Future in our hands

„Amy, hurry up, we need to get going", Amy heard Mona yelling. Mona was part of Prince Ahmed's team and always managed to get everyone where they had to be in time.

At this point Amy was stuck in a public bathroom staring at the pregnancy test in her hands. 60 more seconds.
"Amy, do you here me?" Mona yelled through the door again.
"Yes, I'll be right there", Amy answered.

"Hurry up, we are late already."
40 more seconds. This is crazy, Amy thought. She had been feeling queasy and tender for a while. Every single time she had a chance to talk to Ty she had to fight back the tears even though she was neither homesick nor unhappy. She loved her worked and she liked her team. But then she noticed that she has missed her period for a while. Finally she couldn't ignore the possible signals anymore and bought a pregnancy test when she had some time off.

A minus or a plus…. A minus… A plus… A minus or –

"Amy, COME ON"

5 more seconds…

„Lisa?"

„Hm?"
„Are you awake?"
„No"

„Yeah you are."
"No I'm not."
"You are answering me."

„Jack, I want to sleep."
„We need to figure out what we are going to do."
"At 6 in the morning?"
Jack slung an arm around Lisa's hip while they were lying in Jacks bed.

"We probably should tell them, it has been weeks now. And when Amy comes back…", Jack started rumbling again.

"How can you be able to discuss things like that this early? We are still in bed, Jack! I was still asleep 30 seconds ago", Lisa asked sleepy. She knew Jack was right they had to start making decisions. Their heads were full when Amy left and Jack had to take over parts of her usual work.

But they were back to a daily routine and there was no acceptable reason to keep on tiptoeing around the issue.

"Let me make some coffee. I need a cup of coffee before we discuss this", Lisa demanded and got out of bed sighting and put on a cardigan.

Lou, Peter, Katie and Georgie were still asleep so Lisa and Jack sat down in the living room where Jack picked up the conversation.

"I want everyone to know that you are my wife Lisa", he said.

"And I want to be known as your wife. It's just that I'm worried we might destroy the things we have now. You know, as we did last time we got engaged or as we did when you came to France with me. How do we make this work?"

"You wont sell Fairfield and I wont sell Heartland right?"
"Yes."

"What are you planning to do with your place in France?"

"What do you mean?"
"Are you planning on staying in France for six month a year even though you are Mrs Bartlett?"

"Jack… I… I don't know… You are asking me to give up a huge part of my life."

"No. I would never do that. I understand that you need to get out of Canada every once in a while and I can live with that. But why don't you hire a full time manager in France? Someone who can participate all the seminars, conferences, and meetings you usually attend. That way you have all the information for your breeding program and will not have to miss anything. You simply pick out a couple of events you would really like to attend. I'm sure you wouldn't have to spend as much time in France as you have to now", Jack spoke.

Lisa looked at her husband. He apparently had put much more thought into her situation that she had. It took her a few moments to get her thoughts in order.

"I think that that sounds like a fair idea. I will think about it and sort out the details", Lisa finally said.

"Really?"

"Well, like we said – we have to compromise to make this work."

Jack smiled.
"That leaves us with a couple of more problems."
"Uh, Jack. Can't we discuss that later?"
"Come on Lisa, we're being so successfully productive right now."
Lisa didn't exactly know why this topic was such a pain in her neck. She knew that these decisions had to be made but it wasn't easy to change a lifestyle she had for years. And Jack knew that if he pushed Lisa too far she would shut down. So he kissed her on the forehead, got up and said: "Why don't you hop under the shower and I make breakfast?"

Lisa smiled and gratefully accepted the offer. When she got back in the kitchen life has started at Heartland. Peter and Georgie were fighting over the last piece of French toast, Jack was feeding his youngest grandchild and Lou was fighting on the phone with her father who probably had some insane ideas for the diner again. She had to admit that this was better than her usual quiet and lonely mornings at Fairfield.

Then Ty joined them who made it a habit to have breakfast in Jacks kitchen since Amy has left.

"Morning Ty, any news from Amy?" Jack asked while handing Ty a cup of coffee.

"Last time I spoke to her was yesterday night when she was about to get on the plane again."
Jack sighted: "That would be no lifestyle for me."

Lisa laughed out loud: "No kidding."

"How is she doing?" Georgie asked Ty.

"She's ok. She didn't have a lot of time so there is not really anything I can tell you. I think she is doing fine and has a great time."
Lou looked at her brother in law to be and frowned. Something didn't feel right but just before she wanted to say something Katie spilled her milk and Lou was occupied again. The family dissolved and everybody went to work, school and kinder garden.

Ty was lost in his thoughts while he was preparing the horses mash when Jack came in.

"Hey Ty, need any help?"
"Jack, no thanks. It got it."

"Are you ok, Ty? You seem pretty down", Jack asked.

"I'm fine, thank you Jack. I just need to get the mash done before the horses get in."

"Ok. But you know whenever you need someone to talk… It can't be easy reducing your relationship with your fiancé to a phone call every now and then. I know what I'm talking about – with my wi… aeh, with Lisa being in France most of the time", Jack saved himself.
"Yeah, its not easy. But this is really good for her. We are going to make it work somehow", Ty admitted.

"That's good. I just wanted you to know…"

"I know. Thank you."

After Jack was out of reach Ty threw the bucket in a corner. Then his last conversation with Amy came to his mind:

"Hey Ty, it's me. How are you?" she has asked.

"Amy, it is good to hear you. Everything is fine, how are you doing?" Ty has answered.

"I'm good, I'm good. Things are a bit hectic and we are on the way to the next stop right now so I don't have much time… How are things at Heartland?"

"Everything is like you left it. But say, what are you doing these days? Feels like an eternity since you said something about your work."

"Oh Ty, there is just not much to say. I work with the riders and create their training plans – everything like I told you the last time you asked."

"Amy, what is wrong? You sound", Ty has tried to asked but Amy interrupted him: "Ty, I gotta go. Sorry. I love you."
"Love you too", Ty has answered but the line was already cut off.

Of course Ty missed Amy. Everyday he wished to see her, talk to her, hold her. But he could handle that because he knew that Amy was happy. What he couldn't handle was when their conversations were as superficial and cold as that. Ty felt like something wasn't right and it was killing him that he didn't know what.