Trixie smiled at the tiny older woman who was standing in the doorway. “You really don’t mind keeping an eye on the apartment a few extra days?” she asked, her relief evident.

Mrs. Smith wiped the flour from her hands onto her green gingham apron and smiled. “Not at all, dear. It’s no trouble.”

Trixie sighed in gratitude. “All we really need is for someone to bring in the mail and check on the plants.”

Mrs. Smith patted Trixie’s arm, leaving behind a faint white handprint. “Now, don’t you worry about a thing. You just have a nice Christmas with that handsome young man of yours.”

Trixie shook her head. “He’s not my man, Mrs. Smith.”

“Whatever you say, dear.” Mrs. Smith gave Trixie a conspiratorial wink and turned back to her own apartment after squeezing Trixie's upper arm and leaving behind another white handprint. “Merry Christmas!”

Trixie shook her head again and turned to find Dan smirking just inside their apartment. She rolled her eyes and brushed the flour from her arm. “Thanks for backing me up. I appreciate it. Really, I do.”

Dan held up both hands in a defensive gesture. “Hey, if someone wants to imply that I’m lucky enough to date the most beautiful woman I know, I’m not going to argue.”

Trixie elbowed him smartly in the ribs. “Just for that, you can carry the bags down to the car.”

They were soon settled in the car and on the highway. Dressed in a simple long-sleeved navy top and comfortable jeans, Trixie revelled in the freedom of the casual clothes. She smiled broadly and bounced in her seat. “Road trip! This is great! We really should do this more often.”

Dan looked at her incredulously. “You do realize we spend half of our time travelling to foreign countries, right?”

Trixie wrinkled her nose. “That’s completely different, and you know it. When we travel for work, we spend all of the time either familiarizing ourselves with the situation, or debriefing. Where’s the fun in that? Now it’s just the open road, baby!”

She smiled again and began singing to a compilation CD.

Dan groaned. “Oh, it’s going to be that kind of trip, is it?”

Trixie continued singing and dramatically serenaded him. Against his better judgement, Dan soon found himself singing along as the miles rolled past. He was halfway through the chorus of Barbara Streisand’s “I Am a Woman in Love” when he noticed that Trixie was sitting in the passenger seat; laughing so hard she was nearly doubled over.

Dan heard the lyrics coming from his mouth, and cursed.

“Air,” she gasped. “I need air.” Rolling down her window, Trixie continued to laugh until the tears streamed down her face.

“Is there anything you want to tell me, Dan?” she finally wheezed.

“You are such a brat.” Dan’s voice was threatening, but his eyes twinkled. “You realize that I’m taking charge of music for the rest of the trip, right?”

Trixie tried not to smile. “You do that, Dan.”

Dan’s twinkle disappeared. “Friday, show me the CDs.”

The corners of her mouth twitched. “You’re in charge of the music, Danno. Look at them yourself.”

He eyed her warily. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

She looked up at him innocently. “I don’t know. You like Belinda Carlisle, right?”

Dan closed his eyes for a second. “Who doesn’t?”

Trixie nodded firmly. “That’s right. And when you get tired of her, there are the Bangles, Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper, and Rick Astley.”

Dan winced. “Nice.”

“That’s what I thought!” Giggling, she took pity on him. “Okay, I did throw in the Cars. Is that manly enough for you?”

“It’ll do.”

As the miles rolled past, both Dan and Trixie grew quieter. Dan tried to tell himself he was concentrating on the road, but he knew better. The truth was, he wasn’t looking forward to facing Brian, Mart, and Jim. The Belden brothers had been quite vocal in their disapproval of Trixie’s life plans. Jim simply hadn’t spoken to him or Trixie other than to exchange stilted greetings on the rare occasions when they met. Honey and Diana couldn’t be rude if they tried, but the way they walked on eggshells whenever he and Trixie were around was almost as painful as the blatant disapproval of the others.

Trixie sat in the passenger seat and stared out the window. Although the snow-blanketed countryside was breath-taking, she wasn’t seeing any of it. Her thoughts were very similar to Dan’s, but focused more on Jim. She couldn’t help wondering what he was feeling. Is he glad that I’m coming home for the holidays? Is he still angry with me, after all this time, or has he forgiven me? Does he still have feelings for me? She frowned. What if he’s brought a girl home for Christmas? Trixie shook her head. I have no right to be jealous. I was the one who left. It’s my own fault that we’re not together.

Trixie abruptly stopped her line of thinking. Worrying had never helped in the past, and it certainly wasn’t going to start helping any time soon. She glanced over at Dan and noted his tightly controlled features.

“We can always turn the car around and spend Christmas at the apartment,” she offered lightly.

A brief smile flickered across Dan’s face. “Wouldn’t that be fun to explain to your parents? ‘Hi, Moms’,” he imitated Trixie’s voice, “'we were almost to Sleepyside when I thought, 'I’d rather spend Christmas in a small apartment with no family.’ I can see that going over really well, can’t you?”

Trixie giggled and flicked his arm. “Well, if we’re going through with this, we need to decide to have a good time no matter what happens. If nothing else, Moms, Daddy, and Regan will be happy to see us.”

“Don’t forget Bobby,” Dan advised. “You saw the e-mail he sent when he found out you were coming home. I had no idea it was possible to fit so many smilies in one e-mail!”

“Half of those were for you, and you know it.”

Dan shrugged, but didn’t deny it. Since the day he had helped free Bobby from the catamount cave, he and Trixie's brother had shared a special bond. Though he didn’t write Bobby as often as Trixie did, they were still close. Dan smiled as he remembered Bobby’s recent e-mails.

“So, which of the Lynch sisters is Bobby going to end up kissing under the mistle-toe?” Dan asked mischievously.

Trixie giggled. “If he gets his way, both!” Dan chuckled as Trixie continued. “You’ve got to wonder what’s going through his head. Does he honestly think that he can get away with flirting with both of them? He must realize that they talk to each other about boys. And they certainly have a big brother contingent looking out for them.”

“Um, Trixie, I don’t know how to tell you this, but Bobby is a nineteen-year-old guy. He’s not doing a whole lot of thinking.” He paused and amended, “At least, not with his head.”

Trixie shuddered. “Thanks, Dan. This is my brother we’re talking about. My baby brother, at that.” She sighed. “He’s all grown up now, and I wasn’t there to see it.”

Dan looked at her in surprise. “Are you kidding? Who did Bobby call when he got into the school he wanted? Who did he ask for advice when he was deciding whether or not to take the job? You may not have been there in person, but you’ve been a part of his life all the way, and he knows it.” He forced Trixie to look at him. “Don’t do this, Trix. Your family may not understand everything about what you do, but they love you. Even your idiot brothers.”

“My idiot brothers, eh?” Trixie tried not to laugh, but soon lost the battle. “I’m sure they would love that description, coming from you.”

Dan shrugged. “I deny all knowledge of ever uttering those words.” He whistled innocently. “You can’t prove a thing.”

Trixie settled back in her seat. “Don’t forget who you're talking to, Danno.”

Dan smiled and turned his attention back to the road. “Not likely, Friday.”

It was late and very dark when they arrived at Crabapple Farm. Dan nudged Trixie until she woke up, and they both studied the house in silence before speaking.

“Are you sure your house was never painted by Thomas Kincaid?” Dan asked.

Lights twinkled merrily in many of the windows. A small plume of smoke hung over the chimney, almost motionless in the still air. Even in the car, they could smell the sweet aroma of a wood fire. A recent snowfall had obliterated all but the most recent tracks.

Trixie sat silently and allowed the magic of her childhood home to warm her spirit. Taking a deep breath, she concentrated on her happy memories of Christmases past. Her apprehension about dealing with her family and friends was still present, but she knew that it would be worth it, if she could spend Christmas in her home, with the people she loved. Through one of the curtained windows, she could see the indistinct outlines of several people. She raised her eyebrows. “I wonder who’s all in there. I thought at this hour it would just be Moms, Daddy, and maybe Bobby, but it looks like there’s a crowd.”

Dan put the car in gear and continued down the driveway to park beside the detached garage. “Well, since there aren’t any extra vehicles here, I would assume that none of the visitors are from too far away.”

Trixie and Dan stared at each other, working out the ramifications. Trixie finally nodded decisively. “Well, there’s no time like the present.”

They slowly walked up the steps. Upon reaching the door, Trixie stopped, not sure if she should walk in, or knock. Noting her hesitation, Dan flashed her a quick smile and knocked firmly on the door.

“No time like the present,” he repeated, as Trixie stared at him in surprise.

They waited in silence, staring uneasily at the door. When a few minutes had gone by, with no sign that anyone in the house had heard them, Trixie knocked on the door. After waiting several more minutes, Trixie stamped her foot and opened the door herself. She shook the snow off her shoes and entered the small entranceway off the kitchen.

And was overwhelmed by the volume level in the house. From her vantage point in the entrance off the kitchen, she could see the kitchen, family room, and living room. In the distance, she could hear both the television and stereo, as well as laughter. The stereo was at top volume in the living room as Peter, Helen, Ed, Elaine, Matthew, and Madeleine danced to big band versions of Christmas carols. In direct competition with the stereo, Mart, Brian, Jim, Bobby, Larry, Terry, Jennie, and Mandie shrieked with laughter as they watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation in the family room.

The house was bathed in warm, flickering light from holiday-scented candles. Trays of goodies adorned every available surface. One corner of the living room was devoted to a live Christmas tree, decorated with tinsel, multi-coloured lights, and homemade ornaments. Close beside the tree a large nativity of wooden figures had been lovingly arranged. A thriving red poinsettia held a place of honour on the coffee table.

Time froze as Trixie stood, unnoticed, in the doorway. In the blink of an eye, she took in her surroundings, but found her gaze fixed on one person, and one person only. Jim Frayne sat on the couch, holding a plate filled with cookies and candied popcorn. His dark brown sweater and casual tan pants suited him perfectly. Trixie started as he pointed to the television and laughed as Chevy Chase fell through the attic floor onscreen. Although she didn’t think it possible, Jim was more handsome that she remembered. In the few years since she had seen him, his jaw had grown stronger and more pronounced. His haircut was still simple, yet slightly more stylish. She found herself desperately seeking his averted face, anxious to feel his gaze upon her.

In the kitchen, Honey and Diana faced away from her and were fooling with the blender and trying to make eggnog milk shakes. Reluctantly turning away from Jim, Trixie watched silently as her friends filled the glass container with ice cream and eggnog and turned it on, biting back a laugh as they failed to give the lid the extra push necessary to snap it into position. Within seconds, she heard the familiar pop that could mean only one thing. Sure enough, both the lid and the contents of the blender were on the ceiling, counter, and cupboards. Honey and Diana stared at each other with identical expressions of shock, then dissolved into helpless giggles as they struggled to turn off the blender.

“Oh, this is just perfect,” Trixie heard Honey gasp as she eventually managed to disconnect the power supply. “I try to make a special drink for Brian, and I end up wrecking his mom's kitchen.”

Diana consoled between her own giggles. “This is Brian we're talking about, not Mart or Bobby. I doubt Brian could care less about your culinary skills.”

Smothering her chuckles, Honey agreed, and turned to find supplies to clean up the mess. She immediately spotted Trixie in the entranceway

“Trixie!” she squealed, and skidded to a stop in front of her. Hesitating for only a second, she flung her arms around her old friend and enveloped her in a hug. Trixie returned the embrace fervently, and tried to ignore the tears welling behind her eyes.

“I’m so glad you’re home,” Honey whispered as Diana joined them. “I’ve missed you.”

Trixie squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to stave off the tears she knew were coming. “I missed you, too.” They broke apart long enough to include Diana in the hug.

Trixie looked past Honey to see her mother hurrying towards the kitchen. “Honey, Diana, I forgot to mention that the lid is a little tricky. You have to press--” She stopped speaking abruptly as Honey and Diana stepped aside and she caught a glimpse of her daughter. Trixie officially lost the battle of the tears and allowed them to stream down her face as she watched her mother's expression change from surprise to unmitigated joy. Crossing the distance between them rapidly, she flung her arms around her and relaxed in her mother’s embrace.

Following the dance partner who had left him abruptly, Peter Belden stood just to the side, shaking his head. “That’s my daughter. You always did know how to make an entrance.”

Trixie released her mother long enough to frown at her father before kissing his cheek. “What are you talking about, Daddy? All I did was stand in the doorway.”

Peter raised his eyebrows and nodded solemnly. “Yes, that’s all you did. Two days early!”

Trixie’s eyes widened. “Two days early? Well, yes, but I called--” She stopped abruptly and unconsciously stepped closer to the living room to find her little brother.

“Trixie? Is that you?” a familiar voice asked.

After directing a glare in Bobby's direction, Trixie turned to the speaker. “Mr. Wheeler!” She blushed as he kissed her cheek. “It's good to see you! How are you and Mrs. Wheeler?”

Matthew grinned and gestured to his wife, who was dancing with Edward Lynch. “We're fine, Trixie. As you can see, I can't keep up with that wife of mine.” He smiled fondly as he watched Madeleine and Ed finish the energetic dance and collapse in nearby chairs. “I was just coming to fetch some water for us old folks,” he said, winking.

Helen immediately set about finding the glasses while Matthew returned to the living room. Trixie felt her heart leap in her throat as he called, “Look who's here, kids!”

Trixie found herself the centre of attention as everyone in the living room turned to the kitchen. For a split second, the only sound was the stereo and the television. Then, as if by mutual consent, everyone began talking at once. Trixie entered the room and greeted the adults first, smiling as both Madeleine Wheeler and Elaine Lynch hugged her at the same time. The Lynch twins called greetings from the television area while Trixie flashed an uncertain smile at the silent male members of the Bob-Whites. She was saved the trouble of greeting them when Bobby waved to her from across the room.

“Robert. Andrew. Belden.” Trixie punctuated each word with a menacing step in his direction.

With a sheepish grin, Bobby moved to stand behind the chair in which he had been sitting. “Yes?” he asked, batting his long blond eyelashes.

“Do you recall a certain phone call from this morning?” Trixie eyed Bobby, and he knew that he was caught.

Bobby flashed a smile and began backing away from her. “That’s right!” He tried a small chuckle. “Moms, Dad, Trixie called this morning and said she and Dan would be coming early, if it was okay with you.” Desperately casting about for a diversion, he continued. “Say, where is Dan?”

Helen Belden gave her youngest son a glance that told him that the conversation was far from finished, as Trixie turned to look behind her to the doorway. She frowned and poked her head out the door. Balancing two heavy suitcases and a box of gifts, Dan was apparently experiencing a delusion of male grandeur as he attempted to close the lid of the trunk without putting anything down. Rolling her eyes, she commented, “I'd better go out there before he dumps everything in the snow.” Still wearing her jacket and shoes, Trixie hurried to help him.

Brian, Mart, and Jim rose to their feet slowly and started to follow her, but were stopped by Helen, who looked pointedly from Bobby to the door. The youngest Belden sibling flashed his trademark smile of charm, and hurried to don his shoes. The older males shrugged and turned back to the movie. Brian and Mart pretended not to notice as Jim continued to stare out the door long after it had been established that Trixie and Bobby had the situation under control.

As Trixie and Dan loaded Bobby with the majority of the luggage, Bobby asked benignly, “Well, aren’t you going to thank me for your welcome home party?”

Trixie raised her eyebrows. “Welcome home party? Is that what they call it when no one knows you’re coming?”

Bobby shrugged. “I just thought it would be fun.” He turned to the house and studied it for a moment before turning back to Trixie and Dan. “You don’t think I made it worse, do you?” He paused and mirrored Trixie’s large blue eyes. “I was hoping that if people weren’t expecting you, they might be surprised into showing how much they miss you.”

Trixie set down the small box of baking she was holding to envelop her brother in a hug. “Thanks, Bobby. I don’t know if it was a good idea or not, but it was sweet of you.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before he could turn away. “Thank you.”

Bobby flashed a smile. “Welcome home, guys. Now let’s get in there and have some fun!”

Trixie smiled and started towards the house as Dan and Bobby checked the trunk. Dan loaded the last remaining package onto Bobby and clasped his shoulder.

“Risky move, Rob.”

Bobby nodded soberly. “I just hope it pays off.”

Smiling grimly, Dan commented, “Well, if it doesn’t, at least you’ll be around to help me pick up the pieces.”

Bobby started to laugh until he realized that Dan was completely serious. “You know it, Dan.”

Dan smiled his first genuine smile since he had arrived. “Yup. Now let’s go crash that party.”