"Would you take some of these tarts with you and give them to Joy?" Jemma says as she picks up a tray with the pecan tarts.

"Jemma, I can't," Hope starts to explain.

"Why not?  Is it because you've got that baby with you?" Jemma says.

"No, it's not because of… Read full post »

When Hope and Isaiah arrive back at the carriage house, they find Jemma still baking full throttle.

"Oh, you brought him with you," Jemma says.

"Isaiah and I are spending the day together," Hope says.

"But not here, right?" Jemma says as she puts both hands on her hips.

"No, we're… Read full post »

Joy jump starts her day by running on her treadmill as Isaiah watches from a cozy spot nearby on his blanket as he kicks at the toys on his own personal gym.

When Hope arrives the workout partners are delighted, and Isaiah reaches both arms out toward Hope so that she can pick him… Read full post »

"I was inspired when Joy mentioned the tarts last night.  Then I got this great idea," Jemma says.

Hope smiles, and nods and stands just to the side of the breakfast nook.  She takes a good look around the kitchen from one tray of tarts to another, and then focuses on… Read full post »

Some would say it's best to fake it 'til you make it.  Jemma, however, believes it's best to bake it 'til you make it.

And Jemma is definitely baking her way through it--through the sudden move without warning, and and all of the rest of her many issues that moved right… Read full post »

They are swimming in tarts.  Blackberry jam tarts.  Sugarplum-orange and apricot earl grey jam tarts.  Pecan tarts.  Rustic apple tarts.  Peach and passion-fruit tarts. 

And to seal the deal Jemma is holding her blowtorch--her favorite culinary tool--over a batch of lemo… Read full post »

Hope awakens to the clatter of baking pans and the oven door opening and closing.  Then before Hope even opens her eyes to see the smartly decorated guest room and check her whereabouts, she knows what's coming.

At the stroke of 5a, as if on cue, Jemma turns on the stereo,… Read full post »

Hope is not surprised as she witnesses rage against the cupcake.

Dear Lord, please help me to be understanding.  It seems to be my lot in life to be surrounded by pastry tossers.  First, you put Jemma in my path, and now Joy is having a go at the baked goods.

Hope smiles… Read full post »

Joy insists that Hope stay the night, and without any place else to go, Jemma stays too.

Jemma goes to sort through the jumble of her things that Mischa helped her pack in a hurry as she fled Chicago.  Her belongings are strewn about the guest cottage.  All except the baked… Read full post »

Hope stands by Isaiah's crib, and she smiles as she sees how peaceful he is as he sleeps.

Matthew creeps in and approaches Hope.  She glances at him shyly, then looks down at Isaiah again.

"I see you worked your magic with him," Matthew says as he looks from his nephew… Read full post »

After Isaiah finishes his bottle and Hope changes him, she reads to him from the good book--Winnie-the-Pooh. 

When the chapter comes to an end, Pooh and Piglet are holding hands, just like Hope and Isaiah.

Isaiah is nearly asleep and with one last kiss on his forehead, Hope puts him in… Read full post »

Joy continues her battle with Will, and the rest of the group gather in the kitchen.

Matthew stands in the far corner of the kitchen near the windows that overlook the side of the garden and holds Isaiah with his head resting on his shoulder.

Hope glances at the baby from where… Read full post »

Matthew offers to hold Isaiah, and as he gets close to Hope to take Isaiah in his arms, his shaky feelings of resolve start to crumble yet again.

Then comes the avalanche of feelings as he has Hope at arm's length from him.

Matthew searches Hope's face for a sign of… Read full post »

The brilliant white light of the chandelier startles the three of them and gives Matthew a moment to gather his thoughts and course correct.

Something about the moonlight, close proximity to Hope and all those old feelings nearly sent him over the emotional edge.

God help me.  There's still some… Read full post »

Night falls, leaving Hope, Matthew and Isaiah in semi-darkness in the hallway, only lit with the moon's glow through the windows. 

Matthew and Hope try to find their way in the hallway--and in the moment.  With only glimmers of light before them they move forward.

Before Matthew t… Read full post »

Isaiah and Hope are still consumed with laughing together.  Completely unaware of nearly all else, Hope turns the corner outside of the nursery, and Matthew runs right into them.

Ready or not, there is no escaping Hope. 

Somehow Matthew ends up all tangled up in them.  He breathe… Read full post »

Matthew makes his way up the plush, burgundy carpeted stairs to Isaiah's nursery.  Coming in search of Hope and his nephew, he has finally tracked them down in Joy's enormous home.

As he makes his way up, he can hear his nephew laughing and vocalizing with Hope, and hearing them t… Read full post »

Isaiah is proving to be a champion snuggler.  He snuggles up next to Hope as she holds him in her arms. 

They are seated in a quiet corner of the nursery in the ultra-comfortable upholstered rocking chair, and they glide together.

Isaiah vocalizes, and Hope repeats him.  She alte… Read full post »

Joy wanders away to the living room with the cordless phone to answer a call from Will.

From the kitchen Hope can still hear Joy yelling at her second husband, and Isaiah begins to cry.  Hope holds him closer and gives him a kiss atop his head.

"Lets go upstairs, Isaiah, so your p… Read full post »

"You're not fine on your own.  Not permanently anyway.  And you know that's not what you want," Joy said.

"It's fine," Hope said.

"You've used the word fine twice in the past two minutes.  You're anything but fine.  Whenever you say things are fine...." Joy said, now starting to s… Read full post »

"What are you going to do about Winston?" Joy asked.

"Do?" Hope asked.

"Jemma said that he proposed to you again right before you left Chicago.  So, what are you going to do?"  Joy asked, looking more exasperated with each passing moment.

"There's nothing left to do.  I said no again.&… Read full post »

"It's not a good sign," Joy said.

"What?" Hope said. 

Hope looks down as Isaiah starts to stir.  She kisses his forehead and shifts the baby so he can hear her heartbeat.

Isaiah responds by smiling in his sleep and turns toward Hope.

"When I asked her to tell me about herself, she… Read full post »

"What are you doing?" Joy says as she places both hands on her hips.

"Nothing," Hope says.

Hope shifts Isaiah, sleeping peacefully now in her arms, to look down at his face and avoid Joy's glare.

"Exactly!  What are you thinking?  It's been ten years since you've seen each other.  You'… Read full post »

Hope is holding Isaiah close to her heart as she watches the two of them.  No longer shivering with Joy's baby wrapped up in her arms, she watches the action unfold.

Hope knows better than to try to stop Jemma.  Her former roommate, contrary to all previous declarations of swearing off… Read full post »

All at once. Everything looks different. Now that Paolo sees Hope. And it's like the fog is lifted.

At last he sees the light.

Hope's face upturned. Looking right at Paolo.

All that time. Never even knowing. Just how blind he'd been. Chasing Joy. Who never wanted to be caught.… Read full post »