He'd barely closed the door in the small entryway, and Evelyn, this beloved aunt of Lisa's, had started in on her.
"Goodness, Lizzy," he turned to see Evelyn touching Lisa's sling with widened eyes, "what in the world? I didn't know it was this bad. Your message just said you were in an accident and to contact you."
"Yes, it did," Lisa said as Jack pulled off the shawl she'd put on for their walk, anything with sleeves still incredibly difficult for her to wear. She nodded her thanks to him before turning back to her aunt. "I also left that message a couple of weeks ago while still in the hospital. You didn't call."
"No, I decided coming was the best option. I'm sorry, Lizzy. I've been in Morocco, you know," she waved her hand in the air with a flair to her smile, "remote, no cell reception, so when I got your message finally yesterday after returning to some sort of civilization, you know," she winked with a chuckle, "civilization for Morocco, I got right on a plane and came here. I'm here to check on you and now that I've seen you, apparently to take care of you."
"Oh, ahh," Jack caught Lisa's glance as he put his hands on her shoulders to pivot around her in the small entryway. They almost hadn't noticed him there, which was fine, but he did want to get into the house and maybe get Lisa somewhere she could sit. Before she could even finish saying more about Evelyn showing up, Jack nodded at Lisa.
"How about I make some tea or coffee?" He eyed Evelyn and the turned back to Lisa.
"Tea would be great, Jack, thanks," Lisa gave him a soft smile, but Evelyn interjected before more could be said.
"Lizzy, oh, how about something stronger? I picked up our favorite bottle of wine-"
"Lise can't have wine," Jack said at the same time Lisa said, "I can't have wine. I had swelling on the brain."
"Oh dear, I had no idea," Evelyn frowned. Jack squeezed Lisa's arm and gestured.
"I'll make some tea. Lise, why don't we get you seated. You've got to be tired from the walking."
"So, that cane is really yours, Lizzy and not yours?" Evelyn gestured to Jack. "So you're Jack," she eyed him, giving him the once over. He nodded, trying to step away to make the tea.
"Evelyn, I was in a serious accident, and I did call you a couple of weeks ago, but the accident was six weeks ago now. I was in a coma for a couple of weeks. I wanted to tell you all of that but didn't want to leave it in a message."
"Lisa's come a long way," Jack said, giving an encouraging smile to her before he turned his attention back to Evelyn. "She still has a broken pelvis, which is why she needs the cane." He gestured to Lisa, "Let's move to the living room."
She gave him an encouraging nod and he waved his hand for her to walk ahead of him. She hobbled down the hall, Jack aware that she was sore and stiff after their walk to town. He waved to Evelyn to follow Lisa, and then he followed both women, cutting into the kitchen while Lisa lead Evelyn to the living room sofa.
While he prepared the tea, he could hear the two women catching up in the living room. When he'd made Lisa's favorite tea, he carried it into the room on a tray she kept on her counter.
"Ahh, thank you," Lisa said, sighing as he handed her the cup. He turned and handed one to Evelyn explaining things.
"I hope you have the same palate for tea Lisa and I both have. This is her favorite kind." He turned back to Lisa, "Can I get your something?"
She gestured to her arm, "Could you grab that pillow I've been putting under my arm? I think it's on the porch." He nodded, retrieved it, and when he came back into the room, he sensed that something had been said about him because Evelyn snapped her mouth shut.
"I just can't believe you are this injured. What happened?"
"Ahh, well," she glanced to Jack as he lowered himself onto the couch next to her. Evelyn had chosen an armchair, one that Jack had been enjoying himself. It was a good chair for reading, and he'd been doing some of that over the last day or so. Lisa had handed him a mystery novel she had at the house, and he'd been finding that much more interesting than the cowboy novel he'd now sworn never to read again. Jack just watched as Lisa turned her head back to Evelyn to explain more. "Dan and I were attending a meeting up in the mountains a couple hours from here. It's still very murky what happened, but he flipped his Jaguar in the mountains, horrible accident, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in the hospital and finding out a couple of weeks had passed." She gestured to Jack, "Jack was there in a chair just waiting for me to wake up. Since then, it's been a very, very long road," she explained as she nodded. "Painful, getting back on my feet, getting back to life," she sighed, "just very glad to be alive."
Evelyn waved her hand, "So, you and Dan were together? Where is he?" She sat up as if he'd appear.
"Together for work," she said with a firm nod as she frowned at Evelyn, adding, "that's it. He's okay, better than I am. He had a broken leg but is getting back on his feet, yes, literally," she rolled her eyes. "Ironically, we are both walking with a cane."
"So, where is he?" Evelyn looked around, and Lisa glanced to Jack, giving him a quizzical glance.
"Evelyn," Lisa shook her head, "he's not here. He doesn't live here. You know that, but why are you so concerned about where Dan is?"
She waved toward Jack, still speaking to Lisa, "You've told me how things blew up with you two, but Jack, it's good of you to still care enough to come and take care of her, but I'd heard about your heart attack. I just didn't realize how much a trip like this, playing caretaker, might wear on you too, especially with your ahh, age, which," she frowned at Lisa, "your never told me he was this old," she waved.
"Evelyn," Lisa frowned and shook her head, "Jack's age is not relevant. There's plenty you don't know because as you said," she waved at her, "you've been out of touch. It's great to see you, but a call would have been okay to start, especially since I haven't heard from you in months."
"I know, Lizzy, and I am sorry about that, but truly, as soon as I got your message you'd been in a serious accident, I wanted to check on you. Granted, I didn't know you would still be in this sort of recovery mode. Please forgive me for not getting here sooner, but," she pointed at Lisa and offered a sad smile, "I'm not going to apologize for rushing here the moment I got your message. You, my dear, need some help."
"Evelyn, Lisa has made tremendous improvements since she's been home," Jack jumped in, eyeing Lisa before looking to Evelyn. "Look, I know I just met you, but I feel you need to know that, to know how bad it was. Yes," he nodded, "she still has a lot of recovering to do, but she's doing great," he offered Lisa a small smile and reached over to pat her hand. "Recovery can be a very slow process."
"Yes, it can," she nodded. "I also know you are recovering, Jack, as Lisa told me about your heart attack, as I mentioned, and that she'd traveled back to Canada even though you two had broken up." She pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows at Jack, "And, yes, I heard about the final straw, so I am a bit surprised to see you here, but I'll acknowledge you are a good person to still care about her after-"
"Evelyn," Lisa cut in, frowning herself. "I think we need to-"
Lisa's phone rang, and she sighed, digging it from her pocket. As she pulled it out, she looked to Jack, "It's Amy."
"I'll take it," he nodded, standing now and accepting the phone from Lisa. "Ladies, please excuse me. Evelyn, this is my granddaughter, and you two can have some time to talk."
With Lisa and Evelyn in the living room, Jack stepped into the spare bedroom at the front of the house to speak to Amy. Even Lisa's bedroom was right off the living room, and he wanted to give everyone a little more privacy.
"Amy, everything okay?" Jack asked when the video chat connected.
"Grandpa, hi," Amy smiled. "Glad I got you. I hope it's a good time."
"Fine, Amy," Jack nodded, sitting down on the side of Ben's bed to talk to her. He needed to wash the bedding and clean up the room; he'd told Lisa he would take care of it tomorrow and had told Ben to just leave things unmade so he could clean the room. He sighed as he sank down onto the side of the bed; he was tired and feeling worn out too. Jack knew if he was feeling this way, Lisa had to be absolutely exhausted. "It's almost time for bed here, so yes, it's fine."
"Good. Listen, I wanted to ask about the fishing cabin-"
"What about it?" Jack shook his head, frowning.
"I didn't think you would mind, but I still wanted to ask. Ty and I were thinking of going up there, doing some fishing. You know," she smiled, "he's still not very good but well, we've both been working so hard and wanted some time to just relax."
He nodded as he listened, "That's fine, Amy. You and Ty most definitely deserve some time to relax. I know you've been working hard, taking on my share of things, even running a lot of Lisa's business too. Please, yes, go to the cabin, and," he chuckled, nodding as he smiled, "teach Ty how to fish. Can't have him being the worst in the family. Just be careful, though, I mean of teaching him to fish."
Amy grinned but shook her head, "Why's that?" Careful of what?"
Jack winked at the screen, "Of letting him get better than you. I made that mistake with Lisa." He sighed, adding, "She's out fished me there before, couple times now. I just hope," he paused and frowned.
"You okay? What do you hope?"
Jack was quiet for a few moments before he frowned and answered, "I just hope I can take her up there again, and I'll gladly let her out fish me. I, ahh, miss her, Amy. I really do."
"Grandpa," she sighed and frowned at him. "How are things? You two seem always around each other. I had hoped things were better."
He shrugged, "Sometimes I think they are, and sometimes, I'm not sure. She's not intentionally giving me mixed signals about how she feels, but that's really the problem. Bottom line is she's not sure about anything, and I've certainly made a mess of things, and not given her a reason to try again."
"Grandpa," she sighed with a small, sad smile, "I know you love her, and I know she loves you. I'm sure you will work it out."
"Thanks, Amy," he smiled softly. "Let's talk about the cabin a minute. There are a few things I'd like you to check on and take up there."
Jack's conversation continued with Amy, and he glanced up when he noticed movement just at the door, his eyes meeting Evelyn's as she wandered about. He stopped talking to look to Evelyn.
"Sorry, Jack, didn't mean to bother you in your room. Ahh, Lisa was saying something about her pain medication and didn't know where it was."
"Right, ahh, Amy," he glanced at the screen, "I need to go. Lisa's aunt is here right now too. Enjoy the cabin."
"Thanks, Grandpa and say hi to Lisa for me."
Once he'd finished the call, he stood, waving his hand toward the door, "It's in the car, Lisa's medication. I'll go get it. We took it with us today since we were out most of the day."
"She looks exhausted," Evelyn frowned at him, and he nodded in agreement.
"She is, so all the more reason for me to get that for her so she can get to bed."
Jack made quick work of retrieving Lisa's medicine, and when he stepped back into the house, he heard the two speaking again.
"Evelyn, I love you, but you don't know what you are talking about."
"Lizzy, I am worried. You clearly need medical attention, and I can't believe you were discharged in this condition. I can get you to the best specialists in Paris. It is nice Jack still cared enough to come take care of you, but be honest, Honey, he's not in any shape to be handling things here. He's old. He can barely get around himself and has his own health issues. Now, I know he's trying-"
"Please don't critique Jack. That is not your concern."
"When you said you had this cowboy at home, my, well, I expected him to be some buff one. Why have I not seen pictures of him? I surely would have commented on his age."
"Our age has not been a concern, at least to me. Apparently, it is to him-"
"Well, it should be to you too. Darling, send the man on his way. It's not helping either of you to drag out what was already ended, and he has a life to live. You've got a much longer one ahead of you, and that's partly why you need the best care we can get you."
"I'm perfectly fine here, and I'm recovering just fine. I have physical therapy multiple times a week. I can't just snap my fingers and make myself better, even as much as I would like."
"Ahh, Lise," Jack decided that she could use some backup, and with that, he made some noise at the door, "I have your medicine." He stepped further into the house and into the kitchen, now finding Lisa standing by the sink filling a glass of water. He moved swiftly.
"Lise, I'll get that for you. Where's your cane?"
"I'm fine," she sighed. "I used the furniture to move around."
He shook his head, "Please don't do that," and put his hand on her shoulders, stepping around her. "You've come so far, and I'd hate for you to injure yourself. Here," he handed her the pill bottle.
"I know," she sighed. "Ahh, I'd told Evelyn," and at that, Jack looked up to see her still sitting there in the chair watching their interaction, "that I was getting very tired."
"I understand," she finally jumped in as she stood. She carried her cup of tea to the counter and met Lisa's gaze, "Obviously, I didn't know the severity of things and also knew I'd be surprising you. I'm glad I already booked a room at a nearby hotel. I saw Jack," she nodded to him, "has the spare room, but," she frowned at him, "I thought you'd be more tidy."
"Oh," he started to speak, but Lisa kicked at his foot, enough for him to glance her way.
"Evelyn, it's really good to see you, but yes, I do think a hotel is the best place right now. I do really need to get some sleep. I've been out all day, physical therapy and all. You'd heard Ben had visited too-"
"Sorry I missed him," she frowned. "He and I could have stayed together."
"Yes," Lisa offered a small smile, but then only saying, "so, if you don't mind, I really do need to get to bed."
"Of course," Evelyn nodded. "I'll be by in the morning. We can talk more about your rehabilitation plans then, gives you time to think about them tonight."
"I'll see you in the morning," Lisa said with a roll of her head.
"Lizzy, I'll let myself out," she waved and gestured toward Jack. "Very nice to meet you, Jack, and thank you for stepping in to take such good care of my Lizzy."
He pursed his lips, sensing her tone, but he nodded with a small smile, "Lise means the world to me. I can't imagine not being here."
With her out of sight, Jack rested his elbows on the kitchen counter, aware he should follow her to the door. He just didn't want to do that and sensed Lisa didn't want him to do that either. So, he waited there in the kitchen, resting his arms on the counter as he leaned over. She looked to him, her good arm braced against the kitchen counter, and when they'd heard the door close, Lisa let out a long breath.
"I do love my aunt, but she's, ahh, wow, a lot."
Jack turned his head and raised his eyebrows, "Lizzy?"
That comment had Lisa burst out laughing as she reached over and swatted at his arm, "Stop, okay? That was a nickname she gave me when I was what, maybe five years old."
He shook his head as he chuckled, "Yet, you've never mentioned it to me."
"For good reason," her voice dropped off as her eyes drifted too. When she glanced back to him, he was eyeing her, and Lisa rolled her eyes. "I hate it, okay? I really do, but I'd never tell her to stop calling me that. I don't know why I hate it, maybe because it's not really even close to my name. Lizzy," she shook her head, "sounds like it should be from Elizabeth."
He nodded as he stood and turned to lean against the counter, gesturing to her, "Would you be honest and tell me if you hate Lise?"
She gave him a small smile and nodded, "I don't hate Lise. I've told you that it's always been special. No one else calls me that."
He continued to meet her gaze with raised eyebrows, "So, you'd tell me? Please be honest."
She gripped his arm, nodding, "I like Lise, and I like you're the only one who calls me that."
"Okay," he winked. "Now," he gestured toward the rooms, "about Evelyn staying here."
Lisa's hand was still on his arm, and she squeezed it, which drew his attention to her arm. He glanced at her again as she responded, "I don't want her staying here, okay? As I said, I do love her dearly and even enjoy spending time with her, but I also know the limits."
He nodded, gesturing at her, "I just wanted you to know I would have cleaned the room from Ben's visit for her."
"I know, and I appreciate it," she nodded at him.
Jack's face reddened, and then, he waved his hand, "I'm sorry, Lise. I, ahh, didn't see it, but I do now. I'm sorry. I'll clear my things out of your room and move into Ben's. Of course, Evelyn can't stay here if I'm in that room."
"Jack," she said squeezing his arm again as she now laughed nervously, "Stop. Stop with the assumptions. I'm okay with things they way they are. I'm not asking anyone to move around. I'm just asking that Evelyn not stay here. Now," she eyed him, "I really need to get to bed. I'm exhausted and well," she grimaced, "will have Evelyn back here at the house first thing. You know," she pointed toward him, "she's usually up about as early as you without having horses to feed and cattle to round up."
"She's something," he nodded in agreement, and as he watched Lisa edge herself along the counter toward the bedroom, he moved swiftly to the living room. "Lise, please," he pleaded, reaching her cane and then moving swiftly back to her where she was watching him, "please, please, use this. I would hate for you to fall."
"I know," she nodded in agreement. "Thank you for the concern."
"Look, Lise," he frowned, and she turned back to him where he gestured, "about her concerns-"
"Let's talk tomorrow, okay?" Lisa eyed him, pleading with her eyes. Jack nodded, seeing the exhaustion there.
"Sure," he said, reaching over to squeeze her shoulder. "I'll lock up and be right in. Don't fall," he pointed to her while they went their separate ways.
"Jack," she called to him as he walked toward the front door. He turned back, and she eyed him, "Don't take Evelyn's comments to heart. She is often too blunt, and I'm sorry about that."
He nodded with a small smile, "I can deal with Evelyn and her comments. All that matters is what you think."