Chapter 1

Lisa was sitting at the table drinking her coffee, deep in thought. Jack came in from the fields, he hung up his hat and coat, walked over and kissed her cheek, startling her.

"Everything ok Lise, you seem a million miles away," he asked. Her blue eyes were sparkling, she was excited about something, he could tell. She turned to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"It's my favorite time of year." She kissed him and pulled him in for a hug.

He knew she liked the holidays. Lisa had a very generous heart and loved spoiling everyone. She usually started making plans and a list around Thanksgiving, she would tell him about what she was planning and he would listen, always going along with whatever her plan was. She was better at gift giving than he was, this was her area of expertise, shopping.

"And you're not gonna go overboard, this year, right?"

"Who, me? Never." She laughed. Jack knew her all too well.

There was a knock at the door, they both looked at each other, no one ever knocks. Jack went to get the door and returned with a small package.

"Addressed to Lisa Stillman."

"I wonder who that could be from?" Lisa took the package from his hands and started to open it. She opened the envelope from inside and started to silently read the letter. Jack could see her eyes fill with tears.

"What is it Lise?"

"It's Evelyn, she's gone. It says here that she was killed in a car accident in Morocco. Her estate has been settled and split between my sister and I. Apparently, it was stated in her will that if anything should happen to her she didn't want to take either of us taken away from our families, so the executor took care of everything and is sending us our inheritance." Lisa opened the other envelope. It contained a check. She turned it around for Jack to read.

"Wow, Lise, that's a lot of money."

Lisa tried to speak, but nothing would come out. Jack took her in his arms. While he wasn't the biggest fan of Evelyn, she was his wife's favorite aunt, and she meant a lot to Lisa.

Lisa pulled back from Jack's embrace. "I'm ok!" She wiped her tears and smiled up at Jack. "I'm just surprised is all." Lisa went to the sink to wash out her coffee cup. "I think I'm gonna go for a drive." She kissed Jack on the cheek, grabbed her keys and coat and headed out the door.

Jack knew Lisa was more upset than she let on. He would give her some time

and the space she needed. Jack was no stranger to losing someone you love. Emotions are a tricky thing and everyone handles loss differently.

"Hey grandpa," Lou called walking into the barn. "There you are, is Lisa here? She was going to make dinner tonight."

"We will have to make other plans. Lisa got notice this morning that her Aunt Evelyn passed away. She's been gone all day."

"I'm so sorry, is there something I can do for her?"

"I'm sure she will be fine, Lou, she just needs time to process. I was thinking of picking up some dinner from Maggie's and heading over to Fairfield, I'm figuring that's where she went."

"Ok, well if she needs anything, don't hesitate to call."

Jack finished up in the barn and headed into the house to wash up before going to see Lisa. He packed a few things for himself and Lisa in an overnight bag, not knowing if they would come back or stay the night at Fairfield. He was just about to leave when he ran into Amy.

"Hey Amy, do you think you…"

"No problem grandpa, I can handle it. You go take care of Lisa. Give her our condolences."

Jack thanked her and continued on his way out the door.

Fairfield was still rather busy when Jack pulled up. Harry spotted him and pointed to the house. Jack used his key instead of ringing the bell. He put the food on the counter and went in search of his wife. He found her on the floor of the master bedroom going through old albums. Her eyes were red and puffy. His heart went out to her, she wasn't used to the pain of losing loved ones, not like he was. Aside from Ty, this was the first person she had lost in the 15 years they had been together.

"Lise!"

"Jack, what are you doing here? I didn't hear you come in." She got up to hug him. He held her tight, passing his strength on to her. He held her that way until she was ready to let go.

"I brought some dinner, I thought you might be hungry by now." He sat on the bed, picking up one of the albums and looking through the pictures. "Wow, is this your high school prom?"

Embarrassed, she tried to get the album away from him. "They're just old photos, you don't want to look at them."

"Lisa, you look beautiful. And here on this horse, you were such a cute little girl, such a big smile."

"Ok, enough. What did you bring for dinner?" She took the album out of his hand and placed it on the bed.

"I got chicken pot pie and meatloaf, I wasn't sure what you would be in the mood for."

"Actually they both sound good, maybe because I'm hungry. I've been up here for a while. I didn't even realize how hungry I was."

Lisa got some plates and utensils while Jack poured some wine. They ended up at the counter in Lisa's kitchen sharing the meals, Lisa not being able to decide what she wanted.

"So have you thought about what you want to do with the money from Evelyn?

"Some of it, yes, I want to give my employees a nice bonus this year. They've stuck with me through so much these past years. And of course there will be some for Katie and Lyndy and Georgie, whether Amy and Lou want it in their college accounts or such."

"What about you Lise, I'm sure Evelyn would want you to take a trip or something."

"Well that doesn't really work when you marry someone who likes to be at home." She leaned across the counter and gave him a quick kiss. " But really, I'm good, my place is here with you, I've done the travel thing. Seeing places and things isn't as important to me, as being with the person I love." She reached for Jack's hand and covered it with hers, her eyes met his, and he knew she was sincere.

After the dishes were done they went back to the bedroom to clean up the mess of albums. Jack, looking through the pictures of Lisa as a child who turned into a beautiful young woman, then her wedding pictures with Dan. Jack didn't know much about Lisa's family; she never spoke of them and he had never asked.

"This is you with your mother?"

Lisa looked over Jack's shoulder. "Yes, I was about 12 there."

He sensed she was embarrassed for some reason. "You should bring some of these pictures home to display."

"It's ok Jack, they are just fine here in these albums."

"Really Lise, I'm sure the girls would like looking at them. Katie would love to see pictures of her godmother at her age, you were absolutely stunning, even then."

She looked over at him. "You are too kind Jack Bartlett, I knew there was a reason I loved you. But if I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to flirt with me."

"Lise, really, I only came to support you, I have no ulterior motives."

"And you want to cheer me up, right?"

"Of course."

She walked over to him and started to unbutton his shirt.

"Lise, are you sure about this, he stopped her, you're grieving your aunt."

"Yes, that's right, I'm grieving, and everyone grieves differently. I need you both emotionally and physically right now. I need that connection that only you and I have. Right now, I'd like nothing more than to be wrapped up in your arms, and do something that makes me feel alive. You are the only person that can make me feel that way, can you share that with me?" Her blue eyes pleading with him.

She was right! Their bond to each other was both physical and emotional and sometimes the two crossed paths. Her emotional needs needed to be physically met by him right now. He sometimes was amazed by how strong their bond to each other was. She needed him to remind her that they were still living and celebrate that.

Lisa laid with Jack's arms wrapped securely around her, her head resting on Jack's chest. "Thank you."

"Really Lise?"

"No, not for that Jack." Lisa laughed. For giving me the space I needed today, then bringing me dinner. You always know what I need." She leaned up and softly kissed his lips. "Sometimes I really don't know what I would do without you."

"Well, you'd be traveling the world thanks to Aunt Evelyn."

"Maybe, but I wouldn't be happy."

"Why not, you love to travel?"

"I'd be lonely. I never realized how lonely I was until I met you. Sure I traveled all over, had friends all over, but at the end of the day I was alone. Then I met you. Sure I still enjoyed my friends and travel, but the more deeply we became involved, the more I dreaded traveling. I always had plans to retire in France, but they were single me plans. Being anywhere with you is where married me wants to be."

"We were both missing something in our life, Lise. I never thought I'd fall in love again after Lyndy died, never thought I could fall in love again. But you turned my world upside down. You were so strong, so confident, so beautiful…I couldn't resist, you stole my heart on that fishing trip and you've had it ever since."

"Well, as much as I don't want to, I guess we better get moving, it's getting late."

"Hold on Lise." Jack put his pants on and went down to the kitchen. He returned with their overnight bag. "I wasn't sure if you'd want to stay here and since I know you don't keep much here anymore…"

Lisa went over and wrapped her arms around him. "You are the most thoughtful man Jack Bartlett. I am so lucky to have you love and care about me. I'm glad we had some alone time, I needed you, but if you don't mind, I think I'd like to be around the family tonight."

"Whatever you want to do Lise.'' Jack kissed her forehead before pulling away to finish getting dressed.

Back at Heartland, everyone offered their condolences to Lisa then dove into the photo albums Jack convinced Lisa to bring for everyone to see. They may return to Fairfield, Lisa hadn't decided yet, but for now they all enjoyed seeing the childhood pictures of the woman who had become such an important part of their life. There was laughter at the clothes and hairstyles of the time and how cute Lisa was as a baby and small child. Jack watched Lisa, with a big smile on her face, as she explained who was who and how old she was in the pictures. What started out as a day filled with sorrow and reflection of our own demise, ended up to be a day enjoying all life has to offer with loved ones close by.