"I just think if you would read the directions, it's not that difficult, Jack-"
"Lisa," he said, now agitated, "I've got it! Just let me think in silence for a few seconds!"
"Hey guys," the two paused, glanced at each other and then up out of Lisa's car. The back doors were open, and Jack was trying to install the car seat base while Lisa was on the other side of the car, trying to help. They hadn't heard Amy, who was now beside Jack on Spartan.
"Hi, Honey," Lisa smiled at her with a small wave. "Hot afternoon for a ride, yes?"
"It was," Amy nodded, "but I took Spartan down by the water. He loved walking through it. At least it's cooling off now. Speaking of water, looks like you two are in unchartered waters."
Jack, nodding in irritation, glanced at her, "We'll be fine. Just getting this car seat installed."
"Just checking if you need any help," Amy said, chuckling at them.
"Jack is loving this," Lisa grinned. "Once we finish with my car, his truck is next."
"There!" Jack exclaimed and stood up, proud of his work.
Lisa raised her sunglasses and gestured across the car, "You realize it was just clipping in those tether anchor straps, right? I read the manual, and I tried to tell you that 15 minutes ago. You couldn't find the lower anchors, and I could have shown you."
"I got it," he waved at her. He looked at Amy, "We're just fine."
"Okay, well, good to see you, Lisa. How long now?" Amy asked.
"Alll, well, six more weeks," she said, making a face. "Being pregnant in this heat isn't ideal."
"I told you to wait in the house," Jack grumbled. "I even told you I'd come over and do this later, but-"
"But, I was excited and wanted to bring this over since it arrived in the mail," Lisa shrugged, looking between Jack and Amy.
"Grandpa, with Lou and her family away, Ty with Caleb, is there a dinner plan?" Amy asked.
"No," Jack shook his head, "I mean, I had some leftover stew about an hour ago. It's one of those on your own nights," he said, closing the door and gesturing to Lisa. "Done."
She pointed to the back of her car where the tailgate was open, "Let's see if you can snap in the seat part."
"Can I snap in the seat?" Jack grumbled, trying to stand tall and look very manly. He opened the door again, walked around, and he grabbed the car seat Lisa had bought. Lisa and Amy grinned at each other as he tried to just place it on top of the base. Lisa ducked her head and started to laugh. Jack looked at her. "What's the trick?"
"Angle it first," she nodded. "I'll show you."
"Lisa, do you want to stay and eat?" Amy asked. "Looks like Grandpa might be awhile."
Lisa continued to laugh as she walked around the car to help Jack. She looked to Amy, "Thank you, but I'm fine. I ate earlier as well, and this heat just has me not hungry."
"Oh, that's a first," Jack said jokingly, and she smacked his arm. She gestured for the seat, he handed it to her, and she snapped it in on the first try.
"Oh, come on!" Jack exclaimed. "It's not that easy."
But, it is," Lisa said.
"I'll let you two figure out everything," Amy said, and with that, she turned on Spartan and started for the barn. Jack looked to Lisa and sighed, "Figure out EVERYTHING is a bit of a stretch for this evening."
"Hmm, yes, it definitely is. You know what?" Lisa asked, leaning back against the car and looking up at Jack. He tilted his head, wondering what she was going to say. "It's been nice to laugh with you again. I've enjoyed that these last few days, so right now," she paused and shrugged, "I don't need to figure out anything. I just need to keep laughing with you."
"Well," he said, finally snapping in the seat correctly, standing up with a smug look on his face, "I couldn't have said that better myself. I always enjoy laughing with you, and I think you'll get more of it."
Lisa gave him a quizzical look, and Jack nodded to his truck, "We still have to put that base thing in my truck too. One down, one to go," he said. "Time for another good laugh, I suppose."
"At least I have tomorrow to look forward to," she grinned. "I'm sure you will have no trouble putting together all of that baby gear that arrived at my place today."
Jack pointed to her with the base in his hand, "What is said while assembling things, stays there."
Lisa held up her hands in defense, "I make no such promise."
Jack worked on the truck next, thankfully, with this installation going much easier and faster. Within no time, both bases were installed, and both vehicles were ready. Jack closed the door to his truck and walked back over to put the car seat in Lisa's car."
She made a face as he did that, and when he stood, she still was. He nodded to her, "Now, I did it correctly. What's wrong?"
"Nothing wrong," she nodded, gesturing to the car. "It's just so strange, so real. I keep thinking I'm ready, and then something like this is almost overwhelming." Jack nodded as he listened. The two grew silent and looked around at the evening sun.
After several moments and listening to the horses whinnying in the corral area, Jack turned his head toward Lisa, "Are you really not hungry?"
Lisa shrugged her shoulders and made a face, "I did eat earlier, but to be honest," she looked to him, "stew doesn't sound that good right now."
"How about some ice cream? It's the first week of August, it's the hottest part of the year, so how about that?"
She chuckled and nodded, "You know, that does sound pretty good. Yes, something cold like that sounds perfect. Chocolate caramel crunch?"
"Is there another kind?" Jack winked, and she chuckled. I'll get the ice cream if you want to sit on the porch. We can't figure out everything," he said as he enunciated the word, "but maybe we can talk about the first few weeks and that trip to France you have scheduled for October."
Lisa looked down, let out her breath, and when she looked up, she met his gaze with a nod, "I think that's a reasonable discussion for a bowl of ice cream."
Jack put up his finger, "I didn't say a bowl, just a small cup." Lisa smacked at him, but not before Jack jumped out of the way, and their laughter was heard mixed in with the horses whinnying from the corral.