When Lacey came home from school, John met her at the door and told her he needed to speak to her. She was curious but also glad because she had been wondering what was going on lately. He hadn't at all been like himself.
"You've probably noticed I haven't been around much lately and I wanted to explain why and tell you how sorry I am," he said frankly.
"You've probably noticed I haven't been around much lately and I wanted to explain why and tell you how sorry I am," he said frankly.
"Good. I was wondering why."
"And I bet you were a little sad, too," he acknowledged. When she nodded, he continued. "You remember I said I was dating a woman named June?"
"Yeah. Is she the reason you've been acting funny, daddy? I was afraid it was because I did something you didn't like."
"No, it wasn't anything you did at all, okay? Do you understand that?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Well, I want you to know that June lied to me about something and it kind of hurt me."
"It hurt your heart."
"Yes, it did. So, see, it wasn't anything you did at all. But I made a big mistake when my heart was hurting. Instead of talking to Aunt Olivia about it, I kind of... I don't know... I took a break, I guess. And I wasn't here for you. I'm really sorry."
"It's okay," she said softly but earnestly.
"No, it's not okay. It was wrong of me. I want you to know that I realize that and I'm going to try my hardest never to let it happen again."
"And I bet you were a little sad, too," he acknowledged. When she nodded, he continued. "You remember I said I was dating a woman named June?"
"Yeah. Is she the reason you've been acting funny, daddy? I was afraid it was because I did something you didn't like."
"No, it wasn't anything you did at all, okay? Do you understand that?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Well, I want you to know that June lied to me about something and it kind of hurt me."
"It hurt your heart."
"Yes, it did. So, see, it wasn't anything you did at all. But I made a big mistake when my heart was hurting. Instead of talking to Aunt Olivia about it, I kind of... I don't know... I took a break, I guess. And I wasn't here for you. I'm really sorry."
"It's okay," she said softly but earnestly.
"No, it's not okay. It was wrong of me. I want you to know that I realize that and I'm going to try my hardest never to let it happen again."
She wrapped her arms around him and he bent down to embrace her tightly. It felt so good to hug her. She was everything to him and he knew he would never take her for granted again.
"I love you so much," he said.
"I love you, too."
"Forgive me?" he asked.
She smiled at him. "Yeah, I do. I'll always love you."
His heart felt mended for the first time in ages. "I'll always love you."
"I love you so much," he said.
"I love you, too."
"Forgive me?" he asked.
She smiled at him. "Yeah, I do. I'll always love you."
His heart felt mended for the first time in ages. "I'll always love you."
The family finally had the chance to relax and laugh in front of the TV that night. But Lacey was distracted as she kept trying to get John's attention to remind him that her and Blessing's birthdays were drawing near.
But then she shrugged to herself as she realized he would never forget her birthday. She hoped with all her heart that she got to sing karaoke at their party. She couldn't wait.
Bram laughed loudly, drawing her attention back to the television show. It was an action show, but there was a lot of humor in it, too. Before she knew it, she was completely engrossed in it again.
But then she shrugged to herself as she realized he would never forget her birthday. She hoped with all her heart that she got to sing karaoke at their party. She couldn't wait.
Bram laughed loudly, drawing her attention back to the television show. It was an action show, but there was a lot of humor in it, too. Before she knew it, she was completely engrossed in it again.
While Lacey was trying to get John's attention, Blessing was trying to get Lacey's attention, all for the same reason. She wanted to talk to her cousin about their upcoming birthday party. The excitement was almost too much for her to bear.
But Lacey was interested in the TV program and shushed her when she tried to talk to her. How could Lacey stand not talking about their party? Blessing felt as if she was going to burst if she didn't talk about it soon.
But Lacey was interested in the TV program and shushed her when she tried to talk to her. How could Lacey stand not talking about their party? Blessing felt as if she was going to burst if she didn't talk about it soon.
Jasper sat behind his family, watching them, and smiled. They were a funny group, he knew. Everyone trying to talk to the other and getting shushed for talking during their show.
He watched Blessing's expression with a smile on his face. It was obvious all she could think about was her birthday party that she and Lacey were sharing since their birthdays were so close together.
Wait until she found out what was in store, he thought with a chuckle.
He watched Blessing's expression with a smile on his face. It was obvious all she could think about was her birthday party that she and Lacey were sharing since their birthdays were so close together.
Wait until she found out what was in store, he thought with a chuckle.
John was looking for a book in the study about the best fertilizers of Life Fruit when Jasper found him.
"Uh, John," he said awkwardly.
John kept perusing the books on the shelf and mumbled, "Yeah?" He knew Olivia would need to make Ambrosia for Winter in the near future and he wanted to be certain he could maintain his Life Fruit plant.
Jasper cleared his throat. "I need to run something by you, if you have the time."
There was no mistaking the urgency in Jasper's voice. John turned toward him immediately, remembering how many times Jasper had been there for him. If he could help in any way with whatever was on Jasper's mind, he certainly would.
"Sure. What's going on?"
Jasper cleared his throat again and shifted his weight to the other foot. "It's about Livvy."
"Uh, John," he said awkwardly.
John kept perusing the books on the shelf and mumbled, "Yeah?" He knew Olivia would need to make Ambrosia for Winter in the near future and he wanted to be certain he could maintain his Life Fruit plant.
Jasper cleared his throat. "I need to run something by you, if you have the time."
There was no mistaking the urgency in Jasper's voice. John turned toward him immediately, remembering how many times Jasper had been there for him. If he could help in any way with whatever was on Jasper's mind, he certainly would.
"Sure. What's going on?"
Jasper cleared his throat again and shifted his weight to the other foot. "It's about Livvy."
John raised an eyebrow. "Is she okay?'
"Oh, yes, I didn't mean to make you think she wasn't." He stumbled over his words as he continued. "I want to propose marriage to her again. And I want your permission as her closest relative."
John's eyes grew big and he suppressed a snort of laughter. "Uh, yeah. Marry her," he answered with a grin.
Jasper could feel his cheeks reddening. "Well, do you think she'll say yes this time?"
"There's really only one way to find out. But I think it's a great idea. She loves you a lot."
"Oh, yes, I didn't mean to make you think she wasn't." He stumbled over his words as he continued. "I want to propose marriage to her again. And I want your permission as her closest relative."
John's eyes grew big and he suppressed a snort of laughter. "Uh, yeah. Marry her," he answered with a grin.
Jasper could feel his cheeks reddening. "Well, do you think she'll say yes this time?"
"There's really only one way to find out. But I think it's a great idea. She loves you a lot."
Jasper seemed pleased with John's answer. But he still felt uneasy about finding the perfect moment to actually go through with it. He didn't know if he could handle another 'no' response from Olivia.
John turned slightly, rubbing the back of his neck as he thought. Would he ever find a love like his sister had with Jasper? He sure hoped so.
John turned slightly, rubbing the back of his neck as he thought. Would he ever find a love like his sister had with Jasper? He sure hoped so.
The air was crisp and an occasional wind bit at his cheeks as John took his nightly walk. He'd made Lacey wear her gloves today when she went to school, so why hadn't it occurred to him to put on a heavier coat and a pair of gloves?
He bent his head against the wind as he walked so the air wouldn't be so cutting against his skin. After a moment, he felt a light thud.
"Hey, watch it, buddy!" a woman ordered.
Stepping back and looking up, he saw that he was face to face with a beautiful young woman. Her features were partly shadowed in the dim streetlight, but he could tell she was worthy of a portrait.
"I'm so sorry," he said. "I should have been watching where I was going."
"I'll say," she agreed.
Her voice was sassy and he detected reddish-brown wisps of hair framing her face. The rest was tucked up under her hat. He thought she was dressed rather strangely, in a fedora, trench coat and black framed glasses.
"What are you? A private eye?" he joked with a small smile.
She laughed good-naturedly. "No, I'm afraid not. I'm a reporter and I had to go out to get a story I was assigned to. Anyway, I've been so busy, I haven't had the chance to buy winter gear yet."
"Winter gear? So, you're not from around here?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm new to Riverview. I just moved here a few months ago from Sunlit Tides."
"Ah," he said knowingly, "you're used to lazing around on the beach."
She laughed again and he returned her charming laugh. "Not exactly, but I did spend as much time as I could wind surfing."
"Sounds like fun," he answered. "So, you're out late..."
"Is that your way of asking if I have a husband and kids waiting for me at home?" she asked without malice.
He enjoyed how easy she was to talk to. She seemed very pleasant and easy going. "I guess it is."
"Well, the answer is no. I've never been married and I've never had kids." She grinned wider now. "Not having children is how I've kept my awesome figure."
He laughed. "Well, I'll admit, even with the trench coat on, I can tell you're right about your figure."
He bent his head against the wind as he walked so the air wouldn't be so cutting against his skin. After a moment, he felt a light thud.
"Hey, watch it, buddy!" a woman ordered.
Stepping back and looking up, he saw that he was face to face with a beautiful young woman. Her features were partly shadowed in the dim streetlight, but he could tell she was worthy of a portrait.
"I'm so sorry," he said. "I should have been watching where I was going."
"I'll say," she agreed.
Her voice was sassy and he detected reddish-brown wisps of hair framing her face. The rest was tucked up under her hat. He thought she was dressed rather strangely, in a fedora, trench coat and black framed glasses.
"What are you? A private eye?" he joked with a small smile.
She laughed good-naturedly. "No, I'm afraid not. I'm a reporter and I had to go out to get a story I was assigned to. Anyway, I've been so busy, I haven't had the chance to buy winter gear yet."
"Winter gear? So, you're not from around here?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm new to Riverview. I just moved here a few months ago from Sunlit Tides."
"Ah," he said knowingly, "you're used to lazing around on the beach."
She laughed again and he returned her charming laugh. "Not exactly, but I did spend as much time as I could wind surfing."
"Sounds like fun," he answered. "So, you're out late..."
"Is that your way of asking if I have a husband and kids waiting for me at home?" she asked without malice.
He enjoyed how easy she was to talk to. She seemed very pleasant and easy going. "I guess it is."
"Well, the answer is no. I've never been married and I've never had kids." She grinned wider now. "Not having children is how I've kept my awesome figure."
He laughed. "Well, I'll admit, even with the trench coat on, I can tell you're right about your figure."
"Oh come on now," she teased, "I've heard better lines than that from drunks at the bar."
He shrugged. "I know it was cheesy."
She laughed, drawn to him. "Well, no more cheese, please."
Delighted by her, he stepped in closer so he could better see her face. He still couldn't tell what color her eyes were but they sparkled in the dim light. "I'm John Baldwin, by the way. And I've traveled quite a bit, but I grew up here in Riverview."
"I'm Constance Shelley," she responded.
As they continued conversing, it seemed to John that he was becoming attracted to her. She also seemed to be attracted to him as well, if he was reading the situation right. She was engaging and he hoped he was charming enough for her.
During their discussion, he learned that she had actually been a free-lance writer before being hired by the local paper. He wondered if Jasper was acquainted with her.
He also learned that she loved french toast, classical music and the color pink. She seemed very pleased when he named his favorite classical piece of music and told her he played guitar.
Their mutual fascination kept them talking for a long time, forgetting the cold air and the lateness of the hour.
He shrugged. "I know it was cheesy."
She laughed, drawn to him. "Well, no more cheese, please."
Delighted by her, he stepped in closer so he could better see her face. He still couldn't tell what color her eyes were but they sparkled in the dim light. "I'm John Baldwin, by the way. And I've traveled quite a bit, but I grew up here in Riverview."
"I'm Constance Shelley," she responded.
As they continued conversing, it seemed to John that he was becoming attracted to her. She also seemed to be attracted to him as well, if he was reading the situation right. She was engaging and he hoped he was charming enough for her.
During their discussion, he learned that she had actually been a free-lance writer before being hired by the local paper. He wondered if Jasper was acquainted with her.
He also learned that she loved french toast, classical music and the color pink. She seemed very pleased when he named his favorite classical piece of music and told her he played guitar.
Their mutual fascination kept them talking for a long time, forgetting the cold air and the lateness of the hour.
Overwhelmed by her beautiful spirit, he suddenly pulled her close and kissed her hotly on the lips. At first she held up her hands with surprise, not pushing him away, but not holding him back either.
When he stepped away from her, she remained in that position. He was certain he had just ruined everything in his hastiness to be close to her.
But in response, she took his hands, placing his arms around her waist again and kissed him back.
Their bodies melded into each other as they kissed and all he could think about was how intoxicating her perfume and the soft warmth of her skin were.
So much for swearing off relationships, he thought.
So much for swearing off relationships, he thought.
When they finished kissing, they gazed into one another's eyes without letting go of each other.
Her cheeks were reddened, but not by the wind. "I've never done that before."
"Kissed?" he teased with a small smile.
She laughed that beautiful laugh. "No. I've never kissed a stranger before."
"Then let's not be strangers," he suggested.
Her cheeks were reddened, but not by the wind. "I've never done that before."
"Kissed?" he teased with a small smile.
She laughed that beautiful laugh. "No. I've never kissed a stranger before."
"Then let's not be strangers," he suggested.
Olivia was going crazy. She'd been bustling about all day, running errands and getting the house ready for the girls' birthday party. She'd barely had a moment to think, she'd been so busy.
Finally, the pie was ready. She'd been concerned it wouldn't get prepared at all with everything she'd had to do get done.
Finally, the pie was ready. She'd been concerned it wouldn't get prepared at all with everything she'd had to do get done.
She put the whipped cream on top and was satisfied that the pie looked just right.
Putting her hand behind her neck, a trait she had picked up from John at an early age when bothered by something, she tried to remember if she had everything else in order. The guests would be arriving soon and she didn't want a single detail to be missed.
Ticking through her mental list, she decided that the preparations were near completion. All she had to do, she resolved, was put the food on the buffet table John and Jasper had set up for her this morning.
She sighed with relief that she was almost ready for the girls' big day.
Putting her hand behind her neck, a trait she had picked up from John at an early age when bothered by something, she tried to remember if she had everything else in order. The guests would be arriving soon and she didn't want a single detail to be missed.
Ticking through her mental list, she decided that the preparations were near completion. All she had to do, she resolved, was put the food on the buffet table John and Jasper had set up for her this morning.
She sighed with relief that she was almost ready for the girls' big day.
Jasper was hurrying toward the entrance of the bakery to pick up the birthday cake, an errand Olivia had sent him on, when he ran smack dab into Jebidiah Wilson.
The men stood, facing one another for what seemed an eternity, both of them scowling.
Finally, Jebidiah sneered, "You made the wrong move when you messed with me! You've been bothering me ever since you found out Olivia and I had that argument and you haven't left me alone since! Now you had to write that inflammatory article about me that isn't even true. You have ruined my life, my reputation and my career!"
The men stood, facing one another for what seemed an eternity, both of them scowling.
Finally, Jebidiah sneered, "You made the wrong move when you messed with me! You've been bothering me ever since you found out Olivia and I had that argument and you haven't left me alone since! Now you had to write that inflammatory article about me that isn't even true. You have ruined my life, my reputation and my career!"
Jasper couldn't help but lose his temper. In his head, he knew he should just walk away, but Jebidiah too easily got him riled.
"That so-called inflammatory article is true! How many deaths are you responsible for?"
"Is this on the record?" Jebidiah scoffed.
"If the story isn't true, why are the police so interested in it? I can't believe you even thought you should show your face in public. I'm pretty sure there are a lot of angry families who would like to lynch you about now, and rightly so!"
"That so-called inflammatory article is true! How many deaths are you responsible for?"
"Is this on the record?" Jebidiah scoffed.
"If the story isn't true, why are the police so interested in it? I can't believe you even thought you should show your face in public. I'm pretty sure there are a lot of angry families who would like to lynch you about now, and rightly so!"
"That's ridiculous! For once and for all, leave me alone!" Jebidiah yelled before stalking off.
Leave him alone? Jasper thought. Oh no, not a chance. He was just getting started.
Olivia looked at the buffet table with a sense of fulfillment. This was looking really good, she decided. All of the girls' favorite foods had been laid out, the table decorated in their favorite color. Not to mention the karaoke machine was all set up and ready to go.
Jasper and John had cleared all of the furniture from the living room. The girls giggled with delight when they saw everything.
Jasper and John had cleared all of the furniture from the living room. The girls giggled with delight when they saw everything.
Everyone had a great time with the karaoke machine, but none so much as Lacey and Blessing. They sang their hearts out, laughing and giggling the entire time as their guests looked on, joined in, danced and ate.
Everyone who'd been invited arrived in a timely manner and the party was a great hit, just as Olivia had hoped it would be. This was their last party as children and she had wanted so much for this celebration to be the one they remembered best from their childhoods.
Then, when everyone sang happy birthday and the girls blew out their candles, they all cheered, whooped and hollered. Olivia had made sure that the guests had plenty of noisemakers and other party accessories that she had personally chosen herself. It was a riotous noise, but a joyful one.
As the girls sang their last song for the night before the guests left, they looked into each others' eyes and smiled. Not only had this been the time of their lives, they knew great things were in store for them just around the corner as teenagers.