"Okay, click there," she pointed at the screen, Lisa sitting next to Jack at the computer desk, "and voila," she waved her hand. "You have an email account."
"Great," he glanced at her and raised his eyebrows, the sarcasm clearly evident. "Just what I always wanted."
"Stop," Lisa pushed on his shoulder and laughed at him. "I thought what you wanted was a way to communicate with me when I'm away, even if you suggest you cannot possibly master a video chat on your own. Well," she waved at the screen where now Jack had a brand new, empty email account waiting for mail, "you have an email account. You can just keep it minimized here," she showed him," and check it a couple times a day when I'm gone. I promise," she leaned over and kissed his cheek, "I'll write you."
"What is wrong with a good old-fashioned letter?" Jack waved his hand, irritated, and he looked at Lisa, just as Marion walked into the kitchen with a load of laundry.
"Oh, Dad, are you serious?" Marion asked, looking at Jack, clearly horrified. She shook her head at Lisa, "Bless you, Lisa. Honestly, I can't believe you made this much progress. Dad has used video chat a few times, now, granted, I've always set it up for him or you have called it, but it's a start-"
"And now he has email," Lisa grinned, patting Jack's knee where the two of them sat side by side at the desk, working away on Jack's technology 'updates.' "You're joining the modern age," she said, putting her hand on his arm, grinning.
"Except for the comment about sending a letter. I mean, letters are fine and dandy, if you live in the Stone Age, Dad," Marion frowned. "Email is instant. You send it, she gets it, right away."
He looked at Lisa and frowned, "I can't send letters?"
She leaned over and put her arm around his shoulders, laughing, "You can send letters, but just know they take longer to get to France. I think it's sweet you want to send letters, and because I know you like them, I will try to remember that too to send you one. Email is a nice way to send a quick message asking about your day or maybe something funny that happened-"
"Look at it this way, Dad," Marion waved, "if you email Lisa while she's gone you might hear from her a couple times that day." Marion gathered some things by the door for her load of laundry while Jack grunted. Lisa chuckled and leaned over and kissed his cheek, Jack eyeing her with a slight frown. She waved at the screen while Marion walked back through, pausing again as Jack sighed at the computer.
"Come on, let's send your first email. I showed you what to do." He nodded, put his glasses back on, and Marion stepped behind them to watch, her laundry basket on her arm. Jack clicked, made a few grunts, but finally had Lisa's name typed into the send area. He glanced at Lisa.
"How many names do I have?"
"Contacts?" Lisa perked up, nodding. "Ahh, for now, just Marion," she nodded up at her, "and me. Did you want me to add someone else-Val?" Lisa flashed a huge smile, and Marion almost snorted as she laughed, covering her face. Jack's face reddened as he shook it. He sighed and turned back to the screen. The women watched him again, Jack looking back at Marion and then at Lisa as they studied his movements.
"I guess I'm using email," Jack typed, and he looked at Lisa, hopeful that what he had written was okay for his first message. Marion, standing above and behind him swatted at him with a flannel shirt she had in her hand to wash. Lisa covered her face and started to laugh.
"Dad, you are unbelievable. That's maybe your first email to someone like me, but to your girlfriend, that's what you send?" Jack glanced up at her, and she rolled her eyes at him while she sighed. Lisa continued to laugh. When Jack glanced at her, she nodded in agreement.
Resting her elbow on his shoulder, Lisa shrugged, "I mean, your daughter has a point. Go ahead," she nudged him, "send." Jack looked back at his screen, clicked the button, and he heard the noise made when the email was sent. Marion made a production of clapping, and Jack groaned again.
"Glad I could witness that momentous event," she nodded at Lisa. "Real progress being made here thanks to you. I'm going to start this laundry."
"Oh, and I'm going to start that dinner I promised," Lisa looked at her watch and then over to Jack.
"I told you I would help," he nodded. "I also told you it wasn't necessary for you to make dinner when you came over for dinner. I can make something."
"No, no," she said, shaking her head, Marion waving them off as she walked away, Lisa patting Jack's back as she stood. "I want to make dinner." She stepped toward the kitchen counter and opened cabinets, familiarizing herself with things. She glanced at Jack, "What, now that I've taught you email, you are waiting for someone to email you?"
"Maybe I'll send a second email," he said with a smirk and turned his attention to the screen. She chuckled as she busied herself with dinner. Jack did seem to get to work, as she noted he was typing away, but a few minutes later, he stood and walked over to the counter where she was just putting together the roasted chicken dish for the oven. He stood behind her, putting his hands on the counter around her and leaned in to whisper in her ear. She smiled and laughed quietly as he did.
"You know, I like this, the two of us working in the kitchen. Can't wait to try your chicken."
"I hope you like it," she said with a small smile as Jack kissed the side of her neck. She grinned at that, and shook her head, "I'd turn around to kiss you but my hands are covered in raw chicken."
"Not a problem, "he said, kissing her neck again. She laughed.
"This is nice, the two of us working in the kitchen, although I'm not sure what you've worked on for dinner," Lisa smirked.
"Working in other ways," he kissed her again, stepping back as Amy walked in the door from school. Lisa laughed quietly again and winked at Jack when he leaned back against the counter to talk to her now. Amy hadn't noticed how he'd been standing but both Lisa and Jack looked over to her as she hung up her things from school.
"Hi Grandpa, oh hi, Lisa," she smiled at them as she walked into the kitchen.
"How was school?" Jack asked, still leaning against the counter next to where Lisa was just now opening the oven to put the chicken in.
"Fine," she nodded. "I think I'll go out to the barn before dinner. Oh, is Dad still coming?"
"Far as I know," Jack nodded, restraining himself from groaning. Lisa eyed him, but he gave her a nod, indicating he was behaving himself. "Lisa's making chicken."
Amy's eyes perked up, "That sounds good. What are we having with it?"
"Ahh, mashed potatoes, which your grandfather said he'd peel," she eyed Jack with a grin, and he waved his hand and nodded. "Green beans, salad. Oh," she turned now toward Amy after closing the oven lid, "and I already made brownies at my house," she nodded to the table where a platter was covered. Amy's eyes widened, and Lisa laughed, gesturing to it. "Go on, there are plenty."
The two watched Amy dive into Lisa's brownies, Jack getting her a glass of milk to go with them. Lisa washed up, and both worked on peeling the potatoes. They chatted with Amy until she finished, and then she disappeared out to the barn. Hearing the door slam, Lisa turned and flashed a grin at Jack, stepping toward him, Jack still with a potato in his hand, and leaned up, wrapping her arms around his neck. He grinned at her and after putting the potato on the counter, wrapped his arms around her waist.
"No more raw chicken," she laughed, Jack leaning in to kiss her sweetly. She reciprocated, the two quickly getting lost in the moment.
"Oh, sorry," they heard and stepped apart, Marion grimacing as she walked into the kitchen. Lisa waved her hand in gesture, and Jack looked down, definitely self conscious around his daughter. He eyed Lisa.
"I'm going to get the horses fed for the night, help Amy," he said, glancing briefly to Marion as he stepped away, clearly embarrassed. That left Marion and Lisa in the kitchen.
Marion grimaced at Lisa and apologized again, "So sorry."
"It's your house and kitchen, no apology from you, sorry to make a scene."
Marion chuckled, moving to sit at the table, "Dad was definitely uncomfortable."
Lisa nodded, but then smirked at Marion, "Maybe with you but not with me." She dropped her head and started to laugh, the blush creeping up her face. Marion laughed loudly, nodding at her.
"Hmm, yes, very true. How about some of that wine your brought?" The two women took a few moments to get the wine out, and then, they were both sitting at the small table, enjoying their chat before dinner.
"You ready for Tim to come over?" Lisa eyed Marion and pointed her finger in gesture at her, "I see you changed clothes, maybe," she pulled herself up from the chair and leaned in slightly with a grin, "a hint of makeup there, not that you ever wear much." Lisa sat back into her chair and sipped at her wine while it was Marion's turn to blush. Lisa started laughing at that and nodded.
"Well, I didn't want to look like I'd slept in a stall with the horses or something," Marion rolled her eyes.
Lisa raised hers in defense, "No judgment here, not that I haven't checked my appearance constantly since I started seeing your dad, but I always wear makeup."
Marion scrunched her face, "And you can't even say it is because you are older than I am, the makeup part. I just don't like it. By they way," she gave a nod of her head back, "Dad seems happy. Thank you for that, and you, well," she waved at Lisa, "look very happy. You can't stop smiling."
Lisa tried to hide her smile behind her glass of wine, but she couldn't and finally rolled her eyes, grinning at Marion. "I hope this isn't too awkward for you. I'm really trying to keep our friendship and my relationship with your dad separate."
"I'm surprisingly okay with it, which might be odd in these circumstances, but really, you make him happy, and he's been much more pleasant around here, well, at least if you are in the same country. It's interesting he's willing to try things for you that I'd have to poke and prod him to do. Before you, he barely wanted to touch a computer, and look at what you've been able to get him to try. I guess, like Dad," she smiled, "I just really like you and have this good vibe with the two of you. It works, not to mention that some of the alternatives in town, not that he has ever given another woman a second glance, would include people like Val, so please, whatever you are doing to make Dad happy, keep it up."
Lisa smiled and just nodded, "I won't disagree that it is working well."
"So," Marion raised her eyebrows, "Dad mentioned that you were planning to move to France permanently. Is that really true?"
Lisa sighed and sat forward, putting her wine on the table. She locked eyes with Marion, "Had you asked me that what, six months ago, yes, that was the long-term plan, maybe in the next five years or so. Now," she paused and made a face as she shook her head, "I'm not sure. I suppose I'm not so set on it that I would jeopardize a good relationship," she eyed her, "so I'm open to see what happens here. I really like your dad, more than I thought I could or would."
"I'm glad to hear that," Marion nodded, gesturing, "because I think Dad was a bit panicked when you told him that, just in the way he was acting with me as he told me."
Lisa nodded, messing with her wine glass with her hand, "We talked about that, about that my plans could always change. I suppose we will see," she shrugged, glancing to Marion. "I was okay with my plan because I love France, my house and all, but I also thought that plan included my moving there alone. With Jack-" Lisa paused and grew quiet, thinking about how she wanted to answer.
Marion nodded, "I get it. You cannot commit to one plan or another until you figure out what the future looks like. Just, you aren't dead set on leaving-"
Lisa offered a small smile, "I moved to the States when Dan and I got married, and I was fine with that. I find people can do a lot for those they love."
"And," Marion raised her eyebrows, "do you, I mean," she frowned, "sorry, I'm interfering. I also know you two have only been seeing each other what, almost three months, but I also know he married my mom in that short of time."
"Well," she bit her lip, "you also know things change with age, in that, we all aren't always so spontaneous. I think whatever I am feeing first needs to be discussed with your dad," she said with a nod before continuing, "but, I care for him more and more each day. He's really a good one, Marion, not that I have to tell you."
"So are you, a wonderful person," Marion reached over and gripped her friend's wrist with a warm smile. "Oh gosh," she said, with her watch exposed doing that, "I didn't realize how late it is."
"Go on," Lisa gestured, "freshen up, put on more makeup," she winked at Marion before they both started laughing. "I'm going to get this dinner done."
Marion stood, "Thank you for making dinner. It was really sweet of you to do so."
"I enjoy cooking, especially after I've been traveling so much," Lisa admitted. "Now, go," she waved, "I know you want to have just the right look for Tim, even if you aren't sure what that is. Honestly, I completely understand," Lisa smiled.
"Thanks for having my back tonight," Marion said to her before stepping out of the kitchen, adding, "and for keeping Dad off mine." Lisa chuckled.
"I'll just use my best powers of persuasion," she called after Marion.
Dinner ended up going as best as could be expected. Jack was on decent behavior, Lisa only eyeing him a couple times during the meal. Now that she'd been to dinner at the house on a number of occasions, Jack had pretty much assigned her a seat to the left of his. Marion had sat there before and did when Lisa wasn't there, but she had no problem sliding over, sitting next to Lisa now, which was also easy since they were friends. Amy sat to Jack's right, leaving a spot next to her for Tim. Tim had been relatively quiet, a rarity for Tim, but he also was on good behavior.
"Wow, Lisa, thanks for dinner," Tim gave her a nod. "Great lady you have there, Jack," he gave him a nod too, and then looked back to Marion. He gestured between Lisa and Marion, "Crazy you two were friends and that led to that," he nodded toward Lisa and Jack. Jack sighed, about to reply, but even Amy, who sensed the slight tension, jumped in.
"Dad, you told me would could maybe go for ice cream with Mom?" Amy looked hopefully between her parents. Jack and Lisa both looked at Marion, and Marion glanced to Amy and then to Lisa. Lisa gave her a soft smile, hoping to let her know she supported whatever Marion wanted to do.
"Ice cream?" Marion thought about it.
"Just ice cream," Tim put up his hand. "Promise. I know you have things to do here, but I know Amy is looking forward to it."
"Ahh," she glanced again at Lisa, and Lisa jumped in to offer support.
"Jack and I will clear the dishes-"
"You cooked," Marion frowned.
"How about we all clear things quickly, and then, well," Jack rolled his eyes and gestured with his hand, "people can do their own things." That suggestion seemed to work best, and the adults all worked, quietly without much discussion, while Amy bounced out of the kitchen and then back in, grinning ear to ear about getting ice cream with her parents.
"Have fun," Lisa offered from the sink, with a small nod at Marion. Marion mouthed a 'thank you' back to Lisa, and the ladies shared a nod of almost understanding. When Tim, Marion, and Amy had left, Lisa turned to Jack at the table and gave him a smile.
"What?" Jack looked over at her.
"A few things," she nodded, stepping toward him, putting her hand up around his shoulder. "You were on very good behavior."
He shrugged, putting away the last of the leftovers. Jack then turned his attention to her, "Well, I decided I wanted to focus on you being here for dinner, not Tim Fleming at my table."
"Hmm, well, good decision," she grinned, kissing him quickly. He winked at her.
"Does that good behavior come with a reward?" That had Lisa burst out laughing with a small shrug as Jack kissed her cheek.
"Maybe, any ideas?"
Jack grinned into another kiss and then gave a nod toward the living room as he tugged her along with him, "You, me, the couch?" Jack shifted, took her hand in his, and the two walked out the couch with Lisa chuckling as they sat down, Jack putting his arm around her. "Much better."
She was nestled against him and looked up into his eyes, "Does this setup go back to your favorite old term, necking?" Jack shrugged, a playful smile on his lips.
"Oh, I mean," he waved his hand, "if we are here, seems like a pretty good idea with an empty house, at least for what, the next maybe hour or so?"
Lisa shifted and patted Jack's chest, her eyes locking with his, "Thank you for being decent with Tim. I know it meant a lot to Marion. She was very nervous to have him over for dinner, but she's trying especially for Amy's sake, whatever that means with anything and everything."
He frowned slightly but nodded, "I know, although I'm not sure how I feel about you two being in cahoots. Unchartered territory, you two planning things and ganging up on me."
"We don't gang up on you. I just," she paused and fumbled her words, "was maybe asked to keep an eye on you."
"Do you see surprise on this face?" Jack indicated. That had Lisa laugh as she gave him a roll of her eyes. "Come here," he pulled her to his side again, and the two stretched out on the couch, Jack with his arm around her as they kicked off their shoes and stretched out their legs. They were silent for several minutes, just enjoying their closeness, Lisa lying on her side with her arm wrapped around his middle. She looked up minutes later when she was sure she heard Jack snoring and dropped her head, laughing, as he certainly was. Lisa got comfortable again, chuckling that he'd fallen asleep there with her at their first chance of being alone in some time. Finally, when her hip couldn't stand it any longer, she tried to almost climb over Jack to get up. Too much time on her side always put her hip in pain. That awoke Jack, and he eyed her trying to climb out from her spot.
"I fell asleep, didn't I?"
"You did," she laughed, patting his chest as she settled in her spot again, even with her hip in pain.
"Well, that's sad," he grumbled. "Beautiful woman here lying next to me, house to ourselves, and I fall asleep." Both broke out in a full laugh, Lisa wanting to agree with him, but he had already pointed it out. "Sorry, Lise. See, that's what you get with an old man-can't even stay awake for necking."
Lisa burst out laughing again, shifting to sit up and look at him. She shook her head, "You're terrible." She leaned in and kissed Jack, not that he needed an invitation, and very quickly, their kisses escalated, both grinning and laughing as things progressed. Suddenly, Lisa let out a yelp.
"My hip, I swear," she sighed, grimacing at Jack. "We have to shift or something."
"I thought I was the old one," he winked at her, the two sitting up as Lisa tried to work out her hip pain. When their eyes met, they both laughed, Lisa shaking her head.
"Well, that was romantic, I mean," she gestured, "it was until it wasn't." She laughed again and frowned at Jack, "Sorry."
"I'm not sorry at all," he winked at her. "Probably good to have given the old guy a break. I mean, old guys like me aren't used to that, not that I'm complaining at all. Maybe we try a second round, this time here," he pulled her to his side and turned his head to kiss her. She smiled and settled in next to him, Jack cupping her face. "Better?"
"Yes, you okay there, Cowboy?" She patted his chest, and he just smiled into their next kiss. Things grew heated again, this time, Lisa shifting to put her legs over his as they sat sideways. She let out a yelp when Jack's cold hands rested on her waist and then shifted slightly upward, touching the hem of her sweater, onto her bare skin. Both laughed through a kiss at that, and as things continued, the two locked eyes when they were certain they heard car doors outside. They paused, mid-kiss and looked toward the door, both fully clothed, Lisa who had shifted yet again and was just about straddling Jack sitting there on the couch. "Was that-"
He nodded, Lisa moving off his lap, and wiping at the lipstick on his face, while Jack answered, "Yeah, it was."
"Ahh," she looked over at him, "I'm going to freshen up in the bathroom. Sorry," she nodded toward the door, "about the timing." She scurried to move, Jack calling after her.
"My own fault, falling asleep as I did, wasting time sleeping." He heard Lisa laugh at that comment, sighed, and he ran his hand through his hair. Jack saw the remote and turned on the television before Marion and Amy came back inside. Whatever was going on outside, and he knew at least with Amy there, it was nothing like what had been going on inside. Jack was grateful for the few minutes to collect himself. He was out of breath, flushed, and he knew his lips were swollen; Lisa's were. He'd seen that. Quickly, he turned from some cooking show that never would pass the Marion test of what had been going on at the house to a hockey game that was on. At least the couple watching hockey was believable, although as he sat there, trying to calm down after that lovely time with Lisa, he thought about how ridiculous it was he was having to sneak around in his house. Jack looked up when Lisa stepped out of the bathroom. She'd fixed her hair, which had been his fault for running his hands through it constantly. It was just one thing that got to him, and he'd definitely tousled it. He gave her a warm smile and nodded toward the spot on the couch she'd vacated. Lisa walked back and sat down, snuggling into Jack's side. He put his arm around her and nodded to the television.
"Game's on, so yeah, sure, we're really into hockey tonight," he winked and pecked her lips. She chuckled and smacked his stomach while she wiped at more lipstick on him.
"Are they still outside?" Lisa asked. Jack nodded, and she returned his nod with one of her own as they both tried to focus on the game.
"Enjoyed that," he leaned over to her. She looked up at him with a big grin.
"Took the words out of my mouth, Cowboy." She eyed him and grinned again, Jack chuckling as he shook his head.
"What am I going to do with you?" Jack looked down at her, nestled into his side. "You know," he frowned, not waiting for any answer, his question really not a question. "I have to admit that for a really long time after Lyndy died, I didn't think I'd ever even want to kiss a woman much less have a relationship with one. Thank you for changing that. I am not saying that to put some cloud over this," he gestured to them, "but to make you understand that the first time I kissed you, it was all I could think about, all I wanted. That feeling, it just," he paused, "keeps growing. So, thank you," he pecked her lips and added, "because I really enjoyed being here on the couch with you, enjoying your company. You make me really happy and have me wanting more."
"Hello," they both heard, and Lisa shifted slightly so she wasn't slumped down on Jack. She and Jack stretched out their legs again, this time on the coffee table in front of them, and both looked up as Amy walked in.
"There she is. How was ice cream?" Jack asked, gesturing to the chair. Amy plopped down in it and looked at them.
"Good, busy, you guys are just sitting here watching hockey?" Amy made a face. "That's kind of boring. I thought you might be on the porch or out on a ride."
Lisa held back the chuckle she wanted to let out, but Jack just waved his hand and shrugged, "Oh, we were both tired. I think I even nodded off for a few minutes, Lise?"
"He did," Lisa grinned at Amy. "Really knows how to make a girl feel special, eeh," she said quietly, as she sat up and grinned at Amy. Amy smiled back and stood up.
"I guess if hockey on the couch works for you, sure. Umm, I'm going to call Sorayah."
"Your mom?" Jack asked as Amy started to step away.
"Talking to Dad, on the porch," she waved and added, "so you definitely don't want to go out there. Night."
"Night, Amy," Jack called, and Lisa said the same in almost unison. He glanced over at Lisa, "Definitely don't want to go out there on that porch."
"No, you don't," Lisa held back a smile, eyeing Jack. "And, while it was sarcastic at the time," she reached for his hand and squeezed it, "you do know how to make me feel special. I have had a great evening and am very touched you shared what you did with me. I know we both come into this with our own history and baggage, and you telling me that," she nodded, glanced to the door, and without anyone in sight, leaned in to kiss Jack sweetly, "well, thank you. It just brings us that much closer. I really like us together," she said holding up their joined hands. Jack nodded, reaching over to pull her in for another, late-night kiss.
"You know that pact you and Marion probably have about distracting me," he mumbled into her ear as she grinned, "well, you'd better keep me distracted here because I want no part in thinking about or knowing about anything going on out there."
She smiled again, leaning in to kiss him before finally adding, "You know, there's that possibility that it's a lot like what's going on in here." With that, Jack groaned, and Lisa's laugh could be heard throughout the house.
Much later, after Lisa arrived at home and had showered for the night, she checked her email before going to bed, surprised to find not one, but two emails from Jack. She knew what the first one said since she'd been sitting there as he wrote it, but the second one-he actually had been writing an email to her. She sat down to read what he had sent her.
Lisa,
As much as I protest, thank you for showing me how to call you and use email on the computer. You need to know how much I value you to even put up with the technology nonsense, but I do really care about you and enjoy our time together. I know that everywhere either of us go in town, we hear people whispering about how crazy it is, the two of us as a couple. I might have tended to agree with them, except that I'm crazy about you and while I was frustrated with our age difference at first, I mostly don't notice it at all now (except when you poke fun at some of my sayings). I haven't given much thought to the idea of a future for a long time, mostly because I thought I had lived my life and whatever life I have left was just for here on the ranch, with Marion, watching Amy and Lou grow into young women, but for the first time in a long time, I am excited about a future, one that I hope includes you.
Thank you for stepping out and taking a chance on an old guy like me. You are one special lady. I also want to thank you for coming over to the ranch, cooking dinner for my family, and for the amazing dinner it will be-because I've loved everything you have ever cooked for me. I hope the evening went smoothly and that just maybe, I was able to spend some time alone with you. I really am an idiot to not suggest more dinners at your place where we have plenty of alone time. I promise we can work on that.
Fondly (and knowing that is probably not a strong enough word to describe how I feel about you but also knowing that I am still coming to grips with the feelings I am having),
Jack
Jack Bartlett. Oh my. She quite possibly loved this man.