Chapter 88
"Ty, get up my love, we need you."
"I'm up what going on ?"
"Pearl ? Uh, Mare two is ready to lay down and she's breach, Sarah's with her and Georgie will be there. You need to teach."
"I'm up, do I have time for a quick shower ?"
"I think so, I'll let Sarah know 15 minutes."
"You're not coming ?"
"Betty's got the sniffles and I told her to sleep in, I have to deal with the kids and we're leaving this weekend, there's tons to do. Once they're up and going I'll be by. Go shower, students will be arriving soon, Georgie sent the text."
When Ty came out of the shower Amy was in her chair texting and sorting a pile of paperwork.
"Did I miss anything ?"
"No, just letting Yvette know there'll be more than the normal amount of students, she can pick up extra supplies. Make sure they record this Ty."
"I'll make sure but Sarah's there, I'm sure she's recording."
"That should be fun to watch." Amy added giggling on the way to the bathroom as Ty dressed.
There were two iPads mounted in the kitchen work area, one typically used for recipes and the other for whatever. Amy set it to the video feed from the recorders and listened in as she set the table for breakfast.
As always Jackson sped down and into her arms first "Morning mom, what's up ?"
"Breach birth happening." Amy said nodding at the iPad.
"Ok, I'm not watching that."
Amy laughed and turned the sound down and the iPad away from the table where Jackson sat and filled his cup with milk.
The girls came in and by for their hugs a few minutes later. "Morning mom's" were announced and milk and juice poured.
"Breakfast ?"
"What are you having ?" Jackson asked.
"I was going to have oatmeal."
"Good with me." Jackson said getting up "gotta muck."
"Breakfast in 30 minutes." She announced as he went out and the girls stood gulping down their milks.
Where's Papa ?" Maddie asked handing a coat behind her to Charlie.
"Breach mare happening."
"Poor thing" Charlie sympathized. "We'll stay out of their way, at least the other two went smoothly."
"Well for nothing else the students get to actually see one so that's something. I hope they're both Ok though."
"Fingers crossed." Maddie said pushing down her hat, "we have any chopped dates for the cereal ?"
"I'll check, go get your chores done."
90 minutes later with the kids off to school Amy walked over to check on the birth. She had watched Sarah, Ty and Georgie work on the mare, switching off applying pressure in an attempt to turn the breached foal. The last thing she saw was Sarah reach in while Ty and Georgie pushed as the foal slowly turned and settled.
"There now, sweet thing, that must feel a whole lot better." Sarah announced pulling off her gloves to subdued enthusiastic applause by students and several profs who came by.
"Let's let her be and gain back some strength for a few minutes, maybe she'll contract on her own. Let's try a warm sterile lavage" Ty said.
"That might do'er, I'll set it up, Georgie, see if she'll drink some from that bucket, it's apple juice, willow and juniper." Sarah said getting up with a hand from Acky who was watching from the side. "Thank you professor."
Amy walked up and let herself into the double stall with Mare #2 whose name was Pearl.
"Hey Pearl" she cooed kneeling down by her head next to Georgie.
Amy was one of Pearl's main human contacts and shifted her head to make contact with Amy's legs. Amy immediately lowered herself and raised Pearl's head to her lap.
"She's been calm." Georgie whispered.
"Sarah's prepping a warm lavage." Ty said and as if on cue she came through the stall door and handed the setup to Ty. She had Annabelle with her.
"Flaxseed oil Sarah ?" Amy asked softly.
"A nice healthy dose, has she had any drink Georgie ?"
"A cupful, try another Amy."
Amy filled the metal cup from the bucket and smelled before holding it down for Pearl who lapped at it.
"What's in the solution Professor ?"
"I'd say apple juice, willow and juniper extract ? Sarah ?"
"On the nose."
"The apple juice is a medium, they seem to love it, the willow bark extract is a natural pain reliever and the juniper is known to speed up labor and helps promote contractions, her water's broke, if she doesn't contract we'll have to intervene. Ok well you three seem to have things well in hand, I'm actually here for rounds with Bert." Amy said switching positions with Georgie. "I assume we'll stop back towards the end."
"Not if she goes first."
"That's true I guess, good luck with that."
It happened a little over an hour later, Amy was outside at one of the paddocks with two of the last group of rescues when she heard the murmur. She met Bert walking over from the medical building and they walked to the side just as Ty pulled the foal, a cute little chestnut filly onto a blanket laid before him. Sarah and Georgie were with Pearl, wiping her down with cool water and checking her vitals.
"Georgie ?" Amy asked.
"Strong, breathing steady, she seems good. As soon as the foal's ready we can see if she wants to get up."
Amy took a couple pictures of the foal being cleaned by Ty and Annabelle, sent them to Betty, Erma and Sally and looked over at Bert. "Are we done, I have to see Benny and Bryce on the other side. ?"
"We're good, if I see anything I'll grab Violette."
Amy nodded and walked over to the family stables to grab a horse. Ty saw her pass the rescue barn and jogged after her. "Hey you, whatcha' up to ?" Amy asked stopping for a quick kiss.
"Foal's here and healthy and under the care of half a dozen smiling happy handlers. Pearl is up, the foal's fed some, I've got free time, you ?"
"About to talk thoroughbreds."
"Oh, I have some site estimates for Benny, hold up and I'll ride over with you, they're in the bedroom."
"A late morning ride with my man, how did we not think of this before ? I'll grab you a horse."
Margot and Rudy, the twins liberty horses were next up on the rotation and Chuck was there to help Amy saddle. She led the horses out to the front where Ty joined her and gave her a leg up, and slid his hand suggestively up her torso. "Pretty touchy Dr. Borden, can I help you with something ?" she giggled.
"Trail rides have that effect on me I guess."
"This isn't technically a trail ride sweetheart but I applaud the effort."
Bert and Georgie were standing in the lobby of the medical building looking at a file when the couple rode by holding hands. They both looked up as they passed.
"Not going to say anything Bert ?"
"No Georgie, they've been running around like crazy getting ready for next week, they can use some alone time."
"That and Amy's been working her demons."
"You know about that huh ?"
"Kind of hard to miss, Ty's been doing some thinking too."
"They seem good together though."
"I don't think they're dealing with their shit, it's more her shit."
"And that's different ?"
"Not entirely I think, we've talked about them and she's made her peace with that, I think it's the adults she has an issue with, the parts she doesn't know that she's working through. There's a whole taking sides thing, almost like sibling rivalries."
"And Ty ?"
"Has to come clean about that part of the equation, Jack, Lou, Lisa, me at one point, Caleb, Scott even Tim I guess to an extent accepted Ty as a family member. It makes for a weird set of rules when dealing with lover's fights within the ranks. Ty has a, well, a destructive pattern he follows when relationship stuff goes wrong, at least with Amy, naturally the family tries to protect him from himself which always seem to involve keeping some things from Amy and the cost of doing that did and will have an effect on her when she learns of it. This is stuff before I was there so it's all second hand to me but Amy and I could always talk to each other, I think I'm solid on her take on things but not so much his."
"I guess every family has their shit and secrets and every now and then they get rattled. I don't know the Amy from back then, the Amy I know won't let what she learns hurt her for any significant time. She'll process and make her peace, I think in some ways she's done that already."
"I have Neuro Bert, you heading to school ?"
"After some paperwork, I'll see you later Georgie."
They rode along quietly, enjoying each other's company and the moment. It was getting chilly and they both wore light gloves. "Anything I can do to make leaving next week easier ?" Ty asked glancing over at her.
"Can't think of anything other than being there for us, Cornell is done so that's a huge part of it. I go to the schools tomorrow and then Barry and back here to sit with Sandra for a few hours then both Sandra and I with Bridget on Friday. We head to the city on Saturday, some preliminary tests Sunday and check in on Monday morning. Surgery Tuesday at 6:00 AM."
"You seem more harried than everything is done and I know that the surgery and not being here has it's own stress so ?"
"We have more questions to deal with."
"Yeah." Ty said softly.
"Yeah", Amy repeated, "Well I begged a reprieve so we have until I'm face to face with him again after the trip, we can do this after the surgery."
"Ames, there's a whole …."
"Shhh, listen to me Ty, I forgive you, without hearing a word of it."
"I was a shit Ames."
"Ty it was 12 years ago."
"Doesn't mean I wasn't a shit."
"I love you Ty with all of my heart, even if you were a shit."
"Thanks, I think." He said with a chuckle as they walked up to the stables.
"We'll be around an hour, lets get their saddles off." Amy said starting to loosen her cinches.
"Amy, Ty, I can get someone."
"Forget it Benny, we're done already." Ty said reaching for the tube in his saddlebag.
"So where are we date wise ?" Benny asked taking the tube.
"Soft opening June 1st depending on the weather."
"So June 15th is our goal ?" Bryce asked joining the group.
"We'll start with local North East boards and shoot for July 1 for training, you guys can sit with Nick and Claire when they come for the wedding."
As they walked to office Bryce rolled out the plan. "We can send out feelers, I'd like to be 50% full by the end of the summer and we'll go full for Fall and Winter once we have a full staff on board and a stable routine, excuse the pun."
Over coffee and muffins the four went through every horse at the facility, 102 total. Diet, exercise and rehab, transfer schedules to Florida and Kentucky in the south and AZ and California in the West coming up in the weeks, a steady stream of details discussed, initialed and decided upon. They worked steadily for a little over 90 minutes before they were walking back to the paddock.
"We'll pray for Jackson Amy." Benny said giving her a hug.
"Thank you Benny, take care of my horses."
Benny smiled and nodded before turning back to the office.
"Kids in school now and Tuck, not sure if Berta and I can make it in to he city guys but our hearts and thoughts will be with you."
"Thanks Bryce, I'll talk to Berta before we go I'm sure."
Ty found this common through the week both at school and at the ranch, people just randomly mentioning the surgery and their best wishes of love and prayers. Again they road back slowly and again they held hands and enjoyed the moment.
"It's just the family flying out Saturday ?"
"And Trish, the rest will come through Monday."
"Trish ?"
"Trish takes over the floor for two weeks, she's head nurse for the two weeks."
"Oh, I didn't realize, she stays with us ?"
"She does but mostly at the hospital until John visits."
"So we stay at the townhouse, how many bedrooms is that ?"
"We have 6, Charlie's apartment is around the corner, he's got like 8."
"8 ?"
"It's enormous the whole top floor with a deck that wraps around and faces the zoo."
"The Central Park Zoo ? Jackson likes the zoo, maybe Sunday ?"
"Sort of tradition to go the Museum of Natural History, dinosaurs and the marine biology room."
"Sounds like fun."
"It's a nice area, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, the Frick, I like the silence of the art, walking through and letting it wash over me. I've learned you can't just stay at the hospital, it's unhealthy. The park and New York itself is a nice temporary distraction. The girls will walk around the zoo with you."
"Bert was talking about the food."
"There is the food, especially now that anyone will deliver it seems, it's the only time I ever use the gym."
"Really ?"
"Yeah, I run a couple miles it helps with sleeping too. If the weather's nice it's a nice walk to the hospital."
"No pool ?" Ty asked laughing.
"No pool. Charlie's got a billiards room though."
"Now we're talkin'."
Back at the stables they brushed down their horses and set them out back. They stopped to check on Pearl and her foal, now named Opal. Annabelle was reading and eating an apple on a bench not far away and looked up at Amy and Ty. Ty noticed a worn bible on the pile of other books sticking out of her book bag.
"Opal's doing great, I think Pearl's a bit stiff, mom called Dr. Lee who's stopping by."
"That's fine Annabelle." Amy said. "Anyone needs us, we'll be at the house."
"She's eerily like her mom." Ty said as they walked towards the house.
"Crey is too, though he's pretty irreverent."
They found Betty with a steaming cup of tea and the New York Times at the kitchen table.
"How are you feeling Betty ?"
"I'm much better Amy, I'll turn in early again today and sleep it out. I ordered two lasagnas from Gola for dinner."
"I'll make a salad with it later and be here for the kids. Go take a nap Gran."
"A nap sounds great but they have after school stuff, Erma said 4:30 drop off."
"4:30, that's two hours." Ty said looking at his watch. "We should do something."
"Tic check ?" Amy suggested with a smile.
Betty giggled "I'l pretend I didn't hear that, tic check" she repeated laughing and heading up the stairs.
"Ty ?"
"Shower ?"
"As long as that means sex."
"Oh, two hours, there's definitely going to be sex Ames. I delivered a foal this morning though so a shower ?"
"Shower it shall be my love !" Amy announced starting to undo her flannel shirt buttons and heading up the stairs.
Ty turned and took a few steps to throw the lock on the front door and heard Amy's voice from the landing above as he hit the steps.
"Tic – Tok Dr. Borden " she called down.
"Geez Ames, I just locked the door."
"Yeah, we have an app for that Ty."
"Yeah, yeah, come here you" he said closing the bedroom door then pulling her gently over and lifting her tank top off of her before attacking her neck with his lips.
They were dozing in bed later on and Ty groaned when Amy reached for her phone and pulled from his grasp "come back here."
Amy giggled when she read the text and leaned back her lips reaching for his as his arms ran down her front and pulled her back.
"Erma's at school, we're last stop."
"That was Erma ?"
"Apparently Betty set up a text warning."
"This doesn't bother you at all ?"
"Nope, what would bother me would be the awkwardness of the kids knocking at the door while we were fooling around at 4:00 in the afternoon."
"Ok, I get that." Ty acceded.
"Look, I've taken Kimmie and April more than once to let Erma and August get some peace and alone time. The Carmichaels, hell I've taken Chuck so Charlie and Trudy could get some time alone. We certainly watched Georgie and Katie for Lou and Peter."
"I guess I never thought about it in terms of me, well us" Ty said pulling on his jeans.
Amy washed her face and brushed her hair into a pony tail. She unlocked the front door with her phone and was downstairs in the kitchen getting some snacks out when Ty joined her. They both went out to meet Erma's suburban when it pulled up.
Amy walked over to Erma and reached through the window for a kiss.
"Can we see the foals Amy ?" April called out.
"If your mom has the time, you can go grab a snack with Jax and you can visit together."
"Mom ?"
"Go ahead April, I'll be in with Kimmie in a minute."
"I'll get her Erma." Amy said opening the back door and reaching in to Kimmie who immediately reached out her hands when Amy unsnapped the lock.
Erma grabbed Kimmie's stroller, a big wheel off road looking thing clearly made for farms and ranches and left it by the porch steps as they went up. Amy was met by hugs from her kids who were sitting with Ty who had grabbed a cup of coffee. He reached out and took Kimmie from her. When she reached for an apple slice he looked at Erma who nodded before giving her enough freedom to reach it.
"We'll all go see Opal together." Ty said "have a cup of something."
"Erma ?" Amy asked walking to the coffee station.
"Don't have to ask me twice." She said sitting down.
"She's very pretty." Maddie said looking at the little filly's picture on an iPad.
"So what's the deal, they go back to the owners ?"
"That's exactly the deal Charlie, we take care of them and vet them through for free in exchange for us using them for the practicals. We'll also keep them until the foals can be transported which is a few weeks."
Pearl and Opal were moved to a small closed off meadow near the other mares and foals. They'd be given alone time for a day or so before being put back in close contact with the others though they'd still be stalled nearby.
The kids all knew to leave the newborn and the mare alone for now and stood at the edge of the paddock to admire her. The twins let themselves into the larger area with the other foals and sat down. Soon the foals came over to visit under the scrutiny of their moms. After a few minutes Amy sent JT and April in to sit with the girls.
Georgie, Katie and Barb showed up at one point and Ty excused himself to run a quick rounds and make some calls. Back at the house without Ty this time, Amy saw the Potters off. A thermal carrier with the two lasagnas had been dropped on the porch. Amy set them up to be heated and prepared a large salad. She set the timer to start the oven and heat the pasta a half hour before dinner and headed into the library to get through the days paperwork and get her things ready for the schools.
Amy had been through this before, Jackson would not return to class until the first week in December and the girls would miss the following week altogether. Part of the solution they devised with the district was to bring along a teacher licensed in the district. Amy took it one step farther and hired an approved long term district substitute. Sheila Weingarten was a retired Ithaca teacher who filled in as a long term replacement teacher when the need arose. There were several the district used. Sheila was a widow, got along great with the family and loved spending her off time on the upper East Side of Manhattan. Amy paid well, Sheila was a foodie who had no problem as a solo either sightseeing or dining.
The kids were kept on exactly the same schedule in Manhattan as they were in school including tests if any existed, though they had done it before thankfully this time none were scheduled. Each day Sheila checked in with the school for revised work and to transfer completed work back. Of course none of this was actually enough without dispensation of the school board and the cooperation of the schools which was handled through the generosity of the Flemings. It was political maneuvering at it's best or worst depending on how you wanted to look at it. There was no out in out bribery but when a school, a school program or the district needed an emergency fund to appear, sometimes it was Amy, add to that access to the nature rescue and ranch for educational trips and visits to the schools, it was easy to see how the rules could be worked around, after all, the surgery was documented, could only be performed away and the family did their best to keep the twins in school.
She matched the list the school guidance counselors and social workers provided with the signed and notarized paperwork Bridget and Tom Carmichael put together for her and got them into a folder. After going though a short stack of today's paperwork she made her way upstairs to the bedroom and set the folder into her messenger bag, kid's schools, Barry, her last lecture and office hours and then off on personal leave from Cornell for a month which was actually about 6 weeks.
The kids and Betty were all upstairs, Ty was in medical so Amy took the time with the dogs whom she'd been neglecting lately. She sat on the couch with the dogs on either side as she ran her hands over them and accepted the occasional lick of appreciation. She knew the lasagna was in the oven which had turned itself on because she started to smell it, she checked her watch just as Jackson came out of his room and made a bee-line to her and the dogs.
"When are we leaving ?"
"Saturday morning around 10, pizza for lunch in the city house."
"Patsy's ?"
"Or John's, if you want Patsy's that's fine."
"And the museum on Sunday ?"
"Yup, after the blood tests and a couple quick x-rays and seeing Asher and Shoshana."
The girls joined them a moment later and sat down to play with the dogs as well, both Dodger and Duncan were in heaven at the attention. Amy's phone beeped for a text and Maddie was closer and reached for it.
"Papa wants to know if we have enough dinner for Georgie and Wyatt."
"Of course we do."
Maddie pointed the phone at Amy to unlock the screen and texted back. When Betty came out into the hall Amy called for the table set as they headed downstairs. Ty, Georgie and Wyatt joined them about 15 minutes later.
"You sure you don't want Wyatt and I to stay in the house ?"
"Not unless you have a problem with the dogs in the loft."
"Absolutely not, we were thinking of finding a nice rescue for us actually."
"Plenty of them around." Amy said "Thanks for taking on this stuff Georgie."
"Plenty of help if Wy and I need it Amy, it's not a problem. You need to focus on this guy."
"You guys gonna come visit ?"
"We're really gonna try buddy but Wyatt and I have to help keep things going here so we'll see but we'll be thinking of you. I think you'll get some visits from Canada though."
Thursday Amy had one of those days where no matter what she did to make up for it she ran 5 minutes late.
"Sorry Barry, I just got caught up in the nightmare of school bureaucracy."
"It's fine Amy, thanks for the text letting me know and we can make it up at the end, you're my last appointment for the morning."
"I can't promise I'll have the time or the place to skype with you over the next two weeks but I'd like to try."
"Then we'll try and do our best. So last time we went through that summer of Ty being gone and you being back on the ranch after the tour with your dad. We learned that your grandfather did speak with him with the revelation that after Ty promising not to, what was it, kiss and run ?"
"Kiss and run is what he pretty much did, to be on his own, a common thread through all of this I guess."
"So after 3 or so months Ty was coming home."
"With a guest."
"Just so that I know, did you ask Ty about whether Jack talked to him when he came home ?"
"He did but we left it at that I guess and didn't jump all over it. Apparently I don't have the whole sordid tale."
"Are you ready to hear it ?"
"In terms of what, Ty or my grandfather's or Dad's part ?"
"All three though we're focusing on your grandad."
"Ty says he was a real shit, I agree, he pointed his finger at me and made an accusation I did not deserve, he was cruel, he has that in him, it comes with his moral compass which is bruised and comes out when his emotions rise to the surface. I think there's more I don't know and while I'm sure I'll be disappointed in what I hear there's very little I think that would shock me. Ty goes to a dark place inside himself, it's self destructive, judgmental he feels the need to punish himself."
"And others ?"
"I don't think it's intentional with him, that aspect of it, but I also don't think he relates the pain he radiates as something that effects others. At least back then, the concept of family was still very foreign to him. I've already told him that no matter what I'll hear I forgive him. I love him Barry, there's very little I wouldn't forgive."
"And your grandfather ?"
"My grandfather did what he did, what he thought was best, I'm not sure he knew his place, his part when my mom died and there was Lou and my dad."
"His place ?"
"He never made any effort to understand my side in anything. It seemed way more important for him to reach out to Ty, give him that understanding, to ground him. I guess he figured I didn't need grounding, I had a family. In the end there was this gap between me actually having a parent and family with my best interests at heart to this bizarre accumulation of family members none of which was willing to step up because it was one family member against the other."
After telling Barry the woe filled tale that started with Ty returning with Blair, through Chase, Blair's return, Dexter and Stuart Forrest Amy was presented with the same question. "I don't know what to tell you Barry, I know he spoke with Ty and other stuff happened Grandpa was a part of but if it had something to do with me besides that I was handling the Blair thing well, I don't remember it. I guess I need Ty's side."
"So, get it, you need it all Amy, the good and the bad to get through, this is the hard one, in the end you left Heartland for your grandfather's sake, to keep him from making a decision you thought would break him and one you were scared to hear."
"I'm still scared to hear it Barry, I'll be in touch."
"Whether we can talk is no reason to drop me a text to let me know Jackson is well."
"I'll be sure to let you know Barry, thanks."
She finally had time to stop and settled in her office to grab a sandwich and a breather before her lecture and practical. She had also listed this time as her last office hours though she could be contacted if the need was pressing. She was happy that Georgie joined her soon after she started, she didn't necessarily want to be alone.
"How's the head shrinking going ?"
Amy smiled "fine I guess, Ty mention something ?"
"Let's say it's made it's away around the inner loop and leave it at that."
"The next couple weeks should be interesting. It's weird it's like I'm spying on my own life. Like I'm reading some script and analyzing the scenes I'm not supposed to be in."
"You know until I got here I never gave any thought to the whole, well, I've called it sibling rivalry thing with you and Ty. Say with Mom, she always considered Ty like a brother, and Jack, who knows, him and Ty and their whole thing."
"And you Georgie ?"
"Guilty as charged and I'm pretty sure I can add Katie to that mix, Peter and Caleb."
"And Scott."
"And Scott for sure."
"Excuse me Amy, uh Georgie, Dr. Morris." Richard Schaefer, the staff Chiropractor said laughing. "It's a pain to keep up, Dr. Morris here and in an hour Georgie at Pegasus."
"Georgie is fine Dr. Schaefer. Good afternoon Dr. Lee."
"Good afternoon Georgie, Amy, Richard and I were off to see the mares and a few other stops at the ranch. Barnum's leaving us I hear ?"
"He is Chris, not sure of the exact date yet but before I'm back I think, I'll say my goodbye tomorrow."
"He's off to Saratoga ?"
"Yeah, they're friends of the foundation and were glad to do it. Do you need me for something Richard ?"
"No, I'm sorry, we weren't sure we'd see you at the ranch and wanted to wish you all the very best over the next few weeks."
Amy smiled and thanked them both, standing to reach across the desk for brief hugs.
"Sarah and Annabelle are there if you need anything and whatever either of you think of for the mares is fine."
"Take care Amy." Richard said with a smile and nod from Chris Lee, her acupuncturist.
Several other professors, third and fourth years came by as well. Amy thanked them all with a smile, she knew there would be flowers and baskets sent to the hospital and the residence. Amy would have them distributed to food pantries and other patient floors. Betty and the twins would see to cataloguing and listing the gifts so they could be properly acknowledged with a note. Something to keep them all busy.
"So what are you going to do about Jack ?"
"I don't know Georgie, is there something to do ?"
"I'm actually not sure, besides it's your head not mine, time to teach Amy and I need a ride home later."
"No problem I have to stop at Faculty Admin though."
Georgie and Amy walked to the admin hallway after classes and locking up Amy's office. Georgie went further past Admin to check her mailbox in the student offices while Amy stopped in to see Linda Chen.
"All set Professor ?" Linda asked looking up from her desk.
"If you say I am, is Lorin in Linda, I wanted to say goodbye."
"I think he's been expecting you, there's a box. I'll let him know you're here."
Amy walked down he short hall to the inner sanctum of Cornell's Vet School and knocked on the door.
"Come in, come in. Amy, it's good to see you, all ready to head out ?"
"Last goodbyes Lorin."
"Well we'll miss you around here for sure, I have a surprise for you." He said getting up from his desk and walking around to the sitting area where a box sat on the coffee table.
"These are the full galley proofs, look them over, it's a tremendous effort Amy, well done. Knopf Publishing is in Jersey City, our Cornell editor lives in the city, if you find the time and want to sit with her while you're in the city her contact info is in the box, I know what you're dealing with so no expectations."
"Let's see how it goes" Amy said reaching out. Lorin smiled and stepped forward for the hug. "Thanks for letting me do this boss."
"Nothing to thank me for Amy, we're a family here."
"Due to your leadership Lorin." Amy smiled and bent down to retrieve the box.
"Those are the soft covers obviously, they'll produce the limited hard cover ones once the approval goes through."
Lorin walked her out to the outer office where several people had gathered to wish Amy goodbye and best wishes to Jackson and for the wedding. Georgie was waiting and grabbed Amy's backpack as she had the box. Linda Chen just wrapped her arms around her and kissed her cheek. "Be well Amy, I'll talk to you when you get back and if we need anything I'll talk to Bridget."
"Thanks Linda, see you at the wedding."
"Wouldn't miss if for the world."
That evening the family gathered in front of a small fire in the master bedroom. Betty had stayed for a little while and excused herself to an early turn in. When the dogs finally settled Jackson crawled over towards Amy who pulled him closer and into a hug.
"Are we bringing them ?" Jackson asked nudging at the dogs.
"They're better off here with Georgie. They'll have Chuck during the day."
"I guess, I'll miss them, and the horses."
"And the bunnies and the alpacas" Amy added.
"Not so much but yeah."
"This is really the best time for this JT, you know, you should be able to fish in the spring, there isn't tons of riding for most of the winter."
"I know."
"How about we invite April and Cars over early Saturday morning and you guys can ride out with your three for a while before we leave, a real proper goodbye."
"That'd be great."
"Good, I'll call Erma and Sally in the morning, now hugs and goodnights sweet boy, last real school day for awhile for you."
Early the next morning Amy opened her eyes and smiled, "Ty what are you doing ?" She giggled as his lips moved past her neck onto her shoulder as he undid her pajama buttons.
"Hmmmm ?" Ty murmured.
She groaned as the last button opened and her blouse fell open.
"Should I stop ?" He whispered his lips a breath away from hers.
As an answer her free arm rose and her palm rested on his neck as she pulled his lips down onto hers.
45 minutes later she slipped a breakfast casserole into the pre heated oven as first Betty, then her kids and lastly Ty joined her at the table. She had removed the bandage from her arm and forgotten about that when she took off her flannel shirt and hung it on her chair while sipping her coffee.
"Ow, what happened mom ?" Jackson said noticing the multi colored bruise while drinking his milk and eating a slice of apple before chores.
"Oh nothing really JT, small cut and bruise, go get to your chores."
"Ok, as long as it doesn't hurt."
"It hasn't for days." Amy assured him with a smile.
Jackson had left and Maddie leaned over to look at Amy's arm.
"How'd that happen exactly ?"
Amy turned her arm back and murmured "it was nothing Mad, finish up."
"You are the worst liar in the world." Charlie laughed
Amy looked over at Ty who had looked at her and then down at his plate.
"Forgot about it, didn't you ?" She asked leaning over to get his attention with a nudge.
He was smiling and helped himself to an apple slice.
Betty was smiling at the conversation "enough girls, get to your chores please, that casserole won't eat itself."
Alone after the twins had gone Ty looked up, "Seriously they're 15."
"Yes my love and they've taken sex-ed as part of health in school for several years and know for instance that I have or had an implant because they asked me."
"And she's had the talk with both Maddie and Charlie." Betty added.
"We're leaving Jackson to you." Amy added finishing her coffee. "Rounds, calls, packing and goodbyes. You need help getting anything ready Gran ?"
"Sandra and Bridget have my list, food's coordinated, I'll pack myself, everything's double and triple confirmed."
"Let me know when we hear from Asher and Shoshana."
"They're in the air, Shoshana texted Trish."
The kids got back for breakfast as Amy, Ty and Betty were finishing theirs. Betty sent Amy and Ty along on their rounds and got the kids fed and off to school. Over the next few hours Ty realized that it was Amy's plans to visit every horse at Pegasus which near as he could figure was about 170 all told. She also stopped at the Alpacas, the nature rescue, the bunny pens, pet Alpacas and a considerable amount of time among the family horses. This included her last inspection of the new family barn extension being built under Chuck's single minded adherence. For the most part it was done except for some interior finishing and being made live. Water, heat, electricity and a computer link were last and scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Bryce would open the house for the computer techs to get into the heart of Pegasus first thing Monday.
Sandra and Bridget joined her and Betty for lunch, this was their official passing of ranch and foundation business to Amy's seconds in command. Sandra and Bridget would filter what she needed to know and coordinate any issues important enough for her attention, deal with it themselves or put it off until she or Betty returned. Of course Bert would medical along with Sarah, Violette and the seconds.
Ty walked Amy up to meet the school buses where Amy made sure the driver and the attendants knew her three would be out the following week but the other two stops at the ranch, near the rescue center access and the thoroughbred stables still needed to happen.
After snacks they went into packing mode which included clothes, school supplies and a load of personal things Jackson absolutely needed in the hospital, each and every one of those items scrutinized by Amy as to whether it was actually absolutely necessary.
Betty checked over the girls clothes and double checked their school bags. Ty packed for himself and was slightly annoyed when Amy picked out some things and exchanged them for others. She made sure he had a suit and more upscale casual clothes than he had packed while still allowing him a good choice of Ty's natural choices of Alberta relax wear.
Amy took several casual dresses, one more elaborate for evenings and a selection of jeans, blouses, tops, 4 pair of boots, assorted shoes, two cowboy hats and several caps.
Goodbye meals were split into what Georgie now termed family loops that surrounded the family like Venn diagrams. This evening, the Koenig's, Rodger's and Margolie's were there to wish Jackson and the family well. Trish and John were the only overlaps in the groups for the evening and the morning. It was a matter of making things manageable rather than requiring catering services and too much mess. Trish and John would also be at breakfast along with Trish's stuff. The others would make their ways to the city through the week by a plan devised somewhere to which Amy was definitely not a party.
After some tearful hugs and goodbyes for now the family gathered eventually in Amy and Ty's room. The weather had turned chilly with winds blowing down from Canada and a frost was settling on the ranch. Ty stared a small fire and the dogs immediately positioned themselves on the stone hearth. There was an underlying excitement to the coming week. It was exciting to be spending a week in the city. The girls would have free time to do some exploring and they loved the pulse, youth and culture of the city.
Once again Jackson found himself in Amy's lap opting for her over Ty and he snuggled in close. "Excited sweetheart ?" She whispered.
"Both" he whispered back.
"Yeah" Amy confirmed sofly, "me too. We're gonna do this though."
"Yeah, for sure."
"It's Ok to be a little scared Jackson."
Betty mentioned a cup of tea and Amy headed down to brew a small point for the two of them. JT transferred to Ty's lap and as the girls searched they talked about the museums in the area and the various special exhibits showing in town. There was a special exhibit at Natural History about the evolution on North American Prey Birds that JT was keen to see. Living with Cassidy Running Bear JT had seen more of these birds up close than most kids his age. He's petted a Golden Eagle and like his mom and almost dad actually held a Bald Eagle. He's seems hawks, falcons, condors and assorted others and he'd sat patiently listening to Cassidy on the intricacies of a bird's wing.
Amy had mentioned a stroll through the Guggenheim to Ty. He had heard of the museum but had to look at a picture the girls showed him before he remembered the unique space, the round building and the circular path through the art it offered.
"So you'll be there the whole week ?" Jackson asked Ty.
"I'll come back here with the girls while mom stays on with you."
"Sort of your job now huh ?"
"Sort of, besides there are the horses."
"I know, it's Ok."
You know Papa, we're."
"I know Mad" Ty interrupted "this is what your mom and I decided. It's a matter of what's right for us as a family, she'll stay with Jackson and I'll be here with you two. Jackson, you have an early morning scheduled before the trip, go get washed up and brushed."
Amy leaned over for a kiss when he passed her returning with the tea. Ty went to see him down a few minutes later while she and Betty sat.
"He's nervous." Maddie said leaning over for her water bottle.
"Which he ?" Amy asked.
"Yeah, both."
"I know Charlie, it's understandable." Amy answered putting her mug down.
"They're all ready to set up the chair lifts and ramp, they'll send over the wheelchairs next week." Betty said looking over her papers one last time.
"We've gone through all of this a million times Betty, let's get through Wednesday first."
"Deep breath mom."
"Seems to help less and less Charlie but I'll try."
"Try what ?" Ty asked walking in.
"Trying to keep breathing Papa." Maddie said "I'm gonna grab a shower and Skype goodnight." She said getting up to hug each of the adults. Without comments Charlie rose to join her and repeated the circuit of hugs and goodnights. Amy kissed Betty goodnight a few minutes later and locked up. They were soon snuggling in bed, Amy in Ty's arms her head resting on his chest, his heartbeat and soft caresses quieting her mind and body until she slept.
The morning was full of nervous energy especially amongst the kids. The twins, Bobby and Sabrina and the younger set, Cars, April and JT. Jackson's last surgery took place in the summer and it was less complicated. There were no couples involved for one and visiting was way easier as there were no schools involved.
After they ate the teens congregated to the family room, JT, April and Cars were off on horseback to stop for goodbyes at the nature rescue and thoroughbred stables. Their flight was scheduled for 10:30, rain threatened but not until noon.
The adults gathered with coffee in the living room. Tom filled Ty in on where they were securing the conservatorship over the West Canada Preserve area while John and August listened in. Amy sat with Erma, Sally, Meg and Betty and talked about wedding plans and then the plan for visiting the next weekend. Chuck came by and collected suitcases with John pitching in. The crowd started gathering when the kids were spotted cantering down the hill to the family barn.
Jackson ran off to wash up with the kids after their ride and he had to change into clean traveling clothes. When they all got back downstairs people stared milling over for goodbyes and hugs. As if prearranged there was a pecking order in good byes and soon it was mostly family. The twins were off tho the side holding hands with their 'others' and whispering quietly. April stood stoically with Cars and JT as a stream of ranch folks came by for hugs and hand shakes accompanied with good wishes.
When the chopper came into view the more serious goodbyes came. Meg, Sally and Erma would not be denied long hugs with both Jackson and Amy, tears completely acceptable. Sarah came by with Annabelle and Creighton and Ty stared in amazement as Sarah reached over and tied a red piece of yarn around Jacksons left wrist and then held it in her left hand with her right hand on his cheek and then she leaned over to whisper in his ear before a big hug. Both Annabelle and Creighton also took his wrist and closed their eyes for a second before with shanking hands in Crey's case or leaning over to kiss JT's cheek in Annabelle's. Sarah leaned in to hug Amy closely and when she stepped back reached into her ever present shoulder bag and placed her bible in Amy's hand. Bryce, Roberta and Chuck were last with hugs, the bags were stowed and Mike was waiting at the gate. Trish broke away from John with a soft kiss and walked over.
"It's time Amy." She said softly putting her arm around her shoulder and turning her to Ty as the kids said their final goodbyes. Trish stood by Jackson as April leaned over and kissed JT's cheek, he blushed and did the same and then patted Cars on the shoulder. Trish was last aboard and pulled then secured the inner handle as Mike their pilot swung the door shut and climbed into the cockpit.
"Can we mom ?" JT asked.
Mike had heard and Amy nodded, "go ahead, once around Mike, not too low."
Mike acknowledged with a smile and swung the chopper North instead of Southeast and flew the outskirts of the ranch as everyone looked down and pointed or commented before they passed the house again and continued on passed the property borders and over Ithaca a few seconds later.
