Another phone call had interrupted their conversation, not that should be any surprise to Lisa. Something always interrupted them, whether it was a family issue or work. Lisa used this opportunity to excuse herself for a few moments and took time to calm herself and gather her thoughts again. She stood in her bathroom looking into her mirror and talking to herself.

"I can't believe I am actually having this conversation," she said with a sigh and shake of the head. She put her arms on the counter and bent her head, taking some deep breaths herself. She regained her composure and went back to the kitchen to see if Jack had finished with his latest phone call.

As she walked into the kitchen, she found Jack at the sink splashing water on his face. He was just turning off the faucet and turned to grab the kitchen towel. She paused at the sight, and he turned toward her, seeing that she'd returned.

"Sorry," he said with a sad smile. "I kinda needed a cool off there. Hope you don't mind I grabbed this towel. As he spoke, Lisa walked to the table and sat down again, ready to hash things out with Jack. She gave a slight wave as he told her about the towel.

"It's fine, Jack. You know where the bathroom is if you want to use that sink," she told him and folded her hands on the table. He walked slowly back to the table and nodded his thanks to her.

"I'm really sorry about the phone call interrupting us again," he said slowly glancing her way. "That was the procedure lab following up for things. I know it's the same old story that we are always interrupted."

"Hmm, yes," she said with a small nod, but she then met his gaze, "what's going on with this procedure?"

He waved her off and shook his head, "Never mind that. I need to do more apologizing," he frowned. The one good thing about that call was it gave me a few moments to process things, and I need to apologize to you, Lisa. We don't need to talk about my heart issues at the moment. You just dropped a bombshell on me, and I need to find out how you are?"

Lisa, almost taken aback at his question, drew back in surprise and she shook her head before speaking, "I'm pregnant. I'm okay, I suppose. My doctor says I'm okay, well," she rolled her eyes, "except for my own blood pressure. It's a little on the high side, but it's being monitored." Jack nodded as she spoke, careful not to interrupt her. "I, ah, do have some paperwork and scans to show you," she continued speaking and started to shuffle her papers as she did so.

As she looked for the paperwork she wanted, Jack looked down at the table, "I just can't believe all of this, I mean, a baby at both of our ages."

"You and me both," Lisa said as she found the folder and pulled it out from her stack of paperwork. "Jack, first of all," she said, putting her hands on the folder and meeting his gaze, "just so all cards are on the table. Yes, I'm having this baby-"

"Lisa, I wouldn't think anything otherwise!" Jack exclaimed, truly shocked she would suggest anything else. She put her hand up in defense.

"I said just putting it all out there," she looked to him with a nod. "I obviously never expected anything like this, and I know you didn't either. I thought I was into menopause with how things have been for me over the last year or so anyway. I have these scans here, and I wanted you to see them."

She paused, and she tilted her head at him. He nodded, "Okay, I'm trying to just let you do the talking. I realize this is a mess we've created."

"Well, mess no," she said, pursing her lips. "Baby, yes, but I'm trying to approach it like everything else-practical decisions, but as you know," she said with a tear forming in her eye, "I'm not always just practical. I tend to add an emotional component."

He gave her a small smile and a nod, "That you do."

"Okay, the scans," she said opening the folder. He looked to her as she pulled paperwork. "I've had most of my care in France so far," she said, pausing to give him an eye. "Everything is going surprisingly well."

"That's good," he said with a nod.

"I had an amniocentesis," she told him and when he shook his head just briefly, she continued, "That's the test that is often recommended for ah, geriatric mothers."

"Geriatric mothers?" Jack asked.

"Oh yeah," she said as she nodded her head and frowned. "Don't get me started on that. I didn't need another reminder, but apparently because I'm so old, well, we are both so old, this is recommended to see if there are any genetic issues or anything that is going horribly wrong."

She paused and took a deep breath. Jack noticed, and he quickly asked, "Is there a problem?"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them and looking at him, almost choking up, "No, there isn't. Everything seems to be perfectly fine, and that is what is so scary to me. There I was having this massive needle stuck in me, after signing waivers that it could cause even a miscarriage," she said as she shook her head and the tears away. "As I lay there thinking about all of this," she paused to catch her breath, "I realized that this was absolutely what I want. No matter the shock or surprise, no matter the age issue, I want this, and I was there just praying everything would be okay."

At that, she did start crying, and tears starting to spill down her face. Jack, who hated to see her cry, stood and walked over to embrace her. He did while she stayed seated.

"I'm sorry, Lisa. I don't know what all of those fancy tests are and all, but I'm sorry you've had this all to carry," he said quietly.

"No pun intended, right?" Lisa said, making a small joke as she pulled back and dabbed at her eye. She waved at him, almost giving him permission to sit down again. He sensed that and did just that.

"I mentioned it right when I got that call, but you knew when you came back after I had my heart attack?" Jack asked.

She looked over at him, taking one last dab to her eye as she regained her composure. She nodded, "Yes, I did. I'd known for a couple of weeks at that point, and I had planned to tell you then. The flight here from France, all I could think about was you not making it and I'd have this baby without you ever knowing. Then, when the doctor suggested a warm place to recuperate and we discussed Arizona, I thought that would be the perfect time and place to tell you. We both know how that ended up," she said giving him a sad smile and shrug.

He sighed loudly and reached over to squeeze her hand, which was clasped over the paperwork. "Lisa, I am very sorry. This is not yours to take on alone. I wish you would have told me, but yeah," he nodded, "that was not my finest moment either. The family was all hovering, and I understand why you've waited, but I'm still just in shock."

The two locked eyes for a moment, and Lisa realized Jack was still clutching her hand. She removed it and went right to the paperwork again. "Well, ah, here is this, the report from the doctor about the amnio. It all came back okay. I just had that done about a week ago. I wanted that done before I came back here to deal with my business. You can see the report," she told him and handed it over.

Jack scanned it briefly, but he glanced up and nodded to her, "I appreciate it. I take your word when you said that all is okay."

"It is," she nodded. "I opted not to find out the sex of the baby, at least not yet. I'm not sure I want to know."

He raised his eyebrows, "I guess I didn't even think about that, I mean, that people can find all of that out these days. Geez, Lise, it's been almost 50 years since I've really had to be involved in this. Back then, you got what you got. There wasn't any fancy testing, finding out the gender, all of this nonsense."

"What, nonsense?" Lisa asked, raising her eyebrows. "Jack, I have to say, even though it was pure torture having that amnio and having that massive, large needle stuck in me, I can't tell you what a relief it is knowing there aren't horrible issues. These aren't just fancy tests for the wealthy or something that I sought out."

"I can see that," he said with a nod. "I'm sorry. I wasn't suggesting you were throwing your money around at fancy tests. I was just trying to explain this is all so foreign. I don't know what to say, and the idea you can know if it's a boy or girl now, well, I guess that just makes it all the more real."

"It is real, Jack," she said in an almost whisper. "It is happening. I pray each day that things just continue to go well. There is always a chance of a problem or miscarriage, but this is happening."

"I know," he nodded. "I am trying to get a handle on that. Just give me a little time to catch up with it.

"Well, that is another thing," she said folding her hands and biting her lip. "I am serious about selling and moving. It might not have made sense, but it does consolidate my business considerably, and with a baby, I won't have to travel as much."

"Well, where does that leave me?" Jack asked. He grunted a little, "I'm sorry, Lise, but you're sitting here telling me that you've had time to process all of this, that you've made this plan, and now this plan has you packing up and leaving the country? Where do I fit into all of this as the baby's father? Geez, I can't believe I just said that," he shook his head. "Father, after all this time."

She nodded and pursed her lips again, "Jack, none of this is to hurt you. We've hurt each other too much, and that is the problem. This leaves you at home. Home. Heartland. Heartland, the place you don't want to leave, the place that when you leave even for a night you hate it. You hate everything about not being there about being everywhere else, with maybe the exception of the fishing cabin. Jack, I cannot and will not throw in the towel and move in with the baby just like it's some family compound with people in and out, extended family all over-I can't do that. That's not what I want, and I am willing to talk things through over the next few months to figure out how you want to be involved.

"How?" Jack asked. "Lisa, I saw what Tim was. He wasn't there, and I raised those girls. I don't want that," he sighed, shaking his head.

"Well, that's where we have some time to figure out how this will all work. With your age, you aren't going to want to be up all hours changing diapers, feeding, and all that," she stated.

"That's not fair," he looked to her pointedly. "Please don't assume anything, and if we aren't bringing up your geriatric age," he said with a scowl, "we aren't bringing up mine."

"Fine," she said raising her hands in defense. "You're right. I shouldn't assume."

The two were quiet for a moment, both taking things in. Lisa looked to the window again, "Maybe we should both take the rest of the day at least to just process all of this, hmm?" She looked to Jack. He met her gaze, and he nodded. She stood, and when she did, he did too. She reached over for his hat and handed it to him.

He took it, and then he took a step toward her, "Lisa, you aren't alone in this. It's just going to take me catching up to this, all of this."

She nodded, "I know." Lisa crossed her arms, and Jack sighed, stepping toward her to give her a hug. She returned it, and then, she stepped back. She wiped at her eye again, and he spoke softly to her.

"If you need anything, you call, no matter what," he told her. She nodded, and she stepped toward the door.

"Oh, umm," she said as they reached the door, and she had her hand on it, "This procedure-when is it?"

"Ah, they are going to run some tests in the morning. Procedure would be the following day if things are what they suspect," he told her.

"Keep me posted, okay?" Lisa tilted her head at him.

"I will," he tipped his hat to her. "You do the same."

"I will," she said nodding.

"Oh, and the girls-the family," he said with a frown.

Lisa shrugged, "Tell them whenever you like, Jack. I won't be the one to tell them, but the sooner the better I suppose," she said, putting her hands on her stomach. Jack's eyes followed her hands, and with her gesture at her still hidden bump, he swallowed hard and nodded.

"Talk to you soon. We'll figure this out," he said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. She simply nodded, afraid she'd break down if she spoke.