Marion had been right. That blood-glucose test had been awful, but at 28 weeks, it was necessary. Lisa certainly hoped she passed it because the thought of having to redo it for three hours was its own misery. Now, stepping out of her doctor's office, she turned on her phone, annoyed that she'd had to turn it off. Of course, she understood not having her phone on in offices and during appointments, but this was an appointment where she'd had to drink that stupid drink and then had to just sit there for an hour. She didn't talk to anyone. There wasn't a tv on to watch. Thankfully, she'd been warned and had at least brought a book to read, but with her mind wandering, she hadn't gotten that far. Even when she'd thought about pulling her phone out and silencing it, she'd been glared at by the young receptionist there monitoring the test. Glared at! Lisa was practically old enough to be the girl's mother. Lisa was sure that girl just laughed, watching geriatric patient Lisa sit there, heavily pregnant and bored.
Now as Lisa arrived at her car and finally had her phone on again, she paused at her door to check her messages. As she was about to open a text message from her stable manager, her voicemail pinged too. She read the message first, replied to her stable manager about a simple issue, and then she sighed, pulling up her voicemails. For some reason, those annoyed her.
"Lisa, it's Marion. I know you are in your test and have your phone off. Listen, meet us at the hospital. Dad was having chest pains. I don't know more yet. I brought him in because we decided it was faster than waiting on an ambulance. He was alert the entire ride, but I'm waiting in the ER right now. I'm sorry to let you know like this."
In a full panic, Lisa opened her car and sat down, fumbling with her phone to call Marion. She had no idea what time that call had come in, but she'd only been in her appointment an hour. Surely, they couldn't have been too far behind her.
"Marion," she said quickly, the panic evident in her voice as she started her car. "How's Jack?"
"Lisa," Marion answered, "I don't have any new information. Did you just finish?"
"I did, and I'm headed your way. At least I'm already in Calgary. Was he still awake?"
"Yes, he was the whole drive, just complaining about pain. Amy is at school, and Tim said he'd look after things at the ranch this morning. I was in the middle of chores. Dad was too, and then, he sat down there on a hay bale and said he wasn't feeling good."
"Oh gosh," Lisa nodded, wiping a stray tear that had slid down her face as she started out of the parking lot. "I'm on my way-"
"Lisa, do not be stupid. Be careful. Dad is here, in good hands. The doctors will straighten him out."
"Sounds like a heart attack," she sighed. "Ahh, I'll be right there."
"I'd tell you not to panic, but I know you and know how you feel about Dad. I'll meet you in the ER entrance. Be careful, Lisa. You have precious cargo."
Lisa hung up with Marion and started to navigate through the city traffic. He had to be okay. He had looked fine this morning when they'd not had time to really sit down for a cup of coffee, but he'd sat on their bed and talked to her while she'd gotten ready for this appointment. Jack had even come in from the barn, and now as she thought back, he'd said he wasn't hungry for breakfast and had said it was warm that morning. She hadn't noticed that, which at 28 weeks pregnant, if she didn't think it was warm, it wasn't. She fought the tears, hoping and praying that her wonderful husband was going to be okay. She adored him, and he was her rock. As she waited impatiently at a stoplight, a sob escaped, the weight of things hitting her, the unknown of things hitting her. She quickly wiped at her face where more tears were falling. She was not going to fall apart, easier said than done on a good day, even more of a challenge now with being seven months pregnant. While Jack's age was not a secret and the reality of his life probably ending before hers, Lisa wasn't ready for that. She couldn't lose him. They had a little girl to raise, even if she still had her doubts that the pregnancy would be okay. She couldn't lose Jack. She couldn't lose this baby. She couldn't lose both of them.
Somehow, and sadly as she thought about it, it was frightening that Lisa did arrive at the hospital but really didn't remember how she drove there. She hastily parked and hustled as best she could to get into the emergency room entrance, hissing as she moved faster than she should. She slowed and put her hand on her side, wincing slightly. She was too pregnant to be moving like she was, so for fear of causing even more damage to the family, she slowed and worked on her breathing. All she had done was worry about losing the baby. She wasn't going to do anything to greater her chances of that.
She was still trying to catch her breath as she stepped into the emergency room entrance, her eyes daring around, looking for Marion. Marion had said she'd meet her here at the desk, but she was nowhere in sight. Lisa quickly moved toward the nurse's station, hoping to get some information.
"Hi, Jack Bartlett was brought in. I'm his wife."
The nurse, who did not seem over enthused to move quickly took her time looking up information. Lisa glanced around again while she did, hoping to spot Marion. Maybe the fact she wasn't out here meant that she was back with Jack.
"Bay 4 back there," she finally said, calm, cool, and collected. Lisa knew she wasn't, but this was this woman's job. Lisa hated hospitals, not that many probably overly enjoyed them. A quick thought about that, she realized some might. Hospitals were full of people who worked there each day, and they obviously didn't hate hospitals for it to be their job. Lisa gave a quick nod, hoping she didn't look as terrified as she felt and followed the nurse's hand gesture down the hall. Her purse kept falling off her shoulder, and finally, she just took it in her hand, almost clutching it like a weapon. Yes, she dared anyone to stop her or get in her way. She had a purse and would use it.
The few steps it took to get down to the emergency bay had her scurrying along again, hissing as she once again moved too quickly for her current state. She slowed, only a little, still moving fast, but stepping into what was apparently Jack's area quickly, desperate to lay eyes on him.
"Lisa," Marion's eyes widened at the sight of her, Lisa sure that she could see some relief on Marion's face now. Lisa's eyes darted to where Jack should be, but he wasn't there. She looked quickly back at Marion, about to ask, but Marion gestured to the doctor standing there. "Lisa, this is Dr. Hall."
"Ahh, your sister, I presume? I was just giving the update about your dad-" The doctor looked from Marion to Lisa and then back to Marion. Before Marion could answer, Lisa stuck out her hand to greet him, "Dr. Hall, I'm Lisa, Jack's wife."
"Oh!" His eyes widened, and Lisa noted that he did the same again, looked from Marion to Lisa and back to Marion. Marion shook her head and sighed.
"Just say it. It's not like we don't know what you are thinking. Yes," she gestured at Lisa, "Lisa is married to my dad, and yes, we're about the same age. You have no idea, though, that she's amazing for him, and by the looks of it, she's about put herself into labor racing over here even though she knows that was a terrible idea."
"I apologize," he said with a sympathetic smile at Lisa. "First off, are you okay?"
"Fine, just worried," she waved hastily again. "Ahh, how is Jack? What happened? I had my own doctor's appointment to step outside and have this message about Jack."
"What I was just here telling your ahh," he reddened slightly, "stepdaughter,"-
"We're best friends too," Marion offered. "Look this isn't some family mess. We're very close, and there's nothing to be awkward about here. This is my dad's wife, and yes, she's pregnant, and yes, we're both grown adults and can handle whatever it is you need to say."
"Right, sorry, again get all kinds of things in here with family dynamics. Thanks for clearing things up. Ladies, I don't think he's had a heart attack. The cardiologist, she will be by shortly to discuss that with you, but from the initial testing and all, I believe it's a severe case of heartburn, possibly even an ulcer, but it doesn't look heart related."
"Not a heart attack?" Lisa clutched her side, letting out her breath slowly as she processed that.
"No, but can I get you a seat?" Dr. Hall looked around and pulled up one for Lisa. "Please sit, Mrs. Bartlett."
Neither Marion nor Lisa felt any need to correct things or spell out more odd quirks about their family dynamics. Marion was focused on Lisa; Lisa could see the concern on her face.
"Marion, I'm fine."
"You're flushed and need some water. Oh, you had that stupid test this morning, so you haven't eaten anything, have you?"
"No, just feeling a little lightheaded with the events of the day," Lisa added. Marion looked to the doctor.
"She had her one-hour glucose test and came from that."
He nodded in return, "Let me get you some crackers and a juice. Are you sure you aren't in pain?"
"Really, I'm fine. I'm not the patient. Ahh, where is Jack?"
"We have him back for more testing, but he should be returning soon. Please note my evaluation was good, and I don't think this is too serious. With his age, you can never be too careful. Looks like he won't be slowing down anytime soon."
"Oh, you have no idea," Marion stated, crossing her arms. "Even if he and Lisa weren't having the baby she's always wanted, he wouldn't be close to slowing down. He owns a 600-acre cattle ranch and runs it almost by himself. No, he won't slow down ever."
The doctor hooked his hand over his shoulder, "Let me get the crackers and juice for you, Mrs. Bartlett-"
"Lisa, please," she nodded with a polite nod, and the doctor stepped out.
Marion crossed her arms, and Lisa already felt like the lecture was coming. She glanced up from her seat at Marion.
"You doing okay there, sis?" Marion smirked, shaking her head. "Last thing we need is both of you in here. Seriously, Lisa, take it easy. You of all people refuse to get ready for this baby, worried something is going to happen, yet you come running in here. Sure, pregnant women can run who have been running. You don't run, and your face is flushed, and you keep wincing."
"I'm fine," Lisa held up her hand. "Yes, I overdid it. I admit that. I was really worried about Jack, still am."
"Well, it sounds like I should have given him Tums or Pepcid or something instead of rushing him here."
"You did the right thing, Marion," Lisa looked up with a sad smile. "Nothing can happen to him. Yes, I'm still worried about the baby, but I can't be worried about losing both of them."
"Hey," she bent down and took Lisa's hands in hers, trying to give her a reassuring smile, "he's going to be okay. I know that. The doctor even said he's pretty sure things are okay."
The two were interrupted, and Marion stood when there was movement at the curtain, both expecting the doctor to return. It was a doctor, but not the same one, and with her, Jack was being wheeled back into the room.
"Lise," he said, giving her a small smile as he leaned his head back, reaching for her hand. Marion started speaking before they had Jack's bed situated again.
"Dad, Lisa got here just a little bit ago. She finished that glucose test but came running in here like a crazy pregnant woman."
"Ahh, 28 weeks then," the doctor looked over to Lisa with a nod. "You must be Lisa. I'm Dr. Allen, and he's not stopped talking about both of you. He said his wife was pregnant, and I told him that was impressive to hear."
"Come on, Doc," Jack waved at Lisa. "She's gorgeous. I'm a very lucky man. I've got a beautiful wife, that sassy daughter there, and two granddaughters. Now," he waved, "the two of them there are the best of friends and always in cahoots, so that's an issue, but it could be a lot worse, and they could hate each other."
"Nice to meet you both," Dr. Allen said, reaching her hand over to shake Marion's hand, who was closer to her and then Lisa's. She glanced back at Jack, "I said it was impressive your wife was pregnant for a couple of reasons. I knew she had to be younger to be having a baby," she rolled her eyes, "but more of my comment was at you, Mr. Bartlett. Impressive for your age that you'd take it on again."
"Whatever she wants, Doc," he grumbled, and Lisa made a face as the doctor looked at her.
"Ahh, more of like ahh, surprise!" Lisa said closing her eyes briefly and chuckling. She shrugged, "A good surprise, though, if all goes well."
Dr. Allen looked back at Jack and nodded, "Ahh, I see, a good surprise, which just means you're not going to do anything I say and take it easy for a couple of days. That baby there tells me you refuse to age and well," she shrugged, a small grin at Lisa and then to Jack, "are virile for your age, which is always a good thing to see."
"Oh, gosh," Marion muttered, dropping her head briefly, and Lisa turned away, shaking hers.
Jack jumped back in, "Like I said, Doc, I've got it pretty great, and you just said no heart attack?"
"Right," Lisa snapped her head back toward them, "Jack's okay?"
"No heart attack, just some severe indigestion. I'm going to give you some medication for that. You might notice small things can flare it up. What did you eat this morning?"
"Ahh, coffee," he told her, nodding, "oh, and Lisa made pumpkin cinnamon muffins yesterday. I had some of those.
The doctor nodded, "While those sound wonderful, cinnamon is known to flare up indigestion and reflux. There's no scientific evidence of that, but I see it all the time. How many did you have?"
"Ahh," Jack looked bashfully at her, "well, two at 5AM when I went out to the barn and then another two just after 8AM when Lisa left for her appointment."
"You had your pain not long after that, Dad," Marion sighed. "Lay off the muffins."
"I've noticed that myself about cinnamon but never knew that," Lisa added, waving her hand at her stomach. "Of course, right now, it seems like water causes me to have reflux," she rolled her eyes. The doctor nodded and gave her a sympathetic smile.
"Well, I'll be putting my notes in, but expect to be discharged here shortly. No problem, and I'd say take it easy, but I know you won't. That goes for both of you," she waved her hand toward Lisa.
"Yeah, she came running in here about causing premature labor," Marion huffed. "Seriously, guys, I don't need to be taking care of the both of you."
The doctor chuckled slightly, and the first doctor stopped back in briefly to hand Lisa the juice and crackers. She nodded her thanks, and the cardiologist met Dr. Hall's look.
"He's fine, reflux, and I'll have the note entered into the system."
"We'll get you out of here then," he nodded to the group and stepped out of the room.
"Okay, I'm glad it's nothing more, Mr. Bartlett. You have some very concerned ladies here, so be good for them. "
"I hear you, Doc," he nodded. "I'm surrounded by women, and they'll make me take it easy."
"Amy will probably more than either of us," Marion chuckled, and when the doctor looked at her, she waved her hand. "Amy is my daughter, his granddaughter, and she will fuss at him for doing anything extra these next couple of days while we convince her he's really okay."
"See, Doc," Jack nodded, "surrounded by women."
"I see that," she smiled at the group and nodded to Lisa. "Now, do we know if he's going to be even more outnumbered or is he getting a partner in crime?"
Lisa grinned, finally starting to relax hearing that Jack was okay, and she patted at her side, "Oh, he'll be severely outnumbered, and I have no doubt he will absolutely smitten with her. He already is."
"Like I said, Doc," Jack said again, "she's beautiful and giving me another beautiful girl. I'll give her whatever she wants, and I'm pretty good raising girls, well, except for Marion there," he winked at his daughter, and Marion dropped her head, laughing.
"Ahh, that joke never gets old, Dad, just as hearing various medical people talk about your virility never gets awkward. Bad enough Lisa is walking proof of that, but the added comments really help with my image of you. Thanks."
"Sorry about that," Dr. Allen chuckled, waving her hand. "Medicine-used to just being blunt at times, but yes, I can see it would be a bit awkward here. Well, let me get out of here so you can get out of here. Nice to meet you all, and I say this with all kindness-I don't want to see any of you again, get it?"
The trio chuckled, and she squeezed Lisa's arm as she stepped around her. Lisa stepped up to Jack's bedside and took his hand in hers.
"You had me worried," she huffed.
He kissed her hand, "Sorry, Lise. I really am. I was pretty worried myself. Marion," he looked over at her, "thank you for bringing me in and insisting I get checked out. I want to stick around."
"Well, we want that too," Marion eyed him. "Tim's been texting me. He finished the chores and brought Paint in from the back field where you had him overnight." Jack nodded his thanks and turned to Lisa.
"How are you, my dear? How was your appointment?"
"Ahh, fine, nothing like the scare you had. I won't get the results for a few days, but I really hope I don't have to go back. Torture just sitting there, no phone access-"
"Yeah, I remembered that. Sorry I had to leave you that message, Lisa. I know it scared you."
"I'm glad you left it," she patted Jack's hand while looking at Marion. "I felt terrible I wasn't with the two of you."
"You can't be everywhere all the time. Marion took care of me. You were taking care of yourself."
"Oh, that sounds so vile," she made a face, scrunching up her face in horror.
"She was taking care of the little sis, making sure her sugars are okay. How is Poppy today?" Marion tilted her head at them with a smirk, and Lisa groaned and shook her head. "Oh, I've told you pretty much daily that's her name until you can produce a proper one. I'll let you know if it's a horrible choice, as all of Dad's have been."
"Lise, did you really run in here?" Jack frowned, ignoring Marion for the moment.
"I'm fine," she said, Marion snatching the crackers and opening them. She nudged them at Lisa.
"Eat," and she turned to Jack. "She hasn't eaten or anything because of that dumb test."
"Lise, sit down and eat. Doc is right. We don't need you in here too. All you have done is worry about her, and here you're running like a crazy pregnant woman."
"Ahh, thanks," she rolled her eyes at him. "I'm sorry, but my senior citizen of a husband ate too many of my muffins and that reaction masked itself as a heart attack. Forgive me, but I'm fine. She's fine," Lisa patted her stomach. She had on another dress, another newer dress, as everything was getting too small, even the maternity things she'd bought only a couple months ago. It was the last week of October, much colder weather rolling in, and today, she had on a long-sleeve simple navy-blue sweater dress. It was all about comfort for her right now, and this dress was incredibly comfortable even with its form fitting showing off more of her belly than she liked. It showed off all her curves, and that annoyed her because she felt huge, but Jack had told her both times she'd worn it now that he liked it on her and liked seeing her curves. That had her rolling her eyes at him, any desires now squashed with her third trimester starting. No, she didn't want him touching her, joking with him about it that she felt like a beached whale. No, there was no remote desire or feminine feelings at the moment. It amazed her how quickly her hormones changed, but they certainly had.
"Lisa, you look flushed," Marion pointed out, and Lisa nodded.
"Maybe a little warm," she told them and started to shrug out of the maternity jacket she had over her dress. It was a white jacket to hide the curves and dress up the outfit, a very Lisa-like statement. Marion stepped over to help her, and soon, she was sitting back in the chair, her hand on her stomach, sipping at the juice.
"My favorite dress," Jack looked over at her and winked She rolled her eyes at him.
"Let me guess-you like seeing Poppy there stretching that dress to its max," Marion flashed a grin at them.
"We're not naming her Poppy," Jack groaned, rolling his eyes at Marion.
"You've heard my demands. That's her name until I approve of another. That's what big sisters do, watch out for little ones, and she's the definition of that, little. I'm watching her back because her parents aren't figuring things out, too old and stubborn to get their act together and give her a proper name."
Jack glanced over at Lisa, and she smiled softly at him. He turned his head back to Marion, "Her name is Nora."
Marion's eyes widened, and her smile lit up her face as she looked from Jack to Lisa for confirmation, "Really?"
Lisa nodded with a smile of her own, "We decided finally last night."
"Well, why didn't you tell me?" Marion frowned at them, horrified. "Hello, I'm your biggest cheerleader here, rooting for this crazy, surprising pregnancy and addition to our family."
"We did just decide," Lisa looked to Marion, making a face. "We decided at dinner last night."
"Ahh, your date night," she nodded.
Lisa pointed at her, "And, you were out on your own date as we all recall, so it's not something we have hidden, but-"
"We wanted Lisa around to tell you, and she had to rush off this morning. So, you can knock off your demands, as you call them, about your sister's name."
She grinned at Jack, "I like hearing that, weird," she said with a single nod, "but I like it. Never ever expected to have a sister, never."
"Lots of unexpected," Lisa squeezed Jack's hand and looked at him. "I'm very glad you're okay, and I'm sorry about the cinnamon."
"Oh, you didn't do anything but cook up delicious food. I'll watch that from now on, and man, it hurt. Never want to know what a heart attack does feel like."
"Back to her name, Nora," Marion said with a smile and nod, "very pretty. What, I mean, how did you decide on that?"
"Ahh," Lisa looked over at Jack, and he waved his hand at her.
"Stage is yours, my dear."
Lisa nodded and shrugged, "Well, as you know, we've definitely struggled with names. We didn't want anything too trendy or modern-"
"Basically, you needed an old name for the old man," Marion nodded, deadpanned. "Got it." That had Lisa and Jack laughing.
"We did like more of an older name, a classic, something that sounded pretty yet something that fit with the two of us."
"Old yet sophisticated," Jack jumped in, waving at Lisa. "She's the sophisticated part, and you can guess I'm the old part."
"Except everyone today kept referring to me as a geriatric patient. I hate that," Lisa frowned, and Marion laughed, nodding at her.
"Still doesn't explain why you vetoed Poppy. Oh, is that her middle name?" Marion raised her eyebrows and grinned at them.
"No," Jack said, pointing at her.
"So, we made some lists, and Nora showed up more than once on both our lists. We did have that baby name book, and we both looked through it."
"It's four letters," Jack added, winking at Lisa, "just like Lisa, just like Jack-"
"But your full name is Jackson" Marion laughed, and Lisa did too.
"Hey, it works for the argument," he rolled his eyes. "Nora means, what, Lise exactly? You had the perfect saying."
"Divine light and awe inspiring," she smiled. "I think all of this, if she actually arrives okay, is definitely divine."
"That it is," Marion said, smiling at the two of them, her arms crossed. "I love it. So perfect. Middle name?"
"Oh," Lisa laughed, looking at Jack, "one name at a time. Big progress on Nora, and you know what?" She looked from Jack to Marion. Both shook their head, and she sighed and nodded, "It feels a lot more real."
"Well, I hate to tell you, Lise," Jack said, picking up her hand and looking at her, "but it's about to be. Yes, you still have 12 weeks. We know, but even if she's born now-"
"Don't start," she shook her head. "We aren't going there. We have 12 weeks to go, and I can't think about anything except one day at a time. You know it was huge for me to name her, but yes, we did agree that whatever happens, she did need a name."
"Well, I love Nora. I'm impressed you figured out a name. Here, I thought I'd be filling out that birth certificate, taking it from you, Lisa," she smiled brightly. "Impressive you had your date night and picked a name with no arguments."
"Yes, it was a good night," Lisa smiled at Jack. "Good food, lots of laughs. Glad that we had that time, and as lovely as a time we did have, we also had-"
"Val," Jack cut in, nodding. "We ran into Val after we left the restaurant. Now," he eyed the two, "that's more than likely the reason for this reflux, another run-in with Val."
Marion's eyes widened, "Oh, geez, what did she do now? What did she say?"
Lisa eyed Jack, nodding, "It was Ashley. She was actually very sweet, and Val couldn't stand that."
"Oh my gosh, Mrs. Stillman," Ashely had squealed as the couple walked down the street and Ashely stepped out of Maggie's right in front of them. "Look at you! How adorable! So pregnant," her eyes widened, and she grinned at Lisa. "Wow, that's so great and exciting. Man, I couldn't imagine my mom pregnant right now. Congratulations to you, you too Mr. Bartlett."
"Hi, Ashely," Lisa smiled at her sweetly. "Thank you. That's kind of you. We're excited and hopeful about the baby."
"Amy's told me a little here and there. You know, we are friends one day and competitors the next. Oh, she said it's a girl, right?"
"It is," Lisa smiled again with a nod.
"Ashley, we need to get going," and the group all turned to see Val stepping out of Maggie's, putting her wallet back into her bag, distracted and not paying attention to the conversation outside. "Oh," she said, taken aback seeing Jack and Lisa there talking to Ashley.
"Mom, look how adorable Mrs. Stillman is there with her baby belly, or baby bump."
"More than a bump," they all heard Val mutter as she plastered on a fake smile. "Jack, Lisa, headed to Maggie's for dinner?"
"Ahh, no," Jack hooked his hand over his shoulder. "We had dinner at the Italian place."
"You know," Val nodded, "I had thought about going there but just had this gut feeling not to go there."
"Oh come on, Mom," Ashley rolled her eyes. "I told you I wanted a milkshake and burger. That's why we came here, and then you tried to get me to get a salad instead of the fries."
"You have to watch what you eat, all good jumpers do," she shrugged. "Lisa, speaking of that-"
"Of what?" Lisa tilted her head, almost glaring at Val.
"I was just going to say that it looks like you're about due. What, next couple weeks? I haven't kept up with your bundle of joy's arrival," she smirked at them. "Wait, you're not even close to have been married a year, so it couldn't be that soon."
"Seriously, Mom," Ashely rolled her eyes and huffed. "They are adults. It's not like a baby only appears after you are married."
Lisa pursed her lips and flashed another fake smile at Val, "I'm due at the end of January, after our anniversary, so I do still have a ways to go."
"I'd say," Val chuckled. "Well, I'd not recommend a milkshake."
"Val," Jack eyed her, "stop. We weren't even headed into Maggie's not that it's your concern."
"Honestly, Mrs. Stillman, you look amazing, really. I mean, aside from just a huge round belly, you look lean and thin everywhere else. When they say all baby, that's you. I hope I look as good as you one day when I have a baby, and at your age too, that's really awesome you look so good."
"Ahh, thank you," Lisa said politely, knowing Ashely was genuinely trying to be nice.
"I just love how you look," Ashely clapped her hands. "Oh, see Mom," she pointed to Lisa, "she's got great genes to look that good. That's why I want to have babies early. Your body bounces back."
"Ashely!" Val scolded her. "Why are we talking about this?"
"Umm, well, we had to cover things at school, as you know, and all the girls got to talking about it. Chrissy's sister just had a baby at 19 and is back in her regular clothes like a couple weeks after having the baby, but one of our teachers, she was old and had a baby, and wow, there's no way she'll ever look the same."
Lisa tried not to chuckle, again, knowing that Ashely being Amy's age, sometimes had no filter. She appreciated Ashely's being happy for her and trying to be nice.
"Nice to see you Ashely," Lisa put her hand on Ashley's and looked up at Jack. "Ahh, we should get going."
"Val, Ashely," Jack gave them a nod as they walked away.
"So, you didn't seem to want to tell them Nora had a name," Lisa said squeezing Jack's hand as she held it, and they walked to the truck. He winked at her.
"People are going to be on a need-to-know basis regarding our daughter's name, and they do not need to know, not now. I'm not letting the first people to find out be the Stanton's, no. That needs to be Marion and the girls." Lisa's smile was all the proof needed that she agreed.
"Dad!" Both Lisa and Jack looked up at Marion, Lisa realizing she had been just sitting there holding Jack's hand and staring at him, her mind wandering. Lisa stood at the sight of Dr. Hall back in the room.
"Discharge done. You folks can head home. Ahh, Mr. Bartlett, there are meds put in for your reflux. Mrs. Bartlett, are you feeling okay now?"
She felt Jack's eyes on her with that nod to her name, and she gave the doctor an encouraging smile, "I'm fine. Thank you for your concern. We'll be getting out of here. Thanks again."
He left, and Marion turned to the couple, "On that note, I'm going to drive home. Dad, I assume you'd rather ride with Lisa and Nora since they are a package deal right now? I mean, as your older daughter, my feelings should be hurt you'd pick the hot, younger wife to ride home with over me, but fine," she grinned at him. "I'll just save your life. You focus on the hot wife."
Shaking his head at Marion, he looked over at her finally, "Marion, thank you for taking care of me today. Yes, I'll ride home with Lisa and Nora," he said with a soft smile. He looked to Lisa, and she shook her head.
"Wow, I still can't think about it actually happening."
"Oh, it is, stepmom," Marion put her arm around Lisa's shoulders as Lisa stood there by Jack. "Just think about it-you'll be back here in 12 weeks or so, excruciating pain, exhausted, swearing off Dad and telling him he will never touch you again, which," she gave a shrug, "fine by me to think that's the case." Lisa closed her eyes and sighed at that. "You'll be so ready to just give up, and then, she'll be here, all perfect. You need to start getting ready for her to arrive because I have no doubt everything will go smoothly. I won't say perfectly because no birth is perfect," she shuddered, giving Lisa a look. "Sorry, it's going to be awful, that part. Everyone tries to act like it won't, but I'm always straight with you. It's awful, and you'll feel awful."
"Marion, don't scare her more than she's already been today," Jack sighed, shifting to stand up. The ladies watched, and he put his hand up in defense, "I don't need any help. There's nothing medically wrong with me. I just had some pain from apparently some awful reflux. I'd really like to get home and just resume the day." He glanced at Lisa, "Really looking forward to heading to Banff tomorrow for the weekend."
Lisa and Marion exchanged a glance, and Lisa shook her head at Jack, "You still want to go?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Jack asked, now standing and looking at them like they were crazy. "I'm fine. You heard the doc. I'd say a weekend away relaxing and resting is exactly what you and I should be doing. Our schedules are a mess, and you have that business trip coming up too that I'm not excited about."
"It's just Denver," she waved. "Three days."
"Here's an idea," Marion jumped in as the group glanced around and seeing they had everything, started walking down the hallway, "maybe in a great big city, Lisa, you should, oh, I don't know, buy some baby things for Baby Nora."
Lisa pursed her lips and looked over at Marion, her hand holding Jack's. "I made a deal with Jack. I'm not doing anything until after Christmas."
"After Christmas? That's two months away," Marion's horrified look was evident as she glanced at Jack. "You agreed to this, Dad?"
"I have better sense than to argue with a pregnant woman over that. Her baby-she decides."
"Oh, right, you weren't part of that at all," Marion waved at Lisa's stomach, rolling her eyes. "She's your kid too."
"I have no fight in this anymore. Lisa is going to order things when she's ready."
"Why then?" Marion eyed her adding, "and why didn't I know about this date in the sand?"
"Ahh, I'll be a month out then and I suppose feeling the best about all of this I can. I just can't do it yet," she paused in the hallway and turned to look at the father and daughter. "Look, I'm not in denial, just not able to pretend I think everything will be okay. She has a name. I've bought a few clothing items as I have needed them. I'm doing the absolute necessities and nothing more."
Jack turned to Marion and gestured, "I've also been told my daughter won't be riding in my truck."
"Oh, that can be said of both your daughters because your truck is very unreliable. I don't disagree with that at all. Darn Dad," she smacked her hand on his back, "so rough for you, the hot, loaded wife, the new baby, the Porsche. Oh, the old cowboy has it rough."
"You forgot the overly opinionated daughter," he added with a smirk at her.
"You still need me around, I mean, you know for hospital runs," she said with a nod. "Listen, if all things are back to normal as you say Dad, I suppose it's okay to still have Tim over for dinner? It's not like he's a guest you know-"
"Now Tim at dinner," Jack sighed. Lisa interrupted with her hand on his arm, cutting him off.
"Is just fine. Marion, I'm going to stop for lunch for the two of us, but we will see you at home and yes to Tim joining all of us for dinner."
"Great, I'm out of here. Dad, glad you aren't having heart issues. Lisa, be careful and please eat," Marion eyed her. "Bye Nora," she said with a small wave at them before she turned and walked away.
Jack turned to Lisa there in the hallway, the two off to the side. She frowned, putting her hands on elbows as she stepped into his embrace, "You had me really scared."
"I know, and I'm sorry. I have never had that kind of pain. I really don't want to know what an actual heart attack feels like. Really sorry, Lise."
"I know," she said with a tear almost falling. She wiped at her eye and waved toward the door, "Ahh, let's get out of here. I do need to eat, and I really don't want to be here in the hospital, at least for another three months."
"I am on board with that and am serious when I say I'm looking forward to a weekend away to rest. I think we both need some. Now, let's go get some lunch, cinnamon for me," he winked, and Lisa groaned. "What, too soon?"
"Much," she smacked at him and shook her head. "Only took us months to settle on a first name, so maybe we start working on her middle name over lunch."
"Look at you," he winked, taking her hand in his as they continued walking out of the hospital. He leaned toward her, "Nora, if I may, I just might say your mom is starting to think of you really joining our family, and I'm definitely on board with finding a middle name for you."
