Little did John know, after his long talk with Gracie outside, she changed her mind and decided to go in the house and speak with her mother after all.
Olivia saw her daughter enter right away and was filled with a mixture of relief and parental concern. She watched from the staircase unnoticed as Gracie went into the family room and sat at the chess table.
Gracie seemed deep in thought as Olivia sat across from her. Neither spoke a word, although there was much to say.
"I'm glad you're here," Olivia ventured carefully. She didn't want too say anything that would cause the teenager to leave and go back to her dad's house.
Gracie didn't respond and the two stared at each other uncomfortably.
Olivia saw her daughter enter right away and was filled with a mixture of relief and parental concern. She watched from the staircase unnoticed as Gracie went into the family room and sat at the chess table.
Gracie seemed deep in thought as Olivia sat across from her. Neither spoke a word, although there was much to say.
"I'm glad you're here," Olivia ventured carefully. She didn't want too say anything that would cause the teenager to leave and go back to her dad's house.
Gracie didn't respond and the two stared at each other uncomfortably.
"Please, just talk to me," Olivia pleaded. "I'm here waiting and listening."
"Listening?" Gracie said with animosity in her voice.
"Yes. Why are you speaking to me this way? I care about how you feel and what you're thinking. Just talk to me."
Gracie pointed at the ceiling. "You know what, mom? Talking to you is like talking to the sky! You don't listen. I can't talk to you."
"Listening?" Gracie said with animosity in her voice.
"Yes. Why are you speaking to me this way? I care about how you feel and what you're thinking. Just talk to me."
Gracie pointed at the ceiling. "You know what, mom? Talking to you is like talking to the sky! You don't listen. I can't talk to you."
Olivia was stunned, but she tried to remain calm. "Well, I'm sorry. I'm listening now."
"I don't know what to even say." Olivia was quiet as she waited for Gracie to continue, which she did. "I mean, I was pretty happy until you sent me to boarding school. Do you know how much I miss my friends?"
"I know that hurt you, and I'm truly sorry it did. That wasn't my intention at all. I went to boarding school myself and I was angry at first, too. But I made new friends and eventually, I wasn't angry anymore. Have you made friends?"
"Yes, but that's not the point. You sent me away." Gracie suddenly got up from the table and went into the bathroom off of the living room.
"I don't know what to even say." Olivia was quiet as she waited for Gracie to continue, which she did. "I mean, I was pretty happy until you sent me to boarding school. Do you know how much I miss my friends?"
"I know that hurt you, and I'm truly sorry it did. That wasn't my intention at all. I went to boarding school myself and I was angry at first, too. But I made new friends and eventually, I wasn't angry anymore. Have you made friends?"
"Yes, but that's not the point. You sent me away." Gracie suddenly got up from the table and went into the bathroom off of the living room.
Olivia waited outside the bathroom door for what seemed forever. Hesitantly, she knocked on the door.
"Gracie? Are you all right?"
After a few moments, Gracie opened the door and stepped aside so Olivia could enter. They stood for a bit in silence, but it was Gracie who spoke first.
"Mom, I know you were raised this way and it seems normal to you. I thought I did something wrong and that's why you sent me away, though."
"Oh, honey," Olivia said with a catch in her throat, "if I was even the slightest bit upset with you, I wouldn't have sent you away, I would have just talked to you about it. Isn't that how I've always tried to handle things?"
"I guess so. I guess I didn't give you a chance really to tell me why I had to go."
"Not really," Olivia admitted softly. "You wouldn't talk to me about it. I told Blessing just the other day that it's hard to know what to do or say to help if I don't know what the problem is. I only ask that you tell me so we can work things out."
Gracie nodded in agreement. "I can do that."
"Good." Olivia embraced her daughter with all her might. Oh, how she had missed hugging her. "So, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know. I don't know if I should stay at dad's or come back here... or maybe I should just go back to school."
Olivia paused thoughtfully, then said softly, "Well, we don't have to decide this second, okay?"
Gracie nodded with a small smile.
"There's just one other thing."
"What?"
"Why are you dressed like this and not even wearing a coat?"
"Trust me, Uncle John already took care of that discussion, mom!"
Olivia laughed as she imagined what her brother had told the girl. "Well, never mind for now. You can wear one of my coats."
"Gracie? Are you all right?"
After a few moments, Gracie opened the door and stepped aside so Olivia could enter. They stood for a bit in silence, but it was Gracie who spoke first.
"Mom, I know you were raised this way and it seems normal to you. I thought I did something wrong and that's why you sent me away, though."
"Oh, honey," Olivia said with a catch in her throat, "if I was even the slightest bit upset with you, I wouldn't have sent you away, I would have just talked to you about it. Isn't that how I've always tried to handle things?"
"I guess so. I guess I didn't give you a chance really to tell me why I had to go."
"Not really," Olivia admitted softly. "You wouldn't talk to me about it. I told Blessing just the other day that it's hard to know what to do or say to help if I don't know what the problem is. I only ask that you tell me so we can work things out."
Gracie nodded in agreement. "I can do that."
"Good." Olivia embraced her daughter with all her might. Oh, how she had missed hugging her. "So, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know. I don't know if I should stay at dad's or come back here... or maybe I should just go back to school."
Olivia paused thoughtfully, then said softly, "Well, we don't have to decide this second, okay?"
Gracie nodded with a small smile.
"There's just one other thing."
"What?"
"Why are you dressed like this and not even wearing a coat?"
"Trust me, Uncle John already took care of that discussion, mom!"
Olivia laughed as she imagined what her brother had told the girl. "Well, never mind for now. You can wear one of my coats."
Blessing had stared at the chess board for what seemed like ages to her. She had observed her mother and sister sitting at the chess table earlier for a long time and neither one of them had looked very happy.
Blessing thought that perhaps it was time she learned the game. She knew how Gracie and Gilbert both enjoyed it and all the times they had played each other, bragging when they'd won.
Maybe if Blessing learned how to play, Gilbert or Gracie would play with her, too.
Blessing thought that perhaps it was time she learned the game. She knew how Gracie and Gilbert both enjoyed it and all the times they had played each other, bragging when they'd won.
Maybe if Blessing learned how to play, Gilbert or Gracie would play with her, too.
Gilbert had taught her the basic rules and the names of all the pieces. He'd even played with her a little bit, but she couldn't remember everything. Each time she'd tried to get him to practice with her, he was locked away in his room on his computer.
She stared at the board and contemplated the next move she should make. Why did this game elude her so?
She stared at the board and contemplated the next move she should make. Why did this game elude her so?
It wasn't long before more and more pieces were off the board. But she just wasn't certain she was playing correctly. She needed a worthy opponent.
Maybe if Gilbert wouldn't play with her, Uncle John would. He always seemed to find the time for her when she needed him and he wasn't working.
Maybe if Gilbert wouldn't play with her, Uncle John would. He always seemed to find the time for her when she needed him and he wasn't working.
For the first time in a long time, Olivia was able to eat lunch. Her appetite had diminished so much that Jasper had even mentioned his concern for her.
But today, she ate with gusto. It was her favorite, Dim Sum, which she had taken the time to prepare herself. She cooked whenever she was able to find the time.
Not only was it something she did to alleviate stress, it was a skill she was hoping to improve upon. Everyone she knew said she was a wonderful cook. People came from all over Riverview when she had dinner parties.
But there was a much deeper reason she needed to improve which was troubling to her. Since Winter's birth, Olivia had been worried about her condition as a ghost baby. Could Winter be in danger due to being in a ghostly form? Was there anything Olivia could do to help keep her safe?
But today, she ate with gusto. It was her favorite, Dim Sum, which she had taken the time to prepare herself. She cooked whenever she was able to find the time.
Not only was it something she did to alleviate stress, it was a skill she was hoping to improve upon. Everyone she knew said she was a wonderful cook. People came from all over Riverview when she had dinner parties.
But there was a much deeper reason she needed to improve which was troubling to her. Since Winter's birth, Olivia had been worried about her condition as a ghost baby. Could Winter be in danger due to being in a ghostly form? Was there anything Olivia could do to help keep her safe?
Olivia couldn't stop thinking about her little baby. She went upstairs to the nursery that Winter and Bram shared and scooped the little one up into her arms, holding her closely.
There had been one thing Jasper had told her about. It was called Ambrosia. It was a recipe that required special ingredients that Olivia was not yet accustomed to. But Jasper had told her that if the Ambrosia was made correctly, it would turn their little girl into a human to live her days out just as any other person.
There had been one thing Jasper had told her about. It was called Ambrosia. It was a recipe that required special ingredients that Olivia was not yet accustomed to. But Jasper had told her that if the Ambrosia was made correctly, it would turn their little girl into a human to live her days out just as any other person.
Jasper had kept the conversation short, mentioning that Winter was fine just the way she was. He was a ghost, after all, so why should it bother Olivia if Winter was one also?
Although Olivia had known the risk of having children with Jasper, that their union could possibly produce a ghostly child, it had not fully hit her as to what that meant until Winter was actually born.
Olivia pulled Winter even closer to her as the butler entered to take the dirty clothing out of the room. Olivia suddenly had a wonderful idea. She asked the butler to call a babysitter for Bram and Winter. But that the babysitter would not be watching the children at the house, he would instead need to go somewhere fun with them.
Although Olivia had known the risk of having children with Jasper, that their union could possibly produce a ghostly child, it had not fully hit her as to what that meant until Winter was actually born.
Olivia pulled Winter even closer to her as the butler entered to take the dirty clothing out of the room. Olivia suddenly had a wonderful idea. She asked the butler to call a babysitter for Bram and Winter. But that the babysitter would not be watching the children at the house, he would instead need to go somewhere fun with them.
One of Olivia's favorite things to do was to ice skate. Since she was a little girl, it was her number one activity. And since winter was her favorite time of year, ice skating went hand in hand as her loves.
Not wasting any time, she had gathered all the family who were available and had taken them to the Winter Festival. It was the last day and they hadn't attended yet.
Not wasting any time, she had gathered all the family who were available and had taken them to the Winter Festival. It was the last day and they hadn't attended yet.
Olivia was delighted as even Jasper got on the ice. She tried to race him, but he was too fast for her. She laughingly chided him, calling him a cheater because his feet weren't on the ice.
He had laughed and gone ahead of her again.
He had laughed and gone ahead of her again.
Blessing hadn't had the opportunity to skate very much, but she was trying her hardest and Olivia was proud of her. She protectively held her arm out toward her daughter in case Blessing began to take a spill.
And it was a good thing, because Olivia was able to catch her just in time before she slipped and hit the hard ice.
Olivia smiled at her daughter once she had regained her balance. "You're doing just fine, sweetie. How would it be if we went a little slower? You're really getting the hang of it!" she encouraged.
Olivia smiled at her daughter once she had regained her balance. "You're doing just fine, sweetie. How would it be if we went a little slower? You're really getting the hang of it!" she encouraged.
Blessing was a natural! It wasn't long before she was skating ahead of both Olivia and Jasper, although Blessing suspected Jasper had slowed down on purpose.
But she didn't care. She was having the time of her life. She couldn't wait to tell all of her friends about her day and learning to ice skate!
But she didn't care. She was having the time of her life. She couldn't wait to tell all of her friends about her day and learning to ice skate!
When no one was watching, Jasper drove off in the car. He hoped to be back before anyone had noticed he was gone. But what a perfect alibi he had in case anything went wrong during his visit to Jebidiah's house!
Of course, he didn't plan on anything terrible happening, but he was not going to let Jebidiah make threats toward Olivia and get away with it. He had to let that man know he had crossed the line.
The real trick was making sure Olivia never found out about this...
Of course, he didn't plan on anything terrible happening, but he was not going to let Jebidiah make threats toward Olivia and get away with it. He had to let that man know he had crossed the line.
The real trick was making sure Olivia never found out about this...
As the night progressed and John watched his sister's family having fun, he began to realize how much he missed his own girl. He had always missed her, but tonight made him realize suddenly how much of her life he was missing out on.
"Livvy, I really need to talk to you," he said as they waited outside the portrait tent.
She seemed preoccupied. "Have you seen Jasper? We were all supposed to meet here at nine. Everyone's accounted for but him."
"I haven't seen him. Maybe he went to get the car or something?"
"Livvy, I really need to talk to you," he said as they waited outside the portrait tent.
She seemed preoccupied. "Have you seen Jasper? We were all supposed to meet here at nine. Everyone's accounted for but him."
"I haven't seen him. Maybe he went to get the car or something?"
She smiled. "I'm sure that's it. I'm sorry, what did you need to talk to me about?"
Blessing smiled up at her uncle as the adults spoke. She was hoping to get a word in about chess. But the opportunity would not present itself, she soon realized. This discussion seemed too serious to talk about chess.
Blessing smiled up at her uncle as the adults spoke. She was hoping to get a word in about chess. But the opportunity would not present itself, she soon realized. This discussion seemed too serious to talk about chess.
"We all had a really good time tonight, didn't we?"
Olivia smiled happily. "I think we all did, yes."
"But someone beside Gracie wasn't here." He bit his lip.
"You mean Lacey," Olivia continued as if reading his mind. "I miss her, too. You know, we were both sent to boarding school. I wonder if it was this hard on our parents as it has been on us."
Olivia smiled happily. "I think we all did, yes."
"But someone beside Gracie wasn't here." He bit his lip.
"You mean Lacey," Olivia continued as if reading his mind. "I miss her, too. You know, we were both sent to boarding school. I wonder if it was this hard on our parents as it has been on us."
"I imagine it was," he said. "But we were being groomed for who we are. I mean, your political career and my career with the military was what we were groomed for."
"But it's hard, I know. Maybe our children don't need to be groomed, John. Maybe they just need us?"
"That's what I was thinking. I want to bring my daughter home."
Olivia smiled in support. "Then do it! I'll help you with all the preparations, okay?"
He grinned as he thought about holding his precious daughter in his arms again and having her home for good. "That would be great."
"But it's hard, I know. Maybe our children don't need to be groomed, John. Maybe they just need us?"
"That's what I was thinking. I want to bring my daughter home."
Olivia smiled in support. "Then do it! I'll help you with all the preparations, okay?"
He grinned as he thought about holding his precious daughter in his arms again and having her home for good. "That would be great."
"Where were you?" Olivia asked as Jasper entered through the front door not long after the rest of them had gotten home.
Jasper rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at the floor. He had hoped no one would miss him, but he hadn't gotten back in time to drive them home.
"I demand to know what's going on!" Olivia exclaimed, infuriated that he was keeping a secret from her. "We were all waiting at the designated spot at the correct time and you never showed. John had to call a car for us all."
"I'm sorry, Liv, really I am."
"Well, aren't you going to explain yourself?"
"I can't talk right now. There's a story I have to cover for the Journel. A terrible thing has happened."
"What?"
"Someone has drowned in the Simomon River. It's just terrible."
Olivia gasped. As their political leader, she practically knew everyone in Riverview on some level. "Who was it?"
"I don't know yet. I have to go."
He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and then he was gone.
Jasper rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at the floor. He had hoped no one would miss him, but he hadn't gotten back in time to drive them home.
"I demand to know what's going on!" Olivia exclaimed, infuriated that he was keeping a secret from her. "We were all waiting at the designated spot at the correct time and you never showed. John had to call a car for us all."
"I'm sorry, Liv, really I am."
"Well, aren't you going to explain yourself?"
"I can't talk right now. There's a story I have to cover for the Journel. A terrible thing has happened."
"What?"
"Someone has drowned in the Simomon River. It's just terrible."
Olivia gasped. As their political leader, she practically knew everyone in Riverview on some level. "Who was it?"
"I don't know yet. I have to go."
He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and then he was gone.
Perplexed, she stood at the door for what seemed like hours after his car had pulled out of their driveway.
Someone had drowned in the river. She couldn't imagine who, but she knew this was something she was going to have to get to the bottom of and help the police. There would be press conferences and interviews she would have to get ready for.
She only hoped and prayed it was no one she was close to and that whoever it was, hadn't suffered.
Someone had drowned in the river. She couldn't imagine who, but she knew this was something she was going to have to get to the bottom of and help the police. There would be press conferences and interviews she would have to get ready for.
She only hoped and prayed it was no one she was close to and that whoever it was, hadn't suffered.