Finished with work early, Reese decided to stop by the Barrett's house to see Blaine and hopefully make up for cancelling their date the night before. As she walked up the steps to the front door, she heard laughter coming from inside the house. Warily she knocked. When the door opened, Serena stood silently in the doorway waiting for Reese to speak first.
"Hi. Is Blaine busy?" she asked nervously. She already knew he was there because she could hear his voice inside.
Serena stepped aside to let her in.
"Hey, Reese," Blaine said, stepping forward to greet her with a quick kiss.
"Hi," Reese said, suddenly feeling very out of place. "What's going on here?"
"Not much. Cassie and I are just hanging out."
"Oh," Reese said simply. She squinted at Cassandra who smiled smugly back at her.
"How was your day?" Blaine asked.
"Fine. I finished up a case I'd been working on for awhile. It's the one your friend James was involved in," she said to Cassandra.
"Good. He's been wanting to get that settled so he can finally get his album released."
Serena watched their exchange carefully. Seeing that Cassandra wasn't going to speak up for herself, she decided to do it for her. "Blaine was just telling us this morning about the research he is doing for you."
Reese flushed with embarrassment. "Oh."
"I'm sorry," Blaine apologized. "The topic just came up when I was telling Cassie about my plans for the day. I didn't think you'd mind."
"It's ok, I guess," Reese said shyly. "I just don't want to share my life with the whole world."
"It's not the whole world. It's just us," Cassie said as if Reese were overreacting. She exchanged a look with Serena. "I'm sure my mother only brought it up because she wants to help."
Reese turned to Blaine. "Did you find anything out today?"
"No." Blaine shook his head in disappointment. "I think if there was any information we could get to, you would have found it already."
"I can tell you anything you want to know," Serena said stepping forward. "What exactly are you searching for?"
Reese shrunk back uncomfortably. "I just want to know who my parents were, where I came from, but-"
Serena closed her eyes tightly and began to concentrate.
"But I don't think-" Reese tried to continue.
Serena hushed her. "Shhh. I'm getting something." She opened her eyes quickly and turned her gaze to her right, staring at a spot just in front of the kitchen door. "I see a woman here with you. She has brown hair, stunning blue eyes. She's very pretty. Her name is Lynn, no, Libby," Serena shook her head, searching for the right name. "Lydia. Her name is Lydia Flemming. She is your mother."
"Where are we going?" Alma asked. Edward had picked her up for an early dinner, since he was working a late shift at the hospital that evening. Instead of driving towards the restaurant, he headed for the edge of town.
"Before we eat I want to show you something. We're almost there, I promise."
After driving on a few more miles, they stopped in front of an empty lot. Edward parked along the side of the road and got out of the car.
"What do you think?" he asked as he closed Alma's car door for her.
"Of what?" she asked, surveying the vacant surroundings.
"Of the property. When we get married, we're going to need a place to live."
"We're going to need a house," she mumbled.
"I'll build you a house," Edward replied. "I was checking the real estate listings and this whole area is up for sale and relatively cheap as well. It will be a quiet place to live and it's close to the lake."
Alma stepped forward and took a long look around. She was trying to imagine this plot of ground being her home and the man standing next to her being her husband. It was hard to believe all of this was actually happening.
She nodded her approval. "It's fine."
"If you're happy with it, I'll put in an offer and contact an architect. We'll have to talk about what we want in a house and what kind of style we like. If not, we can keep looking."
Alma nodded and studied the landscape before her, wondering what it would look like with a house on it and what it would be like to live there. She couldn't imagine it. "Put in the offer."
"And there's something else," he said, reaching into his pocket and taking out a small box. "We should make this official."
He reached for her hand and placed the ring on her finger. "There. How is that?"
Alma stared at the gem on her finger. "It's beautiful. Thank you."
Edward nodded. "I know a woman likes to have a ring to show off when she tells people that she's engaged. Have you told your sisters the news?"
"I haven't had the chance yet," Alma replied. "I'm not sure how I'll bring it up."
"With an engagement ring on your finger, you'll have to tell them."
"I suppose I will."
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Edward asked, watching her closely. "Are you sure you want to get married?"
"Yes."
"I only ask, because I know you've had reservations."
"Doesn't everyone?"
"Well, yes I suppose most people do have some doubts, cold feet."
"I do think we should get married. The sooner the better," Alma said firmly.
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