Chapter 6
The house was a bustle of activity. It was Christmas Eve. Lisa was finishing her wrapping, Jack was trying to sneak a peek at any present that might be his.
"I told you Jack, I'm your present this year." She leaned close so only he could hear. "I'm going to wear a red ribbon and nothing else."
"And do I get my present on Christmas Eve or do I have to wait till Christmas."
"Well that all depends on how good you are."
"Oh, I'm good, in fact I'm very good." He grabbed her from behind and kissed her neck. Making her laugh.
Lou and Peter walked in the room to put presents under the tree. "What is up with you two lately. All the whispering, all the touchy-feely stuff, oh, and you did get caught on the sofa. Grandpa, this isn't like you?"
"Oh leave them alone Lou, it's sweet. Don't you want to be that way with Peter when you're their age?" Amy asked.
"Oh my god, we are not that old. We still like to have "fun." Don't we, Jack?"
"What's that, I can't hear you, I'm to old."
Everyone cracks up laughing.
Tim and Jessica come into the family room while everyone is laughing. "What's so funny?"
Jack tells Tim, "you had to be here."
Lisa finishes up wrapping her presents before placing them under the tree. She joins Lou in the kitchen to work on dinner.
"Really Lisa, I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything, it's just, I mean it's different with you, but he's my grandfather. You, I think of more as a friend than a grandmother. If you know what I mean."
"Lou honey, it's ok. I get it. And you're right, Jack has been…different… lately, but I'm definitely enjoying it."
After the big Christmas Eve feast is eaten and everything cleaned up. Lyndy goes in search of good night kisses so she can go to sleep. Jack told her Santa will skip your house if you're not asleep when he gets there. She didn't want to take any chances so she was going to bed early.
"You realize she will be up extra early now, and we will be knocking on your door." She turns to Logan. Are you still glad you came?"
"You know Lisa will have me up at the crack of dawn anyway, she's more excited than Lyndy."
Lisa swats him on the arm, "oh stop, I am not."
Jack goes into the kitchen in search of Lou.
"Hey Lou," he's trying to be quiet, could you possibly make a thermos of hot chocolate for me? I want to walk out by the pond with Lisa and that hot chocolate might hit the spot."
"Sure grandpa, you want me to put a little something in it?"
"Sounds good, thank you."
Lisa was sitting on the sofa with Katie and Logan watching Miracle on 34th Street when Jack came up behind her.
"You and me have a date, get your coat on."
"Jack it's late, I don't want to go anywhere, besides it's Christmas Eve. What's open?"
"Trust me."
Lisa gets herself together and meets Jack at the door, he's carrying a thermos and a blanket.
"All set?"
"Ready," she replied.
Jack threw the blanket over his shoulder and tucked the thermos in the pocket of his coat. He takes her by the hand and walks with her to the path that leads to the pond.
"It's such a beautiful clear night, I thought we could sit by the pond for a while, just you and I. I've got a blanket and some hot chocolate to keep us warm. And the hot chocolate is spiked."
"Jack, this is a lovely idea. I'm glad you thought of it.
Jack laid the blanket on the bench then once he and Lisa were seated folded it over their laps. The moon reflected brightly on the pond and there were so many stars, the sky was filled with them. Jack poured them some hot chocolate to share. He leaned over and kissed her.
"Merry Christmas Lise."
"Merry Christmas Jack." She rested her head on his shoulder.
"You know Jack Bartlett, you constantly surprise me. You are such a romantic."
He lifted her chin so her lips could meet his in a kiss. "I just wanted to do this without getting caught."
Lisa chuckled, "well then, by all means." She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.
"I love our quiet times, when it's just you and me. We talk about anything and everything, or nothing at all. Just sitting here with you, holding your hand."
"I agree, Lise, I've got my beautiful wife by my side, who could ask for more ." He tucked a loose hair behind her ear. "You are the reason I look forward to getting up every day and the reason I look forward to going to bed every night, I will forever be thankful that you chose this old cowboy."
"I'd still choose you. You are my heart Jack."
They sat hand in hand, Lisa's head resting on Jack's shoulder, Jack's arm wrapped around her. They were the only two people in the world.
Jack was right, Lisa couldn't sleep. She had him up before dawn. Coffee made french toast casserole in the oven. She was like a little kid at Christmas. Lisa lived for this family. She jumped in head first, sometimes not thinking about the consequences, always wanting to help everyone. Jack watched her float around the kitchen going from one thing to the next while he drank his coffee. He wondered if she ever felt like something was missing by not having her own family. She would have made a wonderful mother, he could tell by the way she was with Amy and Lou, and Katie and Lyndy. He grabbed her hand as she went by him causing her to turn and look at him.
She had a huge smile on her face. "What?"
"You need to slow down, you're going to tire yourself out."
He wrapped her in his arms, his hands resting on her lower back, trying to stop her long enough to kiss her. Finally she looked at him.
"Breathe Lise." He planted a tender kiss on her lips.
"I know, you're right." She sighed, leaning into him.
Just like that, the moment was gone. Lyndy came bouncing into the kitchen all excited, Amy followed behind rubbing her eyes.
"This is all your fault grandpa."
Lisa hands Amy a cup of coffee. "Merry Christmas Lisa, thank you."
"Is it time yet, is it time." Lyndy is waiting for the ok to knock on everyone's doors to wake them up.
"Wait till your grandpa and Jessica get here, then you can knock."
Lisa refills Jack's coffee and starts to refill her own. He grabs the cup away from her.
"I don't think you need any coffee."
Amy laughs. "I could use some of that energy this morning."
Tim and Jessica arrive and Lyndy hops off Jack's lap to knock and wake the others. Lisa makes rounds with the coffee before starting a fresh pot.
Everyone starts filtering into the kitchen. Once the coffee cups are all filled, the tired parents and excited children gather in the living room for the giving of gifts. Presents from Santa are opened first followed by presents from parents, then grandparents and lastly great grandparents. The whole process takes about an hour.
Jack turns to Lisa, "all that work you did and it's over already, hardly seems worth it."
Lisa sits in his lap, "see that, that look on their faces, that's what it is all about. Christmas for me is about the joy I get from giving. Whether it's my employees, my friends, my family, or my loving husband."
"Ah, yes, that reminds me, where's my present?"
"Well I saved the best for last. You'll have to wait till tonight."
"Not fair."
After thanking everyone for their generous gifts, Logan offered to help Amy with the barn chores.
"Your family was really nice to get me those presents, I didn't expect any of that."
"Well truthfully, I think you remind them of Ty. He was a little older than you are, when he came here. Plus you're a good kid who got where you are because of circumstances out of your control. And Lisa tends to go overboard. It's just her way, she loves to spoil us."
It was a fun busy day, with Lisa and Lou in the kitchen. Varying guests dropped by throughout the day for holiday well wishes. Lou or Lisa always preparing a warm plate for them. Finally the visits stopped and the kitchen was cleaned up one final time. Lisa had just sat down with a glass of wine, when Jack slid in behind her on the sofa.
"You look tired Lise."
"I am, but it's a good tired." Within minutes she was asleep laying against him.
He picked her up and carried her to bed.
"But I have to give you your present." She sleepily offers.
Jack helped her into her pj's, "you are my present Lise, best one ever." He kissed her goodnight.
