"Wow, it is cold out there this morning," Jack stated as he stepped inside and briskly shut the door, almost having to brace it with the wind. He looked over into the kitchen and frowned at Marion who was seated at the table, warming up herself with a cup of coffee. "I was hoping Lisa was sitting there talking to you. Did she get off to Fairfield already? I didn't look on the other side of your truck for her car."
"Mmm, yes she did, and if you ask me, she's avoiding both of us, mostly you," Marion eyed him.
"Well, I'm not going to stop mentioning that she's overdoing it. She's due in six weeks," Jack sighed. "My goodness she's being stubborn about all of this. I did understand her hesitation before. She was scared, and I didn't blame her and tried really hard not to push, but now, putting things off-I just don't get it."
Marion tilted her head and nodded, "I know you've tried to talk to her about this. I have too."
"It's always something else," he waved his hand, walking over to get a cup of coffee. "First, it was that trip to Denver you two took, and I know she had work obligations, but even then, she didn't want to look at much with you. She worried me being gone, and yet, I knew I had to just let her go. Arguing about it wasn't going to change things. Now, I don't even know what to say other than she's avoiding the inevitable."
"Hey, I did the best I could," Marion looked over her shoulder at Jack. "I did get an idea on that cradle bedding-"
"Yes, and thank you for helping me order that for Christmas. That reminds me I need to wrap that for her-"
"Already did, Dad," Marion grinned at him when he sat down, Jack groaning with his muscles fighting against him. "You're not the best at wrapping gifts," Marion reached over and patted his knee and smirked. "Besides, I dropped it in a Christmas gift bag for you, and it's already under the tree," she gave a nod to the living room, "toward the back."
"Thanks," he nodded with a warm smile. "Appreciate that, and I hope she likes that and the surprise of the cradle. I guess I'm glad she really doesn't venture upstairs."
"Well no, not since you two really got married, and she saw it was the storage area. I think she will be really happy when you tell her the plans for that room. You and Tim can knock it out in a few days."
Jack nodded in agreement, "Good project for after the holidays, but back to Lisa-even after you two got back, she's been running around here like a crazy woman forgetting she's eight months pregnant. There was decorating the Christmas tree, making cookies with Amy but it wasn't a couple dozen, what 12 dozen or so for some of the friends and the Fairfield staff, now this party she's organized for her staff at Fairfield tonight. That reminds me," Jack glanced at her over the rim of his coffee cup, "I assume you're bringing Tim tonight?"
"Yes," Marion said with a giddy smile on her face, one she tried to school when she met Jack's gaze. She waved her hand at him, "Tim is picking me up. Since it's heavy appetizers tonight, and we'll be dressed up, he asked if I wanted to go to dinner and then just come to the party to have some dessert. So," she made a face at him, "do you mind taking Amy over with you?"
"So, wait a minute-how did you get Tim Fleming to suggest paying for dinner with free appetizers? He never wants to pay for food, and if you tell me you're paying, the answer is no, I won't take Amy because I'll forbid you to go. He should pay."
"Dad, stop," she chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Yes, he's paying, and we just talked about a nice dinner out for the holidays. The restaurants all look so festive. We're going to a steakhouse almost all the way into Calgary, and we won't be late to the party. I thought it was sweet. He's really trying."
Jack nodded as Marion spoke and then smirked at her, "Well, order the filet tonight then, most expensive one they have."
"Stop, really, Dad, honestly," Marion rolled her eye as she shook her head. "You're terrible. You've even said Tim seems to be like a changed man."
"Doesn't mean that he doesn't owe you the world. You did a lot of raising those girls alone when he didn't contribute a dime."
She crossed her arms and frowned at him, "And what would you have said if Lisa had ordered a steak on one of your first dates? I know-you wouldn't have seen her again."
"That is not true," he said with a shake of his head, and when Marion glared at him, he tried not to smile, but it came off as a sheepish one, "I was pretty smitten with her right away, just tried to not show it. I probably would have expected it with how classy she is."
"So did she?" Marion eyed him, grinning as she waved at Jack, "You've never said, I mean, much about those first dates. I know you went to the rodeo and a what, vineyard?" Jack nodded, and Marion continued, "So, what did she order when you took her for food?"
"Ahh," he wiped his mouth and reached for some of the pumpkin bread Lisa had made the day before, another thing he'd fussed at her about, feeling the need to do all the cooking. She had waved him off about it. He nodded as he recalled their first dates, "Well, the first date, we went to a root beer stand."
"Wait, what?" Marion burst out laughing. "How did I not hear this? She went out with you again after that? Dad," Marion groaned. "She's the wealthiest woman in town, and you took her there?"
"I think we mutually decided that, and that made me like her even more, that she was really excited and enjoyed something that simple."
"Well, okay," Marion nodded with a pleased smile. "That doesn't surprise me about her, I mean, her reaction. Surprised she went out with you again," she grinned. "Root beer stand."
"That one not far outside of town is pretty good, and we had a great time, even shared two floats."
Marion laughed and waved her hand, "How do two people share two floats? Isn't that more like you each got one?"
"No," he chuckled at the memory, "we got one to share, and she really enjoyed it, said she couldn't remember the last time she had one. I liked seeing her that happy, smiling like that at something so simple, so I ordered another one. Shared that too."
Marion smiled at her dad, nodding, impressed, "That's sweet, Dad, honestly. Oh," she looked out the window from her seat, "sounded like a car door. It's Lisa."
Jack leaned back to look out the window too and stood to meet her at the door. He opened it almost as she was trying to scurry up to it. Jack stepped outside in his socks, waving his hand at her, "Lise, be careful. That ground and all froze with the storm. You could slip." Jack, sacrificing his warm socks for the wet ground, went to help her up the stairs. She looked up with an appreciative smile.
"Boy, that wind is vicious," she said, trying to pull her coat closer, but with it not being a maternity coat, it wasn't covering much.
"Why don't you buy a maternity coat? Fussing that it's not necessary," he gestured at her as he opened the door inside, "it is. You have six weeks left now, and this is silly. You're this pregnant in the dead of winter."
"I told you," she said, stepping inside and stomping off her shoes as she turned to Jack closing the door. "I don't need one. I'll be fine," she waved her hand and turned toward the kitchen. "Marion, hi."
"Hi yourself, Lisa right?" Marion tilted her head. "I'm sorry. I don't recognize you anymore. You just blow through here like you aren't eight months pregnant and avoid us."
"I'm not avoiding you," she said, Jack helping her take off her coat. She frowned at her, "I just have a lot to do. It's a busy season, and that party tonight is not going to throw itself. I'm back because I left my phone here on the charger."
"Explains why when I called you from the barn earlier, you didn't answer," he said, leaning over to squeeze her shoulders and look her in the eye. He kissed her cheek, "You're too busy. It's not like you to forget your phone. What can I do to help? I am glad this party is tonight so that it will be over, and you can start to focus on Nora's arrival."
"I'v told you," she said almost sinking into the chair. Marion watched that and stood to get her a cup of coffee too. "I'm fine. I'm not overdoing it. I would do any of this normally. I'm not an invalid."
"No," he patted her back as he sat down next to her, "but you are a very pregnant lady and have spent this entire pregnancy worried something will go wrong. It's all gone well, but this is not the time to prove you can do everything. We know that," he waved at Marion. "This is the time to sit down, relax, put your feet up-"
"I will at Christmas," his hand and frowned. She looked up when a cup of coffee was deposited in front of her.
"Drink up, eat," Marion nodded to the pumpkin bread as she sat down with them. "We've rarely been in the same room since you and I got back from Denver. Take a load off, literally. Nora will probably welcome it," Marion smirked.
Jack eyed her feet, "Can I take your shoes off for you? Your shoes are wet, and I don't want your feet getting cold."
"Actually, yes, thank you," Lisa said with an appreciative smile at Jack. "Very sweet of you to think of me. I just can't bend over to get them." Jack stood and stared to take off her shoes, looking up at her as he did.
"Lise, your feet and ankles are swollen-"
"Part of pregnancy," she sighed, nodding at Jack with a frown. "You've heard the doctor say that could and probably would happen."
"Yeah, but," Jack stood and frowned at her. "With your feet and ankles swollen, that is all the more reason to take it easy. Lise, come on."
"I just have to get through the party today," she explained. "I'm not doing it on my own, so that's a plus. The caterers are handling the food. The place is being decorated, and I have flowers coming later. Really," she said, reaching over to squeeze his leg and offering him a small smile, "It's fine. I just need to get my phone." She started to move, but Jack met Marion's gaze and jumped up.
"You sit. I'll get your phone. Talk to you stepdaughter there," he winked at Lisa and smiled at Marion.
"I was just telling Dad that Tim and I are going to dinner before the party," Marion stated. "We won't miss the party. Amy is riding with Dad, maybe you too, that is if you are coming home to get ready?"
She shook her head, "No, I'll probably just get ready there, which reminds me I do need to grab my dress. I'm glad I could throw a nice Christmas party for Fairfield and others we enjoy like Maggie. Should be a nice evening."
Marion glanced down the hall and didn't see Jack, so she frowned at Lisa, "He's really worried about you. I am too, to be honest. What's going on?"
"Nothing, just busy with the holidays. You know how it is."
Marion raised an eyebrow at Lisa, "I'm not stupid. I know you pretty well. Dad does too, but he doesn't want to argue."
Lisa frowned but then nodded, apparently deciding to confide in Marion. She sighed, "I just really struggle with sitting down and picking out things for Nora. It just seems so real."
"And?" Marion eyed her. "It is. Umm, you have like a couple basketballs in there based on your size, so she's coming."
"I can't explain it, but it's really hard. I just have this gut feeling still something is going to happen. I know it is irrational, but I will sit down and take care of things when I said I would. I almost have this nervous energy right now and just don't know what I would do with my days except worry if I wasn't staying busy. So, I need to stay busy or I'm going to go crazy thinking about everything that can go wrong for the next six weeks."
"Okay," Marion said with a roll of her head. "That is an answer, and I do understand that." She stood as Jack walked back in with Lisa's phone, speaking quietly before Jack could hear them. "Please, just tell him. He's crazy about you but really worried deep down. We both know he won't say much, but I'm telling you. Tell him that. I think you will both enjoy the evening much more if you're honest with him."
"Here you go," Jack said, presenting Lisa with her phone. Marion patted Jack's shoulder as she stepped around him. "I've got to get back to the barn. Chores aren't going to do themselves. You two rest and chat some. I'll see both of you later."
Marion dressed quickly and left, leaving Jack there, as he picked up Lisa's leg and started to massage her foot there at the table. She frowned.
"You don't have to do that."
"Your feet are swollen. No one else is here to be bothered we're sitting in the kitchen. Besides," he winked, "my actions kinda caused the swollen feet. I can at least offer to rub them. Is it bothering you, this?"
"No," she put her hand out toward him, "thank you. I didn't realize how much they were aching." She sat back and watched Jack work on her foot, biting her lip, and finally gesturing at him. "Look, Jack, I'm sorry I'm running around here. I know it has you worried. I'm feeling good, except for the swollen feet, not sleeping, heartburn-"
"So you're not feeling good?" Jack raised and eyebrow, and Lisa chuckled, rolling her eyes.
"No, but I am, I mean, all things considered. I can't slow down, not now. I think I need to stay busy because if I slow down, the reality of things will hit me. The idea that we could have a healthy baby girl in six weeks hits me, and I can't deal with that yet. My mind only goes to what could go wrong, and if I spend the next six weeks slowed down and letting my mind wander to all the problems, I'm going to go nuts."
He was quiet a moment, listening to his wife, but then finally nodded at her, "Lise, I'm in your corner. I wish you would talk to me about this before you're full on running around here like crazy. I get that feeling. I do, but I feel like we can find a balance to keep your mind off it. Maybe we do some Christmas shopping together. Maybe we take a drive or whatever, but your days don't have to be so full you are dead tired on your feet."
"I'm sorry," she reached over and clasped his hand. "I just," she pursed her lips, "it's hard to put into words how I'm feeling, and I don't just mean hormones. Jack," she now bit her lip and shook her head, tears forming, "I'm not sure what I would do if something does happen. I tell myself something could and prepare for that, but I don't know what I'd do. She's been growing inside me. I feel her kicking. She's given me heartburn, pain in my ribs from kicking, stretch marks, swelling, and it's so worth it," she said, looking up at the ceiling. She kept talking, looking away from him, "But when I think of something happening, of going through all this and not having her in our lives, it just terrifies me."
"Hey," he put her foot down to stand and then embraced her there at the table, kissing her head, "we're doing this together, sure not the swelling and weight gain. Somehow," he chuckled lightly, trying to lighten the mood, "I, too, have heartburn, but we're a team, Lise. I want what you want, and I'm trying to look out for you when you're focused on your struggles. Promise me," he stepped back with a loose grip on her, "starting tomorrow, we slow down, both of us. We enjoy the holidays together. We kick back and sit in front of that wonderful fireplace and just look at our Christmas tree. You get out that laptop, your technology," he said with a smirk in his voice, "and we pick out some things for Nora, you and me, Lise. We relax."
She finally looked at him, met his gaze, and she nodded. Lisa patted his hand, "I promise, tonight, the party. We'll have a nice time with my Fairfield staff at the Christmas party, and we'll relax, starting tomorrow. Yes, I will, promise."
"Okay," he smiled softly at her, winking, "I'm really looking forward to that, just you and me, just relaxing and enjoying the holidays."
She ran her hand down his arm and nodded, "It does sound like a nice way to enjoy Christmas. I, ahh," she eyed him, "hope you would be open to spending more time together, alone. I know my hormones have been all over the place about everything," she smiled sympathetically at him. "I apologize for that, but maybe before we enact that slow down and relax plan," she eyed him with a grin, "we can deal with my changing hormones again."
Jack chuckled and shook his head, finally nodding at her, "I've told you that there are no expectations, and I know that your body is giving you all kinds of hormones and signals. I think after a night of a big Christmas party where you are the host, you are discounting how tired you will be. I mean, I'm tired thinking about a big party tonight, and I'm not the pregnant one."
Lisa grinned and patted his arms, "And you are forgetting how much older you are. I think when balancing hormones and exhaustion, right now in my case," she eyed him with a grin, "hormones need to win out." She pulled him in for a quick kiss, one that escalated to a much deeper one. Lisa broke apart, almost in the middle of it, to which Jack gave her a quizzical glance.
"Sorry, nature calls, bathroom. Gotta go all the time, "she said, patting his arms and gesturing for him to move. Jack stepped aside, and she moved as quickly as she could, perhaps faster than most women as pregnant as she was, but called over her shoulder to him as she scurried to the bathroom, "That's been a fun, change, my trips to the bathroom almost tripling. So excited about that these next few weeks. You're mine tonight, for the party and anything after," she grinned, chuckling at Jack. "I mean, as romantic as that can be with my current state and the fact I need to use the bathroom every five minutes."
"I guess the best thing I can say to that is whatever you need my dear. I'm just an old husband smart enough not to argue with his very pregnant, yet stunningly beautiful wife."