Jack didn't move stealthily, but he was trying to do so as he snuck up to surprise Lisa. He knew she'd be at the stables this morning, working with one of her race horses. She didn't know he was planning to stop by. As Jack laid eyes on her, several stalls down, talking to Harry over the stall doorframe while Harry was in working with the horse, he tried to walk quietly up behind her. He could see she was wearing that front pack thing she'd bought in France and had John in it. Lisa had mentioned it was useful sometimes in the stable like this, and he could definitely see how that was the case. It was much easier to walk around with him in that than in the stroller. She looked so pretty to him in her jeans, high boots, and navy jacket. His eyes met Harry's and with the slightest of nods, Harry knew Jack was trying to surprise Lisa.
"Hey!" Jack exclaimed, putting his hands on her shoulders as he walked up behind her. Lisa almost jumped out of her skin, definitely shocked by his arrival. Jack leaned in from behind and kissed her cheek.
"Jack," she said, closing her eyes and letting out her breath. "You scared me to death." She looked at Harry and pointed at him, "You and Jack working together," she shook her head. "I'm not sure I like this." Harry chuckled and held his hand over the stall to shake Jack's.
"Good to see you, Jack," he nodded.
"Good to see you, Harry. How's this horse?" Jack leaned over the railing to listen to Harry describe what they were doing. Lisa waited for Harry to finish, patting John's back as she waited. When there was a lull in the conversation, Jack looked back to her.
"To think that I was excited to see you and wish you a Happy Birthday," she said giving him her best fake frown. It came out as more of a smirk, and he chuckled. "Well, scaring me like that, I can't wish you a Happy Birthday."
"Happy Birthday, Jack," Harry said to him.
"Thank you," Jack nodded and turned to Lisa. "This old cowboy had to prove he still had the art of surprise. Still got it," he grinned at her, "even in my old age now."
"Folks at the nursing home will enjoy you sneaking up on them," Lisa said instantly, keeping a straight face. "Thought we could look at a few places today, you know, with you now being 70."
Harry just laughed at the two, waved at them, and he made eye contact with Lisa.
"I'll let you two enjoy your day. If I have any problems with Star Gazer here, Boss, I'll let you know."
"Sounds great, Harry," Lisa smiled and tapped her hand on the stall gate as she turned back to Jack. Jack stood there grinning at her.
"That was a pretty good comeback," he said, in a good mood himself. Lisa was glad to see he wasn't lamenting in his birthday, turning a year older, a big milestone birthday of 70. The two walked side by side toward the house and out of the stable. She grinned, looking up at him as she put on her sunglasses. It was a bright morning, now mid-morning, and she reached for his hand.
"Happy Birthday, Cowboy, officially," she smiled. "Feel a year older?"
"Try 10," he chuckled, but he glanced to her. "I do feel very happy we will finally put everything out in the open tonight."
"Me too," she said, clasping his hand tighter. "Dinner at 6:00?"
"Mmm hmm," he told her. "I told Lou to set a place for you. I think she was surprised."
"Well, we have been keeping a low profile for the last couple of weeks since we got back. Gosh," she shook her head, "I haven't been in the house since before going to France, and then it was just hard being in the house."
"We're changing that tonight," Jack told her. "Lou even asked if I was sure I wanted you to be at dinner, and I didn't dignify that with an answer. I suppose she figured out I was sure about it."
"I'll be over around 5:30 if that is okay?"
Jack shook his head, "You don't have to ever ask. Come whenever you like, but Lou won't let you help with dinner."
"Well, I'm very glad we will have everything out in the open, and I'm ready to make dinner tomorrow night, your baked chicken."
"I can almost taste it," Jack grinned. "You're staying tonight?"
She nodded with a smile, patting John as he was awake and moving his head and feet in the pack she had on, "Absolutely, and I already have some things ready to bring over."
"Great," he said, pulling her into his side, squeezing her tightly.
She glanced up at him, "Any idea on the housing numbers for tonight?"
Jack pursed his lips, "Pretty full house, hopefully no Tim," he nodded, pleased with that at least. "Might have a firing squad after they all learn the news."
"Alright," she said with a single nod. "We'll deal with it tonight. Now, I might have a loaf of pumpkin bread inside and can quickly produce a pot of hot coffee, if you know anyone who might be interested."
"John, what do you say?" Jack smacked his hands together, "That sounds like a perfect birthday snack." He leaned over Lisa's shoulder to check on John, "He's awake and alert."
"Slept six hours," she grinned. "He's getting there."
"Good boy," he agreed. "Let's get some of that bread. I'm starving."
She let out a laugh, "Yes, well, I knew if you went into dinner with a full stomach, the ribs wouldn't be such a disappointment."
They walked inside, and after freshening up, both were seated at the small kitchen table, where so many months ago, the two had first talked and Jack had first learned of Lisa's pregnancy. They enjoyed their late morning snack and chatted while John enjoyed his bouncy seat.
"You haven't told me if you have any other birthday plans," Lisa noted, eyeing him.
He nodded and wiped his mouth, "Went on an early ride on Paint."
Lisa groaned, "I miss riding. I haven't ridden since before I was pregnant."
Jack frowned, "That needs to be fixed. We will do that this week. I'm sorry I didn't think about that myself."
Lisa looked to him and made a face, "I'm a little nervous to ride, hoping I'm not too sore getting back in the saddle, but, I know, I know," she put up her hand, "best thing to do is get back in the saddle." Jack chuckled, and he nodded at Lisa.
"No, actually, speaking of things I am doing today, yes," he nodded to her. "I'm going into town to speak to my lawyer."
"Ahh," Lisa said, a small frown as she nodded, "Had enough already? Just my luck, two divorces," she sighed, dropping her head into her hands. Jack, who didn't see that coming at all, choked on his pumpkin bread and had to take a big swig of coffee to wash it down. Lisa looked up, initially concerned, and then she started to laugh.
"Not funny," Jack first said and then laughed himself. The two made eye contact, and he shook his head at her. "That needs to be the last time I'm ever in any category with Dan."
"Noted," she said, shaking her head. "Sorry to make you choke. Can't have you choking to death. That would mean I'd be on my own to tell the girls we'd gotten married before you choked to death and on your big birthday." The two had a good laugh, just being silly with each other, and when they'd finally calmed down, Jack gestured.
"After Marion died, and I took custody of Amy,"he started to tell her, "I realized I needed to do a better job with my legal affairs. Heaven forbid something would have happened to me as well when Amy was a minor, I mean," he closed his eyes and shook his head at the horrible notion, "Lou at least would have been able to take care of Amy, but I realized I also needed to do a better job with all of my affairs and estate."
"You've definitely had enough tragedy, Jack, that all of that is understandable," Lisa nodded.
"Well, now," he smiled, brightly, reaching over to hold her hand across the table, "a happy occasion, no tragedy. I need to update everything for my beautiful wife and this now," he turned to look at John, "six-hour sleeper who is winning me over more and more each day."
"That sounds like something we both need to do," she paused and met his gaze, "together."
He nodded, "I don't disagree, but I also knew this would take more than one visit with my lawyer. I'm stopping by today to have him pull the original paperwork I have so that I have a physical document to amend. Maybe we can go over that in the next few days, that along with getting your riding again."
"Alright," she said with a small nod and smile, "I can do the same. I believe my legal paperwork is filed here, so I can pull that out, and it's a date, Cowboy."
They talked for at least another hour, and as Jack stood to check on John, who had fallen into a morning nap, he glanced at his watch.
"I'm sorry, Lise, but I've got to get to that lawyer's office."
Lisa stood and nodded, walking around the counter to work on the bread. "That's fine. I'm glad you could come by this morning. I'll send the bread with you," she met his gaze, "you know so that you can have a mid-afternoon snack without Lou going on that it will spoil your dinner."
Jack quietly laughed at that as he walked around to stand behind her working and put his arms around her. He kissed her neck and spoke quietly, "Thank you for not trying to do some big party for my birthday. I appreciate that. I think we should tell everyone after dinner, before dessert."
"That sounds like a good plan," Lisa nodded, turning her head sideways to lean up and kiss Jack. Did Lou make a cake too?"
"Chocolate," he frowned, and Lisa let out a chuckle. She shook her head in sympathy, "I'm sorry, Jack. That's your least favorite too."
"Mmm, yes, well, I appreciate the gesture, but Lou sometimes gets stuck on what she likes thinking it's what everyone likes."
"At least it's not Amy making the cake," Lisa continued to laugh. "Hers aren't edible, and you know I love her like she is my own, but she is terrible in the kitchen. Her gift definitely is with horses."
The two started laughing almost out of control, so much that it woke up John. Lisa smacked at Jacks' arm, and he stepped back from standing behind her. She turned and handed him the pumpkin bread, and he leaned in and kissed her quickly.
"I'm ducking out before I get into more trouble," he told her. "I'll see my bride at dinner."
"If you still want that baked chicken and cobbler tomorrow," she called after him while attending to John, "you'll find a way to make it up to me for waking up your son."
Jack turned and, with the bread in his hand, waved as he walked down the hallway, "I'm sure I'll think of something."