Although Jasper had not heard from nor run into Jebidiah in a while, he wasn't going to take any chances. Just because no one had been bothered by him didn't mean he wasn't still a threat, Jasper reasoned.
Jasper had heard that Jebidiah had changed residences but still lived in Riverview. It was important to Jasper to keep tabs on Olivia's ex-fiancee, especially after everything he had put her through.
Being an investigative reporter only helped Jasper in his search. It wasn't difficult to find Jebidiah's new address and who was living with him. It appeared Jeb still worked at the hospital as a surgeon.
Jasper had heard that Jebidiah had changed residences but still lived in Riverview. It was important to Jasper to keep tabs on Olivia's ex-fiancee, especially after everything he had put her through.
Being an investigative reporter only helped Jasper in his search. It wasn't difficult to find Jebidiah's new address and who was living with him. It appeared Jeb still worked at the hospital as a surgeon.
Jasper seethed when he recalled how Olivia had tearfully informed him that Jeb was trying to come between Gracie and her. Of course, it hadn't happened. Gracie and Olivia had become closer than ever and Gracie had moved out of Jebidiah's house and back into her boarding school.
But Jeb had done something even worse. He had not only threatened Olivia, telling her he would "squash her like a bug," he had made an enemy in Jasper by doing so.
There was no way Jasper was ever going to let this go. Olivia had not said anything further about the strange man following her wherever she went, so Jasper could assume she had not figured out that he had placed a bodyguard on her.
Finding nothing unusual in his investigation on the computer, Jasper closed it and sat back in his chair thoughtfully. He had found that just investigating Jebidiah was not enough. Something in him wanted to make Jeb's life a little harder for what he'd done.
It would only be a matter of time before Jasper would figure out a way to do it without being caught.
But Jeb had done something even worse. He had not only threatened Olivia, telling her he would "squash her like a bug," he had made an enemy in Jasper by doing so.
There was no way Jasper was ever going to let this go. Olivia had not said anything further about the strange man following her wherever she went, so Jasper could assume she had not figured out that he had placed a bodyguard on her.
Finding nothing unusual in his investigation on the computer, Jasper closed it and sat back in his chair thoughtfully. He had found that just investigating Jebidiah was not enough. Something in him wanted to make Jeb's life a little harder for what he'd done.
It would only be a matter of time before Jasper would figure out a way to do it without being caught.
Once again, Blessing sat at the dining room table, doing her homework. Alone again, she gloomily thought. Sure, Bram was a little bit older now, about to have a birthday. But he was just a beginner at school, not at her level.
It was only a matter of days before Lacey would be home, but she felt like she was going to explode before Lacey could even get there. It was taking too long!
It was only a matter of days before Lacey would be home, but she felt like she was going to explode before Lacey could even get there. It was taking too long!
She sighed as she erased her answer on her homework once again. She had been so distracted and had made so many mistakes, she had nearly worn holes in her paper from all of the erasing.
Hopefully, Lacey would be as glad to be home as Blessing felt to see her.
Hopefully, Lacey would be as glad to be home as Blessing felt to see her.
Bram's birthday party was so important but it wasn't the only thing on Olivia's mind. As she prepared the stuffed turkey for the birthday party this evening, she couldn't help but hope she would have time to run to the bookstore. She had heard of a new book they had recommended to her regarding Ambrosia. The clerk at the store had promised her this book would have the full recipe.
Even so, she smiled wistfully to herself as she put the turkey in the oven. She wanted tonight to be perfect for her little man. It had seemed like only yesterday he'd been born.
He's been such a cute little thing, she remembered. She had kept him swaddled in the very same blue blanket she had used for Gilbert. A blanket that was now in the attic in a special trunk she kept for memorable items.
As she thought about little baby Bram, she could almost smell the baby lotion she always used on him. She could feel the softness of his new skin and the warmth of his little body pressed against hers.
As she thought about little baby Bram, she could almost smell the baby lotion she always used on him. She could feel the softness of his new skin and the warmth of his little body pressed against hers.
She must have daydreamed for a long time, because when she came back to reality, the turkey was done. It smelled so good as she pulled it out of the oven.
Bram would love this.
Bram would love this.
Jasper and John could smell the turkey throughout the entire house. With mouths watering, they came into the kitchen.
"I just saw Liv leave," John mentioned. "Do you think she meant to leave the turkey out like that?"
Jasper shook his head. "I doubt it. It's not like her at all. I wonder where she was going in such a hurry?"
John shrugged. "Tonight is huge for her. I'm sure she wants everything to be perfect and she probably realized something she forgot to pick up for the party. You know what I wonder," he said with a devilish grin, "I wonder if she'd notice if we eat a little of this turkey."
Jasper laughed. "I would love to, but I wouldn't advise it if you value your life."
"I just saw Liv leave," John mentioned. "Do you think she meant to leave the turkey out like that?"
Jasper shook his head. "I doubt it. It's not like her at all. I wonder where she was going in such a hurry?"
John shrugged. "Tonight is huge for her. I'm sure she wants everything to be perfect and she probably realized something she forgot to pick up for the party. You know what I wonder," he said with a devilish grin, "I wonder if she'd notice if we eat a little of this turkey."
Jasper laughed. "I would love to, but I wouldn't advise it if you value your life."
Olivia couldn't wait. Once she had purchased the book, she sat down immediately to skim through the table of contents. There it was! Just as the clerk had promised. The recipe for Ambrosia. The plethora of books she had already read on the subject only spoke about the effects of Ambrosia and listed only partial ingredients, but no amounts, no doses.
This book seemed complete with its recipe. But her heart sank a little when she read that the technique required not only an experienced person of such things, but the ingredients included two things she had never heard of: Deathfish and Life Fruit.
John was a very experienced fisherman and a pretty good gardener. Would he know? And would he grill her as to why she would be asking about such unusual items?
This book seemed complete with its recipe. But her heart sank a little when she read that the technique required not only an experienced person of such things, but the ingredients included two things she had never heard of: Deathfish and Life Fruit.
John was a very experienced fisherman and a pretty good gardener. Would he know? And would he grill her as to why she would be asking about such unusual items?
She moved to the picnic tables behind the bookstore. She knew she had to get home to get everything ready for Bram's party. All of the important details were already thought of, but there were still things needing to be done that she couldn't neglect.
She just couldn't stop thinking about the components she required for the Ambrosia. Surely John would ask too many questions. She wondered now if there was a book explaining where to find such unusual things.
As she stood and put the book under her arm, it occurred to her that since she'd confronted the strange man about following her, she hadn't seen him.
Well, good, she thought with satisfaction.
She just couldn't stop thinking about the components she required for the Ambrosia. Surely John would ask too many questions. She wondered now if there was a book explaining where to find such unusual things.
As she stood and put the book under her arm, it occurred to her that since she'd confronted the strange man about following her, she hadn't seen him.
Well, good, she thought with satisfaction.
As Olivia came home from the bookstore, John glanced at his watch. But he was not about to say anything to his sister about the time. The last thing he wanted was to get his head bitten off. He could see plainly enough how edgy she was.
Jasper, however, wasn't as wise.
"Where have you been? The guests will be here soon," Jasper asked her.
She tried her best to hide her irritation when she saw that the maid was looking on. "I was out and I'm back in plenty of time. Everything is ready, I just have to bring the food out. But it won't be ready if you keep me from doing what I need to do."
Jasper stepped aside and let it go. "Let me know what I can do to help," he said.
"Where have you been? The guests will be here soon," Jasper asked her.
She tried her best to hide her irritation when she saw that the maid was looking on. "I was out and I'm back in plenty of time. Everything is ready, I just have to bring the food out. But it won't be ready if you keep me from doing what I need to do."
Jasper stepped aside and let it go. "Let me know what I can do to help," he said.
Nearly everyone who had been invited came to the party. They all exclaimed at how Bram had grown and wished him a very happy birthday.
The menu Olivia had chosen seemed to have gone over well as most of the food was devoured. The guests were merry and they all seemed to have a good time.
The menu Olivia had chosen seemed to have gone over well as most of the food was devoured. The guests were merry and they all seemed to have a good time.
Bram watched as the visitors left. They had stayed a long time and while he would never admit it, he was very sleepy. He had never had so much fun, though.
Olivia looked at her little man and smiled broadly. He was so polite tonight and he seemed so happy.
Olivia looked at her little man and smiled broadly. He was so polite tonight and he seemed so happy.
She had been waiting for the right moment, and this seemed like a good time.
"Daddy and I have something just for you," she beamed as she presented him with a pretty white box with a red bow.
"Daddy and I have something just for you," she beamed as she presented him with a pretty white box with a red bow.
Bram's eyes widened. He'd already gotten more presents than he could have ever imagined.
His eyes grew even larger when he opened the box. Inside, was an art set. "Oh wow!" he exclaimed. "I love it!"
Olivia and Jasper smiled with pleasure. "We thought you might," Olivia told the boy. "You'll be an artist just like Uncle John."
His eyes grew even larger when he opened the box. Inside, was an art set. "Oh wow!" he exclaimed. "I love it!"
Olivia and Jasper smiled with pleasure. "We thought you might," Olivia told the boy. "You'll be an artist just like Uncle John."
Bram hugged her tightly, wrapping his thin arms around her neck as if he would never let her go. She relished that moment, vowing never to forget it.
As Bram went upstairs to bed, Olviia took Winter from Jasper and held the baby close to her. Bram had once been this little, she thought wistfully. She looked down into Winter's ghost eyes.
I will help you, my little love, she thought.
I will help you, my little love, she thought.
Later that night, June and John had a rendezvous. What John couldn't figure out was why their trysts seemed to be a secret. Yes, he had been keeping their relationship a bit hush-hush from his family simply because he wanted some privacy which was a rare thing in his household.
But June had not wanted to meet him anywhere publicly lately. And if they were in public, she side stepped any affection he tried to show her.
Privately, they were fine. And he enjoyed her immensely. He even thought she savored their time together. But he couldn't get a straight answer from her as to what the problem was. She had only told him she wanted it to be their secret.
Elisa had ended their relationship because he was a bit of a celebrity. Perhaps June didn't want the attention of the paparazzi. He decided not to bring it up to her again. He liked her a lot and didn't want anything to come between them like it had with Elisa and him.
But June had not wanted to meet him anywhere publicly lately. And if they were in public, she side stepped any affection he tried to show her.
Privately, they were fine. And he enjoyed her immensely. He even thought she savored their time together. But he couldn't get a straight answer from her as to what the problem was. She had only told him she wanted it to be their secret.
Elisa had ended their relationship because he was a bit of a celebrity. Perhaps June didn't want the attention of the paparazzi. He decided not to bring it up to her again. He liked her a lot and didn't want anything to come between them like it had with Elisa and him.