It was now into September. Lisa had survived John's first night away and several others now, not that any were getting easier, but she was coping. Her heart dropped each time he left her sight, but she didn't have another option. Fall was definitely in the air, and she was starting to feel better again. Her headache was almost gone, still a dull ache during the day, but nothing like it had been. John was waking up more and screaming more, so that wasn't always fun, but it was just what having a newborn was. Sharing with Jack was going okay so far, but she always felt like there were things unsaid and that they were on the verge of a huge blowup about him. It just felt, well, uneasy, and she couldn't put her finger on why.

Today, she was in town to run some errands and meet up with Jack. He'd kept John again, and Lisa was about to meet the guys for lunch. Jack had feed to order from Maggie's, and Lisa needed to check on a new bridle she'd ordered, so it felt like a nice outing to enjoy John and not spend every second under the watchful eye of everyone who passed through Heartland on a daily basis.

Lisa, who was the first to arrive, by no surprise, since she knew just how long it was taking to get out of the house with John these days, had a table by the window. She had already ordered coffee for both of them and expected Jack any minute. She silently cursed when it was Val, not Jack, who walked through the door to Maggie's next. As much as she tried to hide, there was nowhere to go, and out of the corner of her eye, she could see Val walking up to the table.

"Lisa," Val said in her fake, caring tone, "haven't seen you in ages, and well, would you look at that," she gestured to her, "not pregnant anymore. I'd heard you had the baby."

Lisa took a deep breath and threw on a smile, "Yes, John is doing very well."

"So brave of you to leave him with a babysitter already, wow," she shook her head. "I know we are both businesswomen, but I didn't want my kids to leave my side at that age."

Lisa tensed her face and gritted her teeth, as she responded, "Jack has him; he's not with a babysitter. He is with his father."

"Oh, right," she said, nodding like she didn't believe a word. "My mistake, yes, Jack said he was helping with your baby."

"Val," she threw up her hands, "what is your problem? You know very well that Jack is doing a good job and is John's father. You're the one who is putting ideas in his head to go after me for custody!" At that, Lisa could tell Val had no idea Jack would share that. Her expression changed, and Lisa pressed into that, "That's right. I know what you are doing. You maliciously tried to spread rumors that I was, was," she gestured wildly, "some sort of hussy! You accused me, through gossip, of sleeping around on Jack, and you know me and my character. Nothing could be further from the truth! You've been disrespectful to me, you've talked badly about me to Jack, and you've interfered in our business. Leave OUR SON alone," she stated bluntly. "Oh," she let out a huff and a laugh, "and leave Jack alone. He and I might not be together, but he's not interested in you and will never ever be, not over my dead body."

Lisa caught sight of Jack at the door with John in his car seat. She met his gaze, and he closed his eyes and nodded at her. Val stood there speechless, and Jack moved quickly before more could be said. Lisa knew her face was flushed especially after realizing Jack had heard all she'd said.

"Val," Jack walked up, trying to appear to Val as he'd just arrived. "You've stopped by Heartland a few times to meet John," he stated, glancing to Lisa and making eye contact as he did, really to let her know that Val hadn't been by just one time, but several. "Here he is, but I've told you before to leave Lisa alone. She's done nothing to you."

Val, still in shock, shook her head and turned to Jack, her tone and expression totally changing with his presence. She looked down to the carrier, and she clutched her hands to her chest.

"My, Jack," she said, completely ignoring Lisa, "you have your hands full. Hmm," she shook her head. "I can't say he resembles anyone."

Lisa rolled her eyes, and Jack just smiled at Val. He had John in a little one-piece footed outfit, not pajamas, but an outfit Lisa had packed with the weather really cooling off. He was wearing a little cap on his head too, and Lisa just wanted to scoop him up and away from Val. He just shrugged at her, "Well, Val, you know, he's got Lisa's blonde hair," and reached over to tug at the cap. John did have long whisps of blonde hair, but it was so blonde, it was hard to see he had a decent amount of it. "Lisa, the girls, and even Tim all say John and I scowl the same," he nodded and shrugged. "I don't think I scowl at all, so I can't comment on that." John started to cry, and Lisa reached over to pat at his stomach, trying to soothe him. He opened his eyes to look around at his surroundings. Lisa, trying to ignore Val's presence commented too.

"He's got your eyes, Jack. Don't forget that. Right now, he's got those incredible gray eyes," Lisa offered, a nod and smile to Jack.

Val, who didn't want to look at John, but did at the same time, couldn't help but look at him when he started to cry. Lisa watched her and maybe realized that in her own way, Val just didn't want to believe Lisa and Jack did have a baby together. It was almost like the stab in the back to show Val they really had been a couple in love.

"There, there," Lisa said, now standing to unbuckle John. Jack handled Val.

"Val, we're going to have a nice lunch. I'd appreciate you being respectful to Lisa. She'd done nothing to you except hang around me. Good day," he said, tipping his hat to her and looking to Lisa. "Now, what does he need?"

Once Val had huffed off, Jack, with a look of concern, asked, "Are you okay?"

"I'm sorry, Jack, but what I said, it needed to be said," she told him. "I've had it with Val."

He raised his hands in defense, "You handled her, and I don't disagree with you."

Jack had offered to go somewhere else for lunch after that mess with Val, but thankfully, things had settled after that. Lisa, still tense, had done a lot to relax and enjoy her lunch. Jack got to talking about moving the cattle.

"So, Tim and I need to move the cattle no later than next week," he explained. "I'll be gone a couple of days. You remember those cattle drives."

"I do," she nodded, with a small smile, adding, "fondly." That hung in the air, and both seemed to be lost in those memories. Finally, Jack spoke again. "Just wanted to make sure you were okay with John next week, not that I probably need to ask. I know you are missing him a lot."

She teared up and just shrugged, "I'd be lying if I wasn't."

"I know," he nodded sympathetically. "I will tell you that you missed a doozy last night, so count your blessings I had him."

She tilted her head wondering to what he was referring, and he chuckled, "Horrendous diaper blowout. I don't know how someone that size does what he did. It got everywhere, even up his back and his hair. I had to bathe him in the middle of the night and wash all that bedding. He and I finished the night sleeping in my chair."

Lisa covered her mouth and laughed, nodding, "Oh my."

"Oh my is right," he sighed and rolled his eyes. "I'd ask what he's eaten, but I know the answer. What I don't know is how that formula does that, smells that bad, and just makes that kind of mess one time and not at other times."

"Hmm, just love our new topics of lunch conversation, ehh?" Lisa grinned and winked at him. He chuckled too.

"A baby certainly changes everything," Jack sighed. "Everything."