Lisa rolled down the driveway to the Heartland ranch, ready for this auction in Montana. She didn't want to admit it to Jack, but she was approaching the miserable level. She knew she needed to finish up with this business, but the thought of hours in the car with her back aching and well, almost constant restroom stops, she was already over it. On top of that, she was just flat out exhausted. She was already looking forward to climbing into bed for the night, and it was just 9 AM.
Lisa parked, and she got out of the car, looking around for Jack. He'd said he would be ready, but she also knew he had a lot of chores to finish. The weather was hot already for Alberta standards, and the baby was certainly contributing to her heat intolerance. She turned when she heard a horse and saw Jack riding briskly up to the barn. She waved, and he waved back. Lisa thought about it and decided that as much as she wanted to get back in the car and sit, she would make the short walk to the barn to get a little exercise, deciding she wasn't sure if sitting or standing was more uncomfortable right now. She was just at the end of her 35th week. When she'd told Jack about this trip, she'd said next week, a few days, but it was almost a full week later. She silently cursed that she'd really had to go to this sale, but work was work. She wasn't making millions by sitting at home.
"Hi," she said to Jack as she approached the barn. He was outside hosing off Paint. Lisa looked at Paint and held her hand to her mouth in a chuckle. "What did you two get into?"
"Oh," he waved, "got into some mud down at the water, and as much as I tried to keep him clean, he was just determined to get covered in more and more mud. Sorry I'm running behind. Caleb noticed the fencing out that way," he nodded in the general direction, "had come down yesterday. I wanted to get it mended before we go."
"Take your time," Lisa encouraged him. "Gosh, it's hot."
"Maybe a record today," he added, glancing to her. "Probably good we are going a bit south into the mountains. It's supposed to be cooler there."
"I'm all for that," she said. Jack finished with Paint, and Lisa stood there petting his neck area. "He's still riding well?"
"Yeah," Jack nodded in agreement. "Like I am, he's slowing down, but," he glanced to Lisa as he finished with his saddle, and winked, "neither of us are ready to be put out to pasture."
Lisa walked into the barn shade, and Jack followed shortly after with Paint. He checked the water for the horses while she waited in the office area, taking a seat there, now also out of breath. Jack returned a few minutes later.
"Can I show you something before we go? I'm glad you walked here to the barn because what I want to show you is here," he told her.
"Umm, yes, sure," Lisa huffed her way up. Jack moved to grab her arm and help her out of the low chair. She nodded a thanks to him, and when she met his gaze, he was frowning. "What?"
"Can you manage the stairs?" Jack asked, gesturing to the ones there in the barn.
"Yes, I can manage the stairs," she said, almost irritated. "I'm managing the stairs at home just fine."
"Just asking," he said in defense. "Come upstairs."
Lisa followed, intrigued, and Jack didn't say anything until they walked upstairs to the loft area. She'd been up here before. It was a dusty mess, and she never knew how Ty could stand it. Jack led the way, and when he reached the top, he turned to help her the last couple of steps. She caught her breath when she also reached the top. Jack nodded, and she followed his gaze.
"Amy is going to be moving up here," he explained, gesturing to the completely renovated, absolutely gorgeous, modern loft. "She and I talked about it a few months ago now, and I guess she's already started moving up here." He nodded to a few boxes and a pile of clothing. He turned back to Lisa, "We both thought it was a good idea. She's closer to her beloved horses, is a grown woman now, and she has a little bit of her own space and privacy. Tim and I," he said, sighing and shaking his head, "have been working on this project. I asked them not to say anything until it was done."
Lisa stood there, completely dumfounded, looking around at the loft. She titled her head and looked at Jack, gesturing to the space. "You did all of this?"
He nodded quietly, and Lisa shook her head as she stepped into the loft area and started to walk around it, inspecting the space.
"It would have been done sooner if we didn't have to do all of this re-wiring. Leave it to Tim to try and cut corners with the wiring, but even after inspection, which we failed the first time because we didn't have a separate breaker box or handrail, it's finally done. Amy is planning to move in over the next week or so."
"Jack," she said, shaking her head as she ran her hand over the countertop, "It's beautiful. I can't believe you and Tim did this," making a face when she said Tim's name. "I can't believe the two of you survived working together to do this."
"Yeah, well," he ran his hand on the back of his neck, a nervous habit, and chuckled, "I didn't have my finest moments up here. There's a bathroom over here," he said, walking across the room to the bathroom door, which was closed. Lisa followed and glanced inside of it when he opened the door. "I did all of the plumbing and tiling. That was a cakewalk compared to working with Tim on the wiring."
"I'm very, very impressed," she said nodding. "I can't believe this is the same space Ty stayed in. I'll admit it was a little frightening to walk up here with the condition it was in."
"It was time," he said, almost bashfully. "Amy is still here, but she's got some space. "I know she doesn't want to go far; this is her home, especially after Tim left her when she was so little, and then Marion passed away when she was a teenager. Part of our long talk was that this would be hers as long as she wanted, and whenever the day comes," he said, letting out his breath and rolling his eyes, "that she marries someone, who will shock me if it's NOT Ty," he said and pausing, "I told her they could have some acreage I have picked out for the to build a house. So, she'll always be here, but with her own space."
Lisa just continued to look around at the beautiful work done by Jack and Tim. She nodded as she listened to him, and when he'd finished explaining things to her, she met his gaze.
"This was a huge project. I can't believe you took this on with everything else, and I can't believe I didn't know about it," she said, giving him a look. He shrugged.
"Your hospital stay gave me an excuse to get away from Tim for several days, so thank you for that." The two chuckled about that, and then, Jack nodded to her.
"Let's head back downstairs. I want to show you something else out here," he told her. Lisa gave him a quizzical look, but she followed him. Jack kept turning to make sure she was able to navigate the narrow stairway okay, and when they reached the bottom, he pointed toward his work room area.
"Over here," he said as they walked to it, and then stepped inside, "I found this in pieces up in that space when we started to clear it out. It had honestly slipped my mind it was there, and I am mad at myself for forgetting about it."
Lisa shook her head as if trying to follow, and then, Jack walked over and lifted a tarp to show a wooden, handcrafted cradle. "My grandfather made this for my father. June and I both used it, and Marion used it. I didn't think about it when Lou or Amy were born, probably because that was a rough time dealing with Tim and his drinking," he sighed. "I have been working on this too, and I thought the baby could use this, at least until he outgrows it. It's nothing fancy," he said, frowning at her, "but it's the same cradle his ahh," he paused, a little choked up and glanced away before he looked back to Lisa and continued, "half-sister would have used, along with his father, aunt, and grandfather."
"Oh my, Jack," Lisa put her hand, first to her mouth, and then to her chest, shaking her head as she did. She let out a nervous laugh as she wiped at a stray tear. "Jack, it's just beautiful." She walked to it and ran her hand over the freshly stained cradle. It was a red oak color of cradle, and it was plenty big for the baby to use for at least a few months. She gripped it and found it to be incredibly solid. She smiled up at him as he stood proudly next to it. "I can't believe you had this, that you did this," she gestured to it.
"Ahh, as I said, my grandfather made it. It was just in pieces, a few broken ones, and I just got it all fixed up. Like Paint, it's old, but not ready to be discarded just yet. Maybe it will stay in the family for others. Who knows?"
"Jack, I'm, I'm," she paused and laughed, wiping her face again, "speechless. This is beautiful. You know I love something like this over something fancy. Just because I can buy nice things doesn't mean I don't appreciate special things like this."
"I know," he said quietly, nodding at her. "I just want to make sure you know it's safe and okay for our son to use. I guess you'll have to put some bedding or whatever," he gestured at it, making a face, "in it so he's comfortable."
"Yes, I think I can do that," she said, laughing again. She reached over and squeezed his hand on the cradle, nodding at him. "This is very special, Jack."
"I thought I could put it in my room for now, at least," he nodded. "Never imagined that."
She gave him a warm smile, "I think that would be perfect." Lisa wiped her face again; she couldn't stop crying. Jack, sighed, and he pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry for crying. I don't know why."
"The why is an active little boy in there," Jack said quietly. "He's throwing off all those hormones."
"Right," she said, pulling back and nodded, "all that women stuff."
"Exactly," he nodded with a grin, the moment over now. "All that women stuff that I really don't want to know or discuss, but I do know it's why you can't stop crying." He looked down at her standing next to him now and eyed her, "You'd better stop crying if you are planning to turn into work-mode Lisa. You've got business to do."
"Right I do," she said with a smile and final wipe of her hand on her face. "Ahh, how soon before you are ready to go?"
"I think I'll change if you don't mind. Paint kicked up some mud," he pointed to his jeans. "Why don't you come inside, have a seat, and then we can get going. My bag is ready."
"Sounds good," she said with a warm smile, and Jack opened the door for Lisa to head out first. "How have you managed to find time for all of this?" Lisa asked him as they walked side by side to the house.
He was quiet and shrugged, but he finally answered, "I've just made it happen, Lise. I worked late, worked early-I just wanted to get both things done."
"Well," she said reaching over and squeezing his arm, "it was a really lovely surprise. I'm sure Benoit will love it," she teased, looking up at him with a huge grin. He glanced at her, chuckled, and then turned his head away as he laughed even harder.