Epilogue
"Well, I have to say, Lisa, that was one really great party," Lou said, heaving a sigh of exhaustion as she flung herself back against the couch. It was a newer leather couch, but not much else in the house had changed. Lisa walked into the room from the kitchen, two glasses of wine in her hand and gave a nod to Lou for her praise.
"It was a nice party," she said, taking a seat on the wooden arm of Jack's chair, handing him one of the wine glasses. She nudged at Jack, "You have to be exhausted, though. We had a lot of people in the house."
"I will admit I'm very tired, yes, but I knew it would be a busy afternoon. I'll manage," he told her, gesturing to the glass. "This won't help," he chuckled lightly, but the two clinked glasses in a toast of cheers.
"Well, you two have done a great job, not just with the party, but with Amelia. I think I am going to get a shower, now that Peter and Katie have taken off " Lou said as she stood up, groaning. "You two both relax and rest. It's been an eventful couple of days." She glanced around, "Where did Amelia get off to? Did I miss her taking off with her friends?"
"Sort of," Jack gestured, toward the outside. "She and Timmy took her new car for a drive."
"Oh," Lou snickered, nodding. "I'm sure they will be back ahh, sometime this evening."
"I told her before dark," Lisa said with a nod, and Lou and Lisa looked to Jack as he sighed loudly and looked to Lisa.
"That's what you told her? Lise, it's summer. It's barely dark here before 11:00," he frowned, shaking his head at her.
Lisa narrowed her gaze at Jack, using her wine glass to gesture, grimacing as she almost spilled it, "Exactly. That's perfectly reasonable. She's 18, Jack. She's with Timmy. She's in a new, safe car, and we have to realize that she's grown up."
"Grandpa, she's not four anymore," Lou grinned, patting his hand as she stepped toward the bathroom. "Takes me back, though, remember Georgie's graduation party? I mean, I know this technically wasn't it, but her going away party before she leaves for university, but it's the same idea. You, Grandpa," Lou squeezed his frail shoulder and grinned at him, "do you remember going to the loft and just checking on everyone."
"That seems like a really long time ago," Jack said with a long sigh as she shook his head.
"It was a really long time ago," Lisa leaned in and pretended to whisper, but knowing she was not. Jack chuckled, patting her leg, and Lou hooked her hand over her shoulder.
"My rejuvenating shower awaits. You two try to stay awake," Lou grinned. As she stepped away, she called back to them, "If you can't stay awake, I'll be glad to stay up and wait for Amelia."
"I'm on it, Lou, but thanks," Lisa called to her. When the room was just theirs, Lisa shifted slightly but did not move from her perch on the side of Jack's chair. She reached over and took Jack's hand in hers, giving him a warm smile. "How are you doing?"
"Fine," he said with a shrug of his head. "You know, you don't have to keep asking me that. I'm really fine, just old, but I've been old since I met you over 30 years ago now." Jack winked at her, and she dropped her head, chuckling, but then looked up again when he spoke again. "Honestly, never thought I'd see this day. I can't believe she's leaving for university tomorrow."
"I can't either," she said, tugging on their joined hands. "It's been quite the journey, eeh?"
Jack hummed, "Indeed. It was a nice party, Lise. You have always thrown the best parties, not that I would have ever doubted that. I'm going to miss her around here."
"Me too," Lisa tightened the grip on their joined hands, giving him a sad smile, "What ever will we do now in our old age?"
Jack broke into a laugh, nodding at her as he they shook his head, "I know we talked about it when we took custody of her and adopted her, but Lise, do you realize we actually made it-we raised her, not that she is some all-knowing adult," he rolled his eyes, "but she's grown. We made it, and we raised quite the young lady."
"I know," she admitted, nodding. "It really is remarkable. We've outlived so many, just plugging away."
"You know, when I had my heart attack, what 26 years ago now, before we got married, I really wasn't sure I'd live even to see Amy get married."
"I remember," she nodded at him. "You were an idiot and pushed me away too."
"Total idiot," he said, winking at Lisa, and she leaned over a kissed him quickly. She nodded to the couch.
"Mind if we move and sit over there? My back is killing me. I know you can get up out of this chair easier, but-"
"Say no more," he waved. "Of course, we can move." Lisa sighed a breath of relief, stood, and she reached for Jack's cane, that surprisingly at his age of 95, he was still in pretty good shape. His arthritis really bothered him at times, sometimes making even getting out of bed almost unbearable, but he did so each and every day. He mostly stayed around the house, even now and then, he and Lisa would venture out to eat. As much as he liked being at the ranch and eating at home, that had changed a little these last years. Since he was in the house most of the time now and not out riding the ranch or running errands in town, the couple had discovered that was really about the only time he got out. Lisa ran the errands now, so often, usually three times a week or so, they would eat out for some meal, not always dinner, but often, especially with the busy schedule Amelia had them on with school. Lisa moved in front of Jack, watching carefully as he moved to the couch. She helped him sit by giving him her hand, and once he was seated, she moved his cane to the side and curled up next to him.
"Ahh, that's much better. My back thanks you," she said as Jack put his arm around her, and she patted his leg as she settled in. Jack was somewhat frail, which was hard for the family to see, but it had happened so gradually, it was sometimes something they didn't really notice most of the time now. Giving up riding was his biggest annoyance. He missed that a lot, and watching the rest of the family from the porch just wasn't the same. For a man his age, he was still in remarkable shape. Both he and Lisa had high blood pressure, something they often joked about, mainly pointing to Amelia as the source of that. Lisa had commented over the years she'd never had high blood pressure until they'd taken on Amelia. Neither were serious about that, and they loved every second of raising her.
"So, she and Timmy are out in that expensive new car," Jack smirked, eyeing Lisa. "She could have taken my old truck to university, you know."
"No," she swatted at his leg. Jack's 'old' truck was the same one he'd snagged from Fairfield all those years earlier. When he'd stopped driving six years earlier, worried his reflexes weren't what they should be, the two had talked about selling the truck. It was a good farm truck, and his even older, single cab one, was actually still running. Jack called that a collector's item, and Lyndy enjoyed driving it. She was just like her mom, not into anything new. She loved old things, and it was perfect to haul supplies around the ranch. She'd stayed on the ranch, now living over the newer barn-newer, it had been replaced five years ago now after a major wind event, classified as a tornado, had torn the old barn to pieces, well enough that it was too expensive to fix and cheaper to rebuild. Recovering from that had taken over a year, but the new barn was much similar to the old one, complete with an apartment overhead. Lyndy loved living there, content carrying on with Amy's business, Amy working alongside her, slower than she'd been with age creeping up on her some too, but still loving her horse business. Tim and Jess had finally bought something years ago, a small ranch house with a few acres, enough for a couple horses, but he still ran most of Heartland, which had given Amy the opportunity to move back to the barn. She'd jumped on at the time, wanting some of her own space. She'd tried dating over the years, but she'd not found anyone, not until lately. Amy was seeing a guy, Davis, now, and he was actually another vet that she'd met through Scott. She'd been hesitant to start seeing him last year, but it was going well, and after the party had ended, Amy and Davis had gone out for a long walk to enjoy the summer evening. Amy had moved back into the house years ago now when the barn had been destroyed, and she'd stayed, but Lyndy had moved out there when she became an adult. It worked. Peter and Lou were still in the house too, and quite honestly, Lisa especially was glad for the adults around. It took a lot to run things, and with Jack needing some help at times, it was good to have plenty of adults around. Lou continued to jump from one business venture to the next, and Peter seemed to still enjoy flying back and forth for work all the time. Jack and Lisa didn't know how that worked, but they were long past trying to figure out that interesting relationship.
Lisa still had Fairfield, but she'd delegated most of the travel related to it to her stable manager, Abby. Abyy had been with her now for almost 10 years and loved the business. Initially, Lisa and Jack had discussed keeping Fairfield for Amelia. It was, after all, part of the Stillman family, and they didn't know as she grew up what her interests might be. However, as she had grown up, they discovered she was not into horses at all, aside from the occasional ride with her parents, but she had a lot of very different interests, more like Katie, wanting to branch out on her own. Right now, with Lisa in her 70's, she was not interested in expanding Fairfield at all, but Abby was doing a good job of maintaining it. It was working. Lisa still worked some, but most of her work was done at home. Jack sometimes went to Fairfield with her where he would visit with all the horses and also all the stable hands while she worked. The two just really enjoyed spending all of their time together, savoring each and every moment while they had it.
As far as Katie, she and her new husband lived on the outskirts of Calgary, and she was an editor for a popular horse magazine. Funny, Lisa and Jack had commented, that Katie's passion for writing had still found a way to include horses, not that she went looking for that specific job, but it had almost found her. It was a great fit; she knew ranching. She knew writing, and being an editor was a perfect job for her. Her husband was a college professor there in Calgary, and Jack and Lisa had a feeling Amelia would be well looked after away at school, even if she wasn't that far away after all. She and Katie had kept their close bond, making Lisa and Jack wonder if that pairing upstairs all those years ago had led to that. Amelia did look to Katie like an older sister, and both really enjoyed the other. Today's party had been scheduled around a business trip Katie had, Amelia insisting no party could happen without her. The 11-year age gap was no problem with the two, and Lisa had heard the girls talking about getting together on campus next week, after classes got started, to have lunch. She knew it would happen; Katie did go to campus often to eat with her husband, Evan, all the time. Amelia could have gone to school just about anywhere, but she didn't want to be far from home with Jack's age, and she was really excited to be near Katie. Yes, their little girl still had a huge family looking after her.
"What's wrong with that truck?" Jack asked Lisa, shifting slightly to frown at her. "It was good enough for her to drive to and from school these last two years after she got her license."
Lisa made a face, "It's old, Jack. You and I have very different feelings about cars. You're attached to them, the older the better, and I've always liked-"
"Fancy, newer cars," he nodded. "Not my first experience with you and your cars. At least you didn't buy her a Porsche," he smirked.
"WE," she enunciated saying that, "bought her a very safe, reliable SUV to get back and forth to the university in all weather and road conditions. It is a good, practical car."
"I'm not sure she needed a BMW to be practical,, nor would I ever put BMW and practical in the same sentence," Jack smirked, swatting at Lisa's leg. "WE," he repeated, winking at her, knowing it was Lisa who had test driven and picked the car ultimately, even if Jack had tagged along, "could have bought her a Honda or Toyota just fine too."
"No," she shook her head. "I like how heavy the BMW is, and I want her safe. We've both had too many family tragedies involving car accidents of many kinds."
"That's why I didn't argue," he smirked. "So, tell me, this evening, is she driving or is Timmy? I still can't see that kid as a grown man. I still see that freckled four-year-old who she had over here on playdates. Seeing him these last few years playing lacrosse, taking her to school dances and all, "he frowned and gestured as he continued, "not the playful little kid."
Lisa burst out laughing, shaking her head, "She has been sweet on him since the start, hasn't she? Remember how she would giggle and tell us all the silly things he'd do or say?"
Jack nodded, sipping at his wine. He caught Lisa looking at him, and he raised an eyebrow, "Is she ever going to move beyond him?"
"No," Lisa smiled softly, reaching over to squeeze Jack's leg. "I can safely say he's the one. They are much too young; we both know that. She knows that, but," she paused and searched Jack's eyes. "You and I both know when it's the right one, it's the right one. You can't explain it."
"No, you can't," he said, leaning over again to kiss her sweetly. "Maybe we'll get a call from Abby again telling us that she happened upon Amelia and Timmy over there necking in the car near the Fairfield stables."
Lisa laughed, shaking here head, "Oh that was fun. Still reminds me of the two of us getting caught a couple times when we were dating. Gosh, that takes me back. Remember the kids all on the porch when we came back from our first fishing trip? I can still see them all there, so young. Still see us too, much, much younger," she burst out laughing at that. "I even remember saying I'd definitely hooked something fishing."
Jack chuckled, squeezing her shoulder, "I'm surrounded by strong women who know the man they want and don't give up on them, hmm? Have to say, on the list of things I never thought I'd see or be this old, us, Lise, married this long, me still here living on this Earth."
She nodded as she sipped at her wine too, "I heard one of the parents ask you that today, how long we'd been married. You surprised me, and I have to say, I wondered if you'd either misheard or were just having a slip of your memory. You said 32 years, which is how long we've been together, but 25 married."
Jack grinned, shrugging, "No real slip. I guess I did, but living with you has felt like an eternity-"
Lisa smacked at him at that, rolling her eyes, and Jack burst out laughing, pulling her back to his side and kissing her head. She was careful smacking at him these days knowing he was rather frail, but with all the broken bones and things over the years rodeoing and working the ranch, he never seemed to mind her playfulness.
"You're terrible. Believe me, I've been the one who has had to put up with a lot."
"You? You've had the life you never expected, living like a queen here in this mansion, being a mom," he winked. She chuckled, dropping her head, grumbling as she did.
"Living like a queen," she continued to laugh. "Mansion," she shook her head.
"Is that not a new black Porsche sitting out there? Even if your old age, my dear, you still want to drive that; I had no objection to you buying that even knowing I am carted around in that expensive vehicle, oh, and let me also add, we bought the Porsche and the BMW this year, so there's that. Long gone are the days of that old truck of mine, now I'm `suffering in a Porsche."
"Suffering," she tried to hold back her laugh. "Oh, you are, and I recall that you like that expensive car sitting out front. You especially like the heated seats now. It's become your chariot," Lisa burst out laughing, and Jack laughed too. She waved her hand, "I like nice cars. You've known that now 32 years, as you pointed out. It is hard to believe we've had this many years together, and I'm so glad we have. Long ago, you weren't sure we'd even have five, and look at us, now." She settled in at his side again. They were both quiet, reflecting on the day.
"She's really a great kid, Jack, and I've loved raising her with you."
"Me too," he said, squeezing her shoulder. "She beautiful, Lise, reminds me so much of you with her stubborn attitude, her strong will, determination, her smarts, all of it. Sure, kids can inherit things like that to some extent, but she's so much like you, and that's all you've poured into her, taught her-"
"You've taught her plenty, yourself. I mean, how many soon-to-be lawyers can rope a steer?" Lisa laughed bringing that up, and Jack shrugged.
"You know, it was something I could teach her without being on a horse."
"Are you okay that she's not staying around here like Lyndy did, or Amy, or even Lou? I don't see her coming home to settle back on the ranch even after she finishes university and law school. I know Lou did, but I don't think she will."
He frowned slightly, "Well, I always want the kids to follow their dreams. You remember way back, we both felt like Amy was missing an opportunity not going to university when she graduated, and we held our tongue then, let it be her decision. Lyndy was the same, so I'm not sure either of them would have listened to reason. Katie is really happy and not that far away. Georgie is far away, but she's living the life she wants in Florida, although way too hot for me." Lisa chuckled at that and nodded. "Lou and Peter, whatever they call it, they seem to like the setup they have, but it would drive me crazy. It did drive me crazy those early years we were together that you were gone so much and even when we got married and kept up both houses. I'm glad we figured that out."
"Me too," she patted his hand. "I was much too stuck on the idea of maintaining my autonomy and independence back then, and I can't even say I was young," she chuckled. "Life is too short to waste on not being with those you love."
"Exactly, and I do have to remind myself that Amelia is her own person. Maybe she will want to practice law back in Hudson. Maybe she won't. I don't see her as some big corporate lawyer like Shane and Chloe are, but she will find her way. Something tells me Timmy and his architecture major will have some influence on her too. I know she will find her way, but as much as you don't want to hear this, I won't see most of that. I'm just eternally grateful that I've been here, by your side all these years," he said, patting her leg. She smiled warmly at him, leaning up to peck his lips. They both settled back into the comfortable silence, and Lisa then gestured.
"Honey, I know you are exhausted after such a long day and party. I'll stay up and wait on her to come home," she said, looking up at him from her spot, curled up at his side. "You've more than put in your time waiting up for various girls in this house. I've got it."
"No," he said playfully, patting her side, "you're up. I'm up. I don't want to go to bed without you. I'll just doze here," he told her, a yawn coming almost as if prompted. Lisa chuckled at that, glancing at him with a shrug.
"Okay, I offered, Cowboy. I'll help you get situated if you want, really."
"No," he shook his head. "I want to enjoy these quiet times, just like this," he said, leaning over to kiss her head. "Neither of us know how many more days we have like this. This is what I cherish. It would have been a very lonely life without you these last 32 years and honestly, our lives might have been even dull without that spunky 18-year-old who is now going to up and leave us."
"She'll be back plenty," Lisa said, leaning up to kiss him. "You and I both know she will. She loves us, loves it here, but I'm glad she is excited about starting her life."
"Mom, Pop, you in here?" They both heard, both turning their heads up at the sound.
"Speak of the devil," Lisa grinned. "Back already," she looked to her watch with a nod.
"We're on the couch," both called in unison, and as a they said that, they were already greeted with Amelia plopping down in Jack's chair. Lisa looked over at their pride and joy. She was gorgeous, thin, short-same height as Lia, very dark hair with a slight wave to it that she kept still on her shoulders. She never liked it too long, not for sports. Lisa just smiled brightly at her, this amazing young woman who had just been such a blessing in their lives. Lisa's eyes darted up, not at all surprised, to see Timmy in tow, sit down on the arm of the chair as Lisa had done many, many times.
"Why hello, you two, back early. It's not even 9:00," she raised an eyebrow at them.
"Great party you threw for Amelia, Mr. And Mrs. Bartlett," Timmy commented with a smile. "My folks said they enjoyed it too, getting to see a lot of our friends and all before we all head our separate ways."
"Oh, thank you," Lisa smiled while Jack acknowledged him with a nod. "I'm so glad it worked out and that so many of your friends could stop by."
"I can't wait to move into my dorm tomorrow," Amelia grinned at them, and sensing she'd hurt their feelings, she gestured, "I mean, I'll miss you guys and all-"
"Honey, we know," Jack chuckled nodding at her. "We were just sitting here discussing how happy we are for you, for both of you. Timmy, now where on campus is your dorm?"
"Oh, it's just across the courtyard from Amelia's," Timmy explained. Initially, Jack and Lisa weren't thrilled the two had decided on the same university, but both had their reasons. Timmy was planning to study architecture, a hard-to-get-into program at the university, and Amelia did want to be close to home. Lisa had had many, many long talks with Amelia about Timmy and was confident that she did love him, and he loved her, but she also was very encouraging of the two to not rush things. As much as Amelia couldn't understand Lisa married to Dan, Lisa had told her all about that, the 'young love' feelings and rushing into things. Timmy was a good kid. They liked his parents. His dad was a lawyer in town, one of the reasons Amelia had gotten interested in law. Lisa and Jack had a feeling she'd have an open internship opportunity with him, and well, even though they couldn't see into a crystal ball, Lisa felt like they'd finish their schooling, get married, and settle down near Hudson. They both were from here, enjoyed the slower pace of life, and they could make a good life with those professions around here.
"Where did you to go tonight?" Lisa asked, giving them a small smile. "I know you wanted to drive around in your new car."
"Oh, we went to the lacrosse field and just tossed some," she explained. Timmy nodded. Lisa caught Jack smiling at that, and she did too. Both were avid lacrosse players, something Lisa mentioned to Amelia was important in a relationship, common interests or at least trying things together. She'd told her so much about dating Jack, about how they'd become very good friends, talking a lot, taking rides on their horses. Amelia and Timmy did ride some, around the ranch, and they did fine on horses, but both were huge lacrosse players. Amelia had been the top player for the girls, and Timmy had been for the boys. Many hours had been spent on lacrosse fields over the years, the both of them. The did enjoy just tossing the ball around all the time, and it was almost refreshing to hear they were both still focusing on things they could do together, nice, relaxing things. Amelia and Timmy were the best of friends, and Jack and Lisa did appreciate they didn't seem too hot and heavy, especially around all of the family.
"Well, it must be strange in a way that you won't play at the school field ever again," Jack said, giving them a nod. Lisa smiled at that, remembering how Jack had been the one to tear up at Amelia's last game. The school had honored the senior players and their parents. Both had held up through that, but Jack had really teared up as the final seconds ticked down on the clock. Lisa still remembered the tight grip he had on her hand. Neither of them had known much about lacrosse, but Amelia had taken to it when she was eight, and that had been it. Sure, she'd done riding lessons much younger and loved her first pony. She still had a horse here at the ranch, Trapper, and yes, she was a skilled rider, but it wasn't in her blood, not like lacrosse. Jack and Lisa had enjoyed learning a new sport and watching her develop all these years. They'd been all over Alberta, really all over Western Canada with lacrosse for Amelia. It was nice she had her own, special thing.
"Sorry, what was that?" Lisa realized she was daydreaming and didn't want to miss a minute these last few hours they had Amelia at home.
"We," Amelia gestured to Timmy, "were just saying that we can sign up for the university intramural lacrosse league at the end of the week. It starts when classes do."
"Well, that sounds perfect, Amelia," Jack nodded. "You just let us know when you are playing, and your mom and I will be there. Wouldn't miss it."
"Agree," Lisa smiled, patting Jack's leg and continuing, "that will give us a nice reason to drive into Calgary, have a nice meal, and watch lacrosse."
"I should get going," Timmy, slapped his hand on his jeans. "I know I'll see all of you tomorrow moving in, and Mr. Bartlett," Timmy nodded to him, "I already have friends lined up to move in Amelia's things, 10:00, if that works for you both?"
Lisa and Jack glanced at each other, already having told Timmy they were so impressed with his kind gesture. At Jack's age, he had not business trying to even carry in a lamp, let alone move her into a dorm. Timmy had already secured friends to move her in before he moved in his own things. Lisa had been very touched by the idea.
"Timmy," Jack pointed at him, "as long as you continue to take care of our little girl like that, it sounds great to me. Thank you for the help. You know, I might not have accepted it a few years ago." Lisa let a single laugh out, her face reddening as she grinned at them.
"I think I can count on one hand the number of times you've accepted help," she chuckled at Jack but then turned to Timmy. "10:00 is perfect. Amelia and I can get things all set up while you and your friends bring everything in."
"And, I'll be on car duty," Jack raised his hand in defense, "just waiting there, not doing anything more. We will take you and all of your friends, Timmy, to lunch, no arguments. That is one thing I can and will do, anywhere all of you want to go, but I'm already guessing it will be that place just off campus that we've been with you and Amelia a few times already."
"Deal," Timmy grinned. Lisa watched as he looked loving at Amelia, hooking his hand to the door. "I should go."
"I'll walk him out," Amelia looked to her parents. Before they all left, Lisa stood, and she helped Jack stand too. The four adults stood in the room. Amelia looked around, with a nostalgic and even sad look on her face. "Wow, it's crazy. I feel so weird, I mean leaving here tomorrow."
"I know, Honey," Lisa, said squeezing her arm. "Your dad and I were just saying the same thing."
"Remember the first time she walked into this house?" Jack asked, shaking his head as he looked over at Lisa. She nodded, and Jack turned back toward Amelia. "You were such a tiny little thing, full of spunk," Jack smiled.
Lisa smiled too, nodding, "The first night here," she pointed up to the stairs, "your dad and I had to sit there for what," she looked over at Jack, "over an hour? We were so worried you wouldn't sleep well in a new house, so far from anything you knew." Jack nodded in agreement, shaking his head in a chuckle.
"She was three, right?" Timmy asked the two of them, but he turned his focus then to Amelia. "I don't remember your first day at school with me, only that I can't remember a day without you at school." Timmy and Amelia smiled adoringly at each other.
"I don't remember everything from when I moved here," she explained to all of them, a small frown on her face. "I remember Mom unpacking my things, not much but some of that. I remember getting my pony." She looked at Jack, "Pop, I remember riding on the airplane with you, that I sat with you. I actually remember you saying you had been scared to fly. Something about that-"
"That's right," he nodded, remembering too. "You know I'm not much for flying. As long as I've known your mom, I've only flown with her or for her," he said, a small smile at Lisa. She nodded too.
"Still can't believe you don't like going to France," Amelia grinned. "Mom and I always wish you were there with us. Oh, that reminds me," she looked hopeful at them, "Can I take Timmy there over our school spring break? Please? We're adults. I promise we won't destroy the house. We might even see if our roommates or something want to go with us."
Jack and Lisa eyed each other, already anticipating this conversation, and they'd decided that truthfully, with all the crazy places Amelia could want to jet off too, sending her to their house in France was about as safe and as low-key as it could get. It was in a small village, and she'd been there several times with Lisa over the years, the last trip just after she'd graduated. Jack had gone once with them when Amelia was pretty young still, but with his age and dislike of flying, that had been it. He'd stayed and let them go. They'd never gone long, usually a couple weeks at a time, but the two loved traveling together, and it had become their thing. Jack was glad for them, happy that Lisa still could get to France and could share her beloved house and village with Amelia. Jack shared plenty with her at home, mostly teaching her some basic ranching skills like roping. Their rides were still usually family rides, up until a couple years ago when Jack really had to stop riding.
Jack answered, "Your mom and I already had this discussion, and yes, Honey, that's fine. You're growing up, both of you, and I guess if we have to send you out in this world, it's good to have someone we trust with you too."
"Great, thanks Mom, Pop," she said, stepping to them, flinging her arms around the both of them at the same time. Timmy nodded his thanks too. "Okay, I really am going to walk Timmy out."
"Be safe, Timmy," Lisa called after him. "We'll see you tomorrow." He waved at the two of them, and a second later, they heard the door slam against the frame, leaving Lisa and Jack alone again for the moment.
Lisa put her arms on Jack's shoulders, smiling at him. He smiled back at her, his tired, worn face, still lighting up at the sight of her.
"He loves her," Jack said with a single shrug.
"He does, and she loves him. See, they are doing okay, going to be just fine. It's different than Ty and Amy, hmm? How many times did they break up? These two," she nodded to the door, "inseparable, never this back and forth, dating other people, all of that."
"I know," he said. "We should probably get some sleep. We have to move our little girl again tomorrow, after all these years."
"She's staying nearby," Lisa said to him with a sad smile as she squeezed his shoulder. "Talking about bringing her here all those years ago," she said shaking her head, "there was so much uncertainty, certain only that we were doing the right thing with her. We had no idea how she'd adjust, how she'd take to us, how things would go with the rest of the family. Feels pretty great," Lisa smiled warmly at him. "I think Ben and Lauren would be happy to know how she's turned out. She's had such an amazing life here with us Jack, and I'm so happy we could do that. I can't wait to see what her future holds."
He pulled her tighter toward him, resting his hands on her hips, "Not that I have to tell you this, but you always make sure she knows how much we love her, how proud of her we are, that she's been such a joy to us both."
"You don't have to tell me that," she patted his chest. "You've been able to tell her that all these years, and you know what, you're still here. I'm here. We're both old," she laughed, and Jack rolled his eyes. "We're both in relatively good health for our ages, so let's just enjoy every second. That's been our motto over these last 15 years with Amelia, and so," she took her hand in his, "let's head to bed. We have a long day tomorrow, moving her in, and I know it will be quiet around here after tomorrow. We'll find our way, though. It seems so foreign, life before she even got here, and we'll find our way, together. We always do."