Jasper's first day of work as his new self went very well. Not only was he able to shock everyone, which he had gotten immense joy from, he was promoted today to Weatherman.
He figured at this rate, it would only be a matter of time before he was an editor.
Smiling to himself, he couldn't help but think about all of the 'second' firsts he'd had today. For the first time in a long time, he was able to taste the coffee and, as the caffeine raced through his body, he could remember why people drank it in the morning.
When he typed on his keyboard, he could feel the keys clicking under the pressure of his fingers.
And when one of his co-workers brought in homemade brownies for the entire office, he recalled why he'd been a little hefty in his previous life. They melted in his mouth and he savored each and every bite.
But there were more things he wanted to experience. Right away.
He figured at this rate, it would only be a matter of time before he was an editor.
Smiling to himself, he couldn't help but think about all of the 'second' firsts he'd had today. For the first time in a long time, he was able to taste the coffee and, as the caffeine raced through his body, he could remember why people drank it in the morning.
When he typed on his keyboard, he could feel the keys clicking under the pressure of his fingers.
And when one of his co-workers brought in homemade brownies for the entire office, he recalled why he'd been a little hefty in his previous life. They melted in his mouth and he savored each and every bite.
But there were more things he wanted to experience. Right away.
When he'd changed out of his work clothes, he found Olivia in the kitchen. She had apparently eaten a quick bite as he hadn't been home in time for dinner. She smiled at him when he joined her at the breakfast counter.
"I can't tell you how well things went today!" In great detail, he went through his day with her, explaining each thing. He knew that to the normal person, these little things were taken for granted and not particularly noticed. But he could tell by her attentiveness that she was interested and appreciative of his long report.
"I can't tell you how well things went today!" In great detail, he went through his day with her, explaining each thing. He knew that to the normal person, these little things were taken for granted and not particularly noticed. But he could tell by her attentiveness that she was interested and appreciative of his long report.
He joined her at the dishwasher as she cleaned up the kitchen.
"And, Liv," he continued. "There is so much more to do! I want to do everything right away! Everything that I regarded before to be so normal - it isn't! It's all new again."
She laughed and said, "I love how excited you are. And I think you deserve some special treatment. If it's in my power, I'm going to make sure you get to do everything it is that you want."
"And, Liv," he continued. "There is so much more to do! I want to do everything right away! Everything that I regarded before to be so normal - it isn't! It's all new again."
She laughed and said, "I love how excited you are. And I think you deserve some special treatment. If it's in my power, I'm going to make sure you get to do everything it is that you want."
Blessing walked into the kitchen and looked on as her parents held hands and spoke. They both seemed happier than she'd seen them in a while. Sure they had always shown each other affection, she thought, but this was different. They had argued a lot recently, too. Now, things seemed different.
Very pleased, Blessing sneaked back out of the kitchen, not wanting to spoil their moment.
Very pleased, Blessing sneaked back out of the kitchen, not wanting to spoil their moment.
John stared at the blank canvas and waited for an idea to hit him. He was an accomplished artist and had been paid well for his work. Now, someone had commissioned a medium painting from him for her office.
She hadn't seemed to care what it was he painted, only that it was beautiful and striking. He had already examined the color palette in her office and so knew what color range he would stay in. But he hadn't a clue as to where he would go from there.
She hadn't seemed to care what it was he painted, only that it was beautiful and striking. He had already examined the color palette in her office and so knew what color range he would stay in. But he hadn't a clue as to where he would go from there.
After mixing some colors, he stood back a bit, holding the brush up as if to paint, but hesitating. He thought about June and how beautiful she was with her creamy colored skin and beautiful dark eyes. Suddenly, he was very certain as to what to paint.
Hours went by, but he didn't stop. He never did once he began to paint. He found that he lost the inspiration if he stopped in the middle of working on a project.
As he continued, he was liking how the colors were coming together and the shape it was taking on. He really hoped this would be his best piece ever.
As he continued, he was liking how the colors were coming together and the shape it was taking on. He really hoped this would be his best piece ever.
When he was satisfied that it was complete, he stood back and gazed at it. Without realizing it, he sucked his breath in quickly, making a slight whistling noise.
It was perfect. He knew his client would be happy. But he also knew that June would be pleased.
It was perfect. He knew his client would be happy. But he also knew that June would be pleased.
It looked like any other bookcase. But in the Baldwin home, a simple object could be more complicated than first realized.
This particular bookcase was on the third floor, just off John's art studio.
This particular bookcase was on the third floor, just off John's art studio.
No one heard the small click that signaled the case was about to move. Slowly, it slid backward and behind itself.
Olivia stepped out from behind the secret passageway. She knew John was painting just a room away, but she also knew that when he was working, he never heard or noticed anything around him.
She was pretty certain both John and Jasper knew about the secret rooms behind the bookcase, but she didn't know if they'd been in there recently.
After the case slid back into place and the telltale click that said it had closed properly sounded, she smiled slightly to herself. Jasper was really going to enjoy what she had in store.
After the case slid back into place and the telltale click that said it had closed properly sounded, she smiled slightly to herself. Jasper was really going to enjoy what she had in store.
She went immediately to the kitchen and pulled the rest of the ingredients out of the refrigerator. While Jasper had been describing the brownies he had eaten at work, it had occurred to her that at one point, early in their relationship, he had mentioned he wished he could have Baked Angel Food Cake because it was his favorite dessert.
The only problem was, there was a tricky ingredient to the recipe called Flame Fruit. But, the good thing about Flame Fruit was that it never decayed. And the room behind the secret passageway was where she stored her supply.
The only problem was, there was a tricky ingredient to the recipe called Flame Fruit. But, the good thing about Flame Fruit was that it never decayed. And the room behind the secret passageway was where she stored her supply.
As she slid the cake into the oven to bake, she smiled to herself. She was glad her mother had taught her how to make this and just as glad her mother had always kept Flame Fruit in the secret room. She hoped Jasper would add this to the list of things that he enjoyed today.
When Jasper saw the Baked Angel Food Cake, he couldn't believe his eyes. Nor could he believe the way his mouth watered at the sight and smell of it. He hadn't had that sensation in so long, he'd forgotten it happened at all.
"Have some with me," he told Olivia.
But she shook her head. "No, this is for you. Eat the whole thing if you want to. And if there's any left over, it will keep for a long time in the fridge."
"Have some with me," he told Olivia.
But she shook her head. "No, this is for you. Eat the whole thing if you want to. And if there's any left over, it will keep for a long time in the fridge."
He didn't argue with her because he found he couldn't wait to dig in. He sat at the first chair at the dining room table off of the kitchen.
Apparently, Blessing couldn't help herself either. She had never had this before because her mother had never made it that she could remember, but she couldn't resist the way it looked and smelled.
Apparently, Blessing couldn't help herself either. She had never had this before because her mother had never made it that she could remember, but she couldn't resist the way it looked and smelled.
Sitting next to her father, they both dug in and ate heartily. To both of them, it was the best thing they'd ever tasted.
Because Olivia had been so sweet and understanding to all of his changes, Jasper decided to sneak out and buy her some flowers. She definitely deserved them.
Unhappily, though, he ran straight into Jebidiah Wilson. Jeb's eyes grew huge when he saw Jasper. Jasper smirked as he watched Jeb's expression change from bafflement, to recognition, then to shock.
Jasper walked right up to him, very briskly and stood inches from his face. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," he sneered.
Jebidiah took a step backward, clearly intimidated. "Hey, man, wow! This is... unusual."
Unhappily, though, he ran straight into Jebidiah Wilson. Jeb's eyes grew huge when he saw Jasper. Jasper smirked as he watched Jeb's expression change from bafflement, to recognition, then to shock.
Jasper walked right up to him, very briskly and stood inches from his face. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," he sneered.
Jebidiah took a step backward, clearly intimidated. "Hey, man, wow! This is... unusual."
"Try to start something with me now," Jasper snapped.
"I never started anything with you. You're always the one coming up to me," Jebidiah said. "I keep telling you that what I said to Olivia was just out of anger."
But Jasper wouldn't be deterred. "What you said to her is enough for her to place a restraining order on you whether you meant it or not."
"Look, Jasp, I haven't bothered her since. And, by the way, when that even happened, she was at my house. I didn't seek her out."
"I never started anything with you. You're always the one coming up to me," Jebidiah said. "I keep telling you that what I said to Olivia was just out of anger."
But Jasper wouldn't be deterred. "What you said to her is enough for her to place a restraining order on you whether you meant it or not."
"Look, Jasp, I haven't bothered her since. And, by the way, when that even happened, she was at my house. I didn't seek her out."
Had Jebidiah just called him 'Jasp?' he thought, scowling.
Jasper took a step closer again, causing Jebidiah to take another step backward. Jasper had to admit to himself that he liked how this felt. It was powerful to know he was an intimidating person if he wanted to be.
"No, you look, Jeb," he said in his most belittling voice, "she went to your house to see her daughter which she had every right to do. And what you did to her that night - no, what you did to her that night and before then, when the two of you were engaged - I will never forget or forgive. Do you understand? You are a piece of dirt under my feet and it's time I cleaned you off."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Jebidiah asked, stepping away again.
Taking yet another step toward the other man, Jasper said in a low, threatening voice, "I guess you'll just have to wait and find out."
Jasper took a step closer again, causing Jebidiah to take another step backward. Jasper had to admit to himself that he liked how this felt. It was powerful to know he was an intimidating person if he wanted to be.
"No, you look, Jeb," he said in his most belittling voice, "she went to your house to see her daughter which she had every right to do. And what you did to her that night - no, what you did to her that night and before then, when the two of you were engaged - I will never forget or forgive. Do you understand? You are a piece of dirt under my feet and it's time I cleaned you off."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Jebidiah asked, stepping away again.
Taking yet another step toward the other man, Jasper said in a low, threatening voice, "I guess you'll just have to wait and find out."
After taking June to his client's office to see the painting, they drove back to his house. They stood outside in the dark beside John's apartment which was above the garage.
John held her in his arms, gazing into her eyes. He couldn't help it, he was really falling for her.
She smiled. "What is it?"
John held her in his arms, gazing into her eyes. He couldn't help it, he was really falling for her.
She smiled. "What is it?"
They held hands as they spoke and admired one another.
"Remember when you said that your car had broken down and you didn't think they could fix it?"
She thought for a minute then said, "Oh yes. It's such a pain. What a clunker." She laughed a little.
"Well, honey," he began, his blue eyes glittering in the moonlight, "I bought you a car. I want you to have it. It's in the garage and ready for you to drive it home. I'll sign the title over to you before you go."
"Oh, John, I can't," she protested. "It's too much."
He laughed. "I won't take no for an answer. It's a Bugatti - your favorite color. Yellow."
"What?" she gasped.
"A yellow Bugatti -"
"- I heard you! I just can't believe it!"
He laughed again and grinned from ear to ear. "Well believe it. You're with me now and you deserve to be treated like a queen. You needed a car, so I got you one."
"Remember when you said that your car had broken down and you didn't think they could fix it?"
She thought for a minute then said, "Oh yes. It's such a pain. What a clunker." She laughed a little.
"Well, honey," he began, his blue eyes glittering in the moonlight, "I bought you a car. I want you to have it. It's in the garage and ready for you to drive it home. I'll sign the title over to you before you go."
"Oh, John, I can't," she protested. "It's too much."
He laughed. "I won't take no for an answer. It's a Bugatti - your favorite color. Yellow."
"What?" she gasped.
"A yellow Bugatti -"
"- I heard you! I just can't believe it!"
He laughed again and grinned from ear to ear. "Well believe it. You're with me now and you deserve to be treated like a queen. You needed a car, so I got you one."
She suddenly grabbed him behind his neck and pulled him toward her, kissing him deeply and passionately. He was so entranced by her touch, the feel of her lips against his, he didn't care if the entire world saw them. He felt more and more, each day that she was like a drug to him.
When she finally pulled away, he reluctantly let her go a little so they could look into each others' eyes again.
"Thank you, John. You're so wonderful to me."
"I'd do anything for you," he admitted.
"Do you want to go upstairs?" she whispered with a small smile.
He shook his head. "No. I want to see you behind the wheel of your new car."
She laughed and followed him into the garage.
"Thank you, John. You're so wonderful to me."
"I'd do anything for you," he admitted.
"Do you want to go upstairs?" she whispered with a small smile.
He shook his head. "No. I want to see you behind the wheel of your new car."
She laughed and followed him into the garage.
Just as Jasper had thought, Olivia hadn't noticed he'd gone out. Because of having run into Jebidiah, he had forgotten the flowers, so it was just as well that Olivia did not know he had left.
When he got home, he found her beside the hot tub in her pretty bikini. He could only look on with love as they spoke. When it had become too dark to see, they had come inside.
To their surprise, music was blasting in the family room. Jokingly, they began to dance. Their moves were crazy and funny and soon they were laughing hysterically.
The children overheard the racket and came in to see what the fuss was. When they saw Jasper and Olivia dancing crazily, they joined in. Before long, it had become a family boogie night.
When he got home, he found her beside the hot tub in her pretty bikini. He could only look on with love as they spoke. When it had become too dark to see, they had come inside.
To their surprise, music was blasting in the family room. Jokingly, they began to dance. Their moves were crazy and funny and soon they were laughing hysterically.
The children overheard the racket and came in to see what the fuss was. When they saw Jasper and Olivia dancing crazily, they joined in. Before long, it had become a family boogie night.
Olivia was soaking in the tub and all the children were sleeping. Jasper sat at the laptop in his study on the first floor and thought for a long while about what he was going to do.
He knew there would be repercussions of his actions, but he couldn't seem to control that part of himself that wanted Jebidiah to pay dearly for all of the pain he had caused Olivia.
He knew there would be repercussions of his actions, but he couldn't seem to control that part of himself that wanted Jebidiah to pay dearly for all of the pain he had caused Olivia.
He opened the computer and began typing. As he typed, the words and thoughts came to him quicker and quicker. Soon, he had a complete article prepared. He knew it wouldn't go in tomorrow's paper, it was too late for that. But it could be edited and placed in the paper after that, he reasoned.
If he dared. He wrote an email to his editor at the paper and attached the file that contained the article he'd just written about Jebidiah. As if it had a mind of its own, his finger hovered over the 'send' button. Did he dare?
If he dared. He wrote an email to his editor at the paper and attached the file that contained the article he'd just written about Jebidiah. As if it had a mind of its own, his finger hovered over the 'send' button. Did he dare?
Jasper had the next day off from work and he spent most of it in the sun, lying on a lounge chair. He couldn't believe that he was covered with perspiration. But it didn't bother him. In fact, it pleased him immensely.
The sensation of the chair cushioning his body was almost too comfortable and he smiled at the warmth of the sun.
Would he get a sunburn? He didn't care, he only wanted to experience it if he could. Perhaps he would tan. Leaning back further in the chair, he closed his eyes against the heat and the light. It was astonishing how good this felt to him.
The sensation of the chair cushioning his body was almost too comfortable and he smiled at the warmth of the sun.
Would he get a sunburn? He didn't care, he only wanted to experience it if he could. Perhaps he would tan. Leaning back further in the chair, he closed his eyes against the heat and the light. It was astonishing how good this felt to him.
When Olivia came home from work and the kids came home from their play date at the park, they left him alone to revel in his lounge chair. The children had never been so pleased. Another family night.
Summer is the best, Blessing thought as she paddled toward her mother in the cool water. This was the best time of year and now with daddy so happy, it was even better.
Summer is the best, Blessing thought as she paddled toward her mother in the cool water. This was the best time of year and now with daddy so happy, it was even better.
John enjoyed long walks in the evening. June hadn't been able to meet with him, so he'd gone on his walk alone. As he was passing a little shop, he noticed a young woman, her back to him, with long dark hair peering into a store window across the street.
It was June, he thought. Why had she told him she couldn't go out?
As he approached her, she turned to face him. That was when he realized she was a teenager and not June at all. But the resemblance was unmistakable.
He realized suddenly that she was giving him a funny look because he was staring at her.
"Oh!" he exclaimed. "I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else. I just saw you from behind... I mean, uh, I'm sorry."
It was June, he thought. Why had she told him she couldn't go out?
As he approached her, she turned to face him. That was when he realized she was a teenager and not June at all. But the resemblance was unmistakable.
He realized suddenly that she was giving him a funny look because he was staring at her.
"Oh!" he exclaimed. "I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else. I just saw you from behind... I mean, uh, I'm sorry."
"Oh I get that a lot if people know my mother," she said with a knowing smile.
At first, what she said didn't register with him. She was a pretty girl and she looked so familiar. His brow furrowed when the realization of what she said and the resemblance of her deep brown eyes hit him in his chest like a brick.
"What did you say?" he stammered. "Your mother?"
"Yeah," she said. "You must know my mom. We look a lot alike, or so people say. Personally, I don't see it."
He was afraid to ask. "Who is your mother?"
"June Shallow. I'm MaryKay," she said.
His stomach turned and he thought he might be sick. "June is your mom? I didn't know she'd ever been married.... I mean, I didn't realize she was divorced."
MaryKay gave him a confused look, then it was her turn for realization to hit her. Her brown eyes became hard as, at this age, she knew what her mother did in her spare time. Now, she also knew that this must be the man who had given her the fancy yellow car.
"She's not divorced, you home-wrecking jerk!" she screamed with a mixture of hatred and bitterness. "She's married to my dad, Tom and I have a brother, too. So why don't you just back off and leave us all alone?"
John had never felt so close to passing out in his life. With a sick awareness, he now knew what Olivia had been trying to tell him. And not only was it a rumor. It was true. He'd been played and he'd also hurt this innocent child in the process.
"I'm so sorry," he choked out before hurrying home as quickly as he could.
At first, what she said didn't register with him. She was a pretty girl and she looked so familiar. His brow furrowed when the realization of what she said and the resemblance of her deep brown eyes hit him in his chest like a brick.
"What did you say?" he stammered. "Your mother?"
"Yeah," she said. "You must know my mom. We look a lot alike, or so people say. Personally, I don't see it."
He was afraid to ask. "Who is your mother?"
"June Shallow. I'm MaryKay," she said.
His stomach turned and he thought he might be sick. "June is your mom? I didn't know she'd ever been married.... I mean, I didn't realize she was divorced."
MaryKay gave him a confused look, then it was her turn for realization to hit her. Her brown eyes became hard as, at this age, she knew what her mother did in her spare time. Now, she also knew that this must be the man who had given her the fancy yellow car.
"She's not divorced, you home-wrecking jerk!" she screamed with a mixture of hatred and bitterness. "She's married to my dad, Tom and I have a brother, too. So why don't you just back off and leave us all alone?"
John had never felt so close to passing out in his life. With a sick awareness, he now knew what Olivia had been trying to tell him. And not only was it a rumor. It was true. He'd been played and he'd also hurt this innocent child in the process.
"I'm so sorry," he choked out before hurrying home as quickly as he could.