"Thought I heard you come in," Jack stepped into the bedroom with Jack on his shoulder. Lisa quickly closed the closet door and smiled over to them.
"Hi," she leaned up to kiss him, and patted John's back. She gestured over to the bed where she had several bags.
"I found something for you that I think you will be very excited about," she said, teasingly. He gave her an inquisitive glance, and she pulled out one of the bags. Jack started to laugh when she pulled out a newspaper.
"It's an American newspaper from today," she said with a nod.
"Finally, something in English!" Jack smacked the paper and kissed her cheek. "Thank you. I have been missing my paper each day."
"I know it's not your local Canadian news, but it's what I could find," she smiled.
"I'll take it," he winked. "So, how was your shopping trip?"
"Good," she grinned, and Jack could also see she wasn't saying everything. She finally rolled her eyes with his look at her, and she gestured to the closet, "I found a dress."
"Oh, you did," he nodded. "Hear that John, Mom found a dress. That sounds like a wedding to me."
"Nothing over the top, nothing you'd see in some bridal magazine, just something that well," she shrugged, "says me."
"I can't wait to see it," Jack smiled.
Lisa swatted at him as it looked like he was going to try to open the small closet, "You can wait. It's just a couple days from now."
"Really looking forward to that," Jack said with a wink. "Let's get you something to drink and sit down to talk about our days."
"Coffee," she called out to him. "A cup of coffee sounds great, Jack."
Lisa waited until he'd left the room and closed the door. She opened the closet and unzipped the dress bag she had hanging there. It was just what she wanted, something very simple, something that didn't scream bride all day. She didn't want some traditional wedding dress. She just wanted a simple white suite-like outfit. She'd found the perfect one, and she was glad about that. Lisa still wasn't thrilled with her sizing, but she really was just trying to push that out of her mind. She had an unexpected and absolutely wonderful baby boy she wouldn't trade the world for, and in all of this mess of the last year, she was finally marrying the man she'd fallen in love with over the last seven years, his obvious flaws and all as she'd jokingly told him on their first trip to the fishing cabin. She wasn't perfect. Jack wasn't perfect, but she also couldn't deny just how much she loved him. Did he annoy her to no end at times? Of course, but that was taking someone for whom they were, even if there were times she wanted to scream. She didn't care about anything right now except just being with Jack and John. It was funny to her how perspectives changed as life changed.
After Jack had proposed, the two had a lengthy discussion about where and when they would get married, and she was surprised that Jack was actually excited about getting married before returning to Canada. Some of that, she agreed, was due to the fact that things did get messy when back at home. There were a lot of opinions in town, and neither wanted those part of their wedding. She was a little sad the girls would miss it, but at the same time, she and Jack were looking forward to surprising them and having just a very nice family dinner once they were all home. The girls knew Jack hated any sort of party or event, hated having the spotlight on him, and she'd been through a lot of things this last year and was very happy with a low-key event. Besides, she had to admit to herself-and hadn't mentioned this to Jack-she was secretly excited about the shock she would put on Val's face when the time was right. That would be so enjoyable to watch, not that she ever held a grudge. This was also something Lisa really wanted. She loved France, and she was very excited about this wedding here. It was on her turf, so to speak, and well, at the end of the day, all that mattered is what she and Jack decided.
Lisa checked over her new outfit, brushing it out from any wrinkles. It was elegant, simple, and perfect. As they had discussed getting married here, Jack pointed out he at least wanted to know what he was agreeing to with someone who spoke English. Lisa, with all of her connections, knew a British minister who ran a very small church in the area. As things had happened and as they'd checked into what they needed to do with a wedding in France, they'd been able to speak to him and secure him for the afternoon on October 15th. The church was something she drove by on her way to the stables, and with witnesses needed, she and Jack had ended up telling her very small stable crew, partly because her connection to the pastor came through one of her stable hands. The five of her stable crew would be in attendance, and that was it. It was all she needed, and that stable crew loved her so much and were glad to meet Jack.
Lisa finished up in the closet, closed the door again, and she waved off unpacking the other bags from her shopping trip, going in search of Jack and John. She found them in the living room this time, Jack pointing to the porch.
"John and I were out there for awhile today, but it's really taken a turn with the weather," he told Lisa. She walked over and curled up with him on the couch as they had done many times back at home.
"I know," she frowned. "Everyone assumes Southern France means it is always warm, but up here in the hilly area, it definitely gets cold. How was your day?"
Jack just nodded as he sipped at his coffee, "Ahh, we had a nice day, even found an English-speaking television channel on your tv, although," he frowned and turned his head to look at her, "they had cooking shows on all day."
"Ehh," she shrugged, "not horrible at least."
"No," he chuckled. "John and I took a long walk. We both had a good nap. He ate a few times. I had a sandwich. It was a good day. More importantly," he kissed the top of her head, "you were able to go and do your shopping and all without having to worry about John or anything else. How was your day?"
"Good," she smiled. "I did replace a good amount of my wardrobe now that I see I need all new pants," she said with a little sass in her voice. "It's fine," she waved. "I got my dress, as I told you, and it dawned on me while shopping that I would need a wedding band. I looked at a few," she looked up at him, "but didn't feel right getting one just on my own. That sounded a little desperate," she laughed and made a face.
Jack laughed too and nodded, gesturing for her to sit up. "Ahh, yeah," he nodded and stood. "About that, I didn't tell you and should have," he looked back, seeking an apology with his eyes, "hold on." Lisa sat up and watched as he left the room, walked into the bedroom, and then returned. She moved to the floor while he was gone to put John on the blanket. When Jack returned, he groaned seeing John struggling on his stomach again.
"Ahh, that tummy time thing," he sighed. Lisa pointed to him.
"Not another word," she gave him a look. "You know he has to do this. Left to you, he'd be carried around in your arms all day. I know that's what you love doing with him, but he has to work on his strength."
John started crying out, and Jack sat down, dropping his head in his hands. Lisa just looked to Jack and started to laugh.
"Jack, you are a grown man and are really frustrated by this."
"Yeah," he threw his hand in the air, "I hate hearing him struggling."
"What would you say to someone learning to ride a horse and was thrown off? Lisa asked him.
"I'd tell them to get back on," he said quickly, still gesturing. "This isn't the same."
"Yes, it is," she said directly, pointing at him again. "He is learning how to hold up his head and eventually roll over. We can't do that for him, as hard as it might be to watch, just like when teaching someone to ride a horse, we won't be able to do that for him either. You know it's hard to see a new rider fall off, but they have to learn. What are you going to do when he does learn how to ride a horse? Hmm? Are you going to only allow him to ride in a small circle with pillows or bales of hay underneath? No," she pointed again, "he's going to learn like anyone else does, and he'll fall then too."
John grew more and more frustrated on the floor. Lisa soothed him by patting his back. She put one of his little toys in front of him, trying to get him to reach for it. He struggled, trying, but he couldn't yet. She did point to his head.
"He's holding his head up much better already. Jack," she called his name and gave him a soft smile. He looked to her, a grunt coming from him and a small frown. She laughed and shook her head, "You know I'm right."
He mumbled something under his breath, and Lisa turned her attention back to John. After he'd struggled for a few more minutes, Lisa ended his misery, Jack's too, and she picked up the baby and returned to the couch propping John up on her knees again while she put her feet on the coffee table to look at him while she continued talking to Jack.
"Before his torture session," Jack said in a teasing tone, and Lisa let out a sigh and turned to smack at him. He shook his head and held up his hands, "I know. I know. It appears already I'll be the soft parent and you will ride the line. I know. I'm sorry. I will work on it. As I was saying," he said, shifting to better talk to her, "earlier, we were discussing wedding rings."
"Right," she smiled brightly and added, "that I was desperate to shop for one alone."
He laughed and shook his head at her, "Well," he sighed and made eye contact with her, "I have made you wait seven years. You are a saint sticking with me. I know that, and I wish I could go back and change it. I would have married you a long time ago, and I'm sorry I didn't."
"Okay," she said, a bit surprised but wondering what he was wanting to say. He pulled a box out of his shirt pocket, "When I knew I wanted to use my grandmother's ring, I took it to Calgary and had it cleaned and spiffed up," he explained. "I couldn't do that in Hudson. You and I both know how that would have gone. Tim was already all over me about why I had to go to Calgary that afternoon, and all I told him was that I had to get a few things for John. That was the only way to guarantee he wouldn't want to try and tag along, telling him I was getting baby things, but," he chuckled, "even Tim with his soft spot for kids tried to offer suggestions of things I should buy for the house." Lisa covered her mouth as she laughed at that, but she then turned her attention back to Jack. "What I didn't tell you about your ring is that it has a new diamond in it. The setting is the same, but the jeweler said the one that had been in there was not very clear, not that good of quality, and while it looked okay," he smiled to her, "it wasn't what I wanted for you. So, that is new, the diamond in it, but I did like the idea of my grandmother's ring. I also looked at and found this wedding band. I should have known it would come up because it is an important part of the wedding. I guess I thought I would surprise you with it at the wedding, but I hope you like it." He opened the box, and Lisa's eyed widened at the beautiful diamond wedding band. She gave him a coy smile and looked to the box, pointing to it.
"Ahh, that is much more ornate than any band I looked at. It, it," she looked up at him with surprise, "has diamonds."
He nodded, pulling it out of the box, "The jeweler showed me several, and we both liked this one with your ring. I didn't know what you would want to wear all the time, especially dealing with the horses and the reigns. I thought if you wore both, you would just have this beautiful ring set, but if you didn't want to risk your engagement ring getting damaged at some point, you would have this. Your eyes always sparkle, Lisa, except when I've been stupid and deservingly disappointed you," he admitted. "Your rings need to match your eyes."
"It's beautiful," she grinned. "I love it."
"I suppose it fits into those wedding traditions," he chuckled. "The engagement ring is the old, the wedding band is the new, maybe we have John come through with something blue," he smiled and added, "none of this is borrowed, though," he said with a firm smile. "Once those rings are on, they stay on."
Lisa smiled at his explanation, and she leaned over to kiss him. He gestured to the box, "I've heard it's bad luck to try these on, but that's up to you. We've been though our bad patch. It is the same size as the engagement ring. I had a pair of your leather gloves you have at the house with me when I got your ring cleaned up and resized."
"Wow, okay," she smiled. "You do surprise me, Jack Bartlett, every now and then. You are rooted in things staying the same, but every now and then," she paused.
"I know I need to do better, and I am trying, one slow, cowboy step at a time," he nodded. He offered her the box, and she took it, grinning. She waved her hand in the air, "I've never heard it's bad luck, so I'm trying it on. It would be my luck that it wouldn't fit or something."
She pulled off her engagement ring to try on the wedding band, knowing the rings would sit on her finger in that order. She gestured to Jack, and he smiled to her and slid the ring on. She then put the engagement ring in his hand, and he did the same, squeezing her hand and looking to her.
"It's beautiful, Jack," she smiled. "I really like it, both rings."
"I'm glad," he said, with a drop of his head. He cleared his throat and glanced to her, "I need to talk to you about my thoughts on a wedding ring, and I'm not sure when I exactly thought we would discuss all of this because standing at the altar wouldn't be the place, even though the idea of surprising you seemed like a good one."
"Okay?" Lisa asked with a question in her voice.
"I don't want to wear one, but not for the reasons you think. I don't want to wear any sort of jewelry except for my old watch," he gestured to it. "I wanted to talk to you because I want you to know that has nothing to do with my love for you, my commitment to you, or anything else. I suppose that's the old cowboy in me, and," he nodded, "back a little to farm accidents and all. I've seen my fair share of farm accidents with wedding rings getting caught in reigns or machinery, as I mentioned or anything else. I don't want to rip off my finger," he nervously chuckled. "I do work with the tractors all the time, and I just wanted to talk to you about that. I did do something though," he said. Lisa watched as he pulled something more out of his shirt pocket. She laughed and tilted her head at him.
"What all do you have in that pocket?"
He rolled his eyes, and he showed her what he had, another box. "I am hoping you will understand some of my thoughts on a ring, but know that I would like you to keep this in your jewelry box. I know you have a large jewelry box, and I thought this might always be the reminder that I love you very much and did try to come up with a way to show you that even if I don't wear the actual ring." He opened the box to show her a plain gold men's wedding ring. Lisa, wiped at her face and looked at him.
"You bought a wedding ring for me to keep?" Lisa asked, very touched at his gesture.
"This couldn't be a deal breaker," he softly shrugged. "I'll wear it if you really want me to. I just thought that you needed to know that I'm not ashamed to wear a ring, the opposite. I'm just not the ring kind of guy for anything, but you need to know I love you with all I have and maybe this is a reminder of that, if you ever need it," he said, dropping his voice and giving her a warm smile, while his eyes searched hers for an answer.
"That is very sweet," Lisa smiled at him. "Knowing you," she grinned, "I would have been very surprised had you wanted to wear a ring. You just aren't the ring type. I can't get you to buy a new watch, even though that one is falling apart," she nodded to it, and Jack sighed.
"I know," he shook his head. "I know I need to get a new watch. I just," he grumbled, "hate change."
"Hmm, admitting is the first step," she grinned and took the box from his hand. "Thank you, Jack," she told him and held up the ring. "It means a lot you even thought of this and bought one. I'll be happy to keep in in my jewelry box and look at it everyday when I change out my earrings and necklaces."
"Okay," he chuckled, "you're sure you're okay?"
"As long as you understand, too, that I'm not changing my name. Stillman has always been my name, and I just," she paused and let out a long sigh, "don't want to change it. Work knows me by it, and well," she shrugged, "just like you, I suppose I'm set in my ways. We both have work reasons to keep something each the way it is."
He frowned, but only briefly. By the end, he nodded to her, "Okay," he nodded again. "you're right."
Lisa pretended to be shocked, "What was that? Can you repeat that because it sounded pretty good coming out of your mouth. Repeat that next time I have John on the floor."
Jack blushed and dropped his head as he chuckled. He pulled her into his side, she moved John to hold him and shift spots, and she leaned up to kiss him. She put the ring he'd bought back in the box and held it up, "If you ever want to wear it, it will be with my jewelry."
"If you ever want to change your name," he stated right back to her, "I wouldn't object either."
"Alright," she nodded, a grin on her face.
"So, the wedding in two days," he said, pulling her to his side, as she shifted John on her lap. "Someone's birthday is in three days." Lisa smiled and let out a low chuckle at that. "Home in four days."
"Quite an ending to this trip," she commented. Jack nodded in agreement.
"One more thing before we head home with all of this," he said, and Lisa looked up at him.
"While you were out today, I booked something for your birthday. I wanted to do something you would enjoy, and I managed to find a vineyard tour and wine tasting about an hour and a half from here. The website was in English and in French. I even called them," he said, smiling at Lisa's expression of shock, "and they had someone who spoke great English. I told them that I wanted to bring my new wife there for her birthday, and well," he gestured a little, "that we had John with us, and anyway, that was no problem. I booked this package for the day. We just need to drive over there, and I hope you are okay with that before we leave."
"You did what?' Lisa sat up and put John on her shoulder, completely shocked. "I thought you didn't want to travel all over."
He put his hand on the side of her face and smiled at her, "I'm trying, Lise. I am not going to completely change overnight, but I'm trying to change for you. I hope I didn't just make a huge mistake."
"No," she grinned, very happy with him. "I love it. It sounds perfect, and I wish I'd thought to do that when you were here before. That sounds very," she paused and smiled warmly at him, "us. The perfect day for us."