"Grandpa?" Jack looked over to his bedroom door to see Amy cautiously opening it and peering in at him. He smiled softly and waved her in.
"Morning Amy, everything okay?"
"Yeah," she nodded, now that she'd put eyes on him and seemed to determine he was okay, returning his smile. "You are up and dressed," she sighed, Jack noting the relief in her voice.
He nodded, smiling softly again at her as he sat on the edge of his made bed. Jack looked down at the phone in his hand; he'd already spoken to Lisa this morning, afternoon for her-and she had an occupational therapy session later in the afternoon for her- and after a quick glance at it, turned his attention to Amy.
"I saw your door was still closed," she continued talking, waving her hand. "It's 6:30, and I remembered you telling Dad last night you were going to help with the morning chores. It's silly," she frowned and shook her head. "I wanted to make sure you were okay. It's not like you to sleep this late, I mean especially after your-"
"Heart attack," he nodded quietly. He gave a nod for Amy to join him and sit down for a moment. She read his nod and moved to sit by him, looking over to the other side of the bed where his suitcase was still open. He'd opened it last evening to unpack, had gotten tired, and he'd left it there, not even moving it while he slept overnight. It hadn't bothered him in the least. "I'm okay."
"All of that," Amy met his gaze and gave a head nod toward the suitcase, "you brought home Lisa's things?"
He nodded, "I did. She has a lot to bring home."
Amy nodded, eyeing him, "So, she is coming home?"
"She is," he smiled. "I didn't want to talk much about Lisa last night, but yes, she will be coming back to Hudson soon, as soon as she's had these appointments of hers. I know you, Lou, and I need to sit down and talk about Lisa-"
"It's okay," Amy shook her head. "I know you don't like to talk about your relationship, but seeing as how she did leave you-"
"Amy," he met her gaze, "that's what I need to talk to you and Lou about. None of this is as simple as it seems."
She raised an eyebrow, "You do love her. I know you do, have for years."
"I do," he felt his face redden, and he cleared his throat as he looked back to his phone, almost expecting Lisa to still be on the call. "We'll talk. Yes, a lot of things are private to me, but from last night's conversations and all, there are things that need to be discussed, clarified," he waved his hand. He gestured to his phone, "I just got off the phone with Lisa, the reason I'm not out at the barn again. I was out there, just after 4AM," he frowned, nudging her with his shoulder, "jet lag. See, it's well past lunchtime in France now. I'm still adjusting, probably will be for a few days. I couldn't sleep, did the chores very early, came in, called Lise," he said with a single nod, "and now," he winked at her, "should probably start some breakfast even though it feels like it should be lunchtime."
"Ahh, yes, sorry," Amy wrinkled her nose and chuckled. "I didn't think about that, and I'm sorry to basically barge in here to check on you. I might have freaked out a little, too much of Lou in my ear," she rolled her eyes. "Sorry, Grandpa."
"Amy," he reached over and put his hand on hers, "you are very much your own person, and if anything, you are a lot like me and a lot like your mom. I appreciate you checking on me. I'm fine, just hitting a bit of a wall this early in the morning."
"That jet lat is going to be rough then considering it's not even 7AM," she chuckled, frowning. "Maybe a nap is in order today."
He nodded, "Lisa suggested the same. You know," he smiled softly, crossing his arms, "we were taking naps a few times a week in France. She needed the rest, and I hadn't had any rest worrying about her. Maybe it's time I embrace a nap here at home," he winked at her. She grinned and nodded.
"I think that sounds like a great plan for you. Tell you what-how about I help you make breakfast? I know I'm no cook, but I think I can manage to make the toast and not burn it."
"You're on," Jack pointed at her, patting her knee again and gesturing up. The two stood, Jack eyeing the suitcase half full. He waved at it as Amy stared to the door, "I'm really looking forward to Lisa coming home, Amy, and I need you to know that, Lou too. We'll talk about her later today."
Jack and Amy made their way to the kitchen, and the two started to get out the eggs, bacon, and bread for breakfast. Georgie flew through the kitchen, throwing on her boots almost as she walked and grabbing a banana before taking off for the barn. Katie wandered through, Amy filing her cup before Katie wandered out with it, and soon, Lou made her way into the kitchen, dressed, arms crossed, as she surveyed the situation. Jack eyed her from the stove.
"Morning," he said with a nod and smile. "Your girls have already been through here."
Lou yawned and nodded, "Hmm, yes, thanks for getting Katie her juice," she waved to the room. "She's already started on her first tea party of the day. Gosh, I'm tired today. Grandpa, how did you sleep?"
"Ahh, okay," he turned his head from side to side as he flipped the bacon. He glanced at Lou, gesturing, as he spoke, "I've got some pretty serious jet-lag with an eight-hour time difference. I was up very early, even for me, took care of the chores, and now," he chuckled, "it feels like lunchtime, maybe naptime," he winked.
"Well, you know, they always say the best thing for jet-lag is to just push through the day, turn in a little early, and that's the best way to reset."
"Maybe if they aren't in their mid-70's," Amy frowned at Lou and gave a nod to Jack. "Eight hours is a huge difference. I mean, it feels like, what 3:00 PM, Grandpa?"
"Yes, correct," Jack nodded in agreement, pausing to cover his yawn. The three all chuckled at that, which was interrupted with the ringing of his phone again. He frowned at the girls as he started to dig it from his pocket, "I'm sure your dad is wondering where I am and maybe hasn't discovered the chores are done."
"Ahh, there you are," the group turned to the door as Tim stepped inside, and Jack was still fumbling for his phone. "Thanks for doing the chores and for now making breakfast," he flashed a grin.
"Oh, it's Lisa," Jack couldn't help but smile seeing that his favorite person was calling him again.
"Stay! I would like to say hi to Lisa," Tim encouraged with a grin as he bit into an apple and sat down at the table.
"Yes, I haven't spoken to her much either," Amy nodded, glancing to Lou.
Jack stepped from the stove, waving to the bacon as he eyed Tim, and Tim flashed him another grin but got the hint and stepped to the stove to take over bacon duty.
As much as Jack wanted to step away, out of the kitchen, he did understand the family wanted to say hi to her, plus, he was also sort of blocked into the corner with Lou by the refrigerator and Amy now in the chair by the sink. He stepped to the corner cabinet area, adjacent to Tim and answered.
"Lise, everything okay?" Jack was mildly concerned since the two had spoken about an hour earlier.
"Everything is more than okay. I am on my way to my therapy appointment, and I'm calling you because you and Tom surprised me." Jack smiled at her comment, chuckling as he leaned back against the counter and nodded into the phone.
"I know driving is still really hard for you, and Tom did offer to help. I know he can't take you to every appointment, but he and I have a plan for that."
"Ahh, he was just here telling me that, that you, Jack Bartlett, had spoken to him and gotten some help from him to set up a car service for me. That is a very lovely surprise and thing to do."
"I'm just sorry I can't be the one there to continue taking you to your occupational therapy appointments, but yes, with Tom's help, you will have a car service to take you each time." Jack realized the setting and glanced up to see the family all staring at him. His face instantly reddened, and he caught Tim's eye there next to him. Tim had a giddy grin on his face that almost made Jack want to roll his eyes. Tim nodded with his wide eyes, asking for permission to say hi to Lisa.
"It's a lovely thing for you to do. Thank you. I do wish you were here too, not that I'm not glad to see Tom. Oh, he says hi."
"Tell him I said hello as well," Jack chuckled, nodding as he spoke. "Ahh, Lise, I'm going to put you on speaker. The family is all here and would like to say hello."
"Ahh, that sounds great, okay."
"Lisa!" Tim grinned, glancing to Jack, almost giddy. "Hey, get better soon. Miss seeing you here."
"What Dad really means, Lisa," Amy stepped toward Tim and spoke into the phone, "is that he misses your pies."
"I can't lie," Tim shrugged. "The one Val sent over was fine, not as good as Lisa's."
"Hello, everyone. Oh, it's really good to see and talk to all of you. Make sure Jack gets some rest now that he's home. Ahh, Val was there?"
"No, Lise," Jack answered quickly. He knew there was a lot of tension with Lisa and Val. "She'd dropped off a pie yesterday before I got home, you know, to welcome me home."
"Oh, well, there's no surprise. Amy, Tim, I miss seeing you both as well."
"Lou's here too," Jack informed her.
"Ahh, hi, Lisa. Grandpa told us how bad your accident was. Glad you are doing better. I hear you are headed back to Hudson. Don't be a stranger," she eyed Jack, and he noted that. "Katie has grown so much."
"Oh, I can't wait to see her, see all of you," Lisa told them. "I appreciate you taking care of things there while Jack was here. I was in really bad shape. Speaking of," she paused, and they could all hear her giving Tom some instructions, "sorry, I was telling Tom where to park. Ahh, I am at my therapy appointment, and I do need to go."
"Bye, Lisa," they all said in a chorus of comments. Jack took the phone off speaker, something he'd gotten good at doing with his phone now, and finished his call with her, "Hey," he nodded into the phone, "you have Tom take you to the store, get anything you need while out. He told me he needed to make a trip to the city, so we coordinated it with your appointment."
"He told me he'd already run his errands, and try not to be too jealous, but we're going to dinner after this."
"Good," he smiled, nodding. "You and Tom enjoy your dinner. Talk soon," he said.
"I love you, and I know with everyone right there, you are put on the spot, but I know you love me too."
"I do," he nodded, his face blushing, "very much. Talk soon." Jack didn't even realize he was standing there nodding until he looked up and found everyone looking at him. He waved his hand at his phone and then sighed. Apparently, later would be now. Lisa's call had set the proper stage to clear some of the air.
"Tom?" Lou commented, raising her eyebrows. "Who, who is that?"
"Okay," Jack pursed his lips and gestured to the table. "Let's sit, have some of this breakfast, and talk. I need to clear the air on a few things." Jack hoped the look he gave everyone conveyed they should do as he suggested before asking more about Lisa. The hint seemed to get across to them, and thankfully, Tim jumped in to help.
"Bacon is ready. These eggs," he waved his hand at the stove, "almost done. I put them on when I took over cooking duty. Amy, how's the toast?"
"Ahh, ready, and I'll refill coffees and grab the juice."
"Lou-"
"Setting the table, Dad," she flashed smile as she held up the placemats. "Katie won't eat any of this, and Georgie is-"
"Stuck on being in the barn," Amy commented. "She doesn't like eggs, remember? Let's eat."
The four pulled up chairs to sit around the small kitchen table. It felt right, sitting there in the tight space for breakfast. It was a family affair, yes, but not a full family breakfast. Once they were all seated, Jack glanced around the table and realized all eyes were on him.
"Okay," he clapped his hands together momentarily until the bowl of eggs were passed his way. He scooped out a helping and then cleared his throat, "I know you all have questions about my time away-"
"Well, Grandpa, you were gone for three months, and yes, we know Lisa was in very bad shape, but we also know things with you weren't in a good place."
"Lou," Tim sighed and shook his head, gesturing to Jack. "Let him talk."
"Yes, I was gone for three months, Lou, and quite honestly," he glanced her way with his fork in his hand, "I should still be there. Immigration is the only reason I'm back home. I didn't like leaving Lisa there alone, and she called just now because I asked a friend to take her to her occupational therapy appointment. She really shouldn't be driving. I mean, technically she can, but she knows it is a struggle. I've been doing all the driving. With her mangled hand and a broken pelvis, she's been in bad shape."
"That was very sweet of you, Grandpa," Amy reached to pat his hand. "I'm sure she appreciates the help."
He rolled his head, "It is the least I can do for Lisa-"
"More than she did for you," Lou crossed her arms and sat back. "Grandpa, I am so frustrated with her. I mean, after what, almost eight years, that's how she is with your heart attack? You think you know someone," she sighed and dropped her head as she shook it.
"You are right," Jack stated firmly, nodding. "You think you know someone. Well, what you should know is that I am the reason Lisa wasn't around after my heart attack. I sent her away and broke off our relationship."
"What? I thought you loved her?" Lou asked, her eyes widening.
"Lou-" Amy cut in, and Jack glanced her way again. Amy nodded at Jack, making eye contact with him, "You didn't want her around because you were afraid of what would happen to you, didn't you? I know you Grandpa."
He let out a long sigh as he nodded, looking across the table to a surprisingly quiet Tim. Tim was eating away, his plate almost empty, but as he did look toward Tim, Tim glanced at him as he chewed on a piece of toast.
"Yes, Amy, something to that effect," Jack answered, still looking at Tim. Tim frowned as he finished his toast and shook his head at Jack.
"She's the best thing to happen to you. I've told you how stupid you were."
"Dad, you knew?" Lou asked, waving her hand. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"I mean, I thought you'd figure out this old goat was the problem," Tim waved his hand at Jack. "He makes himself miserable on his own. Of course, he'd see the age difference after having a heart attack."
"It was not just the age difference," Jack explained again, frowning. "I wanted Lisa to have a better life than I thought I could give her. I was in a bad place-"
"What's new?" Tim smirked, and all eyes turned toward him. He rolled his eyes, "Come on. We all know Jack makes life difficult. You are always in a bad place."
"Not with Lisa," Jack smiled softly, his mind trailing to thoughts of her. "I was wrong in what I thought. I spent all of my time in Arizona thinking about her, about our life together-"
"You have been together a long time, Grandpa," Lou added. "Now that you explained this, I can see it. I can see you sending Lisa away. I should have known better. I've been blaming her this entire time-"
Jack shook his head again, "Lisa has done nothing wrong, and this entire ordeal has been awful to see. She's a wonderful person, and I hate that she was in such a horrible accident. I hate that I hurt her deeply and had her doubting us. The past three months have given us time to heal in more ways than one."
"So," Lou gave him a soft smile as she sipped at her coffee, "she was glad to see you, glad you came to your senses?"
"Not at first," Jack pursed his lips. "It was rough in the hospital, but she needed so much help. The language barrier was probably a help to us, a hindrance for anything else. We only had each other to rely upon, each other and the friends we made. Tom," he gave a nod, "he is a French pastor. I met him the first day I was there, right after seeing how broken and battered Lisa was. I was in a bad spot. I met Tom outside the hospital, and he was the first person I met who spoke English. He was a lifesaver, which seems to be the theme of this story."
"I'm glad you made a friend, Grandpa," Amy put her hand on his shoulder and smiled at him. "You always sounded so lost and so sad when we talked. I always wanted to do more."
"You three did a lot here, more than you know," Jack told them, looking around the table. "When I look at each of you," he paused and looked down briefly, "I realize how far we have all come. You girls have grown into amazing women. Tim," he looked over at him, "we both know where things were when you came back to town."
"Well, for one," Tim chuckled, "I wouldn't be eating breakfast in your house. Yeah, you can say we've come a long way."
Jack nodded in agreement, "Just as Lisa and I have as well. Now, Lisa and I have had a relationship for years. That is no secret, but we've tried to keep our personal life somewhat personal. Even getting into this is a lot for me, but you all need to know that yes, she will be returning to Hudson soon. She's cleared to travel in a couple of weeks, but know that does not mean that she's back to normal health. She will still have plenty of appointments here in Hudson, and I'm going to be there to help her anyway I can."
"I love Lisa," Amy put her hand on Jack's, getting his attention. He turned toward Amy, and she nodded, "She has always been so good to me, to us," she waved her hand. "It's been so strange not having her here. Even though you'd had your heart attack, it felt almost back to normal to have her around those few days before she left again. It's not our business to ask about what you two said or whatever, but I am glad to hear she's coming home, back to Hudson. I know she doesn't have family-"
"We are her family," Jack said with a firm nod, glancing around, eyeing each of them to convey this was not a question but a statement.
"I will help out however I can. I've been glad to help with Fairfield all these months."
"I appreciate it, and I know she does too," Jack nodded.
"You know I like Lisa, Grandpa," Lou added, waving her hand at him. "Of course, whatever I can do to help-meals, rides to appointments-"
"That is good to hear, both of you girls. I would expect nothing less. Lisa has been here for all of our family for years and years. She brought you and Peter together, Lou. You named her Katie's godmother. You ran the dude ranch with her. Tim," he eyed him, and Tim looked up from another piece of toast, Jack realizing then that he'd barely eaten, "she listened to all of my complaints about you and has continued to encourage me to work things out with you."
"Well, you know I love her," Tim smirked, and then, his face reddened, as he coughed and gestured, adding, "I mean, not in the same way you do-"
"I do love her," Jack stated, his lips pursed and firm, his face reddening slightly, but he looked each of them in the eye, letting that sink in. "I never thought I could love anyone else after your grandmother, but I was wrong. I love Lisa, not that it should be a surprise, and no, not that I want to discuss that more right now. Right now, what you need to understand, to realize," he clarified, "is like I said, Lisa will be returning home. Yes, I love her, and yes, we worked through a lot while I was in France. When she gets back, expect her to be here more."
"Hallelujah," Tim raised his fork in the air-"
"Dad! She's not going to show up and cook dinner like normal," Amy sighed.
"Come on, Dad," Lou smacked at him, "she's injured. Ahh, Grandpa," Lou waved her hand again, "what can we do for you?"
He paused, thinking and finally nodded, "Love Lisa. Be kind to her. She's a very special lady to me, and she needs all of us. Your help these last months has meant a lot, but actions speak louder than words, so yes, when she returns home in a couple weeks, be good to her, and," he frowned, eyeing both girls and then Tim before he added, "let's keep Val out of the family information loop. "