"I see the back-to-school routine is hitting you hard already," Lisa said to Lou as she walked into the kitchen bright and early Monday morning. Lou, who was yawning, covered her mouth and nodded, sitting at the small kitchen table. She gestured to the coffee.

"I'm on my third cup, so get some while you can," Lou told her, shaking her head. "I really need to snap out of this sleepy state. I think all of the travel is catching up with me. Probably wasn't the best idea to travel back the weekend before school started."

"Well, it didn't help your flight got cancelled, and you just got in yesterday. Katie get off to school?"

Lou nodded, covering her mouth as she yawned again, "Gosh, excuse me. Yes, she's thrilled to be in grade nine and on the secondary bus. I'm not thrilled it's coming so early," Lou yawned again. Lisa chuckled, squeezing Lou's shoulder as she stepped behind her to get a cup of coffee, the last of the coffee in that pot.

"Well, I will start a fresh pot of coffee. I know Jack took some to the barn earlier, but knowing your grandfather," she turned and eyed Lou, who was nodding, "he'll be ready for more, and we'll not hear the end of it if it's empty."

"Speaking of Grandpa," Lou gave Lisa a sly smile, "I haven't had you alone since I got back yesterday. Now, I couldn't help but notice you are not staying in Amy's room."

Lisa, who started the coffee pot brewing now, turned back to the table, her cup in hand, as she stepped over to sit down at one of the chairs, shaking her head at Lou as she frowned at her. When she put down her cup, she pointed a finger toward Lou.

"It is not what you think-"

"Right," Lou grinned. "That sounds like something said when it's exactly what it seems."

"No, really," Lisa frowned at Lou, now stirring her cup of coffee before adding, "please do not bring it up with Jack. He's very on edge about it. I told him that Amy deserved to have her room back, that I could not displace her indefinitely. None of us know when or if Jack will get his memory back. Goodness, knowing how long he takes to make most decisions, I, well," she frowned, glancing at Lou, "I suppose I gently prodded him to some sort of action. I did not want to go back to Fairfield, but I also knew that something had to change, that things here at home had to start getting back to normal."

"Oh?" Lou's eyes widened, and a small smile broke out on her face. "So, you took back your room. I see."

"Lou," Lisa frowned at her, "Honey, please understand this isn't some ploy, and this has been very, very hard on me. Jack is my husband. He doesn't remember the last 18 years we have had together. While he's lost that period of time with all of us, he at least knows who you and Amy are. Imagine if he did not know you at all and questioned," she waved her hand, "all of it. He's questioned who I am, why we got married, all of it. I told him that while I didn't want to go back to Fairfield, I also did not want to make him uncomfortable, that it was his decision. He and I have so much to work through, more than you can imagine, and it was a huge step for him to even be comfortable around me, so please understand, this is a delicate situation. Jack is okay with my staying here, and we are trying to navigate these very unchartered waters. He's done everything but build some sort of pillow fort between us," she gestured.

Lisa's mind wandered back to Thursday evening, the first night she'd been back in their room. Once they'd left the pond, the two had stopped in the barn to do the night check and brush out their horses. That had taken some time, and then, they'd walked back to the house and started on things there-Lisa putting in some laundry and Jack putting away all of the fishing gear. Amy, with Lyndy in tow, returned from the school night, and they spent some time telling Jack and Lisa all about it. While Jack read Lyndy a story in the living room, Lisa showered and got ready for bed, deciding to read in bed before falling asleep. Jack had been civil, pleasant even, going about his evening routine, and then, as he'd done at the cabin, he kept to himself with his hands folded over his chest, rooted in one spot on his side of the bed. Lisa had offered to turn off her bedside light, but Jack said it was no bother and was asleep within a few minutes. Their evening pattern had been repeated each evening since, and at least things seemed to be okay, not necessarily great, but he was generally happy to talk to her and trying to be as helpful to her has he could. She would take it for right now; it was progress, albeit very slow progress, but it was He had not kissed her since, not that she didn't want to kiss him herself, but she was trying to let him figure things out at his own pace, even though that was really hard.

"Lisa," Lou reached over and put her hand on hers with a sad smile, "I am so sorry. I really wasn't thinking that; I didn't realize. I don't know," she waved her hand, meeting Lisa's gaze. "I really thought things were back on track with you two. I apologize."

She nodded, sipping at her coffee, "Just please, don't bring anything up. I'm so happy that Jack wants to try with me. I love him more than anything, and it's killing me he doesn't remember feeling the same way. I wish I had an answer or a promise about things, but right now, I'll take whatever progress I can get. You saw how he was at the hospital. He was hostile and downright irritated I was even in the room, let alone making some of his medial decisions. It might not seem like it, and even I have to remind myself, but he's come a long way already with me. I'm not out on the street."

Lou pursed her lips and squeezed at Lisa's hand, pulling back as the screen door opened, and Jack stepped inside. Both women looked over at Jack as he used his handkerchief to wipe his face.

"Boy, I know this weather is cooler than it was last week, but I, for one, will be glad for this heat to move on out."

Lisa made a face, "Still hot, eeeh? Well," she said, playfully, winking at Lou, "suppose it's too hot for coffee then."

Jack looked at the women and gave a small nod as he smiled, "Never too hot for coffee."

"I knew you'd say that," Lisa pointed at him and stood to pour him a cup.

"Join us, Grandpa," Lou said, patting the seat next to her, with a hopeful grin at Lisa. "I was just talking to Lisa about this last week, but I hadn't heard about the fishing trip yet."

"Okay, everyone, talk up going back to school," Amy said as she flew into the kitchen, shaking her head.

"Oh, Amy, is she still giving you a hard time? I thought for sure the bowl of strawberries and bananas for breakfast would cheer her up. She loves that."

Amy rolled her eyes at the trio of adults, Jack slowly sitting down between Lou and Lisa as he groaned. Amy gestured, "She's complained about every outfit, even though we went through outfits last night and put out one. She hates how I did her hair, even though I pulled it back just like she has had it all summer. Just," she paused as Lyndy came out from the bedroom area and walked into the kitchen.

"Oh, my goodness, Lyndy," Lisa started in on her right away, shaking her head, "you look so beautiful, Sweetheart, so grown up," she said leaning toward her with a smile. "I love your hair like that. Oh, turn around," she gestured to Lyndy. "I need to see that backpack you are wearing."

"Mommy, I don't want to go to school," Lyndy frowned. "I can just see my friends later."

"No, we talked about this. You have to go to school."

"Lyndy, no fun here today. It's too hot. I'm going to be cleaning saddles, and that is not a fun job. Ask your mom," Jack told her, leaning over the side of the table to speak to her.

Lyndy looked up at Amy, and Amy made a face and pointed at Jack, "Gigi is right. That's a boring job, and it takes a really long time. You should thank him for polishing your saddle while you are at school."

Lyndy, with her sad eyes, looked over at Jack, "Thank you, Gigi."

"You're welcome. I'm excited to see you off on your first day. I don't remember any of the other first days of school for you. Now, I'm with Lisa," he gestured to Lyndy, "let's see that horse backpack." Lyndy showed them her backpack, the adults all making a fuss over it. Lou handed Lyndy the matching lunchbox with a grin.

"Hey, Lyndy," she said, with a very loud whisper as she motioned for Lyndy to come closer. She pretended like what she was telling her was a secret even if it was the furthest from one, "I put an extra cookie in your lunch when your mom was done packing your lunch. Katie got one too."

"You did?" Lyndy grinned and looked at Amy with another huge grin. "Mommy, I don't want you to take me out to the bus. Can the Gigis take me to the bus?"

Amy frowned at Lyndy, "You don't want me to take you up to the bus? We always do that."

"No," she shook her head and looked over at Jack and Lisa, "Can you take me to the bus?"

"Oh," Lisa glanced at Jack, and both looked to Amy. She rolled her eyes and threw up her hands without Lyndy seeing it. "Honestly, anything would be great, and if that helps get her off," she shrugged, "fine by me."

"Fine by me," Jack said, looking at Lisa. She nodded, and Jack looked to Lyndy, "Okay, kiddo, get your things, and we can get in the truck."

Lyndy made a face, "I don't want to ride in the truck. Can we take Lisa's pretty car?" Lou, Amy, and Lisa all started to laugh, dropping their heads away from looking at Jack, and he grumbled in his seat, finally sighing loudly.

"Tell you what," Lisa patted Jack's hand getting his attention as she gestured. "Why don't we take Lyndy to the end of the driveway for the bus, and then, we can just run into town. You need to get your latest blood pressure medication that wasn't ready on Thursday. It was ready Friday but just didn't get to picking it up. I'll even throw in some nice air conditioning in the car to cool you off," Lisa grinned at Jack.

"I'm fine with that," he said, standing and pointing to Lyndy. "Best get going. Is your bed made? Your mother expects you to have a clean room and have brushed your teeth."

Lyndy nodded, and Amy confirmed, "Yes, we have been through that." Amy looked to Jack and Lisa who were now starting to the door, "Hey, thanks, both of you. I really appreciate it."

"No problem," Lisa said, collecting her purse at the door as the trio stepped outside. "We'll get her off to school and be back shortly. Oh," she smiled at Amy, "did you get the first day of school picture?"

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Amy exclaimed, following them. "She's been so grumpy that I haven't thought of anything else."

It took a few more minutes, but finally, Lisa pulled up to the end of the driveway, and Jack turned to face Lyndy in the backseat.

"You know," he said with a nod of his head, "your mom used to have to walk all the way up here. This is a special day, the first day of school, but that doesn't mean Lisa or I, or even your mom, will drive you up here each day, okay?"

"Okay," Lyndy frowned.

"Why don't you want to go to school?"

"I just want to ride Harley."

"Lyndy, Harley needs some rest while you are at school. You know you can't ride Harley all day, especially in this heat," Lisa told her. "Harley will be waiting when you get home. How about some hamburgers and hotdogs for dinner?"

"I like those," Lyndy grinned.

"Sounds good to me," Jack said, with a thankful nod at Lisa for her comments to Lyndy. "Oh, I hear the bus. Come on," and with that, the three stepped out of the car. Lyndy hugged them both before the bus appeared, and when it finally did stop at the driveway, she waved at them and got on the bus as if she had no issues going to school. As the bus pulled away, both Lisa and Jack could see Lyndy already seated and talking to a friend.

"My, she is so much like Amy," Lisa said as the two stood there and watched the bus pull away. She clasped her hands in front of her mouth like she was thinking. Jack, standing net to her nodded.

"Spitting image of Amy," Jack sighed. "Tell me," he nodded at her, "how many years have we put her on the bus on the first day of school?"

"Ahh, none," Lisa turned and smiled warmly at him. "This is a first. She was in quite the mood this morning, but she did at least take pictures for Amy. I'll have to ask Amy to send the one she took of us sitting on the steps with Lyndy.

Jack, clearly surprised, nodded with a smile on his face, "Well, it is nice to do something for the first time then. Glad we could help Amy and get Lyndy off to school without more of a battle."

"Me too," Lisa nodded. "Say, since we will be in town, and we both missed eating actual breakfast, can I interest you in a breakfast date?" Lisa smiled hopefully at Jack, wanting to reach for him, but respecting his space, did not.

Jack chuckled quietly, nodding as he gestured for her to walk ahead of him back to the car, "I think that could be arranged. I'm a little nervous about seeing people in town, especially people I don't know or remember, I mean, that I should know."

Lisa paused at the car, turning to Jack with a nod, "I realize that, and I promise I won't say anything about your accident. I will also have your back and try to give you as much background on someone as I can if we get to talking to anyone. You sure you are okay with this?"

Jack nodded with a slight smile, "Yeah, I suppose." He reached for her hand hanging loosely at her side and clasped it in his, both looking down at their joined hands. "You haven't let me down yet, and I know you won't."