Chapter 98
"Betty ?"
"Amy ?"
"What are you saying ?"
"I'm saying I'm not marching down that aisle if the others aren't."
"Which others exactly ?"
"Lisa, Lilly and Casey. Especially Casey, she's your step mom Amy."
"And Lilly, she's Ty's mom."
"I know she's Ty's mom Sally, I told him about this."
"He'll do it for you Amy, but he's not happy."
"Erma ?"
"You heard me sis, he wants his mom and Wade."
"And the rest" Betty added.
Amy looked at the faces around the table, Erma across for her and then up and down the sides at the others; Betty, Sally, Meg Carmichael, Trish, Lou and Georgie, her unexpected guest. She stopped when she got to Lou and Georgie.
"You two ?" She asked her sister and niece.
"Is the issue really Dad or something else ?"
"Mostly Dad Lou."
"Mostly ?"
"I got this mom, she's pissed at Jack too." Georgie took over "Look Amy, the way I see it is you're screwing over Lisa and Casey royally, Jack, who doesn't even know he's in the shitter and Lily who you really have no right to be pissed at if Ty isn't."
"Ok well,"
"I'm not done yet." Georgie said staring at her.
Amy looked at her and smiled, not the smile you really wanted on Amy's face these days. "Please, go on."
Georgie smiled back, dimples and all, completely unfazed "All for what ? As far as Tim is concerned you won and other Meg." She said and smiled at the Meg sitting at the table. "Other Meg belted him so we got that out of the way, you got Maggie's, you got me." She said with another sweet smile "Almost done, and, much as you like to Marion this and Marion that, the name is Fleming and I'm pretty sure she didn't put that need to ride a rocket in your DNA. You gotta give it up Amy, Tim's never gonna be that guy."
"Fine, Ok fine, can I at least have them go first and sit and you walk with us and stand with me ?" Amy said to Betty in a rather amusingly resigned tone of defeat.
"I think that would be perfect." Betty told her reaching out.
"Does he even own a nice suit Lou ?"
"Lisa and Casey took him, you might have lost out when he saw the bill but Lisa told him you were paying."
"I'm paying ?"
"No Casey paid and pays the credit card bills so it's all good."
"It's literally like dealing with Carson." Sally said.
"Yeah" Georgie said starting to laugh "Jackson told me that Amy told him that sometimes Grandpa is a like a 6 year old boy."
"Almost 7" Amy said starting to laugh as well "I did say that, I guess it's time to have that talk with Jackson, imagine telling someone that. Hold on." She said taking out her phone, hitting a button and laying it down.
"Hey, how's it going ?" Ty's voice came through the phone.
"All you had to do was tell me it was that important to you to have your mom walk down the aisle Ty."
"Amy, do you even hear the words coming out of your mouth right now, why would you possibly think I would think that it was Ok for my mom not to walk down the aisle ?"
"Then why didn't you just tell me ?"
"This was better, it's over, we haven't argued about it. Leslie there yet ?"
"Nope. What are you two doing ?"
"Watching races, I think Charlie has footage of every race ever run."
"And what are you drinking ?"
"Armagnac, it's like cognac."
"It's before cognac so the opposite and sweeter, whatever."
Maddie and Brin came in holding hands and stopped. "Is that Poppa ?"
Amy nodded. "Hey Poppa"
"I can't tell on the phone yet."
"Hi Ty"
"Hello Sabrina hey Mad."
"You and uncle Charlie playing nice ?"
"We are, you guys ?"
"Oh yeah, very nice." Brin said looking back at the phone.
Ty laughed "See ya later girls, Amy, bye everyone !"
"Bye Ty, we'll see you coming home." Erma called out.
The arrangement was they would leave together when the time came. Maddie and Charlie would walk with the group to Charlie's building where most were staying, and Ty would walk the girls back.
They all turned as Maddie opened the fridge and pulled out 4 waters while Brin opened cabinets and found a bag of chips and a large package of double stuffed Oreos. She held both in her hands for a second and then slipped the chips back into the cabinet.
"What ?" She asked turning to the table when she noticed she was being watched.
"Nothing at all Brin." Trish said smiling, "good choice."
"Oh, uhm yeah." She answered with a smile. A second later Maddie put her hand down and Brin took it. "Back to the movie."
"What are you watching ?" Meg asked.
"Seabiscuit, we like the race scenes." Mad answered.
"And the rest of the movie ?" Georgie asked again smiling.
"You know, catching up on school." Maddie answered already heading down the hall.
"They're just necking right ?"
"Probably a good bet Georgie though I'm pretty sure they do actually stop for the races and that goat scene." Amy told her.
"Brin and those goats." Sally said shaking her head.
"You know Seabiscuit snapped that goat's neck right ?"
"Everybody but Brin knows Georgie, let it go." Trish answered laughing.
"So the order ?" Erma asked opening her folder, pen in hand and looking across the table.
"Lily and Wade, Dad and Casey, Grandpa and Lisa, Georgie and Wyatt, John and Trish, Shane and Jacqueline, Lou and Katie, Maddie and Brin, Charlie and Bobby, Chuck, Robin and JT, April, Cars and Kimi with the flowers, Betty and Ty and me."
"Great, who's not on the stage ?"
"The Alberta parent group so Georgie is first on the right, Wyatt on the left, John and Trish same, Shane and Jackie, split opposite, Lou on my side, Katie opposite, Maddie and Charlie split opposite, and Brin and Bobby to seats. Chuck and JT to Ty's side, Robin and Betty by me. How's that work out ?"
"Perfect actually, 7 on each side, amazing." Erma said writing them out on her chart, "excellent, how about we end with tables cause that's a nightmare. Let's go over flowers. Now, yellow and blue, I've located….." she went on when the doorbell rang.
"Are we expecting someone ?" Betty asked
"Oh, the entertainment." Amy said getting up and walking over to the entry hall.
"Betty ?"
"Don't ask me Erma."
"Ty said Leslie before, maybe that photographer."
"That's right, thank you Meg." Betty nodded "wonder why ?"
"Entertainment." Amy answered walking in with Leslie in tow, a young man dressed nicely behind her and a man with a dolly full of cases behind him.
"Everybody, this is Leslie Hirschhorn, she's the photographer that shot those pictures for Tiffany's and she's got a pitch for the group."
"A pitch ? What kind of pitch ?" Erma asked closing her folder and looking up.
"She wants time for a picture or two at the wedding."
"Which wedding, my wedding, err, this wedding, your wedding ?"
"That's the one." Amy said with a smile and then turned to the two men "and this is ?"
"Daniel, uh ma'am." The more business dressed young man said.
"And" Amy asked looking over.
"Oh Sal ma'am, I'm just the delivery."
"Where would be be without the delivery Sal. Right down at the end of the hall," she continued walking them towards the living room. "Need some help ?" Amy asked continuing past the stairs but turning to call up.
"Girls, take a breather and help Ms. Hirschhorn set up. There, you should be fine now."
"Amy."
Amy shrugged her comment off "call when you're ready Leslie." And then turned and walked off.
Turning into the kitchen she stopped at the entrance when the door to the house clicked to open and then smiling she walked a bit towards the entrance foyer to welcome Colleen Rodriguez home from the hospital.
"How's he doing Colleen ?" Amy said walking over for a brief hug.
"He's good and the team gives him a lot of optimism. Jackson, Tommy and Marie are great and get him to laugh. I mean he's a fireman so he's in real good shape but those two boys have been ragging him. Apparently the wheelchair is brutal initially."
"They do train for this like it's an Olympic event, seeing them smile though and fool around so soon after their procedures makes that part worth while."
"And the grooming tomorrow, he's very excited, he feels like a rag."
"Yeah, she'll wash and style him and shave him, it'll give him a new outlook."
"She ?"
"She, Sara Nicole, very exclusive, sought after and lesbian to the core so no worries. She's very sweet to do this, besides she was coming anyway to trim the boys for the wedding. Oh, final planning meeting, come sit in, there's drinks, snacks and soon, entertainment."
Amy led Colleen to the kitchen entrance. She had met everyone earlier at the hospital.
"How about I get a water, get changed, make a call and join you after."
"Not a problem, whatever you want Colleen."
"The kids with Jackson ?" Sally asked as Colleen walked past to the fridge.
"All the kids and several nurses watched a move in the family lounge, the kids were all sleeping or close when I left."
She then smiled at the group, reached over to grab a cookie, shrugged, leaned in to grab another, smiled and walked down the hall. Amy had returned to her seat where all eyes then turned to her and then Erma who asked.
"When is this photo session supposed to happen ?"
"Undecided but I'm sure before dancing."
Again, Erma just stared at her "you stay awake at night thinking this shit up don't you ?"
"I had no idea until this afternoon, so no, the pictures are very nice though, are they part of that folder because Ty told me he suggested they be used for the wedding party tent."
"So what's the plan ?"
"I have no idea but I figured it would be fun you know, to watch your head explode." Amy finished laughing.
"5 minutes mom" Charlie said walking in arm in arm with Bobby followed by Brin and Maddie in the same formation.
"So you four having fun catching up ?" Betty asked reaching for a cookie.
"What are you looking for here Gran ?"
"Nothing Charlie, just touching base, making conversation."
Maddie was busy refilling water bottles for the group when Leslie popped in, "Ok I'm ready when you are Amy."
"Well Erma was going to tell us about flowers, let's do that and then we'll come in. Sit, listen in." She said pointing to an empty seat on the end near Erma who watched her walk all the way.
Maddie looked at Amy and cocked her head to the side. Amy smiled "go, we'll call you when it starts."
As the teens left Erma opened her folder to the next clipping."Yellow and Blue. My jobber has a contract to bring in a dozen Royal Hawaiian Blue Orchids for the bouquet " she said tapping on her iPad and passing it to Amy.
"They're gorgeous Erma, I've never seen the like, yellow leaves and a beautiful blue flower."
"They're rare, I've never seen them myself or been offered them before but they fit the budget so I couldn't pass them up."
"There's a budget ?" Any asked surprised.
The question itself was so outrageous that Lou just started laughing.
"Of course there's a budget" Betty said looking at Lou with a smile.
"To be fair it's the biggest budget I've ever seen." Erma added. "There are also blue Calla Lillies, and yellow roses for the smaller bouquets or as single flowers which I like as boutonnieres so we'll talk about that. Yellow and blue Gardenia centerpieces and a nice selection of water lilies for tables and the like. Just swipe across, Jess at At a Rose by Any Other Name in town will handle the arrangements. You like her work. We were thinking of these for the centerpieces" she said finding more pics on the iPad, I know you don't like centerpieces blocking conversations and several nice floor and table ones if you swipe and the stage, altar whatever, swipe again."
"I do like the shop, when we can't ourselves we call Jess, that's great Erma and I love the choices. She has a great aesthetic."
"Of course we'll offset with some other colors and white, well, the point is blue and yellow are beautifully covered. And we'll get final approval when the flowers are in Ithaca" Erma said closing her florist folder and reaching for what must be her master file from which she pulled two sheets, circled a line in red marker and then drew an arrow to it with two exclamation points and passed one across to Amy and one to Leslie before continuing.
"I may raise cows for a living but I know where this is heading."
"You raise cows for a living, I thought you were a wedding planner." Leslie said looking at the sheet.
"I raise beautiful children, brown cows, and vegetables, I make cheese and I plan weddings, all exceptionally well. That sheet is my time line, the only slot on that timeline that belongs to Amy and Ty, is circled, 30 minutes from when the ceremony ends until they are announced as a couple, call it a breather. Now." Erma finished and looked at Leslie.
Leslie looked at Erma, the sheet and then Amy, "uhm Ok, you're more than just her wedding planner aren't you ?"
"If you think for a second that I would take on planning this extravagant an outdoor event for the weekend after Thanksgiving in Ithaca, NY and given an unreasonable two months to get it it done for anyone else in the world other than Amy Fleming you'd be wrong."
"So that's a yes ?"
"Where is this happening ?" Erma asked standing and ignoring the comment.
"Living room." Amy said getting up and waiting for Erma to walk over.
"You're impossible you know that ?" Erma said sliding her arm through Amy's and around her waist.
Lou walked up to Erma's other side and Erma smiled and reached around her as well, folder and all. "Should have raised her better Lou."
"We tried Erma, I promise."
"Girls !" Amy called upstairs walking past before entering the large living room where the scene mimicked the one in the studio, except this time there were 12 easels set up and a young man standing behind the first, Amy assumed to pull up the black silk sheets and reveal the photo beneath.
"Should we sit ?" Amy asked, "no let's stand." Amy looked around and seeing everyone gathered. 'It's your show Leslie."
"What's going on ?"
"Hi Colleen, join us, Leslie here is going to make a pitch for time at our wedding."
"Oh ok, and she is ?"
"Leslie Hirschhorn, a photographer."
"Oh, I know that, there was an article about her in the New Yorker, how exciting."
"It is" Amy agreed taking her hand like an old friend, "let's listen."
Amy smiled at Leslie and scanned the rest "As I'm sure most of you know Ty surprised Amy with a photo shoot a few months ago, it was arranged by Tiffany and Company and I am one of the photographers they use. I provide a particular service in that I shoot large format and in black and white. The large formatting camera though, is well, large, and produces extremely vivid, dramatic, shadowed and detailed shots and if I may say so myself these represent some of the finest portraiture work in the medium I have seen in a long time."
"The reason we're here is that the artist in me feels that this work, this multi faceted piece is incomplete and it deserves to be complete. It needs a conclusion, it's final puzzle piece."
"She's very good." Georgie whispered to Meg who was standing next to her."She must have picked up that art vibe from Amy."
"So what now ?" Colleen whispered to Amy.
"I guess she'll either talk more or show us the pictures."
Leslie stood listening to both whispered conversations then nodded to herself and continued.
"Obviously" she continued "the photo shoot revolved around the reunited set of Tiffany earrings and pendant that was brought back to life for Amy, but the shoot itself took on a life of it's own."
At this point she nodded to Daniel who raised the first and continued "Quickly after the shoot started I focused on the couple rather than the jewelry knowing that they'd be represented but weren't the story, the few moments it took for Amy to become comfortable and respond to Ty changed the story and the focus of the work as a whole, the jewelry represented a big part of the end of the story but the story was and is, Amy and Ty."
She took a moment as Daniel raised more of the silk coverlets before continuing, "the progression of the piece is obvious as is it's missing conclusion" as Daniel raised the 12th silk off of an empty frame "a wedding shot."
There was silence until Charlie spoke.
'Wow, just laid her neck bare, just like that."
"Probably could have stopped at art needing an end but she went there." Maddie answered. "I mean, mom could literally ask her to wear a clown suit and juggle and she'd have no opt out."
Amy laughed as did the others, "Thanks Mad, I'll keep that as a fall back plan."
"Realistically Leslie, how do you propose we do this."
"A studio I set up between the ceremony and your next destination."
"Which is ?" Amy asked turning to Erma who was standing with Betty.
"The master guest suite." Betty answered. "The music room would work, she may even be able to use the piano, it's big and black."
Leslie looked from one to another and then Amy looked up and then down.
"What do you think Colleen ?"
"She seems sincere, the photos are wonderful."
"She does seem sincere and the photos are wonderful." Amy agreed.
"You gonna do it ?"
Now Leslie followed the conversation her eyes darting back and forth.
"We get the original."
"Tiffany's owns the set Amy."
"They don't own the wedding portrait, I do."
Leslie smiled and nodded, "Agreed."
"You shoot the kids and a family portrait at one point in the evening."
"Agreed."
"And our parents, grand parents and siblings if they'd like. Ty and our kids are on you, we'll pay your rate for the rest and I'd like to talk to you about still shots for another time. I collect glass art and I think your medium would capture their movement dramatically."
"I'll even have Daniel rove and shoot the party, casual shots."
"Deal." Amy said and Leslie's face lit up in a smile.
Colleen clapped and giggled "I was hoping you'd do it."
"I was hoping for the clown outfit" Erma muttered drawing laughs, "can we get back to the table please and Sabrina, you're part of the next part so you too."
"Amy ?"
Leslie called as Amy turned to follow the group.
"Have them listen for the door please, Sal is coming back to get these and I'll get them up to you the week of the wedding."
Amy nodded, "care to join us for music, food and after party dancing ?"
"I wish I could, sounds like a ball actually but I think it would be overstaying my welcome." Leslie answered with a smile.
"Then we'll talk, are you waiting for Sal ?"
"I'll wait here with Daniel, I texted him, 10 or 20 minutes is all."
"Coffee and snacks in the kitchen if you'd like, you too Daniel, we're non discriminatory."
"How about we'll just get ready for Sal and join you." Leslie said reading for the first framed photo and grabbing one of the cases off to the side.
Turning again towards the kitchen Amy found Colleen waiting for her. "You could have gone on without me Colleen." She said continuing on.
"I need to talk to you for a second and then is it appropriate to butt in ?"
"It's not butting in, most of the choices are made, this is final approval and fine details. Now what do we need to talk about ?" Amy said again leading Colleen towards the kitchen.
Maddie was standing behind Brin who had sat down next to her mom.
"It can wait" Colleen said as they sat, Colleen at a seat that appeared next to Amy at the now almost full table.
"Come on, what's up ?"
"Oh nothing like I said, Robert mentioned to some of the guys that you all do most of your own cooking so some of them are coming and making a firehouse breakfast for everyone."
Amy smiled "that's sweet, I hear the firehouses are pretty foody."
"Oh they're amazing actually, they even have competitions and vegan stuff too so there'll be for both." Colleen added the last smiling at Trish. "Robert just loved the sabbath dinner, I didn't have the heart to tell him it was all vegan."
Trish smiled back "the Israeli's have a nice touch with vegan food, several European countries as well."
Erma nonchalantly cleared her throat and drew everyone's attention "Meg, Brin, ceremony music ?"
"String quartet until the wedding march." Brin said "then I'll play you in."
"Is that appropriate ? I mean with Ty walking me down."
"Ty who, they won't notice him at all" Brin said "I refuse to march you down to anything other than the Mendelssohn Amy."
"One of my few dreams of a wedding was the march Brin."
Sabrina smiled and nodded "got you covered."
"And the rest, first, what's the string quartet called for the program ?" Erma asked with her pen poised over her sheet.
Brin frowned and scrunched her face "They really need a name ?"
"They don't have a name ?"
"Not that I know of unless it's Sabrina's hand picked string quartet."
Meg laughed "we'll ask them to come up with a name Erma."
Erma nodded "Ok, now, processional music ?" She asked handing over the newly filled in and expanded list and order.
"We figured we'd keep it simple though this is a longer list, I used for now, Norwegian Wood through Shane and his wife, then Somewhere Over the Rainbow for the kids through Betty I guess, if that's the order, by then I'll be seated for the Mendelssohn. Sorry Erma, really, adding 3 couples is a thing. Mom and I'll work on it."
"Let me know, three is fine Brin or where will you cut, a piece just for Betty ?"
Brin nodded.
"We'll work on it Erma." Meg assured her.
"Fine the band for the event ?"
"The 8PM Jump Band."
"And they are ?"
"Mostly rhythm and blues up to more recent stuff but mostly R & B dancing. They also have a crooner and a chanteuse as part of the band so nice slow stuff too. Eight members, plus me when I join in. They're the best in Ithaca Erma."
"And after ?"
"Ocho Leches. Straight up Latin dance, Argentine, Peruvian, Brazilian, Cuban, Caribe, you name it, they're a fun bunch and excellent serious musicians. Also two singers as part of the band."
"Amy ?"
Amy smiled at Brin and Meg. "I'm good Erma, Brin says best, I'll go with that."
"You two are done." Erma said looking at Maddie and Brin.
Once again Brin smiled and nodded, this time standing and leaning into Maddie as their arms twined around each other's waists. Brin then leaned over and kissed her mom and Amy stopped them on their way past and pulled Brin down for a hug. "Thank you Sabrina."
Brin smiled again and a second later disappeared with Maddie down the hall.
"Oh to be fifteen again."
"Who were you dating at 15 Georgie ?" Amy asked actually not knowing.
"I guess Adam ? Wyatt after Adam. Adam was a lousy kisser."
"And Wyatt ?"
"And Wyatt Betty, I can't really put it in words."
"Sounds like some good kissing to me." Trish said smiling.
Georgie smiled back "John a good kisser Trish ?"
"I just melt, it's embarrassing."
Erma giggled "food ?"
"Didn't we do this Erma ?" Amy asked.
"We did, this is just a checklist Amy, I'm just getting final approval before I hand off final instructions to the caterer, bakery, florist, whomever, let's just finish this and we'll leave tables until tomorrow, there's just a few that need tweaking, mostly vet school politics."
As planned about an hour or so later Meg, Erma, Sally and the teenagers headed out towards Charlie's apartment building ½ a block away. Amy and Trish shooed Betty, Lou Lisa, Georgie and Colleen to bed while they straightened up, loaded the dishwasher, put snacks away and waited for Ty and the girls.
The group found Ty and Charlie out chatting with the doorman. The girls each stepped over to him for a hug and kiss and then the four teens went inside the lobby for a little privacy at Ty's urging "go on, say your goodbye's."
"You get everything you wanted to get done ?" He asked Erma.
"We did good, just some table seating politics we'll finish tomorrow or Sunday."
"And the processional ?"
"Everybody marches and you'll sneak in a picture or two with that photographer between the ceremony and the first dance."
"We don't have that yet but that's really between Meg, Brin and you guys. Amy's leaning towards Someone to Watch Over Me but I doubt that's set in stone."
Ty leaned over and tapped the window without peeking in "is there a plan for the morning ?"
"Some of Robert's comrades are coming in to treat us all to a firefighter's breakfast at 9:00." Sally told him, "sounds a lot like one of our big breakfasts without Erma's cheese and cider or my preserves and butter."
"I hear some of those firefighters are gourmet quality so it may get interesting." Charlie added as they all turned when Maddie and Charlie came out.
"Goodnight girls" Sally said followed by Erma's nod and a hug for each from Meg. "Brin's excited about tomorrow."
Maddie smiled and nodded "fun day."
"Charlie, thanks for everything."
"It was a good talk Ty, a good evening."
Ty nodded very much like Brin, Charlie lifted his hand in a farewell wave when the doorman opened the door and he disappeared inside.
The girls were a step ahead of Ty and stopped to each take an arm. "Have a good night girls ?"
"It was nice poppa, we miss them."
"You see them most everyday, that may not always be easy."
"We'll deal when the time comes."
"I know you will Mad."
They walked slowly and at one point Charlie reached over and kissed his cheek.
He smiled down at her "what was that for Charlie ?"
"It's gonna all be about mom the next couple weeks so, you know, you have us."
Maddie reached up and did the same kissing his other cheek when they reached the wide staircase to the brownstone. "Thank you girls, I'm Ok though."
Inside they found Trish and Amy talking across the kitchen table. Trish got up immediately and gave Ty a hug, the girls leaned over Amy for hugs and then hugged Trish.
"Bed girls." Amy said getting up and leaning against Ty.
"Me too." Trish said leaning over to kiss Amy, "fun night."
"It wasn't bad, glad we didn't get to the tables but the rest sounds real nice."
"It'll be a beautiful wedding Amy, sleep good you two. Come on girls, help your Auntie Trish down the stairs.
The girls stopped for a second to hug Ty. He kissed their heads before they broke away and headed away with Trish.
Amy returned to her spot against his chest and they held each other for a minute, sharing each other's space as part of their own. "Need anything ?" He whispered as they switched to arm and arm side by side.
"Whatcha got ?"
This made him laugh and Amy hit the light switch on the large kitchen and followed that pattern shutting down the house as they went. They found Georgie asleep on a couch outside their bedroom. The other bedroom on the floor was being shared by the mother daughter pair.
"Go inside Ty, I'll get her up."
Amy came in and heard the shower. She stripped and dumped her clothes in the hamper then stopped to stretch for a few minutes before heading to the shower and joining Ty who was rinsing off his hair.
"Feels good to shower after a haircut."
"Scrub your back for you sweetheart ?" Amy asked running her nails down his spine.
"Do your worst" he said as she reached for a washcloth.
They didn't talk much in the shower and settled soon after in bed. Ty on his side as was Amy, tucked snuggly against him.
"What'd you guys talk about ?"
"You know, I've been going over it and now that it's over I think I just had the father marrying off a daughter talk. It was really subtle but pointed you know."
"Interesting."
"That's it ? Interesting ?"
"Well, I'd have thought John or Bert, maybe even Trev, Charlie was an interesting choice is all. So how'd that go ?"
"I would have liked to have met Trudy."
"Country mouse and city mouse. She was really a wonderful person, she had a quiet force, I'm not sure I could describe so that it would make sense."
"He blames himself for missing time with her when that investigation went on."
"She wouldn't let him drop it. This was before I knew them but Meg and Steph say and Trudy told me years after that she knew the only way he'd be happy was to put it behind him. That last showing with Congress was all Trudy, she realized in the end they wouldn't let it go, they would just investigate the investigation and start it again. He had to draw the line in the sand, out bully the bully she called it."
They lay quietly for a few minutes, Ty ran his hand gently across her belly and over her hip then leaned over to kiss her shoulder.
"Amy, you think it's a good idea for me to tell you all this stuff about Jack and I, I mean shouldn't you really talk this over with him ?"
"I'm not having this talk with Grandpa Ty, it would serve no purpose and only stand to hurt him."
"But you need to know."
"I really do. It's not a matter of forgiving him Ty but I really need to know, I feel like my life back then was ordered by everyone around me but me, you, Chase, Blair, Grandpa, dad. Seems I have no idea what really went on, it's disconcerting."
"That night I made that weird call and you said to come home ?"
"The puppy call, I remember, I was on Main Street with Chase heading back to the truck."
"With Chase ? Doing what ?"
"Finally realizing what an absolute scuzzball asshole he really was. We were supposed to be seeing a movie with me along as a third wheel with him and Soraya. Turns out he never told Soraya and told me she was studying and to go on ahead. He lied, I was an idiot and then you called."
"You really gave that guy a lot of chances Ames."
"I gave you a lot of chances too Ty, Chase always looked for the next high, bright lights and confidence can be a nice inducement."
"And me ?"
"You bathed in your past and confidence was not your strong suit but you were who I loved and I guess that got lost somewhere for both of us."
"I made the call from Nelson Lake, about 4 hours north I guess, east of Edmonton."
"What were you doing up there ?"
"Running, thinking, I don't know. Jack took me to the edge of town and told me that no matter what happened he wasn't going to watch me destroy my life, leave school and the rest. He left me at a crossroad and told me that I had better be back at Heartland by the next morning ready to shape up or just don't come back."
"And you considered it ?"
"I was a mess back then, I considered a lot of things."
She shifted then and turned pushing him gently onto his back and laid her head down onto his chest, she shifted her leg over his as his hands roamed up her body to hold her.
"I'm glad you came home Ty." She whispered softly against his chest.
"So am I Ames, you Ok ?"
"Yeah, just need to process, I'm good."
Amy sighed after a second and Ty knew that she was falling asleep. He was tired as well and closed his eyes, the last thing he remembered was Amy mumbling something and the soft kiss of her lips on his chest.
