Previously in the Summer Secrets universe… In the first story, the girls plot to get the boys into romantic situations, while the boys plot to avoid them. Meanwhile, each group sets up a clubhouse and Trixie tries to solve a mystery of Jim’s behaviour. In the second story, the boys are employed by Mr. Wheeler on a project of his, building The Pavilion, on the far side of the lake, Brian keeps his plan to go to Africa a secret and Di and Mart break up. Before the third story starts, Brian breaks up with Honey, Di gets together with Dan and Honey starts dating Mart.

In the third story, a mystery package arrives for Trixie directly after her high school graduation. The mystery that ensues leads the Bob-Whites to Kentucky where Jim and Trixie lose their heads in the face of the curse and elope. They later disprove the curse and decide to keep their marriage a secret. The fourth story deals with Honey’s attempts to find out a romantic secret that Mart is keeping from her and Jim’s efforts to deal with a blackmailer. During the fifth story, Trixie inherits a house, Mart and Honey get married and Dan and Di break up. Between the fifth and sixth stories, Honey and Mart discovered that getting pregnant was not so hard after all and Di begins a relationship with Eric Johnson, whom she originally met at Mead’s Mountain.

In the sixth story, Brian suffers a set-back when he is in a car accident shortly after having surgery, Lucius Englefield’s legacy provides a mystery that Trixie cannot solve, the blackmailer’s actions help push Jim and Trixie’s relationship to breaking point and Honey and Mart’s baby son is born. The seventh story sees Diana and Eric move to Montreal, the summerhouse at Ten Acres destroyed by a falling tree, Brian’s decision to abandon his studies, rebuilding beginning at Ten Acres, Dan and Di enlisting Indira’s help with getting Brian back on track and a scheme to put a stop to the blackmailer.

In the eighth story, Trixie quit her job and moved to Kentucky to work in her charitable foundation, Indira convinced Brian to father her child, Jim convinced Indira to make arrangements in case something happened to her and Brian reached a point where he is able to recommence his studies. Which brings us to the present… Another year has passed and Trixie is now twenty-four years old.

Part One

She Said

“Trixie! You are a positive slave-driver!” Liv complained with good humour, as she picked through the items her boss had just dumped in her in-tray. “I just finished cleaning that out.”

Trixie shrugged. “Better in your tray than on my desk and you know it. One day, when I leave here, they’ll find all the things I’ve lost in that mess.”

The telephone rang and Liv picked it up, rattling off the standard greeting.

“If it isn’t the lost love of my life!” a male voice replied. “Are you ready to run away from the drudgery and join me for a life of adventure?”

Liv suppressed a laugh. “Let me check my schedule. Hmm… no, the slave-driver has me booked up this week. But ask me again next week, my darling, and I’ll see if she’ll let me off the hook then.”

“You’ll forget me,” he accused, with mock hurt. “That woman keeps you so busy that you don’t have time to think of me.”

“Oh, no. I have your photo in a frame by my bed and I kiss it every night before I sleep.” She gave a huge and very fake sigh. “It’s not the same, but it’s the best I can do, under the terrible circumstances.”

“Give me that,” Trixie demanded, laughing. “What do you want this time, Dan?”

“For you to release my love from your foul bondage,” he answered.

She snorted. “You used that line the week before last. And for about the three-hundredth time, you’re not a pirate, or a knight in shining armour, or any other romantic figure, for that matter.”

“That’s what you think.”

“No, that’s what I know.”

“Live in ignorance, if that’s what you want,” he replied. “But I was calling to ask if you knew where Mart had put the key to the lock on the clubhouse.”

“Dan! I live in Kentucky. How could I possibly know that? And have you considered asking Mart? Or his wife?”

“I’ve already asked everyone local. Mart can’t remember and he never told Honey.”

“Well, you’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel if you’re asking me!” She sighed. “So, was there anything I could actually help you with?”

“Yeah, actually there is.” He hesitated a moment. “If your mother asks you to come home for a visit, can you agree? Please? Even if the reason she gives doesn’t really sound like much?”

Her brow creased. “That sounds kind of ominous. Is there something wrong?”

Another pause. “I don’t think so. Not with your mother, at least.”

“Then why would she be asking? And why do you think I’d say no?”

“You’d say no because you’re intent on keeping my love in your foul bondage,” he quipped, with the note of teasing back in his voice.

Trixie let out a growl. “If I could, I’d keep you in foul bondage.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” he answered.

“Far away from me,” she amended. “Without a telephone.”

“You truly are a scoundrel, but one day I’ll rescue Liv from your clutches.” A moment later, he sobered. “Just say you’ll come. It could be important.”

She sighed. “Okay. If she asks, I’ll come.”

“Thanks, Trix. Talk to you soon.”

He Said

“Brian! It’s good to see you.” A smile lit up Indira’s face and the baby in her arms gurgled in delight. “Come on in.”

He did so, taking a seat where she indicated and accepting a cup of coffee – but not until after rejecting chai tea and a strange, green concoction with an unpleasant smell. “What did you want to talk to me about?” he asked, as they sat together, each sipping a drink.

“I thought you might like to see this handsome little man again. I was thinking that we make a good collaborative effort. Don’t you agree?”

Brian considered the baby, whom Indira had named Madoc, and shrugged. “He seems to have all of his features in the right place.”

Indira slapped him across the arm. “He’s a beautiful boy. I’m thinking of trying for another one.”

“Is that your way of asking for another donation?” He quirked an eyebrow at her, seeing that he was correct.

“Soon,” she answered. “You’re up for that, aren’t you? Do you think Jim will be willing to do his part again?”

“You can ask him; or I’ll ask him if you want,” Brian answered. “And, yes, I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t help you again. You’re probably right: we do make a good collaborative effort. Though I’m not sure about your taste in names.”

Indira rolled her eyes. “I told you already; it’s an old name, a Welsh one. It means ‘fortunate’. And it expresses exactly how I feel to have him.”

Brian shrugged and let the argument go. “You’re doing well with him.”

“Thanks,” she answered. “I’m really happy with how this is working out, Brian. Thank you for your part in it.”

He shrugged. “I didn’t really do all that much, did I?”

“You manfully overcame your prudish side,” she teased. “That was something.”

He shook his head. “How many times do I need to say that I don’t have a prudish side?”

“Repetition does not make statements true, no matter how often public figures try that one.”

He smiled and let the argument go. The baby made a sound. With a jolt, Brian noticed a resemblance between him and one of Brian’s own baby photos. Little Madoc’s expression changed and the similarity disappeared.

“What is it?” Indira asked, in a low voice.

Brian looked up at her and shook his head. “Nothing.”

His friend did not challenge him, but her disbelief was clear. In that moment, Brian renewed his resolve not to get too close. Over the months, he had pushed down the uncomfortable feelings this situation gave him, but that instant of recognition left him with an uneasy feeling. He only hoped it would not last.

She Said

Helen looked up from her dinner preparations as she heard a car pull up in the drive. A glance at the clock confirmed her instinct that it was too early for Peter to be home. Further, the fact that it stopped where it did indicated a visitor. Footsteps crossed the back porch and someone tapped on the door.

“Moms? Are you home?”

“Come in, Mart,” she answered, smiling.

“I only have a minute,” he explained, “but Honey and I wanted to invite you and Dad over for dinner one night this week. Friday, maybe? Or Saturday?”

“Either of those would be fine,” she replied. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather come here? I wouldn’t want to put Honey to any extra work.”

He hesitated. “I think Honey really wants to do this for you. And it’s best if she keeps busy.”

“She does have a little boy to look after,” she reminded him. “That’s a lot of work.”

Mart nodded. “Yeah. But one of the women in her mothers and toddlers group has a boy the same age as Joshie, another smaller kid and another on the way. Honey’s going to the baby shower on Sunday.”

Enlightenment dawned for Helen. “Well, if you’re sure you’d like us to come to you, name the day and time and we’ll be there.”

Her son smiled. “Thanks, Moms.”

They went on to settle the arrangements and Mart left. As she whisked up some dressing for the salad, she contemplated the unspoken message in her son’s words. It was no news to Helen that something was wrong with Honey. The signs had been unmistakeable for a long time, now. Mart had mentioned once or twice that she was lonely. Joining the mothers’ group had improved things for a time, but now it seemed that the real problem was coming to light.

“But I don’t see what I can do about it,” Helen mused aloud. “It’s not like I can solve the difficulty. And I’m not a good substitute for friends her own age.”

That last phrase echoed in her mind. Now that she thought about it, hints had been dropped her way several times in the last week or two. Most recently, Dan had mentioned how good it would be if someone could convince Trixie to visit.

“Well, that’s something I could do,” she decided. “It may not be much, but it’s better than nothing. I just need to think of a good enough reason.”

He Said

Pigeons scattered as Joshie ran at them, squealing in delight. He spun around, chasing after the few that had walked away, rather than flown. A smile teased at Honey’s lips for just a moment, faltering as she noticed the three-year-old straying too close to a passer-by who held a tiny infant.

“Carefully, buddy,” Mart called. “Back this way, please.”

Joshie gave the woman barely a glance and wheeled around towards his father. Pigeons forgotten, he began his impression of a car, brrrm-ing across the stretch of grass that was known as the Town Square.

Mart watched his wife’s gaze follow the woman with the baby. He could see the quiet longing in her face and the disappointment at their failure to add a second child to their family. It saddened him to think so, but he was beginning to see that their only option was some kind of medical intervention. Honey had always been so opposed to the idea, but since nature had not taken its course over the last couple of years, perhaps it was time to give medicine a try.

“Is it time that you talked to your doctor about this?” he asked, in a quiet voice that only she could hear. Even so, Honey jumped slightly.

“About what?”

Mart looked at her and then back in the direction in which she had been looking. “About why you haven’t fallen pregnant yet.”

Honey’s expression altered at once, becoming more closed. “I thought we agreed to just wait and see.”

Her husband nodded. “Yes, but that was a year ago. I think you should go to the doctor, get checked out. Maybe there’s something simple they can do to help us. It doesn’t have to mean lots of horrible medical procedures.”

“But what if it does mean that?” Honey whispered, her voice sounding harsh. “I don’t want to go through those things.”

Mart kissed her forehead. “It’s your choice, Honey. No one is going to make you have any procedure that you don’t want. At least find out if there’s anything wrong. Please?”

She sighed and leaned against him. “Why are you asking me this?”

“Because I don’t want to see you unhappy,” he replied, without hesitation. “This situation is making you unhappy and I just want to see you smiling. I want you to have what you want.”

Honey let out another sigh, this one somewhat sadder. “Okay, I’ll go – but I’m not going to change my mind.”

“Thank you,” he answered. “And I’d never dream of trying to make you.”

His attention at that moment was drawn to their son, whose whole face lit up to see an enormous and unruly dog approaching.

“For now, though, I’d better look after the child that we have.” He swept the protesting child up into his arms. “How about an ice cream, Joshie?”

All thoughts of the dog forgotten, the little boy let out a cheer.

“That’s my boy,” Mart noted with a grin. Even Honey had to smile.

She Said

Trixie frowned at the financial report in front of her as the telephone in the outer office began to ring. Figures were never her strong point and the noise was proving more of a distraction than she could handle.

“Can you get that, Trixie?” Liv called through the doorway. “I’m kind of tied up.”

With a sigh, Trixie picked up the receiver and jabbed the button to intercept the call. With an effort, she added some enthusiasm to her greeting.

“Oh, sweetheart, I didn’t expect to get you directly.”

“Hi, Moms.” She smiled. “You wouldn’t have, but apparently Liv is busy. I was trying to get my head around the month’s budget.”

“I’m sorry to disturb you, then. I won’t take long.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Trixie assured her. “I wasn’t getting anywhere. What can I help you with?”

Her mother sighed. “This is going to sound very silly, but I need to ask you to do something for me. Your brothers are all busy working, and Honey’s got Joshie to look after – and if she brings him, then we get nothing done at all – and your father just isn’t all that good at these kinds of things.”

“What is it, Moms?” Trixie asked, perplexed.

“I think your father mentioned the Sleepyside businesses that were damaged in the truck crash yesterday, when you talked to him last night? There’s a benefit next weekend, for the workers who’ve lost their jobs. The garden club are holding a stall at it, but two of our members have had to pull out. I’d like to try to make extra to make up for that, if I can, but I can’t do it alone.”

Trixie frowned. Her first instinct was to give an excuse, but she remembered the commitment she had made to Dan. Instead, she asked, “What were you planning to make?”

“Oh, several different things. Preserves, jellies, cakes… whatever I can think of that will sell.” Helen sighed. “They’re talking about demolishing one of the buildings, and the business wasn’t insured. One of the employees affected has a wife who’s in hospital and three little children to look after – and they were living in the apartment above the store. They’ve lost everything.”

“That’s terrible,” Trixie answered. She closed her eyes. “I suppose I can get away for a few days. I’ll probably have to drive up, though.”

“Any help you can give me would be wonderful,” her mother replied. “Even if it’s just the day before, when all of the cakes will need to be made.”

“I’m sure I can get there before then. I’d better get on with my work, though, if I want to get there at all. I’ll let you know when I’ll be there.”

“Thank you, Trixie. I really appreciate it.”

They exchanged goodbyes and she put the receiver down, staring at it for a few more moments. Shaking her head, she wandered into the outer office and began poking at the potted plant on the windowsill.

“What did it ever do to you?” Liv asked, coming over and swatting Trixie’s hand away.

Abandoning the plant, Trixie turned to Liv. “I need to take a trip to Sleepyside. I’m not sure how long I’ll be away. And I’m not sure how the foundation is going to keep running while I’m gone.”

“We’ll be fine.” Liv waved off the concern. “You’re not that important.”

Trixie grinned. “Thanks a lot.”

“You’re welcome.” The other woman grabbed a schedule. “So, when are you leaving?”

“First thing in the morning, I guess.” She leaned in and examined the calendar, jabbing it with a finger. “If I aim to be back then… could that work?”

Liv frowned. “You know, there’s not all that much happening. I don’t think it would be a problem, even if we were down two people.”

Revelation flashed across Trixie’s face. “That’s a brilliant idea.”

“You’re going to sack someone? That’s a great idea, Trixie.” Liv rolled her eyes. “What’s next? Russian Roulette? I’d offer you my pistol, only I don’t have one.”

Trixie shook her head. “Two words: Road trip.”

“You’re wanting me to play hooky from work to go on a road trip with you?”

“Yes! Wait, no. I’m the boss. It’s not playing hooky when the boss tells you to go on a road trip with her.” She added a persuasive note to her voice. “You’ll get to meet lover boy.”

Liv indulged in one of her exaggerated sighs. “How could I say no to that? You’re on.”

“Great! Now, can you just adjust the work schedule so that everything’s covered while we’re away? It’s short notice, especially for tomorrow, so you’d better call everyone affected and make sure they’re okay with that.”

“You’re making me do that?” Liv cried, laughing.

Trixie grinned. “I was going to make you do it anyway, when it was just me. I’m the boss, remember?”

Liv groaned. “Yes, I remember. Every time you get one of these brilliant ideas, I remember.”

“Great,” Trixie called over her shoulder, as she returned to her office. “I’m just going to clear off my desk and I’ll be ready to leave.”

“Clear off your desk?” Liv shuddered. “Straight into my in-tray, I bet. I’ll be here to midnight at this rate.”

He Said

Saturday afternoon found Brian and Jim relaxing in the loft of the barn at Ten Acres, enjoying the cool breeze that blew through the window and the solitude that came with no one knowing where they were. Since his classes ended for the summer, Brian had been coming here most weekends. He felt like it did him good and hoped that Jim benefited from it, too.

“Have you seen Indira much lately?” Brian asked.

Jim shook his head. “Other than right after he was born, I think I’ve only seen her once since she had Madoc. Is she all right?”

He nodded. “She’s fine, so far as I know. She wants another baby, actually. She wants to know if you’re willing to repeat the arrangements from last time.”

Jim looked up. “Are you repeating your arrangements?” His friend nodded. “So long as it’s your biological child that I’m claiming responsibility for, I’m willing to do so.”

“Thanks.” A grateful smile lit Brian’s face. “You know, I thought you were out of your mind when you suggested this in the first place, but you were right. It’s a comfort to know that there are arrangements in place.”

His friend shrugged. “You never know what’s around the corner.”

Brian was quiet for a long time. “I don’t think I could ever have guessed that we would be in the places we are, now, if you’d asked me a few years back – say, the summer that we set this place up. If there was such a thing as time travel and someone came back and told me, I’d think they were making it up.”

Jim nodded, looking glum. “I’d think they were making up the worst-case scenario. I never thought things could turn out this badly.”

For a long moment, Brian looked at his friend. “Just let go of her, Jim. The rest of your life is close to what you wanted. Sure, you’re a little behind where you wanted to be, but so am I.”

“You’re going to achieve all of your dreams.” Jim shrugged. “I don’t think I even know what mine are any more.”

Brian let out a snort. “I’m going to achieve my career dreams. I missed the boat on the personal ones. But I’ve moved past that now and I don’t think I really lost as much as I thought I had.”

“You and Indira…”

“Are just friends,” Brian finished for him. “But that doesn’t mean there won’t be someone else in the future.” He shook his head. “Can you really imagine me with Indira? I don’t think the stars can align quite that far, no matter how hard you squint.”

Jim smiled softly. “No, maybe not. She’d make wild, spur-of-the-moment decisions, that threw you for a loop.”

“And she’d enjoy the look on my face when I found out.” Brian’s tone was dry.

“It would be entertaining for the rest of us, that’s for sure.” Jim chuckled. “But, no. You’re right. There’s no way that you and she could work.”

“Sometimes I wish that there could be,” Brian admitted in a low voice. “Mostly, I’m glad that there’s no overt attraction between us, but sometimes….”

Jim nodded and fell silent.

Brian cleared his throat. “Actually, I’ve been on a few dates in the last couple of months. Nothing that’s gotten past the second or third date, but I’m starting to feel a bit more positive about it. I haven’t wanted to compare any of those women to Honey, either favourably or unfavourably.”

“I’d say that was a good sign,” Jim answered, carefully. “Do you see yourself starting a steady relationship?”

The other man shrugged. “If I meet someone I like, who likes me and who has a relatively compatible life and outlook? Sure. But I’m not searching so hard that I’ll accept just anyone. I don’t think I have the time or the inclination for a meaningless affair.”

Jim did not answer, but sat staring through the open window at the waving tree-branches outside. Brian could not help but wonder whether his past indiscretions were the subject of Jim’s thoughts, or if he was thinking of his own.

She Said

As she walked through her apartment, Di made a mental inventory of all the things she needed to do. Some of the things here needed to be packed. Others, there, should be donated to some local charity, or sold. A very few she wanted to destroy. She gathered those together and placed them on the kitchen counter for later consideration.

The night before, she and Eric had accepted the obvious, that their three-year relationship had dwindled to almost nothing. A part of her was shocked at how little regret she felt, while another pointed out that the real break-up had happened months before and that they had just been going through the motions.

Almost as soon as they had parted for the last time, Di came to the conclusion that there was no reason for her to stay in Montreal. A fresh start was what she needed. She had begun, that morning, to look for a job in New York State, preferably somewhere relatively close to Sleepyside. Her work day had been busy, but she had taken the time to enquire whether any internal transfers might be available. Now, in the evening, she felt the need to get started on the cleaning and packing process as she waited for a phone call which might help her on the first step in her journey.

“I’ll need somewhere to live,” she mused, aloud. “And a job. I need to quit the job I have. I wonder how long is left on my lease?”

She turned to the shelves where she kept her DVDs and began to sort them into piles. The first shelf was empty and the second halfway done when the phone rang. A thrill of nervousness ran through her as she went to pick it up.

“Is this Diana Lynch?” a vaguely familiar voice enquired.

Di answered in the affirmative and the woman identified herself as their company’s recruiter from New York, adding, “We met a few weeks ago when I was in Montreal conducting interviews.”

A smile bloomed on Di’s face and she immediately felt more confident. She settled in for a long talk, hopeful that this would lead her home.

He Said

Dan called a greeting as he crossed the back lawn of Crabapple Farm. In the vegetable patch, Helen Belden straightened and smiled. She had called him earlier, with a plea for help with something her husband had stashed in an inaccessible spot, and Dan had agreed to stop by.

“Sorry to have bothered you. I can’t imagine what Peter was thinking.” She pulled off her gloves and dropped them in her basket. “It’s a warm day. Can I get you a drink, first?”

He thanked her and shook his head. “I’m fine. Where are the things you need moved?”

“Right this way,” she answered, ushering him through the house to a set of built-in closets that stretched all the way to the ceiling. “It’s that box, right at the top. If you can just wiggle it out, I can move it to where I need it.”

Helen set out a small step-ladder, which she pulled out of the bottom of the closet, and Dan climbed up. He reached up to the top shelf and, after a certain amount of manoeuvring, pulled down the plastic crate she indicated, labelled ‘Guest Linen’. He refolded and stashed away the ladder. Instead of putting the box down as directed, he moved it into a comfortable position to carry.

“To the guest room?” he asked, walking in that direction.

Helen followed along, protesting that she could manage.

“What else do you need help with?” he asked, as he set the box down.

She shook her head. “Once I have the bed made up and a few of these other supplies in place, everything is ready.” She glanced at her fingernails. “I just need to get cleaned up first.”

“I’ll stay and help,” he offered. “I’ve got a few spare minutes.”

“Thank you, Dan.”

She hurried off to wash her hands. Just as she had them covered in soap, the telephone began to ring.

“Can you pick that up for me please?” she called. “Tell them I’ll be there in a moment.”

Dan nodded and snatched up the phone. “Belden residence.”

“Oh! My love, I didn’t know you’d be there,” Liv greeted. “Unless my undying love for you has caused me to dial the wrong number by mistake?”

He smiled. “No, my darling. I’ll hand you over to Mrs. Belden in a moment. She’s just drying her hands.”

“I just called to let her know that we’ll be there in about half an hour.”

“I’ll let her know. And I’ll be sure to come back and greet you. The slave-driver isn’t treating you too harshly, is she? Do I need to deal with her?”

Liv sighed. “I wish that you could, but it is my destiny to suffer under her tyranny. See you in half an hour.”

Helen entered the room just as Dan put the phone down.

“That was Liv,” he explained, giving her the message. “Let me help you with the guest room, then I’ll have to go and see Uncle Bill for a few minutes. I’ll try to get back here and see Trixie later.”

“Thank you, Dan. I really appreciate it.”

“No problem,” he answered.

Continue to part two.