"Well, what are you two doing home so early?" Jack asked from his chair by the fireplace. He put a bookmark in his book, closed it, and took off his glasses to address Lisa and Marion who were now taking off their coats in the kitchen.
"Someone missed her baby," Marion called over to Jack, a smirk on her face as she then looked back at Lisa. Lisa sighed but finished taking off her coat too and almost sprinted across the room. Marion followed at a much slower pace, almost though in a prance like she wasn't surprised at all by her stepmother.
"Lisa, do not wake her," Jack eyed her and pointed to Nora asleep in her bouncy seat in front of Jack on the floor. "She's just fine, but she just got to sleep, so let her sleep."
"Oh," Lisa waved her hand but took residence on the arm of Jack's chair, putting her arm around his back and settling in next to him. "I won't wake her," she said, looking at Jack and adding quietly, "yet."
Marion snicked as she plopped down on the couch and gestured to Jack, "Notice I said someone missed her baby. I didn't say she missed her husband."
"Noted," Jack winked at Marion, holding his glasses in his hand. He eyed Lisa, right above him, her arm still around his back. "I've become content in my new role in the family dynamics."
"New role?" Lisa asked, shaking her head with almost a snicker. "What new role? You've been a dad for 47 years already."
"No," he winked at Marion as he glanced up at Lisa, "I mean that I've taken a backseat to your affection."
Marion started to laugh but quickly put her hand over her mouth to quiet herself, looking down at Nora who was sleeping away. Lisa swatted at Jack, "I have not been ignoring you, goodness."
He chuckled as he reached up and patted her leg, "As Marion pointed out, you didn't come running in here for me." He winked at her and gestured at Nora. "She's been just fine, a total angel. I think we lucked out on the baby jackpot. She was awake and alert for the first half hour or so after you and Marion left. I just held her here, and we talked-"
"You talked?" Lisa chuckled, waving her hand. "What did you talk about?"
"Oh, fly fishing mostly," he nodded.
"Let me guess-you read her your latest fly fishing magazine?" Marion questioned him. She met Lisa's gaze, "That's what he used to do when Amy was a baby, read that aloud to her."
"Nora seemed to enjoy it. I'll make a fly fisherman out of her," he winked at Lisa. Lisa held up her hands in defense.
"I have no objection to that. I rather enjoy fly fishing myself, great times at the cabin," she grinned down at Jack. He winked at her and smiled too.
"Okay, let's talk about something other than the cabin because I know very well what those smiles are about," Marion waved her hand at them. "You remember, Lisa, I helped you pinpoint some information to figure out the little sister's due date."
"Right," Lisa said with a shake of her head, looking down at Jack again. When she caught his eye, she flashed a huge grin at him again. Jack winked once again and then turned his attention back to looking at Nora.
"Anyway, after we finished the magazine, she was hungry. I went ahead and fed her, bathed her, got her all ready for bed," he gestured, "as you can see. We came out here, I put her in that bouncy chair thing," he waved at it, "and she fell asleep pretty quickly. She really likes that soother, or pacifier, or whatever it's called." He looked up at Lisa, "What is it called, by the way? You and Marion have been calling it a soother, but the package said it was a pacifier."
"It's both," Lisa shrugged. "I even checked too. A lot of Canada calls it a soother, but a lot of the United States calls it a pacifier. It's interchangeable."
"Whatever it is," Jack waved, "she likes it, and it's definitely soothing to her. She's been out since, I guess now," he looked at his watch, "about a half hour. You know you two didn't have to rush home. I've got her. She's been no problem."
"I tried to tell Lisa that," Marion shifted on the couch. "At least I got your wife out of the house a little, and oh, Maggie sent you some of the brownies she made for our girls' night."
Jack frowned as he looked up at Lisa, "She's really okay, and I wish you would have stayed out longer. Just driving to Maggie's and home, you couldn't have been at Maggie's more than what, an hour?"
"I told Marion she didn't have to come home," Lisa said with a nod. "I would have gone back to get her-"
"Which was jus stilly," Marion frowned. "I wasn't about to ask you or Maggie to bring me home. She is already keeping two giggling teenage girls for the weekend, which reminds me that I need to finish packing up for my getaway," she smiled brightly and stood. Before she left the room, she leaned over and smiled down at Nora there in her bouncy seat, sleeping peacefully. She glanced up at Jack and Lisa, "Dad, I'd hire you to babysit-"
"It's not babysitting if it's your own daughter," he waved with a frown.
"Still," Marion grinned, "I'd say she's had a great night. Oh, look at how she has her little hands folded on her stomach," Marion said with an almost squeal, putting her hand to her mouth.
Lisa smiled at Marion, nodding, "I know. She's started doing that. It reminds me of someone I know," and with that, she put her finger over Jack's head and pointed down at him. Marion snickered and nodded in agreement.
Jack rolled his eyes, but sat back in his chair, stretched out his legs like he was going to take a nap, and he folded his hands the same way, shrugging at them. "I don't know what you are talking about." Both Marion and Lisa held back laughs, and Lisa leaned over, her hand around his shoulders and hugged him.
"She's taking after you more and more."
"What else?" Jack asked, opening one eye to eye her. Marion leaned down by Nora to just watch her.
"Oh, the folding her hands like you're doing now, the nodding off here by the fireplace each night," and Marion chuckled quietly, "her little snores at night-"
"Two can play at this," Jack now opened both eyes again and reached for her empty bottle. He'd put that on the fireplace but held it up, "She takes after her mom with her healthy appetite."
"Oh gosh, Dad!" Marion said loudly and then grimaced, looking to see that Nora was still sleeping away. "I can't believe you said that about your wife. You'd be in the doghouse with me. I'm definitely going to go finish packing but can't even call Tim. He's got that sick mare right now. He's got the shift until midnight with her. I'll have to tell him tomorrow when we head out. I'm getting out of here before Lisa puts you in the doghouse," and with that, she waved with her fingers and flashed a grin at the couple.
"I knew that would run her out," Jack reached for Lisa's knee and squeezed it, winking at her. "You know I've told you that I love we can always enjoy food together. I'm just teasing."
"Hmm, I'm not sure I see it that way," Lisa said, looking up and away, trying to play off that she was irritated. Jack shifted and wrapped his arm around her waist, tugging at her, and Lisa's grin at him gave her away. She turned and leaned down to kiss him properly.
"Hi," she told him, patting his chest. He pulled her into the chair with him, and she shifted to sit sideways with him.
"Hi, yourself, but you really didn't have to rush home, Lise. I told you she'd be just fine."
"I know. I know," she frowned as she patted his chest. "I just missed her."
"You weren't even gone two hours," he eyed her with a small smile. "What are you going to do in a couple weeks when you head to France? You can't just pop back home then."
Lisa made a face at Jack and frowned, "I haven't figured that out yet. All I know is you'd better have those video chats ready again. I'm going to be calling all the time."
He nodded and kissed her head, "I know you'll miss her, and no matter how much I tell you she'll be okay, it won't change you missing her. You can call, even at midnight because I know that will be 8AM for you." He kissed her head. Lisa leaned her head on his chest and took his hand in hers. Jack put his hand around her back and squeezed her tightly. "By the way," he said into her ear, "I'll miss you too." She turned her head and smiled warmly at Jack.
"I always miss you when I travel, and this trip will be no different about that. I also completely trust you to take care of her, and I hope you know that, know that it isn't me worried about you taking care of her, but just of me missing her, feeling guilty I'm not here. Oh, and I also know you aren't her babysitter," Lisa said with a smile at Jack. The two then chuckled, both turning their eyes down to Nora, still content in her bouncy seat there on the floor in front of Jack's chair.
"Hard to believe she's already four weeks old," Jack said quietly, kissing Lisa's cheek. "She's really growing."
"I know," Lisa said in a pitiful tone, frowning at Jack. "I can't believe how much she's growing. That's another reason I hate to be in France. She's going to grow so much."
"You're going to be gone ten days with travel," he squeezed her knees. "She won't grow out of her things. She won't forget you," he kissed her cheek again.
Lisa dropped her head into her hands and groaned, "Oh, gosh, I hadn't thought about that. She's going to forget who I am. She won't remember me feeding her-"
"Stop," he chuckled quietly, running his hand up and down her back, then tugging at her. "She could never forget you. You're her mom. I promise you," he winked at her, "as old as I am and as forgetful as I might get in my old age, I won't ever forget you either."
She smacked his chest, "Oh, gee, thanks. You really think she will remember me?" Lisa looked hopefully at him.
"Lise," he sighed. "Relax and rest easy. She loves her mom. She knows exactly when you are the one feeding her. We both comment on how she almost burrows into you and pulls her feet up on you. Yes, she remembers and loves you."
Lisa nodded and smiled sweetly at him, "I know I'm being ridiculous, but she's my baby."
"Can she be mine too?" Jack winked at her, and they both chuckled, there, holding onto each other in the chair, Lisa sitting sideways on Jack's lap and looking down at Nora. The fire had died down considerably, and Lisa changed the conversation.
"What were you reading, I mean besides your fishing magazine to Nora?"
"I started a mystery novel," he held it up. "Lou sent it to me for Christmas, and at the time, I thought with a newborn I would never touch it. I haven't been into novels in some time, just too busy around here, but you know what?" Jack looked at Lisa, and she shook her head. "I think it was the perfect gift. Speaking of your trip, I'm going to have some quiet nights here at home with Nora. Sure, Marion and Amy are in and out, but that's just it-they are busy. She," he nodded to Nora, "is going to be my focus, and it's been very peaceful sitting here with her, watching her sleep and reading by the fire. I think I like this."
Lisa fondly looked at Jack with a warm smile, "You know, that does sound really nice. I see you made a cup of tea too," she gestured to the table. "See," she patted his chest, "I knew what I was looking for in finding someone to give me a baby," she winked. "Younger guys all want to go out for the night and be anywhere but home. You," she shrugged then with a smirk, "you're happy just being home."
They laughed quietly there together, Jack kissing her neck as they settled back into a comfortable silence, enjoying the evening and listening to Nora's little noises and snores. Jack's hand ran through Lisa's hair, and finally, before they both nodded off, he spoke again.
"For the small amount of time you were actually out of the house, how was your ladies' night?"
Lisa chuckled to herself, "You have to admit, at least I left the house. That's the first I've let her out of my sight."
He nodded, still running his hands through her hair, "I know. You did, and I'm proud of you, but as I told you yesterday when I was trying to convince you to go, we can't be with her every second of every day. You can't feel guilty for getting out of the house. She was just fine here-"
"With her babysitter," she said with a laugh, and he laughed too. Amy had called him that before the ladies had left the house, and it had been quickly corrected by Marion.
"Amy, your dad used to drive me crazy saying he would stay in to babysit you and not go out with the guys. Drove me crazy. When it's your baby, you aren't the babysitter. You're the parent. We don't call Lisa a babysitter when your grandpa is out with the herd-"
"No, but-" Amy started to say, but Marion interrupted and shook her head.
"No, it's the same. I know you were about to say it's not the same. It is, so he's not a babysitter."
Jack patted Lisa's hip as they were laughing and nodded to Nora. The two tried to stop laughing, and Lisa burrowed her head into Jack's chest to stop laughing. She schooled her features quickly when Nora started to cry. Lisa sprung from Jack's lap, Jack grunting from the shift of her weight doing that, and she was instantly on the floor, unbuckling Nora and scooping her up. She quickly peppered her with kisses as she held her tightly on her chest just under her neck, speaking softly to her.
"Hello my sweet girl. Oh, I missed you. Don't you look so sweet in your pajamas," and as she said that she glanced over at Jack, "this light green is a good color on her."
He nodded, "Her hair has gotten a little darker, almost the same blonde as yours."
She grinned, "Mine is out of a bottle now."
"I know," he waved, "but all those pictures of you younger, the same color. Besides, your hair isn't that different than it naturally would be is it?"
"No, about the same. I've tried it darker. It looks better lighter."
"Well, she's looking like her mom," he smiled at her, adding, "and that's a very good thing."
Lisa laughed, walking over to sit on the armrest of Jack's chair again with Nora now. She shook her head at Jack with a perplexed look, almost a smirk on her face, "I kind of liked the white-blonde look, you know, reminded me of her father with his white and graying hair." It was Jack's turn to laugh, and he dropped his head as he did so and then swatted her leg.
"Just know if you try to video chat when you are in France and don't get me, I probably fell asleep out here in my old age."
"Well, you caught me falling asleep out here just yesterday, so I guess I'm old now too." They both grinned at each other, and Lisa put Nora out on her legs to stretch. They both sat there, just looking at her as she tried to stretch and maybe go back to sleep.
"You know," Jack said quietly after Lisa shifted and picked up Nora and put her on her shoulder to rub her back. Lisa turned her head to Jack to look at him while he spoke. He leaned in closely, "Even in my old age, it seems as if our anniversary is tomorrow. One year of craziness down."
"One and only year," she winked at him with another smirk as she rubbed Nora's back. "I got my baby out of this deal," and at that, Jack had to turn away he was laughing so hard. "She was even smart enough to come early, so yeah, one year tomorrow. I've got the baby." Jack finally coughed he was laughing so hard, and finally as he settled down, he turned back to see Lisa still sitting there next to him on the armrest grinning at him, Nora now more alert rather than back to sleep, trying to lift her head to look around. Jack tugged at Lisa's arm, and as she leaned toward him, he flashed a grin at her, "I love you."
"Hmm, that will get me to stay another year," and she kissed him, humming into it. Nora, making noise, had them break their kiss and look at her again. He kissed Lisa quickly and gestured to Lisa he wanted to stand up. She shifted, and Jack stood and picked up his empty tea cup, raising it to Lisa.
"Would you like to join me in a cup of tea before we feed her one last time?"
Lisa raised her eyebrows, "One last time? She'll be up in what, three and a half hours after we feed her."
"Progress," he nodded at Nora. "She started every two or two and a half hours. So, tea?"
"Sounds like a great end to the evening. Oh, Maggie's brownies are on the counter too." Jack nodded he'd heard her as he started walking, but he turned to head down the hall toward Marion's room. Before he took any more steps, Lisa called out to him.
"Jack?"
"Oh," he smirked, "just have to give Marion 20 bucks."
"Wait, what? Why?" Lisa shook her head, confused and unaware of what was going on.
Flashing it in his hand, he frowned at her, "Well, I was sure you wouldn't even get off the property before you came home. Marion felt she could at least get you to Maggie's, so she bet me 20 bucks. Since I lost," he rolled his eyes, "I have to pay up."
Lisa's mouth dropped open as she stood there holding Nora on her shoulder. She pointed at Jack with her free hand, "You bet Marion I wouldn't be able to leave?"
"I thought it was a safe bet! You haven't left her yet!"
"I did tonight!"
"Exactly, tonight, for not even a couple hours. I'm honestly impressed you did and proud of you, but it doesn't change that I really didn't believe you would do it."
Lisa closed her eyes as she started to laugh. When she opened them, Jack was standing there, arms folded, 20 bill in sight in his hand.
"You are awful, and my stepdaughter is wicked," Lisa sighed and then smirked. She kissed Nora's head and whispered loudly to her for Jack to hear, "Nora, pumpkin, maybe I need to get your passport and just take you with me."
Jack called out to her, "Oh, you have to have both parents to sign for a passport form. I just won't sign," he winked at her. He started down the hall.
"She has no father!" Lisa said or tried to say between fits of laughter.
A short time later with hot tea in hand, well Jack had it in hand, and Nora there getting her last bottle from Lisa, the trio were cozied up on the couch, listening to the last crackles of the evening fire. Jack had one arm around Lisa who was sitting there into his side feeding Nora. He was looking over her shoulder, the couple watching the infant try to keep her eyes open.
"This is pretty rare, isn't it?" Lisa glanced up, eyeing him.
"What? Two old people and a baby, I mean, as her parents and not grandparents?"
"No," she nudged his side laughing, "I mean, she's a really good baby. She really is sweet and doesn't cry much. I know Marion kept saying it wouldn't last, those first few days when she was pretty quiet, but she's still not a crier."
"No, she's not," he nodded, smiling at Nora. "Must feel pretty content and safe and," he said with a wink at Lisa, "have just amazing genes from her mom and dad."
Lisa laughed loudly, which jostled Nora, and she did make a face and almost start to cry. Lisa schooled herself and settled back in to finish feeding her, adding, "Yes, I don't know why I didn't consider that already, must be the perfect genes."
He sighed, shaking his head, "She is going to be one spoiled little girl with a Christmastime birthday."
"We don't have any December birthdays in the family, so that is nice. We'll have to make sure she doesn't end up with just those joined Christmas and birthday gifts."
"With you," Jack chuckled quietly, "I don't think that will be a problem. More like, you will need to budget all year to blow that kind of cash on her each December. But yes," he nodded, "nice to have a different birthday month. "With Marion in May, Lou in June, Amy July, me August, and you September, yes," he kissed her head, "Nora gets her own month too."
"You forgot Tim," she glanced up at him with a smirk.
"Fine," he waved, rolling his eyes, "Tim is in June too."
"Back to our conversation earlier, speaking of important dates-" Lisa smiled up at him, still nestled in his side.
"Yes," he looked at her with a questioning glance. "Oh, right, our anniversary tomorrow."
"Yes, tomorrow," she smiled. "Gosh, that seems so long ago now."
"That bad of a year with me huh?" Jack winked.
"I mean," she spoke quietly, "just last year, we were at the house in France. I used to spend so much time there, and then, this changed all of that," she gestured, shifting Nora. "I do miss France," she nodded, adding, "but it is crazy how things change. I would give up France forever to just be her mom."
"Luckily, you don't have to," he said, leaning over and kissing the side of her head. "You've got this great babysitter at home," and the two dropped into a low chuckle again. Nora finished her bottle, and Lisa shifted her, handing her then to Jack to burp her. They caught each other's gaze, smiling as they watched her try to stretch her little body with the shift. Jack grabbed a burp cloth that he'd put on the arm of the sofa while Lisa shifted out of the comfort of his side. Lisa's eyes sparkled as she watched Jack gently pat Nora's back, burping her. He winked when their eyes met.
"I'm going to have to start leaving a hair tie or something around. She's started to grab fistfuls of hair when I have her on my shoulder. I guess I see now why so many moms have short hair," she laughed.
Jack shook his head, "Don't cut your hair. I'll buy all the hair ties you need."
"Oh, you will now?" Lisa leaned over to him, a big smile on her face as she pecked his lips. "Okay, then, the hair stays. I guess the baby stays too, so yes, I'm going to need hair ties."
"Perfect anniversary gift," he winked, and they both laughed.
"Speaking of," Lisa eyed him, "we have been a little busy but should discuss that, our anniversary tomorrow. What am I making you for dinner? I mean," she waved her hand to the house, "we will have a quiet house and can have a nice dinner."
Jack shifted Nora to hold her now. He looked down at her and then to Lisa, nodding, "You can make up a bottle for dinner. That's it."
"A bottle?" Lisa titled her head. "Yes, I have a nice bottle of wine-"
"No, make her a bottle. I'm taking you out to dinner for our anniversary, both of you," he gestured to Nora. "I figure we can handle it, and it's about time we got out of the house a little. You're not cooking. We're going to the Italian place we like in town. Good food, simple, and yes, a perfect outing with Nora. She'll be fine. We can go earlier-"
"Maybe they have an early senior special?" Lisa shrugged, grinning at Jack.
"Perhaps they do," Jack smirked back. "Might as well take advantage of that when we have at least 18 years of expenses coming ahead of us." Lisa laughed at that, nodding. "Okay," he looked down at Nora and rolled his eyes at Lisa, "Way more than 18 years. Girl is giving me her look, the one, the look that we can't say no to-sure, Pumpkin, we'll pay for anything and everything as long as you need. Plus, you'll inherit millions at least from your mom."
"Stop," Lisa swatted at him. She then smiled and tilted her head, "Are you sure you want to go out with her?"
"Absolutely," he nodded. "She'll be the talk of the town. Way I see it," he winked, "it's either we go out tomorrow with her or I wait and take her out to my favorite all you can eat steakhouse when you're in France."
"I hate that place," Lisa grimaced.
"I know," he winked, "hence, why I said take her there when you are away, you know, in my truck, just buckle in her seat-"
"Jack! We agreed she's not to ride in the truck-"
"Then, you're going to have to let us drop you off at the airport for your trip to France, that," he winked, "or you take the truck to the airport."
She huffed and rolled her eyes, "Fine, I'll agree to dinner and you dropping me off."
He pursed his lips, "Oh, can't wait for dinner with your excitement there."
"You know what I mean," she teased, smacking his arm. "Dinner out ahh, sounds nice and honestly," she made a face, "a little terrifying."
He nodded, "I know, but we'll be fine. Many, many have gone before us taking an infant to dinner, some too," he winked, "I'm sure on their first anniversary. You've taken her to the supermarket a couple times."
"Yes, but I'd also had a very short list and practically ran through the store."
"As I said, all the more reason to bite the bullet and go out tomorrow. She's a month old-"
"28 days, not a month," Lisa corrected him with a smirk. "Don't rush her growing up."
Jack rolled his eyes and returned the smirk, "Fine, she's going to be 29 days old tomorrow, time for her to get out into the world, meet her fellow town residents, and behave so her parents can enjoy a nice dinner. If she can't," he flashed a grin, "we will find a babysitter."
Lisa burst out laughing, nodding to Nora, "She's almost asleep."
"And that is our cue to do the same," he returned her nod. "I am one lucky man, taking out two beautiful ladies tomorrow evening."
Lisa stood and gestured for Jack to hand over Nora, which he did. She kissed him there before she took Nora to her cradle. "Well, I'm very excited about our dinner. You're right-time to get out there and start to get back to whatever our new normal is."
