Noon Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving
The
young man placed his elbows on the desktop and, resting his head in his
palms, he rubbed his eyes with his fingers. He'd been reading and
typing for several hours and his eyes were strained. He wondered if he
might need reading glasses.
Ringgggg
"Dan Mangan," He answered the phone.
"Hello Handsome. You about ready to head up the road?" His wife asked.
What time IS it? Dan wondered as he looked at his wristwatch. Oh gee. He'd 'lost' the entire morning. "Where are you?"
"About five blocks from the Courthouse. Think you can be downstairs in five minutes?"
"Give me ten."
Dan
and his wife were headed to their hometown of Sleepyside-on-Hudson
where they were planning to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with their
extended families. At least they were spending part of the long weekend
in Sleepyside since his wife had to return to the City to work on
Saturday evening. Regardless, they were both excited to have the time
off; their first break since their wedding and all-too-short honeymoon.
Dan rushed to lock away the files he had been using and shut
down his computer. He and his wife had agreed that since she had the
entire day off, she would pick him up at noon and they would go
directly to Sleepyside, hopefully beating the worst traffic. They were
planning to stay with her parents, but his aunt and uncle would be
joining them and her rapidly growing family for dinner the next day.
Dan
exited the main entrance of 100 Centre Street and rushed over to the
illegally parked Toyota. "Looking for a ticket?" He asked his wife as
he got into the small sports car. She reached over and kissed him
before pulling out into the holiday traffic.
"They wouldn't
dare," She laughed. Dan pulled at her blonde curls teasingly before
settling down into the bucket seat and fastening his seat belt.
The
drive to Sleepyside was slow and tedious, but neither one noticed. They
were just glad to be enjoying each other's company. Dan's work with the
Manhattan District Attorney's office and his wife's long hours as a New
York City Police detective gave them little free time. When dating and
for the short time they'd been married, they had found it difficult
although essential to make time for each other. They knew it was the
only way their relationship would succeed and they also had found that
the support they gave each other was the only way they could manage the
long stressful hours of their careers.
"So the Wheelers have opened up Manor House for the holidays?" Dan asked.
"Yeah,
through New Years. Friday is the first of several parties they're
planning. They've said that now that they have a grandchild, they want
to start a tradition of spending the season with their family. But I
think they just want to show off a certain chubby-cheeked red-head."
Dan laughed. He knew the Wheelers all too well.
"Oh! That reminds me. There's something for you in the back seat."
Dan
twisted around. The back seat was empty except for their two brief
cases and a small brown paper bag. "This?" He asked, holding up the
bag.
"Yeah. Happy Thanksgiving."
Dan hesitated
before looking in the bag. He hadn't thought to give his new wife a
gift for Thanksgiving, although he did have something special planned
for Christmas. "I..aah.." He mumbled.
"Open it, Counselor."
Dan
looked into the bag. He pulled out something wrapped in tissue paper.
"A tie?" He asked aloud. He spread it out. At first it appeared to be a
plain necktie, but when laying it flat he saw that it had a large gaudy
turkey painted on it. "What the?"
"It's for Friday night. Since you'll have to wear a suit and tie and I'll have to wear a dress..."
They
both laughed. Dan constantly complained when having to wear a jacket
and tie. He accepted that he was expected to dress a certain way for
work, but was adamant about not wearing a tie when on his own time. His
wife was equally reluctant to wear anything but sweaters and jeans. He
had been unaware of what was expected at the Wheelers' party.
"I
think I'll wear it next time I have Judge Dalzmer." Dan referred to an
incredibly incompetent judge that both of them had dealt with in their
work.
"He'll charge you with contempt."
"The man's too dense to get the joke." Dan laughed. "Will both Jim and Honey be around this weekend?" He changed the subject.
"Mmmhuh."
She had had a long telephone conversation with Honey the previous
evening and knew that Honey would be in Sleepyside. But her dearest
friend had been very evasive about specific weekend plans. "Honey said
she will be coming by the Farm later this evening. Jim and Aggie plan
to stop by tomorrow."
Trixie Belden Mangan pulled onto Glen
Road. Proceeding past the entrance to the Lynch estate, Maple Crest,
she drove up the road before turning into the crabapple-tree-lined
drive of the small farm that had been home to her ancestors for almost
200 years. The trees were bare now, but would create a fragrant canopy
in the spring that people drove for miles to see. "They're here!
They're here already!" She called out when she saw the red minivan that
her brother and sister-in-law recently had purchased.
She
spun gravel as she pulled to a stop next to the Chrysler and left the
car door open as she ran into the house. Dan remained in the car
laughing to himself and hoping his wife would never lose her joie de
vivre. Life would be too dull without it. In fact he no longer could
imagine life without the spirited blonde. Shaking his head, he got out
of the car and opened the trunk to retrieve their bags.
The
porch door slammed as Trixie ran into her mother's kitchen. "Where is
she? Where's my favorite niece?" She called out as she ran through the
room.
"She's your only niece." Her brother called to her from
the family room. Trixie hurried through the kitchen and spread her arms
wide as she neared the entrance of the room where her family was
waiting. She stooped to hug the young toddler who ran to her.
Trixie
gave Kathleen "Katie" Lynch Belden a big noisy hug before looking
around the room. "Where's Di?" She asked, noticing her sister-in-law
was missing.
"Upstairs resting." Mart Belden bent over and gave his sister a peck on the cheek.
Trixie
immediately became alarmed. Diana was in the first trimester of her
pregnancy and Trixie knew it was a cautious time. "Is she okay?"
Her brother, Mart, tried not to smile as he responded. "She seems to tire more easily this time.
"She's not doing too much? Katie can be a handful." Trixie kissed her niece.
"No, no." Mart hurriedly left the room. "Does Dan need help with your bags?"
"I
see my sister left you to do all the work," Mart called out to his
brother-in-law as he came across the driveway. He shut the driver-side
door before taking a bag from Dan.
Dan closed the car trunk and followed Mart to the house. "You know how she is with Katie. And I wouldn't change a thing."
After
Dan gave Katie an equally exuberant greeting, he and Trixie went
upstairs to get settled into Trixie's old room. While Trixie was
hanging a few things in the closet, Dan sat on the side of the bed and
bounced a few times. "You know I've never actually been in this room?"
He remarked.
Trixie turned around and stared at her husband.
"You're kidding? All the times you've been here? All the times you
stayed over with Mart across the hall?"
"Oh Trix, I stood in
the doorway and talked to you a few times, but this was forbidden
territory," Dan smiled wickedly. "And I didn't say I never wanted to be
in this room." He reached over and grabbed his wife, pulling her down
onto the bed and rolling on top of her. "Mmmm...This mattress is
absolutely perfect." He whispered as he kissed her.
"Perfectly perfect." Trixie whispered back.
Diana
Lynch Belden came down the back stairs and sat at the kitchen table
next to her husband, who was sharing a snack with their toddler. "Where
are Dan and Trixie? I thought I heard them arrive some time ago."
"They went upstairs to unpack. You didn't see them?" Mart responded as he handed Katie a piece of apple.
"No." Diana grabbed a sliver for herself and popped it into her mouth.
"Newlyweds." Mart shook his head in feigned disgust and looked up at the ceiling. "You can't leave them alone for ten minutes."
Diana reached over and stroked her husband's cheek. "It wasn't so long ago we were like that."
"Yeah," Mart agreed, rubbing his wife's slightly enlarged belly. "And look where it got us."
Some
time later Trixie joined her mother and sister-in-law in the kitchen to
help prepare dinner. There would be plenty of work for everyone over
the next two days. In addition to Mart, Diana, Katie, Dan and Trixie,
the oldest Belden son, Brian, would be joining them that evening. He
had reservations on a late flight from Richmond. The youngest son,
Bobby, had opted to remain at school in Albany. As had been a
long-standing tradition, the Beldens would be hosting a large
open-house dinner for Thanksgiving.
Diana was at the sink
washing vegetables when Trixie came running down the back stairs and
into the kitchen. Di turned, raised her eyebrows and grinned
mischievously. Trixie was sure everyone had been speculating on what
took the newlyweds so long to unpack but she wasn't about to discuss it
in the presence of her mother. Instead she gave Diana a hug. "Still
skinny as ever." She commented to her svelte sister-in-law.
Diana laughed as she hugged Trixie back. "Not exactly...and I'll be big as a house by Christmas."
"Oh,
Di, you're radiant now and you'll be the entire time. I never saw a
more beautiful pregnant woman than when you were carrying Katie."
Diana turned around and continued scrubbing the sweet potatoes. "So tell me what Honey had to say about,"
"Mommy,
Mommy, Grampa is teaching me a song!" Katie ran into the kitchen. Diana
turned around and stooped down to talk to her young daughter. "Can I
hear it?"
Katie turned to see if her Grampa Belden had
followed her. Standing in the doorway, he nodded his approval. She
turned back around and, tugging on the bottom of her T-shirt, she
closed her eyes and began to sing. "Oh......you bedda not cry, you
bedda not shout, you bedda not die, I'm telling you why."
She turned back around towards her Grampa. Grinning ear to ear, he nodded again before joining her.
"SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN!"
All three Belden women oohed and aahed as they hugged and kissed Katie, ignoring the butchering of the lyrics.
"Oh!"
Trixie exclaimed. "I just realized, this is Katie's first Christmas
understanding Santa!" Trixie began jumping up and down with excitement.
"Oh! Santa's coming to your house! Oh, what fun."
Katie
stepped back looking bewildered. After some time observing the scene,
she placed both hands on her hips and shook her head. "She does this
everrrry time."
Brian Belden pulled the rental
car into the driveway of Crabapple Farm and looked over at the
beautiful young woman beside him. Knowing she was nervous about the
upcoming weekend, he smiled and patted her hand reassuringly. "They'll
be thrilled. You know that."
"No, I don't know that."
"Well, Trixie will be excited enough for everyone."
She
laughed as she unlatched her seatbelt. "You ARE right about that!" Her
voice turned serious. "Should we share everything tonight or wait?"
"Let's see how it goes."
Wednesday
night supper was a little later than usual for the Belden household,
but, finally, all seven were seated around the long kitchen table. Just
as Mrs. Belden was commenting on how wonderful it was to have a full
house, the door from the service porch flew open. Brian stepped
through, grinning ear to ear. In one single movement, both Mrs. Belden
and Trixie were up from the table and surrounding Brian with their
arms.
"Please, please, can I get in the door first?" He
laughed as he tried to get into the house. Trixie and her mother
stepped aside, but continued to talk excitedly. Still laughing, Brian
attempted to speak up before the other members of his family joined
them.
"Please, I have someone with me." He looked back onto the porch. Apparently no one heard him. "PLEASE!"
Brian
finally raised his deep baritone so loudly that it seemed to rattle the
dishes in the cupboards. "WOULD YOU ALL HUSH?!" The room instantly
became quiet. "I brought someone with me and you won't even let her
into the house," He stepped aside and turned towards the door. "Moms,
Dad, everyone,"
"I want you to meet my wife."
Trixie
turned to see who was following her brother into the house. "Oh! Oh! I
don't believe it! We're sisters! We're really sisters!" She began to
yell as she grabbed her oldest and dearest friend in a hug. "Honey! We
really are sisters!"
Brian and Honey had made
no secret that they had been seeing each other the past few months, so
while the announcement was unexpected, no one was surprised. Once
everyone had hugged, slapped backs and congratulated Brian and Honey,
they pulled two chairs up to the table, got extra plates and utensils,
and attempted to continue with dinner. The conversation was so loud and
animated no one noticed that Katie had slumped over asleep in her
highchair.
"Oh, Katie! What kind of mother am I?" Diana said
aloud as she attempted to clean off her daughter's face and hands
without waking her. Mart was able to lift the youngster from the chair
without disturbing her and the three of them proceeded up the back
stairs. Mrs. Belden suggested everyone else go into the family room for
dessert.
They had settled in the comfortable furniture with
coffee and pie when Brian, pulling Honey closer to him, advised that
they had a second announcement to share. Honey was noticeably
uncomfortable so, with one hand resting gently on her shoulder, he took
both her hands in his other. "Honey and I have been discussing marriage
for some time. I've been absolutely certain that I wanted to marry
her...and that I had made the biggest mistake of my life when I."
"It's okay Brian." Honey interjected.
"Anyway,
it was taking me some time to convince her to have me, despite my best
efforts. I suppose you could say that fate intervened in my behalf." He
squeezed Honey's shoulder and cleared his throat. "Honey and I are
having a baby in June."
There was an awkward pause before
Mrs. Belden jumped from her chair and rushed over to hug her son and
new daughter-in-law. "Two grandchildren. Oh, we're going to have two
new babies in June."
"No, Moms." Mart commented as he entered
the room. Diana was directly in back of him. "There will be three
babies in June," The room instantly became silent. Everyone turned from
Mart and Diana towards Trixie and Dan. Even Dan stared at his wife in
bewilderment. "Are you?"
Trixie looked shocked. She held up
both hands, palms forward. "Not me!" She declared. All heads turned
back towards Mart and Diana. Mart had pulled his wife towards him and
had his arm around her waist. "We were going to wait until tomorrow
when everyone was together to share the news, but...Di had her first
sonogram this week. We're having twins!"
Late Thanksgiving evening
Helen
Belden sat on the side of her bed rubbing lotion on her feet. "I love
Thanksgiving, Peter. It's my favorite holiday, but my feet seem to like
it less and less each year."
Her husband came out of the
bathroom, wiping his face on a towel. "With the family growing, there
should be plenty of help. Maybe next year you should plop yourself in a
chair and direct the operations." He turned and stepped back into the
bathroom.
"Oh, this is my day, Peter." Twisting the cap back
on the lotion bottle, she stood and walked over to her husband of over
thirty years. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head
against his back. "And this definitely has been a holiday to remember!
Can you believe all the exciting news? Three years ago, we had only one
child married and no grandchildren. Now all our chicks except Bobby are
married and this time next year we'll have four grandchildren."
"Maybe more." Peter added. "Trixie and Dan...
"Bobby will bless us before they will."
Peter pulled away and turned to look at his wife. "You think?" He asked.
They both shook their heads before laughing aloud. "Now that will be a holiday to remember!" |
