Thank you all for the kind reviews. I hope you enjoy the final chapter of this story. Any future story requests, let me know. :) Enjoy!
Shortly after dinner was served, Val broke the silence "So Lisa, how long are you back in town for?" Lisa a little taken back a bit by the blunt question "I'm not sure, it depends on business, Fairfield has an upcoming string of young racehorses this year." Val smirked "I see, a shame your business takes you away from Jack. Too bad you can't get him to go with you." Startled at the response, Lisa placed her hand on Jack's arm "Yes I wish he would consider coming with me." Jack looked between them both "Let's not go there, I'm not much of a traveler. So Caleb how are you getting along at the trailer?" Caleb had only been half paying attention to the conversation, finally answering Jack. It was soon desert time, Amy and Mallory started to clear the table, the teenagers congregating in the kitchen to eat the pie. Val looked at Lisa "I'm selfishly glad that Jack isn't much of a traveler, he's really been there for me the last few weeks." Lisa looked at Jack surprised thinking they had worked this out yesterday but obviously not, "Well I'm glad that he could help. You know I think I'm going to pass on desert and head home. I'm a bit tired." She got up, Jack followed, both passing Mallory on the way. Jack got to her as she was putting on her coat "Are you sure you won't stay?" She handed him the napkin "Yeah I think I'm still jet lagged, had enough for one day. Besides you're in good hands here." She leaned up and kissed him quickly before spinning around and heading out the door, leaving him to process what just happened. He knew chasing her out the door would be a moot point, as fast as she exited and he knew that Val's comments were not settling well. Defeated he walked back into the dining room, wishing all their guests would leave sooner rather than later. Luckily his wish came true and it wasn't long before everyone left for the evening. He grabbed a cup of coffee, on his way back to the living room, he picked up the cordless phone and dialed Lisa getting her voicemail. He didn't leave a message, knowing it was a sign she needed some space.
The next morning as Jack was getting ready to head out to the barn to get some chores done, he tried Lisa's phone once again. No answer, going to voicemail again, this time inviting her over for coffee and to talk around lunch time. He went outside, hoping she would get the message and come over. He went about his chores mindful of the clock. Just before noon, he headed to the house to get cleaned up and brewed a fresh pot of coffee.
Meanwhile at Fairfield, Lisa sat in her office staring at her computer screen, she saw her phone alert she had a new voicemail. She listened to it and heard Jack's invitation for coffee, part of her wanted to go but the other part was still unsettled on the events since she came back from France. She didn't return his call, instead tried to focus on the contract in front of her that she brought back with her. She knew that Jack was set in his ways but couldn't help feel like the last couple of months, they had started to drift away, she didn't know what the future held or even if Jack wanted that since it seemed Val consumed a lot of his time lately in her absence. Sighing she looked at the clock, she decided she would go to Heartland and see if she could get her mind put to rest and they could talk out some of the tension that was obviously there.
Lisa drove into Heartland and was relieved that Val's car was not present. It seemed she was always lurking. She parked and got out, walking up to the house. Jack greeted her at the screen door. "Hi, I'm glad to see you." Lisa sat down "Thanks for the invitation, it was unexpected." Jack set a cup of coffee down in front of her. "Lis about last night, I don't know why Val decided to bring up your travels." Lisa looked down before speaking "Jack, it seems she's been here an awful lot, ready to just swoop in at the moment that whatever we have goes splat." Jack set his cup on the counter "Lisa, what do you mean by splat? Nothing has changed between us." Lisa threw up her hands "Jack, you're so blind, you don't even see what's so obvious. Val can't wait for something to happen between us, she's just a vulture waiting to pounce on her prey. You know nothing in three years has changed." Jack looked at her in disbelief "Val and I have been friends for years, nothing is going on or will ever go on between me and Val. I am committed to you Lisa. Nothing has changed in that time because everything is fine the way it is." Lisa was frustrated "Well it might be for you, but I am starting to think it's not for me. Let's face it, you're not as committed as you say you are." She stood up, Jack stepped towards her "I am damn well committed to you, you want commitment, then Marry me." Lisa was shocked "what did you just say?" Jack reached for her "I said Marry Me" Lisa had several thoughts running through her head but at the top was did he really just propose. Jack pulled her closer "Well?" She came out of her dazed look and smiled at Jack "Yes." He leaned down and managed to get "I love you" in between two kisses. It was at that moment that her phone rang, the worst possible timing and Tim came through the door. "Hi Lisa, Jack, I thought we were going to check the back fences this afternoon." Lisa looking at her phone "I have to take this, we will talk later." She exited the kitchen. Tim looked at Jack "I didn't interrupt did I?" Jack started walking towards the door "Yes but what's new, come on." They walked out the door.
Lisa wasn't able to make it for dinner but came back after she was done at Fairfield, Jack met her with two glasses of wine on the porch as they watched the sunset. Lisa broke the silence "What you said in the kitchen earlier." Jack looked over at her "yeah?" She looked at him "Did you mean it?" He wrapped his arm around her "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it." He leaned over so his head met hers in a very meaningful kiss. "I love you, Lisa." She smiled and kissed him again "I love you too. Are we alone?" Jack pulled her closer "Yes for a couple hours anyways." She stood up and grabbed his hand pulling him up smiling. She led him back into the house. It was rare they had the house to themselves usually only finding quiet alone time on the rare occasions he comes over to Fairfield. Jack closed the door behind her as Lisa turned towards him wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling his head down to kiss him leading to an intimate encounter. Later Lisa laid wrapped in his arms, head resting on his shoulder. She glanced at the clock and sighed "I have a client coming early, and the girls will be home soon." Jack pulled her head towards his "hmm, I can't convince you to stay." Lisa smiled and returned the kiss "No, but you can convince me to meet you at Maggie's tomorrow for a late breakfast after my meeting." Jack kissed her once more "It's a date." She got up and got dressed, to go back to Fairfield content with the way things were.
The next morning Jack was feeling better about the way things were between him and Lisa. He met her at Maggies as promised. On his way in Lou stopped him and asked if he could talk to Lisa about using the space at Fairfield for the wedding. "Sure. I'm on my way to meet her now." He parted ways and entered Maggies to see Lisa sitting at the counter. It didn't allow for much space to talk privately but didn't see an open table so it would have to do. He sat down next to Lisa, Soraya pouring him a cup of coffee. Lisa looked over at him "So did you tell the girls our news last night?" Jack glanced up to see Soraya semi paying attention to their conversation "Umm no, I didn't, the timing wasn't right." Lisa added a little higher pitch when she responded "What wasn't right about telling the girls about our engagement." Soraya couldn't believe her ears and turned to go serve some other customers. She couldn't wait to tell Amy what she heard. Jack turned to Lisa "I will tell them, I promise. Lou is hyped up about her own wedding and I didn't want to dampen that." He held her hand "Speaking of which, Lou wanted me to ask you about using the space at Fairfield for the wedding?" Lisa gave him a small smile "I'll talk to her, are you sure you're not having second thoughts about getting married?" Jack leaned over and kissed her cheek, "No I'm not. I love you." They finished their breakfast and parted ways.
Later that day Soraya told Amy what she heard when she came into the diner and of course Ashley was there and overheard as well. She couldn't wait to get home to tell her mother, Val would just love to hear this news. Amy didn't know how to break it to Lou but she also mentioned it. Neither one brought it up to Jack that evening however. They were waiting for him to bring it up to them.
Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter, it will probably end in the next chapter. Feedback and Ideas are always welcome.