Jimmy’s Smile

Author’s note:

This story takes place a few days after “The Tie That Binds”. By order of my faithful editor and friend, Steph H, this story is hereby given a “serious” hanky warning.

January 13, Twenty-three years earlier…

Four-year-old Jimmy Frayne walked into the kitchen, his hair slightly tousled and grape jam smeared all over his freckled cheeks. He watched with interest as his apron-clad mother flipped through the pages of her well-used cookbook.

“Whatcha doin’, Mama?”

Katje looked up and smiled at the sight of her precious son. Never in her life had she thought she could love someone as much as she loved her husband. That changed the instant she saw Jimmy for the first time. The small boy was the spitting image of his father, both in appearance and temperament. Her heart was so full of love for her son that it hurt a little anytime he flashed that lopsided grin of his at her.

“I’m making a cake, little man,” she told him happily. “Would you like to help?”

Jimmy frowned slightly, but it was from deep thought rather than disappointment. “I s’pose I could.” He glanced out the kitchen window at the snow falling heavily from angry-looking clouds. “Ya done told me that I couldn’t go outside and do man things, so since I’m stuck in the house, I might as well do girl-work.”

In spite of her son’s slightly chauvinistic attitude, Katje couldn’t keep from giggling. “Well, I’m honored that you can squeeze me into your busy schedule, kind sir.” She affectionately ruffled Jimmy’s dark red hair. “And since you’re really putting yourself out, I might let you lick the bowl when we’re finished.”

Jimmy grinned in anticipation. “Oh boy!” His expression quickly grew serious as he leaned closer in a conspiratorial manner and whispered, “Don’t tell Daddy, but it’s a lot funner bakin’ cakes than cleanin’ out Blackie’s stall. ‘Specially when I get to lick the bowl!” His emerald green eyes sparkled with merriment.

Katje began gathering the ingredients they would need and placing them within reaching distance on the counter. “While I’m getting things ready, why don’t you wash your hands?”

“Okey-dokey,” Jimmy agreed. He obediently turned on the faucet at the kitchen sink and squirted much more soap than was necessary into his palm. Once all the dirt and germs from his hands had been thoroughly scrubbed away and only freckles remained, he pulled up a stool beside his mother and prepared to “help”.

“What do I do first, Mama?”

“Pour the flour and baking powder in the bowl.” Katje paused to give Jimmy time to follow her directions. She smiled as she watched most of the white mixture make it into the container. Wise woman that she was, she had already taken the chef’s identity into account and had measured out a little extra flour and baking powder.

“Now what?” Jimmy asked, shaking the excess white powder from his chubby fingers onto the once-clean floor.

“Dump the contents of all the smaller bowls into the bigger bowl,” Katje instructed patiently.

Jimmy carefully poured the milk, brown sugar, and milk. However, when he picked up the last tiny container, his interest was immediately piqued. Unable to resist his little-boy curiosity, he held it under his nose and inhaled deeply. His nose immediately wrinkled. “Are you sure you wanna put this junk in your cake, Mama?”

“I do if I want it to taste right,” Katje said with a laugh.

His freckled nose still wrinkled with distaste, Jimmy questioned, “What’s in this bowl anyway?”

“A ground clove; a teaspoon of nutmeg, cocoa, and salt; and a half of teaspoon of ginger,” she answered. “It’s probably the clove that’s making your nose wrinkle like that; it’s kind of strong.”

“I didn’t know that somethin’ so stinky was in chocolate cake,” Jimmy commented, frowning.

An amused smile tugged at the corners of Katje’s lips. “I’m not making a chocolate cake, little man. We’re baking an utrechts lieverdje cake.”

“A what?!” Jimmy’s small upper lip curled in confusion. “I don’t think I wanna eat a liver cake.”

Katje couldn’t keep a chuckle from escaping. “I promise that we’re not making a liver cake. It’s a traditional Dutch sweetheart cake.”

“I don’t think I wanna eat a ‘sweetheart’ cake neither,” Jimmy said with a scowl. “It sounds kinda mushy, an’ mushy stuff is ‘scusting.” He watched with great interest as his mother kneaded the ingredients into dough. “So, why didn’t ya make a chocolate cake, Mama? They’re the bestes’.”

“Because this cake is for me, and I think utrechts lieverdje cakes are the best.” Katje added some candied peel, raisins, and candied cherries to the dough. “Today is my birthday, and my mama always made me a Dutch sweetheart cake for my birthday, so that’s the kind of cake that we’re baking.”

Jimmy’s eyes widened with wonder. “Mamas have birthdays, too?”

“Of course we do,” Katje affirmed through a chuckle. “Every single person in the world has a birthday.”

“Hey, did ya know that I was borned on my birthday?” Jimmy informed her, his tone evidencing his obvious pride.

Katje resisted the urge the laugh and instead assumed a surprised expression. “What a coincidence! I was born on my birthday, too!”

“Wow,” Jimmy murmured in an awestricken tone. “That sure is somethin’.” His tiny ginger brows, shaped exactly like his father’s, slowly arched thoughtfully. “Do mamas get presents on their birthdays like little boys do?”

“Usually,” Katje answered. She put the dough into a greased heart-shaped pan.

Jimmy excitedly shoved his chubby fingers into the pockets of his jeans and pulled out a handful of pennies. “I’ve got money, Mama! Can we go to the store so I can buy you a present?”

Her blue eyes full of love, Katje scooped her small son into a bear hug. “But you’ve already given me the best gift of all, Jimmy.”

Jimmy allowed his head to rest contentedly against his mother’s blonde curls. “I didn’t get you nothin’, Mama. I didn’t know it was your birthday till just now, so I haven’t boughted you anything yet.”

“But you’ve already given me the best present of all.”

Jimmy pulled away slightly and looked up at his mother, his eyes full of questions.

“The best presents in the world are the things in life that make you happy,” Katje told him. She brushed a thick shock of red hair away from Jimmy’s eyes. “And seeing that sweet, lopsided grin of yours makes your Mama the happiest lady on earth. That’s the best gift I could ever receive!”

She was immediately rewarded with one of those very grins, and, as always, her heart skipped a beat. No matter how many birthdays she had, Katje knew for certain that she’d never receive a sweeter gift than Jimmy’s smile.

January 13, Twenty-three years later…

Most of the lights in the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency were out as Trixie and Jim enjoyed a quiet dinner. Both of them had worked late, so Jim had picked up some Chinese food and brought it to the office.

The conversation had lulled a bit as they had started eating, but an idea had popped into Trixie’s brain, an idea which she had to enthusiastically explain at break-neck speed. However, on this particular day, Jim didn’t share her excitement. His mind was a million miles away.

“…and I was thinking that maybe this Saturday we could leave the wedding planning to our mothers and sneak off to a movie. Imagine, a whole day with no talk of cakes, caterers, or anything wedding-related!” After Trixie finished expressing her suggestion in one single breath, she looked up expectantly at her fiancé, anticipating his response. Much to her annoyance, his enthusiasm failed to match hers.

“Mmm-hmm,” he murmured, not even looking up from his pepper steak. It was obvious by his tone that he hadn’t heard a single word that she’d said.

Never one to tolerate being ignored, Trixie clicked her chopsticks together in an irritated fashion, finished chewing her bite of sesame chicken, and then prepared to savor a nibble of revenge.

“Oh, did I tell you that the President called me yesterday?” Trixie made sure to speak clearly and distinctly so Jim could understand every word. “The President of the United States of America, in case you’re wondering.”

“Really? That’s nice, Trix,” Jim replied flatly.

“He told me the CIA wants me to undertake a very important mission.” After a brief pause, she added for good measure, “A very dangerous mission that could prove to be my undoing.”

Instead of immediately launching into a lecture, Jim continued swirling around the rice, vegetables, and strips of steak on his plate. “That’s great news, Shamus.”

Trixie scowled at his continued ambivalence. “Did I mention this mission was so dangerous that I’d probably be brought home in a box?” she added.

“Sounds exciting,” Jim murmured.

“Of course, the President mentioned that I’d be a Mata Hari-type spy and that, no matter how unpleasant it sounded, I’d be forced to seduce some hunky Italian gazillionaire,” Trixie explained in as serious a tone as possible. “How does that sound, Jim?”

Jim looked up, startled by hearing his name. “Sounds good to me, hon. You should go for it.”

With a noisy huff, Trixie angrily whacked him with her chopsticks. “Jim, you haven’t heard a single word I’ve said!”

“Of course I have,” he insisted, his tone wounded.

“Yeah, right,” Trixie snorted. “There’s no way that honorable Jim Frayne would allow me to endanger my life, not to mention sleep with some hot Italian dude, no matter how it would benefit our country.”

“What hot Italian dude?” Jim’s brows knitted above the bridge of his nose.

“The hot Italian dude that you just encouraged me to seduce,” she replied with a smug smile. “I think your exact words were, Sounds good to me, hon. You should go for it.”

Jim shook his head stubbornly. “I would never tell you to go for that.”

“Exactly,” she retorted, smirking. “Which is how I know that you weren’t listening.”

Sighing wearily, Jim grabbed a fistful of his red hair. “You’re right, Trix,” he admitted quietly. “I haven’t been listening, and I’m sorry.”

Trixie studied her fiancé carefully; it was obvious that something was bothering him. She reached over and rubbed his forearm. “That’s okay, sweetie.”

“So, what did you want to talk about?” Jim’s smile failed to reach his eyes, no matter how he tried to muster a real-looking one.

“For starters, I want to talk about what’s bothering you,” she answered. “Did you get another letter from your mysterious pen pal?”

Jim shook his head. “Thankfully, no.”

“Then what is it?” Trixie urged.

She waited patiently for a reply. For a few seconds, it appeared as if she wouldn’t receive one; however, after a full minute, Jim finally responded.

“Today is my mom’s birthday,” he announced with a sad smile. “Or rather, it would’ve been Mom’s birthday…”

“Oh, sweetheart.” Trixie immediately threw her arms around him, not even considering the container of sesame chicken that she’d been balancing on her knee. Unable to think of any words she felt would be able to comfort his hurting heart, she merely held him in her arms.

They sat like that for several minutes, neither speaking a word. Trixie quietly offered strength by stroking his hair, rubbing his back, and nestling close to him. Although she was frustrated that she couldn’t do more to help, she had no idea how her actions were actually soothing Jim’s troubled soul.

After what seemed like an eternity, Jim finally spoke, his voice husky with emotion. “I miss her so much it hurts,” he choked out.

Since both of her parents were alive and well, Trixie didn’t pretend to understand. Instead of hollow declarations of how she “knew exactly how he felt”, she merely squeezed him tighter and just listened.

“Knowing I’ll never again feel the touch of her soft hand on my forehead, see the way her eyes crinkled when she laughed, hear her say ‘I love you’, smell the perfume she’d wear for Dad…”

Tears formed in Trixie’s own eyes, and she breathed a quick prayer of thanksgiving that her own mother was alive and well, and only a few miles away at Crabapple Farm.

“It seems like yesterday that we were making her a cake for her birthday,” Jim cried. “But it also seems like a million years ago.”

His words were jumbled, but Trixie understood what he meant.

“And although I can remember some things, I don’t remember her as well as I used to. I try to remember, but my memories are fading through the years. I’m afraid that…” A sob caught in his throat. “I’m afraid that someday I’ll forget her altogether.”

At that, he completely broke down.

“Oh, my love,” Trixie murmured softly as she brushed her lips against his cheek. “No matter how foggy your memories are, you’ll never forget someone as special as your mom or your dad. They’ll always be with you.”

“It doesn’t seem like it,” Jim admitted sadly. “All I have left of them are my memories, and now that they’re fading, I’m going to lose my parents completely. I only wish I had more than just one picture of them, but everything that should’ve been mine was snatched up by Jonesy.”

Trixie’s breath caught in her throat. For several days, the rings she’d found in Albany had been burning the proverbial hole in her pocket. She’d planned to give them to Jim on the night of their engagement party, but suddenly, that seemed much too far away.

“I think I can help.”

Wordlessly, she stood up from the small sofa in the reception area and walked over to the safe in the main office. It didn’t take her long to open it and pull out a small box.

“I was going to give you this when we officially announce our engagement, but in honor of your mother’s birthday, I think I’ll give it to you now instead,” she said as she sat back down beside him. “Your parents would want you to have this.”

Jim wiped a large hand against his eyes to brush away the tears that were clouding his vision. He stared curiously at the tiny package, totally confused about what was inside.

“Open it,” Trixie whispered, handing the gift to him. Her china blue eyes were wide with excitement.

Wordlessly, Jim loosened the gold ribbon which kept the box closed, and opened the lid to reveal two wedding bands. His eyes still bleary from crying, he studied Trixie’s gift, wondering why she had given him a set of rings.

“Wedding bands,” he replied, attempting to muster some enthusiasm. However, he couldn’t keep the confusion from his voice. “They’re… nice.”

Trixie’s eyes narrowed as she considered his reaction. “Don’t you like them?” she asked in a small voice.

“Of course I do,” he insisted. “It’s just that I thought we were going to pick out our rings together, Trix.”

Although her first reaction was disappointment, it finally dawned on her that although Jim was looking at the rings, he still wasn’t seeing them.

“If you look hard, I think you’ll know why I bought them.”

After brushing away the last of his tears, Jim plucked the two rings from the box and held them up to his face. Confusion turned into wonder as he saw the rings for the first time.

“Oh, God,” he murmured. His hands began trembling, causing the rings to quiver in his palm. After drawing a few deep breaths, he turned to Trixie in amazement. “Oh, God! Surely these aren’t… They can’t be… They just couldn’t be…”

A smile filled Trixie’s entire face as she nodded happily at him. “They are.”

Jim shook his head in complete disbelief. “Are you sure?”

“Look at the inscriptions inside the bands.”

Hastily, Jim scanned the insides of the rings. Something between a gasp and a hiccup erupted from his throat. “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts,” he panted. Overcome by emotion, he closed his eyes and clasped the rings to his heart. When he could finally speak, he asked, “Where did you find them?”

“In Albany.” Trixie watched happily as Jim opened his hand so he could reverently trace the smaller circular piece of gold with his index finger. “Honey stopped at an antique store, and I did a little exploring while I was waiting for her. I just found them.”

“You really are the best detective in the whole world,” Jim burst out through happy tears.

Trixie blushed prettily. “Well, I wouldn’t say that. If you ask me, the rings just sort of jumped out at me, like they wanted me to find them. It was a miracle, really.”

“I just can’t believe it,” he murmured, still shaking his head in disbelief.

“Do you like them?”

Jim fastened his intense gaze upon her. “Apart from you, these rings are the best gift anyone’s ever given me. I couldn’t love them more.” Closing his fingers around the precious bands so he wouldn’t drop them, he gathered Trixie in his arms and held her so close that she could feel his heartbeat. After a minute or two, he murmured, “If I had a million years, I’d never be able to thank you enough.”

“Making you happy is all the thanks I need.” Trixie pulled away slightly and rested her hand along his cheek. “I love you with all my heart, James Winthrop Frayne the Second.”

“And I love you with all my heart, Beatrix Helen Belden. I don’t think it’s possible for me to love you more.” He leaned over and kissed her tenderly. “I don’t deserve someone like you.”

Trixie tossed back her curls and assumed a flirtatious expression. “I am rather special, aren’t I?”

“Yes, you are,” Jim agreed with a chuckle. The glint of gold drew his eyes downward, and he found himself gazing fondly at the pieces of jewelry he held in his hand. To some, those rings were merely pieces of gold; to Jim, they were pieces of Heaven.

Suddenly, his chin began to quiver as he ran his finger along the engravings of his mother’s band.

“What is it, Jim?” Trixie asked.

“I was just remembering how Mom used to take off her wedding band and put it on the windowsill whenever she washed dishes,” he recollected. “It was a little bit too big for her tiny finger, and she was always worried that she’d lose it.”

He smiled as his attention shifted to the band that had belonged to his father. “On the other hand, Dad’s ring was too tight, but he almost never took it off. I only recall him removing it once, when he was tinkering on a car engine. Dad wasn’t much of a mechanic to begin with, and Mom had heard about some man getting his finger ripped off in an engine, so she made him take off his wedding band before he even opened the hood of our old Chevy.” Jim chuckled at the memory. “I’ll never forget what that patch of skin under his ring looked like. The rest of his finger was tan, except for the white indention the band had made. He showed it to me and said it was proof that Mom had branded him after they got married.”

Trixie giggled along with him. She curled up even closer to him as he recounted the events of the past. Since Jim rarely told stories about his parents, this was truly a special moment.

“And one time Mom thought she lost her wedding band.” Jim rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “She tore the whole house apart looking for that ring, and the funny thing was that it had been in her jewelry box the entire time. Dad had seen it in the windowsill that morning and thought she’d misplaced it, so he put it back where he thought it belonged.”

“Sounds like something that would happen to us,” Trixie commented with a laugh.

“And then I remember…” Jim abruptly stopped speaking and turned to Trixie, his green eyes misty. “I remember, Trix. I remember! I haven’t forgotten them.”

She lovingly combed her fingers through his hair. “Of course you haven’t, sweetheart. Sometimes it seems like you’ve forgotten, but it doesn’t take long for everything to come back to you. I told you that you could never forget someone as special as your mother and father.”

“They were pretty special, weren’t they?”

“They had to be, to raise a son like you,” she told him, her eyes full of open admiration.

Jim reached over and clasped Trixie’s hand. “I can’t wait until I can slip my mother’s ring onto your hand and make you my wife.”

“I know it’s only a few months away, but it feels like an eternity,” she commented with an impatient sigh.

“But once it happens, we’ll have an eternity together,” Jim promised.

“Sounds good to me,” Trixie murmured. She tilted her head upward and kissed his neck. “Our only problem will be that eternity just isn’t long enough for me to love you.”

As he was giving “his” curl a tender tug, a mischievous twinkle caused his bright green eyes to sparkle. “Hey, I’ve got an idea.”

“Does this idea involve a couch, a dimmer switch, and some soft music playing in the background?” Trixie questioned with a devilish waggle of her sandy brows.

“Although I have to admit that that sounds pretty good, I had something else in mind,” Jim chuckled. “My idea involves flour, brown sugar, and candied cherries.”

Instead of wiggling all around, this time Trixie’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Well, my idea was a bit more conventional, but I’m always willing to try new things.” With a shrug, she stood up from her seat on the couch, and then said, “Let’s go experiment.”

“I wasn’t thinking what you thought I was thinking,” Jim teasingly scolded as he playfully swatted her backside.

Trixie fluttered her eyelashes and heaved a dramatic sigh. “What a pity.”

Jim nervously cleared his throat as he— for the millionth time— reminded himself that they would be married in less than six months, and after that they’d have a license to do anything they pleased. “Actually, I thought we’d pay a visit to the Manor House,” he said, changing the subject.

“The Manor House?” Trixie quirked a curious brow as she considered his suggestion. “Why do you want to go there?”

“I thought we might do a little baking.” Jim flashed her one of his most persuasive crooked smiles. “Have you ever baked a traditional Dutch sweetheart cake?”

It was impossible for Trixie to resist that grin. “No, I can’t say that I have.”

“How about I impress you with my baking skills?”

It was on the tip of Trixie’s tongue to say that she hadn’t been aware he possessed those particular skills, but the thought of Jim in an apron distracted her. Instead, she cast him a sultry smile. “That sounds like an offer I can’t refuse.”

No further discussion was needed as the couple walked to the front door, fingers intertwined.

Millions of miles away, beyond the clouds, the stars, and even the solar system, a great cloud of witnesses stood on the shores of Heaven, beholding the faces of their loved ones. Among the white-robed saints who had passed on before, a tall redheaded man and a petite blonde took up their post. As they had done for years, they watched their Jim. His shoulders were broader, he was several inches taller, and his features had matured, but he was still their little boy. Longing to hold their baby just once more, Win and Katje Frayne held hands as they peered down at their son and his beloved. Though she was yearning to touch him, a sigh of utter contentment escaped Katje’s lips when she saw Jim’s smile.

A single tear slid down her cheek.

“Happy birthday, my love,” Win whispered tenderly.

Katje looked up at him, her blue eyes misting with tears. “Jimmy’s smile… It’s just what I wanted.”

“It’s what I try to give you every year.” Win’s expression grew cloudy as he thought about the trials their son had endured through the years after his death. “Of course, sometimes there was no smile to be found…”

“Thank God that’s changed since he met Trixie,” Katje commented.

“Yes, his smile’s been a lot easier to find now that he’s in love,” Win agreed with a smile of his own.

“And the rings…” Katje turned to her husband, her eyes full of joy. “I’m so glad Jimmy finally has our rings. Even though we can’t be there, those wedding binds will forever bind our hearts with theirs.”

Win nodded. “It took some doing on my part, but with the help of a few angels, those wedding bands finally ended up in the right hands.” He chuckled in amusement. “The best part is that nobody down there suspects a thing; they all think that it was one big coincidence that Trixie found those rings.”

Tears glistened in Katje’s eyes as she beheld the obvious love her son and his fiancée shared. “I’m so thankful that they’re our second chance. I only hope they get to enjoy their love longer than we did.”

“That’s out of our control, my love,” Win murmured as he placed a soft kiss on the back of his wife’s hand.

“You’re right.” With that, Katje reminded herself that her son was in good hands and vowed to enjoy the bliss of witnessing her son’s happiness.

Even amongst the splendor of Heaven, there was still nothing sweeter to Katje Frayne than Jimmy’s smile.

Credits:

First and foremost, I must send out a huge THANK YOU to my lovely friend, editor, and cheerleader, Steph H. I decided at the very last minute to submit this as my Jixaversary story, and Steph agreed to edit it without even batting an eye. Quick as a flash she finished her task, and as always, her insight was invaluable. I love you, my friend!

Time sure flies when you’re having fun! Believe it or not, this story has been posted in commemoration of my third year of being a Jix Author. Where has the time gone? Thank you, Cathy P, for allowing me to be counted among such a stellar group of writers. I count it an honor to bear such a title.

Thank you to my other fabulous editors, Trish and Kaye, for working on the other story which was going to be my Jixaversary submission. However, that one is a multipart mystery, and I felt it would be wise to finish it completely before I began posting.

As many of you know, I lost my mother to Multiple Sclerosis when I was just fourteen. Her death has had a tremendous impact on my life, and is probably the reason I feel such a kinship to Jim. I suppose having Jim deal with his feelings is my method of therapy. For that reason, this story was near and dear to my heart.

Thank you so much to all the readers who had expressed their excitement about this story. I hadn’t intended to post it so soon, but Katje Frayne had other ideas. And once Win chimed in with her, well, you know this was what I HAD to write. I hope this story met each of your expectations.

Utrechts lieverdje is indeed a traditional Dutch sweetheart cake. In case you’re interested, here is the recipe:

500 grams flour
1 tsp baking powder
400 grams brown sugar
1 tsp ground clove
1 tsp cardamom or nutmeg
½ tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cacao
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
500 ml milk
120 grams candied peel variety
30 grams candied cherries
50 grams raisins
100 grams icing sugar
1 tsp kirsch

Combine flour and baking powder in a tall bowl. Mix in the salt, brown sugar and milk, clove, cardamom, ginger, and cacao and knead it into a cohesive dough. Wash the raisins and pat them dry. Put two tablespoons of candied peel, one tablespoon of raisins and one tablespoon of candied cherries to the side and mix in all the remainder. Put the dough into a greased, (heart-shaped) form and bake for about 90 minutes into a pre-heated oven at 175C/340F. Take the cake out, let it settle for about five minutes, remove the form and allow the ‘lieverdje’ to cool on a cake rack. Coat the top of the cake with a glaze made the following way: mix a few drops of kirsch (or water) into the icing sugar. Garnish the glaze with the left-over candied peel, raisings and cherries.

The Cameo does not guarantee that this cake will taste good. J

“Jimmy’s Smile” technically belongs to Cathy P, as she was the inventor of Jim’s most beloved feature.

For the record, the President has not asked Trixie to seduce some hunky Italian gazillionaire. I didn’t want there to be any questions about that. *wink*

You can read about “the cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews 12:1.

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