Jack showed up right on time the morning of Lisa's appointment, and before he could knock on the door, Lisa was opening it, ready to get going.
"Hi," she told him, seeming to be in a rush. "I'm going to just lock up."
Jack glanced to his watch, "I'm not late, am I? You said 9:00?"
"I'm just antsy this morning," Lisa said shaking her head and locking the door. She finished and turned to him, finding him giving her a once over. "What? Do I have a stain or something on my clothing?" She looked, trying to find whatever he was seeing.
Jack snapped out of it, realizing he was staring at her, "No, no," he shook his head. "How can I say this without sounding insensitive? You look more pregnant now, if that's a word or whatever," he said waving his hand and sighing. "Maybe I just notice because I know."
Lisa nodded and ran her hand down her side, "Right, yes, well, I appreciate the tact, but you are right. Every book I've read-because I tried some of the online blogs and those are terrifying," she said making a face, "every book said there comes a point when a woman pops, as it's described, where it doesn't just look like she's eaten a few extra croissants, but actually looks pregnant. I'm there," she said with a firm nod and gesture to herself. "Made it to just a day shy of 20 weeks."
"I didn't know that was a thing," he shrugged. "Like I said, I wasn't wanting it to come across harshly. You are having a baby, Lise, as crazy as it is with our ages, but if that's the term, popped, I suppose I would have to agree. That fast, huh?"
She patted her side again, and she rolled her eyes, "I wouldn't say it's been fast, at least not to me. I've been feeling like my body is not my own for some time now. Five month mark already," she said with a small smile. "Though, I am not sure how I go to bed one night and wake up the next to this rounded stomach now. At first I thought it was my clothing, but after changing six or seven times today, it's not, which reminds me," she said as they walked to her SUV. I'd like to make a couple of stops today in Calgary. I hope you aren't booked all day."
"Cleared the day," he said, as they stopped by her car. He gestured to it and looked to her, "I'm happy to drive if you would like. I don't mind, and part of why I wanted to come today was to help and give you a break."
She pursed her lips and looked at him, nodding, "Okay, but if my beautiful SUV breaks down, you are officially cursed and cannot drive anything again. Clear?"
He chuckled and nodded as he took the keys she was offering, "Yes, ma'am."
The ride started off quietly, both looking out the window, and Jack cleared his throat a couple of times, At one point, he thought her heard her do the same, glanced over, and he found her asleep. He chuckled. Lisa didn't wake until she heard her car GPS talking.
"Recalculating," it said, and she sat forward quickly in her seat.
"Did we miss a turn?" Lisa asked, looking around. They were in downtown Calgary, and she looked ot the GPS.
"No," he said with some irritation in his voice as he gestured to the GPS, "although, I am about ready to smash that and throw it out the window. I've been circling the block, and that stupid device keeps saying recalculating. It's about the fourth time it's done that, at least that I've paid attention to, probably more."
"Oh," she said leaning forward and pushing a button that made all the sound go away. "You can turn it off when you have reached the destination. You weren't circling because I was sleeping, were you? Sorry about that, by the way," she said with a grimace on her face.
He waved at her, "Glad to see you could get a little rest on the drive, although, I do have to report," he said with a glance and a smirk at her, "you were snoring."
"I was not!" Lisa exclaimed, her cheeks turning red.
"I've told you before you do," he chuckled. "It's not all the time, but you were, indeed, snoring, Lise."
"Oh," she huffed and shifted in her seat. He continued to chuckle.
"We're circling because I'm trying to get a good parking spot," he explained.
Lisa sighed, "Jack, I've told you before that I'm always okay walking. I don't need to have a close parking spot."
He gestured to her heeled dress boots, "Those boots say otherwise, as I often tell you. Oh," he exclaimed and swatted at her arm, "would you look at that!" Jack excitedly pulled Lisa's SUV into a premier parking spot just two spots down from the office where Lisa was scheduled for her appointment. She sighed, rolled her eyes, and shook her head.
Once Jack parked, the two were quiet in the car for a moment while it seemed to register with each where they were and why they were here. Lisa broke the silence.
"I appreciate you driving today and had no idea I was that exhausted, but," she said turning her head toward him, "if it's okay with you, I would like to go into my appointment by myself. It's my first visit here, and I think I would be more comfortable. I am expecting just a routine visit, asking about my health and checking my blood pressure."
"Ahh, sure," he said with a single nod. He looked out the front window and nodded. "There's a coffee shop down there. I can wait there."
"Now that you know," she continued to explain, "I am not trying to shut you out of anything that might be important, but I'd like to go to my own doctor's office visit."
"Lise, you don't have to explain," he told her. "Honestly, I'm glad you let me drive today, even just come along."
"Alright," she told him. "I'll see you at the coffee shop when I'm done."
The two parted ways, Jack waiting until she was inside the office before he even got out of her car. He made a fool of himself by setting off her car alarms as he tried to use the electronic key to lock her car. He stood there pressing buttons, giving people a smirk, as they looked onward at him. He finally turned off the car alarm, grunted, and he headed to the coffee shop.
It was nearly an hour later that Lisa stepped into the shop and glanced around, trying to spot him. She saw him at the back of the coffee shop, sitting against a table at the wall, reading the newspaper. She made her way over to where he was, and he looked up as she approached.
"Hi," she said with a small wave. "Hope you weren't too bored."
"Not at all," he said, closing the paper. "Everything okay?"
"Everything is fine," she said with a nod. "I had to wait a little, but it was as I expected. I hand carried my records, but the office in France had sent them as well. Luckily, they'd been translated into English correctly," she said with a small smile.
"Good," he nodded.
"Ahh, they did schedule me for an ultrasound, and I booked something, but I can change it. I thought you might want to see that," she told him.
"Medicine has changed so much, Lise. I'll go to whatever you think," he told her.
"It's the midpoint ultrasound to check and see if everything is okay. You don't have to go-" she started to say, but he jumped in.
"I'll be there, whatever day you scheduled. I don't have too much on my calendar, and if needed, I'm sure I can move it," he told her.
"Okay," she said with a nod. The two could feel the slight tension as they walked on eggshells around each other. At moments, they felt very much at ease with each other, almost like nothing had changed. The comment in the car about snoring was a good laughing moment. At other times, the tension was much thicker, as the reality that they were not together but having a child hit them too.
"Ahh, lunch?" Lisa asked looking around toward the front doors of the coffee shop.
Jack nodded and stood, "Yeah, I'll take you to lunch."
"I'm not asking you to pay, Jack," she sighed.
"Didn't say you did, but you also know me well enough nothing else is an option. Now, let's find some lunch," he told her, gesturing to the door.
"After that, there's a shop here in town I'd like to check out if you are sure you have time?" Lisa asked.
Jack rustled with his coat and put his hat on as they reached the door, "Lise, I told you, day is clear. You pick lunch, and we can stop at this place you need." She nodded, and the two walked outside and continued down the sidewalk.
"Say, was that my car earlier making all the noise?" Lisa, tilted her head and looked over at him, an almost hidden smirk on her face.
"Don't ask," he grumbled. "Nothing wrong with my truck. All this technology is a bit much."
"Hmm," she reached over and patted his arm, "you keep thinking that. My car has the better safety rating, and we haven't even discussed all of the bells and whistles that my car has for car seat installation."
Jack grumbled and successfully unlocked her car door before opening it, "I can hardly wait."
Once lunch was over, Lisa's stop turned out to be a small baby boutique she'd found online and wanted to visit. As they successfully parked, without having to wait for a parking space and also without having any car alarm issues, Lisa explained her thinking to Jack.
"I'd like to look at what they have here. I looked online some, but I want to check out the quality of things here," she told him.
"Okay," he shook his head. "Just what are you looking at today?"
"Furniture," she nodded as they reached the door.
"You mean like a crib?" Jack offered. He met her gaze.
"Yes, Jack. A baby needs a crib, changing table-a lot of things," she told him.
"I didn't disagree, Lisa," he sighed, opening the door.
Before they stepped inside, Lisa turned and put her hand on his wrist, "Jack, things have gone smoothly today. I am sorry if I was cross, but I'm on edge. I just want to look."
"Okay," he said, gesturing to the store. "I could always get Katie's crib." Jack let the door close to discuss this further.
"Oh, really?" Lisa raised her eyebrows, the two still standing in the parking lot with Jack's hand on the door. "You haven't told me-how did the family react?"
Jack's face reddened, realizing that he didn't want to have this conversation and had just walked into it with the offer of a crib. He stumbled over his works, "Well, I haven't exactly told them yet."
"Exactly told them?" Lisa took off her sunglasses and raised her eyebrows at him. "What part haven't you exactly told them? The crib? I get that part as we are just talking about it now."
"Well, ahh, I haven't said anything. I'm not sure they realize you are back in town," he tried to explain.
"Right, I see," she nodded, pursing her lips. "Why am I not surprised? So, the fact I've been back now for awhile, no mention of anything, that lives are changing, that the girls are getting a new aunt or uncle-you haven't said word about that?"
"Oh geez," he said, wiping his hand over his face. "That just sounds so strange, a new aunt or uncle for the girls."
"Oh, so now are you ashamed of all this, of me, the baby?" Lisa asked. "You aren't telling anyone, and as much as I've enjoyed avoiding town and the gossip, it won't be that way forever. I will be in town, and people are going to find out."
"Now, just hold on," Jack pleaded as he put his hand up in defense. "I'm not ashamed of any of this, and I'm really not trying to hide anything, but I just haven't found a way to tell them."
"Here's one," Lisa offered. "Short and sweet-girls, Lisa is pregnant. She and I are having a baby, but we aren't together anymore. We'll make it work best we can."
Jack looked down and let out his breath. When he looked up, she'd now crossed her arms, and he could see the hurt on her face.
"Lisa, I'm sorry, and yes, I need to tell them. I am not ashamed, and I know I've had time to tell them. I suppose I just dread it, the comments I'm going to get from them."
"Oh, as if the stares and comments I am getting from random strangers, even doctors, about being so old to be pregnant is okay, Jack! It's not! People act like I should be bringing a walker in, heading home to the nursing home with this pregnancy. A woman my age can still have a baby, and somehow, it's treated like I'm about to break some world record."
Jack listened, nodded, and finally, he reached for her arm, and he squeezed it, meeting her eyes. "I will tell the girls. Amy's out tonight for something, and Lou's out tomorrow, but I will tell them. That's been part of the problem too. Recently, neither are ever both around. Now, we can discuss this more, but I know you've been set on coming to this store if you've been researching it. I'd like to walk around with you and let you look. I'm sorry I brought it up. I'm sorry for the comments people are making. I can't fix that, but you're right that you have had to endure a lot. I will tell the girls."
Lisa nodded, and the two both took in their breaths as they pushed through this latest spat. Finally, Lisa spoke.
"For what it's worth, I'm buying my own crib. I didn't say anything when I helped Lou put hers together, but it wasn't the best quality, and I'd like a different wood with a matching set," she told him.
"Okay," he said with a gesture. "Shop away. I'll keep my mouth shut."
An hour later, the two emerged from the store, not in an argument, but both rather quiet. Jack opened her door again, and after getting back on the road, he finally broke the silence.
"So, just so I can understand," he said and looked over to her, "you found one that you like, and it's cheaper than the same one you saw online, but you don't want to get it?"
Lisa, who had been absentmindedly looking out the window turned and shook her head, "No, not yet. Look, I know this sounds silly, but I can't bear to get it just yet. There is still a chance something goes wrong. There's always a chance, but right now, as it is, the baby isn't viable. I just can't buy anything for at least another six weeks or so at the earliest. Call me superstitious, but I'm not doing it. I just wanted to have a plan as to what I'll purchase when the time comes."
"Okay," he said with a nod, her reasoning making sense. "So, are you buying anything anytime soon or waiting for a couple more months?"
"Waiting," she said with a single nod. "I am waiting because I worry something will go wrong, but I'm also waiting because I will hopefully have my life a bit more sorted and won't have to move so much."
He eyed her and tightened his grip on the wheel, "He said through almost gritted teeth. It's been a couple of weeks. Are you still thinking about Florida?"
"I am," she said with a nod. "We can discuss my move to Florida more after you tell the girls. I think that's reasonable, don't you, Cowboy?"