John couldn't get out of his empty apartment fast enough. He found Jasper in the backyard of the Manor House early the next morning.
"Hey, how's it going? Did everyone settle in okay last night?" John asked as he approached. The Autumn leaves crunched under his feet as he walked.
Jasper turned to face him. "Oh, hi! You know, I thought the kids would be upset or have a hard time, but as far as Olivia and I can tell, they did fine. It probably helped that Lacey spent the night."
"That's great," John said. He tried to sound enthusiastic but he knew his voice had come off a bit flat.
"What's going on?" Jasper asked.
"I wanted to ask you about something... someone, I mean. Constance Shelley. She said she works with you."
"Hey, how's it going? Did everyone settle in okay last night?" John asked as he approached. The Autumn leaves crunched under his feet as he walked.
Jasper turned to face him. "Oh, hi! You know, I thought the kids would be upset or have a hard time, but as far as Olivia and I can tell, they did fine. It probably helped that Lacey spent the night."
"That's great," John said. He tried to sound enthusiastic but he knew his voice had come off a bit flat.
"What's going on?" Jasper asked.
"I wanted to ask you about something... someone, I mean. Constance Shelley. She said she works with you."
Jasper couldn't hide the grin on his face. "You and Constance? Are you seeing her?"
John's lips drew into a tight line. "Is there something bad about that?"
"No!" Jasper said quickly as he realized how he had sounded. "If you're asking me if she's 'okay,' the answer is yes, as far as I know. Actually, she's really nice. And unattached."
John let out a small sigh of relief. "She told me she was a freelance journalist from Sunlit Tides before being hired at the paper."
Jasper nodded. "That's right. I met her right after she came on. She lives in a small apartment downtown and doesn't really know anyone except for her colleagues. And you, I guess."
"She said she's never been married or had kids."
"I know you've had a rough time, but honestly, I wouldn't be suspicious of her. She's pretty straight and narrow as far as I can tell, so I'm sure she's told you the truth."
John's lips drew into a tight line. "Is there something bad about that?"
"No!" Jasper said quickly as he realized how he had sounded. "If you're asking me if she's 'okay,' the answer is yes, as far as I know. Actually, she's really nice. And unattached."
John let out a small sigh of relief. "She told me she was a freelance journalist from Sunlit Tides before being hired at the paper."
Jasper nodded. "That's right. I met her right after she came on. She lives in a small apartment downtown and doesn't really know anyone except for her colleagues. And you, I guess."
"She said she's never been married or had kids."
"I know you've had a rough time, but honestly, I wouldn't be suspicious of her. She's pretty straight and narrow as far as I can tell, so I'm sure she's told you the truth."
John couldn't stop the smile from appearing on his face. He had only met with Constance a few times, but he knew already that he was more than interested in her.
"So, I guess you're done swearing off women and relationships."
John laughed under his breath. "I think I am."
"Go inside and grab some breakfast. Olivia probably hasn't put the leftovers away yet."
"So, I guess you're done swearing off women and relationships."
John laughed under his breath. "I think I am."
"Go inside and grab some breakfast. Olivia probably hasn't put the leftovers away yet."
"You have a new girlfriend?" Olivia grinned at him after he'd eaten. His sister was the best cook in the world. The way he ate whatever she prepared, he was always surprised that he didn't weigh three hundred pounds or more.
John smiled slightly. "Not exactly. But I think it's promising."
Olivia squeezed his hand. "I think this is great. And it's even better that Jasper knows her. I really hope it works out for you."
"Thanks."
John smiled slightly. "Not exactly. But I think it's promising."
Olivia squeezed his hand. "I think this is great. And it's even better that Jasper knows her. I really hope it works out for you."
"Thanks."
"Okay, what else is going on?" Olivia asked, squinting her eyes as she evaluated his demeanor.
"Nothing. I'm really glad to hear that the kids did okay last night." He paused and then said carefully, "Are you coming back home at all or are you going to stay here permanently now?"
"Jasper and I haven't worked out all of the details yet."
"Well, don't you think it's important that you do so the kids know what to expect?"
"Nothing. I'm really glad to hear that the kids did okay last night." He paused and then said carefully, "Are you coming back home at all or are you going to stay here permanently now?"
"Jasper and I haven't worked out all of the details yet."
"Well, don't you think it's important that you do so the kids know what to expect?"
"John!" Olivia exclaimed. "The kids are fine. You know we'd never hurt them."
"I just don't want to see them confused. Bram is still pretty young."
"He's not confused," she insisted. "He told me just this morning how much he enjoyed finding hiding places in the house for hide and seek. He can't wait to have his friends over."
"This is a new adventure for him. He may not understand that it's permanent. Of course it's exciting until the novelty wears off."
"I just don't want to see them confused. Bram is still pretty young."
"He's not confused," she insisted. "He told me just this morning how much he enjoyed finding hiding places in the house for hide and seek. He can't wait to have his friends over."
"This is a new adventure for him. He may not understand that it's permanent. Of course it's exciting until the novelty wears off."
"What do you know, John? You've never been excited about change in your life unless it regarded a woman."
He bristled but he didn't argue with her.
"Wow. I can't believe I just said that. I'm sorry." When he still remained silent, she said, "I think the kids will be fine. I really do. People move with their kids all the time and while it does require an adjustment, the kids do survive it."
He looked at the floor and then back at her. "I didn't mean to push your buttons, Sis. I know I'm interfering. I'll back off. In some ways, being the control freak you are, I'm surprised you're okay with moving."
She rolled her eyes but it was her turn to 'take it' without dispute. "It surprised me, too. But when I walked into this house, I just felt like it was home."
He nodded a little but she could tell he didn't really understand how that could be possible.
"I've been thinking about how you must be feeling. When mom and dad died, we were the only ones left in the family. We've always been there for each other. But now I've moved out and have a life with Jasper."
He bristled but he didn't argue with her.
"Wow. I can't believe I just said that. I'm sorry." When he still remained silent, she said, "I think the kids will be fine. I really do. People move with their kids all the time and while it does require an adjustment, the kids do survive it."
He looked at the floor and then back at her. "I didn't mean to push your buttons, Sis. I know I'm interfering. I'll back off. In some ways, being the control freak you are, I'm surprised you're okay with moving."
She rolled her eyes but it was her turn to 'take it' without dispute. "It surprised me, too. But when I walked into this house, I just felt like it was home."
He nodded a little but she could tell he didn't really understand how that could be possible.
"I've been thinking about how you must be feeling. When mom and dad died, we were the only ones left in the family. We've always been there for each other. But now I've moved out and have a life with Jasper."
"I am not jealous!"
Olivia shook her head. "You misunderstand me. I don't think you're jealous. I think you're feeling alone, like I've left you. But don't you see how exciting this will be for you? And the family house is yours by rights, John. It's time you moved into it with Lacey and had your own life."
"Except that Lacey's going to be here all the time to stay with Blessing."
"So that is it. You think you've been abandoned."
His back stiffened. "'Abandoned' is kind of a strong word." He sighed. "Like you said, I'm not good with change. Things are just going so fast."
Olivia shook her head. "You misunderstand me. I don't think you're jealous. I think you're feeling alone, like I've left you. But don't you see how exciting this will be for you? And the family house is yours by rights, John. It's time you moved into it with Lacey and had your own life."
"Except that Lacey's going to be here all the time to stay with Blessing."
"So that is it. You think you've been abandoned."
His back stiffened. "'Abandoned' is kind of a strong word." He sighed. "Like you said, I'm not good with change. Things are just going so fast."
"I really am happy for you, Jasper and the kids. You have to know I am."
She embraced him. "I know you are. And I know this is difficult. But it will be okay."
He forced a small laugh. "This is just getting awkward now. I know everything will be okay."
She embraced him. "I know you are. And I know this is difficult. But it will be okay."
He forced a small laugh. "This is just getting awkward now. I know everything will be okay."
"Dad, I talked to mom about giving us driving lessons and she said she'd talk to you but we haven't heard anything about it."
"Yes, your mom and I talked," he confirmed. "We agree that you and Lacey should have the lessons, we just aren't really sure of our timeline yet."
"That's not fair. I mean, like I didn't even make a big deal about moving or anything. I could have made a huge stink about it. The least you can do is give me some hope! It's all I want and I don't think it's asking too much!"
Lacey sucked in her breath, knowing that was probably not the right thing for her cousin to say at that moment. Trying to sound diplomatic, she quickly said, "Uncle Jasper, we wrote out a pros and cons list if you want to see it."
"Yes, your mom and I talked," he confirmed. "We agree that you and Lacey should have the lessons, we just aren't really sure of our timeline yet."
"That's not fair. I mean, like I didn't even make a big deal about moving or anything. I could have made a huge stink about it. The least you can do is give me some hope! It's all I want and I don't think it's asking too much!"
Lacey sucked in her breath, knowing that was probably not the right thing for her cousin to say at that moment. Trying to sound diplomatic, she quickly said, "Uncle Jasper, we wrote out a pros and cons list if you want to see it."
But Jasper was still focused on his daughter. "There are a lot of things happening right now. There's going to be a wedding which takes a lot of preparation and we're in the process of moving which not only changes our lives, but also the lives of your uncle and cousin. We're trying to get everything in order before Winter's birthday. Your mom and I are also both still trying to work full time during all of this. And you want to try to chastise me for not having addressed your driving lessons that I've only just learned you wanted?"
Blessing's cheeks blushed bright red as she glared at her dad.
Lacey cleared her throat loudly. "Well, I saw that my dad was here. I'm going inside to say hi to him." She couldn't get out of the yard and away from them fast enough.
"And don't give me that look, Blessing Baldwin Remington. When we've decided you're ready for your lessons, you'll be the first to know. But if you speak to me this way again and only think of yourself, the lessons are going to be pushed back even further."
Blessing's cheeks blushed bright red as she glared at her dad.
Lacey cleared her throat loudly. "Well, I saw that my dad was here. I'm going inside to say hi to him." She couldn't get out of the yard and away from them fast enough.
"And don't give me that look, Blessing Baldwin Remington. When we've decided you're ready for your lessons, you'll be the first to know. But if you speak to me this way again and only think of yourself, the lessons are going to be pushed back even further."
Olivia came upstairs to find Jasper leaving their new bedroom, freshly showered and shaved. "You look nice."
"Thanks."
She studied his face and noticed a furrow on his brow. "Uh oh. Having a rough morning?"
He told her about his exchange with Blessing in the yard and how he'd responded.
"I can't say that I would have told her anything differently," Olivia soothed. "She's being pushy because she's excited about what she wants. But she'll learn that sometimes you have to wait for what you really want."
"Thanks."
She studied his face and noticed a furrow on his brow. "Uh oh. Having a rough morning?"
He told her about his exchange with Blessing in the yard and how he'd responded.
"I can't say that I would have told her anything differently," Olivia soothed. "She's being pushy because she's excited about what she wants. But she'll learn that sometimes you have to wait for what you really want."
He pulled her into his arms. "Like I've been waiting for you?"
"I never meant to make you wait. But I'm glad we're getting it all sorted out now." She kissed his cheek and breathed in the scent of his aftershave.
"Me, too," he agreed. "I wasn't planning on letting you go and I'm still not."
"I never meant to make you wait. But I'm glad we're getting it all sorted out now." She kissed his cheek and breathed in the scent of his aftershave.
"Me, too," he agreed. "I wasn't planning on letting you go and I'm still not."
"Good!" she laughed. "Because we have a lot of people depending on us to get this right once and for all."
His eyes sparkled as he looked at her. "Let's just do it. Let's find a judge and make it legal."
"When?" she breathed with passion.
"As soon as possible. You already said you didn't care about the ceremony or having a big party or anything."
"It's true, I don't care about all of that."
"So, we may as well just get this done."
"You're so romantic," she teased.
"I apologize," he laughed. "I just don't see any reason to wait. We can get married, move the rest of our things over here and finally, give the girls their driving lessons."
His eyes sparkled as he looked at her. "Let's just do it. Let's find a judge and make it legal."
"When?" she breathed with passion.
"As soon as possible. You already said you didn't care about the ceremony or having a big party or anything."
"It's true, I don't care about all of that."
"So, we may as well just get this done."
"You're so romantic," she teased.
"I apologize," he laughed. "I just don't see any reason to wait. We can get married, move the rest of our things over here and finally, give the girls their driving lessons."
"That sounds like a plan I can live with," she said before kissing him. When their mouths met, her lips tingled. There had always been an electricity between them she couldn't describe. At that moment, however, she didn't care about reasons and explanations.
"So, this is your apartment," Constance said as she glanced around John's place. As a bit of a perfectionist, she was pleased to see it was tidy and modern looking with clean lines and crisp, neutral colors.
"Yeah," he responded simply, letting her look about. "The main house has more of a traditional feel to it, I think."
She nodded absently and turned back toward him. "It's nice."
He took one of her small hands in his. Her skin was smooth and felt cool to the touch. "Did you enjoy the movie?"
She nodded. "It was all right. What I really enjoyed the most was your company and our walk in the park."
"Yeah," he responded simply, letting her look about. "The main house has more of a traditional feel to it, I think."
She nodded absently and turned back toward him. "It's nice."
He took one of her small hands in his. Her skin was smooth and felt cool to the touch. "Did you enjoy the movie?"
She nodded. "It was all right. What I really enjoyed the most was your company and our walk in the park."
Liking her answer, he put his arms around her, holding her close to him. "Our first real date," he breathed into her ear.
"Are you getting sappy with me?" she smiled.
"I think so."
She threw her head back and laughed. "Well, good. I like a guy who can be honest about how he feels."
"Are you getting sappy with me?" she smiled.
"I think so."
She threw her head back and laughed. "Well, good. I like a guy who can be honest about how he feels."
When he kissed her, he felt as if they were melting into one another. He knew he could readily get completely lost in the moment. Without a doubt, he seemed to fall in love very easily. This had left his life empty in the long run.
Reluctantly, he pulled away from her and stepped back slightly.
Reluctantly, he pulled away from her and stepped back slightly.
The look on her face touched his heart and made him feel guilty.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
He wanted to answer her but he wasn't sure how. Instead, he shrugged a little.
"Does this have to do with our talk the other night? About your past relationships?"
"What's wrong?" she asked.
He wanted to answer her but he wasn't sure how. Instead, he shrugged a little.
"Does this have to do with our talk the other night? About your past relationships?"
"You know," he said quietly, "you may just want to run now while you can."
She frowned. "I thought you liked me and that we were getting along so well. We seem to have so much in common. Do you really want me to leave?"
"No."
"But you don't want to get hurt again."
He thought about it for a moment before answering. "I've been a really self-absorbed person lately. I'm selfish... I've been feeling sorry for myself like an idiot."
Constance smiled a little.
"Don't believe me?" he insisted. "Just ask my sister. She's so frustrated with me, I'm sure she'd be happy to tell you all about it."
She laughed then. "John, you're so hard on yourself. I don't know why you do it."
"Do what?" he demanded.
She took his hands in hers and gazed into his blue eyes. "I don't know why you beat yourself up so much. You've had some things to work through because you were terribly taken advantage of by women you trusted and your life is currently in upheaval because Olivia and her family are moving out."
He shook his head. "It's not an excuse for how I've felt or acted."
"Do you think I respond to everything in my life the way I should or the way I'd like to? Definitely not."
She frowned. "I thought you liked me and that we were getting along so well. We seem to have so much in common. Do you really want me to leave?"
"No."
"But you don't want to get hurt again."
He thought about it for a moment before answering. "I've been a really self-absorbed person lately. I'm selfish... I've been feeling sorry for myself like an idiot."
Constance smiled a little.
"Don't believe me?" he insisted. "Just ask my sister. She's so frustrated with me, I'm sure she'd be happy to tell you all about it."
She laughed then. "John, you're so hard on yourself. I don't know why you do it."
"Do what?" he demanded.
She took his hands in hers and gazed into his blue eyes. "I don't know why you beat yourself up so much. You've had some things to work through because you were terribly taken advantage of by women you trusted and your life is currently in upheaval because Olivia and her family are moving out."
He shook his head. "It's not an excuse for how I've felt or acted."
"Do you think I respond to everything in my life the way I should or the way I'd like to? Definitely not."
He smiled in wonder at her. He'd completely dumped on her emotionally a few nights ago and he'd been close to falling apart for weeks. Yet she was being understanding toward him and didn't seem to be asking for anything in return..
She continued. "I happen to think you're pretty unselfish, generous and kind. At least that's what I've seen so far."
"I can't understand why you're here," he said, touching her cheek.
She continued. "I happen to think you're pretty unselfish, generous and kind. At least that's what I've seen so far."
"I can't understand why you're here," he said, touching her cheek.
"I like sensitive men," she said simply as she hugged him. "I want to be with someone who will be able to empathize with me when I'm feeling the need to unburden myself. I also want a man who won't be afraid to unburden himself to me, too. And I want a man in my life who won't play games with me and my feelings." She looked deeply into his eyes. "You don't play games, John. I think you're searching for something real. So am I."
As they kissed again, John no longer felt afraid to move forward.
"Would it be too soon to introduce you to my sister?" he whispered, not letting go of her.
"Right now? Do you know how late it is?"
"Yeah, I know how late it is. Would it be too soon for you?"
She thought for a moment. "No. Let's go."
"Would it be too soon to introduce you to my sister?" he whispered, not letting go of her.
"Right now? Do you know how late it is?"
"Yeah, I know how late it is. Would it be too soon for you?"
She thought for a moment. "No. Let's go."
John had called as he was driving with Constance to the Manor House. Olivia hadn't gone to bed yet as he'd suspected she may have. She had seemed pleased that John was bringing his new girlfriend to meet her.
Olivia welcomed them into her new home and into the parlor. They kept their voices low as everyone else was sleeping and John hadn't wanted Lacey to meet Constance just yet. Surprisingly, Constance had seemed to respect his decision on that matter.
Olivia welcomed them into her new home and into the parlor. They kept their voices low as everyone else was sleeping and John hadn't wanted Lacey to meet Constance just yet. Surprisingly, Constance had seemed to respect his decision on that matter.
John ran upstairs briefly to peek in on Lacey. If by chance she was awake, he'd explained, he wanted to tell her goodnight.
Olivia waited in the foyer with Constance.
"It's been so nice to meet you. I'm glad my brother brought you by."
Olivia waited in the foyer with Constance.
"It's been so nice to meet you. I'm glad my brother brought you by."
"Thank you," Constance answered. "I can't wait to meet the rest of the family. I know John feels family is very important."
Olivia nodded. "Yes. He always puts his family first in his life. Do you have any family?"
She shook her head. "I was an only child and only really knew my mother. She's gone now."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
Constance smiled a little. "It's all right. It happened some time ago. You never really get over losing someone like that, but I have good memories of her."
Olivia nodded knowingly.
Olivia nodded. "Yes. He always puts his family first in his life. Do you have any family?"
She shook her head. "I was an only child and only really knew my mother. She's gone now."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
Constance smiled a little. "It's all right. It happened some time ago. You never really get over losing someone like that, but I have good memories of her."
Olivia nodded knowingly.
"Jasper tells me you're a colleague of his."
"Yes. He's been very nice to me. Everyone has. I didn't know anyone at all when I moved here and it's been a little nerve-wracking," she laughed. "I'm so glad to have met John."
"He'll be good to you," Olivia said slowly.
Constance understood immediately. "I'll be good to him, too, Olivia."
"Yes. He's been very nice to me. Everyone has. I didn't know anyone at all when I moved here and it's been a little nerve-wracking," she laughed. "I'm so glad to have met John."
"He'll be good to you," Olivia said slowly.
Constance understood immediately. "I'll be good to him, too, Olivia."
John lingered in the foyer after Constance went out to get into the car. "What do you think?"
Olivia grinned at him. "I think I put the fear of God into her."
He gasped. "You didn't! Olivia!"
She laughed. "I'm kidding. I like her a lot. I think you may have finally found someone who isn't after you just because you're a Baldwin."
He smiled genuinely at her. "I really hope so."
Olivia grinned at him. "I think I put the fear of God into her."
He gasped. "You didn't! Olivia!"
She laughed. "I'm kidding. I like her a lot. I think you may have finally found someone who isn't after you just because you're a Baldwin."
He smiled genuinely at her. "I really hope so."