The next day Lisa called Lou to ask if it would be okay for Katie to go to France with her. Since school is out, it would be a nice treat for her and like when she was younger, being able to spend time with her goddaughter. Since Lou was with Peter, they agreed she could go, if she wanted to.. Lisa was just hanging up when Katie came into the kitchen. "Good morning, I have a question for you?" Katie got some juice and a muffin and sat down across from her "Okay?" "I have to go to France in about a week, so I was wondering if you wanted to join me? Katie's face lit up "really? What about GG?" Lisa took a sip of her coffee "Yes, I thought it would be nice for us to spend some time together and I'd love the company. Your GG has Heartland Beef business to take care of and besides we know he likes to stay close to home." Katie got up and hugged her "Yes, yes I'd love it. Thank you, Lisa!" she was excited, it made Lisa happy to see her excited about going. "Are you about ready to go to Fairfield?" Lisa asked as Parker walked in "Hi everyone, Katie you want to go to Maggie's?" she asked as she sat down. "I can't, I'm going to Fairfield with Lisa today." Parker looked disappointed which Lisa noticed and she said "Parker, you can come along if you'd like" as she stood up to wash her mug out and placed it in the dishwasher. "I suppose I could tag along," said Parker. "Give me a few minutes and we can go," Lisa said as she headed to their bedroom. Soon they were all headed to Faifield. Lisa had a couple of calls, so she had Katie and Parker using a smaller office up from the main barn "What are you working on?" Parker asked as she looked over Katies shoulder. Katie glanced up "Articles for Lisa's website for some of the horses. She asked me to help her." Parker took a seat "Doesn't she have somebody else to do that?" Katie looked up "Well you see there was somebody but I asked Lisa if I could try and she agreed. Lisa is hands on here at Fairfield, I spent a lot of time here when I was little." Parker looked around "you did?" Katie stopped typing "Yeah, Lisa and I used to have sleepovers all the time." Parker looked confused so Katie continued "Lisa is my godmother also, I loved coming here and spending time with her. I'm looking forward to going to France with her, it'll be like old times." Parker looked shocked "You're going to France? When? I thought we would spend the summer together." Katie shrugged "We will, I'm not going to be gone all summer." Katie got back to work as Parker opened the book she brought with her.

Harry was in Lisa's office discussing the client that just left. As he stood up, "I saw Katie earlier with her friend." Lisa smiled "Yeah, she's helping me with the articles for the website. She's going to France with me also." He nodded, "it's been a while since she was running around here with you." Lisa nodded in agreement "It sure has, it's nice to spend time with her again." Harry left a few minutes later, leaving Lisa to get some work done. It had been a busy week and she'd had very little time with Jack, something she was longing for. She got up from her desk, picking up her purse, heading to the other barn to collect the girls to go home. She knocked on the door before entering "You girls ready to go home?" They readily agreed and got up to follow her. "Parker, you're more than welcome to stay for dinner" Lisa told her as they pulled into Heartland. She parked in her spot at the fence, Jack was coming across the yard. She smiled as he came closer "Hi Cowboy" he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her "Hi there". They walked to the house holding hands. During supper, Lisa was quiet and didn't say much or eat much for that matter and Jack noticed. When they were done it was Lyndy's bath time and wanted Lisa to read her a story, so she went to help her while Katie and Jack did dishes and Amy did night checks. "Is everything okay with Lisa, GG?" Jack was rinsing a dish "Yeah, why?" Katie put the dry plate on the table "She didn't seem like herself today and then she didn't eat much for supper." Parker came in as she said it and chimed in "She didn't eat much for lunch today either." Jack finished rinsing the last of the dishes. "Lisa's got a lot going on girls, I'm sure it's nothing. Parker, do you need a ride home?" He asked. "Yes please." He told Katie to let Lisa know that he was running Parker home. When he got home, he didn't see Lisa so he entered their room, she was in bed reading. He smiled at her as she looked up from her book. She watched him getting ready for bed, he soon got in next to her. He leaned over and kissed her, she smiled at him "You get Parker home?" He wrapped his arm around her, "I did. You ok, Lis?" She closed her book "Yeah, it was a busy day. I talked to Lou, her and Peter agreed to Katie going to France with me." He looked down, knowing he couldn't press her to talk. "Good, I'm glad you're not going alone." She let out a small sigh "I wish you could come with us, honey. I know you have things to do though." He kissed the side of her head "I'm sorry, Lis. I'll make it up to you." she smiled as she set her book down and they settled into the covers for the night.

The next morning Lisa woke up and rolled towards Jack's side of the bed to get empty space. She glanced at the clock, it was around 7. She knew he was already up, she sat up and checked her phone. Luckily she didn't have any meetings, allowing her to work from Heartland today. She had an aching dull pain on the right side and a headache starting. "Great, just what I need" she thought to herself as she moved to get out of bed and dressed. She walked into the kitchen and made a cup of tea. She saw Jack working on the truck, bringing a smile to her face. She grabbed the thermos and filled it with coffee before she headed out the door and across the yard. He looked up and saw her coming "Hi, this is a nice surprise" leaning down to kiss her "morning, cowboy" as she handed him the thermos "I made you coffee". "Thanks, Lis" as he set the rag down, they walked into the barn out of the slight breeze and sat down on the steps to the loft. Lisa had a far away look on her face, he squeezed her hand "something on your mind, Lis?" She smirked "You, us….." He waited for her to go on "Lis…" She turned more towards him "It…it..nevermind it's silly." Jack set the thermos down and put his hand on face, so she was looking at him "Lisa, what is it?" She put her hand over his "I…I want to spend time with you. I shouldn't even be asking, I know you're busy and I'm leaving you in a week..and now I'm rambling." He leaned in and kissed her "I want the same thing, Lisa. Do you want to accompany me to go check on a few heifers?" She leaned in and kissed him "I would but I told Amy that I'd watch Lyndy while she goes to the Center." He kissed her again "alright, well we will make some time for us before you leave next week Lis." She smiled, "I'll hold you to it." She stood up to go back inside to watch Lyndy." Jack watched her go, something told him there was more to it but he knew how busy they'd both been and it was the inner battle of their businesses ramping up or retiring that still played on her mind at times.

The next few days were hectic, Jack didn't forget his promise to spend time with Lisa before she left in just a couple days. Peter and Lou came home and were spending the day with Katie. Lisa was at Fairfield, so he got cleaned up in a good shirt, stopped by the market on his way to pick up a couple things for supper. He pulled in and saw Harry "Hi Jack, here to see Lisa?" Jack nodded, "Yeah, I thought I'd come by and surprise her." Harry hesitated "Good, look Jack, it's not my place but Lisa's not been herself the last couple of days. You know she wouldn't be happy about us talking about her. I think she could use a break." Jack sighed "Yeah, I've noticed, she's had a lot going on and hasn't said much. I'm hoping she may open up tonight" he shook the man's hand before heading to the house to put their dinner groceries there before finding Lisa, figuring she was still in her office. He opened the back door leading to the kitchen and was surprised to see Lisa at the table. "Lisa" she was startled "Hi, what do you have there' she asked. He set the groceries down "Well I thought I would surprise my beautiful wife with supper" leaning down to kiss her "What has you in the house already?" She closed the file folder "Oh, I…I came in here a little while ago to get this file I left earlier." she said, not wanting to let on that she was still having random pain she had the other day. She played it off because she knew he'd worry especially with her leaving in just a couple days. He took her hand, "How about you go relax and I'll make us some supper." She stood up "I'll get the wine" reaching for two glasses off of her wine rack. She handed him a glass, he leaned down and kissed her "I'm glad you're here cowboy" she said smiling. He made them supper and after the dishes were done, he settled on the couch with Lisa leaning against him. He was massaging her shoulders "mm, that feels good, Jack." moving her head sideways to look at him. "You are too good to me." He kissed the side of her head "I love you, Lis. Are you sure everything's okay? I've noticed you've not been yourself lately." She fidgeted with their hands "I figured you'd noticed…..I'm fine, business is good, I am just down because I'm leaving you again. I needed some time, just us. Do you remember when we went to the art retreat and I told you that I liked the chapter we were on, I just needed time for us." He nodded, "yes." She sat up and looked at him "this is what I meant. We've both been busy with work, I feel like we've had very little time together. It's a sacrifice on us but I don't want to end up sacrificing us, honey." He could tell she's getting upset "Lisa, throughout our relationship we've had times apart and we've always made it. We are going to find a routine again. Nothing would make me change the way I feel about you." He leaned down and kissed her, pushing her back on the couch wrapping his arms around her. When they parted for some air, "Let's go upstairs" she whispered before kissing him again. He stood up, taking her hand leading her up the stairs. He fully intended to show her that their relationship was still as solid as ever.

The next morning, Jack woke up early as he usually did, he was in the same position as they fell asleep in, with Lisa's back to him and his arms wrapped around her. He moved her hair and kissed her neck and shoulder, causing her to wake up "mmm, you're in a good mood" turning towards him. He kissed her "only because I have the most beautiful woman, who happens to be my wife, in my arms." She leaned up and kissed him "Well I am in the arms of my handsome cowboy. Thank you for last night" He shifted snuggling closer to her "You don't have to thank me, Lisa. I meant what I said last night, we are just fine and we will be. You and I always make the most of the time we have together." She looked at him thoughtfully, "I know, it doesn't mean I don't feel guilty about leaving you." He kissed the side of her head. Lisa made them some breakfast before he headed back to Heartland. As he was reaching for his hat "Lis, we are okay aren't we?" he wanted to ask before he left for the day. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck "I don't know what I'd do without you, we are more than okay. I'll see you this evening. I love you, cowboy." She kissed him once more before he left. She got to work preparing for her trip.