That has never been true.

"That has never been the case, Lise."

I need Lisa to see that.

"Do you really think I'm ashamed of you or your wealth and everything that it entails?"

"Wrong choice of word on my part. Uncomfortable would be more suitable."

Lisa is laser-focused on me. I'm not sure where to go from here because that is dead on.

"My wealth and all the trappings that come with it has always been an issue of contention for people close to me. It's just money and material things but it does color people's interaction with me."

I see Lisa sigh with her head dropping and her arms falling across her body.

I walk up to her and fold her into my arms, I hate seeing her so lost.

"I guess our relationship would be less complicated if I didn't have so much money."

"Maybe it would be maybe it wouldn't be but either way Lise it wouldn't make me love you any more or less. And me being uncomfortable is a me problem not a you problem."

"Why does it make you uncomfortable?"

I can feel Lisa's eyes trained on me waiting for an answer. I take a beat before answering really thinking it through because I know this is important to Lisa.

"Cuz you're way outta my league Lisa and your wealth reinforces that in every way imaginable."

"Firstly I am not out of your league, and more importantly I might have monetary wealth but you have wealth in the form of family. You had your grandparents, and your parents and although you had a complicated relationship with your dad I know you loved him you also had your wife Lyndy your daughter Marion and to this day Lou, Amy, Georgie, Katie, Lyndy, Tim, Caleb, Mallory, and Parker. That is what every person craves on some level which is a rarity and it's priceless."

"You're right my family is my wealth and you are a part of that Lisa I hope we give you the family feeling you've never had. And now we have three children Lisa to add to our family. You may not have been there at the beginning of this journey with me but we all stand on the shoulders of those that came before us even me and like me you've found what you need in this family and I would have it no other way."

With one more hurdle navigated we need to resolve the housing issue.

"So about Heartland what is it that you want to be done?"

"You know I love the Heartland house but we really need more space for everyone and also more bathrooms that comes with guaranteed heated water."

I feel the laughter bubble out of my chest at Lisa's requirements.

"So more space and more bathrooms with guaranteed heated water that I can do as long as we stay in the same house with our children Lise I don't care what you want."

I see the twinkle in her eyes and I know she already planning things inside that pretty little head of hers.

"You say that until you've heard what I want to be done and after I'm sure you'll be filing for a divorce if you didn't have another heart attack."

I take Lisa's hand a guide her to the couch.

"Okay, now that we're all comfortably settled just lay it on me. What do you have in mind for Heartland?"

I can see Lisa hesitate, I give her hand squeeze making sure she knows we're in this together.

"I want to keep the feel of the house very much similar and keep the lounge and stone fireplace almost the same with addition and extensions to it so our entire family can fit. I never ever want the girls to feel like I'm pushing them out because Heartland is their home so I want the renovation extension to include proper living space for them as well."

"Okay, I get that and I don't want the girls to feel like they don't belong so I'll be on board with that."

"With all the Bartlett's and Fleming's that will make 12 of us living in the house."

"Wait, how did you get twelve? I'm pretty sure it's ten Lise unless Lou and Amy have kids I don't know about."

"That's without Tim and Jessica and since his the girls' dad he should be a part of the household and I know Katie and Lyndy will love it. Obviously, we will ask if they would like to live at the main house but I think Tim will be on board. He loves those girls and he has tried very hard to do right by them since he has come back into their lives. But I know that is something you need to think about so it is not a dealbreaker?"

"You've really thought this through, haven't you. And Lise if the girls don't know you go to bat for them then this will surely cement what you have always tried to do for them. And yes Tim and Jessica can stay in the house I don't need time to think about it. He has worked through his addictions and has owned all of his mistakes and does his best to be there for the girls."

I take Lisa's face in my hands and place a gentle adoring kiss on her lips. I can feel Lisa's lips break into a smile. I rest my forehead against hers thanking the universe for bringing her into my life.

"I'm not complaining but what was that for."

"For being incredibly thoughtful and going out of your way to do something most people wouldn't do. I know how much your privacy means to you but you are still willing to add more people to our household because it's something you know the girls will benefit from. That is beyond generous and extremely accommodating."

"Oh."

I definitely caught her off guard with that deserved compliment. I can see the blush rise up across Lisa's face and that doesn't happen too often.

"How will all this work?"

"Like I said we'll definitely keep the Heartland feel with the extensions around the fireplace and lounge. Obviously, the rest of the house will have to be redeveloped and we will repurpose what is taken down and reuse it in our rebuild. We'll have two wings, one on either side of the fireplace a Bartlett and Fleming wing. Six bedrooms in the Fleming wing and four in the Bartlett wing.."

"Ten bedrooms that seems like a lot."

"A bedroom each for all the kids, our room, and Tim and Jessica's."

"Okay, how many bathrooms?"

"Six full bathrooms."

"What? That's crazy Lise we don't need so many."

"Yes, we do. One for us, one for Tim and Jessica, one for Lou, Georgie, and Katie, one for Amy and Lyndy, one for the boys, and one guest bathroom. And that is me trying to be conservative for you because I'd happily give Lou and Amy their own private bathrooms as well."

"Why can't the girls all share and the ….."

"Five of them cannot share a bathroom. With the exception of Lyndy, they all get periods and believe me when I tell you woman need their own bathroom and as many of them as possible because having periods isn't a picnic and it is accompanied by a lot of side effects that require a bathroom at a moments notice. Would be like me to go through all the reasons why women should have their own bathroom space?"

"No. you don't need to Lisa. Sometimes I forget that women have much more need for a bathroom."

"I know you forget and the girls are too embarrassed to tell you why it's necessary for them to have more bathrooms to accommodate their needs. And frankly, it's one of the main things that gets on my nerves when it comes to you and your rigid stance on things without full consideration."

"I know and that's why I have you to set me straight, Lise."

"Good because we'll be adding a laundry room and a chef's kitchen."

"Lisaaaaaaa…."

"We are damn well having a laundry room with twelve people living in a house. A chef's kitchen is a necessity in this case because you would hate for the cook to be in the family kitchen invading your privacy."

"What cook?"

"Jack I said I'll be needing some of the things from my lifestyle this is what I meant. I need the space for a modicum of privacy and we need someone to cook for twelve people every day. Not one of us at the house needs to sacrifice time with those we love to cook when we can have someone do it for us most days. I do not expect Lou, Amy, Tim, or Jessica to cook for our boys. They are ours Jack and it's not anybody's responsibility but ours to make sure that they always have a meal whether we are there or not."

"We will be there Lise, we don't need hired help to cook."

"Yes, we do. All of us work, you have the herd and you never know when you'll be late and the rest of us are in similar positions. Not one of us has a typical nine-to-five job, Jack. The chef, driver, and security and not negotiable Jack, I will never have peace of mind if I am constantly worried if someone is at the house with the boys or with Lyndy or Katie for that matter after the way the boys were taken."

I take Lisa into my arms trying to comfort her. This is the first time I've seen her show any vulnerability since the events of this morning. I feel like an idiot not realizing how much Lisa has numbed down her emotions, after all that is Lisa's dominant trait and central to her reactions to any situation.

"The Bartlett wing has a nice ring to it."

I can feel Lisa smile into my chest. I have confirmation of the smile I felt as she lifts her head. I see those arctic blues dancing with mischief.

"After all it's what I was left with because you know the Bartlett-Stillman or Stillman-Bartlett wing is a mouthful and slightly pompous don't you think."

Both Lisa and I are jolted from our conversation by Craig's hearty knock on the door. He informs us that Patrick and Keller are on the way with the boys.

Thank you for reading. All your DMs are much appreciated. Please drop a review and any feedback will be welcome.