Chapter 6

Lou was sitting at the kitchen table working on her laptop when Lisa came home. From the look on Lisa's face, it hadn't been a good day. Lisa mentioned to Lou that she would be out shortly to get started on dinner. She just needed a minute. Lou watched her walk out of the room, she put her work away for the day and poured a glass of wine. She knocked on Jack and Lisa's bedroom door.

"Lisa!"

Lisa opened the door and Lou noticed her trying to hold back tears.

"I thought you could use this." She raised her hand and offered Lisa the wine.

"Thank you, but I think maybe the whole bottle may be in order." Lisa slightly laughs.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Lisa turns and walks toward the bed, Lou hesitates, before sitting on the bed next to her.

"I'm just surprised, I just can't believe all the horrible things people are saying. I did not hit Dan, he was in the street when I found him, I would never lie to the police. The stares and glares I got from people as I walked through town. They actually think I hit Dan. They think I am lying about it to stay out of jail." Taking a break in the rambling she takes a deep breath. Some of the anxiety she was dealing with was dissipating, voicing how she was feeling helped.

Lou leaned over and put her arm around Lisa, "they will figure out what happened, and I'm sure no one really suspects you're lying."

"I'm afraid of what might happen with my business dealings. I'm trying to figure things out with retirement and selling Fairfield and …. Well let's just say no one will want to buy from me or deal with me if I'm charged. I had plans for the money from the sale of Fairfield. Enough money so that Jack wouldn't have to worry about money again. We could live comfortably for the rest of our lives." She quickly wiped away a lone tear that rolled down her cheek.

"I don't think you have to worry about that, whatever happened, the truth will come out. It always does."

"I hope so." Lisa lets out a long sigh. "Lou, thank you."

"Of course! You do know we are all behind you. Even after all the crummy things Dan has done to you, Lisa we all know you could never hurt anyone, it's just not who you are. And if it was an accident, you would have told the police. You will get through this, we are all here for you. Take as long as you need, I'm going to go start dinner."

Lou left the bedroom and headed into the kitchen. Jack was there washing up. He saw where she came from, so he figured she had been in with Lisa.

"How is she holding up?"

"Well, she's playing strong for appearances sake. She's holding up the best she can I think. She really needs the family's support right now. I know we don't say it often enough, but Lisa is family, and it bothers me what people are saying. I mean these people have known her for years, how could they think she would do something like this?"

"Well I appreciate you doing all you can for her, it really means a lot to both of us." He turns to head toward the bedroom. Slowly he opens the door, and finds Lisa staring at herself in the mirror.

"You are as beautiful now as you were at that barbecue all those years ago, I assure you. And I'm still so proud to call you my wife.

She turns around and walks into his waiting arms. Here she would allow herself a release. Burying her face into Jack's chest, the tears flowed freely. He didn't say anything, he just held her close and stroked her hair. After a few minutes she looked up at him. Her radiant blue eyes rimmed with red.

"Do you feel better? Cause I've got know where to go, I could hold you in my arms all night, if it would make you feel better."

"You always know what I need, sometimes before I do… or at least before I'm willing to admit that I do."

"That's because I know you, just like you know me. You are my partner Lise, in love and life. It's my job to anticipate your needs, all of them." He leaned down and lifted her chin so her lips could meet his. The kiss was soft and warm. The kiss was comforting, it was everything she needed at that moment.

Lisa slowly opened the bedroom door. She wanted to rinse her face, wash the tears away, but she didn't want to run into anyone on the way. Sometimes the lack of privacy in this wonderful home was overwhelming. It took Jack a minute to realize what she was doing.

As Lisa was coming out of the bathroom, Jack met her by the door. He reached to take her hands in his.

"Jim Parker is here, he said he needs to talk to us."

Lisa drew in a deep shaky breath.

"Let's hear what he has to say before you start to worry Lise, the truth will come out."

The family all sat around the table waiting to hear the news Jim had. Jack stood behind Lisa with his hands on her shoulders as Jim proceeded to tell them the doctors were under the assumption that Dan must have suffered a stroke while crossing the street and most likely fell and hit his head, knocking him unconscious before Lisa had found him. He had no other injuries to speak of. Jack bent down and kissed the top of Lisa's head.

"See Lise, no need to worry, it all worked out."

"Uh, Jack there's more." Jim looked around the room and his eyes met Lisa's.

"Dan is now awake."

"That's good news." Lou offered

"Yes, it's good news that he is awake, but …."

"But what?" Lisa asked.

"Well there seems to be some gaps in his memory."

"What kind of gaps?" Jack asked

"He thinks he and Lisa are still married, and he's asking for you Lisa."

Jack and Lisa look at each other.

"What am I to do?"

"We will figure it out, Lise."

Jack and Lisa sat in the small family area and listened as the doctor explained that Lisa should play along for now, in hopes to quicken the recovery of Dan's memory. If his memories are stuck in the past, skipping ahead so quickly may confuse him and that could impede his progress. Lisa looks at Jack. He can't imagine what she must be thinking, or feeling. The doctor says he will leave them alone to process the information they just received, if they have any questions, they can have him paged.

Lisa was filled with so many emotions. Who does this? It was completely crazy. She's not married to him anymore, why should she be responsible? Just tell him he lost some of his memory. How could she possibly go into Dan's room and pretend to be his wife. This man who caused her so much pain during their divorce. She spent months in therapy working on her self esteem after the divorce. In the later years of their marriage, he never had a nice thing to say. Always condescending, always negative, questioning her business decisions. Her opinion of herself was quite poor after the divorce, but she was a fighter. She fought to make her family's business a success and as success came, her opinion of herself changed, and she became a well respected breeder who buyers sought out.

"The faster he recovers Lise, the faster we can get on with our lives."

"I don't know how I can do this Jack. I can't pretend to love this man, and be his wife."

"I have seen you do amazing things Lisa. You own a world renowned horse breeding operation that you single handedly built to the level it is today." He stood up, pulling her up with him. "You can do this! You loved him once, and you are an empathetic person, use that to help you do this. I know, no matter how much grief he has caused you…."

"What about you Jack, how will it make you feel watching me act like his wife?"

He pulls her in for a hug. "As long as I'm the one you are coming home to at night, I'll manage."

Never in her life could she have imagined she would be here. It had been three days since Lisa walked into Dan's room as his wife, four days since he woke from his ordeal. And now his ordeal became her ordeal. How did she get here, since when is he her problem? Jack gave her too much credit, granted she did try to live her life as a good person. She was known for her kindness and generosity, but really this was just too much. Dan was living in the past alright. The point in time shortly before their divorce. He had some right sided paralysis, but his mind and ability to speak had no such issues. His lack of ability to do some things frustrated him, which made him lash out at Lisa even more. Lisa was almost to the point of tears after being berated yet again when the doctor came in to discuss Dan's discharge.

Jack was in the field when Lisa's 911 message came through. Luckily he wasn't too far out and was able to receive the message. The doctor was ready to send Dan home, he would be discharged the next day with his therapy continuing at home. Lisa was lost! What was she going to do now? They had separated their lives so many years ago. She was not going back to live with him at Fairfield. That was completely absurd. This was way more than she signed up for. There was no way she was continuing with this façade. Though it had only been a few days, she missed her husband. She spent her day at Fairfield, then, in the evening she sat with Dan, because that is what a loving wife would do, but she didn't love him and this wasn't her husband. This schedule left her getting home shortly before Jack retired for the night. She had his support, but she also needed their talks. He was her lifeline, he was rational and cool when she would get overwhelmed, and this whole situation left her very overwhelmed.

Lou was making dinner while the girls set the table for dinner. Amy was still in the barn finishing up when Jack entered.

"Amy, can I ask you for a favor?"

"Sure grandpa, what's up?"

"Lisa's at the hospital with Dan, they want to release him tomorrow and she isn't handling it too well. I don't want her to drive home in the state she is in. Would you be able to run me over there, then I can drive her home in her car?"

"I can't imagine what Lisa is going through, having to pretend she is married to Dan. I'll never understand how she ended up married to him in the first place. I'll be ready in a minute, let me just tell Lou."

"Thanks Amy, I really appreciate it."

Finally, Lisa got Jack's text that he was there to… rescue her. Lisa told Dan that she was going to run to the ladies room and she'd be back. She couldn't get out of that room fast enough. She was a ball of emotions. She was angry. Angry at the situation she was forced into. She would never wish ill will on anyone, but she would never have chosen to take on care of her ex husband. He was an ex for a reason. She was confused, confused as to how to proceed. She wanted to just tell Dan the truth and end the lies. This wasn't fair to her, or to Jack. Yes he was fully supportive, but it couldn't be easy watching your wife doting on someone else. If the shoe was on the other foot, she would not be as gracious as Jack. She had never really considered herself a jealous person, but after all the times and run-ins with Val, she learned something new about herself.

Jack, seeing the look of despair on her face, pulled her into his arms.

"We will talk to the doctor tomorrow, none of this is your responsibility, Lise. You've done more than most would to help him. I want my wife back, I'm done sharing." He pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

She melted in his arms. It had been a long few days, long and stressful. Feeling his arms wrapped around her washed her worries away.

"Let me just grab my things, then we can go home."

After Lisa gathered her belongings she went to kiss Dan goodnight. He looked up at her from the chair he was sitting in.

"I've lost you, haven't I? I'm sorry Lisa, I never intended to hurt you? You are a beautiful intelligent woman and I lost sight of that. You deserve to be treated better than how I've treated you. Are you in love with him, or do I have a chance to make things right?"