It was late that night when John's cellphone rang. He hadn't gone to bed yet, but he'd seriously been thinking about turning in. He was exhausted and there was still a lot to do in order to prepare for his daughter's return from boarding school.
"Hello?" he said tiredly into the phone.
"John, it's Elisa," came the curt reply.
Hie heart sank. Normally, he would had been thrilled that she had called him. He still missed her and thought about her constantly. But something in her strained voice told him more bad news was on the way.
"Um, hi. I was, uh, hoping you'd call. I've left you messages."
"Yeah, I know. But that's not why I'm calling."
Tensely, he paced the den in his apartment above the garage as he waited for her to continue.
"Hello?" he said tiredly into the phone.
"John, it's Elisa," came the curt reply.
Hie heart sank. Normally, he would had been thrilled that she had called him. He still missed her and thought about her constantly. But something in her strained voice told him more bad news was on the way.
"Um, hi. I was, uh, hoping you'd call. I've left you messages."
"Yeah, I know. But that's not why I'm calling."
Tensely, he paced the den in his apartment above the garage as he waited for her to continue.
"It's about your sister," she said, her voice barely under control.
"Why would you be calling me about Olivia?"
"So you didn't know we were meeting at the Bistro?"
He shuddered slightly at the accusatory sound in her voice. "No. I have no idea what you're talking about. What happened?"
There was a long pause. When she finally spoke, he could sense the anger just below the surface. "She called and said we should meet. I knew it wasn't a good idea, but I didn't know how bad it was really going to be. You should really put a leash on her, John!"
"Why would you be calling me about Olivia?"
"So you didn't know we were meeting at the Bistro?"
He shuddered slightly at the accusatory sound in her voice. "No. I have no idea what you're talking about. What happened?"
There was a long pause. When she finally spoke, he could sense the anger just below the surface. "She called and said we should meet. I knew it wasn't a good idea, but I didn't know how bad it was really going to be. You should really put a leash on her, John!"
Stunned, he couldn't even find the words to respond.
"Are you still there?" she demanded. "Did you hear what I said?"
"Yeah, I heard you. I just can't believe it."
"Well, believe it! I mean, when I went there, I knew she might have some defensive type things to say to me. I thought she might even have been meeting me because you asked her to since I hadn't called you back. And, I thought, if that was the case, then I didn't have much choice but to meet her. I wanted her to tell you to back off once and for all."
"Are you still there?" she demanded. "Did you hear what I said?"
"Yeah, I heard you. I just can't believe it."
"Well, believe it! I mean, when I went there, I knew she might have some defensive type things to say to me. I thought she might even have been meeting me because you asked her to since I hadn't called you back. And, I thought, if that was the case, then I didn't have much choice but to meet her. I wanted her to tell you to back off once and for all."
John's stomach clenched and his throat tightened. "I don't know what to say."
"Just tell me you will finally leave me alone! And keep your family at bay, too! This is ridiculous! It's over. I don't know how many times I have to say that to you."
"Elisa -" he began, but she interrupted.
"- No, I don't want to hear anything more from you. Do you understand? No more phone calls, no more voice mails, no more sending your crazy, control freak sister to talk to me! Got it?"
He could have denied again that he'd sent Olivia to speak to her, but he was pretty certain she wouldn't hear what he was saying.
"Whatever you want," he choked out as the lump in his throat got bigger.
"Good," she answered before hanging up.
"Just tell me you will finally leave me alone! And keep your family at bay, too! This is ridiculous! It's over. I don't know how many times I have to say that to you."
"Elisa -" he began, but she interrupted.
"- No, I don't want to hear anything more from you. Do you understand? No more phone calls, no more voice mails, no more sending your crazy, control freak sister to talk to me! Got it?"
He could have denied again that he'd sent Olivia to speak to her, but he was pretty certain she wouldn't hear what he was saying.
"Whatever you want," he choked out as the lump in his throat got bigger.
"Good," she answered before hanging up.
He clicked the off button and let the phone slip from his hand. It fell to the floor with a soft thud. What had Olivia done? And how would he ever forgive her?
The next morning began just like any other for Jasper except for one difference. He'd had a security fence and gate installed at the house. They'd had to move the mailbox outside the gate and there was a call box with an intercom for visitors. The gate was locked at all times.
Jasper had not told Olivia or John he was having the work done, he had just arranged for it and it had been completed rather quickly. John had not seemed to mind considering how often the front yard was invaded by reporters and paparazzi. But Olivia had not been pleased. She had argued that this house had been in her family for generations and while she and John had made some architectural changes so the siblings could both live there with their families comfortably, this was crossing the line.
But it was too late. It was there now and even Olivia didn't have the time or patience to deal with having it removed.
Jasper had not told Olivia or John he was having the work done, he had just arranged for it and it had been completed rather quickly. John had not seemed to mind considering how often the front yard was invaded by reporters and paparazzi. But Olivia had not been pleased. She had argued that this house had been in her family for generations and while she and John had made some architectural changes so the siblings could both live there with their families comfortably, this was crossing the line.
But it was too late. It was there now and even Olivia didn't have the time or patience to deal with having it removed.
Before leaving for work, Jasper surveyed the fencing and security gate again. He was quite pleased with it. Even though it had only been there for a few days, it had thus far done its job at keeping unwanted strangers from knocking on their door.
As he waited for his car to warm up, he glared across the street at the Wilson house. He hadn't told Olivia that Jebidiah Wilson had been the real reason for the extra security. Nor had he told her that the man following her all over town was the bodyguard he had hired to protect her.
He knew that if she was aware of the bodyguard, she would never tolerate such an invasion. She would be infuriated. She was a high ranking political official, but she had always believed in being close to the community and the people she served.
Hopefully, he reasoned, she would be too busy with her daily activities to notice the man again.
Jasper got into his car as it started to sprinkle. He turned the wipers on low and couldn't help but stare at Jeb's house again. Just the thought of that man threatening Olivia made Jasper wish he could ram his car right through the Wilson house and hit Jebidiah, squishing him like a bug, just as Jebidiah had promised he would do to Olivia.
As he waited for his car to warm up, he glared across the street at the Wilson house. He hadn't told Olivia that Jebidiah Wilson had been the real reason for the extra security. Nor had he told her that the man following her all over town was the bodyguard he had hired to protect her.
He knew that if she was aware of the bodyguard, she would never tolerate such an invasion. She would be infuriated. She was a high ranking political official, but she had always believed in being close to the community and the people she served.
Hopefully, he reasoned, she would be too busy with her daily activities to notice the man again.
Jasper got into his car as it started to sprinkle. He turned the wipers on low and couldn't help but stare at Jeb's house again. Just the thought of that man threatening Olivia made Jasper wish he could ram his car right through the Wilson house and hit Jebidiah, squishing him like a bug, just as Jebidiah had promised he would do to Olivia.
Both Bram and Winter were fussing in their room. Seeing that Gilbert had gotten ready for school and had already eaten breakfast, John ushered him into the nursery to help out with the little ones.
John waited until both Bram and Winter were changed and fed before telling the teenager his big news.
"I heard from my publisher friend, Gil."
Gilbert's eyes grew large. "What did he say?"
John smiled slightly at the anxiety in Gilbert's voice. "Nothing you need to be so worried about. Honestly, kid." He smiled bigger, trying to reassure his nephew. "He said that it needs some work but after that, with your approval to the changes, he would like to have a discussion with you about publishing it."
"What? Really? Are you sure that's what he said?"
John laughed and nodded. "Um, yeah, I'm pretty sure. I was listening pretty closely." He waited a moment for the information to absorb before he continued. "Now, we'll have to go over every detail before you sign anything. In fact, I don't even think you can legally sign a contract because you're a minor. We'll have to ask an attorney to help us out with understanding the contract they present to us. Anyway, the point is, this is really going to happen for you and I'm so happy for you."
Gilbert let out a sigh of relief and laughed a little, too. "I can't believe this!"
"There's something else I think you have the right to know. My publisher friend, Frank said that due to your talent and the advanced classes you take at school now, he would strongly recommend that you attend a school for the gifted. The drawback is that it's a boarding school. You wouldn't be living at home anymore. But the pro is obviously that you would have a great head start for the career that you want... if this is what you want."
Gilbert couldn't believe his ears. "I want to be a writer more than anything! If I can get published and this school can help me learn more, then I should do it!"
"Well, you can apply for the testing to get in, but you need to talk to your mom first."
John waited until both Bram and Winter were changed and fed before telling the teenager his big news.
"I heard from my publisher friend, Gil."
Gilbert's eyes grew large. "What did he say?"
John smiled slightly at the anxiety in Gilbert's voice. "Nothing you need to be so worried about. Honestly, kid." He smiled bigger, trying to reassure his nephew. "He said that it needs some work but after that, with your approval to the changes, he would like to have a discussion with you about publishing it."
"What? Really? Are you sure that's what he said?"
John laughed and nodded. "Um, yeah, I'm pretty sure. I was listening pretty closely." He waited a moment for the information to absorb before he continued. "Now, we'll have to go over every detail before you sign anything. In fact, I don't even think you can legally sign a contract because you're a minor. We'll have to ask an attorney to help us out with understanding the contract they present to us. Anyway, the point is, this is really going to happen for you and I'm so happy for you."
Gilbert let out a sigh of relief and laughed a little, too. "I can't believe this!"
"There's something else I think you have the right to know. My publisher friend, Frank said that due to your talent and the advanced classes you take at school now, he would strongly recommend that you attend a school for the gifted. The drawback is that it's a boarding school. You wouldn't be living at home anymore. But the pro is obviously that you would have a great head start for the career that you want... if this is what you want."
Gilbert couldn't believe his ears. "I want to be a writer more than anything! If I can get published and this school can help me learn more, then I should do it!"
"Well, you can apply for the testing to get in, but you need to talk to your mom first."
John had never imagined that an alien would be beautiful. She appeared ethereal as she gracefully glided toward him. He couldn't understand a word she said to him, but her eyes mesmerized him and he couldn't resist her.
He pulled her into an embrace and kissed her. She felt warm and pliable in his arms.
He pulled her into an embrace and kissed her. She felt warm and pliable in his arms.
They stood entwined in each others' arms. He couldn't believe how entranced he was by her...
John suddenly sat straight up in bed. He'd had the weirdest dream. An alien woman! What next? he wondered. He rubbed his eyes and pushed the covers off of himself, getting out of bed even though his alarm hadn't gone off yet. There was no point in trying to go back to sleep now.
At least he hadn't been dreaming about Elisa again.
John suddenly sat straight up in bed. He'd had the weirdest dream. An alien woman! What next? he wondered. He rubbed his eyes and pushed the covers off of himself, getting out of bed even though his alarm hadn't gone off yet. There was no point in trying to go back to sleep now.
At least he hadn't been dreaming about Elisa again.
John waited all day. He had purposely delayed as a cooling down period before confronting his sister about her meeting with Elisa. Now that Olivia was finally home from work, he felt it was time to put it all out on the table and have it out with her.
When she came into the house, he informed her he wanted to speak to her. She followed him into the family room. No one else seemed to be around, she noticed.
Seeing his expression, she had the dreadful feeling that she knew exactly what he was going to say to her. He'd found out about Elisa and the night at the Bistro.
"So, Elisa called me and reamed me out," he said, confirming her fears. "Do you want to tell me what you were thinking?"
When she came into the house, he informed her he wanted to speak to her. She followed him into the family room. No one else seemed to be around, she noticed.
Seeing his expression, she had the dreadful feeling that she knew exactly what he was going to say to her. He'd found out about Elisa and the night at the Bistro.
"So, Elisa called me and reamed me out," he said, confirming her fears. "Do you want to tell me what you were thinking?"
"I'm just so fed up with her. I'm really sorry about how it went. I didn't intend for it to go that way. I thought if I spoke with her, she'd understand what she was giving up and maybe she would give you another chance. Can't you understand why I'd want to try to make this better for you?"
"Why do you always think you have to fix everything?" he demanded. "Why would you ever think this was up to you to take care of?"
"I love you so much. You're all the family I have left besides the children. I thought I could help."
"Well, you didn't help, did you? You made it irreparable! Your meddling has cost me any chance of fixing this!"
"You know what? I can't talk to you when you're yelling at me."
"I love you so much. You're all the family I have left besides the children. I thought I could help."
"Well, you didn't help, did you? You made it irreparable! Your meddling has cost me any chance of fixing this!"
"You know what? I can't talk to you when you're yelling at me."
He threw his hands into the air in exasperation. This was typical Olivia, he fumed to himself.
"Do you know what she called you?" He was no longer yelling, but his ire was burning just below the surface. "She called you controlling. Do you know why? Because you freakin' are!"
"I still can't believe you did this!"
"You are shouting again," she said quietly.
"Well, I'm pretty mad!" he bellowed.
"You are shouting again," she said quietly.
"Well, I'm pretty mad!" he bellowed.
"Do you have any idea what it was like getting that phone call from her? I left her so many messages. I knew I was just annoying her to death, but I couldn't help it. I figured she was never going to call me back. But she did, Sis. She called me back. And it was almost as bad as the time she called to break up with me. Can you imagine what that's like? I love her and getting over her is just even worse now."
Olivia tried to hug him but he stepped away from her. He was just too angry. "I'm so sorry. I wish I could take it all back and that it had never happened. You have no idea how I wish that," she said earnestly. "Please, John. Please forgive me."
He stepped away from her to gain his composure. It was a long while before he turned toward her again. "I forgive you, Liv. You're my sister and I love you. But I really hate what you did."
She nodded. "I know. It was really bad judgment on my part. I take full responsibility and I can't say how sorry I am. You have to know I would never purposely hurt you."
"I do know that." He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. "I do. But when I'm hurting or things are going badly for me, you just have to step back and let me live my life. You can't be in control of everything."
"I'm beginning to find that out."
Olivia tried to hug him but he stepped away from her. He was just too angry. "I'm so sorry. I wish I could take it all back and that it had never happened. You have no idea how I wish that," she said earnestly. "Please, John. Please forgive me."
He stepped away from her to gain his composure. It was a long while before he turned toward her again. "I forgive you, Liv. You're my sister and I love you. But I really hate what you did."
She nodded. "I know. It was really bad judgment on my part. I take full responsibility and I can't say how sorry I am. You have to know I would never purposely hurt you."
"I do know that." He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. "I do. But when I'm hurting or things are going badly for me, you just have to step back and let me live my life. You can't be in control of everything."
"I'm beginning to find that out."
Gilbert had asked the adults to meet him in the living room. He'd told them he had to speak to them about something very important.
John had a feeling he knew what this was about, but he hadn't let on or indicated to his nephew that he had possibly figured it out.
John had a feeling he knew what this was about, but he hadn't let on or indicated to his nephew that he had possibly figured it out.
When everyone had assembled, Gilbert cleared his throat to get their attention. He seemed excited but nervous at the same time.
"As you all know, Uncle John turned the manuscript I wrote into his friend Frank at the publishing company."
"Yes, honey, and we're all very proud of your accomplishment," Olivia said sincerely. She beamed at her son, so incredibly impressed by him.
"Well, you all know that I applied for the boarding school for gifted students. I got a letter from them today saying I did well enough on the tests to enroll."
"As you all know, Uncle John turned the manuscript I wrote into his friend Frank at the publishing company."
"Yes, honey, and we're all very proud of your accomplishment," Olivia said sincerely. She beamed at her son, so incredibly impressed by him.
"Well, you all know that I applied for the boarding school for gifted students. I got a letter from them today saying I did well enough on the tests to enroll."
Gilbert looked at his mother apprehensively. Her expression had changed. It had been a slight change, barely perceptible, but he had noticed it.
"I think that's wonderful, son," she said.
"But?" he prodded.
"I just don't know if it's the right decision."
"But you and Jasper helped me fill out all the paperwork and even took me there to take the tests!"
Jasper looked at Olivia, trying to read her, but she wasn't giving anything away with her expression. He couldn't imagine why she was balking after all they'd gone through to see that Gilbert had a chance to go to this illustrious school.
"Let us talk a minute, Gil," Jasper instructed.
"I think that's wonderful, son," she said.
"But?" he prodded.
"I just don't know if it's the right decision."
"But you and Jasper helped me fill out all the paperwork and even took me there to take the tests!"
Jasper looked at Olivia, trying to read her, but she wasn't giving anything away with her expression. He couldn't imagine why she was balking after all they'd gone through to see that Gilbert had a chance to go to this illustrious school.
"Let us talk a minute, Gil," Jasper instructed.
"What is the problem?" Jasper asked after Gilbert had stepped out of earshot.
She was hesitant to answer. "I don't want to make any rash decisions."
"He wants this, Liv," Jasper insisted. "I don't understand."
John remained silent. He inwardly debated whether he should put his two cents in. This was his nephew and even though he'd always been there for the boy and had helped raise him, he didn't really know if he had the right to contradict his sister when it came to big decisions such as this. He only hoped she would make the right verdict where Gilbert was concerned.
She was hesitant to answer. "I don't want to make any rash decisions."
"He wants this, Liv," Jasper insisted. "I don't understand."
John remained silent. He inwardly debated whether he should put his two cents in. This was his nephew and even though he'd always been there for the boy and had helped raise him, he didn't really know if he had the right to contradict his sister when it came to big decisions such as this. He only hoped she would make the right verdict where Gilbert was concerned.
Gilbert stood at a distance, watching them all talking about him. He couldn't help but feel a little resentful that he wasn't being included in the discussion. This was about his future, after all. Shouldn't he have the biggest voice of anyone where this was concerned?
Presently, Olivia called him over to talk to him.
"I know you really want to do this," she said. "I'm just somewhat concerned about it. This is a huge decision and it shouldn't be taken lightly."
"I know you really want to do this," she said. "I'm just somewhat concerned about it. This is a huge decision and it shouldn't be taken lightly."
"But don't you even care that this is what I want to do?"
"Of course I care about how you feel. But you've never been away from home for so long before. The school is in Bridgeport. It's so far away. You won't be able to just come home whenever you feel like it."
"Mom, I don't get this at all. You sent Gracie to boarding school."
"Of course I care about how you feel. But you've never been away from home for so long before. The school is in Bridgeport. It's so far away. You won't be able to just come home whenever you feel like it."
"Mom, I don't get this at all. You sent Gracie to boarding school."
"Yes, I did. And look how that turned out? We went for a very long time where she wouldn't even speak to me because of it. I don't want to make the same mistake again."
"But, mom, she didn't want to go. I do! I want to go so much I can't hardly stand it."
"Why? Why do you want to go so badly? I really want to understand where you're coming from."
This was his chance. He only hoped he didn't blow it. "Ever since I could read, all I ever thought about was making up stories. Then, when I learned I could write them down, it was like something new and great had opened up for me. I want to be a writer. That's all I can think about. I have so many things in my head that I want to write down. Even though I'm getting a book published, they're going to change a lot of stuff in it. That's because I need to learn everything I can so I can write an even better book next time. This school is my chance. I need this."
Olivia listened and heard a grown up young man for the first time. "Wow," she said. "I think you'd better go if this is how you feel."
"But, mom, she didn't want to go. I do! I want to go so much I can't hardly stand it."
"Why? Why do you want to go so badly? I really want to understand where you're coming from."
This was his chance. He only hoped he didn't blow it. "Ever since I could read, all I ever thought about was making up stories. Then, when I learned I could write them down, it was like something new and great had opened up for me. I want to be a writer. That's all I can think about. I have so many things in my head that I want to write down. Even though I'm getting a book published, they're going to change a lot of stuff in it. That's because I need to learn everything I can so I can write an even better book next time. This school is my chance. I need this."
Olivia listened and heard a grown up young man for the first time. "Wow," she said. "I think you'd better go if this is how you feel."
Gilbert let out a huge sigh and nearly exploded with the pent up excitement. "Really?"
She nodded. "Yes, really."
He bent toward her and said very quietly so the others couldn't hear. "I want you to know that I'm gonna miss you, mom. So much. I love you."
She nodded. "Yes, really."
He bent toward her and said very quietly so the others couldn't hear. "I want you to know that I'm gonna miss you, mom. So much. I love you."
She smiled broadly at him. When had he grown up so much? Her heart overflowed with the love and admiration she felt for him.
"I love you, too, son. And I have the most certain feeling ever that you are going to be everything you're hoping and then some."
"I love you, too, son. And I have the most certain feeling ever that you are going to be everything you're hoping and then some."
"Yes!" he yelled at the top of his voice when the adults had left to go about their business. He was going to the best school and every opportunity was now opening up to him. He knew in his heart he had a bright future in front of him and that this was just the beginning of his story.