The contrast of the pink balloons with the Christmas decorations might be considered tacky, but it brought Lisa to tears as she, Jack, and Nora stepped into the house, Jack carrying the infant car seat, worried that Lisa could slip on the ice.
"Welcome home!" Marion almost ran across the room to them from where she, Amy, and Tim were seated by the fire, enjoying Christmas Eve afternoon on the cold, blustery day. Lisa looked around and just smiled, nodding at everything-it looked and felt like Christmas. She felt surreal bringing this new baby into their home, her home too. Lisa, still bundled in her coat, a maternity coat she'd had to order back in October, embraced Marion.
"Oh, it's so good to be home. Thank you for the sweet welcome," she stepped back, gesturing to the kitchen, where among all the Christmas cookies and sweet treats, was a pink and white cake that said, "Welcome Baby Nora."
"Can I see her?" Amy bound into the room, right behind Marion, and as soon as Lisa saw Amy, she smiled and reached over to hug her.
"Amy, oh, I've missed you. Yes, yes, come see your aunt," she laughed, shaking her head as she looked over at Jack who was trying to make his way through to put Nora in her seat on the dining room table.
"Here she is, the guest of honor, home sweet home, Nora," Jack said, and Amy squeezed around Jack there to greet Nora.
"She's so cute!" Amy exclaimed, smiling brightly at everyone in the room. "Dad, have you seen her?"
"Yeah, just once right after she was born," Tim offered up and then greeted Jack and Lisa with a nod, "Welcome home, Lisa. Glad the hospital released her today."
"As are we," Lisa nodded, shaking her head. "Whew, almost surreal to be home again, not pregnant and with a baby. I honestly wasn't sure this day would come." Jack stepped over to her to help her out of her coat and leaned around to her ear.
"And, yet it did. She's here, home, healthy-you both are, and that is a blessing, something to really celebrate at Christmas."
"Lisa, what is this over the seat?" Amy gestured at the car seat.
"Ahh," she stepped up to the table there to help get Nora out. "It's a cold weather cover, see," she demonstrated taking off the cover from the infant seat, and now, with it off, Amy had a full view of Nora strapped in there. "I didn't know there was such a thing until I ordered the seat, and it was suggested. I figure it doesn't get much colder than here in Alberta, so yes, with a newborn, a preemie at that, an excellent purchase."
Amy wasn't really listening but was now playing with Nora's foot, "Oh, wow! She's so tiny." That movement had Nora open her eyes and start to cry. Amy's eyes widened, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake her up."
"It's fine," Lisa shook her head, now working to undo the straps. "Ahh, I'll get better and faster with these straps, Nora. Sorry, Sweetie." Finally, she lifted Nora out of the seat, and Nora immediately almost burrowed into Lisa's shoulder as Lisa tried to hold her. She smiled at Amy, and Amy put her hand to her mouth.
"Look how much hair she has! It's like white! Oh, I love her already."
"Good," Jack leaned over and put his arm around Amy's shoulders, "because she's staying. Way I figure it, by the time you graduate from school, she'll be ready to start. We've been keeping kids in that school a long time, so we'll just keep the tradition going."
Lisa, now bouncing Nora slightly, smirked at Jack, "I'm sure the school probably isn't expecting you to pop in and run their parent group."
"Oh no," Jack shook his head. "Avoided that with Marion, then with the girls. No way. Besides," still there with his arm around Amy's shoulders, "by that time, I should be hard of hearing, right Amy? They won't want an old man like me."
Amy rolled her eyes, "Hardly, Grandpa. You'll be riding your horse until you can't walk anymore. I say you're as young as you feel. You still do way more than most any cowboy I see. Besides, you've got a baby now. She'll keep you young."
"Or exhausted," Jack shrugged, winking at Lisa.
"Amen to that," Lisa said. She eyed Amy, "Want to hold her?"
Amy nodded vigorously. "Oh, I'm getting pictures of this to send to Lou. It was so sweet of her to try and fly here for Christmas."
"To only get snowed in there in New York," Tim chuckled, sipping at his cup of coffee. "It's okay. We told Lou we would come visit her this spring."
"I hate she couldn't come home," Jack frowned. "I know she wanted to meet Nora and hasn't been home in some time."
"She told me she was going to now see about having Christmas with her boyfriend in the city," Amy shrugged.
"What boyfriend?" Marion turned to Amy. "She hasn't mentioned one."
Amy shrugged, "I don't know. I guess his name is Carl. He works with her, and she was telling me that he is all into banking and numbers. Sounds boring to be honest. Lisa, yes," her eyes widened as she shook her head vigorously. "I really want to hold her."
"Okay, to the couch," she waved, and Amy almost ran and sat down. Lisa sat down next to her and showed her how to hold Nora, "Just support her head."
Pictures were taken. Coffee was poured, and the family all settled in there to pass around Nora and catch up on the latest. It had been a very busy two weeks.
Jack, sitting next to Lisa on the couch because Amy and Lisa were on the couch with Nora, had his arm around Lisa's back. As Nora seemed to drift off in Amy's arms, Jack looked to Lisa.
"So, can we show you your surprise, I mean, I know I told you this morning-"
"Dad!"
"Hush," Jack eyed Marion. "Lisa was getting all worried about where Nora was going to sleep, as if we'd just let that go," he winked at Lisa. She swatted his leg.
"How was I supposed to know you had this elaborate plan? I was trying to pick up the slack from not doing a thing before she was born and actually being worried about where she would sleep when we got home. I didn't want something from Biblical times where we would find ourselves in our very own manger out there with the animals." The group laughed, and Jack leaned over and kissed her head.
"I know. Let's go see this room we pitched in and put together," he reached for her hand and nodded to the room. "Marion, Tim, Amy-thank you for your help, all of you."
"I'm just glad we got it all done," Tim waved his hand.
"Dad, you show Lisa. How about Tim and I get everyone some food? We've had some neighbors drop off a few things, hearing that Lisa and Nora were coming home. I think we can have some snacks here if that sounds good."
"Starving," Lisa groaned, nodding.
"Well, good to see you back to yourself wanting to eat," Jack chuckled, hugging Lisa from the side, as he winked at her. She swatted at him again.
"Just for that, you can feed her in the middle of the night tonight."
"Looking forward to it," he winked. "Amy, you can stay right there if you want with Nora. We'll be right back."
"I'm good holding her. I can't wait to send Lou and Sorayah some pictures. I just love her."
"Me too," Lisa said, leaning over to squeeze Amy's shoulders. "Okay," she put her hands together and looked at Jack. "Show me, please."
He took her hand and led her around the couch, "First stop in here," he nodded toward their room.
"Wow, Dad, not wasting any time having Lisa home," Marion smirked at him, and Jack froze in his tracks, and his face reddened. Lisa started to laugh, putting her hand to her mouth, and Jack turned back to the room, pointing at Marion.
"You just remember, I can now actually have a favorite daughter. Comments like that-you're not it. I'm showing her the cradle. She just walked in the door from the hospital."
"Jack, if Marion hadn't said it, I would have," Tim nodded, chewing a Christmas cookie. "You've been moping around here without her home. You're a man who loves his wife."
"Well, there's a thought! I do love my wife. That has nothing to do with taking her into the bedroom. I'm showing her the cradle!" Lisa kept laughing. Finally, she patted Jack's arm.
"Show me the cradle, please," and the two stepped into the room. Lisa almost ran into Jack because he stopped right in the doorway and waved to it over on her side of the room. For now, it was placed where the leather chair had been, and Jack had moved that over to the door leading outside. Lisa looked up at him and smiled warmly.
"It's lovely. It really is. Wow, Jack, how old is that? I mean, if you were in it as a baby, I know it's ancient."
He eyed her and rolled his, "Haha, so funny. Yes, it's an antique-"
"Like you, antique, the polite way to say old," she grinned up at him, He smirked at her. Lisa stepped away from Jack and toward the cradle. He followed behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders as she took in the cradle.
"Jack, it's really beautiful, a lovely tribute to your family."
"Our family," he said, squeezing her shoulder and kissing her cheek. "Our baby is going to use it." He pointed to the bedding. "Marion measured everything out and found all new bedding for it. I hope it's okay."
"More than okay," Lisa's smile widened. She looked at the light pink and purple bedding, happy with the choice. She turned to him and put her arms around his shoulders, "I keep thinking I will wake up, and this will all be a dream. I still can't believe you and I made that beautiful little girl out there." Jack smiled down at her, Lisa still there with her hands wrapped around his neck. He leaned in and kissed her, their sweet kiss growing more intense. Lisa hummed into it and winked at Jack when they finally broke apart. "I've really missed you, just being close to you. I'm sorry I was a mess while I was pregnant. I couldn't fathom the idea of losing her."
"I know," he nodded, resting his hands on her hips. "I hope we can all start to settle into some normalcy around here. It's been a crazy year, if you think about it. Last year at this time, we'd gotten back from New York and were getting ready to go to France. As soon as we got there, we got married," he smiled warmly, leaning in and kissing her neck as he spoke quietly, "a very excellent decision." Lisa laughed quietly at that. Jack's head leaned against hers then, "You had to travel so much. I missed you like crazy. We were trying to get you settled and moved in here at the ranch. You became a real country cowgirl trying fishing and cattle drives," and he leaned in and kissed the other side of her neck. "I was really impressed my sophisticated, wealthy wife would slum it with us on the range." He leaned his head against hers again, and she grinned at him.
"I told you then I would have joined you on the fall drive, but I was just a little too pregnant to do so-"
He nodded, "I don' take pregnant women on cattle drives or on horses." Lisa laughed, their heads still touching. She looked up at him.
"Except you did," she eyed him and winked. "Technically speaking," she grinned as she spoke softly, "I was already a few weeks pregnant on that cattle drive. You forgot to mention in your summary of events," she said, running her hand down the buttons on his shirt, "that in between all of those events, I was home long enough that there on that fishing trip, we made a baby." She smiled widely at him and nodded, "That will always be the best trip with you ever, now. I enjoyed it then, just didn't realize how life changing it would be."
"And I had no idea you'd have such a fond affinity for the cabin or those cattle drives."
"Give me a few years," she pursed her lips and nodded, "Nora too," she grinned, "and we'll both be on the trail again with you. I'll let her be a country cowgirl too, of course, as long as her dad comes to watch her fancy jumping competitions too."
He made a face, almost as if he disapproved, but then winked at her, "Try and stop me. For this next year, I'm really looking forward to things calming down, settling down, getting into a routine with Nora, just enjoying being a family. Marion and Tim have settled down. Amy's getting older too, so yes, just a quiet year, please. No other rooms need to be redone or furniture needs to be ordered-"
"You know," Lisa interrupted him, patting his chest, "your daughter and I have been pretty demanding about that, I mean," she grinned, "your younger daughter and I. We both moved in and needed new furniture. Thank you for appeasing us."
"You're right," he made a face. "I've brought some very demanding women into this house with very high standards."
Lisa burst out laughing and nodded before she leaned up to kiss him, "That your have, old man, and we've spiced up your life for sure. You know you wouldn't change a thing."
They both heard Nora, which ended their sweet private moment. Jack patted Lisa's hips, and both nodded, the two walking back into the living room where Amy looked almost frantic. Marion was ahead of them and had reached Amy. She scooped up Nora and started to walk around with her.
"Oh, it's my turn now. I've got the little sis. Lisa, how do you like the cradle?"
"I love it," Lisa nodded at her. "Thank you for getting it all ready. That bedding is so sweet; it's perfect."
"Jack, go show her all of our hard work upstairs," Tim gestured. "Lisa," Tim grinned at her, "I did all the flooring and the framing-"
"Oh, I helped too," Jack grumbled and sighed as he ushered Lisa toward the stairs. Lisa turned back, but Marion had already settled in her chair.
"I've got her! You, go, see your baby's room."
At the top of the stairs, Jack turned to Lisa, behind him, and held up a finger, "If you don't like something, we can change it, but this was what I thought you might like."
"Jack, I know I'll love it," she squeezed his hand and winked at him. "Let's see it." Jack opened the door at the top of the stairs and stepped inside, holding Lisa's hand. She put her other hand to her mouth and took in the room. "Jack, it's so perfect, so sweet. I love it."
"Really?"
She nodded, but then smacked at his arm, "You put up a room divider with an office area?" Lisa stepped forward to see what had been built, taking in the office side of things first.
"I didn't move much up here, but I thought you'd want to be close to Nora. Later on, it can be a playroom or whatever for her." Lisa nodded as she then walked around into the nursery area, and she looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"It's more than I could have imagined. I love the crib, and I can't believe you bought that expensive one," she sighed.
"You would have bought it," he raised an eyebrow, and she laughed, nodding in agreement.
"Yes, but it was extravagant. I know that's not you. Oh, I love this set. The white wainscoting-so different from the darker wood downstairs, but it looks so similar to the rest of the house. It's very feminine for her, just perfect. I love the flooring-"
"Tim did do that himself. I helped with the wall and then put together the crib furniture."
She nodded and ran her hand over the crib bedding, "I love this. It's so sweet, and I can't believe Maggie got this; oh, and there's the rocking chair you said Marion and Tim got." Lisa walked over and sat down in it, taking in the room. Jack gestured to the floor.
"I didn't get a rug, but I thought you might want one for when Nora is able to play on the floor. I ordered some safety gates for the stairs," he gestured, "and the door is there. Ahh, I made sure there was a closet on each side, so the room really mirrors itself with that wall. The boxes of diapers you ordered are in the closet, but since she doesn't have a lot of things yet, I knew you would want to organize that as you see fit."
Lisa stood and walked back to him, embracing him with her hands around his middle as she grinned up at him, "I'm just speechless. I love all of this and wow, what a gift. Thank you. I am sad I was too caught up in my worry that I didn't take time to decorate, but you did a wonderful job. I can't believe this is the same space that was full of old junk. Thank you for this." Jack brushed her hair from her face and leaned down and pecked her lips.
"Well, you did a wonderful job carrying our daughter. She's perfect, Lise, and man, it's going to be quite the life here with you now, nothing boring about it."
"Oh, I was boring before?" She raised an eyebrow at him and grinned. "I thought I was adventurous and fun-"
"Well, you know, you locked down this old cowboy who doesn't venture far from home, agreeing to marry him. That seems opposite of adventure. You seemed okay growing old with him."
"Growing old?" Lisa raised an eyebrow and then laughed. She patted his chest, "You are. You're there."
"Apparently, not old enough to have been saddled with this newborn," he laughed, winking at her and leaning in to kiss her again. "You know, it's awfully nice not to be kicked while kissing you again and to be able to stand this close. Our offspring kind of got in the way before."
"If I now can only lose this remaining weight. I don't even care if my clothes don't fit because of my hips. I simply cannot wear maternity clothes for the indefinite future."
"Well," he brushed her hair from her face again, "you're beautiful to me, even more than I thought you could be, especially when you have Nora in your arms. This tough cowboy has a real soft spot for that. You will just have to endure shopping for new clothing-for you and Nora."
"I'll have to do that, yes," she laughed. "You also realize I will have to go to France soon. Normally, I'm there all winter, but it won't be like that."
"I know," he nodded. "I know that's the biggest reason you wanted to bottle feed her, which is fine. I'll take care of her here, but I'm betting this France trip will be your shortest ever knowing she's home here."
She nodded, biting her lip, "I just think she's too little to travel."
"And I agree with you," he kissed her head. "We talked about that at the hospital, all those hours and days there. We're a team. You go do your work and know we love and miss you. I've done this before," he winked at her. "Marion didn't turn out that badly."
The two laughed, and she finally frowned. "Oh, that's going to be really hard, to leave for work."
"Yes, it will, but as I said, know she's loved and cared for here. I promise I won't have her ride Paint with me," he winked. Lisa groaned. "I'll be just fine with her."
"Let's go see how she's faring with Marion. Something tells me we'll have to fight Marion to get Nora back."
"No doubt about that," and the two walked hand in hand downstairs, ready to enjoy their Christmas Eve.
The family seemed to settle in over the next few days. Nora received a lot of gifts in the mail and in person from family friends around town. Jack made sure Lisa got ample rest. They took turns with her feedings throughout the day, Amy excited to help during her time off school. Lisa stayed up late to do a feeding before turning in. Jack did the early feeding before going to the barn. It was wearing them all out, but such was life with a newborn. By late afternoon on New Year's Eve, Lisa and Marion were curled up on the couch talking. Tim was taking care of a matter at Big River. Amy had gone to the movies with Sorayah, and Jack was in the barn tending to some chores that had been put off. Nora was fast asleep in her cradle, and all seemed almost normal.
"Have you and Tim talked about when you want to get married?" Lisa asked, sipping on a glass of wine. She'd opened a favorite bottle to share with Marion and had a glass ready for Jack when he came back inside, already commenting to Marion how nice it was to enjoy a glass of wine again.
Marion, seated sideways with her elbow resting on the back of the couch shook her head. "No, we haven't. It seems daunting to plan a wedding. I am kinda liking what you and Dad did; you just did it. Married. Done. Over. I mean, we've already had a wedding. This is basically a repeat, but we're getting it right this time."
"Well, then do that," Lisa shrugged. "No one else's opinion matters. This has to be about what you and Tim want. Now, are you thinking sooner or later?"
She shrugged, "I'm pretty content right now, not that I want to drag out some engagement. It's strange, though. Maybe you get it. I've become very independent because I've had to be. I love Tim and want to marry him, but it's been nice still having my space here and his space over at Big River."
"Ahh, yes," Lisa nodded. "It is an adjustment learning to live with someone again. I honestly think it helped that I was traveling a lot right away, not that I didn't love Jack, but it is a lot to just up and move into a new space or in your case, have Tim just invade your space."
"Exactly," she frowned, waving her hand. "I guess we'll figure it out. I am looking forward to our trip to Banff. You really didn't have to do that," she reached over and patted Lisa's knee. "That was very sweet of you, and as a Christmas gift," she laughed, "it's not like we could say no."
Lisa smirked, "Oh, that was definitely part of the plan, making it something you couldn't refuse. I hope you and Tim have a great four days away. You deserve it. I can't tell you how great you were during my pregnancy. You gave me sanity when I had none."
"As in, you think you have some now?" Marion smacked at Lisa's leg, laughing. "I can't tell you how glad I am things worked out, not to mention getting a little sis was pretty great."
"Hmm, she is pretty great. I'm so glad she's now at three hours between feedings. That extra half hour is so helpful. I can't imagine how wonderful it will be when she sleeps more through the night."
"Is that when you plan to move her upstairs?"
Lisa nodded with a yawn, "Excuse me, yes. As long as she's getting up this much for a feeding, it's nice to have her right there in our room. Jack has been a real trooper. I know he's really tired too. As much as I joke about his age, it's a lot, taking on a newborn. I'm very much aware, but oh," she smiled at Marion, "he's totally smitten with her."
"I caught the two of them sleeping here the last two mornings," Marion waved to Jack's chair. "After he finishes feeding her, he seems to nod off. It's been sweet."
Lisa frowned, "I am worried about going to France. Aside from how much I'll miss her, so much it will ache," Lisa admitted, "I don't like just putting all of this on Jack. I know it's a lot, any part of this. Taking care of her is a full-time job, and he already has the ranch-"
"We'll all help. I know you have a business to run. You can't keep putting it off. How long do you plan to be in France?"
"A week," she nodded. "You know I used to go for two or three months. I feel if I can check in, put out any major issues, I can get back home. I've been doing some video chats, but I'm the boss. I have to go, and Nora is too young."
"She is, and as I said, we're here. Dad, Tim, Amy, and I will cover it. Amy and Sorayah can even watch her some after school. You know that. It's the middle of winter, and they aren't training as much. It's a good time for you to go, even if it doesn't seem like it. I'll tell you-with a baby, you'll never feel anytime is a good time. Honestly, use it to rest a little yourself. It will be good for you, just like time away with Tim will be good for me. Get some rest. I mean, you did just have a baby. Speaking of that, how are you feeling?'
"Oh, ahh, okay," Lisa nodded.
"Still sore? Feel like you pushed out a watermelon?" Marion flashed a smirk asking that. Lisa groaned and grimaced.
"No, actually, that part is pretty good. I was thinking I would feel awful for months, but I'm surprisingly feeling pretty good. I really am shocked at how my weight won't even budge yet."
"That part takes forever, I mean, just getting back to yourself in all ways," Marion made a face and nodded. "I remember that. You have the disadvantage of age and Christmas. I mean, we all put on weight during the holidays, and you're trying to lose baby weight on top of it. Yeah, good luck. Maybe that will start to get better in France too, just getting back to a normal work routine. You have to realize that even with the long hours you're keeping with Nora, that your body is just all messed up. You're having to eat to stay awake, and I bet you are still hungry all the time-"
"All the time! What is that?" Lisa exclaimed.
"It's called being a new mom. Your body is on overdrive. Just let it go for now, and I know that's hard to do. It will come. Give it a few months. I mean, I know you had her just over two weeks ago now, but you do look amazing. Sure, I can tell you have weight you want to lose, but it's just been over two weeks, and you're telling me you're feeling pretty good. That's awesome."
"I mean," she chuckled, "don't suggest going on a horseback ride anytime soon. That doesn't sound appealing, but yes, I'm really feeling pretty good, the exhaustion aside. It's nice to have my appetite back and be able to enjoy something like this, a glass of wine," she waved her hand. "Yes, I am looking forward to having my body back," she chuckled quietly as she shook her head, "but wouldn't change anything. I still can't believe. It. Very blessed and good doctors and experience."
Marion grinned, "I'm sure Dr. McDreamy will be glad to hear that. Oh," she swatted at her, "when do you have to see him? I'll drive you." Lisa burst out laughing and shook her head.
"You're terrible. I have to call. I guess it will be when I get back from France, so sometime into February."
"Mmm, yes, if Tim wasn't around," Marion laughed into her wine glass. Lisa swatted at her, and Marion mumbled, "Yes, I'd take him to Banff with me any day."
"Stop!" Lisa swatted at her again. "You are awful. You have Tim."
"I have eyes too, just as you do. You said he was hot too."
"Yeah, but that was a lot of the pregnancy hormones. Just for that, I'll request the older doctor."
"Oh, so one you can compare to Dad? I know you," Marion grinned, and Lisa swatted at her again. "You've got this old man complex, so hey, whatever floats your boat and is attractive to you." Lisa smacked her again and rolled her eyes. Marion just smirked, but then said, "You know, we need a ladies' night. Nora can even come. She's a girl."
"Yes, we do," Lisa nodded. "We need to find a time."
"Sounds like you are booking into February already with the holidays, my trip to Banff, your trip to France-"
"Let's put it on the books," Lisa nodded. "Ladies' night, with the addition of Nora to give Jack a break. Yes, we both need some time to chat with Maggie."
Marion looked at Lisa over the top of her wine glass, nodding, "Yes, we do. Let's see. Tim and I are getting away to Banff. Oh, your anniversary is coming up-"
"Hmm, yes, a year, what a year it's been. Everyone loves a first anniversary with a newborn," she grinned.
"What do you have planned for that? Gosh, hard to believe it's only been a year since you and Dad got married. So much has happened. Oh," she swatted Lisa's leg, "you sneaky one. That's when Tim and I are going away."
"Umm, I picked that weekend because it didn't interfere with my France trip."
"Hmm, right," Marion nodded, pursing her lips. "See, if you had been smart, you'd have had us here to baby sit so you and Dad could go to dinner."
Lisa shook her head, "Jack and I will be just fine, and dinner at home with Nora will be a great anniversary, one I never expected," she chuckled, "but the best things in life come from the unexpected, right?"
