Blessing and John were in Lacey's room in John's apartment above the garage. John had known that Blessing had been missing her cousin even more now that both Gilbert and Gracie were away at boarding school. She had expressed as much to him on several occasions and he could also tell by the way she had been moping about.
He asked her to help him clean Lacey's room and get it ready for her return. Blessing had happily agreed.
"When will she be home, Uncle John?" she had asked when they were finished.
He glanced around the room, pleased with their work and knowing his daughter would be happy to be home in her own room again.
"Well, remember, I said she'd be home when the semester is over? It won't be long now before summer starts. She's coming home in no time at all."
He asked her to help him clean Lacey's room and get it ready for her return. Blessing had happily agreed.
"When will she be home, Uncle John?" she had asked when they were finished.
He glanced around the room, pleased with their work and knowing his daughter would be happy to be home in her own room again.
"Well, remember, I said she'd be home when the semester is over? It won't be long now before summer starts. She's coming home in no time at all."
"I can't wait. She's been gone forever and I don't have anyone to play with."
"I know," he said with a soft and patient smile. "We've all missed her terribly. And just think of how happy she'll be when she sees everything you did to help get her room ready."
"I know," he said with a soft and patient smile. "We've all missed her terribly. And just think of how happy she'll be when she sees everything you did to help get her room ready."
Her expression became very serious. "You will tell her, won't you, how much I helped?"
"Of course I will. After all, you did most of the work, didn't you?"
"I really did," she readily agreed. "I cleaned her big mirror and helped make her bed after you washed it. I put all of her toys and books back on the shelves after we wiped them down and dusted everything."
"Of course I will. After all, you did most of the work, didn't you?"
"I really did," she readily agreed. "I cleaned her big mirror and helped make her bed after you washed it. I put all of her toys and books back on the shelves after we wiped them down and dusted everything."
John nodded in agreement. "Yes, you did all of that and more. Are you sure everything is just how she likes it?"
"Oh, yes, I'm sure. I remember exactly how her room is supposed to be."
"And that's why I asked you to help me, because I knew you would remember all of that."
"Oh, yes, I'm sure. I remember exactly how her room is supposed to be."
"And that's why I asked you to help me, because I knew you would remember all of that."
"If you're lucky," he teased, "she'll even remember who you are."
She giggled. He was always able to make her laugh, even in the direst situations. "You're funny, Uncle John."
He laughed now, too. "Yeah, funny looking!"
Blessing laughed even harder.
She giggled. He was always able to make her laugh, even in the direst situations. "You're funny, Uncle John."
He laughed now, too. "Yeah, funny looking!"
Blessing laughed even harder.
Olivia was surprised when she got out of the shower to find Jasper home from work already. He had said he was going to be late due to a story he was working on for the paper.
He took her hands lovingly as she approached him.
He took her hands lovingly as she approached him.
"What's going on? I thought you weren't going to be home until later?"
"Aren't you glad to see me?" he asked with a small smile.
"You know I am."
"Well, I was able to finish the story early, that's all. And," he smiled a little wider, "I couldn't wait to get home to see you, beautiful."
"Oh really?" she grinned.
"Aren't you glad to see me?" he asked with a small smile.
"You know I am."
"Well, I was able to finish the story early, that's all. And," he smiled a little wider, "I couldn't wait to get home to see you, beautiful."
"Oh really?" she grinned.
In answer, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her with a passion that to her, was perfect. There was something between them that she had never felt with any other man.
As she stared into his eyes, though, she noticed something she hadn't before. She couldn't quite place her finger on it but there was something almost imperceptibly different about him.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked her.
"No, of course not," she said quickly. But she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked her.
"No, of course not," she said quickly. But she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
She watched carefully as Jasper went into the bathroom to get cleaned up for bed.
What was different? she wondered. Was it just her imagination? How would she find out?
With a frown and a furrow on her brow, she crawled into bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to figure it out.
What was different? she wondered. Was it just her imagination? How would she find out?
With a frown and a furrow on her brow, she crawled into bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to figure it out.
It was late, but John had done enough pacing around his apartment, thinking about Elisa. As he pulled his GTO in front of the club, he didn't know what to expect out of tonight, he just knew that he needed to get out. It had been weeks since the breakup and he couldn't take staying home for even one more night.
Little did he realize, he would meet someone new that would return his notice.
Little did he realize, he would meet someone new that would return his notice.
When their eyes met, she glanced away quickly, but he decided to take a chance on trying to meet her. He wasn't sure if he was ready for a new relationship yet, but what would it hurt to meet someone new and at least become friends?
As he walked up, she smiled shyly.
"Hi," he said, his voice cracking a little.
"Hi," she returned.
"I'm John Baldwin. What's your name?"
She smiled a little wider, but still seemed shy. "I know who you are." Her cheeks blushed. "I'm June Shallow."
As he walked up, she smiled shyly.
"Hi," he said, his voice cracking a little.
"Hi," she returned.
"I'm John Baldwin. What's your name?"
She smiled a little wider, but still seemed shy. "I know who you are." Her cheeks blushed. "I'm June Shallow."
"You should smile more, you have a great smile," he said sincerely. "Are you here alone?"
She nodded. "Thanks... for the compliment, I mean. I don't really get that much adulation."
He laughed a little. "Really? I don't believe it. I mean, you're so pretty." When he realized how sappy he sounded, he changed direction. "I haven't been inside the club yet. Is anything good going on?"
She laughed a little. "No, it's pretty dead in there. I was just leaving, actually. because I was so bored."
"Well, I hope you're not bored anymore." He felt encouraged by her small laugh. "I don't even know why I came here. I'm not a very good dancer. I'm not a big drinker and I don't really like big crowds either."
She nodded. "Thanks... for the compliment, I mean. I don't really get that much adulation."
He laughed a little. "Really? I don't believe it. I mean, you're so pretty." When he realized how sappy he sounded, he changed direction. "I haven't been inside the club yet. Is anything good going on?"
She laughed a little. "No, it's pretty dead in there. I was just leaving, actually. because I was so bored."
"Well, I hope you're not bored anymore." He felt encouraged by her small laugh. "I don't even know why I came here. I'm not a very good dancer. I'm not a big drinker and I don't really like big crowds either."
"Me either!" she exclaimed. "Is that your car? The black one?"
"The GTO? Yeah, that's mine."
"It's really nice," she said. "I have to admit, I noticed when you pulled up."
Now it was his turn to blush. "Oh... yeah, I really like that car. I restored it myself."
"You must be really handy to have done that. I can only imagine all the time it must have taken."
"Thanks. It did take quite a while. I like how it turned out, though. And my sister's boyfriend helped me, too, which was nice."
"Oh, I know who your sister is. Olivia Baldwin, right?"
He nodded. "Yeah, that's her."
"She's so important. I always wondered what it would be like to be related to her."
He laughed. "She's all right, I guess, but it's just the same as living with anyone's sibling. We have our moments."
"The GTO? Yeah, that's mine."
"It's really nice," she said. "I have to admit, I noticed when you pulled up."
Now it was his turn to blush. "Oh... yeah, I really like that car. I restored it myself."
"You must be really handy to have done that. I can only imagine all the time it must have taken."
"Thanks. It did take quite a while. I like how it turned out, though. And my sister's boyfriend helped me, too, which was nice."
"Oh, I know who your sister is. Olivia Baldwin, right?"
He nodded. "Yeah, that's her."
"She's so important. I always wondered what it would be like to be related to her."
He laughed. "She's all right, I guess, but it's just the same as living with anyone's sibling. We have our moments."
June stared at her feet as if she didn't know what to say. John paused, unsure of how to continue.
He thought June was pretty but it was always hard meeting someone new. He was beginning to feel, though, that he might like to get to know her better. He wondered what she was thinking.
He thought June was pretty but it was always hard meeting someone new. He was beginning to feel, though, that he might like to get to know her better. He wondered what she was thinking.
"What are you thinking?" she asked shyly as if reading his mind.
He hesitated but then decided to be honest. "I was thinking about how pretty you are. I'd like to get to know you a little better." Then he added quickly, "If that's okay with you, that is."
He looked away slightly as he waited for her answer. He almost couldn't stand the anticipation as she took her time to answer.
"Yes, I'd like that, too, John."
He hesitated but then decided to be honest. "I was thinking about how pretty you are. I'd like to get to know you a little better." Then he added quickly, "If that's okay with you, that is."
He looked away slightly as he waited for her answer. He almost couldn't stand the anticipation as she took her time to answer.
"Yes, I'd like that, too, John."
Wow... it hadn't been as difficult as he'd imagined it would be. He stepped closer to her and their eyes met. She had the deepest brown eyes he'd ever seen. They held his attention without any effort at all.
Before he even thought about the consequences, he leaned in and apprehensively kissed her.
June's lips were soft and warm. He liked the way his lips tingled when they touched hers. Soft as a butterfly's wings, he thought.
June's lips were soft and warm. He liked the way his lips tingled when they touched hers. Soft as a butterfly's wings, he thought.
When he stepped back, they were both smiling.
"That was really nice," she murmured.
"I liked it, too," he admitted. "I hope you'll give me your number." He reached into his pocket and groaned in dismay. "I can't put your number in my phone, I accidentally left it in my car."
She laughed and took a pen out of her purse. "I don't have any paper."
He held out his arm. "Use this."
She laughed and wrote her phone number down on his arm.
"That was really nice," she murmured.
"I liked it, too," he admitted. "I hope you'll give me your number." He reached into his pocket and groaned in dismay. "I can't put your number in my phone, I accidentally left it in my car."
She laughed and took a pen out of her purse. "I don't have any paper."
He held out his arm. "Use this."
She laughed and wrote her phone number down on his arm.
No one knew that Blessing was outdoors on the front porch. She would have gotten into trouble if they had found out, but what they didn't realize was that she often came outside when she couldn't sleep.
She didn't know why, but being outside in the dark, able to see the stars and feel the fresh air always made her feel better when she was upset.
She didn't know why, but being outside in the dark, able to see the stars and feel the fresh air always made her feel better when she was upset.
She knew her mother and father would tell her it wasn't safe to be outside in the dark. But she felt that she was grown up enough to come outdoors if she wanted to. She wasn't a baby after all. She was just a girl, but she wasn't little like Bram or Winter.
And her father had just had the security fence and gate installed, so wasn't she extra safe now?
And her father had just had the security fence and gate installed, so wasn't she extra safe now?
Thinking about whether she was safe or not and what her parents would say if they caught her outdoors at this hour only reminded her how very alone she felt. It wasn't just that she missed her cousin Lacey so much.
Truth be told, she had begun to become concerned that she would be sent to boarding school, too, just as her older siblings and Lacey had been. Out of all of them, only her older brother Gilbert had actually wanted to go. Why he wanted to leave, she couldn't figure out.
But, she thought, if they sent her away, she would just die. She needed Lacey to come home soon so she could share how she felt.
Truth be told, she had begun to become concerned that she would be sent to boarding school, too, just as her older siblings and Lacey had been. Out of all of them, only her older brother Gilbert had actually wanted to go. Why he wanted to leave, she couldn't figure out.
But, she thought, if they sent her away, she would just die. She needed Lacey to come home soon so she could share how she felt.
After work the next evening, Olivia changed her clothes in the private bathroom attached to her office and headed to the Bistro to unwind. It was one of her favorite haunts and she knew her family was busy on this particular evening with their own activities, so it would be a while before they missed her. She planned to have a quick drink and leave.
She reveled in meeting people and found herself energized and recharged when she surrounded herself by crowds. After drinking her favorite cocktail, she came back outside into the fresh dusky air. Seeing many friends from the community she knew, she began to mingle.
Strangely, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the man she had seen on several occasions recently while she'd been out around town. She tried to ignore him as she spoke to her friend.
Strangely, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the man she had seen on several occasions recently while she'd been out around town. She tried to ignore him as she spoke to her friend.
But after a few more moments, Olivia realized the man was blatantly staring at her. As a person of her political importance, it was not unusual to be stared at, however, this was bordering on rudeness.
Someone else began talking to her and she turned to speak to him. During their conversation, she could see the man continuing to watch although, he was hanging back a bit behind other people.
"Do you know that guy over there?" Olivia asked the young man she was talking to.
He shook his head. "No, Ms. Baldwin. I've never seen him before. Do you think he's new in Riverview?"
"I don't know. I've seen him around quite a bit, though," she responded.
He shook his head. "No, Ms. Baldwin. I've never seen him before. Do you think he's new in Riverview?"
"I don't know. I've seen him around quite a bit, though," she responded.
As the man continued to stare, Olivia finally turned and stared back at him, their eyes meeting. The man hurriedly looked away as if he had not been staring. Incensed, Olivia decided it was high time she got to the bottom of this situation.
She briskly walked up to him, making it very clear with her body language that she was not pulling any punches.
"Hello," she said curtly.
"Hello," she said curtly.
"Oh, hello," he answered.
"I couldn't help but notice you've been around town a lot lately and, pardon my bluntness, but I've noticed you gawking at me on more than one occasion."
"I couldn't help but notice you've been around town a lot lately and, pardon my bluntness, but I've noticed you gawking at me on more than one occasion."
He didn't seem quite as taken aback as she thought he should be.
"Well, you are a person of interest. I'm sure you have people watching you all the time," he said, not seeming bothered by her frankness.
"Yes, people do watch me," she admitted, "however, they usually try to talk to me or they simply go away. They don't show up everywhere I'm at and ogle me so rudely all the time."
"Well, you are a person of interest. I'm sure you have people watching you all the time," he said, not seeming bothered by her frankness.
"Yes, people do watch me," she admitted, "however, they usually try to talk to me or they simply go away. They don't show up everywhere I'm at and ogle me so rudely all the time."
"Look, lady," he said, "I didn't mean to offend you. You're a very interesting person who happens to be well known and I couldn't help myself. I hope you'll just forget this ever happened."
"Not so fast, mister," she said hotly. "I want to know why you're everywhere I am and why you're always watching me. It seems like when I'm out somewhere, you're there, too. Why is that?"
"Riverview isn't that big, Ms. Baldwin. Like I said, I'm sorry I offended you. I won't be bothering you at all again."
"Not so fast, mister," she said hotly. "I want to know why you're everywhere I am and why you're always watching me. It seems like when I'm out somewhere, you're there, too. Why is that?"
"Riverview isn't that big, Ms. Baldwin. Like I said, I'm sorry I offended you. I won't be bothering you at all again."
Something about the man made her very uneasy. He was avoiding her questions and being vague.
"Well, listen to me now," she responded firmly, "Riverview may be small, but it isn't that little. If I find you in the vicinity of my person again, staring at me like a creep, I'll report you to the police. Got it?"
He nodded easily as if her threat had no effect upon him at all. This made her all the more suspicious.
"Well, listen to me now," she responded firmly, "Riverview may be small, but it isn't that little. If I find you in the vicinity of my person again, staring at me like a creep, I'll report you to the police. Got it?"
He nodded easily as if her threat had no effect upon him at all. This made her all the more suspicious.
As soon as she got home, she found Jasper upstairs in the reading nook off of John's art room.
Jasper put the book down he'd been looking at and stood up.
"Livvy, what is it?" He asked with immediate concern upon seeing her expression and reddened cheeks.
"You are not going to believe this. I was at the Bistro after work and there was this guy there staring at me."
"People stare at you all the time," he reasoned. "That's often why it's so hard to go out and just enjoy a peaceful night together."
Jasper put the book down he'd been looking at and stood up.
"Livvy, what is it?" He asked with immediate concern upon seeing her expression and reddened cheeks.
"You are not going to believe this. I was at the Bistro after work and there was this guy there staring at me."
"People stare at you all the time," he reasoned. "That's often why it's so hard to go out and just enjoy a peaceful night together."
She shook her head frantically. "No this is different. This was very unusual. I've noticed this guy around Riverview - a lot! And when he's at the same places I am, he just stands there staring at me. I mean, he'll hide behind other people, but it's very obvious it's me he's gawking at."
He paused, uncertain how to proceed. She had to be talking about the bodyguard he'd hired, but did she know who the man was or that Jasper had hired him? He certainly hoped not.
He paused, uncertain how to proceed. She had to be talking about the bodyguard he'd hired, but did she know who the man was or that Jasper had hired him? He certainly hoped not.
"So ignore him. If he's been staring at you, so what?" he reasoned. "He hasn't hurt you or approached you, has he?"
"No, but what if he's some kind of stalker or something and he's just getting started? I imagine stalkers don't just start out by hurting you right away. It's freaking me out. I don't see how you can say to just ignore him."
He gave her a hard stare. "What did you do? I can tell by the way you're acting, you've done something."
"You're right about that!" she exclaimed. "I went right up to that sucker and demanded to know what was going on!"
"No, but what if he's some kind of stalker or something and he's just getting started? I imagine stalkers don't just start out by hurting you right away. It's freaking me out. I don't see how you can say to just ignore him."
He gave her a hard stare. "What did you do? I can tell by the way you're acting, you've done something."
"You're right about that!" she exclaimed. "I went right up to that sucker and demanded to know what was going on!"
Jasper gasped. "You didn't!"
"Oh yes I did!"
Jasper sucked in his breath, making a wheezing noise. He'd been had. What if Olivia never forgave him? "So, I guess you'd better tell me everything that happened."
"He wouldn't tell me who he was or what he was up to. He was really shady and I didn't like it one bit."
"I can tell. So what happened?"
"I told him if I ever found him in the same proximity as me, I'd be reporting him to the police."
"Oh yes I did!"
Jasper sucked in his breath, making a wheezing noise. He'd been had. What if Olivia never forgave him? "So, I guess you'd better tell me everything that happened."
"He wouldn't tell me who he was or what he was up to. He was really shady and I didn't like it one bit."
"I can tell. So what happened?"
"I told him if I ever found him in the same proximity as me, I'd be reporting him to the police."
Olivia was baffled when she saw Jasper let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief.
"Well, I wouldn't bother reporting this guy to the police."
"What?" she asked with amazement. "You're saying to ignore him? You're the guy who just put up a security gate without even discussing it with me! Now you're acting like this guy is nothing to worry about at all and that I'm overreacting. I don't get it."
"I just think that being in the position you're in, especially with election time around the corner, you need to be more careful than ever how to handle people. I'm an investigative journalist... let me see if I can find out anything about him, okay? If I can't, and he's still bugging you, we'll report him to the cops together."
"Okay," she reluctantly agreed.
She lingered behind as he went downstairs to check on Bram and Winter. The feeling she'd had the night before about Jasper came back. It seemed she was becoming aware that there was something he knew that she didn't. Could he somehow know who this man was that she had confronted? After expressing her concerns about the man to him, why hadn't he wanted to report him to the police right away?
She tried to shake the feeling off. Believing that just made her feel paranoid. Jasper had a lot on his mind, she surmised. She had been so hurt by Jebidiah Wilson, she was just looking for things to be suspicious about in Jasper, she decided. She needed to stop this train of thinking or she would lose Jasper and she didn't think she could handle that.
"Well, I wouldn't bother reporting this guy to the police."
"What?" she asked with amazement. "You're saying to ignore him? You're the guy who just put up a security gate without even discussing it with me! Now you're acting like this guy is nothing to worry about at all and that I'm overreacting. I don't get it."
"I just think that being in the position you're in, especially with election time around the corner, you need to be more careful than ever how to handle people. I'm an investigative journalist... let me see if I can find out anything about him, okay? If I can't, and he's still bugging you, we'll report him to the cops together."
"Okay," she reluctantly agreed.
She lingered behind as he went downstairs to check on Bram and Winter. The feeling she'd had the night before about Jasper came back. It seemed she was becoming aware that there was something he knew that she didn't. Could he somehow know who this man was that she had confronted? After expressing her concerns about the man to him, why hadn't he wanted to report him to the police right away?
She tried to shake the feeling off. Believing that just made her feel paranoid. Jasper had a lot on his mind, she surmised. She had been so hurt by Jebidiah Wilson, she was just looking for things to be suspicious about in Jasper, she decided. She needed to stop this train of thinking or she would lose Jasper and she didn't think she could handle that.