Jackson waved into the computer screen on Lou's lap. A big smile on his face. "Say hi." Lou cooed looking at the toddler.
"Hi." He said proudly.
Amy smiled back. "Hi." She waved. The idea of being able to see his aunt from so far away was fascinating him.
"Yeah! That's Amy." Lou said her eyes still on Jackson. "I don't know how much longer he'll be able to sit on my lap. I'm getting so big." She frowned talking to Amy now.
"Are you excited?"
"I am. It's a bit easier cause I know what to expect. And I have all of you this time around." He smile was slightly sad.
"Lisa already said that I can come as soon as you want. And Grandpa says I can stay for a bit if I want. To help out or whatever. It'll be winter so I won't have many clients."
"That'd be great, Amy. Even just to give Jackson some much needed attention." She tickled him making him laugh.
"Do you and Peter want this baby to be a girl or a boy?"
"Well honestly, I'm good either way. Peter agrees."
"What about you Jackson?" Amy asks trying to keep the boys attention.
"Do you want a brother or a sister?" Lou asks clarifying the question.
"Brother." He shouts making them both laugh.
"Hey, bathtime." Peter says coming up behind them. "Hi, Amy."
"Hi, Peter."
Lou let's him take their son. "Say bye bye." He says toward the computer. Jackson waves.
"Bye, Jackson." Amy says playing along. She's too focused on them to notice Lou's questioning look. "What?"
"Don't what me. What's the matter?"
Amy glaced over to her door for a second before continuing. "Ty and I went to Calgary yesterday. He got his cast off and we had lunch to celebrate. Everything was perfect until..." She paused. "I don't know how to explain it but a guy came up to us on the street. They knew each other somehow. When I pressed Ty about it later he denied it. And I could tell he was lying."
"Why would he do that?"
"He was involved in some illegal stuff before moving back. He's been secretive for a few weeks now. He's gone a couple days a week. He won't tell me where. Or even let me go with him."
"That does sound weird."
"Even worse he couldn't get away from this guy fast enough. He asked Ty to met up. What do you think that means?" Amy asked worried. "This guy knew about me. Lou, it was creepy. Ty's actually talked to this guy about me."
"Maybe their just friends, Amy."
"You didn't see the way Ty acted. Lou, he's hiding something."
Amy seemed distracted as she helped Lisa later that day make pies. Her mind was elsewhere as she mindlessly peeled apples. Her eyes fixed on the window watching for Ty to come home. He'd once again been out most of the day. Lisa glanced over at her noticing Amy wasn't herself. She decided against asking her anything as it had become pointless. Amy was distant and never revealed much when asked a question. Jack was convinced it was over the accident but she didn't buy it. Not anymore. That had been over 6 weeks ago. Tim had for the most part backed off his intense training schedule. "Ahh!" Amy yelped as she dropped the vegetable peeler and held her left hand.
Lisa startled as she looked over at Amy already seeing a bit of blood on her right hand as it seeped through. "You okay, honey?"
Amy nodded bitting her lip. "I think so."
"Let me see." She grabbed the dish cloth and pressed it to Amy's finger as she let her other hand up. Lisa followed Amy's eyes to her bloody hand as she stared at it shocked. "It's okay. It's not that deep."
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
"It's okay. It happens to all of us." Lisa watched as Amy nodded. "You okay?"
"What?"
"You just seem distracted."
"Oh, I guess. Maybe a little." Amy decided she couldn't take not saying anything anymore. It was driving her crazy.
"Oh?" Lisa questioned.
"Lisa, have you seen my..." Jack interrupted as he came into the house but stopped short noticing the commission in the kitchen.
"She's fine. Just a small cut." She said forcing a smile. But really she was annoyed. She was this close to getting Amy to open up about whatever it is she's hiding and Jack ruined it.
"Let's get some ice for that." He said sidestepping to the fridge. Lisa nodded watching Amy. The shock had wore off and she was now watching out again. She looked up shooting Jack a look. Tipping her head Amy's direction. "What's so fascinating?" Jack asked handing his granddaughter the bag of frozen vegetables.
"What?" Amy's head snapped to look at him.
"When did you take up bird watching?" He joked.
Amy smiled as she placed the bag on her hand. "Just trying to ignore the pain."
"Alright. Well, I'll go get you a bandaid from the bathroom."
"I'll help you." Lisa pipped up getting Jack to stop and look back at her puzzled. But that didn't stop her she just pushed him further into the dining room on his quest to find the first aid kid.
"Okay, let's see. There should be some right here." He said bending over to look in the cupboard.
Lisa shut the bathroom door behind her. "Jack?"
He looked up just as confused as earlier. "What's with you?"
"Me? Amy's the one being weird."
"I guess. I've noticed she's been a bit different." He said straighting back up.
"She only offered to help me with the pies so she could keep on the barn."
"What? Why?" He asked confused.
Lisa pursed her lips. "I don't know. But that's why she cut herself. I can't even get her to talk to me. I found that out rather quick. I was just talking to myself." She huffed.
"Come on, Lisa?" Jack said shaking his head. "Why would she be so interested in the barn?"
"Think about it?" Lisa gave him a look waiting for him to get it. But he didn't. "Ty." She said like it was obvious.
"That seems a bit far fetched. You know the two have been at each other for months. I'd hopd since she offered to pick him up the night of the crash and took him into Calgary the other day it meant they were finally starting to get along. But that fight the other night at the table proved otherwise." He sighed as he grabbed a band aid. Lisa moved so she wasn't blocking the door anymore. When both had walked back to talk kitchen Amy was nohwere. "Where'd she go?" He asked looking over his shoulder at Lisa as she shrugged. Giving up she went back to pies. Looking out the screen door sure enough he caught the tail end of Amy as she ran into the barn.
"Ty?!" Amy panted as she tried to catch her breath. Ty had only just stepped into the barn himself. "How was the errand?"
"Fine." He answered watching Amy. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I just ran from the house." She said finally catching her breath. "Why?"
"No reason." He eyes her suspicious. "How was your day?"
"Don't change the subject. Where'd you go? Meet anyone interesting?"
"No." He shrugged and shifted his backpack as he climbed the steps to his room. Amy sighed frustrated he wasn't gonna spill. She jogged up the stairs after him.
"So..." She pressed. "What's new?"
"Nothing. I live here you know everything." He turned to face her now wandering where all this was coming from. As he did she reached and grabbed his backpack. "Amy!" He said surprised by her actions. He grabbed the strap and tugged on it. But Amy only held tighter.
"What are you hiding?" She pulled harder as Ty did. As he pulled it back toward him he did it just a little hard resulting in the half open bag to tip just enough to spill it's contents all over the loft floor. Ty left the strap he was holding go as he watched the books slip out in slowmo. Amy held the bag at her side slightly shocked. She didn't know what she was expecting to see but not this. "Ty?" She questioned quite. Amy's eyes met his as he looked ashamed. Instead of answering her he bend down to pick up the books. As Amy did deciding to join him fighting the awkward silence. "I'm sorry."
"Amy! You're bleeding." He said grabbing her hand instead.
She pulled it away from him. "It's nothing. I'm fine."
"It doesn't look like nothing." He barked back.
"Neither does this." She waved her hand at his school stuff. Standing up she went to leave the room but knew she couldn't as she wanted answers. "What's going on? And don't lie to me. Do you know that guy from the other day?" She sat on the edge of Ty's bed watching him as he picked up the last of his stuff stuffing it back into his backpack.
"Yes." He answered flatly.
"From where?"
"School. Okay?" He shouted.
Amy nodded. "Your not selling drugs?"
"What?"
"I hate myself for even thinking that."
Ty stood and kneeled in front of Amy reaching for her hands. "Don't be mad at yourself. I gave you every reason to think that. I've been sneaking around. And keeping secrets. And that guy, from the other day didn't help things."
"Still I shouldn't have..."
"I didn't tell you cause I wanted it to be a surprise. That guy is my partner for a project."
"Oh. Now I feel stupid." She hung her head embarrassed. "Guess you are right. I can't see past the criminal side of you."
"Hey, it's not your fault. I'm not mad. I've never been involved in anything like that. I promise."
Amy nodded. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too." He rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand.
Amy caught him looking again at the cut on her hand. "Cut it helping Lisa make pies."
Ty chuckled. "That's all?"
"Yeah. Was too busy thinking about you."
He smiled. "Aww...that's so sweet."
Amy pulled her hand away and instead cupped Ty's check. She leaned down and kissed him. Ty stood slowly keeping their lips together. He kneeled on the bed beside Amy as he practically sat in her lap. He removed his jacket briefly as they came up for air. Amy's smile melting his heart. His hands went back to Amy's hair as he pushed her over. Their lips colliding as he straddled her. Hovering over her as the kiss intensified. They were full on making out like this for a few more minutes until Amy pressed her hands to Ty's chest.
"Ty." She breathed as they broke apart. "I have to go to the house." She noticed his look of disappointment. "This was nice but we can't. Not yet." She said hoping to help ease his confusion. He nodded as he got up helping her off the bed. "See you at dinner." She said tucking her hair behind her ears in a quick attempt to look less messy.
Ty nodded. "I'm sorry if I pushed." He said blushing.
"You didn't push." She smiled putting her hand on his chest this time in a loving way. "This was amazing." Both smiled widely.
"Get to the house." Ty ordered turning her toward the door. It make her giggle.
"I'm proud of you." She said pointing behind him. He turned around to see what she meant. "If you need a tutor you know I'd love to help."
"I think you'd be more of a distraction then a help." Amy bit her bottom lip before turning and leaving. Feeling as though it would be practically impossible to wipe the huge smile off her face.