Olivia wasn't sure whether to answer the phone or not when it rang because she didn't recognize the number. She stared at it for a moment then finally sighed. It could be important, she decided as she answered.
"Hello?"
"Liv, this is Jebidiah."
She could feel her stomach roil and turn at the mere sound of his voice. As usual, he sounded edgy.
"Yes?" she tensely answered. "What is it?"
"I'm going to say this just once and I'd suggest you pay close attention."
"You know, I'm really getting sick of your attitude toward me. I don't know what this is all about or what's set you off this time, but I want you to stop. You have no cause to treat me in such a fashion."
"I'm going to tell you something of my own," he snarled. "Your so-called boyfriend, fiancee or whatever you want to address him as needs a leash! You get him under control once and for all."
Olivia was stunned. "Just what are you talking about?"
"Don't pretend you don't know."
"But I don't have a clue what you mean."
"Didn't you see me at the restaurant when you and Jasper went out?" he demanded.
She racked her brain, certain she would have remembered noticing him as the mere sight of him made her insides quiver. "It may surprise you to know that not everyone notices you when you're around," she snapped.
"Hello?"
"Liv, this is Jebidiah."
She could feel her stomach roil and turn at the mere sound of his voice. As usual, he sounded edgy.
"Yes?" she tensely answered. "What is it?"
"I'm going to say this just once and I'd suggest you pay close attention."
"You know, I'm really getting sick of your attitude toward me. I don't know what this is all about or what's set you off this time, but I want you to stop. You have no cause to treat me in such a fashion."
"I'm going to tell you something of my own," he snarled. "Your so-called boyfriend, fiancee or whatever you want to address him as needs a leash! You get him under control once and for all."
Olivia was stunned. "Just what are you talking about?"
"Don't pretend you don't know."
"But I don't have a clue what you mean."
"Didn't you see me at the restaurant when you and Jasper went out?" he demanded.
She racked her brain, certain she would have remembered noticing him as the mere sight of him made her insides quiver. "It may surprise you to know that not everyone notices you when you're around," she snapped.
"Well, I was there. And your little minion decided he'd like a confrontation right there in front of everyone."
His words felt like a bee sting. "No, you're lying. I was with him the entire time."
"No," he insisted, "you went inside before him and he took his opportunity then. He laid his hands on me and it's a good thing he's already dead or I would have killed him!"
"This is ridiculous! You must have provoked him."
"It figures you wouldn't believe me."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, have you forgotten that, too? It figures!" he said, raising his voice. "You have a short memory, Liv."
This was more than enough to rile her. "I really don't have any idea what you're talking about."
"You never did." He produced an ugly laugh from deep in his throat. "You know what? It doesn't matter. I can take care of myself. I just wanted you to know what kind of a crazy monster you're with now."
"He's a monster?" she asked, also raising her voice. "I don't think so!"
Jebidiah laughed again, then spoke with a deadly low voice, "Do you want to know something? I cheated on you because you're a cold, frigid, control freak diva. No one in their right mind would ever want to be with you. Except for a ghost! He's all you'll ever have and he's certifiable!"
She stood, still holding the phone to her ear, her mouth gaping even after he hung up.
His words felt like a bee sting. "No, you're lying. I was with him the entire time."
"No," he insisted, "you went inside before him and he took his opportunity then. He laid his hands on me and it's a good thing he's already dead or I would have killed him!"
"This is ridiculous! You must have provoked him."
"It figures you wouldn't believe me."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, have you forgotten that, too? It figures!" he said, raising his voice. "You have a short memory, Liv."
This was more than enough to rile her. "I really don't have any idea what you're talking about."
"You never did." He produced an ugly laugh from deep in his throat. "You know what? It doesn't matter. I can take care of myself. I just wanted you to know what kind of a crazy monster you're with now."
"He's a monster?" she asked, also raising her voice. "I don't think so!"
Jebidiah laughed again, then spoke with a deadly low voice, "Do you want to know something? I cheated on you because you're a cold, frigid, control freak diva. No one in their right mind would ever want to be with you. Except for a ghost! He's all you'll ever have and he's certifiable!"
She stood, still holding the phone to her ear, her mouth gaping even after he hung up.
Olivia wasted no time finding Jasper. She had to find out exactly what had happened. Although Jebidiah was a far cry from a reliable resource, she had been bothered at different times over the past months, feeling that there was something going on that she couldn't quite place her finger on.
"I have to talk to you," she said briskly, not giving him a chance to decline. "I just got a phone call from Jeb and he said you attacked him at the restaurant. He said it happened when I went inside before you. Is this true?"
"I have to talk to you," she said briskly, not giving him a chance to decline. "I just got a phone call from Jeb and he said you attacked him at the restaurant. He said it happened when I went inside before you. Is this true?"
Jasper seemed bothered but he said, "Livvy, why would you believe anything that man says?"
Her brow furrowed as she thought about the accusation.
Jasper could plainly see that she wasn't convinced. "Okay, you did go inside before me and I did notice he was there. But it isn't as bad as what he told you, I'm sure. You know he just wants to come between us."
Her brow furrowed as she thought about the accusation.
Jasper could plainly see that she wasn't convinced. "Okay, you did go inside before me and I did notice he was there. But it isn't as bad as what he told you, I'm sure. You know he just wants to come between us."
"Just be honest and tell me what happened. That's all I'm asking."
There was a long pause as Jasper thought about how to proceed. "Well, what did he say happened exactly?"
"I'm not playing this game, Jasper. Tell me now what you did."
"I saw him and approached him," Jasper began carefully but as sincerely as he could sound. "We talked for a minute or two and then things got heated. I told him to leave you alone and he went medieval on me. He's insane! He didn't even care that this was happening in front of all of the restaurants' patrons."
There was a long pause as Jasper thought about how to proceed. "Well, what did he say happened exactly?"
"I'm not playing this game, Jasper. Tell me now what you did."
"I saw him and approached him," Jasper began carefully but as sincerely as he could sound. "We talked for a minute or two and then things got heated. I told him to leave you alone and he went medieval on me. He's insane! He didn't even care that this was happening in front of all of the restaurants' patrons."
"Why would you do that? Why would you even approach him? He hasn't even bothered me since Gracie moved out of his house and went back to boarding school!" she yelled, unable to contain her anger.
"You are blowing this way out of proportion," he reasoned calmly.
"Really? Because you know what he said? He said you are the crazy one! He said you pushed him around physically as well as verbally."
"And you believe him? Do you?" Jasper yelled back at her.
"You are blowing this way out of proportion," he reasoned calmly.
"Really? Because you know what he said? He said you are the crazy one! He said you pushed him around physically as well as verbally."
"And you believe him? Do you?" Jasper yelled back at her.
"I am not saying I believe him. I do agree with you that he may say things to try to come between us. But you cannot go around confronting him in public like that. Not only could someone have gotten hurt, it also hurts my reputation. Can you understand that? Anything you do in public is a reflection on me. And people are already wagging their tongues all over Riverview about the fact that we have three children, aren't married and that you're a ghost to top it all off!" She tried to calm herself. "And, I don't like getting phone calls hearing things that you've been involved in that I have no knowledge of. Who else is going to call me about this? Will it be in the paper or did someone record it on their phone to put on the news or something? I need you to think before you do things!"
Inside, he was burning with anger. But he didn't want this "Jebidiah problem" to end his relationship with Olivia. He had worked too hard to maintain it. He fumed as he thought about all of the times in his life people had muttered that he was crazy. I am not crazy! he screamed inside his head.
To Olivia, he said in his calmest voice, "What I did was done in the heat of the moment and it's not as bad as what he made out. I'm really sorry. I promise I won't confront him again in public like that."
She seemed to be less angry now. "Good. That's all I ask."
After she left the room, he worked his hands into fists at his sides. He was glad she hadn't noticed that he didn't promise he wouldn't confront Jebidiah in private.
Inside, he was burning with anger. But he didn't want this "Jebidiah problem" to end his relationship with Olivia. He had worked too hard to maintain it. He fumed as he thought about all of the times in his life people had muttered that he was crazy. I am not crazy! he screamed inside his head.
To Olivia, he said in his calmest voice, "What I did was done in the heat of the moment and it's not as bad as what he made out. I'm really sorry. I promise I won't confront him again in public like that."
She seemed to be less angry now. "Good. That's all I ask."
After she left the room, he worked his hands into fists at his sides. He was glad she hadn't noticed that he didn't promise he wouldn't confront Jebidiah in private.
Blessing had agreed to teach Bram how to play chess. Lacey looked on, not particularly interested. Everyone thought she loved to play this game, but to her, it was very boring and took entirely too long to complete. She liked fast paced games that were active like hopscotch, hide and seek or tag. Chess was way too tedious for her.
But, she cringed inwardly, chess was kind of a family "thing" and all of the children in the household had been taught to play at a young age.
But, she cringed inwardly, chess was kind of a family "thing" and all of the children in the household had been taught to play at a young age.
Lacey tapped her foot impatiently as each move Bram took was excruciatingly time consuming. This game would never be over. He didn't seem to be catching on at all and chess took long enough when you did know how to play.
Finally, she lost all patience. "Bram, just go already!"
"Give him a chance," Blessing said. "He's only just learning."
"I want to swim or play tag and you guys are never going to get done with this game at this rate," Lacey complained.
Ignoring her cousin, Blessing pointed at the board and said, "Bram, move that one. Do you remember what direction he goes in?"
Bram nodded and took his turn. "It's okay if you guys want to play something else. I don't think I like chess."
"It's just because you don't understand it yet. But you will," his sister tried to encourage.
Lacey sighed, realizing she'd been mean. "I'm sorry, Bram. You're doing pretty good for a beginner. My dad says I'm too "antsy" sometimes. I think he means I always have to be on the move. You guys keep playing, okay?"
Bram gave her a tiny smile as Blessing took her turn. "I'm not good at this. I don't think it will take much longer."
Lacey laughed and the mood in the room seemed lightened. She was sure that despite her impatience and this long game, the day would still be fun.
"Give him a chance," Blessing said. "He's only just learning."
"I want to swim or play tag and you guys are never going to get done with this game at this rate," Lacey complained.
Ignoring her cousin, Blessing pointed at the board and said, "Bram, move that one. Do you remember what direction he goes in?"
Bram nodded and took his turn. "It's okay if you guys want to play something else. I don't think I like chess."
"It's just because you don't understand it yet. But you will," his sister tried to encourage.
Lacey sighed, realizing she'd been mean. "I'm sorry, Bram. You're doing pretty good for a beginner. My dad says I'm too "antsy" sometimes. I think he means I always have to be on the move. You guys keep playing, okay?"
Bram gave her a tiny smile as Blessing took her turn. "I'm not good at this. I don't think it will take much longer."
Lacey laughed and the mood in the room seemed lightened. She was sure that despite her impatience and this long game, the day would still be fun.
It was getting dusk when Olivia realized she needed a couple things from the grocery store. When she arrived, an acquaintance stopped her outside before she could go in.
Ms. Baldwin, how nice to see you."
Olivia felt embarrassed that she couldn't remember the woman's name. "Oh, thank you. It's lovely to see you, too. How have you been?"
Ms. Baldwin, how nice to see you."
Olivia felt embarrassed that she couldn't remember the woman's name. "Oh, thank you. It's lovely to see you, too. How have you been?"
"I've been fine, thanks, but I've heard some things that I just can't believe!"
Oh know, Olivia thought. Here it comes. The entire town probably knew about Jasper's run-in with Jebidiah by now.
Olivia produced a strained smile. "Oh really? What is it you've heard?"
The woman was all too eager to answer. Obviously, she would also want to know if what she was about to say was true. "I heard from a friend that John has been seen around town with someone new!"
Olivia exhaled a breath she didn't even know she'd been holding. "Um, yes, I think he is."
"Well, that isn't all," the woman continued. "It's been rumored he is seeing June Shallow!"
Olivia racked her brain. John had told her his new girlfriend was named June, but why did the name "Shallow" ring a bell? Did she know her? She didn't have long to wait as the woman seemed unable to contain her information.
"You know June Shallow!" the woman exclaimed. "June Shallow? Mrs. June Shallow! She's married and has two kids, Dallas and MaryKay!"
Oh know, Olivia thought. Here it comes. The entire town probably knew about Jasper's run-in with Jebidiah by now.
Olivia produced a strained smile. "Oh really? What is it you've heard?"
The woman was all too eager to answer. Obviously, she would also want to know if what she was about to say was true. "I heard from a friend that John has been seen around town with someone new!"
Olivia exhaled a breath she didn't even know she'd been holding. "Um, yes, I think he is."
"Well, that isn't all," the woman continued. "It's been rumored he is seeing June Shallow!"
Olivia racked her brain. John had told her his new girlfriend was named June, but why did the name "Shallow" ring a bell? Did she know her? She didn't have long to wait as the woman seemed unable to contain her information.
"You know June Shallow!" the woman exclaimed. "June Shallow? Mrs. June Shallow! She's married and has two kids, Dallas and MaryKay!"
Olivia felt as if the air had been sucked out of her lungs. "Married?" she gasped.
"You bet she is! But she goes out all the time, clubbing and looking for fun. You're saying you and your brother didn't know this?"
"No, of course my brother doesn't know this. He would never date a married woman." She put a shaky hand to her forehead as she thought about how this news would hurt John.
The woman leaned in closer as if to reveal more big news. "Well," she said, "This isn't the first time June has done this. She's a total gold digger. Tom has threatened to divorce her in the past if she didn't stop it, but he's just a wimp when it comes to setting his foot down."
"I - I have to go. Please excuse me," Olivia stammered, hurrying to her car, her grocery list forgotten.
"You bet she is! But she goes out all the time, clubbing and looking for fun. You're saying you and your brother didn't know this?"
"No, of course my brother doesn't know this. He would never date a married woman." She put a shaky hand to her forehead as she thought about how this news would hurt John.
The woman leaned in closer as if to reveal more big news. "Well," she said, "This isn't the first time June has done this. She's a total gold digger. Tom has threatened to divorce her in the past if she didn't stop it, but he's just a wimp when it comes to setting his foot down."
"I - I have to go. Please excuse me," Olivia stammered, hurrying to her car, her grocery list forgotten.
"I have to talk to you right away!" Olivia said urgently as soon as she found Jasper.
"If it's about what happened with Jebidiah, I don't want to go through that again."
"No, no," she assured, but he could hear desperation in her voice. "It's about John. He's been seeing someone and all he told me about her was that her name is June."
"And?"
"And I just went to the store and ran into this lady who told me that the person he's seeing is June Shallow!" When he didn't respond, she continued, "She's married and has two children! Not only that, this woman I ran into said that June has a habit of going after rich men. I'm completely sure John has no idea about this. What do I do?"
"If it's about what happened with Jebidiah, I don't want to go through that again."
"No, no," she assured, but he could hear desperation in her voice. "It's about John. He's been seeing someone and all he told me about her was that her name is June."
"And?"
"And I just went to the store and ran into this lady who told me that the person he's seeing is June Shallow!" When he didn't respond, she continued, "She's married and has two children! Not only that, this woman I ran into said that June has a habit of going after rich men. I'm completely sure John has no idea about this. What do I do?"
Without hesitation, Jasper answered. "This is going to hurt John a lot, but you have to tell him. He may not like it, but he needs to know and the sooner the better. Do you want me to tell him instead?"
A tear escaped the corner of her eye and she swiped at it quickly. She hated crying. "No. I need to do this. He doesn't even know I told you he was seeing someone and I think it should come from me."
Jasper pulled her into a warm, comforting embrace. "Okay, you know best where your brother is concerned. But if there's anyway I can help, let me know."
A tear escaped the corner of her eye and she swiped at it quickly. She hated crying. "No. I need to do this. He doesn't even know I told you he was seeing someone and I think it should come from me."
Jasper pulled her into a warm, comforting embrace. "Okay, you know best where your brother is concerned. But if there's anyway I can help, let me know."
Olivia couldn't find John that night when she got home. Was he out with June? She cringed at the thought that June was using him in this manner.
After drinking her morning coffee, she came out onto the patio off of the family room, nearly running him over. He was tending a potted plant.
"John, I have something to tell you and you're not going to like it, but you need to hear me out."
After drinking her morning coffee, she came out onto the patio off of the family room, nearly running him over. He was tending a potted plant.
"John, I have something to tell you and you're not going to like it, but you need to hear me out."
"Okay," he said easily enough. "Shoot."
"I was at the store and I heard some rumors."
"About?"
"You and June. June Shallow."
John's expression became instantly irritated. "So what? People talk about us all the time."
Olivia shook her head. "This is serious. Do you know that she's -"
He interrupted before she could continue, "- I don't want to hear any stupid rumors about her. It's all nothing but a bunch of tongue wagging and talk, talk, talk."
"No, you have to let me finish!"
"I was at the store and I heard some rumors."
"About?"
"You and June. June Shallow."
John's expression became instantly irritated. "So what? People talk about us all the time."
Olivia shook her head. "This is serious. Do you know that she's -"
He interrupted before she could continue, "- I don't want to hear any stupid rumors about her. It's all nothing but a bunch of tongue wagging and talk, talk, talk."
"No, you have to let me finish!"
"No, I don't think I have to let you finish," he insisted. "How many times have you heard rumors about yourself and you knew they had no basis in truth."
"This is different, I promise you. You need to know this because it's true! John, she's -"
"- No! Just stop it already! If there's something important to tell me, she will when she's ready. I don't want to hear any gossip."
"But this is true, I know for a fact it is! You have to hear me out!"
"For the final time, Liv, no! I don't want to hear it! Quit interfering in my relationships! This is why I didn't tell you about her in the first place!"
"I'm not trying to interfere, really, I'm not. If you would only let me finish."
But he wouldn't.
"This is different, I promise you. You need to know this because it's true! John, she's -"
"- No! Just stop it already! If there's something important to tell me, she will when she's ready. I don't want to hear any gossip."
"But this is true, I know for a fact it is! You have to hear me out!"
"For the final time, Liv, no! I don't want to hear it! Quit interfering in my relationships! This is why I didn't tell you about her in the first place!"
"I'm not trying to interfere, really, I'm not. If you would only let me finish."
But he wouldn't.
She finally gave up but as she walked away, doubts began to creep into his mind. He had known for a little while, or suspected rather, that something was a little different about June's behavior.
John called June a little later in the day but she said she couldn't come over and that she didn't have time to chat. He had asked her when he could call her back and she said not until tomorrow.
Feeling troubled, he sank into the hot tub, hoping it would loosen his knotted muscles and relax his mind.
Feeling troubled, he sank into the hot tub, hoping it would loosen his knotted muscles and relax his mind.
He leaned back, trying to let the steaming, bubbling water soothe him.
After a moment, he sat back up straight. This wasn't working. Should he have listened to his sister? He hadn't given her much of a chance to say anything. But sometimes it just aggravated him that she seemed to consider herself a part of his relationships.
But what if what she had to say had been as important as she'd claimed? He'd never known her to exaggerate or lie.
He turned his thoughts to June. Lately in public, if she would even meet him in public, she wouldn't let him hold her hand or kiss her. He had thought that was strange but she had explained that she just wasn't into public affection and that she enjoyed the fact that they were a bit of a secret.
At the time, John had just reasoned that she was afraid of paparazzi attention. But now, he could assume there was more to the story. And he knew he wouldn't be able to think about anything else until he got to the bottom of it all.
But what if what she had to say had been as important as she'd claimed? He'd never known her to exaggerate or lie.
He turned his thoughts to June. Lately in public, if she would even meet him in public, she wouldn't let him hold her hand or kiss her. He had thought that was strange but she had explained that she just wasn't into public affection and that she enjoyed the fact that they were a bit of a secret.
At the time, John had just reasoned that she was afraid of paparazzi attention. But now, he could assume there was more to the story. And he knew he wouldn't be able to think about anything else until he got to the bottom of it all.