"So, Dad," Marion looked over at Jack as she called out to him. She and Amy had washed the dishes, and now, while Amy was working on homework, she was drying the last of the dishes. Jack was nearby, seated at the desk in the kitchen working on bills. He glanced at her from his seated spot, lowering his glasses to look at her as she continued to speak. "I heard you had coffee with Lisa the other day at the diner."

Marion had been waiting for the right time to talk to Jack about this. Maggie had called her the day after, or rather, she'd called her the day Lisa and Jack had coffee, but Marion hadn't returned her call until the next day. The whole idea was interesting, one that Marion had not truly considered. Lisa seemed so different from her dad, not that it was a bad thing, but she really hadn't thought about Lisa as someone her dad might be interested in. The age thing was a big factor, and Marion didn't care, but she knew her dad would. The fact that he'd been almost a recluse all these years was a big part of it. Marion wanted Jack to be happy, and she had a feeling he was pretty lonely a lot of the time even if he never mentioned it. The very different backgrounds Lisa and her dad came from was probably the biggest factor, but Marion knew Maggie well. She knew that Maggie knew people, and when she'd spoken to Maggie, well, Maggie had been almost gushing.

"Girl, you are not going to believe who your dad had a coffee date with here at the diner."

"Wait, my dad had a coffee date? He didn't mention a thing. There's a woman he's interested in and set up a coffee date? We're talking about my dad, Jack, right? Well, tell me!"

"Okay, okay, first off, it wasn't something pre-arranged, but the coffee date just sort of happened-"

"If you are going to tell me that Val Stanton was hanging all over him again, just don't. That woman has some nerve. I swear if she had the opportunity, she'd , she'd-"

"What, show your dad a good time?" Maggie laughed. "Oh, I've seen how she's all over him. Let's just put it out there. If she had the chance, she'd take Jack to bed for sure."

"Oh stop! I can't have that image," Marion grunted. "We sound like we are teenagers, talking like that, but sadly, you are right. She's a snake for sure. Okay, not Val, so who in the world did my dad have on a date? I can't even believe this."

"Lisa," Maggie told her. "So, let me explain-Lisa and I were working on the details for the school, and when we finished, she wanted a cup of coffee, you know, planning to sit at the counter to chat with me. Well, Jack was in there waiting on a part for the tractor. You remember. I know you said he complained about it. So, she started talking to Jack, and Marion, I swear it was like his eyes lit up as they were just chit-chatting. I might have nudged her a long a little, putting her coffee at the table to sit with him, but once she sat down, she and your dad talked for close to an hour and a half."

"Lisa, wait, really?" Marion asked. "They are so different. I love Lisa. She's one of those people who feels like she's been a friend of mine now for years already, and she's so generous. I don't know how she is so attractive. I swear that wealth must bring about that too," she laughed. "Lisa, really? She and Dad talked that long?"

"Believe me, I wish you could have seen it. They looked so comfortable and seemed to enjoy each other's company so much. She's nothing like Val, so don't think she was hanging on him or anything else. Lisa is herself. She's confident in herself, and she was actually trying to convince me she is fine on her own and wasn't looking to date Jack."

"You asked her?" Marion chuckled. "Oh boy."

"Of course I did. I waited until Jack left, and then I grilled her about it. I don't think she saw it as anything more than chatting with a new friend, but the more I pointed out things, she got nervous and started really blushing. I think that now I've planted the idea, she will see that it's a decent possibility."

"Lisa is younger than I am," Marion blurted out and laughed. "I mean, it's a little insane, and I have a hard time seeing Dad being okay with that. He's so stuck in his ways too. No way Lisa would put up with that. Plus, what Lisa likes, Dad doesn't, like travel, money, prestige-none of that is Dad. You and I both see that he's so set in his ways and just becoming an old grump."

"Exactly the reason he needs someone to keep him young," Maggie pointed out, adding, "you know, give him a little pep in those boots of his."

"Just stop," Marion groaned. "Last thing I need is any visual of someone being responsible for my dad having some pep in his step. I don't want to envision Dad almost skipping in those old cowboy boots. Oh, he's a whistler when he's happy. I can't think about this, but Lisa sure would be a young change for him. She's got enough energy for all of us, money and prestige too."

"Just because Lisa has money doesn't mean she tries to flaunt it. You see that. She's not Val, as I've said. You know she's generous. She's also kind and a good listener. I'm telling you that the coffee date was about the most normal thing I've seen in a long time. There's something there."

Armed with that information, now a few nights later, Marion finally had a chance to speak to Jack about his coffee date. He, of course, had not mentioned anything of it. She and Amy had been busy the last couple nights with things at Amy's school, so now, with Jack here alone, she wanted to find out what was going on.

"Marion?" Jack called to her, and Marion realized she was leaning against the counter with a dish towel in her hand. She looked at her dad, and he had his head tilted looking at her. "You okay?"

"Oh, fine, in fact, great. Would you like a cup of coffee?"

Jack scrunched up his face, "Little late for it. I haven't slept well the last few nights."

"Okay," she nodded and waved her hand, adding, "ahh, speaking of coffee, I heard you had a coffee date with Lisa."

Jack put down the paper bill he had in his hand and looked toward Marion, an almost horrified look on his face. "She told you that? We just ran into each other."

"She didn't. Maggie did," Marion smiled, widening it as she met Jack's gaze. "Maggie said you seemed pretty interested in Lisa."

Jack narrowed his gaze and shook his head, "I don't know what kind of rumors Maggie is trying to spread. You know how I feel about those. I ran into Lisa in town. She joined me for a cup of coffee while I waited on that part to arrive. It was simply a chance meeting, and we talked, got to know one another. I know she's become a friend of yours, and really, I didn't know anything about her. That's it. No big story. I think you need to go back to your source and tell her exactly that, end of the story."

"Dad," Marion sighed, walking to him and stopping next to his desk. "It's been 11 years since Mom died. She wouldn't want you to be alone-"

"I'm not alone. You and Amy are here. I have family," he added, his head looking at his paperwork while he spoke to her. "I loved your mom very much, and I'm okay living with her memory here. I don't need more."

"You do, though," Marion nudged him. "I'm lonely, and I didn't lose Tim the same way." At the mention Tim's name, Jack looked up at Marion and narrowed his gaze. "What? I am. I know you have to be. I miss having a person to talk to, to just be my person. You're 65-"

"Exactly," Jack grunted. "I'm 65. I'm too old for that mess. I don't need some widower or lonely old woman hanging on me."

"What about a younger woman?" Marion grinned. "You know, what about Lisa?"

Jack made a face and looked up at her again, "She's your friend, and now, why would you suggest her? We have nothing in common, and well," he paused, nodding as he finished, "we have nothing in common."

"Sounds like you had plenty in common to talk for over an hour. Just think about it," she said almost punching at his shoulder. "I'm more than okay with it. She's pretty great, and yeah, you're right. We don't need some needy widower around here, but an independent, smart, beautiful, incredibly successful woman-well, that's the type you are used to having around here with me and the girls," she grinned, swatting at him with her towel as she stepped away and back to the sink. "You have to admit, Dad, she's beautiful, right?"

Marion watched Jack, and he tried to ignore her, finally glancing at her over the rim of his glasses. She smiled and nodded, wanting him to confirm her statement. "I don't notice things like that."

"Oh right," Marion blurted out and started really laughing. "Yes, you do. She's really beautiful. Come on, admit it."

Jack frowned at her, waving his hand with the bill in it, "She has nice eyes."

Marion narrowed her gaze and frowned, "Really, that's it? Nice eyes. That's like not even a thing. What do you mean nice eyes?"

He looked to the ceiling and let out his breath, "She does. I mean, I sat there talking to her for over an hour, as I'm sure your source told you, so I saw her eyes. Bright eyes like a Husky dog."

"Oh good grief, Dad! That's not a compliment, telling her she looks like a dog! Don't ever say that."

"I didn't say she looked like a dog!" Jack exclaimed. He was now beet red and frustrated. "See, this is why nothing like this should be discussed." Marion threw up her hands and started to walk off. Jack watched her walk away, shaking his head at her, "Let that be the last time we have any sort of conversation like that. Why you feel you need to set me up, or get me out of the house, or create some social life for me I don't know. I'm glad you've become friends with Lisa. She does seem like a very independent and generous woman. I see that in how she does business, but I'm just fine here with you, Amy, and Paint."

"Really, Dad-Paint? You're comparing dating a beautiful, younger woman to hanging out with your horse?" Marion turned back from the dining room table and frowned.

"I am," Jack stated with a single nod. "Now, if that's all, I am going to finish paying bills."

"Not all," she pointed at him and lowered her voice while glancing down the hall. "Amy's birthday, day after tomorrow."

"I'm aware," Jack told her, as he nodded. "She's turning 13. I might be old, but my mind is sharp."

"I never said you were old or forgetful. I'm coordinating things for her birthday, a party."

He narrowed his gaze, "What type of party?"

"She wanted to grill out burgers. Is that okay?" As they were now talking about this, Marion had walked back into the kitchen.

"Fine by me," Jack nodded. "I'll take care of that."

"I'm covering the rest-sides and cake. We were going invite a few friends for dinner. That okay with you?"

"Her birthday," he stated. "As long as I don't have a house of girls overnight, it's fine with me. Summer," he waved his hand, "so the girls can all stay outside."

"Great," she grinned. "And, no, you won't tell them that they can't come into the house," she pointed at him. "I'll tell Amy we're set for her birthday. I'm sure she's already invited Sorayah." Marion laughed, and as she walked out of the kitchen, she walked by Jack, leaning over to kiss the top of his head. "And for what it's worth, I'm glad you didn't have to wait in town alone. Lisa's great to talk to, and you have to admit that."

"She is, very nice conversation with her, Jack nodded. "Unless you want to pay these bills, I am done talking about her or dating or anything else you're scheming."

"Night, Dad," she squeezed his shoulder. "Oh, I got Amy some English riding lessons for her birthday. She really wants to get better."

"You don't have to worry that we got her the same thing," Jack commented, turning slightly in his chair to make eye contact with her. "I did not get anything like that. I got her a new cowboy hat. Hers is too small. Your daughter has grown up a lot this year."

"And before we know it," she frowned, "she will be a grown woman too, off, leaving you and me here alone." She left the room, not getting much from her dad, but also not expecting to get much. She'd have to see this for herself.

By the weekend, the house was bustling, Marion and Amy getting things ready for her party that evening. Jack was holding up his end of the bargain, preparing homemade Heartland beef burgers. He had once considered expanding his herd to try and start a commercial beef business, but with the way things were and not having much help, he mostly just used the beef for the family. It really was good beef. Rarely did he find as good of a burger out at any restaurant, not that he got out a lot to places, but he was proud of his beef. He looked over at Marion, frosting Amy's cake.

"What time do you want me to start grilling?"

"Ahh, how about six or just after? You know the sun will be up until 11:00 or so, and Amy has people arriving around 6:00."

"Okay, fine," he nodded. "Sounds like a long night for you and Amy," he glanced at her, and Marion paused and looked back at Jack, pointing her knife at him.

"Seriously, what are you going to do? You can sit outside and enjoy the evening. I know you like your evening routine and all, but it's not going to hurt to sit on the porch and watch Amy with her friends. It's a beautiful night."

"And what are you going to be doing?" Jack eyed her.

"Hanging out with Amy and her friends," she gestured. "They want to get some of the horses out. I'll be fine. You will too, and you can just enjoy the night. Now, let's get things ready for the party."

Trying to stay out of the way from the army of 13-year-old girls that had invaded the ranch, Jack kept to himself and tended to the grill. He had been polite, waving to a few of the parents dropping off their girls, but he wasn't one for small talk. He had his orders, and Jack was just fine there at the grill.

"So, is this something they teach you cowboys, or are you just born with a special skill to make fabulous burgers?" He heard the comment and spun around, placing the voice and surprised to hear it here tonight. He found Lisa standing there grinning at him.

"Lisa, hi," he said, almost a confused look on his face as he gestured. "Ahh, Marion didn't mention that she'd invited you, not that it's at all a problem you are here."

She nodded, stepping to the side of the grill and then moving to the other side as the smoke billowed out at her. She waved it out of her face as she got situated to talk to him.

"Yes, she told me she invited both Maggie and me, but Maggie ended up having to work. Someone called out at the diner. It's been a very long time since I've been to a teenage girl birthday party," she let out a laugh and covered her mouth. "My, they have a lot of energy."

"That they do," he said with a small grin as he flipped a couple of the burgers. "You singled out this party," he gestured, and she shook her head, not sure what he was saying. He clarified, "You said you hadn't been to a teenage girl party-that sounds like you've been to some teen boy parties?"

"Oh tons," she waved her hand, a smirk on her face. "I am very well known at many teen boy parties." The second she said that, her eyes widened, realizing her comment didn't come out as she intended. She waved her hand toward Jack, "That came out wrong," and he was eyeing her. "I mean," she sputtered, "I mean that my nephew is also a teenager, and I've been to a lot of his parties. I didn't mean it to sound like I'm scouring teen boys for some date or something, oh, not that I'm talking about dating or anything else."

Jack burst out laughing and looked back to the grill as he nodded.

"Let's just start again. Hi," she said with a nod and a deep breath. "It's nice to see all of these girls having fun. My nephew, Ben, is 16, and I've been to plenty of his parties, but his friends now just sit around and barely talk. This is nice to see," she waved her hand at the girls. "I'm the cool aunt always giving Ben some gift his friends enjoy as much as he does."

"Now I understand," Jack chuckled. "Nice of you to come, although, you might be running for the hills with all these girls. They are only going to get louder."

"Ahh, we'll see," she shrugged, crossing her arms as she talked to him. "Marion promised me a good burger, and they do look delicious. Are they from your cattle?"

"They are," he stated and gave a single nod. "Best burger you'll ever have, even with all of your travels. Promise."

"Okay," she grinned. "Looking forward to it. Well, since there are not a lot of other adults around here, what can I do to help, and please don't say I'm just a guest. I'm here to help."

Jack eyed her, really giving her a once-over, and as he did, he didn't say anything. Lisa raised an eyebrow at him, realizing he was almost staring, and finally, he nodded at her.

"Let's get these girls fed," he told her, handing her an empty meat platter. "I've got a second round of meat to put on, and if you can wait, the chef," he gestured to himself, and that had Lisa giggle, "will take personal requests for how you want your burger. Now, that offer is not available to all here."

Her face broke into a huge grin, and she nodded, "Load me up," she lifted the platter. "I'll get the girls fed and would then love a medium-rare burger. I'm hoping the chef gets a break to eat as well."

He gestured toward her as he nodded, "You've got yourself a deal, and I might be able to offer up a spot here that won't include screaming teenage girls while you eat."

"You're on," she grinned.

Marion had watched her dad with Lisa now for the last half hour, wanting to pat herself on the back for inviting Lisa. It was true she'd invited Maggie as well, but Maggie did get stuck at work. Too bad because she had been hoping to have her partner in crime nearby so they could both spy on her dad with Lisa. So far, she had to admit-Maggie might be right. Romance was crazy, right? Just like in her own life, she knew she shouldn't be talking to Tim still, but she couldn't help it. She missed him, and all of the things that had drawn her to him 24 years ago were still there. She liked his sense of humor, his dorky comments, and just the way he was with her. She missed him, but tonight was no night for him to be at the ranch. She had been talking to him more and more the last few weeks and had even been thinking about taking him up on his offer of a date, but not yet. No, she wasn't ready. She also wasn't ready to share this information with anyone, even Maggie or Lisa, but by the looks of things, the trio had plenty to discuss because the more she watched her dad with Lisa, the more she saw the undeniable chemistry. Maggie was onto something, and right now, Marion was glad she could watch from a distance at her daughter's birthday party.

"I'm surprised I didn't see you drive up, but I also suppose that one-I don't know your car, and two-I didn't know you were coming," Jack told Lisa as they started eating their burgers. The girls were all still busy eating, and well, doing a lot of giggling too. Jack looked over at the picnic table, Marion right in the thick of it with Amy and her friends. He'd waved at her when he'd finished at the grill, gesturing to the porch chairs, and Marion had given him a thumbs up, whatever that meant. Lisa had joined him, seeming interested in talking to him rather than being in the middle of a lot of teen giggling.

"Mmm, this is the best burger I've ever had," Lisa nodded as she finished chewing. He looked over at her, sitting there in one of the porch chairs. She nodded and wiped her mouth before she looked toward Jack, "Seriously, Jack, you weren't kidding. Fabulous burger."

"Thanks," he nodded at her. "Best around."

"Cooked perfectly too," she added.

"I was really glad to hear you wanted it medium rare and not something like well done. To me, that's just cruelty to good meat, overcooking it like that. It takes all the flavor away."

She grinned, "Ahh, so there, you see, something we have in common, our taste for burgers. Wow, this is so good. I suppose my favorite place to get a burger is actually a small a local restaurant I sometimes go to when I travel to Kentucky, but that is nothing compared to this. Wow, so good, and I even have to go to Kentucky next week. Now, I'll have to find a different place to eat because I'm going to be disappointed with the burgers there now."

He chuckled, "Sorry to ruin your burger joint in Kentucky. So, you're headed there for work?"

"Mmm, yes," she told him as she finished chewing. "Just a few days, but I have some horses to look at and a contract to work out for a stud horse I have."

"Ahh, so a good time for you and for the horse," he chuckled. Lisa grinned and nodded as she took another bite.

"So, how late do you expect to be up with this party? I swear I don't know how they have that much energy." Lisa watched the girls, smiling as she looked at them being silly.

He sighed and shook his head, leaning it back against the chair, "Marion suggested 11:00 or so, but I might head to bed long before that," he grunted.

"Well, I know it's late now to be offering this, but I did come bearing gifts," she said tilting her head. Jack glanced at her and shook his head, not sure what she was telling him.

She waved her hand, "I mean, I brought a gift for Amy-"

"You really didn't have to do that," he eyed her.

"I know I didn't," she rolled her eyes. "I wasn't about to come to a birthday party without a gift," she grinned. "I know she's interested in English riding, so I got her a riding helmet. Marion said she didn't have her own yet. However, I wanted to bring something else." Jack raised an eyebrow, and she waved her hand to explain, "It's nothing really, but yesterday was my stable manager's birthday, and he loves my pie. I baked him a pie, and as I was doing that, I made a second and brought it for you. This time," she pointed her finger at him with a smirk, "don't let Amy and her friends eat it."

"You brought us a pie?" Jack asked, clearly surprised.

She shrugged, "It's nothing. I told you I enjoy baking, and I know you didn't get any last time," she grinned. "I thought you might enjoy it especially after the chaos of this evening."

"Well, thank you," he nodded with a small smile. "That's very kind, and I'll try to get a slice this time."

"Perhaps you'll have to hide it," she started to laugh.

"Maybe I will. Maybe I'll hide it in my bedroom. No one goes in there, and it could be all mine." For whatever reason, bringing up his bedroom had Jack grimacing slightly from embarrassment. He changed topics quickly.

"You mentioned your nephew. Does he live around here too? I didn't know you had family here."

"No, outside Toronto," she nodded to him, putting her empty plate on top of his on the small table. "Ben, his name is Ben, and he's my sister's son. She's very much of a," she paused and pursed her lips, "free spirit. We're nothing alike," Lisa laughed and waved her hand amending it, "well, except for our track records with men. I mean, I'm divorced, but she's been married three times already, not even counting Ben's father whom I never met because he wasn't in the picture much if you get my meaning," Lisa frowned. "I love my sister, but I don't like how she is as an adult. I adore Ben, and she sends him here in the summer for a week or so. He was here at the beginning of the summer, but his school starts back soon."

"A free spirit," Jack said each word slowly as he nodded in understanding. "Marion has a little of that free spirit in her, not that she's been at all like your sister, but I have to wonder had I not given her the disapproving look a lot," he paused with a small smile, "she might have been a lot more of that free spirit type. I mean, her ex-husband," he whistled. "He's about the last guy I imagined for her, not sure what she saw in him, but that's in the past," he waved.

Lisa smiled softly, "Marion said she's a lot like her mom."

"She is," he nodded, a smile spreading across his face as he thought of that fondly. "My late wife loved me, loved Marion, but she didn't like being home, always wanted to be on the road doing what she loved. Somehow, we made it work. I liked being here with Marion. Lyndy liked being on the road, and when she was home, she and Marion were always off doing something together. Anyway," he turned slightly, "you didn't come here to listen to that."

"No, but it's part of getting to know you and your family. So, is Amy like Marion or her dad?"

"All Marion," he said with a nod of his head. "Well, I amend that. She's a lot like me too. As much as I don't like change, Amy hates it even more. Oh, she was in a rough spot when Lou went off to school. Hated that things had to change."

"Ahh, I'm sure that was hard, having her sister move so far away. Does Lou come home often?"

"Nah," Jack shook his head. "She comes home at Christmas, that's about it. I'm not sure what she will do this Christmas. She finishes her master's degree in December, and she's already been offered a job at the firm where she is interning."

"That's great!" Lisa exclaimed. "Wow, that's not an easy thing to do, to land a good job in New York. Ahh, how wonderful she's graduating soon. I guess maybe your family will celebrate Christmas in New York?"

Jack turned his head, looking to her with a horrified expression. He shook his head, "I have no desire to travel to New York. No thank you."

"Really?" Lisa scrunched up her face and gestured. "I know you have mentioned how much you love your granddaughters. You're not going to go? It's her graduation, her master's degree."

"No, I-"

"You know what," she paused as she interrupted him and raised her hand. "I'm sorry to pry. That's none of my business."

"I'll hear you out," he nodded. "I'm really proud of her, just no desire to go to New York."

"Yes, but," she paused again and closed her mouth, shaking her head.

"Go on," he waved. "I'm not stopping you. I will hear your opinion, promise, no arguments."

"Okay," she let out her breath. "I think you should go. My aunt is one of my favorite people in the world, and she missed my graduation from university. It bothered me, still does, and my mom had died, so she really was in that special role of being the woman in my life. My dad came, gave me a card and plenty of money," she smiled at the memory, "but it wasn't the same. I just," she paused and frowned, "give it a little thought, and I'm saying this as a friend, I mean, if we are friends?" Lisa eyed him, and Jack chuckled with a nod to her. Lisa continued, "Try to remember it's not about you, what you want to do. This is about Lou, her big day. She went away and was successful."

"I suppose," he sighed. "I guess the last thing I want to do is get on a plane to New York."

She raised an eyebrow at him, "You have been on a plane before, yes?"

"Sure, about 40 years ago," he waved his hand.

"Oh my," Lisa started to laugh as she covered her mouth. "I see. Well, think about it, and I realize it might be the very last thing you want to do-both getting on a plane and going to a huge city like New York, but coming from my own experience, it would mean the world to Lou, especially when you've had a similar role in her life my aunt had in mine. In the absence of her dad, you've been the man in her life, just as my aunt was the woman in mine."

He frowned at her, "Thanks, I suppose," he rolled his eyes, and Lisa chuckled nodding too. "Good perspective, I admit, and I will give it some thought. I have time. Marion bought tickets already," he waved his hand, "I mean for her and for Amy, but I really don't see myself going."

"I get that, but sometimes, we can all afford to step out of our comfort zone and do something to surprise everyone."