Olivia didn't want to tell Jasper about her visit with Jebidiah, but she didn't see any way of getting around it. Jasper could always tell when she was upset and this time wasn't any different.
For privacy, they went to their room to talk. She stared at the floor as he waited.
Finally, he said, "Livvy, what's going on? You're really worrying me."
How could she even begin to tell him that she had gone to see Gracie only to find Jebidiah making terrible threats toward her? Never mind that Jebidiah had a new woman and baby. That was of very little importance to her as the thought of his bullying hung over her like a dark cloud.
For privacy, they went to their room to talk. She stared at the floor as he waited.
Finally, he said, "Livvy, what's going on? You're really worrying me."
How could she even begin to tell him that she had gone to see Gracie only to find Jebidiah making terrible threats toward her? Never mind that Jebidiah had a new woman and baby. That was of very little importance to her as the thought of his bullying hung over her like a dark cloud.
Suddenly, unable to contain her anger and hurt any longer, she blurted out, "He promised me that he would come between Gracie and me."
Jasper tried to remain calm but he could feel the anger beginning to boil. "You know he can try, but that doesn't mean it will work."
"Not only that. He also said he was going to squash me like a bug! And when I asked him why, he said, 'Because I can!'"
Jasper tried to remain calm but he could feel the anger beginning to boil. "You know he can try, but that doesn't mean it will work."
"Not only that. He also said he was going to squash me like a bug! And when I asked him why, he said, 'Because I can!'"
Now that she had begun to vent, she couldn't stop. "And who was it that loved him, was kind to him, tried to meet his every need? Who carried his child and raised her when he claimed to be too busy to even lift a finger to help?"
As hard as it was, Jasper tried to put his anger aside so he could comfort her. "I know all of that is true. You haven't done anything wrong. In fact, you've raised a beautiful young lady. She'll come around. The more he tries to control her and tell her how awful you are, the more he's going to push her away from himself."
As hard as it was, Jasper tried to put his anger aside so he could comfort her. "I know all of that is true. You haven't done anything wrong. In fact, you've raised a beautiful young lady. She'll come around. The more he tries to control her and tell her how awful you are, the more he's going to push her away from himself."
"I hope you're right," she choked out
"I am right. Don't you worry about a thing. I mean it."
As he embraced her, he thought to himself that maybe Jebidiah needed a visit from him!
"I am right. Don't you worry about a thing. I mean it."
As he embraced her, he thought to himself that maybe Jebidiah needed a visit from him!
Everyone was getting ready for Olivia's Christmas dinner feast party when John tried once again to call Elisa. Of course, as he had expected., she didn't answer.
Why couldn't she at least talk to him? He needed to tell her that he would do better; that he would do anything to get her back.
Why couldn't she at least talk to him? He needed to tell her that he would do better; that he would do anything to get her back.
He hung his head and wiped his eyes in frustration. He knew there was no going back. She would never be his girlfriend or give him the time of day again. If only she could see what she was doing to him.
His cellphone rang. It was his boss, telling him that he had to come in because of an issue at work. He sighed heavily. This was not his day. Or even his week. Now, he would have to tell his sister he wouldn't be able to come to the dinner party.
His cellphone rang. It was his boss, telling him that he had to come in because of an issue at work. He sighed heavily. This was not his day. Or even his week. Now, he would have to tell his sister he wouldn't be able to come to the dinner party.
Maybe it wasn't as bad as all of that, though. Maybe there was a way he could bow out of his work commitment early and still get to the feast party.
He resolved to make it happen. This was too important to his sister and he wanted to see Gracie just as much as she did. He was so glad Gracie was coming.
He resolved to make it happen. This was too important to his sister and he wanted to see Gracie just as much as she did. He was so glad Gracie was coming.
Olivia was nearly ready for the party. She had a little time to rock the babies to sleep before going downstairs to make sure the final preparations had been thought of.
Winter had gone right to sleep. But Bram took a little more effort. Olivia didn't mind. Her children meant everything to her.
She walked around the nursery with him, cooing to him, "I'm going to see your big sister tonight.... oh yes I am." She smiled as he cooed back to her and sucked his thumb.
Finally, he fell asleep and she gently put him into his crib. She watched both her babies sleeping and reveled at their beauty. She remembered when Gracie had been this little. This was going to be a good night.
Winter had gone right to sleep. But Bram took a little more effort. Olivia didn't mind. Her children meant everything to her.
She walked around the nursery with him, cooing to him, "I'm going to see your big sister tonight.... oh yes I am." She smiled as he cooed back to her and sucked his thumb.
Finally, he fell asleep and she gently put him into his crib. She watched both her babies sleeping and reveled at their beauty. She remembered when Gracie had been this little. This was going to be a good night.
As John was leaving for work, he heard a child's voice squealing behind him.
"Oh, Uncle John! Uncle John!" Blessing yelled.
He laughed and began to turn toward her. As he did, he was hit by a snowball in the shoulder.
He laughed. "Hey, you little monster!"
She laughed. "I got you! I got you!"
He laughed, too. "Yeah, you got me, all right."
"Oh, Uncle John! Uncle John!" Blessing yelled.
He laughed and began to turn toward her. As he did, he was hit by a snowball in the shoulder.
He laughed. "Hey, you little monster!"
She laughed. "I got you! I got you!"
He laughed, too. "Yeah, you got me, all right."
"How about another one?" she teased, scooping up some more snow.
He roared with laughter. "I give up!"
She dropped the snow and giggled again. "Okay, but I win then."
"You win," he agreed. "And, hey, you'd better get inside and get dressed in your prettiest dress before your mom finds out you haven't even gotten ready for the party yet."
"Shhhhh," she whispered, all seriousness in her expression. "Don't tell. I'm just going to sneak around and spy on people like the little girl detective in the book I'm reading."
He put his finger to his lips, agreeing to her secret. "I won't say a word."
He roared with laughter. "I give up!"
She dropped the snow and giggled again. "Okay, but I win then."
"You win," he agreed. "And, hey, you'd better get inside and get dressed in your prettiest dress before your mom finds out you haven't even gotten ready for the party yet."
"Shhhhh," she whispered, all seriousness in her expression. "Don't tell. I'm just going to sneak around and spy on people like the little girl detective in the book I'm reading."
He put his finger to his lips, agreeing to her secret. "I won't say a word."
Olivia felt everything was in order. The Hors d'Oeuvres, main dishes and pies were all ready and set artfully on the buffet table in the large foyer. The Christmas music was softly playing and everyone was dressed formally.... except for Blessing, she noticed.
"Blessing, go put your holiday dress on," she urged. She turned from the child to continue going through every detail to see that all was perfect.
"Blessing, go put your holiday dress on," she urged. She turned from the child to continue going through every detail to see that all was perfect.
She greeted all of the guests as they arrived, but couldn't help but glance at the door to hopefully catch her first glimpse of Gracie.
She directed her guests to the buffet and signaled to Gilbert to help Jasper mingle and refill drinks.
She directed her guests to the buffet and signaled to Gilbert to help Jasper mingle and refill drinks.
Blessing was finally dressed and more guests arrived. But Olivia didn't see Gracie anywhere. Where could she be?
Blessing's eyes were bigger than her stomach. She ate three platefuls of food. But nothing seemed to please her more than her mother's yearly feast parties.
John arrived home, finally, but before he could speak with Olivia or look for Gracie, he was monopolized by a guest who wanted to talk to John about his political views. Not wanting to be rude, John could tell this would not be a short conversation.
Blessing's eyes were bigger than her stomach. She ate three platefuls of food. But nothing seemed to please her more than her mother's yearly feast parties.
John arrived home, finally, but before he could speak with Olivia or look for Gracie, he was monopolized by a guest who wanted to talk to John about his political views. Not wanting to be rude, John could tell this would not be a short conversation.
As time progressed, Olivia made certain she had spoken to everyone. Still, she kept glancing toward the door, hoping beyond hope Gracie would walk through and joke about being late.
But her heart sank as the party began to wind down and Gracie had not arrived.
But her heart sank as the party began to wind down and Gracie had not arrived.
It was late and people were leaving, yet Gracie had not made an appearance. Gilbert looked worriedly at his mother. He knew it would break her heart if Gracie didn't attend.
He didn't know what to say to her or how to help. He only wished Gracie would wake up.
He didn't know what to say to her or how to help. He only wished Gracie would wake up.
The party was over and all the guests had left. The house was a disaster but Olivia hadn't even thought about that. All she could think about was that her daughter had not bothered to come to see them.
She struggled to hold in her tears as her stomach clenched with agony.
She struggled to hold in her tears as her stomach clenched with agony.
She was inconsolable and didn't want anyone to see her breaking down. Every preparation she had made had been for Gracie. Why couldn't the teen see how loved and needed she was?
Maybe Jebidiah was right. Maybe he would or already had come between mother and daughter. Olivia hid her face with her hands and hurried upstairs.
Maybe Jebidiah was right. Maybe he would or already had come between mother and daughter. Olivia hid her face with her hands and hurried upstairs.
John said goodbye to the guest that had taken most of his time and found Jasper.
"I'm so glad everyone's gone. I didn't even get to eat. Did Gracie leave already? Where is she? I wanted to see her."
"We all did," Jasper said. "I thought you said you talked to her. You know, Liv was really counting on talking with her. She thought if she could just talk to her, she could make her come around."
"I'm so glad everyone's gone. I didn't even get to eat. Did Gracie leave already? Where is she? I wanted to see her."
"We all did," Jasper said. "I thought you said you talked to her. You know, Liv was really counting on talking with her. She thought if she could just talk to her, she could make her come around."
John felt his blood begin to rise to his face. He'd had about all he could take this week. "I did talk to her and she said she'd be here. If I hadn't believed her, I sure wouldn't have told Liv that she was coming."
Jasper sighed. "I'm sorry, John. I didn't mean to sound like I blamed you. I'm just upset. It seems like every time Liv turns around, she's getting hurt."
"I know. I wish I could do something about it."
"Well, don't worry. I have that all under control," Jasper said ominously. Before John could ask him what he meant, Jasper continued, "I'm going upstairs to make sure she's okay."
Jasper sighed. "I'm sorry, John. I didn't mean to sound like I blamed you. I'm just upset. It seems like every time Liv turns around, she's getting hurt."
"I know. I wish I could do something about it."
"Well, don't worry. I have that all under control," Jasper said ominously. Before John could ask him what he meant, Jasper continued, "I'm going upstairs to make sure she's okay."
Olivia had showered and gotten ready for bed. Her eyes were a bit red, but she'd stopped crying. It was difficult not to take this personally because she and Gracie had been having problems, but on the other hand, she reasoned, teens could be forgetful. Perhaps Gracie had just forgotten or had gotten caught up in something else.
Sighing, she rubbed a sweet smelling lotion into her hands. She was not going to keep falling apart, she told herself firmly. She was a person who was looked up to in the political world. What would they think if they saw her reacting with tears to every single thing that happened in her life? She needed to get in control.
Sighing, she rubbed a sweet smelling lotion into her hands. She was not going to keep falling apart, she told herself firmly. She was a person who was looked up to in the political world. What would they think if they saw her reacting with tears to every single thing that happened in her life? She needed to get in control.
Presently, Jasper entered and took her hand with nothing but love in his eyes. "Are you okay?"
She gave him the best smile she could. "Of course. Gracie probably forgot. It's all right. I'll see her another time."
"You are so strong," he said with admiration.
She liked hearing him say that. She didn't feel strong, but it encouraged her. She was not going to be a delicate and broken person, no matter what happened to her.
She gave him the best smile she could. "Of course. Gracie probably forgot. It's all right. I'll see her another time."
"You are so strong," he said with admiration.
She liked hearing him say that. She didn't feel strong, but it encouraged her. She was not going to be a delicate and broken person, no matter what happened to her.
They kissed lovingly. Olivia was certain she had never felt unconditional love before. But she was completely positive that she was feeling that now.
They sat on their bed and cuddled for hours, whispering and smiling to one another. It felt so good to her to know that Jasper would always be there no matter what happened.
For the first time in a long time, Olivia slept the entire night, very soundly and without dreaming.
The next morning, it was snowing so hard, there was another snow day from school. Blessing went out to play and found John on the phone. He didn't look very happy to her and he sounded very stern.
"Who was that, Uncle John?" she asked once he'd hung up.
"That was your sister. She's coming over here because I want to talk to her. You should probably go inside."
"Who was that, Uncle John?" she asked once he'd hung up.
"That was your sister. She's coming over here because I want to talk to her. You should probably go inside."
Gracie arrived from across the street before John could even enforce his command that she go indoors. When he and Gracie began talking, he seemed to forget that Blessing was even there.
"What are you wearing?" John demanded. "You're in a cocktail dress and not even wearing a coat!"
Gracie openly glared at her uncle. "You said it was an emergency, so I ran over here."
"There's always time to put a coat on or hadn't you noticed the weather?" he asked in disbelief. "And why are you in an evening dress this early in the morning?"
"What are you wearing?" John demanded. "You're in a cocktail dress and not even wearing a coat!"
Gracie openly glared at her uncle. "You said it was an emergency, so I ran over here."
"There's always time to put a coat on or hadn't you noticed the weather?" he asked in disbelief. "And why are you in an evening dress this early in the morning?"
When she didn't answer, his eyes grew large. He suddenly realized why she would be dressed this way. "Were you out all night? Did you just get home?"
She rolled her eyes. "So what?"
She rolled her eyes. "So what?"
"So what?" he sputtered. "Does your dad know you were out all night and that you just got home?"
"He's the one that said I could go. Just relax!"
"Hi, Gracie," Blessing interrupted. But they didn't hear her.
"He's the one that said I could go. Just relax!"
"Hi, Gracie," Blessing interrupted. But they didn't hear her.
"So he said you could go? Do you really think that was the right thing?" John fumed. "I mean, honestly, could you have made a worse decision? Where were you, anyway?"
"Out with friends, if it's any of your business," she spat.
"Oh, it's my business, little girl, you'd better believe that! So what were you doing with these friends?"
"Lay off! We were just listening to music and stuff."
"You know what? I'm not going to lay off. You know why? Because I love you!" He tried to calm himself but it was difficult. "I hope you're smart enough to know what could happen if you're not careful."
"What stuff?" Blessing asked.
It was then that John remembered that the child was still there. "Um, Gracie knows what I mean, don't you, Gracie?"
"Out with friends, if it's any of your business," she spat.
"Oh, it's my business, little girl, you'd better believe that! So what were you doing with these friends?"
"Lay off! We were just listening to music and stuff."
"You know what? I'm not going to lay off. You know why? Because I love you!" He tried to calm himself but it was difficult. "I hope you're smart enough to know what could happen if you're not careful."
"What stuff?" Blessing asked.
It was then that John remembered that the child was still there. "Um, Gracie knows what I mean, don't you, Gracie?"
"Um, yeah, I'm not an idiot!" she muttered.
"I don't think you're an idiot, but I do question your judgment, staying out all night like that."
"I don't think you're an idiot, but I do question your judgment, staying out all night like that."
"Well, you don't need to question anything. I'm not going to do anything stupid."
"I hope not. I really do," he answered. "Will you at least do me a favor? Will you call your mother? She wants to hear from you so badly."
"I hope not. I really do," he answered. "Will you at least do me a favor? Will you call your mother? She wants to hear from you so badly."
Gracie thought about it for a moment. "I guess so," she answered.
His eyes full of pain and concern, he said, "I hope you will. Please, if you don't do anything else, please just call her or talk to her."
"Okay," she agreed.
He could visibly see her shivering in the cold air. "You'd better get inside before you freeze to death."
She nodded. "I'm sorry we fought."
"Me, too, kiddo. Make good on your word this time and call her."
"I will, Uncle John."
His eyes full of pain and concern, he said, "I hope you will. Please, if you don't do anything else, please just call her or talk to her."
"Okay," she agreed.
He could visibly see her shivering in the cold air. "You'd better get inside before you freeze to death."
She nodded. "I'm sorry we fought."
"Me, too, kiddo. Make good on your word this time and call her."
"I will, Uncle John."