Standing at the dining room table, Lisa looked up when she heard the two boys come inside. Yes, boys, because anytime Jack and Tim had to spend time together even now after his memory loss, they acted like, well, boys. They had not decked each other yet, but she was just waiting for that and knew that when Tim first showed up all those years ago, he and Jack finally had come to blows. She'd asked Jack to give Tim a chance and hoped that today, a full day of work, the two of them out mending fencing, that maybe, just maybe, the two men were working through whatever memory loss Jack had. She'd also spoken to Tim and begged him to be patient with Jack, just as she was having to do. It was hard, definitely, but now, looking up at the two men, she was relieved neither seemed to have a black eye or other markings.

"Hello, boys," she said with a small smile at them, moving the last item out of her purse into her clutch for the evening. "Seems like you two survived the day." The men stepped into the house, both looking her way as she spoke to them. They were dusty from a long day, and both had their work gloves in their hands.

"Lisa," Tim smirked, tilting his head at her. "Yes, we survived. Jack seems to have forgotten how to cut wire."

"I can cut barbed wire! I just forgot where my pliers are. I can't help that."

Lisa frowned at Tim and gave him a look. He put up his hands in defense, "What? I was nice."

"Tim," she gestured with her free hand, "where is Jess again?"

He made a face at her, "Toronto, why?"

"No reason," Lisa faked a smile at him. "She's been gone a lot."

"Well, you're one to talk," he gestured at her. "Seems I recall you being gone an awful lot earlier in your marriage. Why does it matter to you?"

"She keeps you in line," Lisa smirked, and at that, Jack let out a loud laugh. She made eye contact with Jack.

"Well, how did your day go? First day really back to work all day," she pointed out to him. He nodded, glancing at Tim.

"Went just fine, except for that pain in my neck," he smirked. He looked at Lisa again and nodded, "Thanks for the lunch."

"Yeah, we can agree on that," Tim nodded. Lisa had packed them a lunch to eat out in the back pasture, knowing it was a haul from the house, and coming back for lunch would waste a lot of time. It wasn't anything grand, just some sandwiches, fruit salad, and homemade cookies.

"You're welcome," she told them, and Tim stepped back toward the kitchen.

"Speaking of food, I'm starving and need something to drink," he stated while now out of eye view. Lisa made eye contact with Jack again. Nothing more had changed with them, but she was grateful he was being pleasant and courteous, aware of things like her making their lunch.

He narrowed his gaze and pointed to her, just noticing that she was dressed up, "Where are you going?"

"Oh," she looked down at her dress, smoothing it out. It had quickly become her new favorite dress, even though she'd only worn it now once before, last year to Katie's community dance. She really did like it and for once, didn't feel like the extra weight she'd put on with her older age made her look huge in this dress. Yes, it was a great dress, perfect for a summer evening event, such as she had. She'd curled her hair as she'd done for Katie's dance and for the first time in some time, felt good to dress up and get out of the house. "I have to go to this cocktail hour for one of my investors. His company is having something," she waved her hand and rolled her eyes, "and he invited all of the different companies or businesses he invests in, I suppose as some sort of meet and greet, mingle, whatever," she waved a hand. "It shouldn't be too long, but I do need to go."

"Did I know about this?" Jack asked, tilting his head at her, and she could see he was clearly wondering if his current memory was an issue.

"No," she waved her hand with a slight chuckle and dropped her head slightly, making eye contact with him, "but I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I haven't given it much thought except that it was something for work, not that I'll probably know anyone there."

"Hold on," he said, now walking toward their bedroom, and she turned watching him walk away, wondering what in the world he was doing. She did have to leave soon. She didn't want to be late, but she also didn't want to arrive too early.

"Hey, Lisa, where is everyone?" Tim called to her from the kitchen. "I saw Amy and Lindy out by the barn. Lou and Katie?"

"Ahh, Lou picked up Katie after school, and they are getting some specific supplies she needs for school this year now that she has a list for some of her classes. She needed a certain kind of calculator and a few other things. I'm not sure what the dinner plan is, but there is leftover baked chicken from last night."

"Great, leftovers," Lisa heard Tim comment and after the distraction of answering him, she shook her head and started walking toward the bedroom wondering what in the world Jack was doing.

"Jack?"

She almost jumped back because as she was about to step into their bedroom, he stepped out, startling her, but also holding out clothing. She looked down to see what had Jack running around when she had to leave.

"If you will give me 10 minutes, I will get ready," Jack said, now holding out his suit, and Lisa's eyes widened, conveying her shock. Jack looked up and saw the look on her face, halting his steps, right before he would have almost walked into her and shook his head. "What? Oh, am I not supposed to go to this? I don't know what I'm even expected to do regarding your work."

"No, ahh," she shook her head, completely shocked and gestured at him, "It's not that at all," she waved her hand at him, making eye contact. "Ahh, really, I'm just surprised," she said nodding with a slight smile.

"You don't really go to her fancy horse events much. You hate that stuff," Tim said from the kitchen doorway, as he bit into an apple. Lisa turned to Tim and frowned, waving him off as if she didn't want to hear from him. She turned back to Jack and saw that he was now almost embarrassed as he stood there with his suit in hand.

"I would love for you to come with me," Lisa said, reaching out and putting her hand on Jack's arm, Jack looking at that but then up to her. She made sure to meet his gaze and nodded. "I really would," she smiled. "You often bow out of a lot of my events, but tonight, it's nothing formal or too fancy, just this cocktail hour. I'd really enjoy that, Jack."

He eyed her, "Are you sure? It just seemed like something I was supposed to do."

She chuckled, "Yes, well, I'd enjoy that very much."

He frowned slightly, meeting her gaze, "Am I going to have to try and make small talk with a lot of people who know me, but I don't remember."

"No, not at all," she said, putting her hand on his arm again and patting it. "I promise. You would not have met most of these people. I haven't either, and if it's too stuffy, we'll leave. Promise."

"Okay," he said with a nod.

"Can't believe you're willingly going to that," Tim chuckled, eating more of the apple. Both Jack and Lisa looked at him, both with almost matching scowls. He pointed at them, "That's frightening, the fact that the two of you have the same expression."

"Maybe that is your clue that we're equally annoyed with you and the way you've chosen to insert yourself into our conversation, not to mention, if leftovers don't excite you, here's a thought-you're welcome to eat at your own place or cook. Oh, and it's not even your own place! It's the loft above the barn on our property." Lisa threw up her hand in irritation and looked back at Jack again.

"I'll go shower quickly," he nodded, taking off already, choosing not to engage Tim.

"It's fine, Jack," she called after him. "I'll wait. We're not late." Lisa turned back to Tim and gestured at him, "Really?"

"What?" Tim asked, taking another huge bite of the apple and nodding at Lisa. "You know he didn't go to many of your events."

"And?" Lisa shrugged. "He's gone to some. You made it sound like he was insane for even suggesting it," she scowled, her voice clearly exhibiting irritation.

"Well, you didn't ask him to go either." She sighed loudly, looking up and shaking her head. "By the way," he added, and Lisa dropped her head to almost glare at him, "You look very nice."

Shocked by his being kind, she tilted her head, "Ahh, thanks, I suppose."

"You do," he shrugged. "Can't believe Jack is really going," he chuckled, shaking his head as he continued to eat.

"How was he today?" Lisa asked, looking directly at Tim.

Tim thought a moment, partly because he was chewing and then nodded, "His work was fine, good, normal. I mean, the guy hasn't forgotten how to mend a fence, but yeah, he's lost his good pliers so that is annoying. He really can't find them, and I kept having to share mine. That's not from just today. He actually misplaced them before his accident and doesn't remember where he put them. We looked all over. I mean, sure he can get another pair, but that was just the annoying thing today with what we were doing. He did okay on Blue, but Blue seemed to sense Jack was tense. You know how horses get. I did tell him he'd better shape up and do better with you."

"Tim!" Lisa sighed, shaking her head.

"What? He needs to hear that and not just from you. I told him not to be stupid. He was before, and that almost destroyed you two permanently, if it had not been for my meddling," he winked at her.

She waved her hand again and turned back to her purse and clutch, picking up her purse.

"I'm glad he wasn't too hostile with you today," she said now walking toward the bedroom.

Tim nodded, still chewing, "He was at first, snapping at me a lot. I guess I just laid into him, told him we'd worked through a lot, and if we needed to do it all over again because he was too old and injured to remember it, fine," he shrugged. "I'd do it. Told him I haven't had a drink in years, obviously have a better relationship with the girls than he would have expected, and that while yes, it's a tragedy that he's lost 18 years of memory, he has to understand that some things, he's just going to have to accept as fact because that's a lot of time to rehash."

Lisa listened and nodded, holding up her now empty purse, "I'm going to put this up and finish getting ready. Thanks, Tim," she said, giving him a nod. "I was not sure if you two would get into it today, but I'm glad it went pretty well."

He shrugged, "Typical day, to some extent, with our normal back and forth banter, I suppose. I'm going to walk out to check with Amy and Lyndy. Maybe I'll take them to Maggie's."

Lisa smirked, "Yes, well, that might be best because you're on dish duty if you stay here."

15 minutes later, Jack was fumbling with his suit jacket as he stepped out of the bedroom, and Lisa, standing at the table, texting with Lou about the evening, turned and saw that he was in some pain as he tried to get his suit coat on.

"Honey, here," she said, stepping to him, wincing as she called out her usual term of endearment. She made eye contact with Jack, "Sorry, habit."

"I know," he nodded. Lisa helped him into his jacket, and he gave her small smile, "Thanks."

"You look very handsome," she said, shaking her head. "Always loved that suit."

He looked down at it and opened the jacket to look for the tag inside, "Yeah, when did I get this? The material is nicer than anything I remember owning, and it fits perfectly."

Lisa dropped her head slightly as she stepped toward him and smoothed out his jacket again, her gaze meeting his, "I had it made for you. That's the second suit I've had made. Honestly, you had quite the fit when I had the first suit made, almost didn't keep it, even though it was tailored for you. I'm really glad you kept it," she smiled at him. "You wore it at our wedding. Well, after what, 12 years or so, it started to show wear. Yes, you usually only wear a suit a few times a year-weddings, funerals, special events," she said, patting his jacket where she'd fixed the jacket, "and at least the second suit, this one," she pointed at his chest, "you were much more agreeable to having it made."

"Oh, well," his face reddened slightly as he nodded. "Well, thank you. It does fit me very well, which I suppose is the point of a tailored suit."

"Exactly," she said with a nod, grabbing her clutch. "Should we go?"

He patted his pocket for his wallet, nodding, and she nodded too, turning to walk to the door.

"Lisa," he called, and she spun around, forgetting that her dress had quite the flair to it as she did. She laughed slightly as she tried to tame it. She was about to ask what he needed, and he offered, "That dress," he nodded to her. "You look very nice, lovely," he said with a small smile.

Her smile was not small; it radiated the entire room.