"Now, you're sure you'll be home for dinner," Jack said with his hands on her shoulders, ready to send Lisa off to Fairfield for the day. She finished wrapping her scarf and tilted her head at him.
"Yeah, what's with the questioning? I told you I'd be home for dinner."
He shook his head, "Just making sure. I know you are way behind at Fairfield after John's stay in the hospital. Lou's making dinner, and I just wanted to confirm you're here at normal time because we agreed to do Christmas with the girls tonight since Lou is taking the kids to Vancouver with Peter's work schedule."
"I'll be here. I remember, and all of their gifts are purchased and wrapped," she gave him a slight smile and shake of her head. "I haven't forgotten, and actually," she dropped her voice and leaned in, "very excited to have a quiet Christmas with my two guys. I did notice Amy and Ty quickly decided to take off on their own Christmas trip after visiting his mom first when Lou announced she'd be away."
"I'm looking forward to a quiet Christmas too," he smiled with a nod. "Quiet mornings sipping coffee by the fire, quiet afternoons snuggling a hot chocolate by the fire, quiet evenings sipping wine by the fire-"
She laughed, "A lot of beverages by the fire."
He shrugged with a wink, "A lot of quiet time with my beautiful wife too." She chuckled at that and leaned up to kiss him goodbye. He handed her a mug of coffee for the road. "A beverage for the road. Luckily, Tim shouldn't even be dropping by since he's off to see Shane in Moosejaw. Have a good day at Fairfield. I'd say don't buy any horses I wouldn't, but your operation is too rich for my blood." Lisa chuckled again, pecking his lips before she started to the door.
"I'm going to have to nail down spring dates for France, and all of that depends on some of the horse shows. Are you still okay with going?"
Jack took a deep breath and met her gaze with a nod, "Absolutely. Never thought I'd say this, but I'll gladly go to France if you're on the trip too."
Lisa felt badly that evening, rolling into Heartland later than she'd told Jack, but she still wasn't exactly late for dinner. She'd called him, and he'd told her they would hold dinner. She'd apologized, telling him a client meeting had run late, which it had, but now, she was very glad to be home. They'd gotten fresh snow that afternoon, and with the Christmas lights lit up on the house, it was finally starting to feel like Christmas. Most of the month had not with John's hospital stay, but she was definitely counting her Christmas blessings with John finally healthy. Jack had asked her what she wanted for Christmas, and she'd told him she'd already gotten it with John being okay.
Now, with it being just a few days before Christmas, she was starting to really get into the Christmas spirit. Her client meeting had been for a very expensive horse he was purchasing for his wife, an extravagant gift, but Lisa wasn't complaining. She was done working at Fairfield through Christmas now, and tomorrow's schedule included making Christmas cookies. She had a feeling Katie, Georgie, and Jack would be glad to help sample any cookies she made, and she was looking forward to setting up John on the kitchen table in his little seat to watch.
"Hi," she told Jack when he met her at the car. "It's below zero; you're crazy coming outside."
"Just missed you," he winked and smiled at her. "I did just come in from the barn about two minutes before you, and I hadn't even taken my boots off yet. Sell that horse you mentioned?"
"I did and for quite a pretty penny," she told him, slinging her purse over her shoulder while he closed the door. "Sorry again for being late."
"Just went ahead and did the night check at the barn before dinner. It's fine. Lou's roast is done, and the girls are mostly just excited about opening their Christmas presents. That's the big hurry."
"Ahh, yes, remember how exciting it was at their ages?"
"My favorite gift ever was this saddle my dad got me, my first one," Jack said with a reflective smile.
"Hmm," Lisa nodded, as they stepped onto the porch, "mine was probably, oh," she nodded, sure of herself, "my very first junior riding outfit, the whole set. Oh, I loved the boots and the helmet."
"Well," he nodded to her, "I certainly noticed you went a little overboard with John. He can't even open a gift, Lise," Jack chuckled. Lisa rolled her eyes as he opened the door.
"Yes, but Katie expects him to have presents like she does. Besides, it's mostly things he needs anyways."
He raised his eyebrows, "Define things he needs."
She gestured with her hand, "Ahh, a highchair, one of those toy saucer things you put him in and he plays with things, this little mat gym thing, a doorway jumper-"
"A doorway jumper?" Jack asked, shaking his head as he chuckled.
"Listen, Cowboy," she eyed him, a twinkle in her eye, "just let it happen. The gifts have been purchased, all things he'll use. I didn't buy him an expensive horse or a saddle."
"Fine," he raised his hands, "none of that sounds like something I have to put together. Thank goodness." He gestured for her to step inside, and she turned as she did.
"No, nothing for John, but I'm sure Katie will want GG to put together that huge dollhouse we bought her, oh, and the matching horse stable, oh, and the matching camper."
He gestured to her again, "Did we buy her an entire town?"
Lisa grinned and pecked his lips before they closed the door, "Eehh, it's what grandparents," she paused and patted his chest, "great-grandparents do."
"Lisa, hey," Lou said, and the two snapped to the present there in the kitchen. It was hard to remember the old kitchen with the new appliances and countertops. Everyone loved them and commented how much better the kitchen looked. The bathroom was next, with the same granite ordered to match the kitchen. Lisa had wrapped up new faucets and all for Jack for Christmas. She knew he'd put them on the sink and tub if he got them as a gift, but he'd probably complain, although still put them on, if she'd just brought them in from the hardware store. The two had agreed to not get much for each other; neither wanted things, but she'd gotten him that, along with some fly fishing set she'd caught him looking at in one of his magazines, and she'd framed a few photos for him. For Jack, it would be perfect.
"Sorry I'm late," Lisa said, giving Lou a smile. "Sold a high-dollar horse, and it just took some time with the client."
"I'm fine, but the girls are so excited for Christmas. Ahh," she leaned in and whispered, "what is that big gift for Georgie from you two?"
"Oh," she grinned and smacked at Jack's stomach as he was standing right next to her, "it's an English saddle. I hope it's okay. I meant to talk to you about it, but with John in the hospital, it's been crazy. I had ordered it that evening he got sick. I know she's interested in learning how to ride it and asked me about it."
"Oh wow," Lou's eyes widened. "I mean, sure, thank you. She'll be thrilled, and it's really nice of you both."
"I just live here," Jack shrugged and hooked his hand to Lisa. "She's the brains of the operation."
Lisa looked up at him and pointed to him, "I'm really going to try hard not to comment on that, but know I'm trying really hard." The three of them started laughing, and soon, they were all sitting down to dinner.
"Lou, this dinner was delicious. Thank you for cooking," Lisa said, as she stood to start clearing the table.
"Lisa, I've got it tonight," Amy gestured to herself and Ty. "Ty's going to help. You haven't seen John. Go enjoy him."
Jack nodded to Lisa to accept, and she did, smiling at the gesture. Jack brought her a glass of wine, and the two sat on the couch, enjoying John propped up on Lisa's legs while the rest of the family got ready for the Christmas gifts.
"Before we do the gifts," Amy told everyone as they all assembled, "Lou and I wanted to say something." Georgie and Katie were sitting in front of the tree, Ty had taken up one of the armchairs, and Lou joined Amy standing in front of Jack's chair.
"So, we did ask Grandpa about this," Lou started, and Lisa looked to Jack, but he didn't glance her way, "and he agreed this was a great time for this."
"For?" Lisa asked.
"Well," Amy said with a small smile, "you two just had your what, two-month-anniversary-"
"And, it's our fault for not even asking about that date or about the wedding, not exactly proud of how all that went when you told us," Lou frowned.
"So, we would really like to hear about your wedding and your time in France, but we first need to do something." Lisa looked to Jack, and he didn't give away anything on his face. John started to fuss, so Lisa put him on her shoulder.
"We wanted to make sure you didn't miss dinner tonight, Lisa," Amy said with another smile, "because it's about time we have both you and John pick your stone. You've been to this before, and well," she nodded to Lou-
"You and John most definitely need your family stones, so," she gestured to the fireplace, "we'd be honored if you and Grandpa pick yours and John's."
"Really?" Lisa's eyes lit up, the gesture very touching. She glanced to Jack, and he gave a single nod and winked at her. He stood and held his hand for her to join him. "Oh," she wiped at her eye, "I've never been excited about a stone before, I suppose, well, except for a diamond," she gestured with her hand I the air. They all laughed at that. Jack gestured to the fireplace.
"Now, this is mine," he told her, "and you know that when we did Katie's, the family had selected several on this side." Lisa nodded and looked to him. "You pick," he nodded to her.
She shook her head, glancing at him, "Ahh, I don't want to pick one already picked. Where are Lyndy and Marion?" Jack gestured toward the left, and she gave him a nod and smile, pointing to the one right above his. "How about this one?"
"That's perfect, right by me."
"John," she looked to Jack and to the family.
"You two get to pick," Amy told them.
"How about here," she pointed next to hers, above Jack's and partially above Marion's, below Lou's.
"Between us and next to Marion," he nodded, giving her a warm smile. "Perfect and neither of those has been claimed, just waiting for the right people."
Lou picked up both Jack and Lisa's wine glasses, handing them to each, "Welcome to the family, even though you've always been here for us and we just didn't sometimes realize or see it. We really couldn't imagine things here without you."
"And don't want to imagine Grandpa moping around here without you both either," Amy added. The group all laughed.
"GG," Katie called, wanting to open gifts. "The presents, please!"
"After the gifts," Amy told Jack and Lisa, "we really would like to hear about your wedding."
Lisa smiled at her. She and Jack resumed their seats as Lisa told Amy, "Oh, you want a story, well, imagine Jack Bartlett surprising me with a French vineyard tour for my birthday after our wedding." She grinned at Jack, and he, with his arm around her, leaned in and kissed her, shrugging at the girls.
"Yuck, GG," Katie yelled, holding up one of the big gifts Jack and Lisa had for her. "No kissing." The adults all laughed and gestured for the girls to start on their gifts.
"Lisa," Lou leaned in from her seat in Jack's normal chair, "there is no doubt in my mind Grandpa would do anything for you if you're telling us he organized that, a vineyard tour, seriously? That will be a great story to hear."
