That May, on the day Amy turned 26, her birthday wasn't the only reason the family had gathered to the ranch house to celebrate. Amy didn't mind having the focus off of her, because she didn't really feel like celebrating anyway, since turning 26 was not a big deal and being in the center of attention wasn't really her thing, so sharing the day with Lisa and Lou was almost a gift of itself.
As Amy was pouring non-alcoholic drinks for everyone, Georgie and Jade were decorating the cake by the counter while Lyndy was playing in the living room and showed interest in the colorful decorations Jack and Katie were putting up.
On the other side of the table, Lisa put down the pen she had just used to sign some papers, and Lou hovered over her shoulder, waiting for her cue.
"Okay... and it's signed", Lisa declared with a determined tone. "I'm officially the head owner of Heartland Equestrian Connections", she presented herself.
Lou popped the champagne with a big grin on her face and quickly moved the bottle over the glasses reserved for them on the table. "Oop, here we go!"
Amy glanced at the two women in her presence, smiling gently, as they were so excited about this new arrangement. It was hard for her to believe this chapter for Lou was coming to an end, because it was as if it had been just yesterday that they had cut the ribbon and opened the Dude Ranch officially for the public. It had been such a big step for Lou, both personally and professionally, and she had given it all her time and energy - almost at the expense of losing some of her closest people - and made it possible for Amy to have more quieter months while the ranch's income had still been secured along with Jack's beef business with Tim.
"You're the perfect person for this, Lisa, honestly. I couldn't think of anyone better for this who would continue to improve the place and bring in more people from all over the world", Lou wanted to say. She knew Lisa had friends from around the globe and was sure she would have some of them over in no time, that way helping her spread the word about this lovely little get-away that would make them familiar with the Western scene here in Alberta.
"Aww, thank you, Lou. That means a lot", Lisa said as they clinked their glasses together. She was genuinely touched and almost teared up from other reasons than the bubbly making her nose tingle. Her relationship with Lou had not always been the best and it still had its ups and downs, but the fact that Lou had been so open to her buying the Dude Ranch told Lisa that they had really come far with one another and whatever fears she had had around this whole business proposal, were thankfully been all in her head.
"Aren't you afraid Lisa's going to change it too much...?" Amy teased, remembering how the situation had been when Lou had come back from Dubai, not to mention when Tim had become a silent partner at Maggie's. "Are you really able to let it go?"
Lisa listened to the bantering of the two sisters, but couldn't deny she was also interested in hearing Lou's side because she already had so many ideas she would like to execute, but wasn't sure if it was in line with what Lou would have wanted for the place.
"It's no longer my concern", Lou tried to think, even though Amy was partly right that it did make her interested what Lisa was going to do with the place and if she would be able to maintain its success through it all. It was hard to let go of that thought, that she wasn't fully in control of something, but it was also something she had been trying to work on - this would be her time to prove that she had made some progress. "Whatever Lisa wants to do, she is able to do. I have other things that need my full focus."
"That's good to hear", Amy commented and glanced at Lisa with a smile.
"Other things, such as a new man in New York?" Lisa teased. "I can see how that could be beneficial to keeping your mind occupied."
"Well, you'll see why when I bring him here to visit sometime", Lou said, feeling giddy as she took a sip from her glass.
Both Amy and Lisa chuckled just as Tim walked in, holding a newspaper.
"Oh, you've seen it already", Tim remarked upon seeing Lou and Lisa taking sips of champagne. "I mean, I knew you were going to love it, but this... is more than I expected. Thank you, though." He was touched from the way his family supported him in this.
The three women by the table exchanged confused looks, wondering what Tim meant.
"What are you talking about...?" Lou asked, putting down the glass.
"Well, the ad", Tim said, spreading it out in front of them. "The ad for newly branded Heartland Beef, a-k-a, Cowboy Trail Beef."
Everyone in the kitchen gathered around to get a look of it. On the page of the newspaper was an ad featuring Tim and Mitch, posed in a country setting by a fence. Even though they looked exactly the same as they would when working, the quality and editing of the picture made it look like a movie poster.
It was strange for Amy to see Mitch on a newspaper like this because they had not talked or seen each for weeks now. He looked like he was doing well, though, and she was glad about that.
"Oh... Kind of looks like you'd be a father and a son", Lisa teased.
"What? No, it doesn't", Tim said, taking another look at the picture. He was suddenly unsure how it would come off to people, even though Garland's team had made good job with it and said it was perfect for the rebranding.
"I didn't say that's a bad thing. It looks nice", Lisa added before Tim got too offended. It was no secret that Tim was almost twice the age Mitch was and some grey had started to push through among the blonde strands of his hair.
"Tim's right - it doesn't", Jade agreed as she had gotten a better look. "It looks more like a sequel to that Ang Lee cowboy movie, though", she joked, making Georgie giggle a little.
Tim pursed his lips together, folding the paper away. "Nevermind..." Clearly he had been wrong about the family support.
"Come on, guys", Lou tried to make everyone behave. "It looks great, dad. Very professional", she assured him. She also tried not to let it bother her that next to her dad was her ex-boyfriend posing, looking just as good as ever, because that was the life she had now chosen to leave behind her as she had far more exciting things waiting for her in New York. Tim's business was his business, and she tried not to take it personally that he was still in business with Mitch.
"So, if you're not celebrating this, what are you celebrating?" Tim changed the subject, even though he appreciated getting at least some recognition from one of his family members.
"Well, Amy has her birthday", Lisa reminded and glanced at her with a smile on her face.
"Oh, shoot, right. That's right. Congratulations, honey", Tim said, realizing he had lost the track of time and therefore forgotten all about Amy's birthday.
"Thanks, dad", Amy said, not taking it personally that he had forgotten as she wasn't really celebrating it anyway.
"And Lou and I have just signed papers that make me the proud owner of Heartland Equestrian Connections", Lisa continued, beaming with joy.
"What...? Really?" Tim was surprised. His eyes went from Lisa to Lou, expecting her to look more disappointed than she did. "But... wasn't that your baby?" he asked from her.
"It was, but it's grown up now and it's time for me to focus on other things. It was a great way to get started around here and it taught me a lot about owning a business and therefore helped me with Maggie's - and now Maggie's is my baby. Especially the one in New York. Hopefully that's just the beginning of something new."
"Are you sure...?" Tim checked.
"Well, the papers are signed, so yes", Lou said, nodding. She could sense disappointment from Tim, but at the same time there was nothing he could do, this was her decision. "Besides it makes things a lot easier for me. Lisa's basically been running the Dude Ranch for months now, anyway, so... it's more like a formality to make it official."
"I guess that means you'll be getting back to New York soon then", Tim figured.
"Well, sometime soon, there are still some things I need to take care of here", Lou said, looking at Lisa meaningfully. They exchanged looks that made Amy wonder what was going on.
"Actually... this might be the perfect cue", Lisa said. She looked toward the living room, raising her voice a little bit. "Jack? Honey? Can you come here, with the envelope, please."
After a while, Jack walked in, holding an envelope and looking around as everyone's eyes were now on him, but then stopped to make an eye contact with Amy. She realized she was suddenly in the spotlight, something she had tried to avoid.
"Is it time...?" Jack asked from Lisa.
Lisa nodded. "As good a time as any."
"Amy", Jack began, almost somewhat formally. "It's been 26 years since the day that you were born, and I still remember it very vividly..."
"Oh, here we go... Old man's going down the memory lane..." Tim muttered, then getting a dirty look from Jack that shut him up.
Amy listened, wondering where this was going to lead.
"You were always a curious child, tailing your mom and excited to get into adventures with her", Jack continued, smiling. "She's not here anymore, but if she was, I'm sure she would still like you to continue the adventures on your own. So that is why, Lisa and I figured we would give you something special on this special day. So... here it is."
He handed the envelope to Amy and she accepted it, wondering what was inside. The people around her waited in anticipation to know both what was inside and what her reaction would be, depending who already knew what she was going to get.
As Amy folded it open, she pulled out two sets of round-trip plane tickets to France. Her mouth opened a little and her heart beat a little bit faster as she was taking in what she was seeing.
"What is this...?" she asked for more clarification.
"We figured you could use a little vacation for yourself, so we bought you tickets to and from France. Everything's been paid, and you have full access to my home in Toulon", Lisa explained. "It's beautiful there this time of the year, probably a bit better timing than when you went there the last time."
"This is great, but... I can't go", Amy immediately said, putting the tickets back, as if that would solve the problem.
"Why not...?" Lisa asked, quickly glancing at Jack, almost as if to get an explanation telepathically.
"Come on, Amy. This is a great opportunity", Lou insisted as well. If Amy wasn't interested in New York, then maybe France would be more of her thing, seeing she had already been there couple of times before.
"What about Lyndy?" Amy asked. "And the horses. And you, Grandpa. I can't just take off. I appreciate it, but... I have to decline", she said, handing it back to Jack.
"Lyndy's, of course, coming with you and we'll take care of the horses. Lou will stick around a little while longer. I'll be fine with everyone here", Jack assured, not taking the envelope back. "Besides, weren't you the one that said something about you wishing you had had a better chance with your trip to Europe. That it wouldn't have been so ruined with everything that happened after you came home?"
"Well, yeah, but... what's done is done", Amy said, shaking her head and feeling very uncomfortable talking about it here with everyone present. "This is too much. Thank you, but... no."
Since no one was taking the envelope, she placed it on the table and left to her old bedroom to have some space.
Everyone in the kitchen looked each other, wondering where her reaction was coming from, but no one didn't know what to do or say until Jade figured she would give it a try.
"Well, if she doesn't want the tickets, I could take them", she suggested with a shrug. "Don't want them to go to waste."
"I'll go talk to her", Jack said when he and Lisa exchanged disappointed glances.
"Actually - could I...?" Georgie offered, nervously.
Jack looked at her, surprised, but something in the way Georgie looked back at him made him feel like she had some kind of personal involvement in this and figured maybe it would be best if Georgie would have an opportunity to say whatever it was she wanted to say.
"Of course", Jack said, absentmindedly gesturing toward the hallway where Amy had disappeared.