"This has been the best birthday I've had in a very long time, maybe ever," Lisa looked over to Jack. The two were walking through the vineyard garden, hand in hand, and she reached over to squeeze his arm with her free hand.
"I've had a really good day too, Lise," he said, leaning over to kiss the side of her head. John seems to have enjoyed the day too," he nodded to where Lisa had him in the new pack she'd bought for him out on her shopping trip. She'd been against it at first, but with the travel, she'd decided it might be handy to have. Jack had told her straight up he wasn't wearing one of those when she'd showed it to him at the house when she unpacked the bags from her shopping trip, not that she was surprised by his comment or even expected him to wear it. The visual was enough to get her laughing.
"No, not wearing one," he shook his head. "That's all for you, Lise. I'll be glad to carry him or put him in the car seat, or stroller, but I'm not using that."
She had frowned, "Do you think I'll like it? I keep going back on whether I will like it or not. I decided that it wasn't that much, and even if I just use it on this trip, then I consider it money well spent."
He shrugged at her, "I don't know. You don't seem like the wear the baby everywhere type, but what do I know?" He rolled his eyes and gestured. "You said the car seat was bulky with the train."
"It was," she nodded, talking herself into it as she looked at it there again in the bedroom as she took it out of the packaging. "It's worth a try."
Lisa reached down and squeezed at John's leg, hanging down from the front pack. She lifted his little blue hat that she'd strapped onto his head to check on him. She looked over to Jack, "He's out. I think he likes it."
Jack nodded to John glancing at him down the front of the pack, "Can't blame him there, good spot to take a nap, all curled up on you," he chuckled, eyeing Lisa. "He's got the right idea." Jack winked at her, and she just shook her head and let out a low laugh herself. "How is that pack thing working out, besides John seeming to like it? Is it digging into your shoulders?" Jack moved to check the adjustment on her shoulders, gauging Lisa's reaction. She nodded when he shifted the strap slightly.
"It's okay, and I do agree with what you said last night. I can't see myself doing this all the time. He's digging into my shoulder, and he doesn't even weigh that much. I can imagine it being a lot more uncomfortable as he gets bigger, but for today, it's been a great option. Maybe," she looked to him hopeful, " we could try this back home, a picnic or something off the beaten path."
He nodded, "I like that idea."
"Maybe a repeat of our first date, minus the truck breaking down," she eyed him playfully. He groaned, but smiled too. She shifted the pack slightly again, and they joined hands and continued their garden walk.
Lisa sighed loudly after they took a few more steps and held up her left hand, as her right hand was clasped in Jack's, "Oh, I still can't believe this," she smiled brightly, looking at her shiny rings. "I truly feel like this has been a dream, that I'm going to wake up and none of this will have happened. I love the feeling of these rings, and I really loved our quiet ceremony."
"I did too," Jack stopped walking to turn toward her. "I really did, even if we get the wrath from the girls at home. This was special and for us, just us. I think, looking back, I needed that, the small, intimate wedding, Lise. I am so happy it was the wedding you wanted, and here in France, because that's what I wanted you to have, but it was the wedding I wanted too."
"I have just wanted to be married to you," she said with a soft smile and shrug. "With everything, this just feels content, happy, just where I want to be."
The wedding had been small and was over almost as quickly as it started. Neither wanted anything long and drawn out. They both just wanted to complete the official requirements to be married and to then enjoy the rest of their wedding day with John. Lisa's stable group had arranged for Lisa and Jack to have a nice meal in a private viewing room at the track adjacent to the restaurant. They'd offered to watch John, but both Lisa and Jack declined. Jack seemed to be the one to feel the strongest about John staying with him. His love for the little boy really touched Lisa's heart, and they'd enjoyed a nice steak and scallop dinner in the private dining room with a specially prepared crème brûlée for dessert. John had been perfectly content to sleep through it, unaware of the significant day between his parents. Lisa had found him a cute little outfit he'd worn, and after they'd eaten, they'd just gone back home to enjoy the evening. It had been perfect.
Jack had really liked Lisa's choice for her dress, telling her that she always looked so elegant, and this outfit was no exception. He'd told her that she looked way too good for him, but he'd shown up in something blue, his special blue suit Lisa had bought for him so long ago. She didn't realize he'd packed it, but he had, not necessarily thinking they would have a wedding, but he'd told her he wasn't sure the circumstances or place he'd planned to ask her to marry him, so he'd packed it just in case. Lisa had responded by telling him that getting engaged at home, overlooking the beautiful countryside was perfect, and she also loved that he'd brought his suit because it was just right for their wedding. To go with the something blue idea, she'd had the local florist put together a small bouquet of white roses, her favorites, with a blue ribbon and accents in it. Jack, knowing traditions like that were important to her, had told her she could borrow his blue handkerchief, which she'd put to good use with a lot of tears of joy, but so far, he also hadn't asked for it back.
Lisa snapped out of her memories of just the last day and looked up to see that Jack was just staring at her in a loving manner. She smiled brightly at him, and he gestured with their joined hands to continue their walk. As they did walk, Jack asked about the wine from earlier.
"So, you were able to order the wines you wanted?" Jack had taken John outside to feed him after their wine tasting. He'd slept through most of that, and he woke up when they were making their final selections.
"Yes," she explained. "I had two cases of wine shipped home. We can enjoy that until the next trip, maybe?"
Jack nodded, looking around, "It's been a good day. I like this place, and I'm glad it worked for a great birthday."
"Hmm, the best birthday," she said quietly again, taking her hand from his and wrapping it around his back.
"Suppose a piece of cake might top off your birthday?" Jack looked to her, and she smiled back at him.
"I didn't take you for a baker," she teased.
He shifted his head from side to side, "I remember making birthday cakes for Marion with the girls when they were little, but those were out of the box, like the mix. I did not bake you a cake, but I bought you one and picked it up early this morning when I walked into town and got us those speciality coffees you like."
"Wow, would you look at you?" Lisa smiled brightly and gestured at him. "You've gone from hating life here to ordering cakes, booking vineyard trips, and interacting with the locals. I'm proud of you."
"Don't know about all of that," he grumbled, blushing at the compliment from Lisa. "You picked a very relaxing area to buy your house, and I'll admit the little village is charming."
"Even a compliment," she grinned. "You know how to sweet talk a girl, hmm? Wine, cake, you," she grinned. "Sounds like a very lovely evening, much better than the birthday I imagined this year."
"You deserve it and so much more. What do you say we head home for that nice evening? Wine, cake, and some time with you-just what we need to finish celebrating our wedding and your birthday before the long trip home."