It was now a couple weeks later, and Lisa was exhausted from a long week at Fairfield. On top of that, the weather seemed to be getting colder and colder each day. She hated parking the car at the house because that meant she now needed to dart from the car to the house, thus, trekking through the cold temperatures again, but she took a deep breath and as quickly as she could, she moved through the snow and was soon greeted with the warm house.

"Lisa," she heard Lou call for her from the kitchen as she unraveled out of the layers at the door, "there's a package that came for you today, a big one."

"Oh good," Lisa smiled stepping into the kitchen, rubbing her hands together to warm them. She saw the box sitting on one of the kitchen chairs and grinned excitedly at it. Before she opened it, she walked to the coffee pot to pour a cup, giving a glance over at Lou.

"You weren't making something for dinner, were you? I made a lasagna last night for tonight's dinner. It's ready to go in the fridge," Lisa told her.

"No," Lou shook her head. "I'm trying out this new smoothie recipe," she indicated, "trying to really boost my health."

Lisa glanced over at Lou's concoction and made a face, "How is it? The color is terrible, sorry to say, but that dull brown color does not look appetizing."

"It's ahh, takes some getting used to," Lou nodded.

"I think I'll stick with the lasagna," Lisa winked at her, shaking her head as she made a face. She then gestured to the box, "Now, I'm excited about this package."

"Ohh, what did you order?" Lou asked, turning to the table where Lisa had put her steaming cup of coffee and had now started to open the package. Lisa grinned at Lou.

"Since it's the dead of winter here and all of the stores are full of coats and sweaters, I had to order some things for our trip to Florida."

Lou started to laugh as she grinned, "Oh, you mean for Grandpa, I'm guessing? You know he keeps saying he'll be fine wearing what he has."

Lisa glanced up from where she had just cut open the box and rolled her eyes, "Yes, and we've all lived with Jack long enough to know he has nothing that is at all appropriate for Florida. Even jeans now," she shook her head, "it's still 90 degrees down there. He'll roast."

"Yeah," Lou made a face, "Grandpa doesn't need to overheat in his typical ranch clothing. I don't know how you do it, but you're the only one who has been able to get him anything new. That suit years ago was a miracle, and we both remember he didn't even want to wear it at first. He'll only wear new shirts you get him, so," she nodded with a huge grin, "what did you order?"

Lisa returned the grin and started to pull things out of the package. Lou stood there ready to inspect everything.

"Well, I did one huge order from a favorite store of mine, at least for tropical clothing, not that I go to that climate too much, but this is all from Tommy Bahama."

"This should be good," Lou chuckled, and Lisa pulled out the first item.

"Flip flop sandals," Lou laughed as Lisa handed them to her. "Oh, this will be interesting. I'm not sure Grandpa has ever worn flip flops."

"Not that I know of," Lisa shook her head. "Jack's shoe wardrobe mostly includes various boots and his pair of slippers. That's about the extent of his branching out with shoes." Lisa pulled out the next item and opened the plastic on it, nodding to herself as she held them up, "Ahh, good. These look fine. I was worried they'd be too short."

"Swim trunks," Lou laughed, covering her mouth. "I love the pattern," she nodded, with the trunks being navy blue with tiny palm trees around the waist and around the bottom cuff, "but I'll be impressed if Grandpa will wear these."

"The quality is great," Lisa said, inspecting them. Jack's going to have to wear them. I intend to sit by the pool and at the beach. The alternative for him is to sit inside and sulk, which," she glanced at Lou and rolled her eyes, "is always a possibility."

Lou nodded in agreement as Lisa pulled out the next item, nodding her head, "I got this shirt to match with the swim trunks, one of those dry wick shirts." She handed that to Lou, and Lou eyed Lisa.

"It is almost unnerving to picture Grandpa in shorts and t-shirts. Does he own a single pair of shorts?"

"No," Lisa shook her head. "When I spoke to Jack about a summer wardrobe, he said he didn't see a need for shorts. He then told me he's never worn them, which sounds hard to believe in a way," she shook her head from side to side, "unless you know Jack."

Lou raised her eyebrows, "Did you order him some?"

Lisa started laughing and nodded, pulling more out of the box, "Oh, I definitely ordered him shorts. This is going to be eye-opening, Jack having to change up his wardrobe. His legs won't know what hit them, that bright ball of heat in the sky."

"You will have to take plenty of pictures and lather him in plenty of sunscreen," Lou chuckled, looking at the next item Lisa handed her. "Oh, now, Grandpa should like this white button up shirt," Lou nodded. "That looks beachy yet kind of his style."

"Yes," Lisa said with a hesitant nod as she looked at the shorts she was opening. "I know Jack doesn't want change. I'm not trying to change him, but I'm just trying to make him comfortable for this trip."

"I think it's great, Lisa. I know he went all cowboy in France, and that didn't help with things. He might have liked it a little more if he'd embraced the culture just a little."

Lisa glanced at Lou and frowned, "I have no comments on France."

The two women finished going through the package of things, and as they were almost to the last items, Jack came in from outside, stomping the snow off his boots at the door. Lisa put down the clothing items she was examining and walked over, leaning against the kitchen doorframe as Jack sat to take off his boots.

"Hey there, Cowboy, cold out there," she said with a nod and warm smile. He returned her smile as he tugged at his boots.

"My day got better when I walked from the barn to the house and saw your car outside. I'm glad you aren't still at work. I am picturing a hot cup of coffee curled up by the fire with you."

"Coffee coming your way, Grandpa," Lou called from the kitchen, and Lisa turned her head to give her a thankful nod.

"Thanks, Lou," Jack called out as he stood. Lisa stepped into his embrace, giving him a quick kiss. She nodded toward the table.

"Before we relax by the fire, which sounds lovely, I wanted to show you this. Remember how cold this feeling is and how nice it's going to be in Florida. I ordered you some things, and they came today, all clothing you can pack."

"Lise," he sighed, following her to the table where Lou met them with a cup of coffee for Jack. Lou sat down in the chair to watch the scene unfold, and Lisa stood there gesturing at all she'd ordered. Jack eyed it and then eyed her. "You said you were going to get me a couple of things, a couple," he emphasized.

"I did," she nodded, "a couple of each, of all things you are going to need."

Jack held up the sandals and frowned at them, "My boots will be fine."

"No they won't, Grandpa," Lou chimed in, shaking her head. She gestured at the sandals, "Grandpa, get real here. You can't wear cowboy boots on the beach. Seriously, boots with shorts or swim trunks?"

"I don't own either of those things," he pointed at Lou, and Lisa cleared her throat holding up a pair of khaki shorts.

Jack looked over to see Lisa smiling with an encouraging nod, "I got you some shorts, three pairs, swim trunks too."

Jack sighed and dropped his head, glancing over at Lou first who was giving him an encouraging smile and then to Lisa who stood there, hand on her hip with her eye raised at him, wondering how this was going to go. He held up his hand, both expecting the wrath from Jack, but he surprised them, "Okay."

"Really?" Lisa asked, totally shocked, her voice inflection raised.

Jack gestured at her, "I know you went to a lot of trouble."

"I just want you to be comfortable in Florida, and as much as you think you will be in this," she gestured to what he was wearing, "Honey, you won't. It's too hot there, and you need something like these shorts. The material is comfortable, quick dry, and very stylish." She gestured for him to feel the material, which he did, and he just eyed her.

Jack looked at the pile of clothing, picking up the white button up shirt with a glance at Lisa and an encouraging nod at her. "This is okay."

"I thought so," Lisa said nodding, a smile over at Lou who was waiting and watching the scene. Lisa put her hand on Jack's arm, stepping closer and grinned at him "Believe it or not, Jack, after all these years, I do know you and have some idea of what might work, clothing wise."

Lou chuckled, and both looked at her. She held up her hand at them, "Grandpa, Lisa has amazing taste. Trust her."

"That's right," Lisa grinned, her hand still gripped on Jack's arm. "I did pick you, hmm? All the men out there, Jack, and you were the cowboy I wanted. Great taste, ehh?"

Jack dropped his head in a bashful manner, chuckling quietly before he looked up at her again with a gesture to the pile, "This looks like a lot, Lise."

She nodded in agreement, "We are going to be there a week. You don't have anything here that works for Florida, so yes, I got you some new clothes. Basics," she gestured to the pile, "solid shorts, swim trunks, solid shirts-I mean, Jack," she laughed and looked at Lou, "I didn't get you palm tree prints and Hawaiian style print shirts. Come on, I do know you better than that."

"And Grandpa," Lou chimed in with a nod, "no cowboy hat." She shook her head. Jack frowned in defeat, looking from Lou to Lisa. Both were shaking their head, and Lisa put her arm around his shoulders, tugging at him.

"I did find an alternative," she grinned at him. She squeezed his shoulder and winked over at Lou. Lou gave her an interested glance, and Lisa dug through the box.

"Lise," Jack sighed, shaking his head, "I'm not wearing one of those silly ball caps or bucket hats."

"Jack," Lisa rolled her eyes at him and gestured, "give me some credit. As I've said, not my first rodeo with you," she grinned, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "You'll like what I ordered."

At that, she pulled out a very modern looking, cream-colored fedora style sun hat with a breathable mess style material and a black rim around it. Lou's eyes widened with a huge nod of encouragement at Lisa. Lisa looked to Jack, with a hopeful glance. Jack looked to Lou and then to Lisa, his face showing no expression. He eyed Lisa again, reaching for the hat.

"Huh," he nodded, looking at the hat and then to Lisa, his look a mix of being dumbfounded and impressed.

"Well?" Lisa asked him.

"They wear this in Florida?"

"Absolutely," Lisa nodded, and Lou nodded too.

Jack put it on his head just as Amy walked in from the barn. She started to take off her coat and boots but glanced over, and her eyes widened with Jack there in his new hat. Both Lisa and Lou looked to Amy with hopeful expressions.

"Wow, Grandpa!" Amy exclaimed, smiling brightly. She looked to Lisa and gestured, "You ordered that for your trip to Florida?"

"I did," she grinned, pointing to the pile of clothing on the table, "along with all of this. What do you think, Jack?"

"Ohh, it fits," he said, fingering the hat. "Suppose this will work."

"Grandpa, it looks great on you, very sophisticated," Lou told him.

"I love it, Grandpa. Good job, Lisa," she grinned.

"Well?" Lisa eyed Jack, hoping he wasn't too upset. He still had the hat on his head, and he started to walk toward the bedroom.

"I'll see how it looks in the mirror," he called to them, and all three women grinned at each other.

"Lisa, I don't know how you've done it," Amy smiled and shook her head.

"Seriously, Lisa, perfect hat for him. Amy, you should see the stuff she ordered for Grandpa-shorts, swim trunks, sandals." Amy walked to the table as Lisa glanced at the box.

"That's all of it," she told them, and Amy held up several things, nodding in agreement.

"These are all great, Lisa."

Lisa smiled at them as she started to collect all of the clothing in her hands. She nodded toward their bedroom, "While Jack is enjoying his new hat, I'm going to have him try on all of this, but," she looked to the two granddaughters, "ladies, I think we have made a huge step forward getting Jack outfitted for a vacation. I'd suggest he show both of you everything, but I'll be lucky to just get him to try it on for me." She gave a wave as she scurried to their room. "Wish me luck!"