Fall had finally arrived. But time had not even begun to heal John's broken heart.
Olivia stood in what was left of his once beautiful garden and looked at what remained. Where once the garden had been rather large and well tended, it now contained only three plants which had not yet died but badly needed a good weeding. What once had been grand and pristine was now a pitiful example of John's capabilities as a gardener.
She couldn't help but feel immense concern for her brother. He'd been going out at all hours lately and not telling anyone where he'd been or when he would return. He was an adult, of course, and could do as he pleased, but this was so out of character for him that everyone had noticed, even Lacey.
Olivia stood in what was left of his once beautiful garden and looked at what remained. Where once the garden had been rather large and well tended, it now contained only three plants which had not yet died but badly needed a good weeding. What once had been grand and pristine was now a pitiful example of John's capabilities as a gardener.
She couldn't help but feel immense concern for her brother. He'd been going out at all hours lately and not telling anyone where he'd been or when he would return. He was an adult, of course, and could do as he pleased, but this was so out of character for him that everyone had noticed, even Lacey.
In no way did she have John's talent in the garden, but she decided she would try to save what remained of the three plants. She carefully began to weed and, as she did, she found herself getting angrier and angrier. Before she knew it, she was yanking at the weeds with a force she did not know she had.
She mentally ticked off in her head the reasons she was so mad. Number one was June's deceit and usury of John. How could June live with herself? When Olivia had confronted her, the woman had not even shown an ounce of concern for the pain she had caused.
Secondly, Olivia was angry that every woman John met seemed to treat him this way eventually. Was there a single woman in Riverview who was not a gold digging exploitation machine? Didn't anyone value anything good anymore?
Olivia scraped her hand as she wrenched another weed from the soil. She had to admit, she was also feeling exasperated with John himself. Why did he continue to trust these women when he very well knew that a person with his wealth and position was a prime attraction for the wrong sort?
She mentally ticked off in her head the reasons she was so mad. Number one was June's deceit and usury of John. How could June live with herself? When Olivia had confronted her, the woman had not even shown an ounce of concern for the pain she had caused.
Secondly, Olivia was angry that every woman John met seemed to treat him this way eventually. Was there a single woman in Riverview who was not a gold digging exploitation machine? Didn't anyone value anything good anymore?
Olivia scraped her hand as she wrenched another weed from the soil. She had to admit, she was also feeling exasperated with John himself. Why did he continue to trust these women when he very well knew that a person with his wealth and position was a prime attraction for the wrong sort?
When she was done with the garden, she began to rake the leaves which were falling from the trees. By the time the children had gotten home from school, it was already getting dark and she had quite a pile of leaves for them to play in.
Blessing and Bram jumped into the leaves with joy. But Lacey held back. Olivia had spent time with Lacey and had tried to console her, but nothing could compare to the attention of her father.
Blessing and Bram jumped into the leaves with joy. But Lacey held back. Olivia had spent time with Lacey and had tried to console her, but nothing could compare to the attention of her father.
When Jasper came home from work, he saw everyone in the backyard and without even changing from his work clothes, he picked up a rake and began to help out.
After a time, both Bram and Blessing stopped playing. It just wasn't as much fun without Lacey joining them.
They threw some leaves into the air again and called to their cousin, but she regarded them with disinterest and turned her back on them.
Why had she even come home from boarding school if her own father didn't even remember she was there? she sulked.
She thought about the last time they had gone out together, just the two of them. But instead of this memory bringing a happy smile of recollection to her face, it brought tears.
She thought about the last time they had gone out together, just the two of them. But instead of this memory bringing a happy smile of recollection to her face, it brought tears.
When John got home, it was very late. Coming into his apartment from the garage, he stared with amazement at the yellow Bugatti in the parking space it used to sit in before he'd given it to June.
Where had the car come from? Was it his Bugatti or had Olivia or Jasper purchased the car, thinking it would make him feel better again?
Where had the car come from? Was it his Bugatti or had Olivia or Jasper purchased the car, thinking it would make him feel better again?
Olivia had been waiting for him to return home and had heard him immediately when he'd pulled up in his black GTO. His car had been so souped up by Jasper and himself that the loud sound of it pulling up into the driveway was unmistakable.
She quickly entered the garage before he could sneak upstairs without seeing anyone.
"Surprised?" she asked him, more about the fact that she had caught him coming home so late and without explanation rather than the Bugatti that now sat there looking shiny and new.
He hesitated when he heard her tone. "Yeah." When she didn't say anything and just kept looking at him expectantly, he continued. "When did this get here?"
She quickly entered the garage before he could sneak upstairs without seeing anyone.
"Surprised?" she asked him, more about the fact that she had caught him coming home so late and without explanation rather than the Bugatti that now sat there looking shiny and new.
He hesitated when he heard her tone. "Yeah." When she didn't say anything and just kept looking at him expectantly, he continued. "When did this get here?"
Olivia raised her chin, feeling a little indignant. "Back when you and June broke up, she had the nerve to come by here in it. I 'convinced' her to sign the title back over to you. But the car was a total mess. The interior smelled, there were scratches and dents. I had it sent out to have the detailing and body work done."
He stared at her for a long moment. He couldn't read her. He knew she was angry, that was plain to see, but he didn't know for certain if she was angry with him. He suspected she was and so decided he would try to get upstairs to be alone, then he wouldn't have to find out.
But before he could leave, she stepped in his path, blocking him from the staircase with her body. "Just a second -" she began.
"- Thank you. For what you did about the car," he said quickly, hoping that would calm her down before she had a chance to get going.
He stared at her for a long moment. He couldn't read her. He knew she was angry, that was plain to see, but he didn't know for certain if she was angry with him. He suspected she was and so decided he would try to get upstairs to be alone, then he wouldn't have to find out.
But before he could leave, she stepped in his path, blocking him from the staircase with her body. "Just a second -" she began.
"- Thank you. For what you did about the car," he said quickly, hoping that would calm her down before she had a chance to get going.
"You're welcome," she answered tersely.
He sighed when she responded. He could now easily guess what the problem was. "I know I haven't been around and it's really ticking you off. I'm sorry, okay? But do you have to be so testy with me?"
Her eyes narrowed and she pointed her finger at his chest. "You listen here, John. I know you're hurt and upset but this has to stop. Do you even know how upset Lacey has been? Does that even bother you?"
His face reddened. "Of course it bothers me!"
"Then you need to pull it together and be her dad again," Olivia demanded.
"How can you say that to me?" he said, raising his voice.
"I can say that because I'm your sister and I love you and so does that little girl! I'll keep saying it until you start acting right again!"
He stared at her with wide eyes, not only shocked, but suddenly realizing what a jerk he'd been. Everyone was there for him, all the time. But he hadn't turned to them, he had turned away from them. And, he realized, that was a stupid thing to do.
He sighed when she responded. He could now easily guess what the problem was. "I know I haven't been around and it's really ticking you off. I'm sorry, okay? But do you have to be so testy with me?"
Her eyes narrowed and she pointed her finger at his chest. "You listen here, John. I know you're hurt and upset but this has to stop. Do you even know how upset Lacey has been? Does that even bother you?"
His face reddened. "Of course it bothers me!"
"Then you need to pull it together and be her dad again," Olivia demanded.
"How can you say that to me?" he said, raising his voice.
"I can say that because I'm your sister and I love you and so does that little girl! I'll keep saying it until you start acting right again!"
He stared at her with wide eyes, not only shocked, but suddenly realizing what a jerk he'd been. Everyone was there for him, all the time. But he hadn't turned to them, he had turned away from them. And, he realized, that was a stupid thing to do.
John was in the wine cellar, normally a place of escape. Only this time, he wasn't there to avoid anyone. He just needed a place to think quietly about the things that had happened to him regarding Elisa and June, how he had reacted and what he could do to make this up to Lacey.
Jasper came downstairs, calling ahead, "Hey, I'm on my way down."
"It's okay," John answered, knowing everyone had been tiptoeing around him lately, "please do."
As Jasper stood in front of him, he understood another lecture was coming. He stared at his feet and prepared himself for the worst.
Jasper came downstairs, calling ahead, "Hey, I'm on my way down."
"It's okay," John answered, knowing everyone had been tiptoeing around him lately, "please do."
As Jasper stood in front of him, he understood another lecture was coming. He stared at his feet and prepared himself for the worst.
"Hey man," Jasper awkwardly began, "I just wanted you to know that I'm here for you... you know, anytime you want to talk."
"Yeah, thanks," John said. He and Jasper had always gotten along and had become as close as brothers. "I appreciate that. I just don't feel like talking, I guess."
"Well, you know, we've been really concerned about you. You haven't been talking to us or making any of your usual appearances at mealtimes or when we're doing something fun. And you've been going out a lot."
"Yeah, thanks," John said. He and Jasper had always gotten along and had become as close as brothers. "I appreciate that. I just don't feel like talking, I guess."
"Well, you know, we've been really concerned about you. You haven't been talking to us or making any of your usual appearances at mealtimes or when we're doing something fun. And you've been going out a lot."
John nodded. "I know. I've already had this talk with Liv tonight. But I'll tell ya', I am through with relationships. It's over. I am not going to care about another woman as long as I live."
"That's pretty extreme, don't you think? I mean, this has been some bad luck, but the feelings you're having right now will go away eventually."
"Yeah, and I'll find the perfect woman just waiting for me, right?" he asked sarcastically.
"That's pretty extreme, don't you think? I mean, this has been some bad luck, but the feelings you're having right now will go away eventually."
"Yeah, and I'll find the perfect woman just waiting for me, right?" he asked sarcastically.
Jasper placed his hand on his own chest for emphasis as he spoke. "Do you think I've had it easy? I was a ghost! How many women wanted a relationship with that issue? But I found Liv. And there is someone out there for you, too."
John shook his head in disbelief, dismissing everything Jasper was saying. "No, I'm done. Really. I know I've been lousy to the family and even to my own daughter. And for that, I'm deeply sorry. I can only hope that I can make amends... especially with Lacey."
"But?"
"But, no more relationships."
Jasper stared at him, then asked, "Where is it you've been going lately?"
John sighed. Normally, he wouldn't feel like answering but he owed his family an explanation. "I've been clubbing. Is that so bad?"
Jasper raised an eyebrow. Clubbing just wasn't something John would normally do at all. "So, you've been hanging out with women and having a good time but you're not looking for a relationship?"
John nodded. "Yeah, exactly. I just wanted to have some fun with no strings attached."
"And how has that been working out?"
John shrugged. "I guess you can probably guess it's just been another disaster." He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed again. "I don't know what I'm doing. This isn't me."
"I know that," Jasper agreed. "We'll figure this out. And don't worry, Lacey will be fine."
John nodded. "Thanks."
John shook his head in disbelief, dismissing everything Jasper was saying. "No, I'm done. Really. I know I've been lousy to the family and even to my own daughter. And for that, I'm deeply sorry. I can only hope that I can make amends... especially with Lacey."
"But?"
"But, no more relationships."
Jasper stared at him, then asked, "Where is it you've been going lately?"
John sighed. Normally, he wouldn't feel like answering but he owed his family an explanation. "I've been clubbing. Is that so bad?"
Jasper raised an eyebrow. Clubbing just wasn't something John would normally do at all. "So, you've been hanging out with women and having a good time but you're not looking for a relationship?"
John nodded. "Yeah, exactly. I just wanted to have some fun with no strings attached."
"And how has that been working out?"
John shrugged. "I guess you can probably guess it's just been another disaster." He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed again. "I don't know what I'm doing. This isn't me."
"I know that," Jasper agreed. "We'll figure this out. And don't worry, Lacey will be fine."
John nodded. "Thanks."
It was raining the next evening, but Jasper didn't let that stop him from having a romantic night at the movies and then dinner. They saw the latest chick-flick and he was pleased to see that for once lately, Olivia was all smiles.
As they stood outside the theater after the show, Jasper thought about proposing marriage again. He wanted to ask her so badly and he felt that this time, she would say yes right away. But something in his gut told him that this wasn't the right moment.
"Let's get to the restaurant," he suggested. "We don't want to miss our reservation."
"Let's get to the restaurant," he suggested. "We don't want to miss our reservation."
It was at the restaurant that he understood what the problem was. Olivia was not the complication in his proposing to her tonight. He came to the realization that he was his own obstacle.
Every time he and Olivia snuggled or became close, he couldn't help but look around them to see if Jebidiah was lurking about. Since he'd written the article about Jebidiah's insurance fraud scandal, Jebidiah had been suspended from the hospital without pay and had pretty much been staying close to home. His life was now in shambles. And while Jasper had been aiming for that, he didn't want Jebidiah coming after him or someone he loved because of it.
But now, when all he wanted to do was become romantic with his girlfriend and make her his fiancee, all he could do was look about, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Every time he and Olivia snuggled or became close, he couldn't help but look around them to see if Jebidiah was lurking about. Since he'd written the article about Jebidiah's insurance fraud scandal, Jebidiah had been suspended from the hospital without pay and had pretty much been staying close to home. His life was now in shambles. And while Jasper had been aiming for that, he didn't want Jebidiah coming after him or someone he loved because of it.
But now, when all he wanted to do was become romantic with his girlfriend and make her his fiancee, all he could do was look about, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Olivia put her arms around him. "You're a million miles away," she murmured at him. "What's the matter?"
He gave her a sad attempt at a carefree smile. "I'm sorry, Livvy. I am having a good time. I'm so glad we decided to get out tonight. We needed this."
He gave her a sad attempt at a carefree smile. "I'm sorry, Livvy. I am having a good time. I'm so glad we decided to get out tonight. We needed this."
"I thought so, too," she smiled. "I'm so relieved that John is coming around again. And I'm so glad you talked to him, too. You guys have always gotten along so well."
This time, his smile was genuine. "Yes, I like your brother a lot." He ran his finger along her cheek, enjoying the smoothness of it and how his touch made her smile wider.
"Then, what's going on? We should both be filled with relief and delight that John is going to be okay."
"I am, believe me," he said genuinely. Then he decided to just be honest with her. She was a political leader, she could handle this and he knew that he would eventually pay a price for not confiding in her. He was still worried that she would find out a bodyguard was still following her everywhere without her consent or knowledge. "I'm troubled because of the article I wrote about Jebidiah. I'm a little uneasy that he may try to retaliate. So, in a way, I am somewhat disappointed that tonight is about John and Jebidiah. It should be about us."
Her light kiss felt feathery against his cheek as her lips touched him. "I understand. And I know it was difficult for you to tell me that."
He took her hand and squeezed slightly. He should have known she would understand. But, he thought with regret, this still wasn't the right time to propose.
"I want to take you out again really soon," he said. "I want it to be something special."
She smiled wider. "I would like that."
This time, his smile was genuine. "Yes, I like your brother a lot." He ran his finger along her cheek, enjoying the smoothness of it and how his touch made her smile wider.
"Then, what's going on? We should both be filled with relief and delight that John is going to be okay."
"I am, believe me," he said genuinely. Then he decided to just be honest with her. She was a political leader, she could handle this and he knew that he would eventually pay a price for not confiding in her. He was still worried that she would find out a bodyguard was still following her everywhere without her consent or knowledge. "I'm troubled because of the article I wrote about Jebidiah. I'm a little uneasy that he may try to retaliate. So, in a way, I am somewhat disappointed that tonight is about John and Jebidiah. It should be about us."
Her light kiss felt feathery against his cheek as her lips touched him. "I understand. And I know it was difficult for you to tell me that."
He took her hand and squeezed slightly. He should have known she would understand. But, he thought with regret, this still wasn't the right time to propose.
"I want to take you out again really soon," he said. "I want it to be something special."
She smiled wider. "I would like that."