Tim Fleming was not one of Jack's favorite people. Over the last several years, though, he had moved up in the world from 'Jack's Most Detested Person on the Planet' to now one that regularly annoyed him and was still usually up to some scheme. Jack wouldn't admit it to Tim, but he'd also probably by now regained the "family" title that Jack really didn't want to return to him, but after all these years, the two had repaired a lot of their relationship. That wasn't to push aside the title that Jack continually reminded Tim of, EX-son-in-law, with a capital EX, as Lisa had long ago used to describe her former marriage to Dan. While Jack knew Tim had been working over the last seven years to repair the decades worth of damage he'd done to his own family, that part, where he'd destroyed everything with Marion, could not be forgotten, forgiven, well, maybe over time, and maybe Jack was there, but again, he wasn't telling Tim that. The guy didn't need an over-inflated ego anymore than he already had. Jack knew if Marion could see them now, she could only call it a miracle because a "friendship" of sorts would never have seemed to be in the cards for these two.
With all of his thoughts and feelings toward Tim, though, Jack was eternally grateful tonight that his EX-son-in-law, who seemed to be a hopeless romantic, had taken heed of what he was calling as 'Jack's final stand' with Lisa and had rounded up the girls for an evening in town. Tim had promised to keep the girls busy, and Jack had honestly tuned out the guy, only hearing blips about pizza, ice cream, and a movie. He didn't care, except that he was alone to get his house in order, so to speak. Jack hoped Lisa's text message was going to be what he had been wanting to hear for months and months, but until he heard the words from her mouth, he was still a mess inside, waiting out his future, a future he hoped and prayed included Lisa.
'I'll stop by in an hour to talk if you are free."
As Jack sat on the front porch awaiting Lisa's arrival, his mind swirled to so many things. Of course, he was free. He'd wanted to reply with so many things, which was huge for him too. He'd not been a texter, but he couldn't help but reply to Lisa; she was about the only one he wanted to text.
"I'm here and will put some coffee on."
His mind started to wander again. It was easy to do so right now. It was a rare occurrence at Heartland for it to be this quiet. No kids running around, no spouses arguing, no work being done in the fields, no horses being worked on in the ring, no dinner being prepared-nothing. Silence. Jack loved the silence, but it also had proven to be quite lonely at times. His mind drifted to just how lonely the silence had been while in Arizona. He hadn't known anyone, and sadly, with only time on his hands and no one to talk to, his mind had pretty much only thought of Lisa, of what he'd let slip through his hands. Well, she was on her way over, and he just hoped she wasn't about to slip through his hands again. If she agreed to take him back, he was intent on putting a ring on one of her hands to prove just how much he loved her and wanted her to be his until death did part them.
His mind jumped all over the place as he continued to wait for that all-familiar gray Porsche to make its way down the long driveway. He'd happily waited for her so many times right here, and while he was cautiously optimistic about this arrival today, but he was trying not to get his hopes up too much. He'd messed up badly and hurt her a lot. Jack could tell his admission earlier, that of not wanting to tie her down to an old, broken man had been a shock. Looking back now, he wasn't sure why he would ever think that. Of course, she'd loved him; she'd been the first to say it so many years ago, but in his twisted, post-heart attack mind, he'd somehow convinced himself he was sparring her a life of misery and of playing nurse to some futuristic bed-ridden Jack.
Sadly, though, as he'd thought about it over and over again while in Arizona, he wouldn't have changed a moment of taking care of Lyndy when she was sick and had been glad to have every single second with her until the very end. He hadn't done that out of some obligation; he'd done that because he'd loved her with every fiber in his being. Jack had convinced himself his heart attack had been a different situation that warranted a different result, even though the hospital bed Lisa had delivered had almost trigged some terrible memories of just how sick Lyndy had been. Jack didn't want that for himself, and at the time, he'd convinced himself Lisa was better of without him. Different situations-different results. There were two differences-it was Jack, and he didn't think it was the same asking Lisa to be with him as he had been the one taking care of Lyndy. He wasn't sure if that was some "man" thing of taking care of his wife, but he had convinced himself that his taking care of Lyndy wouldn't be the same as Lisa taking care of him, and two, they weren't married, but after seven years together, that wasn't an excuse. They both loved each other and were committed to each other, but he'd used that lack of a legal document to push her away, to spare her, and he was more than aware now he he made a huge mistake, one of many in recent dealings with Lisa and their 'whatever this is' relationship. Who was he kidding? 'Whatever it was,' it was love, unconditional love that had been ruined, mostly by his stubbornness and lack of trying. Now, he was just trying to get her back and move forward with the women he'd never stopped loving. If she took him back, he would fully agree to the sickness and health part, that was for sure.
Jack sipped at his coffee, and his coffee, while normally it hit the spot, was almost tasteless this afternoon. He did need it though because he was exhausted. The night of 'camping' in the woods had taken its toll on him, and as much as he wanted to pretend the age difference with Lisa didn't mean anything, it did, especially in situations like this. Adding to that was his heart, and yes, it had been plain stupid to hike up that mountain to call Amy; he should have sent Lisa, but he still had that primal instinct to take care of her, and he still was guarded about anything related to his heart, in more ways than one. He had been quiet after getting back to Lisa, mostly because he was trying to prevent another heart attack, if that was something he could even will himself to do. He'd sat there working on his breathing and just trying to stay calm, and of course, she'd picked up on something, asking if he was okay. At least that had opened the floodgates and had gotten them talking, finally putting all of the issues on the table, well, most of them, because like so often, they'd been interrupted with Ty and Amy's arrival. It was typical, that with almost 24 hours alone, the few minutes that he and Lisa had finally started to unravel their mess, they'd been interrupted. If Lisa took him back, he was fully prepared to tell her all about his heart-both how he loved her but also the physical ailments from his heart attack. She deserved to know. He could keep the rest of the family at bay, but he wasn't about to hide it from Lisa, the woman he was hoping to vow to share everything with.
Tonight, though, he hoped for the best and was preparing for the worst, however one did that. He continued to sip at his coffee, hoping the caffeine this late in the day would give him the little bit of energy to have this ever-so-important, completely life-changing discussion with Lisa. He hoped this wasn't the last time he would ever see her. He was sure his heart couldn't take that.
At the first sign of her gray Porsche, Jack's stomach started turning in knots. He didn't remember ever feeling this worked up even when he was riding the rodeo circuit. If he'd been a betting man, he was sure his heart was probably fluttering too, grateful he'd gotten his medication from Ty earlier and was definitely feeling much better. This fluttering felt different, an anxious, hopeful one, if one could define a heart's feelings. His eyes locked on the movement of that Porsche, a car that as he thought about it, defined Lisa, his Lisa, the woman who had taken over his heart, had mended his lonely, broken heart years ago only for Jack to ruin things and break his own heart as well as hers, with his missteps. The Porsche was classy and elegant, expensive-as Lisa was wealthy, alluded to a youthfulness as you drove it, yet, it had an edge of ruggedness to it and could certainly adapt to different driving conditions. Lisa had done that so well over the years. The classy, elegant, beautiful younger woman whom Jack would have never suspected he would have anything in common with had surprised him at every turn. She'd adapted to his very different world, had taken on his rugged lifestyle right down to fly-fishing and rainy cattle drives, and with her youthfulness, had bounced around with a bright smile on her face for years, winning over his heart faster than he ever would have imagined with another living soul. She'd adapted to his ever-changing family and its dynamics over the years, jumping in to help, sometimes too much they both knew, but she'd taken on and loved his family in good times and bad, and he couldn't think of his family without her in it. She alluded class all the time, even when dressed for something as simple as a trail ride. He could freely admit she'd learned when to push and when not to with him, but to be honest, he had trouble saying no to her when she did want something, and he was definitely okay with that going forward. She loved to spoil all of those she loved, and she'd spoiled all of the family over the years in different ways. Jack sometimes rebuked things, like that ridiculous saddle, but he knew know that was just how she showed her love .He hated to make her upset, and he'd spent the last few months cursing himself for how he'd acted with her, even if he'd not been able to actually vocalize that, and he vowed to do whatever he could to make his lovely Lisa happy the rest of her life if she would give him that chance, another chance, probably more chances than he was worth after all of their ups and downs. He needed her in his life, and the time of reckoning was now. They were meant to be, he believed, but he'd been such an idiot for seven years to finally admit it.
He tried to act casual, but hopeful, as he stood and walked to greet her. For a split second, he got a glimpse of what life must be like for Tim all the time, as the guy was constantly pouncing on others for details, especially Jack. All Jack wanted to do was to pounce for information, but he was really trying hard to play his cool and get a read on things with Lisa because he wasn't sure if he could take the rejection. He'd barely survived it so long ago when Lisa had suggested they take a break and then left for France, Jack softening the blow with 'not goodbye but til next time.' As Jack waited for her to turn off and get out of the car, he took a deep breath, feeling his heart racing but not like it had when he'd struggled hiking up the mountain for a signal, and he studied Lisa, her every move, for any sign of what was to come. He resisted the urge to pull her into his arms as he usually did, and instead dropped his hands to his side.
Starting off the conversation with Lisa telling him she was keeping her horse, he took that as a good sign, but a voice in the back of his head told him not to get too confident; she shipped horses all over the world, and then, when she finally ended his agony by telling him she would stay-he didn't even care she'd added on the 'for now' part because he knew deep in his soul he wouldn't and couldn't let her go again. He would do something permanent about that. His heart definitely couldn't take losing Lisa again, and as soon as the words were out of her mouth and had registered in his head, he pulled her tightly, something he'd wanted to do for so long and hadn't been able to get out of his own stupid way to do so. He didn't want to let her go; he'd waited so long for her to be back in his arms, and to be honest, he wasn't sure this day would ever come. He'd worried he'd messed things up too badly, but she was here, giving him one last chance, and he would make it worth her while.
"You won't regret it."
Jack knew this wasn't the time or place, YET, to take that final step, to make that final proposal to Lisa, the one that would end with him promising for better or for worse-they'd had plenty of the worse, so he was wanting to look forward to better times, for richer or poorer-well, they were one of each there, in sickness and health-they'd had his heart attack, and while that had broken things between them because he'd pushed her away, he wouldn't do that again, and finally, until death do they part- he was all in until death parted them, knowing that with their age difference, that more than likely meant he'd leave this world before she would and would leave her broken-hearted, but he'd also learned in life, nothing was a guarantee. His own losses were proof of that. Today was not that time, not the time to ask, but he was ready for that. As they'd said, they'd been down all the other pathways, and this always loomed like some unattainable goal, but he planned, one day very soon, to fix that, to right their past and make her his wife.
Jack felt his head was spinning with Lisa's proclamation she'd stay. He was doing his best to keep a hand on her almost for fear he'd lose her still. When they reached the porch steps, he finally was able to tug at her arm again and turn her around, the bright smile on his face hopefully conveying just how utterly happy he was. He found a similar smile greeting him, and the two naturally embraced, sinking into a long, deep kiss that made their first two at the car look chaste. Jack's hands roamed her back, as if he'd forgotten how it felt to hold her. It had been too long. He'd been such an idiot, and this moment almost felt like a dream.
"My head is spinning," he sheepishly admitted to her as they finally broke their kiss and stood there in each other's arms. Lisa's smile brightened if that was even possible from how it had been.
"That good, eeeh? Still got it," she winked at him, smirking at herself, and they both dropped their heads into a chuckle. "Usually, I'm the one weak in the knees. Definitely a mean something kiss," she mumbled, both laughing at the reference from years and years ago. She did sense a bit of a serious tone to his voice, though, and she gripped his arms and nodded toward him, nudging him to look at her. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "Terrific, very relieved, very much in love with you," he admitted with a warm smile at her, but he also nodded toward the steps. "I told myself I was going to be brutally honest with you going forward, and I am a little lightheaded."
Lisa's eyes widened, and she turned and gestured to the steps, "Goodness, well, let's sit you down. Do you need something? I don't even know what medication you are on now." He shook his head and gestured to the porch chairs.
"Lise, I'll be fine. I just think the events of the last few days have caught up with me from all of this between us to the little food we've had to the lack of sleep overnight to," he frowned and met her gaze, seeing some panic in her eyes. He stopped talking and nodded to her, "I will be fine, but the last thing was the hike up that stupid mountain for a phone signal. It took a lot out of me, and I had Ty bring me my pills for my angina. That's part of the reason I was so quiet waiting there today. I was trying to get myself under control."
Lisa's eyes widened again, and if that wasn't prompt enough to move faster, she gestured to the stairs. They climbed the steps together, hand in hand, and he could feel her eyes on him the entire way as they walked to the porch chairs and sat. Jack felt like his chair was too far from Lisa, even though he could reach her hand, so he moved it, noting she was studying his every move with a look of concern.
"Jack," she said, her voice wavering slightly. This wasn't what Jack had envisioned with her announcing she would stay, but it was what it was. He sat forward in the chair to put her hands in his, meeting her gaze.
"I'm okay," he said with a nod and a slightly chuckle. "Promise. I'm not meaning to scare you."
She sat forward, putting a tighter clasp on their hands, "I didn't take you back to lose you now," she said, and he could see the concern in her eyes. He nodded.
"I just had a checkup last week, and I am doing just fine, Lise. I'll call my doctor in the morning and run things by her because I know it worries you. I think just getting a good night of sleep, some overall rest, and something decent to eat will help. Oh," he winked, "you too. Just knowing where we stand now, that I'm not letting you go, that will help more than you know."
She gave him a warm, soft smile and continued to sit there, her hands gripping his tightly. He felt her studying his face, and he finally looked from their hands to her.
"What can I get you? Water? Coffee?"
He nodded over his shoulder, not wanting to pull his hand from hers, "I started with a cup of coffee while I waited for you. That sounds good, but I probably could use a fresh cup. I made some for us to sit and talk."
She stood, finally having to pull her hands from his, and she nodded in agreement. Jack reached over to grab his cup, and as he turned, Lisa had braced both hands on the chair and leaned in to gently kiss him.
"I love you," she told him. "I never stopped, and thank you for talking to me now, for letting me in, for letting me help."
He closed his eyes and nodded, a gentle smile on his face, as he leaned toward her and kissed her again, this time pulling her into his lap as she let out a yelp. "I love you too, and I have never and will never stop. I'd also never do this to any nurse of mine." He sealed that promise with a light kiss back at her, and she studied his face.
Lisa gave him a disapproving look as she sat there, across his lap, "You said you were lightheaded."
He nodded, "I am, but I'm sitting down, and I'm not about to lose the chance to embrace a beautiful woman in my presence. Luckily for you," he winked, "I only have eyes for one such woman." She rolled her eyes at his turning on the charm, smacked at his arm, stood, and she reached for his coffee cup, with her eyes still locked on his, gesturing with the cup.
"I'll get us some coffee. You sit."
Jack did sit while Lisa was gone. He took several deep breaths and felt himself really starting to relax. He knew he just needed some rest and something to eat. He'd suggest some food to Lisa when she returned, and he hoped he could convince her to stay just because he'd missed her so much. While they'd had a rough night trying to sleep out in those conditions, the little sleep he'd gotten had been because he'd felt at peace with her right there next to him, and he knew the more she was around him right now, as silly as it sounded, he would feel more and more at peace with things.
Jack smiled as he looked to Lisa approaching with two cups of coffee on a tray along with the remains of a loaf of bread from Maggie's. Lou had started selling some local breads and pies at Maggie's, and the breads were always delicious.
"Well, it's nothing gourmet," she grinned at him as she put the tray down between them, "but that's not your preference anyways." Jack chuckled and nodded at her assessment. "We do need a solid meal," she eyed him, and he nodded in agreement, raising his hand as well, "but I need you to eat something so you can at least kiss me without fainting." She eyed him with a large grin, and he returned it. "You do need to realize I am glad you told me how you are feeling, but I'm also resisting jumping in to try and fix it now. So, thank you for talking to me and letting me help you with this." She nodded to the coffee and bread. He looked to the tray, and she'd put some butter on the tray with the bread.
"Sounds perfect for now," he nodded. "Thank you," and both picked up the coffee mugs, Jack gesturing to toast to hers. "Here's to us, getting it right, finally. I promise we're done with the mess of the past."
"I'll drink to that," Lisa agreed, with a head nod. Both, still with eyes on each other, sipped at their coffee. They laughed when both groaned at how the coffee hit the spot.
"I'm not sure if I realized just how hungry and tired I am," Lisa said with a slight roll of her eyes. Jack turned and started to work on the bread and butter, preparing a piece and handing it to her. She smiled at his gesture and took a slice. He repeated things for his slice, and they both sat there in just each other's company taking in some long-needed nourishment.
Lisa couldn't stand it and finally turned to him, "Any better or do you need something? Medication?"
He did appreciate her asking, and he also knew the Jack of the past might have snapped at her for asking, but he was trying so hard to let her in, let her help, let her ask, let her be there for him. He also knew she'd missed out on a lot of his medical information this last year.
"I'm doing better," he told her with a sincere nod. "I just have some pills for angina, and I know that was aggravated today with that stupid hike up the mountain I took."
She sighed and shook her head, "I wish you would have told me. Something seemed off when we were down there waiting with Cinders."
"Well," he gave her a sad smile, "my heart was struggling in more ways than one."
She made a face and shook her head, "That sounds like a stanza on some lonely cowboy song."
He chuckled and nodded, "I'll have to remember that. I'm doing better. I promise. That does bring me to asking you a very important question."
As Jack said that, he could see a change in Lisa's demeanor, and he replayed his sentence in his head, realizing it could sound like a relationship question, but his wasn't at all-not yet, so he continued quickly before he could freak her out even more.
"Dinner," he said with a firm nod. "I need to eat it. You need to eat it, and well," he gestured around the property, "no one else is here."
Lisa's face changed, and he wasn't sure if it was shock, surprise, hope, despair-he wanted to kick himself for saying it like that because he really didn't know what she expected at this moment. They'd gotten back together all of a few minutes ago, and while he knew without a doubt he would marry her, he just hoped he hadn't crushed her dreams in that instant.
He noted she seemed to play off whatever expression or feelings she had with that comment and looked around, gesturing with her hand, "I thought it seemed too quiet around here. How in the world did you manage to get this place to yourself?"
He nodded to her with a grin, "With all that meddling from Tim, he finally did something right. He took the girls into town for the evening. Amy is out with Ty, trying to celebrate his birthday since it was kind of a mess with their helping out us."
"Oh," Lisa's eyes widened, "oh, I hate we messed up their plans."
Jack shook his head, "You wouldn't be saying that if you saw the disaster of a cake she tried to make him. Cakes aren't supposed to be that flat or that heavy. I swear it looks like she baked a brick. She would have loved having your help with it, so no," he chuckled, "don't worry. I think they were excited for a second night attempt at going to dinner for his birthday."
She laughed at his description of the birthday cake and made a face, "Amy's not a baker. I can count the number of times she's cooked in that kitchen, which I realize I'm not here all the time, but I think I'm counting zero attempts at baking to my knowledge. I'm curious, though, how she messed up a cake that badly."
"I'm not about to ask," Jack chuckled. "Maybe you can help her next year for his birthday."
At that hint toward the future, Lisa's smile widened even more, and she's winked at Jack, "I'll really look forward to that."
"Back to dinner," he winked.
"Well, Cowboy," she flashed a smile, "we do think a lot alike, and you are in luck. I brought dinner with me."
He raised his eyebrows in surprise while nodding at her gesture, "Really, is that so? See, Lise, always acting like that Girl Guide you know how to be, always coming prepared with some sort of picnic."
She shrugged, "Eeeh, well, since I had planned," she paused, "past tense," she said with a nod, "to sell Fairfield, I had been trying to eat out of my freezer. I'd put some soup I'd frozen in the refrigerator to defrost for dinner last night to eat after dropping off Cinders. Now," she rolled her eyes, "that would have been heavenly while we were on our camp out and had I actually thought to bring a food with us, but since I had it at home, I thought that you and I might eat that for dinner, that is," she leaned in and smirked slightly, "I had a positive response to my news about staying."
He laughed at her 'positive response to staying' comment, and reached for her hand. They held hands right over the tub of butter, both laughing at that. It was good to laugh, Jack noted, and he hadn't done so like this in a very, very long time. He also felt like a heavy weight had been lifted, no, he KNEW a heavy weight had been lifted and couldn't believe that he'd waited so long to move forward with Lisa. Life was full of regrets, and not marrying her sooner was definitely one of them. They were meant for each other, and even over something so simple as a loaf of bread, he was completely happy and content.
"So, the soup?" Lisa raised an eyebrow as she asked, gesturing to her car.
"Well, purely based on that favorable reaction," he winked, "the soup sounds great." She beamed, and he laughed. "The better question," he said, tugging on her hand to hopefully get her to move and sit with him again for a moment, "is what kind are we going to be eating?"
She tilted her head as she stood, taking his cue and moved to sit on his lap again, Jack, quickly putting his arms around her, and she put one arm around his neck, "Venison stew, which," she circled her head and spoke in a teasing tone, "I believe Mr. Bartlett, happens to be a favorite of yours."
"Ohh," he groaned and nodded, pursing his lips. "You make the best Venison stew I've ever had."
"Great minds," she winked. "When I pulled it out of the freezer, I thought I'd eat it in some sort of misery meal, one last meal to remember you, but this option is much, much better." The two leaned in and kissed again, enjoying their private moment in the silence of the late afternoon.
When they finally stopped to catch their breaths, Lisa grinned at him, but nodded in a question, "Still lightheaded?"
"No ma'am," he winked. "Not in the least. Feeling much, much better, which tells me this right here," he gestured to how they were sitting, "is really what the doctor ordered-fooling around with a beautiful lady."
She laughed as she swatted at him, her hand coming to rest over his heart. She met his gaze, "How is your heart, really?"
He nodded, "It really is doing just fine. I will check in with the office tomorrow and tell them what's been going on, but I'm feeling much better and have followed the doctor's orders, even though," he sighed and shook his head, "I hate doing that. I do plan to stick around a long time still, seeing as I have this gorgeous woman who actually thinks I'm worth something." She made a face at him and leaned in resting her head on the side of his.
"I'm glad to hear that, and going forward, I do expect to hear if you aren't feeling well." He nodded, and she sat up again. "How about I get that soup?"
They both agreed, and she stood first, turning around to kiss him again before he stood. He chuckled into her kiss, "We're never going to eat at this rate."
"Can't have you lightheaded again, well," she said with a sassy smirk, "at least not over food." He dropped his head in laughter at her comment, and then, as quickly as she'd been hovering in front of his face, she walked to her car where she pulled a zipper tote out of the back and held it up. Jack gathered their now empty coffee cups and empty bread plate-which he hadn't realized they'd even polished off, and the two walked inside to enjoy their nice, quiet evening.
Lisa moved around effortlessly in the kitchen, the same kitchen she hadn't been in in almost a year. Jack cleaned the dishes from their snack, the two of them quietly working, side by side. The ease of things was noticed by both; they shared quick glances and smiles at each other, enjoying just being together again. Not only did Lisa produce the frozen stew she put on the stove to heat up, she'd teased him in her silly manner by pulling out a fresh pie she'd told him she picked up on the way over and a bottle of their favorite wine. Jack set the small table there for the two of them, marveling in how things were turning out for the day. His worries about their future seemed to fade away with each passing minute together. While the stew heated, the two took time to stand there, loosely in the arms of the other, stealing quick kisses, enjoying long, drawn out kisses, and eventually, the two had to part as the stew was ready. Lisa served it while Jack poured their wine, and just as they were sitting down to eat, the front door slammed, both jumping slightly. It wasn't the door that should have surprised either; Jack kept meaning to fix the spring on it because it was snapping quickly, but neither had any clue anyone else was home.
Both Jack and Lisa looked to the door to see who had broken their private, evening spell, and both faces turned to almost horrified looks as Amy stepped inside.
"Oh, hi Grandpa, and wow, Lisa," she said with a small smile, her eyes darting between the two seated at the table. Jack knew Amy was rooting for them; he'd heard her mention a few things to Lisa during their walk back to the trucks, but he also knew Amy wasn't like Lou, in that, she wasn't some bloodhound trying to drag information out of people.
"Amy, what in the world happened to you?" Jack asked, resting his arms on the table. They hadn't started eating yet, so both were there, mouths open in shock at Amy's appearance. She had frosting all over and chunks of cake stuck to her hair.
Amy made a face and gestured to herself, "Well, my final attempt at a cake was a failed attempt. Ty really appreciated that I baked him a cake or," she rolled her eyes, "tried to bake him a cake, but Grandpa, it was just awful. I have no idea what I did wrong."
Lisa twisted her finger in a gesture at Amy, "So, I'm trying to understand this…you baked a couple," she looked between Jack and Amy, "birthday cakes for Ty, and he thanked you for your effort by throwing the cake on you?"
Amy started to laugh and shook her head while rolling her eyes, "Something like that, or maybe he tried to pretend it was good, but it wasn't, and well," she shrugged, "we put the cake out of its misery. Now," she grabbed her shirt, "I need to get cleaned up, and I'm just going to take him to Maggie's for something to eat and definitely for some cake. He's getting birthday cake, even if it's late."
Jack nodded, "Well, you two enjoy, and that cake is well earned after the day we all had. We were both here talking about things and realizing this was our first decent meal since the whole mess started."
"Oh," Amy held back a smile, trying to read the situation. Jack could see it in her expression, trying to guess the state of things, "I assume by your first decent meal since the mess started, the mess is just today's, or maybe you are both able to eat a decent meal without your stomachs churning after how things have gone for you both the last year?" Jack could see she was holding back a smirk.
He tilted his head to her with a slight frown. Amy knew he didn't like to get into his personal business with anyone, well, anyone other than Lisa. Jack chose not to answer, and Amy changed topics, knowing he wouldn't.
"Well, I'm going to wash up," she hooked her hand over her shoulder. "Good to see you here, Lisa," she said with a soft smile. Lisa smiled back at her with a nod. Amy turned to walk out of the room, but she turned back around and pointed at Jack, "Oh, Grandpa," she nodded to him, "speaking of washing up, might want to wash off that lipstick, those several lipstick spots," she gestured toward her face nodding to his, "unless that's a new fashion trend."
Jack didn't have to see his face to know it had turned bright red, and it only grew redder as Lisa dropped her head in a low chuckle. Jack was left speechless, but Lisa recovered to answer.
"Amy," she called to her, as Amy had turned toward the bathroom after her comment. Amy turned back around, and Lisa gave her a nod, almost one of respect for that well-played comment, but she met Amy's eyes, "I promised to update you on Cinders."
"Yes?" Amy asked, her eyes searching Lisa's for the answer.
"It would be a shame to let go of a relationship we've been building," she eyed Jack as she said that and then looked back to Amy. Jack watched the two women and smiled as Amy's face lit up as Lisa told her that, understanding the undertone. "So, he and I are a package deal and are staying."
"I'm so happy to hear that," Amy grinned. "Well, Ty will be waiting, so I'm going to wash up and let you two," she nodded, "you know, discuss the future, for Cinders, I mean." She smiled brightly at the pair, and they nodded to her.
After she'd entered the bathroom, Jack reached to clasp Lisa's hand, and the two smiled at each other, "Thank you for taking me back, for taking on this family, for loving me."
She batted her eyes at him and smirked, "I told you 'for now,' ehh?" She couldn't hold her face and broke out into a full out laugh, causing Jack to laugh too. She gestured to his bowl, "Eat your stew before you pass out on me or something, old man."
"Yes, ma'am," he said with a quick nod, and the two began eating. They briefly spoke to Amy again as she headed out for the evening, and when the house was quiet once again and the meal had been eaten, the two sat back in their chairs, sipping on the last bit of wine in their glasses.
Jack eyed her, "I'd like to be the best host and offer you a long-overdue romantic stay," he said with a tease in his voice. Lisa grinned at that, knowing Jack was going to say more, "but, we might have to table some for tonight. I'm completely exhausted, but I'm hoping I might interest you in curling up by the fire with me, another glass of wine, and maybe some of that pie?"
Lisa pursed her lips, taking his offer under consideration before she sat forward at the table, rested her elbow on the table and then her chin on her hand, "That is where our age doesn't matter. I'm beyond exhausted myself, and I do know that if I have a second glass of wine, I really shouldn't be driving home tonight, so your suggestion might be the best one I'll get, at least tonight."
He broke out into a laugh, leaning over to kiss her cheek, "I'll grab our wine glasses if you grab the pie." The two worked efficiently to clean up their dinner, and with each step toward the couch, both seemed to grow more and more exhausted. Jack got the fire going while Lisa served out some of the pie for the two of them, and soon, they were curled up together on the couch, finally able to relax.
"This is nice," he sighed, rubbing her shoulder where she was leaning up into his side, her favorite way to sit.
"It is, except I have one free hand, and I want pie and wine," she told him with a small chuckle. He shrugged.
"Easy, we share. We eat your pie, drink out of my wine glass. When one is finished, we get the other. Just working together as a unit, what we need to keep doing going forward.
She shifted slightly to look at him, nodding, "I like that. Okay, you're on, but if you eat more than half the slice of each piece of pie, we're getting a third piece." He chuckled and kissed her head.
"I've missed you, Lise; I've missed this so much," he sighed, pulling her tighter.
"I've missed us," she replied to him. The two settled into a comfortable silence as they shared their pie and wine, enjoying the warmth of a fire and happy to not be around a campfire with a storm coming.
Two hours later, when Tim finally decided to return home, he was almost giddy at the sight of Jack and Lisa, curled up, dead asleep on the couch, while he tried to quietly move the girls through the house without waking the two obvious lovebirds. It didn't take a genius to see it; a quick survey of the room confirmed it all. Two wine glasses and two dessert plates sat empty on the coffee table in front of them. The fire was down to a dull burn, but the two of them were out cold. The final 'clue' Tim noted, as he covered his mouth, trying to stifle his laugh, was the visible lipstick, even in the dim light, Tim could see on Jack's face. Tim stood above them, just grinning, wanting to pat himself on the back for his successful meddling in Jack's love life. The old man had actually fixed things. There was no doubt. Jack and Lisa were stretched out on the couch, tight as that was with two grown adults, Jack with a protective arm around Lisa, his head back, snoring softly. Lisa had one arm draped over Jack's chest and had wrapped another around his back, her head buried into his side as she slept. Both had shoes off and had kicked a light blanket to their feet. The two looked very uncomfortable, yet completely comfortable there with each other. Tim was sure they'd both be stiff in the morning, but something told him Jack wouldn't complain one bit. Tim clapped his hands quietly, but before he walked to Lou's room, his room for the night, he gingerly walked around and picked up nearly empty pie plate, eagerly stuffing the leftover pie into his mouth with his fingers. He chuckled at the two of them, still dead asleep and headed down the hall with a huge grin, dropping bits of pie as he walked, happy at least one of Jack's heart issues had finally been resolved.
