Since finding out about June, John had not felt like leaving his apartment. All he could seem to do was sit around and think about all of the fun he'd had with her and how that was all over now.
Over, he thought. It was so final and there was no going back. He thought about how stupid he had been, falling head over heels for her without really checking into her past or even listening to his own sister when she had tried to tell him about June.
He felt awful when he recalled the confrontation he'd had with MaryKay. She had been so hurt and devastated when she'd realized who he was. And although he hadn't known anything about MaryKay's very existence, it hadn't made him feel that great to know how he had hurt the teen. It had been unintentional but hurtful toward her just the same.
He now speculated about Lacey and how this would have affected her had she been exposed to June and gotten close to her. She would be devastated right now to know the truth. At least he had been careful with Lacey's heart even if he hadn't been guarding his own as he should have.
A knock sounded on the door downstairs and he ignored it. He didn't want to see anyone or explain what had happened. But Olivia came upstairs anyway and sat down on the sofa near him.
Over, he thought. It was so final and there was no going back. He thought about how stupid he had been, falling head over heels for her without really checking into her past or even listening to his own sister when she had tried to tell him about June.
He felt awful when he recalled the confrontation he'd had with MaryKay. She had been so hurt and devastated when she'd realized who he was. And although he hadn't known anything about MaryKay's very existence, it hadn't made him feel that great to know how he had hurt the teen. It had been unintentional but hurtful toward her just the same.
He now speculated about Lacey and how this would have affected her had she been exposed to June and gotten close to her. She would be devastated right now to know the truth. At least he had been careful with Lacey's heart even if he hadn't been guarding his own as he should have.
A knock sounded on the door downstairs and he ignored it. He didn't want to see anyone or explain what had happened. But Olivia came upstairs anyway and sat down on the sofa near him.
"It's like you've locked yourself away, John," she said with concern. "It isn't like you to act this way."
He just shrugged and wished silently that she would go away.
She stared at him for a long moment before realization hit her. "You found out."
Suddenly, finding himself full of grief and anger, he lashed out at her. "Look, I know you tried to tell me and the last thing I need right now is the whole 'I told you so' thing, okay?"
He just shrugged and wished silently that she would go away.
She stared at him for a long moment before realization hit her. "You found out."
Suddenly, finding himself full of grief and anger, he lashed out at her. "Look, I know you tried to tell me and the last thing I need right now is the whole 'I told you so' thing, okay?"
"Have I ever once said anything like that to you in our whole lives? Okay, maybe when we were eight, but not now." All she wanted to do was give her brother a hug but she could tell plainly enough that he didn't want her there, let alone have a hug from her. "All I want is for you to be happy and I'm just sorry this happened to you."
He sighed. "I know."
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Olivia knew her brother like she knew the back of her hand. She understood that he would talk to her when he was ready. They had always confided in each other eventually.
Finally, he said, "Do you know how I found out?" She shook her head. "I was taking a walk and I thought I saw her but when I got closer to her, I realized it wasn't her at all but a teenager who looked a lot like her."
Olivia groaned as she realized what he was about to say. "Her daughter?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Her name is MaryKay. And what made it even worse was that even though I was surprised June had a daughter, I said something to the girl about how I didn't know her mother was divorced."
"Oh no," Olivia responded with understanding.
"Yeah," he answered, hating himself. "She totally blew up at me, screaming that her parents aren't divorced and that I needed to leave them all alone. And who could blame her for reacting that way?" He struck his fist on the end table with a force that made Olivia jump slightly. "I didn't know anything about June and I was really falling in love with her. All I ended up doing was hurting an innocent child."
Olivia remained calm on the exterior, but inside she was seething with hatred for June Shallow. "No, June hurt her daughter, not you. You had no idea and this isn't your fault."
He sighed. "I know."
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Olivia knew her brother like she knew the back of her hand. She understood that he would talk to her when he was ready. They had always confided in each other eventually.
Finally, he said, "Do you know how I found out?" She shook her head. "I was taking a walk and I thought I saw her but when I got closer to her, I realized it wasn't her at all but a teenager who looked a lot like her."
Olivia groaned as she realized what he was about to say. "Her daughter?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Her name is MaryKay. And what made it even worse was that even though I was surprised June had a daughter, I said something to the girl about how I didn't know her mother was divorced."
"Oh no," Olivia responded with understanding.
"Yeah," he answered, hating himself. "She totally blew up at me, screaming that her parents aren't divorced and that I needed to leave them all alone. And who could blame her for reacting that way?" He struck his fist on the end table with a force that made Olivia jump slightly. "I didn't know anything about June and I was really falling in love with her. All I ended up doing was hurting an innocent child."
Olivia remained calm on the exterior, but inside she was seething with hatred for June Shallow. "No, June hurt her daughter, not you. You had no idea and this isn't your fault."
"I should have checked her out. I was still reeling from Elisa and I didn't pay close enough attention."
"No, no, no," she tried to soothe. "You were beginning a relationship with her. You expected her to be honest. John, you're a trusting person and I wouldn't want you to be any other way." She squinted her eyes at him as she realized something. "You know, I saw June driving a yellow Bugatti the other day and it didn't hit me until now.... she could never afford a car like that. Did you buy it for her?"
He nodded in despair. "Yeah. How stupid was that? She gave me this huge line about how her car had broken down and it was such a clunker and everything. I bought it for her without a second thought."
Olivia's blood began to boil even more. "What a gold digger! Are you going to demand that she return it to you?"
He shrugged again, his eyes distant. "I don't know. I hadn't even thought about that yet."
"Well, you know what you need to do? You need to get out of this apartment and do something with Lacey. She's noticed your absence from our family life and it might even cheer you up a little."
He thought about it. Just because he was hurting and he felt awful about what MaryKay was going through didn't mean he should ignore his own daughter on top of it. Lacey was going to be a teenager soon enough herself and he didn't want her to look back at this time in her life and think about what a downer her dad had been.
"You're right. I'll take her out somewhere."
"No, no, no," she tried to soothe. "You were beginning a relationship with her. You expected her to be honest. John, you're a trusting person and I wouldn't want you to be any other way." She squinted her eyes at him as she realized something. "You know, I saw June driving a yellow Bugatti the other day and it didn't hit me until now.... she could never afford a car like that. Did you buy it for her?"
He nodded in despair. "Yeah. How stupid was that? She gave me this huge line about how her car had broken down and it was such a clunker and everything. I bought it for her without a second thought."
Olivia's blood began to boil even more. "What a gold digger! Are you going to demand that she return it to you?"
He shrugged again, his eyes distant. "I don't know. I hadn't even thought about that yet."
"Well, you know what you need to do? You need to get out of this apartment and do something with Lacey. She's noticed your absence from our family life and it might even cheer you up a little."
He thought about it. Just because he was hurting and he felt awful about what MaryKay was going through didn't mean he should ignore his own daughter on top of it. Lacey was going to be a teenager soon enough herself and he didn't want her to look back at this time in her life and think about what a downer her dad had been.
"You're right. I'll take her out somewhere."
"Hey there, handsome," Olivia smiled as she approached Jasper by the swimming pool.
He smiled back at her. "Hey there. I was just sunning myself again."
She laughed. "And you have been ever since your change. Why wouldn't you be? The sun must feel so good to you."
"It sure does," he agreed. "I'm so glad you're out here with me. I couldn't find you earlier and I wanted to spend the day with you."
"I was with John. but I'll tell you about that in a minute."
"What's going on?"
He smiled back at her. "Hey there. I was just sunning myself again."
She laughed. "And you have been ever since your change. Why wouldn't you be? The sun must feel so good to you."
"It sure does," he agreed. "I'm so glad you're out here with me. I couldn't find you earlier and I wanted to spend the day with you."
"I was with John. but I'll tell you about that in a minute."
"What's going on?"
"Well, the girls are going to have their birthdays before we know it. I know, I know," she said, "not until this Fall. But it will be here in the blink of an eye.
He laughed a little. "Well, what are you thinking? You obviously have some type of idea in store."
She nodded with a grin. "I think we should let them have a huge party with all of their friends. We could hire some entertainment, let them karaoke - you know, things young teen girls would love to do."
"I think that sounds great," he agreed. "It will be an event talked about for ages amongst their peers!"
She laughed now. "I hope the girls will like the thought of this."
He laughed a little. "Well, what are you thinking? You obviously have some type of idea in store."
She nodded with a grin. "I think we should let them have a huge party with all of their friends. We could hire some entertainment, let them karaoke - you know, things young teen girls would love to do."
"I think that sounds great," he agreed. "It will be an event talked about for ages amongst their peers!"
She laughed now. "I hope the girls will like the thought of this."
"I'm sure they will," he said. His expression became more serious when he saw she was trying to hide her true feelings. "Liv, what's going on with John?"
She explained the entire circumstance with him, telling him everything that had happened and how John was doing.
"I'm really sorry to hear that," Jasper said when Olivia had finished. "I wish there was something we could do for him."
"Me, too. I suggested he take Lacey out and spend some time with her. I think he's going to."
"I think that will help," Jasper encouraged.
"I hope so."
"I'm really sorry to hear that," Jasper said when Olivia had finished. "I wish there was something we could do for him."
"Me, too. I suggested he take Lacey out and spend some time with her. I think he's going to."
"I think that will help," Jasper encouraged.
"I hope so."
Olivia was helping the maid wash the upstairs windows, which had been taking the better part of the day, when she happened to glance down and see a yellow Bugatti pull up slowly to the curb.
Her mouth gaped as she realized June had the nerve to drive that car here! Was she here to see John? Could John handle it?
Throwing her wash rag into the bucket of soapy water, she ran downstairs as fast as her legs would carry her and, panting, met June at the front gate.
"Just what do you think you're doing here?" she demanded hotly.
June looked surprised. "I came to see John."
Olivia gave June her best glare and pointed her fingers at her. "You stay away from my brother. Go home to your family. And call yourself a cab to do it because that car belongs to John!"
Her mouth gaped as she realized June had the nerve to drive that car here! Was she here to see John? Could John handle it?
Throwing her wash rag into the bucket of soapy water, she ran downstairs as fast as her legs would carry her and, panting, met June at the front gate.
"Just what do you think you're doing here?" she demanded hotly.
June looked surprised. "I came to see John."
Olivia gave June her best glare and pointed her fingers at her. "You stay away from my brother. Go home to your family. And call yourself a cab to do it because that car belongs to John!"
"John gave me that car! It's mine!" June yelled, not holding back. "I didn't come here to see you, so back off!"
"Well, guess what, you parasite? John is not at your beck and call any longer. So you can just hightail it out of here. Go. Now."
"I want to hear John say that, not you," she sneered. "What are you, his mother?"
"Well, guess what, you parasite? John is not at your beck and call any longer. So you can just hightail it out of here. Go. Now."
"I want to hear John say that, not you," she sneered. "What are you, his mother?"
"Don't you even have the decency to have the slightest bit of remorse for lying to John the way you did and for playing him?"
June scowled at her. "I never lied to him. He didn't ask me if I was married or if I had kids."
"Lies of omission!" Olivia yelled. "Same thing!"
"Not really," June retorted. "I think John was having just as good a time as I was. And how exactly did I play him?"
Olivia could hardly contain herself. She pointed at the yellow car and felt herself coming unglued. "Um, the car, perhaps? He bought you a Bugatti, for pete's sake, because of your sob story!"
June scowled at her. "I never lied to him. He didn't ask me if I was married or if I had kids."
"Lies of omission!" Olivia yelled. "Same thing!"
"Not really," June retorted. "I think John was having just as good a time as I was. And how exactly did I play him?"
Olivia could hardly contain herself. She pointed at the yellow car and felt herself coming unglued. "Um, the car, perhaps? He bought you a Bugatti, for pete's sake, because of your sob story!"
"Men like to give me gifts. So what?" she said without remorse. "I can't help that."
"I don't want to hear your excuses. You clearly have no feeling of shame about what you've done to my brother."
"You know what I think? I think you're jealous of my life!"
"Jealous?" Olivia demanded, unable to even fathom what June was getting at.
"Yeah, jealous! Here you are stuck in this lousy life, held down by your controlling, crazy boyfriend - fiancee - or whatever he is, and all of those kids you guys have. You can't even get him to marry you! And then your job is a prison of its own. I mean, the public is always scrutinizing every move you make. I may be married and have a couple kids, but I live freely, on my own terms, and I have the time of my life."
"I'm sure you do! Using people and sucking them dry monetarily and emotionally! You're nothing but a whoring piece of crap who doesn't deserve the husband and children you have!"
"I don't want to hear your excuses. You clearly have no feeling of shame about what you've done to my brother."
"You know what I think? I think you're jealous of my life!"
"Jealous?" Olivia demanded, unable to even fathom what June was getting at.
"Yeah, jealous! Here you are stuck in this lousy life, held down by your controlling, crazy boyfriend - fiancee - or whatever he is, and all of those kids you guys have. You can't even get him to marry you! And then your job is a prison of its own. I mean, the public is always scrutinizing every move you make. I may be married and have a couple kids, but I live freely, on my own terms, and I have the time of my life."
"I'm sure you do! Using people and sucking them dry monetarily and emotionally! You're nothing but a whoring piece of crap who doesn't deserve the husband and children you have!"
June glowered at her and stepped back. Olivia had to smirk slightly, knowing she had finally gotten under June's skin.
"Now," Olivia said with a calm voice and a saccharine smile on her face, "I would highly suggest calling that cab to take you home because if you take that car with you, I'll call the police."
"The title is in my name," June said, trying to muster her courage.
"Really? Because I think you have forgotten who I am. Remember what you said about my job just now? Well, there are some definite perks, too. For instance, I have plenty of connections with the police department and anyone you could ever hire to fight John on the ownership of that car. So, I do believe, you'll be leaving it here with the title signed back over to him."
"Now," Olivia said with a calm voice and a saccharine smile on her face, "I would highly suggest calling that cab to take you home because if you take that car with you, I'll call the police."
"The title is in my name," June said, trying to muster her courage.
"Really? Because I think you have forgotten who I am. Remember what you said about my job just now? Well, there are some definite perks, too. For instance, I have plenty of connections with the police department and anyone you could ever hire to fight John on the ownership of that car. So, I do believe, you'll be leaving it here with the title signed back over to him."
Olivia stood outside until the cab came to get June. Instead of gloating, she turned her back to the other woman as she got into the hired car.
But Olivia could not hide the slight smile of satisfaction on her face. She couldn't wait until John saw his car sitting back in the garage, safe and sound.
But Olivia could not hide the slight smile of satisfaction on her face. She couldn't wait until John saw his car sitting back in the garage, safe and sound.
After June left, she saw the newspaper on the ground near her. :Picking it up, she saw a photo on the front page that she hadn't expected to see. It was of Jebidiah Wilson. Putting the paper under her arm, she carried it to the back garden where the bird feeders were to sit down and read the article.
Upon closer inspection, she realized the article was not going to be very flattering. The headline read, "Dr. Death." Her eyes grew large when she saw that the article had been written by none other than Jasper Remington.
What could this be? she wondered. Her hands shook slightly as she read.
What could this be? she wondered. Her hands shook slightly as she read.
"Insurance fraud is prevalent everywhere but perhaps no case is beginning to garner more attention as the investigation begins in the insurance fraud involving Dr. Jebidiah Wilson of Riverview. He is being investigated for purposely misdiagnosing patients and thereby giving them unnecessary treatments for which those insurances were billed and the patients ultimately harmed.
This case is a chilling reminder that someone in a position of authority and trust can take advantage of people in their most defenseless circumstance.
If true, the authorities state that Dr. Wilson may be charged with more than twelve counts of health care fraud. If found guilty, he may face prison time as well as fines.
The authorities are delving further into this matter and promise to have answers soon.
A family member of one of Dr. Wilson's misdiagnosed patients was quoted as saying, 'My father didn't have the illness the medication was prescribed for and he died. Dr. Wilson should spend the rest of his life in a cage.'
As many as twelve people are reportedly said to have been poisoned by needless medications normally used for serious conditions, which they did not have. Only further inspections into this affair will reveal the true nature of the damage caused."
This case is a chilling reminder that someone in a position of authority and trust can take advantage of people in their most defenseless circumstance.
If true, the authorities state that Dr. Wilson may be charged with more than twelve counts of health care fraud. If found guilty, he may face prison time as well as fines.
The authorities are delving further into this matter and promise to have answers soon.
A family member of one of Dr. Wilson's misdiagnosed patients was quoted as saying, 'My father didn't have the illness the medication was prescribed for and he died. Dr. Wilson should spend the rest of his life in a cage.'
As many as twelve people are reportedly said to have been poisoned by needless medications normally used for serious conditions, which they did not have. Only further inspections into this affair will reveal the true nature of the damage caused."
Olivia couldn't read anymore. Could this be true? She sat in the garden, unable to fathom Jebidiah doing such a horrendous thing.
Yet there it was in black and white. And Jasper had written it. Why hadn't Jasper told her about this?
Yet there it was in black and white. And Jasper had written it. Why hadn't Jasper told her about this?
John found Lacey in the main house and put on his best happy face.
"Hey, there, twinkle toes!" He put his arms around her and pretended he couldn't lift her. "Man, you are getting too old to be spun around in the air anymore!"
"Oh, daddy, that's silly!" she giggled.
"What would you say to some rollerskating? Just you and me, kiddo."
"Really?" she asked with a huge smile. "I'd say yes!"
"Good," he smiled back. "If we leave right now, we'll have plenty of time to skate before they close."
"Hey, there, twinkle toes!" He put his arms around her and pretended he couldn't lift her. "Man, you are getting too old to be spun around in the air anymore!"
"Oh, daddy, that's silly!" she giggled.
"What would you say to some rollerskating? Just you and me, kiddo."
"Really?" she asked with a huge smile. "I'd say yes!"
"Good," he smiled back. "If we leave right now, we'll have plenty of time to skate before they close."
"Sounds good to me. But, daddy, can I ask you something?"
"You know you can," he assured.
"You seem really sad. Is everything okay?"
He bent down and gave her a tight squeeze. "I'm okay. Don't worry about me."
"You know you can," he assured.
"You seem really sad. Is everything okay?"
He bent down and gave her a tight squeeze. "I'm okay. Don't worry about me."
When they got to the roller rink, it was closed after all. John looked down at his daughter, hoping she wasn't too disappointed.
"I'm sorry, kiddo."
She shrugged. "I think it's fun just being out with you. Skating would've been a lot of fun, but oh well."
"Hey, I know!" he exclaimed. "How about getting an ice cream cone? Would that make up for it?"
She gave him her most serious look. "Only if it's strawberry."
"Oh wait," he said, snapping his fingers as if just remembering something. "I'd forgotten how much you hate ice cream. I guess we can't do that."
She laughed. He'd been teasing her like this ever since she could remember. "I love ice cream!"
He shook his head. "No, I"m pretty sure the last time we got it you said how icky it was."
"Daddy, just take me for the ice cream."
They both laughed as he said, "Well, okay, but I don't want to hear any complaining ever again about how much you hate it."
"Deal," she said with a grin.
"I'm sorry, kiddo."
She shrugged. "I think it's fun just being out with you. Skating would've been a lot of fun, but oh well."
"Hey, I know!" he exclaimed. "How about getting an ice cream cone? Would that make up for it?"
She gave him her most serious look. "Only if it's strawberry."
"Oh wait," he said, snapping his fingers as if just remembering something. "I'd forgotten how much you hate ice cream. I guess we can't do that."
She laughed. He'd been teasing her like this ever since she could remember. "I love ice cream!"
He shook his head. "No, I"m pretty sure the last time we got it you said how icky it was."
"Daddy, just take me for the ice cream."
They both laughed as he said, "Well, okay, but I don't want to hear any complaining ever again about how much you hate it."
"Deal," she said with a grin.
"I still don't understand why you didn't tell me you were investigating Jebidiah," Olivia said to Jasper with exasperation.
"Because it's just part of my job. I don't tell you a lot of things I'm writing about or investigating."
"You're not even supposed to be doing this anymore. You were promoted to weather, weren't you?"
He sighed. He knew she would see the article and he'd been dreading having to discuss it with her.
"Because it's just part of my job. I don't tell you a lot of things I'm writing about or investigating."
"You're not even supposed to be doing this anymore. You were promoted to weather, weren't you?"
He sighed. He knew she would see the article and he'd been dreading having to discuss it with her.
"I've been working on breaking this story for a long time. I wasn't just going to hand my hard work over to someone else to take over. It was my investigation and my story. Plain and simple."
"I don't buy it," she said with irritation. "You've had it in for Jebidiah since I told you what he said to me that night when I went to his house to visit Gracie. In fact, you have had it in for him ever since I told you about the reason as to why I'm not married to him right now. His threat toward me was just the straw that broke the camel's back for you, right?"
He threw his hands up in the air with annoyance. "Yes! Okay? I guess he's not what you'd call my favorite person. He hurt you badly and I love you! I don't want him bothering you ever again. But this story is true and it needs to be revealed so he can't hurt anyone else!"
"So, it's no coincidence that you are the one who discovered all of this and turned it over to the police then?"
"Of course not. But think of what would still be happening if I hadn't been investigating him? He'd still be recklessly killing people!"
"Of course not. But think of what would still be happening if I hadn't been investigating him? He'd still be recklessly killing people!"
She paused a moment as she thought about what he said. "I guess you're right," she finally said.
"Let's not argue. Please."
She nodded. "I don't want to argue. But I do want something from you."
"Anything," he promised.
"I want you to tell me from now on about anything you're doing that may involve him."
"Fine," he reluctantly agreed.
"Let's not argue. Please."
She nodded. "I don't want to argue. But I do want something from you."
"Anything," he promised.
"I want you to tell me from now on about anything you're doing that may involve him."
"Fine," he reluctantly agreed.
Lacey told Blessing all about her evening out with John. The girls thought it was hilarious that they'd driven all the way downtown only to find the roller rink closed for the night. But that was only the beginning of a disastrous night.
Blessing laughed hysterically as Lacey continued.
"So when we got to the ice cream parlor, they had a sign up that said their staff was all off for the day because they were all at some kind of work party, so they weren't open either."
"You're kidding?" Blessing guffawed. "So what did you end up doing?"
"So when we got to the ice cream parlor, they had a sign up that said their staff was all off for the day because they were all at some kind of work party, so they weren't open either."
"You're kidding?" Blessing guffawed. "So what did you end up doing?"
"He drove us to the movies. But everything playing was rated too high and he said it was - " her voice trailed off as she attempted to imitate his voice and mannerisms " - inappropriate."
Blessing giggled and rolled her eyes. "Please!" she exclaimed. "We're old enough for all that stuff now."
"I know, right?" Lacey agreed.
Blessing crinkled her nose as she thought about it. "What stuff is in those movies anyway that's inappropriate?"
Blessing giggled and rolled her eyes. "Please!" she exclaimed. "We're old enough for all that stuff now."
"I know, right?" Lacey agreed.
Blessing crinkled her nose as she thought about it. "What stuff is in those movies anyway that's inappropriate?"
Lacey shrugged and both girls shrieked with amusement. "I don't know but it must be really bad because he said no right away and that we'd have to go out another time."
"Well, for everything you didn't end up doing, it sounds like a lot of fun," Blessing said.
Lacey smiled. "It was. I think he had a good time, too."
"Well, for everything you didn't end up doing, it sounds like a lot of fun," Blessing said.
Lacey smiled. "It was. I think he had a good time, too."