Olivia and Jasper had been gone with Winter for several days already while John and Constance stayed at the manner house with the rest of the children.
Constance had always been single and career minded, so she had never learned much about cooking. She had only ever had to feed herself. Needless to say, the family was eating a lot of macaroni and cheese.
Constance couldn't tell if John was completely sick of her one meal repertoire or not. He never complained, and he seemed to eat well enough, but still, she worried.
Constance had always been single and career minded, so she had never learned much about cooking. She had only ever had to feed herself. Needless to say, the family was eating a lot of macaroni and cheese.
Constance couldn't tell if John was completely sick of her one meal repertoire or not. He never complained, and he seemed to eat well enough, but still, she worried.
She cooked furiously, determined that this would be the best mac and cheese this family had ever tasted. She paused as she grasped the salt shaker. Had she already put the salt in? She couldn't remember. Who was she kidding? She was no good at this and would never measure up to Olivia's prowess in the kitchen. As she stirred the cheesy concoction, she let out a sigh of defeat.
As John approached the table, he noticed that even with her back to him, Constance was troubled about something. He stood there, not knowing what to do, almost afraid to ask her what the matter could be. He wanted to marry her and she now knew this, but he was beginning to think that perhaps she was realizing these past few days what taking care of a house and family entailed and she had found it was not something she wanted at all.
They ate in near silence and then he could take it no more. He pulled her aside before she had a chance to excuse herself to do the dishes.
"Constance, wait," he urged. "I need to talk to you."
"I have dishes to do, John," she answered quietly.
He cupped the side of her face with the palm of his hand and spoke gently. "I'll help with the dishes. It will only take a minute."
Her eyes softened as she gazed at him. "I know you're probably sick of the macaroni and cheese. I told you I couldn't cook very well."
"Constance, wait," he urged. "I need to talk to you."
"I have dishes to do, John," she answered quietly.
He cupped the side of her face with the palm of his hand and spoke gently. "I'll help with the dishes. It will only take a minute."
Her eyes softened as she gazed at him. "I know you're probably sick of the macaroni and cheese. I told you I couldn't cook very well."
He laughed suddenly then couldn't stop grinning at her. "Oh, honey, the food is fine. And what's more, the kids love it. You make them so happy."
Her dark eyes grew large and round. "I do?"
"Don't act so shocked," he smiled. "You're adorable, you know that?"
For the first time this day, she smiled genuinely. "I've been thinking this whole time that Olivia and Jasper have been gone that all I've been is one big disaster."
"Well, I can tell you now that the kids love you, I love you and someday, our children are going to love you, too."
Smiling softly, she said barely above a whisper, "Our children."
He nodded with hope filled eyes. "Yes... if that's what you want, too."
Staring into his light blue eyes, she tried to imagine what it would be like to live in the Baldwin house, raising Baldwin children. After the time she'd been having just taking care of Jasper and Olivia's brew, she hadn't thought that would be possible. But thinking of having her own family with John suddenly seemed like the right thing.
A tear escaped her eye and rolled down her cheek. John tenderly wiped it away with his thumb. She took his hand in hers. He had an artists' hands.
"Yes," she finally said. "I want that, too."
Her dark eyes grew large and round. "I do?"
"Don't act so shocked," he smiled. "You're adorable, you know that?"
For the first time this day, she smiled genuinely. "I've been thinking this whole time that Olivia and Jasper have been gone that all I've been is one big disaster."
"Well, I can tell you now that the kids love you, I love you and someday, our children are going to love you, too."
Smiling softly, she said barely above a whisper, "Our children."
He nodded with hope filled eyes. "Yes... if that's what you want, too."
Staring into his light blue eyes, she tried to imagine what it would be like to live in the Baldwin house, raising Baldwin children. After the time she'd been having just taking care of Jasper and Olivia's brew, she hadn't thought that would be possible. But thinking of having her own family with John suddenly seemed like the right thing.
A tear escaped her eye and rolled down her cheek. John tenderly wiped it away with his thumb. She took his hand in hers. He had an artists' hands.
"Yes," she finally said. "I want that, too."
Constance stood outside as the kids all came home from school the next afternoon. She told each one hello before they entered the house to begin their homework. Lacey, who was the last to get off the bus, lingered near her.
"Hi, Lacey. Did you have a good day?" Constance asked the teen.
"It was okay, I guess."
But Constance could see it wasn't. "What's the matter?" she asked with concern.
Lacey took one of her gloves off and bit her fingernail, looking away for a moment. "It's Blessing," she finally said.
"Blessing?"
The teenager nodded as tears welled up in her crystal blue eyes.
"Tell me what happened," Constance said with her most tender voice.
Lacey's lower lip quivered as she spoke. "She found out about my dad giving me driving lessons in his GTO. And now she's mad at me. She said that we promised we would learn together and she won't ever forgive me for learning without her."
"Well, that's just unreasonable. Of course she'll learn. It isn't your fault your dad already took you out. Jasper hasn't had the time."
"That's just the problem," the girl suddenly sobbed, her shoulders shaking. "Her dad isn't even around right now and he won't be back for days. And when he does come back, all he'll be thinking about is Winter."
Constance watched Lacey closely. The poor girl was so upset. But what could she do about it?
"Hi, Lacey. Did you have a good day?" Constance asked the teen.
"It was okay, I guess."
But Constance could see it wasn't. "What's the matter?" she asked with concern.
Lacey took one of her gloves off and bit her fingernail, looking away for a moment. "It's Blessing," she finally said.
"Blessing?"
The teenager nodded as tears welled up in her crystal blue eyes.
"Tell me what happened," Constance said with her most tender voice.
Lacey's lower lip quivered as she spoke. "She found out about my dad giving me driving lessons in his GTO. And now she's mad at me. She said that we promised we would learn together and she won't ever forgive me for learning without her."
"Well, that's just unreasonable. Of course she'll learn. It isn't your fault your dad already took you out. Jasper hasn't had the time."
"That's just the problem," the girl suddenly sobbed, her shoulders shaking. "Her dad isn't even around right now and he won't be back for days. And when he does come back, all he'll be thinking about is Winter."
Constance watched Lacey closely. The poor girl was so upset. But what could she do about it?
She tried to reason with Lacey. "But doesn't it make sense that your Uncle Jasper is so concerned about Winter right now? He can't help it that he's away."
Lacey broke down completely, crying convulsively now. "No, he can't help it. But she feels all ignored right now. She's the oldest so she has to be all understanding. But no one understands what she's going through and no one even cares right now. On top of it, she's really mad at me, like I betrayed her or something! I can't stand it! She's never been this angry with me before!"
Constance took the girl in her arms and patted her back, trying to calm her. "I - I suppose I could talk to your dad about this."
"You could?" Lacey pulled away slightly to look into Constance's eyes.
"Well," Constance began, "I really think you should be the one to speak to him."
Lacey began to cry again. "I knew you wouldn't understand. No one gets it."
"Wait, Lacey. Please," Constance said quickly, hoping she wouldn't begin to cry harder again. "I'll speak to him and see what he says about maybe taking Blessing out to drive. Okay?"
Lacey threw her arms around Constance's neck and squeezed. "Oh, thank you so much! I knew I could trust you!"
Lacey broke down completely, crying convulsively now. "No, he can't help it. But she feels all ignored right now. She's the oldest so she has to be all understanding. But no one understands what she's going through and no one even cares right now. On top of it, she's really mad at me, like I betrayed her or something! I can't stand it! She's never been this angry with me before!"
Constance took the girl in her arms and patted her back, trying to calm her. "I - I suppose I could talk to your dad about this."
"You could?" Lacey pulled away slightly to look into Constance's eyes.
"Well," Constance began, "I really think you should be the one to speak to him."
Lacey began to cry again. "I knew you wouldn't understand. No one gets it."
"Wait, Lacey. Please," Constance said quickly, hoping she wouldn't begin to cry harder again. "I'll speak to him and see what he says about maybe taking Blessing out to drive. Okay?"
Lacey threw her arms around Constance's neck and squeezed. "Oh, thank you so much! I knew I could trust you!"
As Lacey went inside, Constance saw the teen glance back at her over her shoulder. Was that a smirk on Lacey's face?
She wanted to believe that she hadn't just been played, but she had a nagging feeling that she had been completely manipulated. How had Lacey done it? And how could Constance stop it from happening again?
Lacey's breakdown had seemed so real at the time. Perhaps it hadn't been a smirk she'd seen but a relieved smile. She had only seen it from her peripheral vision, so she very well could have misread Lacey's expression.
The most important thing right now was not to let on to John that this may be a possible problem. She would have to be the one who nipped this in the bud. If she told John that she suspected manipulation, he would be disappointed and possibly discipline his daughter. That would, in turn, ruin her relationship with the girl. And, she realized, if John knew she was so easy to manipulate, would he even continue to consider the possibility that she could be a good mother to their future children?
Lacey's breakdown had seemed so real at the time. Perhaps it hadn't been a smirk she'd seen but a relieved smile. She had only seen it from her peripheral vision, so she very well could have misread Lacey's expression.
The most important thing right now was not to let on to John that this may be a possible problem. She would have to be the one who nipped this in the bud. If she told John that she suspected manipulation, he would be disappointed and possibly discipline his daughter. That would, in turn, ruin her relationship with the girl. And, she realized, if John knew she was so easy to manipulate, would he even continue to consider the possibility that she could be a good mother to their future children?
"You are not going to freakin' believe this!" Lacey giggled after she had gotten her pajamas on. "I've been waiting to tell you all night! I thought I was going to burst during dinner!"
"Oh you mean during the fancy mac and cheese?" Blessing said with disgust. "I think the macaroni was actually cooked all the way through tonight at least."
"Forget about dinner! You are as good as driving now!"
"What? You got Uncle John to say he'd give me lessons?" she screeched.
Lacey put her finger to Blessing's lips and pushed. "Shhhh," she hissed. "If they hear you, it'll ruin everything. My dad hasn't said anything yet because Constance has to talk to him about it still. But she promised she would."
"Oh you mean during the fancy mac and cheese?" Blessing said with disgust. "I think the macaroni was actually cooked all the way through tonight at least."
"Forget about dinner! You are as good as driving now!"
"What? You got Uncle John to say he'd give me lessons?" she screeched.
Lacey put her finger to Blessing's lips and pushed. "Shhhh," she hissed. "If they hear you, it'll ruin everything. My dad hasn't said anything yet because Constance has to talk to him about it still. But she promised she would."
Blessing grinned slowly as the reality of what her cousin was telling her sank in. "How did you get Constance to say she'd talk to Uncle John? And how do you know he'll agree to it?"
Lacey gleamed smugly. "It really wasn't all that hard. And it doesn't matter. The less you know, the better. You always give everything away. Just you wait and see, though. Dad will be talking to you about it very soon. Mark my words."
Lacey gleamed smugly. "It really wasn't all that hard. And it doesn't matter. The less you know, the better. You always give everything away. Just you wait and see, though. Dad will be talking to you about it very soon. Mark my words."
"Why did we have to come all the way outside to talk?" John asked. "It's freezing. Your lips are blue for pete's sake."
"Keep your voice down. I don't want Bram or the girls to hear us."
He chuckled a little. "Okay, what's the big secret?"
"Keep your voice down. I don't want Bram or the girls to hear us."
He chuckled a little. "Okay, what's the big secret?"
She cleared her throat as she stalled for enough time to carefully craft what she was about to say.
"I need you to do something for me."
"Well, anything. Just name it. You know that."
"I want you to take Blessing out and teach her to drive."
His jaw dropped slightly. "But the snow - and - it's late."
"Not right now," she laughed. "Tomorrow. Blessing will be fine in the snow. It will be okay even with the snow. Besides, living in Riverview, both girls will need to know how to drive in the snow."
He squinted at her as he thought about what she was saying. "I suppose you want me to take her out in my GTO."
"It's only fair," Constance said mildly, with as little emotion as possible. "I mean, you took Lacey out in the GTO."
"Just why is this coming up tonight?"
"John, don't ask questions, just do this for me, please. You know as well as I do that Jasper is not going to have time to teach her how to drive. He's got his hands full right now with what's going on with Winter. Be a good uncle and take your niece out."
John wasn't convinced but he nodded slightly. "If that's what you want, I'll do it."
"I need you to do something for me."
"Well, anything. Just name it. You know that."
"I want you to take Blessing out and teach her to drive."
His jaw dropped slightly. "But the snow - and - it's late."
"Not right now," she laughed. "Tomorrow. Blessing will be fine in the snow. It will be okay even with the snow. Besides, living in Riverview, both girls will need to know how to drive in the snow."
He squinted at her as he thought about what she was saying. "I suppose you want me to take her out in my GTO."
"It's only fair," Constance said mildly, with as little emotion as possible. "I mean, you took Lacey out in the GTO."
"Just why is this coming up tonight?"
"John, don't ask questions, just do this for me, please. You know as well as I do that Jasper is not going to have time to teach her how to drive. He's got his hands full right now with what's going on with Winter. Be a good uncle and take your niece out."
John wasn't convinced but he nodded slightly. "If that's what you want, I'll do it."
"It is."
He took her in his arms and tried to warm her with his embrace. "Would you tell me if you were having problems with Lacey?"
She laughed the question off. "Of course."
"Okay. I want you to tell me if there is any trouble."
She snuggled up to him to keep warm. "I love Lacey, okay? We're fine."
"Okay," he answered suspiciously. But he held her closer. "Let's get inside before you turn into a popsicle."
He took her in his arms and tried to warm her with his embrace. "Would you tell me if you were having problems with Lacey?"
She laughed the question off. "Of course."
"Okay. I want you to tell me if there is any trouble."
She snuggled up to him to keep warm. "I love Lacey, okay? We're fine."
"Okay," he answered suspiciously. But he held her closer. "Let's get inside before you turn into a popsicle."
As John came upstairs for the night, he saw the light under Bram's door on. He knocked lightly then entered.
"Hey, kiddo, what are you still doing up?"
Bram looked at him like a deer caught in headlights. "I want my mom and dad to be home."
"Hey, kiddo, what are you still doing up?"
Bram looked at him like a deer caught in headlights. "I want my mom and dad to be home."
John smiled softly at his nephew. "I know you do. I mean, there's been a lot going on lately, right? You've moved into this creepy old house, your mom just got married and now they're gone with Winter who was sick the last time you saw her. Not to mention you're eating macaroni and cheese every night."
Bram laughed a little.
"Hey, uh, don't tell Constance that last part about the mac and cheese, okay, sport?"
Bram laughed again and nodded, his smile wider now. "When do you think they'll be back again?"
John smiled and tousled Bram's dark brown hair. "Oh I'm sure they miss you a great deal and they'll be home very soon."
Bram laughed a little.
"Hey, uh, don't tell Constance that last part about the mac and cheese, okay, sport?"
Bram laughed again and nodded, his smile wider now. "When do you think they'll be back again?"
John smiled and tousled Bram's dark brown hair. "Oh I'm sure they miss you a great deal and they'll be home very soon."
John reached down and took the little boy in his arms. He smelled like bubble bath and peppermint candy. "You've been sneaking the candy canes off of the Christmas tree again."
"I can't help it, Uncle John. I love them a lot."
"As much as you love your mom?" John teased.
"Oh no," he answered, quite seriously. "But more than I love those giggly girls. That's all they do is giggle and whisper. All the time."
"I know," John agreed. "Girls, huh?"
"Yeah, they're so icky," Bram said as John tucked him into bed.
"How about if we leave the hall light on and your door open? Would that be good?"
"Yeah," Bram yawned. "Love you."
"Love you, too, buddy."
"I can't help it, Uncle John. I love them a lot."
"As much as you love your mom?" John teased.
"Oh no," he answered, quite seriously. "But more than I love those giggly girls. That's all they do is giggle and whisper. All the time."
"I know," John agreed. "Girls, huh?"
"Yeah, they're so icky," Bram said as John tucked him into bed.
"How about if we leave the hall light on and your door open? Would that be good?"
"Yeah," Bram yawned. "Love you."
"Love you, too, buddy."
"Am I hearing you right?" Blessing asked the next morning.
"Yeah, I believe you are."
She squealed with delight. Lacey had been right on the money with this one. She didn't know what her cousin had done to get her the driving lessons and right now she didn't care.
"Oh, Uncle John, thank you so much!" she enthused. But then she saw Lacey shooting a warning look at her from near the fence and she quickly sobered her expression.
"Yeah, I believe you are."
She squealed with delight. Lacey had been right on the money with this one. She didn't know what her cousin had done to get her the driving lessons and right now she didn't care.
"Oh, Uncle John, thank you so much!" she enthused. But then she saw Lacey shooting a warning look at her from near the fence and she quickly sobered her expression.
"I mean, things are so rough on my dad and mom right now. I really appreciate that you're taking the time to do this for me so they won't have to."
John glanced at Lacey suspiciously, but her expression was one of neutrality. She looked as innocent as an angel. He turned back to Blessing. "Yeah, well, we don't want your parents to have to worry about this when I have the time to help you."
John glanced at Lacey suspiciously, but her expression was one of neutrality. She looked as innocent as an angel. He turned back to Blessing. "Yeah, well, we don't want your parents to have to worry about this when I have the time to help you."
Blessing had to turn her face toward the fence as Lacey and her dad got into his prized 1968 GTO. She knew this was killing him to let anyone drive it, let alone to give driving lessons in it. But she had to hide the glee in her eyes because she knew he'd pick up on it in an instant if he saw.
"Am I doing okay?" Lacey asked as she drove very slowly down the road.
"Yeah, you're doing fine, kid," he answered absently. He tried to keep his mind on the road and teaching Blessing what she needed to know. But in his heart, he was wondering if his daughter was behind all of this.
"Yeah, you're doing fine, kid," he answered absently. He tried to keep his mind on the road and teaching Blessing what she needed to know. But in his heart, he was wondering if his daughter was behind all of this.
As they drove away, Lacey let out her breath and smiled inwardly, her icy blue eyes bright. If this had worked so easily, what else would? Constance was now putty in her hands.
No one could believe the change in Winter when Jasper and Olivia finally arrived home with her that afternoon. She was no longer a ghost. The family gathered around as Jasper explained that Winter had been helped by the old woman they had gone to see. Winter was now a normal toddler who no longer desired to return to the netherworld. Her appetite had returned with gusto and she seemed happy.
Everyone stared at her in wonder and touched her as they couldn't believe their eyes. She was a beautiful child. It was a replay of events as they all excitedly recalled what it had been like the first time they had seen Jasper in his un-ghostly body.
Everyone stared at her in wonder and touched her as they couldn't believe their eyes. She was a beautiful child. It was a replay of events as they all excitedly recalled what it had been like the first time they had seen Jasper in his un-ghostly body.
After a time, Jasper promised everyone they would each have a chance to catch up with them and spend time with Winter the next day. For now, he wanted all of them to let the baby go to sleep for the night as she had been through a trying time and a long journey home.
Olivia bathed and changed the little girl into her pajamas then handed her back to her daddy.
Olivia bathed and changed the little girl into her pajamas then handed her back to her daddy.
Neither parent could get over the change in their daughter. She had the most beautiful brown hair and brilliantly shiny eyes. She was full of life.
"Do you think she'll remember any of this?" Olivia asked quietly.
Jasper shook his head. "I'm sure she won't. Children don't usually remember being this young."
Olivia nodded in agreement, satisfied with his answer.
"Do you think she'll remember any of this?" Olivia asked quietly.
Jasper shook his head. "I'm sure she won't. Children don't usually remember being this young."
Olivia nodded in agreement, satisfied with his answer.
Jasper held the child close to him again and kissed the top of her curly hair. "I'm so glad this worked out and we're back home again."
"Me, too," Olivia said, her lip quivering as she thought about the harrowing time they spent with the old woman, not knowing if their daughter would live or die.
"Me, too," Olivia said, her lip quivering as she thought about the harrowing time they spent with the old woman, not knowing if their daughter would live or die.
Winter turned her face toward the other children as she heard them all going to bed and she smiled.
Jasper thought it was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.
Jasper thought it was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.