there, okay?”

Honey sniffled, but she was smiling tentatively.  “Thank you, Trixie.  I’m sorry I’m such a mess.  I really do love Brian.  And I really do love you too.  Thank you for being my best friend, and thank you for helping me.”  Her voice was starting to get squeaky again and the tears, which she had almost managed to quash, were flowing again.

A cab pulled up to the curb and Trixie opened the door and ushered Honey in, “All right, enough mushy stuff already.  You’ve been crying enough for one day.” 

*********************************

Trixie soon had Honey smiling and laughing again.  When they returned to Honey’s apartment, Trixie put a kettle on so they could have some hot tea.  Trixie entertained Honey with stories about school, her youngest brother Bobby’s sudden interest in girls, her “almost twin” Mart’s recent return to the States after more than three years in Africa, anything she could think of that wasn’t related to Brian or weddings...or her and Dan living together.  She wasn’t sure what that was all about and desperately wanted to talk to Honey about it, but decided she should wait for a better opportunity.  She didn’t want to upset Honey again.

When she felt that Honey was back to her old self, she carefully broached the subject of her clueless brother.  “All right.  Now, let’s see if we can solve the Mystery of the Reluctant Groom.  I hereby call this meeting of the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency to order.”

Honey bit her lip, but nodded in agreement, smiling at the reference to the girls’ childhood dream.

“All right.  Tell me the last time you had a discussion about the wedding date,” Trixie ordered.

Honey didn’t have to think about it.  It was why she was so overly sensitive to Trixie’s comment earlier that day.  It was just the night before that she had approached the subject with Brian for the umpteenth time.

“It was last night.  I fixed dinner for him at his place.  He came up behind me when I was at the stove and he put his arms around me and said he looked forward to the day that we’d have our own place and we’d be able to do this every day.”

Honey sighed happily, thinking about their own house, with her own kitchen, children underfoot, her handsome husband coming home from work to a hot supper.  Sure, it sounded like something out of Leave It To Beaver, but it was what Honey wanted more than anything in the world.

Trixie prodded Honey impatiently, “And?”

“So I asked him when that day would be.  And he got all evasive and said he couldn’t think about dates when he was working so hard on finals, that he already had too many facts and figures in his head to think about a wedding date.”

“Well,” Trixie prompted, “was he angry?  Was he sad?  Was he irritated?”

“No,” Honey replied, “he was just...evasive.”

Trixie drummed her fingers on the tabletop and absent-mindedly stirred her tea.  Honey got up to pour herself another cup of hot water and saw her reflection in the copper kettle.  Though the image was distorted, it was easy for Honey to see how untidy she looked.  Her golden tresses, which along with her sweet disposition had given Honey her nickname, were tangled and mussed.  Mascara was smudged under her eyes, which were red and puffy from crying.  “Oh!” Honey gasped.  “I look awful!  I’m going to go splash some water on my face.  I’ll be back in a minute.”

As she ran a brush through her hair, Honey looked at her face in the bathroom mirror.  She decided there was no touch-up that was going to help.  She and Trixie and Brian were going out to dinner with Mart, who was up at Indian Lake that day visiting Honey’s brother Jim at the school he had founded for orphaned and abused boys.  She took a washcloth from under the sink and proceeded to wash off and reapply her makeup.  She was almost finished applying her mascara when she heard Trixie’s voice out in the kitchen.  She wondered who she talking to and opened the bathroom door a crack to hear Trixie saying, “Well, I don’t think it was the brightest idea you’ve ever had in your life, brother dear.”  Was she talking to Brian or Mart?

Then she heard the deep, gentle voice of her fiancé.  She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but nevertheless his sonorous voice soothed and relaxed her.

Again she heard Trixie; she was speaking louder than Brian so she could hear her more clearly.  “You didn’t see her this afternoon, Brian.  I’m really worried about her.”

Honey worked her way down the hall and as she got closer to the kitchen she could hear Brian saying, “She’ll be fine.  Trust me.”

“Well, I hate to say it, but you know her almost better than I do now.  I just hope you’re not wrong about this.”  Trixie saw Honey entering the kitchen as she finished and quickly plastered a smile on her face.  “Hey, feeling better?”

Honey nodded, deliberating whether or not to ask about the mysterious exchange between the Belden siblings.  Brian turned and smiled broadly, walking over to his fiancée to kiss her tenderly on the cheek as if nothing was wrong.

“Hello, sweetheart.  I finished up at school early today, so I thought I’d come and escort the two prettiest girls in New York to dinner,” he said charmingly.  “Mart called me about an hour ago from the road, hungry as usual.  I told him we’d leave without him if he was late, so I’m guessing he’ll be here shortly.”

No sooner were the words out of his mouth then there was a knock at the door.  It was Mart, who couldn’t understand why the three of them broke into laughter as he came through the door.  This was the first time they had seen Mart since he had returned to New York just days before, and as they all greeted him affectionately and peppered him with questions, Honey quickly forgot about the snippets of conversation she had overheard between Brian and Trixie.

The four of them headed out to dinner and as they walked down the city streets, Mart announced that dinner would be his treat that evening.

“Great,” Trixie said sardonically, “Does this mean we’re having dinner at the Automat?” 

Mart threw his arm around his sister’s neck and mussed up her already windblown curls.  “Very funny, little sister.  It just so happens that I am celebrating tonight.  I got a job today!”

The other three congratulated Mart and pressed him for details.

“I am going to be a part-time groundskeeper at the Winthrop School for Boys,” Mart answered.

Part-time?  Groundskeeper?  The others didn’t know what to say.  Sure, Mart enjoyed anything botanical; but still, it didn’t sound like much of a career path.  Trixie, who was walking next to her brother, saw the smug look on his face and the twinkle in his eye.  “There’s more to it, isn’t there?” she asked.

“Well, yes,” Mart admitted.  “Once I finish my didactic pursuits and obtain my attestation of indoctrination, I have been pledged an instructive position at the aforementioned academy by the headmaster of said institution.”

“English, please, Mart,” Honey begged.

“Your brother is going to hire me as a teacher as soon as I get my certification.”

Mart never regretted the time he had spent in Africa, but he did regret not getting started on his college education.  During his last year in Africa he had been able to accumulate several college credits via Internet courses and was going to get his degree in a year or two.

Honey squealed with delight and stopped to give Mart a hug as Christmas shoppers and commuters flowed around them.  “That’s wonderful, Mart!”

“Well, I did have an in with the headmaster,” Mart said humbly.  “Working part-time will allow me to get my teaching certificate that much quicker.  Jim’s even giving me free room and board while I’m there.”

The quartet soon arrived at Honey’s favorite little bistro, about ten blocks from her apartment.  After a wonderful dinner, as they sat chatting over dessert and coffee, Honey asked, “Trixie, why don’t you stay with me this weekend?  We haven’t had a sleepover in forever.”

“I wish I could,” Trixie answered hastily, “but I promised Moms I’d be home this weekend.  She roped me and Mart into helping decorate the church for the holidays.”  Trixie was riding with Mart down to Sleepyside that evening.  She had a busy week planned leading up to Christmas and New Year’s Eve and still had to fill in Mart on all the events coming up.

“Why don’t you come with us, Honey?” Mart suggested, “You’ll be working almost all weekend, but it’ll really get you in the holiday spir – ouch!”

“I’m sorry, Mart,” Trixie said flatly, “Was that your shin I just kicked?”  She glared at her brother almost imperceptibly. 

Honey was about to accept Mart’s offer when she heard her name from across the restaurant.  She looked up and smiled as she caught sight of her cousin Ben Riker.  He and a tall, elegant woman with dark auburn curls made their way across the restaurant and Honey rose to give her cousin a hug.  He introduced his fiancée Brooke Winston to Honey and the Beldens.

“Hello,” she said with a soft, cultured voice, “Ben has told me a lot about his cousin and her friends from Sleepyside.  I’m delighted to be able to meet you at last.”  She was polite and charming.  “I understand you and your fiancée live here in the city, Honey.  Is that right?  Maybe now that I’ve finally got Ben pinned down to a wedding date, you and I can take some time to get to know each other better.”  She looked adoringly at the handsome young man by her side and squeezed his arm.

Honey’s eyes had glazed over and she looked to be on the verge of tears again.  “I’m sorry, Brooke, Ben.  If you’ll excuse me for just a minute.”  She pushed back her chair and stood up and with a shaky smile added, “Don’t leave without saying goodbye.  I’ll be right back.”  And she fled in the direction of the restrooms.

Trixie quickly rose to follow her.  An idea popped into her head and she suggested Brooke go with her.  “We’ll have a little girl talk.  While you,” and she looked pointedly at Brian, “catch up the others on all the news around here.”  And with a roll of her eyes, she headed swiftly off in pursuit of Honey, Brooke quickstepping to keep up with her.

As they turned the corner towards the restrooms, Trixie stopped and turned to face the pretty redhead, who was a good five inches taller than she was.  Trixie looked up at her, “Listen, Brooke.  I know you just met me, but I really need your help.  And it might be a little tricky.”

Without hesitation, Brooke nodded, “Whatever you need, Trixie.”

Trixie smiled.  This girl was going to be very good for Ben Riker.  Two heads massed in curls leaned towards each other, formulating a plan.

In the restroom, Honey had her hands on the sink and was staring hard at her reflection in the mirror.  You’re not going to cry, she ordered herself, tightly clutching the porcelain and breathing in and out slowly.  But it’s just not fair!  Ben is going to get married before I am!  And he just met this girl!

Honey knew they hadn’t really just met.  Ben had been dating Brooke for almost a year now.  But that hardly compared to her long-term relationship with Brian.  Besides, she doubted Brooke was nearly as…frustrated…as she was.  Not if she knew her playboy cousin like she thought she did.

The door opened and Trixie and Brooke came into the restroom.  Honey smiled at her best friend in the mirror, “See?  I’m not even crying.”

“You’re sure you’re okay?” Trixie asked with concern.

“Yes,” Honey said firmly, turning to face the two girls.  “Actually, I’m starting to feel more angry than upset.”

Brooke spoke up, “Men can be quite a trial, can’t they?”  When Honey looked at her uncertainly, she continued, “Trixie told me the problems you’re having getting Brian to set a date.  I hope it was okay that she confided in me.”

Honey hesitated only for a moment, “Of course.  We’re going to be cousins soon.”  Taking a deep breath and regaining her composure she added with a smile, “Maybe you can give me some tips.”

Brooke linked arms with Honey and with a serious look on her face, but an impish glimmer in her eyes asked, “Have you tried a half nelson?”

Honey started to laugh and Brooke joined in, giving the pretty blonde a warm hug.  Over her shoulder she saw Trixie nod her on so she asked Honey, “Why don’t we have lunch tomorrow and talk about our men?  You can help me pick out a nice Christmas gift for your cousin too, if you’re not already done with your shopping?  Oh please don’t tell me you’re one of those ultra-organized women who was done shopping the day after Thanksgiving!”

The three girls left the ladies room smiling and chatting.  As they approached the table, Trixie saw that Ben and her brothers had their heads together in deep conversation.  Raising her voice loud enough to be heard by them she said to Honey and Brooke, “Well, there they are, your knights in shining armor.  Unfortunately, that sticks me with my dear twin brother.”

Quickly sitting back in their seats, the men made room for the ladies in the booth.  “Be nice little sister.”  Mart returned, always quick to emphasize that Trixie was eleven months his junior. “Remember that I’m paying for your dinner.”

Trixie nodded discreetly at his questioning look and he asked Honey casually, “So are you going to come with us down to Sleepyside tonight, Honey?”

“Thanks for inviting me, Mart.  But Brooke and I are going to spend the day together tomorrow.”  She looked mischievously at her cousin, “I’m going to warn her about all your pranks, Ben.”

Ben groaned and slapped his forehead in consternation.  “And here I thought I had a brand new audience.  How’s a guy supposed to have any fun in this city?”

Brooke revealed she had already had several pranks pulled on her by her beau, including trying to make an egg salad sandwich with a raw egg that had “accidentally” been placed with the hard-boiled ones in her refrigerator.  Ben Riker had grown up a lot from the spoiled rich teenager he used to be, but some things apparently never changed.  The six young people chatted and laughed, and even Honey seemed cheerful when Brooke discussed tentative plans for her wedding, to be held in June the next year.

The Beldens and Honey excused themselves as a waiter came up to the table with dinner plates for Ben and Brooke.  Honey promised to call Brooke the next morning to make plans for lunch and the foursome returned to Honey’s apartment.

As Trixie and Mart prepared to leave for Sleepyside, Trixie gave her friend a comforting hug good-bye.  She whispered in her ear, “Everything’s going to be okay.  I promise.”

Honey nodded and turned to Brian hopefully, “Are you going to come up and stay for awhile?”

“Sorry, sweetheart, but I’ve got to get up early for work tomorrow.  I’m working a 24-hour shift, so I’ll call you Sunday night after I crash for a few hours when I get home.”

Honey nodded dejectedly, kissed Brian goodnight, waved good-bye to Trixie and Mart, and slowly trudged up the stairs to her apartment.  She didn’t watch as Brian leaned over into the passenger window to have a few last words with his younger siblings before they headed back to Sleepyside.

*********************************

Christmas week was like a massive family reunion in Sleepyside that year.  Jim drove down after the fall term ended at the boys’ school early in the week.  Dan came down midweek from Albany, stopping briefly to kiss Trixie and say hi to her family before heading over to see his Uncle Bill at the Wheeler estate.  Brian and Honey arrived the day before Christmas Eve.  They offered to pick up Diana from LaGuardia when she flew in, but Tad was already eagerly planning to come get her.  Mart had spent the week at home, helping with the holiday preparations.

Peter Belden’s brothers, Andrew and Harold, were spending Christmas and New Year’s in Sleepyside, along with most of Harold’s family – his wife, their oldest son Knut and his wife and young daughter and their younger son Cap and his wife Cassie.  The only cousin missing was their daughter Hallie, who was trekking in the Pyrenees Mountains with her new husband Julian.

Matthew Wheeler’s younger sister Miranda and her husband Benjamin, Ben’s parents, were visiting as well, and Ben and Brooke were going to be up after Christmas to spend New Year’s Eve weekend at the Manor House.

On Christmas Eve, the Lynches held their annual Open House late in the evening before people headed off to Christmas Eve services at their churches or back home to open gifts with family.  There was eggnog and wassail and hot cocoa and a wide variety of Christmas cookies, cakes, and other delicious desserts.  A large red bag fringed in white fur sat by the fireplace in the family room, filled with gifts for the children who would visit that evening.  Soft Christmas music played throughout the house from the central stereo system.  There were Christmas trees of various shapes and sizes set up in every room of the large house, and everywhere holiday lights and decorations contributed to the festive atmosphere.

Diana was thrilled to be able see all her friends again.  She hadn’t been to Sleepyside since Easter that year and the only time she had spent with her Bob-White friends since then had been when Trixie and Honey came to visit her in Chicago that summer.  Diana had dated Mart Belden through high school, but they had split up when Mart decided he was going to stay in Africa for longer than originally planned.  Mart knew, from his sister’s recent emails, that Diana was now dating Tad Webster.  This was the first time the three had seen each other since then and Mart was more than a little nervous as he came into the Lynch house.  But Diana flashed a dazzling smile when she saw him and rushed over to kiss him on the cheek and give him a warm embrace.  Tad followed more slowly behind her, watching his girlfriend fussing over her former beau.  There was a moment of silent tension, then Mart smiled and extended his hand, “Theodore,” he said, sounding almost like a war general conceding to his conquering opponent.

Tad smiled and shook Mart’s outstretched hand, “Martin,” he returned with a grin.  And all was well between the three from that point on.  After all, it was Christmas; how could anybody be distressed over the holidays when they were surrounded by friends and family?

******************************** 

Honey was distressed, though she worked hard to enjoy herself and not let others see the extent of her melancholy.  She spent Christmas morning and afternoon with her family, then bundled up and walked down the hill to Crabapple Farm to have dinner with Brian and his family.

Trixie greeted her at the door and as she helped her off with her coat she knew, in the way that only close friends can, that Honey was out of sorts despite the smile on her rosy face.  She dragged Honey up to her old bedroom before she could be accosted by the rest of the family.  Trixie’s mother had partially converted the room into a space where she could return to her watercolor painting, but Trixie’s old bed was still there and the girls plopped down on it.

“All right, spill,” Trixie said, “It’s Christmas day and you look like somebody just died.”

Honey shook her head forlornly, but she didn’t cry.  She thought maybe she had dried up her reservoir of tears, she had spent so much time crying the last few weeks.  “I’m fine, Trixie.  Really.”

Trixie didn’t believe her.  “Come on Honey, ‘fess up.  This is me you’re talking to.  Let me help...please!”

Honey hesitated.  She had been brought up in a cultured world of finishing schools and tea parties where things like this were not topics for polite conversation.  But maybe if she finally got it off her chest, she could deal with it better.  “I don’t know how much longer I can wait for Brian,” she answered.

Trixie’s china blue eyes opened wide, “Are you thinking about breaking off the engagement, Honey?  I really don’t think you want to do that.”

Honey shook her head.  “No, that’s not what I mean.”  She bit her lip then continued on in a rushed voice, “Brian and I decided to wait until we were married, but we’ve been engaged for close to three years and might not get married for another two or three years and I just can’t take it anymore!”

“Wait for what?” Trixie asked ingenuously.  Then she gasped, suddenly comprehending what her friend was getting at, “You mean you and Brian have never…?”

“No, we haven’t,” Honey confirmed.  “I mean, we’ve messed around a little.  We’ve made out.  But we both decided we wanted to wait until we were husband and wife before we…” her voice trailed off.

“Slept together?”  Trixie smiled gently.  “Oh, Honey!  Why didn’t you tell me before?”  Trixie could see it was a load on Honey’s heart, but she was relieved it wasn’t something more serious.

Honey’s face grew pink.  She was not used to such frank discussions.  She shrugged, “Well brought-up ladies don’t talk about those things.  You and I never talk about you and Dan being…intimate.”

“Well, I’m hardly a well-brought-up young lady,” Trixie snorted, thinking back to her tomboy childhood with three brothers.  “But just because I don’t kiss and tell doesn’t mean you and I can’t talk about serious things like this.”

“Well then, tell me how I can get your brother to put out,” Honey blurted.  Her face was solemn when she said it, but the words were so out of character for her that Trixie couldn’t help laughing.

“I’m sorry, Honey.  I’m not making fun.  But I definitely don’t feel comfortable helping you try to get my brother to…put out.”  She rolled her eyes and Honey broke into a hushed giggle, putting her hand over her mouth in embarrassment.  The more they thought about it, the more ridiculous the idea became and the two girls were soon laughing hysterically as tears rolled down their faces.

Finally Trixie was able to gasp, “I can’t imagine how hard this has been for you, Honey.  But if you two have been abstinent and kept your promise to each other this long, I know you can hang on for a little while longer.”

“A little longer?” Honey moaned, “But it could be a lot longer, Trixie!  I can’t even talk to Brian about it because I get so frustrated and embarrassed.  I don’t know what to do.”

Trixie bit her lip and thought hard.  She didn’t know what she could safely say that would get Honey to think it over for a little longer instead of taking some action she might later regret.  “Honey, why don’t you just try to enjoy the rest of this visit and when you get back to New York, you can sit down with Brian and talk about it.  I’ll help you figure out what to say.”  She closed her eyes and shook her head reticently, “I’ll just try not to think about Brian being my brother when we plan this.”

Honey smiled gratefully.  “Thank you, Trixie.  I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

“Well, you can start right now by coming downstairs with me and helping me through this evening.  All this family togetherness this week is starting to drive me crazy.”  Trixie made a face and clutched her blond curls dramatically to emphasize the impending loss of her sanity.

Honey giggled.  She knew Trixie adored her family and was only complaining because she hadn’t had much time to spend alone with Dan the past week.  The two girls hugged and went downstairs to join the merriment around the Christmas tree in the family room.

*********************************

The excitement of the week after Christmas centered around the New Year’s Eve Ball at St. Timothy’s Community Center.  Honey found herself spending so much time with her family and Brian’s that week that she did not have a chance to go into town, so she knew only that her family, the Beldens, and the Lynches would all be there.  She hoped she would have the chance to visit with old friends from school and around Sleepyside at the ball.  This was the first year the ball was being held and Mrs. Belden told her that St. Timothy’s hoped to make it a yearly tradition.  Honey didn’t remember hearing anything about it at Thanksgiving, but she was somewhat relieved to be spending the festive night surrounded by crowds and not alone with Brian.  She wasn’t ready to discuss her problems and frustrations with him just yet.

That night, after the rest of her family had already left for the ball, Honey was waiting in the foyer of the Manor House for Brian to pick her up.  She wore a long gown of dark green silk and her mother had loaned her a valuable emerald necklace and earring set to wear with it.  Brian was running a little late, which was unlike him, and Honey was feeling fidgety.  When she saw the headlights coming up the long driveway, she quickly donned her long black dress coat and hurried out to meet him.

Brian had offered his own car to help transport the large Belden clan and was driving the now little-used B.W.G. station wagon this evening.  During Christmas week, the Bob-Whites had strung up a wreath to the front grill, and a small string of battery-operated Christmas lights around the back windows.  Holiday greenery was entwined around the luggage rack on top of the vehicle, finishing off the gay costuming of the reliable old wagon.

Brian met Honey on her way down from the house and took her arm, escorting her to the car and opening the passenger door for her.  Before she could get in, he pulled her close to him and kissed her warmly.  With their faces close he whispered, “I love you more than life itself, Madeleine.”

Honey’s eyes shimmered with joy.  Even in the midst of her anxieties, Brian was always able to make her feel secure and loved.  They were returning to New York the day after tomorrow and the hours couldn’t go by fast enough for Honey.  Forgetting her earlier reluctance, she wished they could be alone tonight and could talk about their future, both long-term and immediate.

They drove slowly towards Sleepyside.  The snowy roads weren’t overly bad, but Brian was always a cautious driver.  Unexpectedly, he turned onto Old Telegraph Road, instead of continuing towards downtown, where St. Timothy’s was located.

“Where are you going, Brian?” Honey asked, puzzled.

“Oh, I just thought we’d enjoy a little alone time before we went to the ball,” Brian said casually.  “Seems we’ve had precious little of that this week with so much family in town.”  A mile or so down the road, he pulled into an unused lot outside of an old abandoned house owned by the Wheelers.  Honey’s father had always wanted to do something with the property, but just hadn’t gotten around to it yet.  The B.W.G.’s had used the clearing in front of the house several years ago as a stop on a charity bikeathon they had organized to help raise funds for the high school art department.  Diana Lynch and Nick Roberts had been just two of the many students that benefited from that fund-raising project.  The most use the property had gotten in recent years was as a spot for lustful young teens to come and neck, out of sight of the disapproving eyes of their parents.

Honey thought about this with face flushed, as Brian parked the car and they sat in silence for a few moments, holding hands and staring through the windshield at the cloudy winter sky.  A million different thoughts were racing through Honey’s mind, until at last, shoving aside all plans for a reasonable heart-to-heart when they got back to the city, she threw herself into Brian’s arms and kissed him fervently, pushing her tongue in between his lips and desperately clutching his neatly pressed jacket in her trembling hands.  Brian instinctively responded, but after a moment regained control and gently pushed Honey back.  “What was that all about?” he asked in genuine surprise.

"Brian, I don’t want to wait anymore!” Honey exclaimed.  “I love you too much.  And I – ,” she swallowed hard, “I want you too much!  I can’t wait until you finish medical school.  We’ve been waiting too long as it is.”

Brian took in the whole outburst in his usual unruffled, serious way.  Slowly a gentle smile appeared on his face.  He held Honey in his arms and brought his lips close to hers.  “I don’t want to wait any longer either, sweetheart, but,” and Honey’s face fell at that word, “I still think we should wait until we’re married.  I just think we’ll be happier in the long run if we do.”

Hot tears of frustration threatened to erupt from Honey again.  Holding her emotions tightly in check she said resolutely, “Then we have simply got to set a wedding date.  Seriously, Brian, you have no idea how hard this has been for me lately.”

Brian smiled in understanding.  “Don’t you think it’s been hard on me too?  I want you as much as you want me, Honey.  God, I love you so much.”

“Then why are we waiting?  Why, Brian?”  She kissed him again, more gently this time, but just as passionately.

“You really want to set a date, don’t you?” Brian asked as they breathlessly broke away from one another. 

Honey nodded vehemently.

“Okay.”  Brian paused and took a deep breath.  “How about tonight?”

Honey stared at him, flabbergasted.  “Do you mean elope?  I can’t do that.  I’m Mother’s only daughter.  She’d never forgive me if I didn’t let her take total control of planning an extravagant wedding for us.”

“Agreed,” Brian replied with an oddly pleased look on his face.  Without another word, he started the car and pulled out of the lot and back onto Old Telegraph Road.

Honey stared at him speechlessly.  Should she wait for him to say something more?  Surely, that wasn’t the end of the conversation?  “Brian?” she probed gently.

But Brian didn’t reply until they had turned onto Glen Road and the lights of the small town appeared before them.  At last he spoke, “You know your mother will take over as soon as we set a date, right?”

Honey nodded.

“And you don’t have a problem with that?  What I mean is, if the decisions were all out of your hands, you’d be okay with that?”

“I guess,” Honey replied, baffled.

Brian pulled into the parking lot at St. Timothy’s.  Honey was surprised to see that the lot was only about half full; she expected more people would come to the gala.  The lights of the church, as well as the community center behind it, glowed warmly in the dark night.  Brian got out of the car and came around to open the door for Honey.  As she exited, she saw Trixie and Jim waiting at the door to the church.  Trixie had on a beautiful gown of dark cranberry red.  Honey waved tentatively, wondering why they were not already in the community center enjoying the New Year’s Eve Ball.

Brian held Honey’s hands and looked deeply into her eyes.  “How about tonight?” he asked again in a soft voice, slowly emphasizing each word.

Honey looked again towards the door of the church.  It was then that she noticed that Trixie held a bouquet of white roses in one hand, and a similar arrangement of pink roses in the other.  Jim was wearing his tuxedo.  When he saw Honey looking at him, he held up his hands and she could just make out what appeared to be a gold band in each hand.

Hazel eyes wide, Honey looked up at Brian.  “Are you kidding me?  Tonight?  In front of the whole town?  During the ball?”

Brian chuckled.  His plan had gone off without a hitch.  “There is no Sleepyside New Year’s Ball, sweetheart.  That was just a ruse to get you out here.  Your family and my family have been planning this since Thanksgiving weekend.  That’s why our extended families came to visit this year.  That’s why Trixie convinced Brooke to keep you in the city that weekend she came home.  That’s why we all worked together to keep you out of town all week so you wouldn’t find out the ball was a figment of our collective imaginations.”

“That’s why you were so evasive when I kept asking you about setting a date,” Honey said in amazement.

“Yes,” Brian said soberly.  “And I am truly sorry I got you so upset about it.  I just wanted everything to be…”

Honey beamed, tears of delight in her eyes.  “Perfectly perfect!” she shouted joyfully.

Brian nodded.  “So, what do you say?  Are you with me?”

She flung her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, “Always and forever.”

Brian and Honey stood by the car kissing, as snow began to fall around them.  Finally Jim shouted from the door of the church, “If you want to start the New Year as a married woman, you’d better shake a leg, sister dear.”

The happy couple ran up the stairs of the church.  Honey’s parents were waiting just inside.  They hugged her tenderly and her mother indicated a long garment bag hanging on the coat rack nearby.  “It was my wedding gown, and I just know it will fit you perfectly.”  She and Honey, with Trixie and Diana close behind them, disappeared into the choir room while Jim escorted Brian up to the front of the rose-filled sanctuary, where all their family and friends had waited expectantly for the couple to arrive, and where Mart and Dan stood near the altar to serve as groomsmen.

After helping Honey into the satin wedding gown, covered in antique lace, her mother and her two closest friends presented her with the traditional gifts.

“Your dress certainly qualifies as something old,” Diana smiled, “and the Bob-Whites all chipped in to get you your something new.”  She handed Honey a small box, which she opened to reveal a lovely bracelet containing four rubies and three diamonds.  Rubies were Honey’s birthstone and the four red and three white stones represented the seven Bob-Whites of the Glen, whose unofficial club colors were red and white.  Honey hugged both Diana and Trixie, and Diana helped her get the bracelet on her right wrist.

Honey’s mother presented her daughter with string of antique pearls.  “They were my grandmother’s.  She wore them on her wedding day and she gave them to me to wear on my wedding day.  I would like to give them to my granddaughter someday when she gets married, so they are definitely something borrowed,” she smiled, “But nothing would make me happier than to see you wearing them tonight.”  Honey lifted the hair off of her neck and her mother clasped the delicate necklace behind her then gave her a kiss on her cheek.

“And finally, something blue,” said Trixie.  She held out a small bag that looked like it came from an elegant boutique.  Honey peered inside and immediately blushed.  It was not one, but two very sexy, pale blue garter bands.  Trixie hugged her and whispered confidentially, “One is for the reception.  But you make sure Brian enjoys removing the other one tonight.”  Honey giggled and hugged her friend tightly.  “And between you and me,” Trixie continued in a low voice, “I am beyond grateful that I didn’t have to have that conversation with him.  You have no idea how hard it was for me to see you so upset and keep this secret from you.”

“It’s all right, Trixie,” Honey said earnestly, “Everything’s all right now.  I understand everything now.  And I love you all so much.”

“All right, all right,” Trixie scolded lovingly, “What did I tell you about the mushy stuff?”  And she quickly drew out a handkerchief and dabbed at her best friend’s eyes before her mascara could run.

Minutes later Honey was walking down the aisle on her father’s arm.  Matthew Wheeler gave her away to the handsome young doctor-to-be and the Reverend Joseph Musgrave bound them to one another with lovingly repeated vows, two beautiful gold wedding bands, and an affectionate kiss.  As the bells of St. Timothy’s rang in the New Year, family and friends all clapped and congratulated the newly married couple.

“Do you think anybody would notice if we weren’t at the reception?” Brian asked, with a wicked gleam in his eye.

“Yes, I think they would.”  Honey smiled up at him, batting her eyelashes innocently.   Why?  Is there somewhere else you’d rather be?”

Brian growled playfully and kissed his bride again, “Madeleine, you are incorrigible.”

Honey giggled, “I vote we get out of that reception just as soon as we possibly can.”

“Your word is my command, sweetheart.”

“I’ll remember that, my darling.”  Her smile softened as she added earnestly.  “I’ll remember everything about this night.  I love you, Brian.”

“And I love you…Mrs. Belden.”