Lisa found a steaming pot of coffee waiting in the kitchen the next morning and silently cheered for it. She didn't mind making coffee, but something so simple, it was nice to have a pot there, ready to go. She poured a big mug of it, and she made her way to the back porch, guessing correctly after a quick glance that they guys had taken up residence there.
"Morning," she said, stepping outside. She hissed slightly, nodding back to the house, "I'm going to get my sweater. Bit of a chill, ehh?"
"Morning," Jack smiled as he looked up at her. "I'm enjoying it, and I've got John all bundled up with his blanket," he looked down on his lap to where John was in a fleece blanket. "Yeah, though, it is chilly. Would you mind?" Jack reached over and handed her his empty cup.
She swapped him, putting hers down and nodding to him, "I'll trade. Enjoy, and I'll be right back." Jack winked at her, and she made her way through the house to retrieve her sweater. She returned with it and another hot cup of coffee.
"I didn't even hear you get up," she said to Jack as she settled in at the other end of the sofa and curled her feet up under Jack's leg to warm them up. "John either for that matter."
He waved his hand as he spoke, "Ahh, I woke up a few times, kind of a restless sleep, but I got up about an hour ago, I suppose. I was going to start the coffee, but I heard John start to make some noise, so I grabbed him before he woke you."
"Well, that was very sweet," she said, leaning over to kiss him. He held her gaze as the two settled back into their spots. "I haven't slept that well in a long time, and," she said with a soft smile, "thank you for taking care of John at 11:00 last night and 3:00 this morning and for well," she shrugged and smiled, "just being there because I know I slept a lot better than I have because you were right there. I am sorry though," she made a face and tried to gain his sympathy, "for falling asleep while you were feeding John at 11. I've been going round the clock with him and didn't intend for that."
"Lise, I could see you were exhausted, so I'm glad you got some sleep. You look happy and even refreshed. You're welcome, and I'm glad I'm here," he said with a small smile and held her gaze.
"I just hope that it was maybe the unfamiliar bed and not the company that was the issue," she said with a grin.
"Definitely good company," he nodded.
"Good," she grinned, "because there is always the option to bunk with John. There is that bed in there too."
"That won't be necessary," he winked at her. John made some noises, and the two just watched him as he looked around and moved his little hands.
"So, what's the plan for today? Sightseeing? Dinner?" Jack asked with a side glance to her.
She shook her head, "Just this. Really, Jack, I just want this, to spend time with you and John. I suppose since I don't have much food here, we could take a walk into the village market. That's really all I have planned. I have a meeting tomorrow, but nothing today."
Jack looked over to her with surprise on his face, and he nodded, almost like he wasn't sure whether to believe her.
"What?" Lisa tilted her head and then rolled her eyes. "I really am trying to keep things low key, Jack. I learned my lesson from your last trip, and I hope you might actually enjoy a little bit of it this time."
"I'm enjoying myself just fine," he said with a warm smile. "Good view," he nodded to where they were looking over the early morning valley, "the best company," he winked to her, "even a good meal of FRENCH," he emphasized "toast." At that, Lisa laughed and gave him a warm, genuine smile. She sighed.
"I had to almost pinch myself that you were really here, especially when I woke up and you weren't," she told him. "It seemed like a dream."
He nodded and ran his hand along the side of John's face, "Yeah, I meant what I said about talking today and making some compromises. We need to do that."
"Absolutely," Lisa nodded, "because this," she gestured around, "fairy tale of living in our perfect bubble is just that. We have to go back to reality, and that's where it's complicated."
"We're going to uncomplicate it, promise," he nodded.
"Okay," she said as she let out a long breath and nodded to him. "Ahh, let me whip up some eggs and some toast. I don't have any bacon," she said with a frown to Jack. He just waved it off and chuckled.
"Maybe we can talk once we eat and put down John for a nap?" Jack offered. "When he's up, then, maybe we can go on that walk to the village."
"It's a date," she said, pulling her feet out from where they'd warmed up. She stood, leaned over and kissed Jack before she patted John's head and went to start breakfast.
It was over an hour later when Lisa emerged from the bathroom, dressed for the day, and found Jack washing up the last of the breakfast dishes. She gestured to her pants when Jack looked over to her as she entered the room. He gave her a quizzical look and shook his head.
"Sorry, Lise, but I'm not sure what that gesture is for?" Jack asked.
She nodded, "I didn't think you would, but it's a big deal to me. This is the first pair of regular jeans I've been able to fit into."
He raised his eyebrows in a flirtatious nod, "Well, that's good news."
"Yes and no," she made a face and chuckled slightly. "Yes, it's nice to be back in some regular pants, but," she paused and made a loud sigh on purpose, "they are two sizes larger than anything I've ever worn."
"Ahh," he said, pulling her in and spinning her around once as he held her, "I'm sorry about that. They do look great on you, but I know that's something you are self-conscious of, but I'm here to tell you that you look beautiful." He kissed her and smiled at her when she tried to roll her eyes at his compliment. He winked and continued, "Until the 16th, the best looking 47-year-old I've seen, and on the 16th, wow," he grinned, "the hottest 48-year-old mom around."
She dropped her head in a chuckle into his chest, and he kissed her head, continuing, "What? Do you really think I'd forget your birthday? I didn't have to see it was intentional that you stayed here through your birthday."
"Yeah, well," she said now loosely in his arms where she played with one of his shirt buttons, "I really didn't want to deal with my birthday at home. It was too hard. We've always had such nice birthdays together, and I knew this one wouldn't be like the other great memories."
"See, that's where you are wrong," he said, putting his hand on the side of her face, "it's going to be another great birthday, just this time in France, somewhere you love."
"With someone I love," she told him and leaned in to give him a long, lingering kiss. "Thank you for remembering my birthday is coming up."
"One day I'll never forget," he added, winking at her. He hugged her, and they stood there for a moment. When he stepped back, he fingered at his mustache and looked to the floor. "So?" Jack looked up at her, and she nodded.
"Yes, so, do you want to talk outside?" Lisa asked. Both were now nervous, the make it or break it conversation, even though both had stated they wanted to make things work. Wanting and acting were two different things, and neither could predict the direction of the conversation.
"Hear me out here first," Jack raised his hand in the air and gave Lisa a look. She was almost startled and gave him a questioning nod.
"I know it is," he looked to his watch and sighed. "I've got to change the time. It's-"
"9:45," Lisa interjected with a smile. She giggled slightly as Jack tried to deal with his watch issues.
"Right, fine, 9:45, but let's talk over a glass of wine. That's about all I can get on board with in France. They drink all the time here, so why not now? I think that would relax us both for our talk."
"Hmm," she nodded with a snicker, "I like your thinking. Lucky for you, I have some on hand. I'll get it and join you."
Lisa brought out two glasses of wine and had the bottle under her arm. She held it up after putting down the glasses, "Didn't know how well this would go."
Jack chuckled and raised his eyebrows at her, "I didn't see my bag packed and out on the front porch, so maybe it will go better than expected?" Lisa swatted at him as she sat down, turning sideway on the couch to face him. She put a pillow on her lap and started to pick at it to relieve her nervous tension.
"So," Jack said, putting his hand on her knee and squeezing it, "I've been doing a lot of thinking for a long time. It hasn't helped that I've had Tim in my ear trying to be matchmaker the last few weeks," he grumbled. Lisa smiled. "I want to ask you to try and hear me out, please."
"I will, she smiled, putting her hand on his and squeezing it.
"I want us to live at Heartland," he started, and he could see she had already opened her mouth to say something, but he just nodded. "Hold on, please," he said, giving her a small smile.
"You're right," she shook her head. "I'm going to let you talk."
"Thank you," he said with a smile, and continued. "I know some of your concerns. I know that it can't be the family compound where everyone is in and out. I get that," he nodded and looked to his coffee mug. "Amy is living above the barn now that it's all fixed up. You know that, and she likes having a little independence but being close by. You know," he shrugged and glanced to her, "with Ty and all, not," he held up his hand and closed his eyes as he shook his head, "that I want to even go there, but," he looked to Lisa, and Lisa was giving him a sympathetic smile, "she's a grown woman, and they will someday get married. I'm sure. Still, Heartland is her home, and I don't want to throw her out-"
"Jack," Lisa frowned and met his gaze, shaking her head, "I have to say this, and I'm sorry for cutting in, but I would never ever ask your family to leave. That is their home."
"I know," he said, picking up her hand and kissing it. "I'm just laying out my case." She nodded.
"Amy's home will always be Heartland, and I think that with losing her mom so young and having Tim out of her life so long, she needs that extra security blanket of knowing her home will always be there, even as a grown woman," he winked at Lisa. "However, she came to me awhile back, and we've talked about John a lot. She really loves him and loves spending time with us. She, John, and I watch a lot of television together."
"She mentioned that to me," Lisa said quietly, giving him a warm smile. She chuckled, "She told me about his diaper issues, the formula incident-" Jack groaned, and Lisa reached over to squeeze his hand. "I'm really glad she loves John. That is very important."
"It is," he nodded, "and knowing that, what I believe about her insecurities and her space at Heartland, Amy spoke to me and wanted to know where John's room would be. She said she'd thought about it, and that even though she had a room over the barn, she wanted John to have a room, her room."
Lisa's eyes widened, and she shook her head, "Jack, Amy's room?"
He nodded too, "I know. Based on some other family dynamics, which I will get to in just a second," he nodded to her, "Amy felt her room was easy because she's still on the property. It's also the closest to the living room and bathroom for John. Now, I said this was based on some other family dynamics," and Lisa nodded, listening as she followed Jack's explanation.
"I came back to Amy with a compromise. I don't want her to feel she's been kicked out. I offered her to move into Marion's old room."
"Katie's room?" Lisa asked, tilting her head.
Jack nodded, "Stay with me. I promise the roof shuffle will make sense. I don't want to put John there, and I've never been crazy about Katie in there with that door to the outside, but we've all managed the growing pains at the house. Amy was open to that idea, now," he held up his hand to Lisa, "knowing what I'll tell you in just a minute," because she said it was still a connection to Marion, and we both know that girl will never fully get over losing her mom. So, even if Amy isn't in the house, but we move her room to Marion's room, she still has a place there, a place to always come back to even if just from the barn. Now," he nodded to her. "That puts John in Amy's room and Amy's room in Marion's old room."
"Yes," Lisa gestured, "but Katie's current room."
"Current," he said with a nod and a sigh. "You know Lou and Peter have been back and forth, on and off, all of that."
"Yes," she rolled her eyes, "sounds familiar."
"Well," he nodded, "yes, maybe so, but looks like we are all trying something new. Lou and the kids have been visiting Peter a lot. They are trying to work through this long-distance work thing with Peter. Lou always needs a new project; she can't stand it otherwise. I've had a few long talks with her, not that I've wanted to be in her business, but she's come to me asking a lot of advice. I'm not sure with my own romantic issues, I was the one to ask," he said with a wink to Lisa. She chuckled and nodded in agreement.
"Lou and Peter are going to buy something small, in town, and Lou is really excited about it. She wants to fix it up and all," he explained. "She and Peter talked about moving to Vancouver, but that's not what is best for the girls. Georgie wants to be near Heartland, understandable, but she and I talked about the fact that her family probably needs their own space. Now," he glanced to Lisa, "this was not me pushing her out either. I've still offered her property on Heartland to build a house. They aren't sure that's what they want. Both prefer more of a town lifestyle. Georgie is the only one who really likes horses. This would be close enough to town but close enough Georgie could still ride her bike. It's like a fresh start for them, and I think honestly," he glanced to Lisa with a frown, "it's their last ditch effort. She doesn't want to get a divorce, but," he sighed. Lisa sighed too and nodded.
"Umm," she shook her head, "this is a lot."
"I know," he agreed. "I told you it's been a mess, and this is just me getting this from the girls. I've not told them anything about us, even though they know we've had our own mess. They just don't know what I've wanted to do to fix it."
Lisa took a deep breath, "Ahh, okay, so?"
"So, now, all of a sudden, the house is a lot less like a revolving door. Lou's room will stay; it's the same idea as Amy's. This is her home, and well," he frowned, "I never want to think something won't work out, but knowing Lou and Peter, well, she always has a place at Heartland. She's a grown woman too and has to figure out her own life, even if it hurts."
"She does," Lisa nodded. "Believe me, I understand that," she chuckled. "I talked to her a lot about my marriage to Dan and how that blew up, trying to get her to understand to not make some of those mistakes."
"Well, I for one, am glad you did," he chuckled quietly and squeezed her hand. "So, you can see that moving Amy to Katie's old room is a plausible idea. Katie will be moving closer to town, and Lou and Peter are excited for this. It's a small house, but that's fine. Lou just wants another project and fresh start. For the upstairs," he said and glanced to Lisa. She shook her head.
"Georgie is up there and will also be of course moving with Lou and Peter. That room can stay a guest room, but there is a good bit of it that I intend to change."
"Change?" Lisa chuckled and backed up, looking surprised.
"You need an office, a space of your own. John will be out of our room, but that needs the Lisa touch to it," he smiled and winked at her. "I don't want you having to do business in there. That's not for work. The upstairs is one large open room, and it won't be a problem to frame that into two rooms, something that should have been done a long time ago. After Lindy died, though, it just became a storage closet, the whole place, and a dumping ground. Lou has cleaned out a lot of that over the years, but that is the priority when we get home, that is," he gave her a hopeful glance, "if you even consider all of this. You would have an office, upstairs, nice and quiet, away from John crying or as he gets older, running through the house. There would be a guest room up there for the girls whenever they want to come over to GiGi's place," he chuckled quietly. "That is something I can get done right away. You can't run a multi-million dollar business from the kitchen table or from my fly fishing table. I know that, and I will make a place, a good, quiet place for you."
Jack glanced to Lisa, and she blinked a lot and shook her head, "Ahh, I'm speechless."
"I know," he nodded and wiped at his mustache. "It's a lot, and it's all happening at once. That shifts everyone, and more importantly," he looked to her with a deep longing. "It puts us under one roof with John, and I know it's not Fairfield, Lise. I know it's not the fancy home you love, the pristine, quiet place, but I'm really hoping you will consider it. I can't just abandon Heartland. I have the ranch to run, and Amy can't do it by herself. I know you have an entire staff to run the stables, and I'm not suggesting you do anything but continue to run it, but just run it from Heartland. You could go to work like anyone else does, but just not live at your house. I don't know what that means for your house. It's a beautiful home, and I know you grew up there, but I'd really like to be able to live with you at Heartland. I'm not taking any more stray kids in," he closed his eyes in a soft chuckle. "The only people returning to Heartland will be family and their family, and hopefully we can send them back to their homes and be there with John. That's what I want, Lise, a home with you and John. I will even be okay with you bringing over your bedroom furniture because I know you love it. We can easily move John's furniture, or," he grunted, "I'll get Tim and Caleb to do that. I have some great memories in that home with you already and want more. My favorite two parts of the day are sitting with you on the couch staring at the fire and sitting with you at the kitchen table drinking coffee and talking. I want more of that."
Lisa pursed her lips, considering it all, and Jack met her gaze with a nod, "I promise I have something that I will compromise on if you can do that?"
"What is it?" Lisa shook her head, tilting it.
"We keep the house here," he gestured to where they were sitting, "and I'll come to France, with you and John, a couple times a year. I promise, no going back on it."
"But, but," Lisa stammered, "you hate it here. It's no secret."
He sighed and reached for her hand, taking it in his, "It's taken a long time, but I just want to be where you are. I hate traveling yes, but I will do some for you. I don't want to spend half the year here or something, maybe just a trip in the winter and summer, but I will come here for you. I do like your house here," he told her. "I really do. It's quiet, and I like the rolling hills, but as you pointed out, we were barely here last trip. I don't like being on the road the whole time, traveling all over France. I don't want to take that from you, but maybe when we come, I'm here at the home base, even with John, and you do what you need to do for work for whatever, shopping or anything. This home is comfortable, and I do like it."
"You do?" Lisa asked, looking almost horrified and shocked at him. "I thought you hated it. It's small and just not-"
He met her gaze, "I do like it, promise. I'd tell you if I didn't. What I don't want is some big vacation place. We went down that road, and I don't want some big, fancy place. I like this place because it's cozy, and you picked it out. You liked it enough to buy it, and I'd rather be in something like this with a view like this than some big, fancy vacation home."
"Okay," she said with a surprised nod. "I really had no idea."
"You can chauffeur me around over here," he winked at her. "I've told you I don't want someone chauffeuring me around, and I don't back in Canada, but I hate driving here, and I'll gladly let you continue to do that."
Lisa covered her mouth as she laughed, and Jack caught her gaze and started to laugh too.
"I just want you to know that I don't want to do a lot of traveling, but I know it's important for your work and all to come here. If you have to come more for work, I understand," he nodded quietly. "I just want to be able to stay home, to keep John at home, and then, you go do your work. You'll have the house here, and John and I can come with you a couple times a year. I just don't want to be gone for months at a time and all. I just ask that there's no Florida. I know you have to go there some and were thinking about moving there, but I just can't add that too. I can't lose you."
"I'm not sure where to start," Lisa said shaking her head. Jack nodded too.
"Let's get ready for that walk. Maybe we take a break, digest some of this, get out of the house with John, and just be together."
"Take a break, you mean though, together, right?" Lisa said, a hint of teasing in her voice. "Last time we took a break it didn't include being together."
Jack rolled his eyes at her, knowing she was trying to diffuse things and make a joke, "Yes, Lise, take a break from talking and just get out of the house with our son. Let's go for a walk and watch me fumble my way through buying food for dinner."