The Baldwins: Chapter 1 – Olivia’s Quandary

Author’s Note: This post originally appeared on another blog I had on September 23, 2014. It was my first attempt at SimLit and so it’s far from perfect. Back then, I didn’t know how to use pose packs or take decent pictures but I think the story is amusing. Thank you for understanding. I hope you will enjoy it.

Winter had always been the happiest time of year for Olivia Baldwin. It meant that the holidays were just around the corner and she would have a much needed vacation from work. She had always looked forward with uninhibited zeal to spending those days with her family, doing what families normally do.

But her family was not “normal.” She had the most important political career there was. For this, she was fortunate, and she knew this. But her commitment to the people of Riverview left little time for her family or for herself. 

As she stood outside, it began to snow lightly. Her breath made a beautiful little cloud in front of her glowing cheeks. Somehow, though, she was not enjoying what should have been the happiest time of her life. Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without her oldest daughter Gracie around. The teenager only lived a few feet away across the street, but for Olivia, Gracie may as well have been a few hundred miles away. 

No matter how many times Olivia had tried to explain to Gracie that being sent to boarding school had not been meant as a punishment, Gracie would not accept that explanation. Now, as Olivia glanced up at the gray sky, the snowflakes tickled her eyelashes and mixed with a few stubborn tears that she had been trying to hold inside. 

Hastily, she swiped at the tears, as if doing so would make her incredible sadness vanish, too. She tried to call Gracie, but all she got was her voice mail. Was Gracie avoiding her? Or was she honestly unable to answer? Olivia wanted to believe that Gracie would pick up if she could. 

Dejectedly, she pushed her cellphone into her coat pocket. Like her heart, the phone felt as if it weighed a hundred pounds. So, Gracie would not answer her phone. Nor would she be visiting for the holiday meal that Olivia traditionally prepared. 

Hearing giggling and loud play, she glanced around the corner of the house to see her brother John playing with her daughter Blessing. They were building a snowman together. John’s own daughter Lacey was at boarding school. So why hadn’t Lacey felt rejected and acted like Gracie had? What had Olivia done that had been so wrong? 

Olivia wanted to smile and be happy as she watched the two playing in the snow. It was a lovely sight to see. But it was then that inevitable reality hit her so suddenly, she felt as if she’d been slammed in the stomach with a cinder block. She gripped the brick wall with her gloved hand to steady herself. 

The truth was, she wasn’t so angry because Gracie was being rebellious and acting out. In all honesty, Olivia could understand why Gracie felt the way she did. No, Olivia realized, it was because when Gracie had left school suddenly, she had moved in with Jebidiah Wilson.

Jebidiah. The man who had nearly destroyed her. The man who had crushed her soul and had made her want to die. She had been engaged to him, loving him with all she had. She thought he had felt the same way about her; he had proposed marriage, hadn’t he?

But in one day, it had all come crashing down around her. Not only had she found out she was going to have Jebidiah’s baby, she had also seen him with another woman and it had looked quite serious. He had denied everything at first, but Olivia had always been able to tell when he was lying. Finally, he had admitted that while he had been seeing Olivia, he had also been seeing the other woman, too. To make matters worse, it had been Jebidiah who had broken off the engagement and had told her he wasn’t ready to be a father; his medical career was too important to be bothered with a child. 

All this time, Olivia had kept the details to herself, not even telling her closest ally in the world, her brother John. As Gracie had grown up, Olivia had not seen any point in explaining to her what had happened between her and Jebidiah. It would only have hurt Gracie to know the details and she was just a child.

And, Olivia concluded, Gracie was still a child in many ways. She was too young to be told anything about this. Olivia resolved to endure once again and try to focus on what was good in her life. There were many good things, after all. She had a wonderful boyfriend, even if he was a ghost! And other children to look after, including new baby Winter. 

She squared her shoulders and ran her hands over her face, making certain she didn’t look as if she’d been crying. She was going to march into the house and greet her children and Jasper, her boyfriend. All would be well. One day, Gracie would come around.

Cooking was one thing that relaxed Olivia like nothing else. She had read every cookbook she could get her hands on and had practiced many recipes. She enjoyed doing this for her family. In a way, she hoped, the nice meals she prepared made up just a little bit for all of the time she had to put into her work. Everyone loved the potato and truffle torte she made and they even helped with the dishes.

Feeling much better, she retired her to her room. She couldn’t decide whether she should read a book or just go to bed, when Jasper entered. 

“You don’t seem yourself tonight, Olivia,” he murmured as he touched her arm lovingly.

She tried to smile but she knew it was weak. “Oh, you know, I just have a lot on my mind with work. Everything’s fine.”

“Are you sure? Because there’s something I want to talk to you about.”

“Of course. Whatever you need to talk about, it’s fine. This is probably the best time anyway, with the children finally down to sleep.”

With that, Jasper looked delighted. “I think this is going to make you very happy,” he said.

He bent down on one knee and whipped out a small black box, opening it with finesse. It was a diamond ring. “Olivia, I love you with all my heart. We have beautiful children and a beautiful life together. Will you be my wife?”

She did not answer him.

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