Epilogue
It was going to be another sweltering day, and as Jack rinsed the morning pile of dishes, he looked out over the ranch, enjoying the beautiful summer morning. It always amazed him that even with this summer heat, there was usually just a hint of snow on top of the mountains in the distance. It had been one of his favorite contrasting views over the years, over these now 72 years. Jack shook his head, nodding to himself that his mind had been wandering and settled back into finishing the dishes. He had already turned on the dishwasher, silently cursing himself for not doing it the evening prior. The routine had been off, and he'd forgotten. Lou and Amy had taken Georgie and Katie to the movies the night prior, so there was no excuse for the dishwasher except for the fact that his routine had been seriously altered.
"Hey, birthday boy," Jack's head snapped where he had just been putting the last of things into the drying rack, and he turned with a frown to Tim now taking his boots off inside the door. "What, just because it's your birthday, you don't think you have to help with the morning chores?"
Jack scowled at him and gestured his way, "I did the early morning chores with Amy, thank you very much. We agreed yesterday you were okay checking the fence line, ALONE."
"Yeah, well, I did that already before it gets really hot. I thought we were riding the ridge line today to check the herd?"
Jack shook his head, "As you said, it's my birthday, and I'll do that tomorrow. You can ride the ridge alone today. I've done it plenty myself. I have every confidence you can handle it," Jack smirked, picking up his coffee cup. He tried to sip at it, but then he scowled, noticing it was empty, and as he turned, Tim was pouring the last of that pot of coffee. Tim flashed a smile at him and gestured with his cup.
"Cheer up," he nodded. "You know you'd prefer a hot cup of coffee to this. When did you brew this?" Tim made a face as he sat down at the kitchen table with the cup. Apparently, it was cool to drink, but not cold enough that Tim decided to do anything about it. Jack went about starting the pot of coffee again, turning his head over his shoulder to look at Tim.
"Earlier this morning, which is why it's already empty now. You know what," he gestured with the empty coffee pot, "I'm glad you took that. I would have settled, and I am not going to settle for lukewarm coffee when I can have fresh. Learned that the hard way, don't settle in life. Now, if you had been decent, you would have brewed the next pot, but well," he shrugged with a face, "no comment."
Tim picked at a loaf of blueberry bread situated in the middle of the table. Jack had already sliced several pieces of it, and Tim started to dig in, getting crumbs everywhere. Jack gestured at him and grimaced.
"Come on, Tim! There are napkins right there." Jack moved slowly to the table, but he sat down across from Tim. As much as the two irritated each other, they were undoubtably each other's best friend. Tim ignored Jack's comment and continued to eat while Jack stood, walked to the cabinet, and retrieved a stack of plates. He returned, still frowning at Tim, while Tim continued eating. Jack almost took a sip of coffee, but as he brought the cup to his mouth, he remembered he didn't have any, and he stood again, returning to the coffee pot.
"So, what's the dinner plan for your birthday? Let me guess-pot roast?"
"No," Jack turned at the coffee pot, where it was almost done, and he rolled his eyes at Tim. "I don't know why you are even asking. It's not like I invited you to my birthday dinner."
"Right," Tim chuckled, grabbing another piece of bread, "like I wouldn't be invited at this point. We've come a long way, Jack, and you know it. So, dinner? What is it so I can be prepared?"
"This year I decided spaghetti sounded good. Haven't had that in a long time. Been a lot going on," he said with a firm nod.
"Really?" Tim raised an eyebrow at Jack and nodded. "Okay, well, didn't see that coming."
Jack poured his fresh cup of coffee and sat down across from Tim, snagging a piece of bread before Tim ate it all. The two settled into a somewhat comfortable silence, but soon, Tim gestured to the doorway.
"How long are you planning to leave that up?"
Jack glanced up as if he didn't know to what Tim was referring. He shrugged, "What? I didn't hang it. Maybe you should ask the girls."
"Right, okay," Tim chuckled. "So you're saying you are okay if I take down the 'Congratulations Grandpa and Lisa' sign once and for all?"
Jack glanced over at Tim and shook his head, "As I said, I'm not the one who hung it, so I don't have a dog in that fight. You can take it up with your daughters. You know how that was already touchy subject around here."
"What was a touchy subject around here?" Lisa asked, walking into the kitchen, stopping behind Jack and putting her hands on his shoulders. Jack smiled, reaching up to pat her hand, even though she couldn't see him smiling at her.
"Hello, my love," Jack turned his head slightly and gave her a soft smile. He reached behind him and clasped her hand, kissing it. That had become a habit the two understood, Jack kissing her ring finger when in more of a public setting, and he couldn't kiss her as he wanted. Both understood the intimate gesture.
Lisa leaned over and kissed his cheek before she looked down at his face. She then looked up and then over at Tim, making her own face, "Oh, come on, please tell me his birthday dinner choice isn't some issue, Tim?"
"What, spaghetti?" Tim shook his head, frowning. "No, actually, that was refreshing to hear. I thought it was another pot roast. Lou's made a ton of those since you haven't cooked many dinners lately. I'm glad to have spaghetti, and yours is always good."
"Ahh, thank you, I guess?" Lisa asked, eyeing Jack, gesturing between the two, with a teasing tone in her voice. "I assume you invited him?"
Jack chuckled, squeezing Lisa's hand and gesturing to Tim with the other, "See, Tim, I told you that you weren't invited."
"Oh, stop," Lisa swatted at him and waved toward Tim. "Even if he wasn't invited, Tim just shows up anyways."
"Lisa you are so funny," Tim smirked, making a face at her. "The dinner table would not be the same without me."
"That is true," Lisa pointed to him as she walked toward the counter. Jack called to her over his shoulder.
"Lise, fresh coffee there, just brewed it."
"Oh, thank goodness because the two cups I had before dawn are not getting me through the morning."
"Rough night?" Tim eyed them both.
"Something like that, adjusting," Jack sighed. Lisa walked back to the table with her cup and stood next to Jack, putting her hand on his chair. She looked between both men.
"If dinner wasn't the touchy subject, what is?"
"Just the sign," Jack gestured to it, still hanging there over the doorframe. "Tim wanted to know when we were taking it down."
"Oh," Lisa glanced at it and pursed her lips, shrugging. "I guess you should ask the girls. They put it up. I don't feel right taking it down since they put it up."
"See, almost verbatim what I said!" Jack exclaimed, flashing a smile at Tim. At that, Jack, patted at the empty chair between Tim and himself. Lisa almost fell into it and nodded her appreciation at Jack. He moved quickly to put a piece of the blueberry bread on a plate for her and gave her a soft smile.
Tim pointed between the two, "It is almost alarming the way you two think the same all the time. Even the dumb computer noticed that when it put you two back together."
At the mention of that, Jack's mind started to wander, and it wandered back to the day he and Lisa did put things back together, now a year and a half ago. He could still see the scene playing out in his mind, the two of them driving home, hand in hand, Jack's hand playing with the sparkling ring he'd put on her finger. He could still remember the sense of relief and peace he felt about that day, continually stealing glances at Lisa as they drove. While their first engagement had been short-lived and hadn't been the proposal she deserved, this was better, okay, maybe not great since he'd asked her in the front seat of her Porsche after she'd mauled him at the airport with her purse, but the intention was clear. In both proposals, he was sure he loved her, but this time, it felt right. It was the time for them to get married, to give Lisa the life she wanted and absolutely deserved. As his mind recalled that day, he remembered coming home, Lisa dropping him off before going to Fairfield. She'd not come inside; she was exhausted, and the two had promised to regroup the next morning, not before he'd kissed her senselessly in the car, thinking that the airport security officer needed to see that instead of the beat down Jack had taken. No one had been home when he'd been dropped off, but the girls had returned an hour or so later, to find Jack preparing dinner, burgers.
"Girls," he said to them the moment they walked in the door. Amy had Katie on her shoulder, and Georgie was rolling her eyes as Lou was lecturing her on the way in the door.
"Jack, those two," she pointed to Amy and Lou, "made me buy clothes. They said I'm growing too much. At least Amy helped me pick out some flannel shirts. Lou wanted me to get a dress," she said with a gagging face.
Jack nodded, washing his hands at the sink and gesturing to the kitchen, "I'm sure that was a miserable experience for you. None of you leave, please. I'd like to talk to you."
Amy looked around, "What happened? Did something happen to one of the horses? Copper, Spartan, Paint?"
"No," Jack shook his head, "not the horses, but yes, there's been a change."
Lou, who was busy with her phone, stopped and looked to Jack. "You okay, Grandpa? You look flushed."
"Ahh," he started to say as he dried off his hands with the dishtowel and turned to face them. "I'll just spit it out. Lisa and I are going to get married."
"Oh, Grandpa," Lou stepped toward him, obvious concern on her face. Jack saw her glance back at Amy before sizing up Jack and coming to his side, clasping his arm. "Grandpa, are you feeling okay? We've noticed you've been distracted, a little forgetful, almost hiding from us. It's okay. Getting older is hard. You aren't engaged to Lisa. She went back to France. You two, well," Lou grimaced, giving Jack a sad smile, "you broke up."
"I'm not delusional!" Jack exclaimed, gesturing at the girls. "We are, getting married," he gestured.
"Grandpa," Amy frowned, glancing at Lou. "You were engaged to her years ago for a short time. What's going on?"
"Jack, you are being weird," Georgie pointed out.
"All of you knock it off," Jack waved. "There is nothing wrong with me. I'm healthy, and I'm not delusional. Oh, good, Tim-" Jack said as Tim stepped in the door.
"Well, we know something is wrong if he says it's good to see Dad," Lou made a face. "Dad," she gestured at Tim, "listen to Grandpa."
"Lisa and I are getting married," Jack said proudly, directing the comment to Tim. "I told the girls, and they think I'm delusional."
"You really fixed it?" Tim grinned. "Oh, this is so exciting!" Tim rubbed his hands together and grinned at the girls. "He's not lying."
"Wait, it's true?" Amy asked, looking between the men. "Grandpa, why didn't you tell us?"
"I am!" Jack exclaimed.
"I mean that you and Lisa were even back together," Amy pointed out. "She's in France, isn't she?"
"Came back today, and we are going to get married. I don't have to share every detail of my personal life, but I did think you all would want to know that one, something that important."
"So, you're getting married?" Lou waved her hand.
"That's so cool," Georgie grinned. "I mean, I guess she's okay. I don't know her that well."
"We like Lisa," Amy nodded to the room, looking around. "A lot. She's always been, well, just Lisa, and she's family."
"She will be family officially," Jack said with a definitive nod. "She is exhausted from traveling, but she's coming over for dinner tomorrow. We can talk details then."
"Like an actual wedding? When?" Lou asked.
"Soon," Jack told them. "This will not be a long, drawn-out process. Neither of us want that, something small, probably in the next month or so."
"A big wedding in a month!" Lou shook her head.
"Lou," Amy snapped, shaking her head.
"Not about you, Lou," Jack said with a shake of the head. "I suggest you get on board, smile, and just go with it. This will be what Lisa and I want, and I can say that I want all of you to be supportive because Lisa is marrying me, and she will be here, all the time. End of discussion for now."
Jack felt Lisa patting his hand and snapped out of his memory to see a concerned look on her face, "You feeling okay?"
"Just fine, great actually, well, tired, but nothing new there," he said with a smile as he reached over and squeezed her hand. He'd missed some of the conversation with his memories, but he turned his attention back to the table.
"Kind of a rough year for the birthday boy," Tim offered, blueberry bread spitting out of his mouth as he spoke. Lisa's horrified expression had Tim shrug, "What? It's just crumbs. I'll clean it up."
"Definitely glad to make it to another birthday and hope this year has less time in the hospital," Jack added.
"Two and a half months of the year is absolutely way too much," Lisa sighed as she eyed him. "I'm on board with that plan. No hospitals this year for us."
Jack's mind drifted again at the mention of that, two and a half months in the hospital. He'd had a heart attack earlier in the year, six months ago, that landing him in the hospital for two weeks. It had been a slow recovery, Jack fighting every step of the way to just get back to normal, but after a heart attack, he'd found that defining normal wasn't as easy as it sounded. He and Lisa had spent a month in Arizona after he'd been released, and that had been good for both of them.
"Jack?" Lisa asked him, and he turned to her, seeing her concern.
"Sorry, I really am fine," he frowned, squeezing her hand. "I was thinking about this last year and how it wasn't exactly what you signed up for."
"I didn't sign up for any of it, yet here I am," Tim offered. Both Jack and Lisa looked at him, and they started shaking their heads at the same time. "See, even that," Tim pointed at them, adding, "same look."
"No one has forced you to stay here, Tim. In fact, you are the one in the room who doesn't live here," Lisa said with a smirk.
"Someone had to keep this place running while you two seemed to rent a wing of that hospital. If I am ever asked," he leaned in toward them and gestured, "I'll deny saying that I'm glad you are here and healthy, Jack, and that finally, things seem to be calming down for everyone here. Lisa, you have to have nerves of steel."
"I highly disagree with that," she hummed. "You just don't see what I look like behind closed doors."
"Ahh, don't even make some inappropriate comment there," Jack raised his hand and pointed to Tim. "I'm warning you."
Lisa, realizing how her comment sounded, glanced between the men and rolled her eyes, glancing to Tim, "You're like a high school boy, you and your thoughts."
"I didn't say anything!" Tim exclaimed, but then nodded, "Okay, maybe I was thinking exactly what Jack suggested I not say."
"Well," Lisa gripped Jack's hand and smiled brightly at him, "I'm very happy it's your birthday, and we can have a very relaxing and enjoyable day. Things have been very dicey for some time, and it's good to be getting settled again."
"No complaints here," Jack said, shaking his head. "I'm very much looking forward to getting back to a routine around here. Did you get any sleep?" Jack shifted slightly to look at Lisa. "I peeked in earlier, and it looked like you were finally sleeping."
"Ahh, yes," and she turned to Tim, pointing at him. "Don't even think to tell me how terrible I look. I'm well aware."
"Oh," Tim, lounging there, with his one arm over the back of the chair, "hadn't crossed my mind. Actually, I was going to say I'm glad you are back home because this bread is delicious, and I know you made it."
"Trying to do something normal," Lisa sighed.
Jack gave Lisa another glance, "How's Liam?" As soon as said that, crying started, and Lisa dropped her head on the table.
"Jack! That's the second time you've done that. It's like he hears his name and wakes up on command. I was about to say he's finally sleeping somewhat peacefully."
Jack stood, rubbing at her shoulder, "I've got him." He looked at the clock on the wall, "Probably hungry again." He excused himself. The room was quiet for a short time.
"Oh! Can I feed him this time? Please? You haven't let me feed him," Tim asked. "Come on, I can be helpful."
Lisa propped up her head with her elbow on the table, resting in her hand and her hair falling all around her face in a messy fashion, while she looked at Tim, "You can absolutely feed him now that he's home."
"What about being home?" Jack asked, returning to the room with the newest member of the family on his shoulder. He walked in patting little Liam's back, and Lisa turned to see the two.
"Tim asked to feed him. I said we'd gladly let him now that he's home. I'm surprised it took you this long to ask, Tim, considering he's been home a couple weeks. Jack, did you change him?"
"Didn't need to," Jack explained and rolled his eyes. "I'm no rookie at this."
"I know," she waved. "Just asking."
"Well, his bottle is already ready to go," Jack held it up by the sink. "I got it ready not long ago, expecting he'd be up. If you want to get some sleep-"
"I'm fine," Lisa waved. "I slept a little after that last bottle. I'm worried about you, Jack."
"Yeah," Tim offered, pointing to them, "as you should be, you too, Jack. I mean, most don't have a heart attack and a baby in the same year."
"Not like we planned it, Tim," Lisa offered with a frown, and then she gestured at him. "I mean, at least didn't plan the heart attack part."
"Some might have a heart attack finding out they were having a baby at 71," Tim grimaced, "or heard about someone having a kid at that age," he said with a shiver. Lisa and Jack both rolled their eyes at him. "Seriously, though, I know I joke a lot, but it's been an awful year for the two of you, first the heart attack right after you guys finally told everyone Lisa was pregnant, and then, Liam being born two months early. You guys deserve all the happiness, and I mean that."
"Wow, thank you, Tim," Lisa offered, clearly surprised. Jack pointed at him.
"You're going to try and say that's my birthday present, you being nice, and you know what?" Jack asked. He waited a moment and finished, "I'm fine with that. I don't need anything, but yes, if you are kind today, that's fine with me."
"Great because I didn't get you anything else, but I am offering to feed your baby, so," he gestured with his hands for Jack to hand over Liam. Lisa reached over on the counter and grabbed at the burp cloths she had stacked there.
"Here, he spits up a lot still, that reflux is still an issue," she told him. "Just hold him at an angle."
Jack handed over the baby, and once Tim was situated and feeding him, Jack sat back down, Lisa reaching over to pat his knee. Tim looked at the two and gave them a nod.
"I say this out of love and concern, truly. You two both look awful. You're exhausted, and it's no wonder why. I really am happy for the two of you. It's been a crazy year and a half. Have to be honest, thought the dating site was a terrible idea, but whatever, it got you two married a year and a half ago, just a month after you got engaged. I know you both are pretty private people, and I get that around here. It's crazy with the girls and their lives in and out, but I also know that even having him," he gestured to Liam who was feeding well, "was difficult and didn't seem like it would happen. Jack, I appreciate you trusting me when you needed to talk, but then things worked out," Tim held up Liam briefly. "Gotta say, it's one of the crazier things I've ever heard of, you two at your ages, but I get it. You guys have a pretty great thing going here, even with all the mess that you've had. I sincerely do hope this coming year is calmer and is the life you want for your family. I'm just glad to be here to help and see this for myself."
"Tim, I'm not sure what to say," Jack told him. "Thank you."
"I'm almost speechless," Lisa added, smiling at him. "You have been a great help."
"I agree, Tim. You've really held things together while I was recovering from my heart attack and then the two months he was in the hospital. Very glad to be healthy and home."
"My guys were falling apart," Lisa said, frowning. "Glad they are on the mend," she clasped Jack's hand in hers. He smiled at her.
"I mean, I get it, Lisa," Tim shrugged. "You have your hands full-both could need feeding assistance-"
"I don't need to be fed!" Jack exclaimed.
Tim ignored him, "Both sleep all the time, taking those naps. Really questionable who sleeps longer. Both get irritable. Both have all kinds of doctor's appointments, but finally both are healthy. But one thing for sure," Tim stopped talking and when he started again, he was in a baby voice, looking at Liam "definitely only one is nice to hang out with and is a cute little fella, unlike his father."
"You really do baby talk?" Jack asked.
Tim ignored him and looked up at Lisa, "Yeah, he looks like you, thank goodness for that. No one should have to look like Jack."
"Oh stop," she waved her hand at him. "He looks just like Jack. You don't know what you are talking about."
"Maybe I don't want to see a little Jack," he made a face. "See enough of the old man as it is. At least you didn't name him after Jack."
"His middle name," Lisa added.
"That was all Lisa," Jack told Tim. "I told her he was her baby," and at that, Lisa glared at him, and he corrected himself, raising his hand, "our baby, but she could pick his name. I'm perfectly content with her naming him after her dad."
Lisa chimed in, sipping at her coffee, "I said anything as long as he wasn't named Timothy." At that, both Jack and Lisa burst out laughing, and Tim, now burping Liam, frowned at them.
"Not funny at all. So many things not funny about this family situation here. Just don't tell me there are any more."
"Good grief, Tim," Lisa sat back, shaking her head. "We just talked about how this last year almost killed us in many ways. Jack had his episode, I completely bottomed out and delivered Liam early, Liam was in the hospital so long, so no, we are all fine just settling in here and having a quiet year, starting with this birthday party today."
"Speaking of birthdays," Tim smiled at Liam as he held him out and made faces at him, "I can't wait to plan the joint birthday I'll have with Liam. Man, Marion wouldn't believe this. Wish she was here to see it, first that she has a brother over 50 years younger than she is," he chuckled. "And then, that we share a birthday. Pretty great."
"Of the 365 days of the year, I cannot believe our son had to be born on Tim's birthday," Jack spit out. Lisa, who had her head in her hands, laughed at that as she shook her head.
"Suppose that's my fault, but I was kind of unable to control my blood pressure, and the hospital decided that."
"Ahh, Lisa," Tim handed over Liam, making a face, "I think you can smell why I'm handing him to you."
"Suppose I can," she said, smiling at Liam as she took him from Tim. "I'm just glad he's been home for a couple weeks now and will gladly change him."
"Well, here's to a good year," Tim said to them, holding up his coffee cup. "Really, truly, I mean it, you two. It was rough watching you two the last couple years, breaking up, getting back together finally, but then the heart attack, and then Lisa's health issues with Liam, but it's really good to see you all here, healthy and looking to the future. Congrats guys," and with that, the three adults smiled and all sipped at their coffee, enjoying what life had now put in front of them.
"I'll get the girls to take down that banner," Tim told them. "I mean, the baby shower was ruined that day when Lisa had to be admitted to the hospital for her blood pressure, but it's been months now."
"Good luck with that," Jack held up his cup. "Lou is still set on that shower even though he's two and a half months old."
Lisa leaned over and patted his hand, "Love you, Cowboy. That banner always makes me smile, so I have no complaints about it."
"Me either," Jack nodded to Tim. "Reminds me of the good things I almost lost, and I need to be reminded of that all the time. I was such an idiot, and no, I don't need comments from either of you."