When Olivia, Jasper and John sat the children down to explain the upcoming changes in their lives, they were amazed to find very little reaction to the new plans.
Bram, Lacey and Blessing sat on the sofa in the family room and listened, but remained surprisingly quiet.
"Do any of you have any questions?" Jasper prodded. "Bram?"
"No, dad, I'm good," the child replied. "Can I play with my train set now?"
Jasper paused but then Olivia said, "Yes, of course."
After the children excused themselves, the adults looked at each other with a mixture of astonishment and confusion.
Bram, Lacey and Blessing sat on the sofa in the family room and listened, but remained surprisingly quiet.
"Do any of you have any questions?" Jasper prodded. "Bram?"
"No, dad, I'm good," the child replied. "Can I play with my train set now?"
Jasper paused but then Olivia said, "Yes, of course."
After the children excused themselves, the adults looked at each other with a mixture of astonishment and confusion.
Once Olivia, Jasper and John had spoken to one another about their bewilderment, Olivia found Blessing upstairs in the room just off of John's art studio.
"It's a little cold outside to wear that, isn't it?" Olivia asked.
Blessing rolled her eyes. "Mom, please. It's not that cold out and it's my favorite shirt. Besides, I'm inside."
Olivia quickly decided to let this battle go. After all, there were more pressing matters at hand.
"I wanted to touch base with you about what we spoke about earlier."
Blessing sighed. "You're marrying dad and we're moving. I get it."
Olivia didn't sense any hostility in the matter of fact statement. "Okay. I guess we were a little surprised that you guys didn't have anything to say about it. Are you okay with all of this? I know it's a lot to take in."
"It's a little cold outside to wear that, isn't it?" Olivia asked.
Blessing rolled her eyes. "Mom, please. It's not that cold out and it's my favorite shirt. Besides, I'm inside."
Olivia quickly decided to let this battle go. After all, there were more pressing matters at hand.
"I wanted to touch base with you about what we spoke about earlier."
Blessing sighed. "You're marrying dad and we're moving. I get it."
Olivia didn't sense any hostility in the matter of fact statement. "Okay. I guess we were a little surprised that you guys didn't have anything to say about it. Are you okay with all of this? I know it's a lot to take in."
Blessing bit her lip, a habit she'd picked up from her mother. "A lot to take in? The moving to a new house maybe. But please, mom, we've been waiting for you guys to get married forever, so that's really not the huge news you think it is."
"You're not angry about moving?"
Blessing shrugged. "It seems kind of weird. I've never lived anywhere else before. But the Manor House isn't too far from here and I can still see Lacey whenever I want to. That's the most important thing to me. I don't know if I'll like having a different room."
"But you're willing to have an open mind about it?"
She shrugged again. "Yeah, I guess so."
Olivia squinted her eyes, trying read her daughter. There was something that was being left unsaid, but for the life of her, she couldn't figure out what it was. Then it hit her. "Blessing, you always wanted to be my flower girl. You're a little old for that now. Are you upset about that?"
"You're not angry about moving?"
Blessing shrugged. "It seems kind of weird. I've never lived anywhere else before. But the Manor House isn't too far from here and I can still see Lacey whenever I want to. That's the most important thing to me. I don't know if I'll like having a different room."
"But you're willing to have an open mind about it?"
She shrugged again. "Yeah, I guess so."
Olivia squinted her eyes, trying read her daughter. There was something that was being left unsaid, but for the life of her, she couldn't figure out what it was. Then it hit her. "Blessing, you always wanted to be my flower girl. You're a little old for that now. Are you upset about that?"
Blessing responded with laughter. "No," she giggled. "I did want to be the flower girl but that was a 'little girl' dream. I couldn't care less about that now."
"I have the distinct feeling there's something more to this conversation but that you haven't let me in on it yet."
The teen laughed again. "Lacey and I didn't know when we should bring this up. But it's a whole lot more important to me than where I'm going to live. I mean, it's not like we're moving into a dump. And I'm not switching schools. I'm pretty sure it'll be fine."
"Come clean with me, Blessing. Spit it out. What is it you and Lacey are cooking up now?" Olivia said with a small smile. She couldn't help but be amused by her daughter's laughter.
The girl hesitated but couldn't stop the smile from creeping across her lips. "Well, Lacey's not here... I mean, it's something we were going to tell you, dad and Uncle John together."
"I think you just need to be out with it."
There was a long pause as Blessing mentally clicked through her options. Finally, she said, "Lacey and I want to learn how to drive. And we have all the reasons written down why we should be able to."
Olivia let out a sigh of relief. "And that's more concerning to you than us getting married and your moving into a new house?"
Blessing nodded in earnest.
Olivia laughed a little. "Well, let's give that some thought, okay? I don't think it's an unreasonable request."
Blessing grinned. "I can't wait to tell Lacey!"
"I have the distinct feeling there's something more to this conversation but that you haven't let me in on it yet."
The teen laughed again. "Lacey and I didn't know when we should bring this up. But it's a whole lot more important to me than where I'm going to live. I mean, it's not like we're moving into a dump. And I'm not switching schools. I'm pretty sure it'll be fine."
"Come clean with me, Blessing. Spit it out. What is it you and Lacey are cooking up now?" Olivia said with a small smile. She couldn't help but be amused by her daughter's laughter.
The girl hesitated but couldn't stop the smile from creeping across her lips. "Well, Lacey's not here... I mean, it's something we were going to tell you, dad and Uncle John together."
"I think you just need to be out with it."
There was a long pause as Blessing mentally clicked through her options. Finally, she said, "Lacey and I want to learn how to drive. And we have all the reasons written down why we should be able to."
Olivia let out a sigh of relief. "And that's more concerning to you than us getting married and your moving into a new house?"
Blessing nodded in earnest.
Olivia laughed a little. "Well, let's give that some thought, okay? I don't think it's an unreasonable request."
Blessing grinned. "I can't wait to tell Lacey!"
As Blessing rushed downstairs, Jasper came up.
"Did you hear that?" Olivia asked.
He nodded. "Yeah. I just don't get it. I really thought she'd have more to say about her life being turned upsidedown."
"I know!" Olivia readily agreed. "But apparently, driving is their biggest concern. Did you talk to Bram?"
Jasper nodded. "Yes, I did. He was playing with his trains and I sat down with him and he seems unfazed as well."
"Did you hear that?" Olivia asked.
He nodded. "Yeah. I just don't get it. I really thought she'd have more to say about her life being turned upsidedown."
"I know!" Olivia readily agreed. "But apparently, driving is their biggest concern. Did you talk to Bram?"
Jasper nodded. "Yes, I did. He was playing with his trains and I sat down with him and he seems unfazed as well."
"Do you think they just don't realize what moving really means for them?"
"I don't know, but I have an idea that might make them understand."
"Well, please, tell me because I'm fresh out of ideas right now."
"I think we should spend a night there and show them what it will be like."
"Yes, you may have something there. It might help them see what it would be like to live there, but also, they can really get to know the place. Maybe they'll love the house as much as we do."
"It just might be the thing we need to do."
Olivia began to speak again but then stopped.
"I don't know, but I have an idea that might make them understand."
"Well, please, tell me because I'm fresh out of ideas right now."
"I think we should spend a night there and show them what it will be like."
"Yes, you may have something there. It might help them see what it would be like to live there, but also, they can really get to know the place. Maybe they'll love the house as much as we do."
"It just might be the thing we need to do."
Olivia began to speak again but then stopped.
"Is there something else going on, Liv?"
"I was thinking about our wedding."
"And?" Jasper's heart stopped and filled with dread. It had been like pulling teeth to get her to say yes to him. Was she about to back out?
"The paparazzi are going to be a problem."
"We can fix that, I'm sure. I can set up security and make sure they don't interfere."
"I don't want anything spoiling this day for us and our family."
"What are you suggesting?"
"I was thinking about our wedding."
"And?" Jasper's heart stopped and filled with dread. It had been like pulling teeth to get her to say yes to him. Was she about to back out?
"The paparazzi are going to be a problem."
"We can fix that, I'm sure. I can set up security and make sure they don't interfere."
"I don't want anything spoiling this day for us and our family."
"What are you suggesting?"
Olivia bit her lip, hesitant to tell him. She didn't want him to be disappointed. "I don't want a traditional ceremony. I want something quiet with just our family there. No guests and no hoopla."
Jasper thought for a moment. "I was sure you'd want a huge wedding with all the bells and whistles."
"I used to want that. But I don't anymore. All I want is to just complete our family. I realize now, I should have married you a very long time ago."
Jasper looked away from her for a moment. At one time in his life, before he had become a ghost, he'd been married and had children. He and his previous wife hadn't especially gotten along and he hadn't been the best husband. When he had died suddenly, his spirit had remained in that house. Painfully, his family had moved on and one by one had also died. But he had never seen them again. Their spirits had not joined him. Now he had the chance to do things right and he was determined this time, he would be the best husband and father he could be.
Jasper thought for a moment. "I was sure you'd want a huge wedding with all the bells and whistles."
"I used to want that. But I don't anymore. All I want is to just complete our family. I realize now, I should have married you a very long time ago."
Jasper looked away from her for a moment. At one time in his life, before he had become a ghost, he'd been married and had children. He and his previous wife hadn't especially gotten along and he hadn't been the best husband. When he had died suddenly, his spirit had remained in that house. Painfully, his family had moved on and one by one had also died. But he had never seen them again. Their spirits had not joined him. Now he had the chance to do things right and he was determined this time, he would be the best husband and father he could be.
Full of emotion, he pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ear, "We'll do this however you want to. I've had the big, fancy wedding before but an unhappy marriage. If you want a quiet ceremony and a happy marriage, I'm all for it. I just don't want you to regret that you never went all out and had the big day most brides dream of."
She looked into his eyes and very seriously said, "I want what I have right now. I don't need a huge wedding to complete what I long for. I want that day to be about us and our children and I think the paparazzi are going to spoil it." She smiled reassuringly at him. "I've thought about this a great deal and what I want is you. That's it."
"Thanks for meeting me. I know it was last minute," John said as he walked up to Constance. They were to meet over the weekend for their first proper date but John had felt antsy after the family meeting they'd had and he'd called Constance, hoping she could meet him.
Constance smile pleasantly. "Hey, I was glad I could meet you. I was in the area working on a story anyway. What's going on, John?"
Constance smile pleasantly. "Hey, I was glad I could meet you. I was in the area working on a story anyway. What's going on, John?"
He looked closely at her kind face and easy demeanor. Did he really want to dump his baggage in her lap and spoil any relationship he may be able to begin with her?
Instead of answering her, he said with a slight smile, "So, are you always in this get up? The hat, the trench coat... the cute glasses."
Instead of answering her, he said with a slight smile, "So, are you always in this get up? The hat, the trench coat... the cute glasses."
She smiled at him. "When I'm working on a story, yes." She cocked her head to the side and gazed into his troubled eyes. "What's bothering you? It's okay, you can tell me."
John felt so at ease with her. It was something he couldn't explain. From the first moment he had met her, he felt drawn to her in a way he had never felt. She seemed so sincere and caring. Was she really that selfless? Was anyone?
She waited patiently, then said softly, "Really, it's okay. I can tell you're very pained by something. I want to help."
He repressed a small sob, then finally choked out, "Things are changing so quickly."
She seemed genuinely interested. "Like what?"
He told her the whole story about how he and his sister had always been together, how they had grown up feeling that all they had to cling to in life was one another. He explained the importance of growing up in the Baldwin house which had been in their family for generations. He spoke to her about the history of his family and how his ancestors had helped found Riverview and the pressure that had always been placed on them as children to succeed and to be examples for the community. It all came tumbling out of him like a damn that had broken and was now allowing all of the water to rush through.
She had listened in attentive silence and finally said, "No. Tell me all of it. I can tell there's more."
He wavered, ashamed that he had told her so much and that there was so much failure in his life to tell her about. Baldwins were not weak and at this moment, he felt very vulnerable. But Constance stood there, waiting, not letting go of the moment, or him.
At last, he confessed to her the breakdown in all of his previous relationships, how he had given expensive gifts and even been the means to further careers in order to keep the women he'd been involved with. How he had known that in all reality he would never have anyone that truly wanted to be with him for himself. He'd only ever been wanted simply because he was a Baldwin.
He repressed a small sob, then finally choked out, "Things are changing so quickly."
She seemed genuinely interested. "Like what?"
He told her the whole story about how he and his sister had always been together, how they had grown up feeling that all they had to cling to in life was one another. He explained the importance of growing up in the Baldwin house which had been in their family for generations. He spoke to her about the history of his family and how his ancestors had helped found Riverview and the pressure that had always been placed on them as children to succeed and to be examples for the community. It all came tumbling out of him like a damn that had broken and was now allowing all of the water to rush through.
She had listened in attentive silence and finally said, "No. Tell me all of it. I can tell there's more."
He wavered, ashamed that he had told her so much and that there was so much failure in his life to tell her about. Baldwins were not weak and at this moment, he felt very vulnerable. But Constance stood there, waiting, not letting go of the moment, or him.
At last, he confessed to her the breakdown in all of his previous relationships, how he had given expensive gifts and even been the means to further careers in order to keep the women he'd been involved with. How he had known that in all reality he would never have anyone that truly wanted to be with him for himself. He'd only ever been wanted simply because he was a Baldwin.
Her eyes were misty as she pulled him forward and whispered in his ear, "I'm sorry you've been through all that you have. The pressure you've always been under to perform as a Baldwin must have been excruciating. I can't even imagine it. And all of the women who have taken advantage of your name should be conscience-stricken. But you do have worth and not just as a 'Baldwin.' You are a kind, gentle soul. I've known that since we first met. And you deserve better than what you've gotten."
John looked into her eyes. He wasn't the best judge of character but he felt she was being earnest. "How do you know that?" he whispered.
"Because I'm good at what I do. I'm a reporter and I have to read people constantly. I seem to have the gift of knowing when people are feeding me a line of crap. I knew from the moment I met you that you're a good person. Too trusting, I think, but good nevertheless."
He recalled their first meeting and remembered that she hadn't known who he was. "You didn't know I was a Baldwin when we first met."
She shook her head. "No. I knew about Olivia because of working with Jasper, but I didn't know who you were when we met, it's true."
"Because I'm good at what I do. I'm a reporter and I have to read people constantly. I seem to have the gift of knowing when people are feeding me a line of crap. I knew from the moment I met you that you're a good person. Too trusting, I think, but good nevertheless."
He recalled their first meeting and remembered that she hadn't known who he was. "You didn't know I was a Baldwin when we first met."
She shook her head. "No. I knew about Olivia because of working with Jasper, but I didn't know who you were when we met, it's true."
He embraced her and kissed her gently on the cheek. "Thank you for meeting me and for not judging me tonight. I really needed this."
She smiled at him, not stepping out of his embrace. "I wasn't doing you a favor," she informed him. "I came here at the last minute to meet you because I wanted to see you again. Are we still going on our date this weekend?"
"God, I hope so," he smiled at her and she laughed.
She smiled at him, not stepping out of his embrace. "I wasn't doing you a favor," she informed him. "I came here at the last minute to meet you because I wanted to see you again. Are we still going on our date this weekend?"
"God, I hope so," he smiled at her and she laughed.
The children arrived at the Manor House without incident. Blessing sat on the antique sofa in the main parlor and looked around her, Lacey seated next to her.
The stain glass was especially of interest to her. It was truly a beautiful house. She could immediately understand why her parents had fallen in love with it. But how would it be actually living here?
The stain glass was especially of interest to her. It was truly a beautiful house. She could immediately understand why her parents had fallen in love with it. But how would it be actually living here?
Lacey sat next to her cousin. She had promised to spend the night here so Blessing wouldn't have to be alone in her new room. The Manor House was lovely, inside and out but she still couldn't believe her cousin would no longer be living with her. What would it be like for her and her father to move into the main house? She had always lived in the large apartment above the garage and she'd been quite happy there. Now, she would only see her best friend and cousin at school and when she visited her here at this house.
Olivia and Jasper were in the master bedroom talking and looking around. They'd had a cleaning crew come in during the day to make certain the house was in order before they had arrived to spend the night. They had turned the children loose in the house to explore and their cats Missy and Georgie were sniffing about as well.
"I hope the kids like the house and have a good night here. I'm a little worried that their attitudes will change if they have a bad experience."
Jasper seemed more easy going about the situation. "I think it will be just fine, Liv. Do you like our room?"
Jasper seemed more easy going about the situation. "I think it will be just fine, Liv. Do you like our room?"
She couldn't help but smile at him. "Well, it's smaller than I'm used to. And we only have one bathroom on this floor, so that's a change."
A wave of apprehension came over him. What if he'd made a terrible mistake? Olivia had been accustomed to the finer things her entire life. While the Baldwin house was very old, it had been updated with each generation while this house had not. Would she be able to feel satisfied in a house that hadn't been as modernized as the Baldwin house?
But, to his relief, she was still smiling. "I am absolutely in love with this house. I really am."
A wave of apprehension came over him. What if he'd made a terrible mistake? Olivia had been accustomed to the finer things her entire life. While the Baldwin house was very old, it had been updated with each generation while this house had not. Would she be able to feel satisfied in a house that hadn't been as modernized as the Baldwin house?
But, to his relief, she was still smiling. "I am absolutely in love with this house. I really am."
The girls were in their pajamas and in Blessing's room which was decorated in pinks. Her room was actually the attic area, two rooms connected. The beds were on one side and a reading nook on the other side. She also had her own bathroom which she had never had before.
"I can't believe I have this entire floor to myself!" she exclaimed.
"I can't believe I have this entire floor to myself!" she exclaimed.
"Are you going to miss me?" Lacey asked
"Of course I will," Blessing laughed. "You know you can stay here whenever you want to. And I'm going to miss our old house so much, so you know I'll be over there with you and Uncle John, too."
"I suppose."
"Well, what's wrong?"
Lacey looked around the beautiful room before she answered. "I guess it didn't seem real until now."
"Of course I will," Blessing laughed. "You know you can stay here whenever you want to. And I'm going to miss our old house so much, so you know I'll be over there with you and Uncle John, too."
"I suppose."
"Well, what's wrong?"
Lacey looked around the beautiful room before she answered. "I guess it didn't seem real until now."
"I know. It still doesn't seem real to me." Then she smiled wider. "And remember what I told you. We get to learn to drive soon! My mom promised."
Lacey laughed. "Yeah! Believe me, I haven't forgotten!"
The girls giggled as they came to the realization that sometimes there were trade offs in life. Yes, Blessing had to move, but in the end, it meant that they would be able to have driving lessons sooner.
Lacey laughed. "Yeah! Believe me, I haven't forgotten!"
The girls giggled as they came to the realization that sometimes there were trade offs in life. Yes, Blessing had to move, but in the end, it meant that they would be able to have driving lessons sooner.
Bram had been in his pajamas for quite some time. He'd explored all over the house and had found interesting nooks and crannies. What a great house to have friends over and play hide and seek in!
He looked around his new room. A lot of his toys hadn't made it over here yet, but the ones that were there made the room feel familiar and like his own.
He looked around his new room. A lot of his toys hadn't made it over here yet, but the ones that were there made the room feel familiar and like his own.
What a great adventure this was going to be! He smiled as he thought about how his bedroom wasn't connected to the nursery here. He didn't like being associated with the nursery any longer. He was not a baby and with his room down the hall on the other side of his parents' room, he probably wouldn't even have to hear Winter cry which woke him up all the time.
He loved his Uncle John and was very close to him, but he knew he could see him anytime he wanted to. Other than that, he couldn't think of a single bad reason not to enjoy his new surroundings.
He loved his Uncle John and was very close to him, but he knew he could see him anytime he wanted to. Other than that, he couldn't think of a single bad reason not to enjoy his new surroundings.
John came home and absently threw his keys on the end table in the living room of his apartment. He had gotten the phone call on his way home that Lacey was spending the night with Blessing at the Manor House. It was just as he thought it would be; Lacey would probably be spending a lot of nights there.
He sighed and raked his hands through his hair as he looked around the quiet room. He had come directly inside, avoiding even looking at the darkened main house. He didn't know at this moment when he would ever even move into it.
While Constance had been a saving grace tonight, upon returning home, he couldn't help but feel a little abandoned.
He sighed and raked his hands through his hair as he looked around the quiet room. He had come directly inside, avoiding even looking at the darkened main house. He didn't know at this moment when he would ever even move into it.
While Constance had been a saving grace tonight, upon returning home, he couldn't help but feel a little abandoned.
The next morning, Olivia stood outside Winter's room, watching the baby sleep. She'd slept through the night and had seemed to settle into the nursery quite well.
She smiled softly as she thought about Winter's upcoming birthday and all the excitement that came with raising a toddler. And this room was old fashioned but perfect.
Winter stirred and gurgled but fell back to sleep. Olivia knew she had to get going, but she lingered for another few moments, unable to tear her eyes away from the sleeping and contented babe.
She smiled softly as she thought about Winter's upcoming birthday and all the excitement that came with raising a toddler. And this room was old fashioned but perfect.
Winter stirred and gurgled but fell back to sleep. Olivia knew she had to get going, but she lingered for another few moments, unable to tear her eyes away from the sleeping and contented babe.
Olivia's car was waiting at the curb but she wanted to see the children off to school since it was the first time they were leaving from the Manor House. The car would just have to wait.
She stood under the arbor which led to the front garden as the children, one by one, came out and got on the bus.
"Enjoy your day!" she called.
They each waved at her, laughed and teased each other as they stepped onto the school bus.
"Enjoy your day!" she called.
They each waved at her, laughed and teased each other as they stepped onto the school bus.
When Olivia finally got into her waiting car, she looked through the tinted windows at their new home. She smiled as she realized that with this house also sat her new future. And how bright it was, too!