As Jasper was getting ready for work, Olivia decided it was as good a time as any to get some answers. She had found it very difficult to sleep last night. Jasper had disappeared at the Winter Festival without providing any explanation and then he had left abruptly not long after he had gotten home in order to cover the story of the drowning.
"I have a press conference this afternoon and I need to know what happened with the drowning victim. Who was he and what do you know?"
"Liv, I don't know much. The police are being pretty tight-lipped about this. You'll know more than I do when you talk to them this morning."
"Yes, I'm sure they'll tell me whatever they can, but I thought you could give me a little insight as to what I'm walking in to. I mean, it's probably someone I know and I have to admit, I didn't sleep a wink. I'm pretty worried. I hope you can understand that."
"I have a press conference this afternoon and I need to know what happened with the drowning victim. Who was he and what do you know?"
"Liv, I don't know much. The police are being pretty tight-lipped about this. You'll know more than I do when you talk to them this morning."
"Yes, I'm sure they'll tell me whatever they can, but I thought you could give me a little insight as to what I'm walking in to. I mean, it's probably someone I know and I have to admit, I didn't sleep a wink. I'm pretty worried. I hope you can understand that."
"I can understand why you'd worry, but really, the only thing I've heard is that it was a vagrant. It wasn't anyone from Riverview. Okay?"
Olivia couldn't help but feel there was something he was keeping from her. It was a feeling in her gut and she wasn't sure whether to trust it or not.
Olivia couldn't help but feel there was something he was keeping from her. It was a feeling in her gut and she wasn't sure whether to trust it or not.
"You're really not telling me anything," she persisted.
"I just told you it was a transient. He isn't anyone we are acquainted with. There isn't anything else to tell you."
"I'm not just talking about the drowning. I want to know why you haven't told me where you were when you were supposed to be at the Winter Festival with us?"
"I just told you it was a transient. He isn't anyone we are acquainted with. There isn't anything else to tell you."
"I'm not just talking about the drowning. I want to know why you haven't told me where you were when you were supposed to be at the Winter Festival with us?"
"I told you I had to cover the drowning. It's part of my job. Just like your career, sometimes mine interferes with family activities, too."
Olivia was certain now that her gut feeling was correct. Instead of answering the question, he was being vague and turning the conversation back around to her.
Olivia was certain now that her gut feeling was correct. Instead of answering the question, he was being vague and turning the conversation back around to her.
"Why are there so many secrets in this house?" she moaned, putting a hand to her brow. "When I asked you last night why you left the festival, you never answered me. Do you remember? You never explained why." She sighed with exasperation. "You said you couldn't talk because of the drowning and that you had to leave."
Jasper had never been good at hiding things and it seemed as if Olivia could read him like a book. She never missed a detail. He hesitated as the tried to push the memory of what he'd been doing the night before out of his mind.
She put her hands in front of her as fists and in frustrations said, "Will you just tell me what's going on? Where were you? Why did you leave us there?"
"Livvy, this is being blown way out of proportion. I didn't want to tell you because it's a surprise, but I left early to pick up something I'd ordered for you. That's all I can say. I don't want the surprise ruined."
She put her hands in front of her as fists and in frustrations said, "Will you just tell me what's going on? Where were you? Why did you leave us there?"
"Livvy, this is being blown way out of proportion. I didn't want to tell you because it's a surprise, but I left early to pick up something I'd ordered for you. That's all I can say. I don't want the surprise ruined."
It was time for Jasper to leave for work. He hurriedly kissed her goodbye and jogged out to his car. Olivia stood in the bedroom, knowing she had a rough day ahead of her and feeling that Jasper's secrets were only compounding her anxieties.
She wasn't sure if she believed his excuse or not.
She wasn't sure if she believed his excuse or not.
During the drive to work, all Jasper could think about was what he had been doing when he had sneaked off from the festival, leaving his family wondering. He had hoped he'd be back in time to pick them up at the rendezvous time, but his activities had kept him much later than he had anticipated.
He had gone to Jebidiah Wilson's house. At the time, Jasper didn't know what he was going to do or say, but he had decided that no one on this planet was going to threaten the woman he loved and get away with it.
Japser replayed the memory over and over in his mind as he drove, every detail burned into his memory. When he arrived at Jeb's house, he could see that Jeb was not pleased to see him. Yet, Jasper had been invited inside.
He had gone to Jebidiah Wilson's house. At the time, Jasper didn't know what he was going to do or say, but he had decided that no one on this planet was going to threaten the woman he loved and get away with it.
Japser replayed the memory over and over in his mind as he drove, every detail burned into his memory. When he arrived at Jeb's house, he could see that Jeb was not pleased to see him. Yet, Jasper had been invited inside.
"What is it you want?" Jebidiah asked curtly.
"I think you know why I'm here and what I want." Jasper snarled. "You're to leave Olivia alone from now on."
"Or what? The big bad ghost is going to haunt me?" Jebidiah laughed mockingly.
"I think you know why I'm here and what I want." Jasper snarled. "You're to leave Olivia alone from now on."
"Or what? The big bad ghost is going to haunt me?" Jebidiah laughed mockingly.
"Oh, I can do much worse than that! I can do anything I want to you. No jail cell could ever hold me, so you'd be well advised to heed my warning."
"Get out of my house now! I want you out!" Jebidiah had yelled.
Jasper smirked as he left. Mission accomplished. So far, anyway.
Jasper pulled his car into a parking space at his office building and thought more about it before getting out and going in to work. After having replayed the incident in his mind during his drive, he was now certain that if there was anymore trouble, Jasper wasn't afraid to do whatever he had to to make sure his family was safe..
"Get out of my house now! I want you out!" Jebidiah had yelled.
Jasper smirked as he left. Mission accomplished. So far, anyway.
Jasper pulled his car into a parking space at his office building and thought more about it before getting out and going in to work. After having replayed the incident in his mind during his drive, he was now certain that if there was anymore trouble, Jasper wasn't afraid to do whatever he had to to make sure his family was safe..
A light spring rain began as Olivia got ready for a long day's work. First, she had to meet with the chief of police who would fill her in with details. They would have a meeting with her advisers and then there would be a press conference.
The news was all over Riverview as accidents were not uncommon, really, but drownings of unknown persons were. Olivia knew she needed to maintain her composure and reassure the citizens that the police department was doing all it could to identify the victim and to make certain there had been no foul play.
By the time her limo arrived, the rain had almost stopped. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds. Maybe that was a sign that the day wouldn't be as stressful as she imagined.
The news was all over Riverview as accidents were not uncommon, really, but drownings of unknown persons were. Olivia knew she needed to maintain her composure and reassure the citizens that the police department was doing all it could to identify the victim and to make certain there had been no foul play.
By the time her limo arrived, the rain had almost stopped. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds. Maybe that was a sign that the day wouldn't be as stressful as she imagined.
Gilbert had barely noticed when his mother had left for work. He had skipped breakfast in order to put some finishing touches on the book he was writing. He had re-written the chapter he was working on four times and still, he wasn't satisfied. He considered skipping school and feigning illness in order to work on it some more. He was afraid if he left it now, he would forget his new ideas.
But when he heard the bus outside, he knew he'd really catch it if he didn't go. So, with much disappointment, he saved his work and left his writing for later.
John had also left the house early that morning. All he could think about was seeing his daughter again. He knew she must have changed so much since she'd left for boarding school and he didn't want to miss another minute with her.
As she was an avid reader, he decided to go to her favorite store, Aleister's Elixirs and Sundries to pick out some books for her. He browsed for a while, then found the perfect book that he knew she would treasure. It was a collection of ghost stories, beautifully bound in leather. It was expensive, but worth it if it made Lacey happy.
As she was an avid reader, he decided to go to her favorite store, Aleister's Elixirs and Sundries to pick out some books for her. He browsed for a while, then found the perfect book that he knew she would treasure. It was a collection of ghost stories, beautifully bound in leather. It was expensive, but worth it if it made Lacey happy.
Olivia's day hadn't been as awful as she had expected it to be. The drowning had been ruled an accident and the body was identified as a man without family; someone just passing through. The investigation revealed that their belief was that in the dark, the man had gotten too close to the river's edge and not realized he was near a slope. He had fallen in and the current had made it impossible for him to swim to shore. It was a terrible thing and she felt sorry for the poor man. The entire town was saddened by the mishap. But Olivia was strengthened by the fact that Riverview was not in an uproar, demanding answers and quick action. All loose ends regarding this situation seemed to be resolved.
After work, she had made a quick stop to the bookstore. She knew there were books about Ambrosia there and she was determined to learn all she could about it as she was very concerned about Winter.
She spent the rest of the afternoon reading and researching, hoping for answers for her little daughter.
After work, she had made a quick stop to the bookstore. She knew there were books about Ambrosia there and she was determined to learn all she could about it as she was very concerned about Winter.
She spent the rest of the afternoon reading and researching, hoping for answers for her little daughter.
Blessing got her wish! She asked John to practice playing chess with her so she could better understand the game. She wanted so badly to play with Gilbert and Gracie.
John happily agreed and they played for quite some time. With each move, John instructed Blessing as to which piece she should play and the reasoning behind the decision.
John happily agreed and they played for quite some time. With each move, John instructed Blessing as to which piece she should play and the reasoning behind the decision.
Before long, she was remembering what she had learned previously, but had been unable to practice because her siblings didn't seem to have time to play with her.
She was glad Lacey was coming home. She missed her cousin terribly and they were almost the same age. She knew Lacey would play chess with her. And other games, too.
She was glad Lacey was coming home. She missed her cousin terribly and they were almost the same age. She knew Lacey would play chess with her. And other games, too.
John was in the wine cellar. It was an ample room with rows upon rows of bottled wine that his family had collected for generations. There was something soothing about the room with it's warm colors, overstuffed leather furniture and solitude. Just sitting in the room made him feel as if his ancestors were somehow watching over him.
As much as he loved the children in the family, this room was off limits to them and kept locked. So, it was the perfect place for an adult to go for relaxation and a temporary escape from the realities of life.
As much as he loved the children in the family, this room was off limits to them and kept locked. So, it was the perfect place for an adult to go for relaxation and a temporary escape from the realities of life.
John heard the lock turning in the door at the top of the stairs and knew he wold soon have company. He didn't mind, but he had hoped to be alone for a while.
Jasper sat near John.
"So, you're trying to hide for a while, too, huh?"
John laughed slightly. "Something like that, I guess. I was really busy today making preparations for Lacey to come home. I want everything to be perfect."
"So, you're trying to hide for a while, too, huh?"
John laughed slightly. "Something like that, I guess. I was really busy today making preparations for Lacey to come home. I want everything to be perfect."
"That's understandable," Jasper said.
"It's just that I haven't seen her in months and I miss her so much. Her bedroom is exactly how she left it... well, it's been cleaned, but you know what I mean."
Jasper smiled. "Everything will be fine. I'm looking forward to seeing her, too, and believe me, she's going to be so glad to see you, she isn't going to be thinking about anything else."
"It's just that I haven't seen her in months and I miss her so much. Her bedroom is exactly how she left it... well, it's been cleaned, but you know what I mean."
Jasper smiled. "Everything will be fine. I'm looking forward to seeing her, too, and believe me, she's going to be so glad to see you, she isn't going to be thinking about anything else."
John smiled a little as Jasper spoke, knowing that what he was saying was true.
"When will she be here?"
John grinned now. "When the semester is over. She'll be home for the summer - and for good!"
"That's great, John. I'm so happy for you. But you need to relax! It will all work out."
John knew he wouldn't completely relax until his little girl was home again with him, safe and sound.
"When will she be here?"
John grinned now. "When the semester is over. She'll be home for the summer - and for good!"
"That's great, John. I'm so happy for you. But you need to relax! It will all work out."
John knew he wouldn't completely relax until his little girl was home again with him, safe and sound.
Olivia was thrilled when Gracie called her and asked if she could meet her at the Bistro in town for dinner. Of course, Olivia had agreed immediately. But as she waited, it began to get later and later and Gracie had not arrived.
Trying not to worry or be disappointed, Olivia decided to eat without her daughter. She knew Gracie wouldn't mind if she arrived and found that her mother had eaten already.
Trying not to worry or be disappointed, Olivia decided to eat without her daughter. She knew Gracie wouldn't mind if she arrived and found that her mother had eaten already.
It turned out to be a good thing that Olivia had eaten while she was waiting because, as was often Gracie's custom, it was beginning to get dark before she arrived.
"Mom, I'm sorry I'm late. I have something to tell you," Gracie said with all seriousness.
Every horrible thing that a teenager could possibly mean by that statement went through Olivia's head. She was afraid to ask, but she needed to know. "What is it?"
"I've decided that you were right and I'm going back to school. I miss my friends there, for one thing. I thought coming back here to my old school would be great but all of my old friends seem different. We don't seem to have as much in common now." She looked a bit downcast. "Everything changed while I was gone."
"You're growing up," Olivia said. "Things do change and sometimes it makes you wish time would reverse. But you have such a bright future and I'll miss you desperately, but I think you're making the right decision."
"Mom, I'm sorry I'm late. I have something to tell you," Gracie said with all seriousness.
Every horrible thing that a teenager could possibly mean by that statement went through Olivia's head. She was afraid to ask, but she needed to know. "What is it?"
"I've decided that you were right and I'm going back to school. I miss my friends there, for one thing. I thought coming back here to my old school would be great but all of my old friends seem different. We don't seem to have as much in common now." She looked a bit downcast. "Everything changed while I was gone."
"You're growing up," Olivia said. "Things do change and sometimes it makes you wish time would reverse. But you have such a bright future and I'll miss you desperately, but I think you're making the right decision."
"I love you, mom," Gracie said as she embraced Olivia.
Olivia's heart overflowed with love for her child. "I love you, too, my girl."
Olivia's heart overflowed with love for her child. "I love you, too, my girl."