"I am absolutely 100% in love with you," she told him, looking across the small table at him. Jack looked up, fork in hand and was greeted with a beaming smile, one that he couldn't help but reciprocate.

"You are? Me?" Jack pointed at himself, now a small smirk on his face. That earned a chuckle from Lisa as she hummed and nodded back at him. He continued, "You couldn't be. I'm usually a total idiot, especially when talking about a relationship. I'm clueless and continually put my foot in my mouth. I'm old and set in my ways-"

Lisa stood from her seat, and Jack continued to smile up at her as he took her hand in his and tugged her toward him. She settled there, sideways on his lap and put her arms around his neck, both just continuing to enjoy the closeness and the silence. Jack rested his arms loosely around her waist.

"Well, I mean," she shifted her head from side to side as she teased him, "I can still be in love with you, even with all of your many flaws," she flashed a bright smile as she tried to hold back a laugh but couldn't. Jack grinned too, leaning in to kiss her.

"What did you say-you're absolutely 100% in love with me? Then, I'm 1000% in love with you," he stated with a single nod. That had Lisa biting her lip and shaking her head.

"Not possible. 1000% isn't a percentage, and I know you are good with math. I've seen you do numbers quickly in your head. No, I love you the most that is possible."

"I beg to differ," he said quietly, leaning in to kiss her again. Lisa's hands shifted to the back of his head, their kiss growing in intensity quickly. Jack's grip tightened too, and yet, the kiss ended sweetly and gently, both leaning their heads against the other. The beeping of Lisa's phone didn't end the kiss but came at almost the same time. Both looked to her phone there on the table, and she leaned over for it.

"Evelyn," she said, reading the text. "Ahh, let me just call her."

"Of course," Jack nodded, his hand running up and down her back as she sat there. Neither moved, both content sitting as they were.

"Hi Evelyn," Lisa said into the phone and smiled then too, looking over at Jack, "yes, that would be fine, but you don't need to send the car. I can just grab a taxi. Okay, okay," she told her. "Thank you. Yes, that will be fine. I'll be ready for the car in 15."

She hung up, and Jack nodded at her, "I hope you have a wonderful time with Evelyn-"

"You're still going to meet us, brunch on Sunday, yes?" She eyed him, and Jack raised his hand in defense.

"Yes," he chuckled quietly, Lisa studying him for his answer. "I promise, brunch on Sunday."

"We'll pick you up," she told him, now wiping at the lipstick on his face.

"Sounds good because you know just how much I love New York," he stated with a roll of his eyes and sigh. "Thank you, though, for making me come. I can see it was really important to Lou, to Marion too. You really are amazing to make sure I stay in my family's good graces and all. You really are an incredible woman, Lise. I'm really happy I agreed to date you."

"Oh, you agreed to date me?" Lisa teased, leaning forward with her nose just inches from his. "You make it sound like you were forced-"

"Like I said, kind of an idiot, stewing over our age difference and all when really," he met her gaze and wiped a loose hair from her face, "I don't notice it, not that much, expect when I see men gawking at you with me."

"Gawking?" Lisa laughed.

"They're just wondering how you ended up with me-"

"No doubt," she chuckled. "Wondering what I must see in such a handsome cowboy."

"No," he chuckled too, "more like wondering what you see in an old, washed up cowboy when you could have anyone else."

"I'm with the man I love, the man I want," she said, pecking his lips quickly, which was reciprocated from Jack and turned into a much deeper kiss again. Finally, Lisa patted his shoulders. "Okay, okay, I really have to go. Evelyn's driver was already out running errands."

She stood and started to gather her things. Jack just watched until they both heard a knock. Jack then stood and made his way to the door.

"Morning, Dad," Lisa heard that and smiled as she finished gathering her things, out of sight from the door. She made sure to not make noise as she put the last of her things into her bag.

"Morning, Marion," Jack said to her.

"Amy and I are headed down to breakfast. Lou and Tim went to breakfast together, so you don't have to worry about him. I was hoping we could plan our day. Ahh, are you coming downstairs?"

"Yeah, I'll be down shortly, just finishing up here in the room," Jack told her. "I can meet you in the restaurant, just some coffee for me."

"Okay, see you down there," Jack said to Marion, and with that, Lisa glanced up as Jack, who finished at the door, was now back in her line of sight.

"Are you really going to eat a second breakfast?" Lisa shook her head at Jack as she closed up her makeup bag, tossed it in the larger bag, and zipped up her tote bag.

"Well, I didn't exactly want to tell her we'd already eaten here in the room. I mean, telling her I'd had room service certainly doesn't sound like me, and any further explanation would then have involved you. Ahh," he waved as he reached Lisa there smirking, "I'll just have another cup of coffee. I can always have that, and as I recall," he nodded his head toward the small table where they had enjoyed a very nice breakfast, "someone who shall remain nameless because she's gone above and beyond in every way possible here in New York, drank the last of the coffee sent up."

"I needed my coffee," she grinned, "long night."

Jack started to laugh at that and pulled her into his arms, smiling down at her, "You complaining?"

"No, not in the least," she smiled brightly. "I'm really glad we had time to come back here, relax, and enjoy our evening-no interruptions either," she smiled brightly.

"Well, I had a great time too, really good day yesterday. Having you at dinner felt right, and I'm sorry again for not thinking of it myself."

"Hmm, well, I really enjoy your family and had a lovely dinner as well. Breakfast was even better," she winked with a chuckle. She fanned her hand toward the window where they had the shades open, "Beautiful view of the New York skyline-"

"Nothing beautiful about that," he groaned and made a grimacing face. "I don't know why people think looking at all that concrete and steel is beautiful."

She sighed and rolled her eyes, "It's beautiful in its own way, but," she pointed her finger at his chest, "it was a lovely breakfast with you, yes. Food was much better than I expected, even still hot, which isn't always the case with room service."

"I guess we're both so used to getting up early that there wasn't much demand for room service so early," he laughed, smoothing her hair with his hand. "Now," he met her gaze, "I want you to have a wonderful day with your aunt. I know you're going to that Broadway show tonight-enjoy it, and I will have another breakfast with you tomorrow-"

She grimaced, "Just not quite the same, I mean, you will have to be on your best behavior."

"Me?" Jack's eyes widened, and he pointed to himself. "I'm on good behavior."

She laughed, "Holding hands and kissing me throughout breakfast tomorrow is probably not the best idea, not like breakfast today."

"I know what you meant," he said sweetly, leaning in to kiss her quickly. "You sure you have everything?" Jack looked around the room. Lisa picked up her bag and put it on her shoulder, nodding as she also looked around.

"I should. I just had my bag here, toiletries, change of clothing-"

Jack frowned, "You sure seemed confident in yourself bringing that bag along with you in the car to dinner."

Lisa laughed and raised her eyebrow at Jack, "I wasn't wrong, was I? I mean, mentioning that Evelyn had plans to turn in early knowing we had such a late night tonight, and well," she shrugged, "worst case-I could just take my things back to her place, that is, if you'd said you just wanted to spend your evening alone in your hotel room in New York."

"Glad you were here," he winked at her. "Now," he pulled her toward him and rested his hands on her hips, "as I said, have a great time today.'

"I will," she nodded. "What are your plans?"

"No idea," he shook his head. "I guess I'll go down after you and find out."

Lisa's phone beeped again, and she pulled it from her pocket, "Ahh, the driver is here. I need to go." The two embraced for a kiss, and knowing they were on the clock with the driver waiting, neither let the kiss get too involved. Jack followed her to the door, knowing that he'd get another kiss there too. He wasn't wrong; as he held the door for Lisa, she stepped into the hall but turned back to kiss him. They both smiled into that kiss, but quickly, they almost jumped apart.

"Ahh, Dad, Lisa," they heard and turned to see Marion walking toward them, smirking. Jack groaned, and Lisa just dropped her head in a chuckle, finally their eyes meeting, and Lisa winking at Jack. She squeezed his hand before readjusting her bag and turning to Marion who had almost reached them.

"I forgot my phone in the room," she said with a smirk on her face and nod of her head. She gestured to them, "Apparently, I have great timing."

"I was just heading out," Lisa waved her hand in the air.

"See ya," Jack, smiled at her, squeezing her hand again as she stepped away.

"Oh, just you wait, Lisa. I'll be quick, grabbing my phone off the charger, and we can ride the elevator down together. I mean, Dad, did you want to ride with us or just let us talk about this fun, uncomfortable scene here, just girl talk?" Lisa paused and stepped back toward Jack where he put his hand on her shoulder.

He rolled his eyes and waved his hand toward Marion, "Just tell me that Amy isn't right behind you?"

"No, she's at the table in the restaurant downstairs. Just me," she flashed a big smile but leaned toward the couple before she opened her door, "By the way, Lisa, I am really glad Dad finally invited you to dinner. It was great to see you there, and by the looks of it," she eyed them with a grin, "it turned out to be a pretty good evening for the two of you."

"Marion," Jack grumbled. Lisa looked up at him and just shook her head. Marion was incredibly fast getting her phone and reappeared before anything more could be said.

"Oh, come on," Lisa reached for Jack's hand to drag him to the elevator. "I know you are all set to go downstairs. Might as well ride down with both of us." Jack, accepting his defeat in having their privacy, took Lisa's bag off her shoulder to carry it for her, which earned him a smile of appreciation from Lisa.

Marion walked ahead of them but turned her head back and smiled, gesturing at Jack, "Dad, seriously, you can invite Lisa to breakfast. She doesn't need to be thrown back out on the street in some walk of shame-"

"Walk of shame!" Jack exclaimed but then quickly lowered both his head and voice as he looked around, and it dawned on him other rooms were all around. "Marion, respectfully, that isn't the case at all."

"Really?" Marion nodded with a smirk. "Lisa just happened to stop by early this morning, sure."

"That's not what I meant," he grumbled. "She was a guest here," he waved at her bag, "even has her bag with her."

"Just stop, Jack," Lisa burst out laughing as Marion punched the elevator button. Marion turned back to them, and Lisa gave Marion a nod, "We already had breakfast."

"Already had breakfast?" Marion's eyes widened. "Wait-you had room service?" She pointed at Jack and laughed. "Wow," she nodded and grinned at Lisa, "you have no idea. Dad never has had room service, I mean, that would require the places he's stayed to even offer it, but all he does is complain about the prices."

"I didn't complain about the prices," Jack mumbled as they all stepped onto the elevator.

"Hmm, interesting," Marion said as the three stood there. She eyed the couple again as she shook her head, "Lisa, you really are working wonders on him, and Dad," she waited until he looked at her, "you must love her more than I could imagine, as willing as you have been to try some new things."

Jack looked down at Lisa as he took her hand in his. He nodded at that, "I do. I really do."

When they got off the elevator, Lisa was happy that Jack had decided to walk her out to the driver, waving at Marion that he'd join her shortly. With a quick goodbye kiss in the cold rain, Jack met her gaze before he closed her door, "If you don't have plans with anyone else tomorrow evening, I'm taking you out for a very nice dinner."

She smiled brightly at him, "I'll cancel plans with my other date. See you tomorrow." Jack got a good laugh, which put him in a good mood as he walked back inside. It wasn't a big deal that Marion had run into them upstairs; he really was more concerned about Amy. His evening with Lisa had been great, and as he walked toward the hotel restaurant, his mind trailed back to the evening.

Neither had wanted to really go anywhere after Lou's graduation dinner, so after the group had gone on their way, and he and Lisa were left there with her driver, he was about to speak when Lisa jumped at the chance first.

"Okay, I'm really glad they all have their own plans and recognize you wouldn't be interested. I'm hoping you are interested in an evening with me."

Jack pursed his lips and nodded, "I'm intrigued."

She giggled and waved at the car, "We can have the driver drop us at your hotel. I might have an overnight bag already packed."

With his lips still pursed and looking down at the ground, he nodded again, "And, what ma'am, was your plan if the entire group had decided to go back to the hotel?"

She laughed then, and that had Jack look up at her. She shrugged, "I suppose I would have had to sneak up there later on." At that, Jack chuckled as he nodded in agreement. "Would be a shame, though, to send me home with this nice bottle of wine I picked up. I happen to know an out-of-towner here who enjoys fine wines as I do, and I thought we could try this bottle I picked up."

"That so?" Jack met her gaze now and smiled. "Well, that sounds like the best of New York to me, a hotel room to ourselves, a nice bottle of wine, and just you with me."

"Maybe cozy up to a good movie?" She grinned with a hopeful shrug.

"A Western?" Jack winked, grinning.

She grimaced, "That's not how I'd start off a romantic evening."

"Fine," he pretended to be irritated and rolled his eyes, "I'll even give you the remote to let you pick."

"Exactly what I was hoping for the entire evening," she flashed a huge smile. Jack raised his eyebrows.

"Your only expectation for the entire evening is to be the keeper of the remote?"

She looped her arm through his and nodded toward the waiting car, "Surprise me, then, if that's not what you were thinking." They both laughed even as they got into the car.

Now, as Jack spotted Marion and Amy, he walked to the table and sat down in the chair opposite Marion, next to Amy. He shook his head slightly as she just grinned across the table at him.

"Morning, Amy," he said, glancing over at her. She yawned and waved her hand at him. "Why so tired?"

"Might be all the sugar she had before we came back here last night. She and Lou were like little girls again, getting these huge hot fudge sundaes at this local ice cream shop. I think it was after 11:00 when we left that place." Jack eyed Amy, and she dropped her head.

"Mom, I don't know why I couldn't sleep in a little."

"So, Dad, you tired? Get enough sleep?" Marion smirked at him, but he knew Amy had turned toward him, so he schooled his features and replied without any expression.

"Slept fine, nice quiet evening, relaxing, no problem falling asleep when I finally went to bed." He gave Marion a nod and saw her hold back her own smirk. With that, he reached for his coffee. "Thanks for the coffee. Hits the spot."

"I'm starving," Amy said opening her menu again. "I still don't understand why I couldn't sleep in. It's raining outside. Everything you do in New York is outside, so what are we going to do in the rain?"

"Cold rain at that," Jack said with a nod, sipping at his coffee. "What are the plans for the day?"

"Up to Lou," Marion shook her head. "I mean, no set plans. She mentioned the Met-"

"That museum place?" Amy jumped in with a groan. "I don't want to go there."

"I'm with her," Jack hooked his hand at Amy. "No thanks."

"Well, Dad, you're here today and tomorrow before you go home Monday. What do you have planned or want to do?"

He shook his head, "Only plans involve meals tomorrow-having brunch with Lisa and her aunt and then taking Lisa to a nice dinner tomorrow."

"You know a nice dinner here in New York is more than a diner setting."

He smirked back at her, "Your friend owns that diner, and it's very nice and has better food than most places here. Lou had somewhere in mind. She said she'd set up this dinner for us through some friend. I want to make sure Lisa has a nice time here."

"I'm sure she has, will," Marion amended with a grin at her dad. Amy looked up from the menu.

"Is Lisa coming with us today? I can't believe she got you to come to New York, Grandpa. I wish I could fly home with you."

"Oh, Amy," Marion put her hand down on the table near her, "enjoy the city. I know it's not your favorite, but you're having a nice time shopping and seeing the sights with your sister and me, right? Your dad is here now too. We'll all have fun at the hockey game tonight. Dad, what are you doing tonight, same as last night?" Marion grinned at him again, and he rolled his eyes at her.

"No plans tonight, just a relaxing evening-"

"You said you did that last night," Amy looked up at him.

"I did," he nodded again, catching Marion smirking out of the corner of his eye. "I only meant that Lisa is going to that Broadway show tonight, so I won't see or talk to her, just going to get some rest. Maybe I'll watch your hockey game on tv."

Breakfast continued, and Amy excused herself after eating a waffle covered in whipped cream, claiming her stomach was upset. With the miserable weather outside and no word yet from Lou and Tim, Marion and Jack were happy to sit and enjoy another cup of coffee in the restaurant.

"And how many cups of coffee have you now had this morning, Dad?"

"Oh, this is the fourth," he said accepting it with a nod. "You can wipe the grin off your face. I'm not going to parade Lisa around, but at the same time, it shouldn't come as a surprise she was here."

"She coming over tonight?" Marion asked, raising her eyebrow. Jack, not missing a beat as he sipped his coffee, shook his head.

"No, but tomorrow evening too, partly because we do have an early flight Monday morning, and I'm 20 minutes closer to the airport than her aunt's place, not that I'm complaining," he said meeting her gaze with a slight nod.

"You do really love her. I can see that, and I'm glad. She ahh," Marion paused, and at that, Jack did look over at her, "told me about things, you know, that I was concerned you had different future plans."

"That she can't have kids and is okay with that?" Jack nodded. "You're right; I was afraid our being together would be some compromise for her. I honestly hadn't thought much about that until you mentioned it, but we did talk about it. She told me everything, about her struggles, but that she's happy with where she and I are. I am too. Never would have imagined," he shook his head and sighed.

"She's kind of perfect for our family too," Marion nodded. "Not a huge family of her own behind her, but she just fits right into ours. So," she narrowed her gaze and waited for Jack to take his sip before she pointed to him.

"So?"

"What are you intentions with my dear friend?"

"My intentions?"

"Oh, come on, Dad! You literally asked Tim that same question when he and I were dating."

"Wish I would have demanded a better answer," he said flatly, eyeing her. He nodded, "I know you love him, but Honey, you need to remember that you have worked really hard to get where you are, and I don't mean professionally. Tim destroyed a lot, and just forgetting about all of that, it shouldn't be that easy for you to do."

"Dad," she shook her head, "please, let's not talk about Tim."

"But we're okay talking about Lisa?"

"Well, yeah, she is my friend. I'll be glad to talk about Tim if you can say the same, that you two are good friends?"

Jack frowned at Marion, noting the smirk she had on her face. Finally, he waved his hand, "What are you digging at about Lisa?"

"Your intentions? Are you going to marry her?" Jack met her gaze but didn't say anything. Marion added more, "I know you. You are allowed to move on from Mom. She's been gone a long time, and I also would tell you if I didn't approve. I do. Crazy is it is, Lisa is wonderful-for you, for all of us. Her energy is contagious, and I think you see that. You even seem younger around her. If you would have told me a year ago that you'd fall in love with a woman younger than me, I'd probably have been sick to my stomach at the thought, but Dad, seriously, are you going to marry her because I can't imagine you just stringing someone along."

"We," he gestured to Marion, "have always talked. You and I have been good partners for a lot of years, so I'll be straight with you. I'm thinking about it, and that scares me a lot because yes, a year ago, I would have said no, I'll never remarry, no matter what. She has a way about her that makes me want to do everything in my power to make her happy. She makes me happy, happier than I have been in a long time, and that's not a feeling I can even put on anyone else. It's not that you and the girls haven't made me happy; you have, but this is different-"

"It's a different love, the love for a significant other, not for your daughter and granddaughters, that behind closed doors kind of love," she smiled at him with a nod. Jack felt his face flush but shook his head.

"I hate discussing this with you, but it's not just about that, not just about what goes on behind closed doors. I really do love her and love being around her." Jack's mind drifted to earlier in the morning when Lisa had said she was 100% in love with him. He smiled at that memory and while he didn't want to share that with Marion, he did feel the same. "I love her with everything I have," he told her, hoping to convey what he was feeling. "We talk a lot, and I know you might think I'm just saying that, but we do. It's not a lust, no, this is definitely love for Lisa, love in a way I haven't known, and it's a little scary. I'm 66, Marion. I don't know what time I have left. Yes, I love her, but is it fair to marry her if it's for a year or two? I mean, sure, I'm healthy now, but we never know when our time will come."

"Dad, isn't any amount of time worth it if you love her as you do? Wouldn't you rather be married to her as opposed to her just being your long term girlfriend? What, you think you'll just string her along, what five, seven years? I think you need to decide if she's worth it, worth the risk of marriage even if you don't know for how long. On the flip side, yes, you're 66, but what happens if you live until you're 100?"

"That won't happen," Jack shook his head and chuckled.

"Really? You can predict the future? Who is to say? It could. Let's say, for argument sake, you live until you are 96, that would be 30 years with Lisa, almost exactly as long as with Mom. You'd be okay not marrying her and just well, by then, she'd definitely move on. Flip it around-you assume you'll go first, and I grant you, yes, you're 25 years older than she is, but ask yourself this-if you do marry her and something were to happen to her, would you regret getting married? Would you have wished that you hadn't done that even if it meant losing a wife again?"

"Well, no," he spoke up, shaking his head.

Marion dropped her chin and frowned at Jack, "I think you have your answer, at least to this question. If you wouldn't trade that time being married to her if you lost her, why would she feel any differently? She knows the age difference and with that, the risk of dating or being married to an older man. I guess, my point, if that is your only hesitation, don't make that decision for her."

"I appreciate your advice," Jack nodded, "not that I asked."

"Of course you didn't, but that's why I am here. You aren't feeling as though you are betraying Mom, are you?"

Jack sighed and pursed his lips as he nodded, "I did, maybe at first, especially as we grew closer. It felt strange, not exactly wrong, to kiss her at first, but I do think that since it's been so long since we lost your mom that I'm in a different place. I know that your mom would understand and want me to have someone in my life to enjoy life."

"She would. She most definitely would."

"She also would have been in agreement with me chasing Tim off the property."

Marion grimaced but nodded, "She might have chased him down the road with a frying pan, but she'd also see that he has changed, and I hope you can see that too."

"Let's deal with one relationship at a time," Jack eyed her, and Marion smiled softly with a nod.

"I can agree to that, and since yours is very much on solid ground with a wonderful woman who makes you incredibly happy, I say we keep talking about it. I'm not hearing any real problems with you two, so again," she looked at him, "all that talk of the age gap aside, "could you see yourself marrying her?"

Jack was quiet only for a short time, mostly just to gather the courage to say it aloud to his daughter. He took a deep breath and looked over at Marion with a small smile and nod, "Yes, I love her. I would marry her, that is if she doesn't see me as some burden or some heartache she could lose tomorrow."

Marion gave Jack a sad smile as she tilted her head and reached over to grab at his hand, "Dad, I can promise you that when I look at her, I have no doubt she would marry you even if you two only had a day. Life is short. We never know what is coming. You know, dating is really to find out if you like the person, then if you love the person, and then if you can see yourself married to the person. There isn't a timeline for that, but you're there, and with that, I would encourage you to think about it more. You said it yourself-you never know what time you have left, so if it were me," she shrugged, "I'd do something more permanent sooner than later."

Jack raised his eyebrows at her, "It's a big step."

She shrugged again, "Oh, and if it wasn't clear in all that, you have my blessing, a hundred times over." If that wasn't enough to end their breakfast, Jack looked back up when Marion then clapped her hands together and said, "Oh, if Lisa moves to Heartland, can you imagine? We'd been able to gang up on you all the time. Having my dear friend marry my dad," she laughed to herself, "what a crazy family we would all be."