It was a beautiful late spring morning. Bram and Winter had, as was usual for babies, woken early. Olivia who had the day off didn't mind their early rise. She enjoyed caring for them.
Once she had gotten Winter changed, fed and settled in her baby swing under their nanny's watchful eye, she brought Bram into the kitchen for his breakfast.
He was such an easy-going, charming little fellow. He smiled and cooed at her as she spoke with him and gave him an extra cuddle before placing him in his high chair.
Once she had gotten Winter changed, fed and settled in her baby swing under their nanny's watchful eye, she brought Bram into the kitchen for his breakfast.
He was such an easy-going, charming little fellow. He smiled and cooed at her as she spoke with him and gave him an extra cuddle before placing him in his high chair.
Snapping the high chair tray into place, she began to make Bram his favorite breakfast, cooing at him the entire time. She couldn't believe how fast he was growing.
Soon, during the summer in just a few short days, it would be his birthday. He would no longer be the little toddler but a child, able to do so much more.
Soon, during the summer in just a few short days, it would be his birthday. He would no longer be the little toddler but a child, able to do so much more.
As she fed him his breakfast, he couldn't help but think about how it had seemed just like yesterday that he'd been only a small infant, swaddled in a blanket in her arms.
Even though she missed those days, she was glad he was growing and healthy. She realized that before she knew it, he would be all grown up like his brother Gilbert, doing wonderful things with his life.
Even though she missed those days, she was glad he was growing and healthy. She realized that before she knew it, he would be all grown up like his brother Gilbert, doing wonderful things with his life.
She knew from experience that she needed to cherish this time with Bram while she could.
Bram giggled as she lifted him from his high chair. He was definitely in a playful mood. She loved these times with her son. He reached for her face, patting her cheeks and they both laughed.
Bram giggled as she lifted him from his high chair. He was definitely in a playful mood. She loved these times with her son. He reached for her face, patting her cheeks and they both laughed.
She relished his laughter as she tickled him. He was so young and innocent. She wished she could preserve this moment forever.
This time when she tickled him, they both erupted into giggles and laughter. Bram was so precious; the loveliest little boy.
Holding him close to her, she desperately wished he could stay little and that this time would never end.
As he snuggled into her, she smiled softly. He would grow up. And she knew in her heart, she would love every stage of his development, just as she had loved each age and stage her other children had gone through.
As he snuggled into her, she smiled softly. He would grow up. And she knew in her heart, she would love every stage of his development, just as she had loved each age and stage her other children had gone through.
Napping didn't sound like a half bad idea, Olivia thought once both babies were down for their own nap times. They had played hard and were tired. But with her demanding job and the stress of thinking about the Ambrosia for Winter, along with the added thought of little Bram no longer being a toddler, she felt worn out. Tired to the bone.
She decided to lie down outdoors in the fresh air, just for a minute. But soon, she had drifted into a sleep.
She decided to lie down outdoors in the fresh air, just for a minute. But soon, she had drifted into a sleep.
In her dream, she was in the sunporch. When her mother had been alive, she had called the room the "conservatory." It was at the rear of the first floor, overlooked the back garden and was always full of light and beautiful plants.
When Olivia had been pregnant with Bram, she had spent a lot of time in the conservatory. The atmosphere of the room with the floor to ceiling windows and gorgeous views always gave her peace of mind.
This particular pregnancy had not been easy on her. Not as easy as the others, anyway. She had been more nauseated than the other times and had more pains in her legs and back.
The dream gave her a sense of calm about Bram's upcoming birthday. Everything would be all right. Although she was still sleeping, a small smile curled the corners of her mouth.
When Olivia had been pregnant with Bram, she had spent a lot of time in the conservatory. The atmosphere of the room with the floor to ceiling windows and gorgeous views always gave her peace of mind.
This particular pregnancy had not been easy on her. Not as easy as the others, anyway. She had been more nauseated than the other times and had more pains in her legs and back.
The dream gave her a sense of calm about Bram's upcoming birthday. Everything would be all right. Although she was still sleeping, a small smile curled the corners of her mouth.
Once again, John was in his garden. He had spent the better part of the day fertilizing, weeding, watering and just basically tending to all of his plants. Some were almost ready for harvest.
Working the land gave him the feeling that perhaps he hadn't been meant to live out his career in the military, working his way up the ranks, but instead, he should have spent his life as a landscaper or gardener.
Working the land gave him the feeling that perhaps he hadn't been meant to live out his career in the military, working his way up the ranks, but instead, he should have spent his life as a landscaper or gardener.
He smiled to himself as he worked, digging through the earth. Maybe he had missed his calling as a farmer. Wouldn't his father have loved that? He probably would have been disowned had he gone that route.
He couldn't help but feel a small annoyance when his phone rang. Although he'd been working in the yard all day, he didn't like to stop until he'd finished and there were still more plants to weed.
"Hello?" he answered the phone briskly.
"John?"
He recognized the voice immediately. It was June. The garden forgotten, John smiled despite himself. He and June had met again after the party and now she had his number as well. He hadn't told anyone in the family about her yet. There was something kind of nice about keeping it a little secret for now.
"June! Hi. How are you?"
He could hear the smile in her voice. "I was thinking about you and wondered if I could come over for a little while? I'd love to see you."
For the first time, John wished he didn't live on the same property as his sister. The last thing he wanted was for Olivia to find out and interfere in this new relationship. She would have more than a ton of questions for him.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather go out somewhere? I could wine and dine you," he answered.
She didn't sound convinced, however. "Oh, John," she said, her voice low and seductive. "I was hoping I could see you at your place."
He groaned under his breath. Was it possible to sneak her into his place without any of the family noticing? It seemed as if he would have to try.
"Yeah, um, that sounds good."
"I'll be there in an hour," she said before they hung up.
"Hello?" he answered the phone briskly.
"John?"
He recognized the voice immediately. It was June. The garden forgotten, John smiled despite himself. He and June had met again after the party and now she had his number as well. He hadn't told anyone in the family about her yet. There was something kind of nice about keeping it a little secret for now.
"June! Hi. How are you?"
He could hear the smile in her voice. "I was thinking about you and wondered if I could come over for a little while? I'd love to see you."
For the first time, John wished he didn't live on the same property as his sister. The last thing he wanted was for Olivia to find out and interfere in this new relationship. She would have more than a ton of questions for him.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather go out somewhere? I could wine and dine you," he answered.
She didn't sound convinced, however. "Oh, John," she said, her voice low and seductive. "I was hoping I could see you at your place."
He groaned under his breath. Was it possible to sneak her into his place without any of the family noticing? It seemed as if he would have to try.
"Yeah, um, that sounds good."
"I'll be there in an hour," she said before they hung up.
Jasper was also on the phone. Pacing the study in the main house, he had angrily dialed the number to the bodyguard he had hired to protect Olivia without her knowledge.
Jasper was furious that the man had been noticed by her. He should have known Olivia could smell a rat a mile away, but he needed to safeguard her and it was clear the man he'd hired was a moron to have been detected so easily.
Jasper was furious that the man had been noticed by her. He should have known Olivia could smell a rat a mile away, but he needed to safeguard her and it was clear the man he'd hired was a moron to have been detected so easily.
Jasper made it very clear to him on the phone that if he couldn't do his job correctly, he would find someone who could. The bodyguard didn't sound pleased by the reaming, but what else could he do but take it? He had admitted to flubbing this up. Now, he promised Jasper it wouldn't happen again.
He had a new plan, he informed his angry client. Since Olivia now knew his face, he would be sending others out to watch her as well; it wouldn't always be him.
Jasper was satisfied with this as long, he stressed to the man, as Olivia didn't figure this one out, too.
He had a new plan, he informed his angry client. Since Olivia now knew his face, he would be sending others out to watch her as well; it wouldn't always be him.
Jasper was satisfied with this as long, he stressed to the man, as Olivia didn't figure this one out, too.
Blessing sat at John's dining room table doing her homework. But she found herself completely distracted as she tried to do her math. How could she think about numbers and things like that when she was all by herself yet again?
Oh, her mother had offered to help her. But she wanted her cousin Lacey to do things with. She had once again been reassured by Olivia and her Uncle John both that Lacey would be home soon enough.
"And," her mother had tried to soothe, "when Lacey does come home, it will be summer and you'll get to play. You won't even have to worry about homework then."
Blessing had smiled and agreed, but inside, she felt more alone than ever. She was still afraid that her mother and father would send her to boarding school. So far, both of her older siblings and her cousin Lacey had all been sent to different boarding schools. Blessing barely saw them unless it was a holiday break.
Oh, her mother had offered to help her. But she wanted her cousin Lacey to do things with. She had once again been reassured by Olivia and her Uncle John both that Lacey would be home soon enough.
"And," her mother had tried to soothe, "when Lacey does come home, it will be summer and you'll get to play. You won't even have to worry about homework then."
Blessing had smiled and agreed, but inside, she felt more alone than ever. She was still afraid that her mother and father would send her to boarding school. So far, both of her older siblings and her cousin Lacey had all been sent to different boarding schools. Blessing barely saw them unless it was a holiday break.
She sighed and stared into space, her homework forgotten. She just couldn't be sent away. She couldn't! She would die if they did that to her. How she wished she could talk to Lacey about this.
She thought perhaps she could talk to Uncle John, but he was acting all busy. He'd come charging into the house as if he'd been running from a fire. She thought he'd been in the garden, working. But suddenly, there he was, panting, covered in dirt and acting surprised that she was there. She wanted to laugh and tease him about his appearance, but he had just hurried past the dining room and into the bathroom.
She could hear the water running as he showered. Then she'd heard him shaving and running around his bedroom. She didn't understand the ordeal he seemed to be going through, she only knew that he probably didn't have time for her right this minute.
She thought perhaps she could talk to Uncle John, but he was acting all busy. He'd come charging into the house as if he'd been running from a fire. She thought he'd been in the garden, working. But suddenly, there he was, panting, covered in dirt and acting surprised that she was there. She wanted to laugh and tease him about his appearance, but he had just hurried past the dining room and into the bathroom.
She could hear the water running as he showered. Then she'd heard him shaving and running around his bedroom. She didn't understand the ordeal he seemed to be going through, she only knew that he probably didn't have time for her right this minute.
Sneaking away, all Olivia could think of at the moment was getting a little privacy. She had found another book about Ambrosia, the elixir that may be able to change her daughter Winter from a ghost into a human girl.
Although Jasper was not in total agreement with her, she couldn't help herself. She had to find out everything she could about Ambrosia. Not only did she need to know how to find the ingredients, the recipe and the dose, she needed to know if it was safe and if it worked once taken.
Jasper may not be worried that his daughter was a ghost, but at times, it was all Olivia could think about. There had to be answers somewhere. And Olivia would not stop until she found them all.
Although Jasper was not in total agreement with her, she couldn't help herself. She had to find out everything she could about Ambrosia. Not only did she need to know how to find the ingredients, the recipe and the dose, she needed to know if it was safe and if it worked once taken.
Jasper may not be worried that his daughter was a ghost, but at times, it was all Olivia could think about. There had to be answers somewhere. And Olivia would not stop until she found them all.
John met June at the front gate of the house.
"Oh!" She exclaimed. "I thought I would have to use the intercom or something."
"Well, I just thought it would be better to meet you out here so you wouldn't have to bother," he tensely answered.
"What is wrong with you? It sounded on the phone almost like you didn't want me to come over and now you're acting... I don't know... strange."
"No, no, no," he insisted. "It isn't that I didn't want you to come over. The truth is, I haven't told my family about you yet, and I just kind of wanted to find the right time to introduce you to them. It's not that I don't want them to know, even. It's just that it's hard sometimes to get them all together at the same time to tell them anything at all. They're all so busy."
"Well, what did you have in mind?"
"I don't know. I was thinking of a family dinner or something."
"That sounds nice," she smiled.
Her smile was contagious and he found himself smiling easily back at her.
"Can't we just go up to your place?" she asked, stepping closer to him. "I mean, we'd be alone there and maybe no one would see us go in."
He hesitated again. "I'm sorry, but I don't think that's going to work out either. You see, when I spoke with you on the phone earlier, I was in the garden. When I went inside to get ready for you to come over, my niece was in my place. She's still there and I don't have the heart to tell her to leave. I don't know if you can understand that or not. She's the same age as my daughter and I just adore her. She's been kind of mopey lately and I don't want to hurt her feelings."
"Oh, John, you're so sweet," June purred, stepping even closer to him. She pulled him into her arms and gave him a long, passionate kiss.
He had never been pulled into a kiss like that before. He'd always been the one to make the first move. Not only was he surprised, he found that he liked it a lot.
"So you're not angry?"
"Not at all," she breathed into his ear as she kissed that, too.
"Oh!" She exclaimed. "I thought I would have to use the intercom or something."
"Well, I just thought it would be better to meet you out here so you wouldn't have to bother," he tensely answered.
"What is wrong with you? It sounded on the phone almost like you didn't want me to come over and now you're acting... I don't know... strange."
"No, no, no," he insisted. "It isn't that I didn't want you to come over. The truth is, I haven't told my family about you yet, and I just kind of wanted to find the right time to introduce you to them. It's not that I don't want them to know, even. It's just that it's hard sometimes to get them all together at the same time to tell them anything at all. They're all so busy."
"Well, what did you have in mind?"
"I don't know. I was thinking of a family dinner or something."
"That sounds nice," she smiled.
Her smile was contagious and he found himself smiling easily back at her.
"Can't we just go up to your place?" she asked, stepping closer to him. "I mean, we'd be alone there and maybe no one would see us go in."
He hesitated again. "I'm sorry, but I don't think that's going to work out either. You see, when I spoke with you on the phone earlier, I was in the garden. When I went inside to get ready for you to come over, my niece was in my place. She's still there and I don't have the heart to tell her to leave. I don't know if you can understand that or not. She's the same age as my daughter and I just adore her. She's been kind of mopey lately and I don't want to hurt her feelings."
"Oh, John, you're so sweet," June purred, stepping even closer to him. She pulled him into her arms and gave him a long, passionate kiss.
He had never been pulled into a kiss like that before. He'd always been the one to make the first move. Not only was he surprised, he found that he liked it a lot.
"So you're not angry?"
"Not at all," she breathed into his ear as she kissed that, too.
It was time. He'd had just enough time to run to the florist before she arrived. He had returned only moments before she had gotten there. He pulled the roses out now and presented them to her.
"They're so beautiful!" she exclaimed as she took them and pushed her nose into them. "Oh they smell so good."
"They're so beautiful!" she exclaimed as she took them and pushed her nose into them. "Oh they smell so good."
Once again, she pulled him into an embrace. "Thank you so much. I love them."
John held her warm body against his, pulling her in closer. He thought about Elisa and her reaction the first time he had given her flowers. She had scoffed and informed him that the next time, she expected jewelry instead.
But June seemed overjoyed and content with the gesture of flowers. He was almost afraid to hope that this relationship would become something more. Could she be the one? Had he finally found his soul mate? Only time could tell.
John held her warm body against his, pulling her in closer. He thought about Elisa and her reaction the first time he had given her flowers. She had scoffed and informed him that the next time, she expected jewelry instead.
But June seemed overjoyed and content with the gesture of flowers. He was almost afraid to hope that this relationship would become something more. Could she be the one? Had he finally found his soul mate? Only time could tell.
In spite of what John thought, neither Olivia or Jasper noticed June's visit at all. They were too busy arguing, once again, about Winter.
"I told you to research this all you wanted," Jasper was saying. "But I really want you to quit treating her like she has some kind of affliction."
"How is reading about a possible cure for our daughter treating her as if she has some kind of disease?" Olivia fumed. "I treat her just as lovingly as every other child I've ever had. I can't believe you're saying this to me."
"I told you to research this all you wanted," Jasper was saying. "But I really want you to quit treating her like she has some kind of affliction."
"How is reading about a possible cure for our daughter treating her as if she has some kind of disease?" Olivia fumed. "I treat her just as lovingly as every other child I've ever had. I can't believe you're saying this to me."
Olivia stood when Jasper did. She was worried now because he acted as if the discussion was over.
"I need to know that I have your support."
"And I told you before that if you found out anything useful, we would discuss it," he responded with exasperation. "Right now, you don't have anything new to tell me except how concerned you are."
"Because it's on my mind! Why can't we talk about this?"
"I need to know that I have your support."
"And I told you before that if you found out anything useful, we would discuss it," he responded with exasperation. "Right now, you don't have anything new to tell me except how concerned you are."
"Because it's on my mind! Why can't we talk about this?"
He began to leave. "We can... when you have something new to tell me."
She stood flabbergasted as he went downstairs, leaving her there alone.
She stood flabbergasted as he went downstairs, leaving her there alone.
But her resolve was not shattered by his lack of support. If anything, she felt even more strongly that if she was going to do this, no one, not even Winter's father, was going to stop her. She had her daughter to think of, so in the end, it didn't really matter to her what anyone, even Jasper, thought about it.
She stood in front of the bookcase that was in the upstairs reading nook and perused its shelves. She had bought a bunch of books on the subject of ghosts and Ambrosia but she had interspersed them throughout the shelves in the house so Jasper wouldn't notice just how far she had gone to research this. She just knew he would call her obsessed or tell her she was going too far. But, she knew, he was keeping certain things from her that she had not been able to figure out yet. So, she figured, she could keep this one small thing from him. After the way he had reacted just now, she was not going to bring the subject up again. She would do this on her own.
Finally, she found the book she was looking for. Holding it in her hands, feeling the hard cover and leather binding with her fingers, she firmly decided that she would not stop for anyone.
Finally, she found the book she was looking for. Holding it in her hands, feeling the hard cover and leather binding with her fingers, she firmly decided that she would not stop for anyone.