"What did you think of Constance?" Blessing asked her cousin.
It had been days since the wedding when Lacey and Constance had first met but this was the first chance the girls had been able to get away from the rest of the family in order to talk about it. Bram was always curious to know what they were whispering about; he'd been such a pest.
Lacey only shrugged uncertainly. "I didn't really get to talk to her and dad hasn't brought her around since then."
"But what did you think?"
Lacey sighed. "Oh, I don't know. I guess she was pretty. And she seemed okay... you know, nice."
"But?"
"But if she hurts my dad, I'm going to hunt that woman down!" Lacey blurted. She began to take her jacket off. "Anyway, I'd better get changed. I'm supposed to meet them at home. Dad wants me to be there to entertain her. Without Aunt Olivia making dinner, I can't even imagine what he's going to serve her. We've been eating a lot of macaroni and cheese."
Blessing giggled but then stifled it when Lacey glared at her. "Well, good luck," she tried to encourage.
It had been days since the wedding when Lacey and Constance had first met but this was the first chance the girls had been able to get away from the rest of the family in order to talk about it. Bram was always curious to know what they were whispering about; he'd been such a pest.
Lacey only shrugged uncertainly. "I didn't really get to talk to her and dad hasn't brought her around since then."
"But what did you think?"
Lacey sighed. "Oh, I don't know. I guess she was pretty. And she seemed okay... you know, nice."
"But?"
"But if she hurts my dad, I'm going to hunt that woman down!" Lacey blurted. She began to take her jacket off. "Anyway, I'd better get changed. I'm supposed to meet them at home. Dad wants me to be there to entertain her. Without Aunt Olivia making dinner, I can't even imagine what he's going to serve her. We've been eating a lot of macaroni and cheese."
Blessing giggled but then stifled it when Lacey glared at her. "Well, good luck," she tried to encourage.
Lacey stood by awkwardly after dinner as her father and Constance spoke. Is this what it would be like if he married her? She wasn't feeling left out exactly. What was she feeling? She couldn't decide, which was rather annoying to her.
Perhaps she was concerned that she might be replaced in her father's heart. But in her soul, she didn't believe that could be possible. She knew that he always put her first in his life. That's why he hadn't wanted her to meet Constance in the first place. He hadn't wanted her to become attached to anyone he was dating lest the relationship didn't work out. He had explained to her a long time ago that it wouldn't do for her to get close to someone only to have that someone ripped suddenly from her life.
And here was the new woman in his life, standing before her, speaking to her father and looking very beautiful and sincere.
Then, Lacey understood her feelings quite plainly as she observed them. Her father was obviously quite taken with Constance. He was introducing the two of them. This was serious... for him. What if it wasn't serious for Constance as well? What if this woman did hurt her dad?
Perhaps she was concerned that she might be replaced in her father's heart. But in her soul, she didn't believe that could be possible. She knew that he always put her first in his life. That's why he hadn't wanted her to meet Constance in the first place. He hadn't wanted her to become attached to anyone he was dating lest the relationship didn't work out. He had explained to her a long time ago that it wouldn't do for her to get close to someone only to have that someone ripped suddenly from her life.
And here was the new woman in his life, standing before her, speaking to her father and looking very beautiful and sincere.
Then, Lacey understood her feelings quite plainly as she observed them. Her father was obviously quite taken with Constance. He was introducing the two of them. This was serious... for him. What if it wasn't serious for Constance as well? What if this woman did hurt her dad?
John had spoken to her about manners, being kind and giving Constance a "chance." Lacey had promised him she would do everything he'd asked. But she was secretly determined to find out if this woman was playing games because of her father's wealth and position in Riverview.
Lacey was not going to let Constance ruin her dad's life like all the others had before her.
Her father looked on as Constance turned toward her. Lacey could tell by the tight lips and furrowed brow that Constance was a little nervous, just like her.
"I'm so pleased to finally meet you. We didn't have much of a chance at the wedding to get to know one another."
Lacey was not going to let Constance ruin her dad's life like all the others had before her.
Her father looked on as Constance turned toward her. Lacey could tell by the tight lips and furrowed brow that Constance was a little nervous, just like her.
"I'm so pleased to finally meet you. We didn't have much of a chance at the wedding to get to know one another."
"I'm pleased to meet you, too," Lacey replied politely but stiffly.
Constance frowned slightly. "Dinner was very good. Did you help prepare it?"
"Yes," Lacey said with a sweet smile on her face. "I helped take it out of the take-out containers and put it on serving plates."
"Lacey!" John gasped from behind Constance.
But Constance let out a breath and then began laughing. Lacey couldn't help but smile genuinely now, realizing that Constance was truly amused, laughing from her belly quite loudly.
Constance frowned slightly. "Dinner was very good. Did you help prepare it?"
"Yes," Lacey said with a sweet smile on her face. "I helped take it out of the take-out containers and put it on serving plates."
"Lacey!" John gasped from behind Constance.
But Constance let out a breath and then began laughing. Lacey couldn't help but smile genuinely now, realizing that Constance was truly amused, laughing from her belly quite loudly.
"I thought that tasted like something I'd had at the Bistro before," Constance guffawed.
Lacey's smile was genuine now, too. "Yeah, did you know he owns the Bistro? Anyway, I was setting the table when he got home with the bag of food."
John stepped away, letting them have some room now that the ice had been broken.
"I didn't know he owned the Bistro," she admitted.
"Well, I may as well let you in on the big family secret. He can't cook at all. He tries but it's disgusting. I think he's lost weight since Aunt Olivia moved out."
"Oh, she is quite the cook. I'm not as skilled as she is. In fact, I only cook because I have to, but I can manage a few dishes. Would you like me to teach you?"
Lacey shook her head and sighed. "No thank you."
"What is it you want, dear?" Constance asked with what seemed to be great interest.
Lacey stared at the woman for a few moments, trying to determine if she should tell her. Finally, she decided she would. "I want to learn to drive."
Constance nodded. "Well, I agree that it's high time you learned." She called John back into the room. "John, take this girl driving, would you? I learned how when I was her age and I think you two would have a lot of fun."
Lacey's smile was genuine now, too. "Yeah, did you know he owns the Bistro? Anyway, I was setting the table when he got home with the bag of food."
John stepped away, letting them have some room now that the ice had been broken.
"I didn't know he owned the Bistro," she admitted.
"Well, I may as well let you in on the big family secret. He can't cook at all. He tries but it's disgusting. I think he's lost weight since Aunt Olivia moved out."
"Oh, she is quite the cook. I'm not as skilled as she is. In fact, I only cook because I have to, but I can manage a few dishes. Would you like me to teach you?"
Lacey shook her head and sighed. "No thank you."
"What is it you want, dear?" Constance asked with what seemed to be great interest.
Lacey stared at the woman for a few moments, trying to determine if she should tell her. Finally, she decided she would. "I want to learn to drive."
Constance nodded. "Well, I agree that it's high time you learned." She called John back into the room. "John, take this girl driving, would you? I learned how when I was her age and I think you two would have a lot of fun."
John gave Lacey a strange look as he responded. "Yes, okay." He raised an eyebrow at his daughter but her expression of innocence did not waver.
"Really?" she asked mildly as if it didn't matter to her at all.
"Sure, kid. It's still early," he answered.
"Can I drive the GTO?"
John's lip twitched slightly but he said, "Yeah, sure."
"Great!" Constance exclaimed. "I'll meet the two of you at The Manor House for Winter's birthday party later!"
"Really?" she asked mildly as if it didn't matter to her at all.
"Sure, kid. It's still early," he answered.
"Can I drive the GTO?"
John's lip twitched slightly but he said, "Yeah, sure."
"Great!" Constance exclaimed. "I'll meet the two of you at The Manor House for Winter's birthday party later!"
Lacey smiled inwardly. Constance wanted to please her. And her father wanted to please Constance. Having Constance in the picture could be a good thing after all, she decided.
He had actually done it! He was allowing her to drive his prized GTO! She could hardly believe it as she gripped the steering wheel with sweaty palms. Now if he would only relax a little, everything would be perfect.
But each time she accelerated, he gripped the dash and leaned over to check the speedometer.
"It's raining."
"I know that," she responded impatiently.
"Well, slow it down a little."
"You sure are uptight, dad."
"If you want to drive this car again, slow it down," he repeated more sternly. As she slowed the car a bit, he gently added, "Keep your eyes straight ahead, you're drifting a little."
"It's raining."
"I know that," she responded impatiently.
"Well, slow it down a little."
"You sure are uptight, dad."
"If you want to drive this car again, slow it down," he repeated more sternly. As she slowed the car a bit, he gently added, "Keep your eyes straight ahead, you're drifting a little."
Lacey tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white. It was raining a little harder now but not dangerously so.
John relaxed slightly as she gained more confidence. "You're doing really well, honey."
"Really?" she beamed, glancing at him.
"Keep your eyes on the road," he said calmly. "And start slowing down; there's a stop sign ahead."
As she slowed the car to a stop, he turned toward her with sparkling eyes.
"Terrific!" he enthused. "I think you should drive us all the way to Aunt Olivia and Uncle Jasper's house."
Grinning from ear to ear, she looked both ways, then proceeded toward The Manor House.
John relaxed slightly as she gained more confidence. "You're doing really well, honey."
"Really?" she beamed, glancing at him.
"Keep your eyes on the road," he said calmly. "And start slowing down; there's a stop sign ahead."
As she slowed the car to a stop, he turned toward her with sparkling eyes.
"Terrific!" he enthused. "I think you should drive us all the way to Aunt Olivia and Uncle Jasper's house."
Grinning from ear to ear, she looked both ways, then proceeded toward The Manor House.
Olivia held Winter tightly against her body. The child had not had a good day at all but as she was a ghost, Olivia wasn't certain as to whether the toddler was sick with a fever or if she was merely teething. Ghost babies were a relatively new thing for her still.
The family gathered upstairs, outside of the nursery and Olivia brought Winter out to greet everyone. She still couldn't believe her youngest child was now a toddler.
The family gathered upstairs, outside of the nursery and Olivia brought Winter out to greet everyone. She still couldn't believe her youngest child was now a toddler.
"Why is Winter sick?" Bram asked with concern.
"She'll be fine, honey," Olivia reassured.
"Did she like the card I made for her?"
Olivia smiled at her young son. "Of course she did. I showed it to her and she smiled and cooed. She loves her card, and you."
"She'll be fine, honey," Olivia reassured.
"Did she like the card I made for her?"
Olivia smiled at her young son. "Of course she did. I showed it to her and she smiled and cooed. She loves her card, and you."
Jasper took his little daughter and held her above his head. When she gurgled and smiled at him, he felt she would be all right. But he could still see the worry on Olivia's face as she watched them.
Not that long ago, Jasper had been a ghost himself. He couldn't remember ever feeling ill during that time. He wracked his brain trying to discern what the matter could be. But in all his memory, he could not recall a time where he had been sick.
He held Winter closer to him. Was it different being born a ghostly child? She hadn't actually died and become a ghost as he had. Was she in danger? If only she could have the Ambrosia sooner, he lamented inwardly. He could only hope and pray that this was a condition that would pass quickly without lasting damage.
He held Winter closer to him. Was it different being born a ghostly child? She hadn't actually died and become a ghost as he had. Was she in danger? If only she could have the Ambrosia sooner, he lamented inwardly. He could only hope and pray that this was a condition that would pass quickly without lasting damage.
John was in the dining room about to get another plate of stuffed turkey when Lacey found him there.
"Thanks for letting me drive."
He reluctantly turned from the sideboard where the food was and faced his daughter. He was positively famished as he'd been too nervous to eat earlier at the Baldwin house with Constance and Lacey.
"Thanks for letting me drive."
He reluctantly turned from the sideboard where the food was and faced his daughter. He was positively famished as he'd been too nervous to eat earlier at the Baldwin house with Constance and Lacey.
His expression was mild and calm, but his voice was stern. "You know, you didn't have to go through all of that. All you had to do was ask me."
"Go through what?" she asked with mock innocence.
"You know what I'm talking about. You used Constance to get your way. "Did you think I'd be too stupid to understand what you were doing?"
She gulped and wanted to look away from him, but he was holding her gaze with his steely blue eyes.
"No, I think you're way smart."
"Then why did you do it?"
"I was afraid you'd say no. Blessing has been asking Uncle Jasper for ages now and he still hasn't taught her."
"Uncle Jasper has had a lot on his plate lately. Honestly, Lacey, all you had to do was ask me."
"Go through what?" she asked with mock innocence.
"You know what I'm talking about. You used Constance to get your way. "Did you think I'd be too stupid to understand what you were doing?"
She gulped and wanted to look away from him, but he was holding her gaze with his steely blue eyes.
"No, I think you're way smart."
"Then why did you do it?"
"I was afraid you'd say no. Blessing has been asking Uncle Jasper for ages now and he still hasn't taught her."
"Uncle Jasper has had a lot on his plate lately. Honestly, Lacey, all you had to do was ask me."
"Really? You would have just taken me out right then in your GTO?"
He paused and then sighed slightly. "Maybe not right then... and definitely not in the GTO, but yes, I would have set a date with you."
He paused and then sighed slightly. "Maybe not right then... and definitely not in the GTO, but yes, I would have set a date with you."
She hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry."
He hugged her back just as tightly. "I won't have it this way, Lacey. I love you dearly, more than anything on this earth. But I won't have you become manipulative. That will stop. Do you understand?"
She nodded as they let go of the hug. "Yes. I am sorry, dad."
He nodded, convinced she was being truthful. "Okay. Now, let's get some real food because our dinner at home was terrible!"
She laughed and grabbed a plate.
He hugged her back just as tightly. "I won't have it this way, Lacey. I love you dearly, more than anything on this earth. But I won't have you become manipulative. That will stop. Do you understand?"
She nodded as they let go of the hug. "Yes. I am sorry, dad."
He nodded, convinced she was being truthful. "Okay. Now, let's get some real food because our dinner at home was terrible!"
She laughed and grabbed a plate.
"How did your date with John and Lacey go?" Olivia asked as she pulled Constance aside.
Constance liked Olivia a lot and wanted to be liked by John's sister so much. Yet during every conversation they'd had, she couldn't tell what Olivia thought of her.
"It was nice," she answered carefully. "Lacey is bothered because she believes John has lost weight since he no longer has easy access to your cooking."
Olivia smiled widely. "That brother of mine. I've tried to teach him the basics so many times. Don't let him fool you into thinking I haven't tried."
Constance laughed. "It seems he got our meal from the Bistro."
Olivia crinkled her nose. "The Bistro is okay, but you won't find him wolfing that down any time soon."
Constance liked Olivia a lot and wanted to be liked by John's sister so much. Yet during every conversation they'd had, she couldn't tell what Olivia thought of her.
"It was nice," she answered carefully. "Lacey is bothered because she believes John has lost weight since he no longer has easy access to your cooking."
Olivia smiled widely. "That brother of mine. I've tried to teach him the basics so many times. Don't let him fool you into thinking I haven't tried."
Constance laughed. "It seems he got our meal from the Bistro."
Olivia crinkled her nose. "The Bistro is okay, but you won't find him wolfing that down any time soon."
"I noticed that Lacey drove John here in the GTO," Olivia continued.
Constance nodded. "Yes. I'm afraid that was my doing."
"I have to admit that I was particularly shocked he was letting her drive that car. I wondered if you were behind that decision."
"Well," Constance admitted, "I can't say that it was my idea completely."
Olivia laughed a little bit. "I thought as much."
"I just wanted to make a good impression on Lacey so much. I knew she was manipulating me, but I didn't let on to her that I knew."
"I don't blame you. You were just trying to get on her good side." Olivia took Constance's hands in hers and squeezed them. "Don't worry about it. If I know my brother, he's already taken care of that so that it doesn't happen again."
Constance smiled, her cheeks prettily blushing pink. Olivia could see plainly why John was so taken by her.
"Lacey will come to love you just as John does," she encouraged.
John loved her? Constance breathed a sigh of relief. "You don't mind me dating John, then?"
Olivia shook her head. "Trust me, I asked Jasper all about you and he claims there is nothing to worry about here. But," she said, then paused as she thought about what she was going to say, "I know John like I know myself. He never would allow you to be around his daughter if this isn't serious for him. He's been disappointed and hurt a lot in the past, but somehow, he has managed to trust again. I not only think he finally found the right woman, I think I owe you a huge thanks."
If Constance's cheeks weren't reddened enough, with Olivia's words of acceptance, she could feel the crimson flames even more prominently now. "Honestly, Olivia, you don't owe me a thanks. I'll tell you something I haven't even told him yet. I love him. I love him deeply."
Olivia chuckled and squeezed her hands again. "I know that. And I think it's wonderful."
Constance nodded. "Yes. I'm afraid that was my doing."
"I have to admit that I was particularly shocked he was letting her drive that car. I wondered if you were behind that decision."
"Well," Constance admitted, "I can't say that it was my idea completely."
Olivia laughed a little bit. "I thought as much."
"I just wanted to make a good impression on Lacey so much. I knew she was manipulating me, but I didn't let on to her that I knew."
"I don't blame you. You were just trying to get on her good side." Olivia took Constance's hands in hers and squeezed them. "Don't worry about it. If I know my brother, he's already taken care of that so that it doesn't happen again."
Constance smiled, her cheeks prettily blushing pink. Olivia could see plainly why John was so taken by her.
"Lacey will come to love you just as John does," she encouraged.
John loved her? Constance breathed a sigh of relief. "You don't mind me dating John, then?"
Olivia shook her head. "Trust me, I asked Jasper all about you and he claims there is nothing to worry about here. But," she said, then paused as she thought about what she was going to say, "I know John like I know myself. He never would allow you to be around his daughter if this isn't serious for him. He's been disappointed and hurt a lot in the past, but somehow, he has managed to trust again. I not only think he finally found the right woman, I think I owe you a huge thanks."
If Constance's cheeks weren't reddened enough, with Olivia's words of acceptance, she could feel the crimson flames even more prominently now. "Honestly, Olivia, you don't owe me a thanks. I'll tell you something I haven't even told him yet. I love him. I love him deeply."
Olivia chuckled and squeezed her hands again. "I know that. And I think it's wonderful."
John met Constance on the screened porch at The Manor House. They had both changed into warmer clothing.
"I don't know if we'll get our walk in or not," he mentioned softly as he gazed through the screened window at the drizzle that was still coming down.
"We can stay here a few minutes and wait. I don't mind if you don't."
"I don't mind," he responded, barely above a whisper.
Her dark eyes sparkled in the moonlight. He'd never seen such a beautiful sight. His eyes drank in the fine features of her face, her thin straight nose, her full lips.
"Why are you staring at me?" she asked softly.
"I guess I can't help it," he answered honestly.
She felt her cheeks flush with heat. It seemed this was going to keep happening to her this evening. "No one has ever said that to me before."
He touched her silky soft hair, letting a few strands slip through his fingers. "I can't understand why not." He paused, carefully measuring his words. "I have something I want to tell you."
"Not yet," she suddenly urged, her heart racing. "Let's take our walk not - in the rain!"
Without explanation, she grabbed his hand suddenly and dragged him outdoors into the mist.
"I don't know if we'll get our walk in or not," he mentioned softly as he gazed through the screened window at the drizzle that was still coming down.
"We can stay here a few minutes and wait. I don't mind if you don't."
"I don't mind," he responded, barely above a whisper.
Her dark eyes sparkled in the moonlight. He'd never seen such a beautiful sight. His eyes drank in the fine features of her face, her thin straight nose, her full lips.
"Why are you staring at me?" she asked softly.
"I guess I can't help it," he answered honestly.
She felt her cheeks flush with heat. It seemed this was going to keep happening to her this evening. "No one has ever said that to me before."
He touched her silky soft hair, letting a few strands slip through his fingers. "I can't understand why not." He paused, carefully measuring his words. "I have something I want to tell you."
"Not yet," she suddenly urged, her heart racing. "Let's take our walk not - in the rain!"
Without explanation, she grabbed his hand suddenly and dragged him outdoors into the mist.