Jasper hadn't had a moment's rest since Winter's birthday party. The child had not been herself at all and neither he nor Olivia could figure out what was the matter with the little ghostly girl.
At first, Winter had been unusually fussy. Gradually, the fussiness had turned into listlessness and a lack of desire to eat. Olivia was beside herself, staying up with their daughter in her arms day and night.
Jasper excused himself to the study under the guise of writing a follow up piece on Jebidiah Wilson's insurance fraud scandal. But as much as he loathed Jebidiah, he put his feelings aside in order to follow a lead he had learned about regarding Winter's sudden condition.
At first, Winter had been unusually fussy. Gradually, the fussiness had turned into listlessness and a lack of desire to eat. Olivia was beside herself, staying up with their daughter in her arms day and night.
Jasper excused himself to the study under the guise of writing a follow up piece on Jebidiah Wilson's insurance fraud scandal. But as much as he loathed Jebidiah, he put his feelings aside in order to follow a lead he had learned about regarding Winter's sudden condition.
Later in the day, after he'd showered and changed, Olivia found him in their bedroom. He could tell by her expression that she was very worried, and really, she had much cause to be.
He didn't know how to approach the subject with her. What if she thought this new information he'd found was completely insane?
"How did your article on Jebidiah go?" Olivia asked softly, a blank look in her pale eyes.
He paused for a long moment, not really certain this was the time to tell her the truth. After quickly running through all of the possibilities in his head, he knew that there was no way around this. She was just going to have to trust him.
"I didn't write the story on Jebidiah."
He didn't know how to approach the subject with her. What if she thought this new information he'd found was completely insane?
"How did your article on Jebidiah go?" Olivia asked softly, a blank look in her pale eyes.
He paused for a long moment, not really certain this was the time to tell her the truth. After quickly running through all of the possibilities in his head, he knew that there was no way around this. She was just going to have to trust him.
"I didn't write the story on Jebidiah."
Olivia barely blinked and continued gazing at him with those empty, hopeless eyes.
He cleared his throat nervously. "I was following a lead I heard about that may help Winter."
Slowly, she began to come to herself. "Do you know what's wrong with her?"
He cleared his throat nervously. "I was following a lead I heard about that may help Winter."
Slowly, she began to come to herself. "Do you know what's wrong with her?"
How could he explain this to her? Would she understand and go along with what needed to be done? Or would he have to carry this out on his own without her support.
"I believe I know what may be the problem," he began slowly.
"Well, what is it?"
Again he hesitated. "Ghosts sometimes.... well some ghosts...."
"Jasper, just tell me!"
He took a deep breath. "She needs help right away if what I found out is true." He rubbed his eyes, hoping beyond hope that she would understand and not question him. "Some ghosts feel a pull... I don't know exactly how to explain it. But the basic concept is that they want to return to the netherworld."
"Our daughter wants to return to the grave? She's just a toddler! She loves us and her life" she said, astounded.
"I know she does. But this drive to return is not a conscious thing. She doesn't know that she's being pulled or what that even means."
"What are we to do?" Olivia cried. "Are you sure about this?"
"That's what my investigation would indicate. I followed several leads which led me to a person who put me in contact with an old woman named Lady Evanora."
"What kind of name is that? Who is she?"
"She's a very old woman. Some call her a witch. But she claims to know a spell she can cast that will turn our daughter into a human. If Winter is in human form, she will no longer feel that pull to return to the netherworld."
"I thought only Ambrosia could turn a ghost into a human. That's why we were waiting.... because Winter isn't old enough to eat it."
He took her hands in his own and squeezed them lightly. "I thought the same thing. However, Lady Evanora promises me that she will make our daughter whole and that no harm will come to her as a result. She asserts that when she is finished, Winter will be fully human with no trace of ghost left. She will be a normal, healthy child."
Olivia bit her lower lip as she thought it through. "Then we must do this."
"I believe I know what may be the problem," he began slowly.
"Well, what is it?"
Again he hesitated. "Ghosts sometimes.... well some ghosts...."
"Jasper, just tell me!"
He took a deep breath. "She needs help right away if what I found out is true." He rubbed his eyes, hoping beyond hope that she would understand and not question him. "Some ghosts feel a pull... I don't know exactly how to explain it. But the basic concept is that they want to return to the netherworld."
"Our daughter wants to return to the grave? She's just a toddler! She loves us and her life" she said, astounded.
"I know she does. But this drive to return is not a conscious thing. She doesn't know that she's being pulled or what that even means."
"What are we to do?" Olivia cried. "Are you sure about this?"
"That's what my investigation would indicate. I followed several leads which led me to a person who put me in contact with an old woman named Lady Evanora."
"What kind of name is that? Who is she?"
"She's a very old woman. Some call her a witch. But she claims to know a spell she can cast that will turn our daughter into a human. If Winter is in human form, she will no longer feel that pull to return to the netherworld."
"I thought only Ambrosia could turn a ghost into a human. That's why we were waiting.... because Winter isn't old enough to eat it."
He took her hands in his own and squeezed them lightly. "I thought the same thing. However, Lady Evanora promises me that she will make our daughter whole and that no harm will come to her as a result. She asserts that when she is finished, Winter will be fully human with no trace of ghost left. She will be a normal, healthy child."
Olivia bit her lower lip as she thought it through. "Then we must do this."
When John met with Olivia, he could immediately see concern, urgency and hope in her face.
"I got here as soon as I could," he said, trying to read her further.
"Thank you so much for dropping everything to get here so quickly," she murmured, wringing her hands in front of her.
"Is this about Winter?" John asked. He had been just as worried as Jasper and Olivia after seeing how under the weather his niece had appeared at her birthday party.
"I got here as soon as I could," he said, trying to read her further.
"Thank you so much for dropping everything to get here so quickly," she murmured, wringing her hands in front of her.
"Is this about Winter?" John asked. He had been just as worried as Jasper and Olivia after seeing how under the weather his niece had appeared at her birthday party.
"Yes, she's getting worse by the hour and we haven't much time," Olivia said. "John, I'm just hanging by a thread here, so you're going to have to understand when I tell you what we're about to do. It's pretty unusual and drastic."
He stared at her, unable to fathom what she was about to say. "Sis, just explain. You know I'm here for you in every way."
Olivia had been trying desperately to suppress her emotion, but a single tear escaped her eye regardless. John lovingly wiped it off of her cheek with his thumb and waited for her to tell him what was going on.
Finally, she confided in him all that Jasper had explained to her. She waited with baited breath for his reaction.
He stared at her, unable to fathom what she was about to say. "Sis, just explain. You know I'm here for you in every way."
Olivia had been trying desperately to suppress her emotion, but a single tear escaped her eye regardless. John lovingly wiped it off of her cheek with his thumb and waited for her to tell him what was going on.
Finally, she confided in him all that Jasper had explained to her. She waited with baited breath for his reaction.
John gave his sister a look of deepest empathy and understanding. His heart ached for her situation. "All I can say, Liv, is that if you guys feel this is Winter's only chance and she needs help immediately, you have to do it. You have to try anything at this point."
He took her small hand in his for support. Relief seemed to wash over her.
"You don't think this is a horrible mistake?"
He shook his head immediately. "I don't know if it will work, but I think you have to try everything you can. Do you want me to stay here with the kids while you're away?"
She wiped more tears from her eyes and nodded. "Could you?"
"Of course. I have some vacation days saved up. Do you mind if Constance stays here, too? This is a large brood to take care of on my own."
Olivia gave him a small smile. "You know. Of course I don't mind."
John hugged his sister tightly. "Everything is going to work out, Livvy."
"I hope so," she cried, hanging on to him.
He took her small hand in his for support. Relief seemed to wash over her.
"You don't think this is a horrible mistake?"
He shook his head immediately. "I don't know if it will work, but I think you have to try everything you can. Do you want me to stay here with the kids while you're away?"
She wiped more tears from her eyes and nodded. "Could you?"
"Of course. I have some vacation days saved up. Do you mind if Constance stays here, too? This is a large brood to take care of on my own."
Olivia gave him a small smile. "You know. Of course I don't mind."
John hugged his sister tightly. "Everything is going to work out, Livvy."
"I hope so," she cried, hanging on to him.
"I can't believe you got driving lessons without me," Blessing said with disgust to her cousin Lacey. "It's like you didn't even think about me at all."
"You need to chill out," Lacey retorted. "Honestly, you're acting like you're Bram's age, not a grown up teenager."
"You need to chill out," Lacey retorted. "Honestly, you're acting like you're Bram's age, not a grown up teenager."
"This makes me so mad!" Blessing yelled. "Can't you get that?"
Lacey laughed suddenly. "You're being stupid. Do you really think I'm going to leave you in the dust?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, it was easy as pie to get Constance to make dad let me drive his GTO. You wouldn't believe how easy it was. It's like I barely even tried and suddenly it was happening."
Lacey laughed suddenly. "You're being stupid. Do you really think I'm going to leave you in the dust?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, it was easy as pie to get Constance to make dad let me drive his GTO. You wouldn't believe how easy it was. It's like I barely even tried and suddenly it was happening."
"Yeah! Great for you!"
"Seriously, Blessing, get a grip and let me finish!"
"Fine. Go on," Blessing sulked.
"See, here's the deal. Dad wants me to like Constance. I think he's in love with her. Constance wants me to like her. She knows it will make my dad happy if I like her."
"Well do you like her?"
Lacey sighed. Clearly Blessing was not catching on at all.
"Do you really not understand the words coming out of my mouth? I'm in the perfect position here. I can do whatever I want. All I have to do is hint to Constance about what I want, and then she'll turn around and tell my dad he should give me what I asked for."
Blessing seemed confused but the light was turning on. "And Constance will do that because she wants you to like her and she wants your dad to see you two get along?"
"Yes!" Lacey answered with exasperation.
"Seriously, Blessing, get a grip and let me finish!"
"Fine. Go on," Blessing sulked.
"See, here's the deal. Dad wants me to like Constance. I think he's in love with her. Constance wants me to like her. She knows it will make my dad happy if I like her."
"Well do you like her?"
Lacey sighed. Clearly Blessing was not catching on at all.
"Do you really not understand the words coming out of my mouth? I'm in the perfect position here. I can do whatever I want. All I have to do is hint to Constance about what I want, and then she'll turn around and tell my dad he should give me what I asked for."
Blessing seemed confused but the light was turning on. "And Constance will do that because she wants you to like her and she wants your dad to see you two get along?"
"Yes!" Lacey answered with exasperation.
Blessing smiled as she looked at her feet and thought about what Lacey was telling her. But she had one concern. "Don't you think Uncle John will see right through this?"
"Oh he already has. He told me not to let it happen again. He told me not to be manipulative or something."
"But you're going to be anyway?"
"Blessing, it's not like I'm some evil mastermind. All I'm trying to do is get us both driving lessons. And, you know, maybe a few other perks. Uncle Jasper and Aunt Olivia are all wrapped up with Winter right now. My dad is the only option to get you included in this and to get you driving, too."
Blessing bit her lower lip, a mannerism she had picked up from her mother. "I don't think you should do anything that your dad said not to do. He might get really mad."
Lacey rolled her light blue eyes. "Just let me worry about that, okay? He's not even going to know."
She grinned at Blessing until her cousin finally returned the smile.
"Oh he already has. He told me not to let it happen again. He told me not to be manipulative or something."
"But you're going to be anyway?"
"Blessing, it's not like I'm some evil mastermind. All I'm trying to do is get us both driving lessons. And, you know, maybe a few other perks. Uncle Jasper and Aunt Olivia are all wrapped up with Winter right now. My dad is the only option to get you included in this and to get you driving, too."
Blessing bit her lower lip, a mannerism she had picked up from her mother. "I don't think you should do anything that your dad said not to do. He might get really mad."
Lacey rolled her light blue eyes. "Just let me worry about that, okay? He's not even going to know."
She grinned at Blessing until her cousin finally returned the smile.
"So this is the guest room?" Constance asked, glancing around. "And you want me to stay here with you while Jasper and Olivia are away with Winter?"
John nodded. "I sure could use the help. I"m not asking you to take time off of work or anything. I can get the kids ready for school and make them breakfast. But I really need help with dinner and their bedtime routines. If you don't mind, that is."
John nodded. "I sure could use the help. I"m not asking you to take time off of work or anything. I can get the kids ready for school and make them breakfast. But I really need help with dinner and their bedtime routines. If you don't mind, that is."
"John, you know I'll do anything to help out."
"I sense hesitation in your voice."
She looked him in the eyes, a trait that he loved about her. When she had something to say to him, she didn't look away; she was matter of fact and honest.
"We have to talk about something," she answered.
"I sense hesitation in your voice."
She looked him in the eyes, a trait that he loved about her. When she had something to say to him, she didn't look away; she was matter of fact and honest.
"We have to talk about something," she answered.
His heart began to pound out of his chest. "Okay. What is it?"
"We haven't been.... intimate yet for a reason."
As his old fears about bad breakups began to grip his heart, his eyes clouded over with worry. "Not because I haven't tried," he attempted to joke.
She smiled a little and then continued, her cheeks flushing slightly. "You see, I don't want to do that until I'm married."
John was silent as the gravity of what she had just said began to sink into his mind. "That's the reason? I've been wondering."
"I know it may seem old fashioned to you, but it's just the way it is with me. And no matter what, it's not going to change. I'm adamant about it."
John gently pulled her into his arms and whispered into her ear, "It's okay. Don't you know that for me, you're worth waiting for? Each time I learn something new about you, I love you even more."
"We haven't been.... intimate yet for a reason."
As his old fears about bad breakups began to grip his heart, his eyes clouded over with worry. "Not because I haven't tried," he attempted to joke.
She smiled a little and then continued, her cheeks flushing slightly. "You see, I don't want to do that until I'm married."
John was silent as the gravity of what she had just said began to sink into his mind. "That's the reason? I've been wondering."
"I know it may seem old fashioned to you, but it's just the way it is with me. And no matter what, it's not going to change. I'm adamant about it."
John gently pulled her into his arms and whispered into her ear, "It's okay. Don't you know that for me, you're worth waiting for? Each time I learn something new about you, I love you even more."
Tears escaped from her eyes as he held her. She thought John was understanding and loving, but she had never dated a man who truly hadn't tried to pressure her into sleeping together.
"You love me?" she whispered back.
"Yes," he answered without any reluctance. "I love you. And I will wait for you until you love me enough to marry me. I want to be with you for the rest of my life."
John pulled her into a deep kiss to confirm his unwavering love and affection. Her lips tingled at the touch of his and she felt desire tightening her stomach. She returned the passionate kiss.
"You love me?" she whispered back.
"Yes," he answered without any reluctance. "I love you. And I will wait for you until you love me enough to marry me. I want to be with you for the rest of my life."
John pulled her into a deep kiss to confirm his unwavering love and affection. Her lips tingled at the touch of his and she felt desire tightening her stomach. She returned the passionate kiss.
When she stepped away, he let her go easily, without applying any pressure that the moment should continue into something he knew she wasn't ready for.
"Do you see a future for us? Do you love me, too?" he asked softly, hope glimmering in his blue eyes.
"Yes," she answered simply, still with a whisper. "But we need more time. Lacey needs time."
John seemed to be glowing with happiness. He felt as if his feet weren't even touching the floor. "I'm going to make you the happiest woman on the planet."
She returned his smile. "You already have."
"Do you see a future for us? Do you love me, too?" he asked softly, hope glimmering in his blue eyes.
"Yes," she answered simply, still with a whisper. "But we need more time. Lacey needs time."
John seemed to be glowing with happiness. He felt as if his feet weren't even touching the floor. "I'm going to make you the happiest woman on the planet."
She returned his smile. "You already have."
He took her in his arms with a gentle embrace. "Will you stay here with me while Olivia and Jasper are away? I'll sleep in their room and you can have the guest room."
She nodded. "Of course. I'll support you in any way I can. It will help me get to know the children better, too."
He gazed deeply into her dark eyes. "I'm going to make you my wife someday, Constance Shelley. Mark my words."
She smiled back at him with love and adoration filling her soul and eyes. "I believe you will."
She nodded. "Of course. I'll support you in any way I can. It will help me get to know the children better, too."
He gazed deeply into her dark eyes. "I'm going to make you my wife someday, Constance Shelley. Mark my words."
She smiled back at him with love and adoration filling her soul and eyes. "I believe you will."