(chapters 12-16 still unbetaed, it will come…)

CHAPTER 12: CHRISTMAS SHOPPING — DECEMBER 21ST, 1983

JACK POV

Jack and Lureen were doing Christmas shopping together, buying gifts for the whole family — except for the both of them of course. As usual, Jack didn't know yet what he would give her. Which was why this day of shopping together was always useful. Lureen would always let slip some hints, watching this or that with quite interested eyes. Like now. She was watching closely at some necklace, and was smiling dreamily. Jack noted mentally in which shop they were and which necklace it was.

Seeing her smile like that brought him back to the 20th of November. The Sunday night he had got back from Riverton. Actually, it had been Monday already by then — about four o'clock AM. He had entered the house cautiously as always, in order not to awake Lureen and Bobby. He had been surprised though this time to see some light coming from the living room. Lureen was there, asleep on the couch, side-lamp still on. He had awoken her gently, and when she had seen he was back, she had been smiling exactly like that.

"Hi. Just wanted to talk without Bobby around, you know... I knew you would come back tonight."

Of course. He had called last weekend, telling her he would be away another week, and he always came back on Sunday night, so...

She had just wanted to know if things had turned out as good as she thought they had. He hadn't said much, except that it had indeed turned out all right, really all right. She had seemed somewhat sad, but even more, she had seemed truly glad for him. He had told her he would probably go to Riverton more regularly from now on. She had said she understood. She had said she had been thinking about their divorce. She had said she was maybe ready for it, after all, they were divorcing as friends — more than friends, right? And Jack had nodded. She had asked though if they could wait for after the holidays, not wanting to ruin the mood for Bobby until Christmas and New Year were over. Jack had agreed, telling they should then wait even after Bobby's birthday (January 17th). Jack had told too that she should keep the house, that he would start looking for some apartment around town, he didn't need much. Lureen had said she would like to help.

The next evening, Jack had walked to Bobby's room. Bobby had been doing his homeworks, but Jack had said there was something they should talk about. He had told Ennis he would, so there had been no point in delaying it further. So... they had had THE talk. It hadn't taken long, and he wasn't sure which one of them had been the more embarassed about it all, but well, it had been done. And it had felt nice. Duty done, or something along that line. He had heard though Bobby whispering "Oh my God" while he had been closing the door and had thought he should have better picked another moment — Bobby would for sure not be able to concentrate further on his homeworks tonight.

Jack's mind went back to the present. The mall. Christmas shopping. Lureen. That necklace. He made though as if he wasn't noticing the way Lureen was looking at it.

Moments later, they passed in front of an info desk, and Jack laughed when he saw the queue and the little machine which delivered the numbered tickets.

"Lu, forget the necklace... Maybe I should offer you one of those..."

She watched him with really puzzled eyes. He pointed at the ticket machine with his thumb, and tried to explain himself while laughing still.

"The day it comes out that we're divorcing, you'll need one of those, you know, to deliver tickets to all the men who are gonna come to your frontdoor."

She shaked her head and looked up.

"Jack..."

"Come on. I bet each divorced or unmarried man in a zone of 50 miles around here is gonna ask you out. So... one of those should turn out handy... unless you'd like for them to start fighting over who arrived first... Bet it should be quite a funny show."

"Jack!"

But this time, she smiled too. Jack went on on a conspirational tone, he just liked teasing her. Of course, it wasn't as much fun as teasing Ennis, but well, it was fun enough.

"Don't pretend you haven't noticed about James. He's always so... weird around you. And what about Rick Nichols? You think he's coming that often to the office — not calling, coming — to ask us to check his father's machines — which are just fine all the time — just because of my lovely blue eyes?"

"Jack!"

But this time, she laughed. She poked him in the rib playfully though.

"Quit it. Time to go home anyway."

Once in the car, Jack couldn't help continuing though.

"Oh, and Bobby's coach? Remember Bobby said you shouldn't go to see them play anymore, 'cause their coach then was getting "distracted"... I bet his shoulders wouldn't be bad for you to sleep on."

She eyed him quite strangely, and Jack realized what he had just said.

"He, just kidding here, all right. Not my type. (laughing) He's all yours. (more serious again) Lu, you want me to continue that list, or did I make my point?"

Lu just blushed, something really rare.

"Hey, stop blushing and just tell me you'll give them a chance, all right Lu?"

She kept silent and thoughtful until they parked in front of their home. Jack turned to face her and whispered softly.

"Just a chance, Lu. They are drooling all over you, and we're not over yet officially. They are not after some money, ok? I mean, if you need a proof... Rick is rich enough on his own, doesn't mean he's not gonna be here as soon as he knows..."

Seconds of silence. And then, she smiled, holding her hands up in the air.

"All right, all right."

Jack smiled too.

"Just stop smiling like a fool. (pause) And I forbid you to bet with Bobby on who may win, ok?"

"Huh?"

"Hey, I know you both, don't look at me like it would have never cross your mind, or Bobby's, after some adjustment time."

Jack just chuckled. She was probably right, of course.

"Jeez... You're SO spoiling our fun."

"Well sue me. (looking at him now with something like mischief in her eyes) Or not. I have an idea. Guess I'm just curious after all. (seriously) Do you have a picture?"

Jack seemed puzzled, again.

(sighing loudly, as if he was the dumbest person on earth) "Ennis."

"Oh... No."

Of course no. Bet that would be nice though.

Lureen grinned.

"Thought so... Well, get me a picture, and I'll let you and Bobby act like the fools you are."

What?

But he knew Lureen was serious.

"You mean it."

"Of course. Anyway, you started it, ok. Bobby's coach is not your type. Fine. Now I wanna know what your type is then."

Jack lowered his eyes. He couldn't look at her now, knowing he had that smile plastered on his face. His voice sure sounded dreamy too.

"Guess my style is a one of a kind."

Lureen just clapped her hand.

"See, that's why I need a photo."

Jack looked at her again, and she grinned.

"Besides... I should know how he looks like anyway, you know... In case he gets too in the line you talked about before this door, but not for me. (lower voice) I fell for you, I don't need to fall for him too, all right? That would be too embarrassing, even for me, huh."

She kinda laughed, trying to cover it all. Jack didn't.

"Lu..."

Silence for a few seconds.
"You don't need to... (sigh) He won't get in that line."

Lureen's eyebrows went up.

"I'm not telling him."

"What!"

"Yeah, I know. Sounds crazy. But I made my decision. It's... too soon. He would never believe that this has nothing to do... with him... I'll tell him, of course. But just... not now."

Lureen watched him closely for some time, and then shrugged, trying to lighten the mood again.

"I don't get it, but... You're all grown-up. And I don't know him. So if you say it's for the best..."

She opened the door and started getting out of the car. Then she turned and grinned, all strong and directive Lureen again, you bet.

"But I still want a picture, ok?"

And with that, she went out.

Jack took the first bag and followed her home. Bobby wasn't back yet. They knew he had some training after school, which was why they had picked that day to buy the presents — they knew it was safe to bring everything in and hide it all before Bobby would be back. He put the bag on the table and went to fetch the second one still in the car.

"Ok, you win. Never tell me again you can't sell anything."

Lureen then winked.

"Well, I'm training. May turn out handy some day."

Jack stopped and faced her again.

"Why do I think there's a story behind this."

Lureen started to empty the bag, talking as if there was not that much to it.

"Remember, you told Daddy once that we should try to... expand. Of course he said you were nuts, but... I guess it's just because he didn't want to have to thank you for the idea, you know how he was... particularly towards you... But... we're doing good, Jack, you know that. I thought... Maybe we can try and cross over Colorado some day."

She finally looked at him.

"Colorado, huh."

She grinned.

"Hey, just an idea. You got Bobby. If I remember well, he's got two girls. Seems fair. Besides (smirking)... I can't have you selling for someone else, right? You're way too good."

She became serious again.

"So now, tables turn. You tell me you'll give this a thought, ok?"

Jack thought again how lucky he was to have her by his side. She really was amazing.
"Ok."

She smiled.

"Fine."

He just whispered back softly.

"I love you, Lu."

She smiled sadly.

"I know."

Then the smile widened.

"Now, just go get the rest of the presents in the car before Bobby arrives."

He took the mail too on his way back in. Ennis's handwriting met his eyes. He smiled. The answer to his Christmas card was there.

"Well, I don't mind."

Hey, that's cheating. Those were my words.

"And 6th is fine."

Jack couldn't help but grin.

Damn right. 6th is going to be more than fine.

Then he turned the card and laughed. A teddy bear too, of course. He wondered in a flash if he should send a card for Valentine. He bet that would embarrass Ennis a lot more than a Christmas card. So Jack smiled, again, that way.

The next day, Jack of course bought the necklace for Lureen. And, as always, she squealed and acted surprised when she opened the box on Christmas Day... His life had sure come to a turning point, but some things just never changed.