Chapter 4

The kitchen was cookie central. There was flour on everything, including Katie, Lyndy and Lisa. The sounds of laughter and sweet aroma brought a smile to Jack's face, but a cookie would bring an even bigger one. He casually walked into the kitchen trying to distract Lisa, so she wouldn't notice him stealing a cookie. Lyndy came up behind him.

"GG!"

Lisa turned around just in time to see Jack shove a sugar cookie in his mouth.

"Busted," she called. "What do you think girls, should we let GG be our official taste tester?"

Katie and Lyndy both cheered "yes!"

"Thank you girls, I knew I could count on you." He kissed them both on the top of the head.

He reached over and wiped a little flour off Lisa's nose.

"Cookies are delicious Lise." He gave her a wink. He knew she was in her glory spending time with the girls baking.

"Come back in a little while and you can try the cupcakes GG."

"Oh boy, cupcakes too." He grabbed a cup of coffee and started to head into the other room, before turning back around to Lisa and giving her a kiss. "Love you."

She smiled back at him, not quite sure what just happened.

"Hey, I hate to break up the baking party, but can I start dinner here?" Lou asked, trying to make some room for herself amongst the mess.

"Come on girls, let's get the cookies in the tin, the cupcakes on the tray and clean up the flour and sprinkles from everywhere. Sorry, we got a little carried away."

"Lisa really, thank you for baking with them. I'd rather cook any day of the week. Baking is not my thing."

Lisa grabbed a much needed cup of coffee and went to find Jack. She found him at the table playing chess with Peter.

"Who's winning?

Jack responded, "not me, that's for sure"

"Oh, come on, he's letting me win Lisa.

Lisa settled on the sofa listening to the game going on behind her and watching the fire. Before long she had fallen asleep. Jack and Peter finished their game, and the girls were starting to set the table for dinner. Peter went to check some emails. Jack went over to Lisa, seeing she was still asleep. He was standing above her, he bent down and kissed her lips. Not too soft, not too hard. Just enough. He felt her lips broaden into a smile as she started to kiss him back.

"What has gotten into you today?" She takes him by the hand and pulls him around to sit with her.

"What, you're my wife and I couldn't resist kissing your beautiful lips."

"Oh Jack, trust me, I'm not complaining," she grins slyly at him.

Tim and Jessica arrive for dinner. Everyone starts to take their place at the table, Jack pours the wine. Once everyone was seated, Jack started the evening with a toast. He talks about how happy he is that they are all together to start this festive time. Lou and Peter share stolen glances, which doesn't go unnoticed by Lisa. She's happy to see them together. They all raise their glasses, "cheers".

After enjoying Lou's delicious dinner, Jessica, Tim, Katie and Lyndy start on the clearing the table and doing the dishes, while Lisa and Amy get the hot chocolate started and Lou and Jack get the ornaments and music. Lisa and Lou reset the table with the cookies and cupcakes made earlier and hot chocolate with peppermint sticks and marshmallows and eggnog for the adults.

"Before we start," Lou called them into the living room. She looked at Jack, and Katie went to her side. "Katie and I were going through the box of ornaments and we noticed something was missing. We all have at least one special ornament for this tree, except for one person, Lisa. We know you never would have said anything, but you deserve to be represented on this tree like the rest of us, so if Katie will do the honors."

Katie walks over to Lisa and hands her a small box. Lisa opens the box and reveals an ornament that reads, "World's Greatest Godmother."

"That's so sweet, thank you, you didn't have to do that." Katie gives her a hug.

Lou walks over to Lisa and gives her a hug. "I'm sorry, this should have been done a long time ago."

"Lou, really… thank you. I love it."

They all go about putting the rest of the decorations up and singing Christmas carols. Jack pulls Lisa aside and hands her a beautifully wrapped box.

"What's this?"

"Open it."

Lisa opens the box and sees two turtle dove ornaments.

"I thought you and I should have ornaments together on that tree, and I thought the turtle doves represented our love perfectly."

"Oh Jack." Lisa is so touched by the thoughtful gesture, her eyes fill with tears.

"Grandpa, Lisa. I think this would be the perfect spot." Lou points to an empty spot front and center on the tree.

They hang their ornaments and Jack gives Lisa a kiss.

"I'm impressed old man, you did good." Jessica hits Tim on the arm and everyone starts laughing.

"Alright little one, it's time for you to get ready for bed, say goodnight."

Lyndy kisses everyone goodnight and goes off with Amy. Lou, Lisa and Jessica clear the table and put the rest of the desserts away. Once everything is cleaned up Jessica and Tim say their goodbyes and head out. Lou and Peter say goodnight, leaving just Jack and Lisa.

Jack fills two glasses with some eggnog and sits with Lisa in front of the fire. He takes her hand and gives it a squeeze.

"It was a nice night."

She smiled, "yes, it was. Memories to last a lifetime." With her hand on his thigh, she leans forward to kiss him. Looking into his eyes. He kisses her back, deepening the kiss, both now closing their eyes. They get caught up in the moment, enjoying the swirls of arousal the kiss creates, forgetting where they are. Lisa feels Jack's hands go underneath her sweater, the feel of his fingers undoing her bra, quickly bring her back to reality.

She reaches up to stop him. Whispering in his ear, "let's continue this in our bedroom."

Jack realizes his mistake, "sorry, I got carried away."

He stood, taking Lisa's hand and leading her to their bedroom, where they could finish what they started privately.

The next morning Jack is sitting at the table drinking his coffee reading the paper, Lisa is just about walk into the kitchen when Lou stops her.

"Lisa!" Lou quietly calls.

Lisa turns around to see Lou waving her over, away from the kitchen.

"What's up," Lisa asks.

"I was just talking to Katie, and uh… well… she …"

"What is it honey?"

"She saw you and grandpa last night."

"Saw us what?"

"You know, on the sofa, after everyone went to bed."

Lisa nervously giggled. "Busted. Yes, Jack and I got a little carried away last night, but I assure you, she saw nothing more than us kissing. We managed to make it to the bedroom."

"Really!" Lou sounded surprised. "She made it sound so much worse."

"Well imagine walking in on your grandparents, or great grandparents for that matter. I'll talk to her Lou, I'm sorry. Oh boy, wait till I tell Jack."

"Ah yeah, about that, if you ever want him to kiss you again, I wouldn't mention it. You know how private he is."

"Right, well, apparently not private enough."

"And you know what Lisa, while it's not ideal, it's not that bad of a thing. She caught her grandparents who are married and love one another, kissing. You two are good role models of love and compromise and what a healthy relationship looks like."