Author Note: No disrespect to Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Danielle Steele, Africa or the State of Illinois.
Eric crawled wearily into his bed. He was bone tired and couldn't remember working that hard on a Saturday in a long time. Between him and Jackie, they finished packing the kitchen and basement and promised to come back the next day. Secretly, Eric was really looking forward to working with the short brunette again. Sure she bitched and complained but it was good natured grumbling. He drove with her to his parent's new condo and they unloaded everything into the garage.
"Do you want me to take you back to get your car or would you rather ride up with me in the morning?" she asked as he closed the garage. Eric couldn't believe the day was nearly over – he actually enjoyed working with her. "How about I ride with you? The Cruiser doesn't do a lot of traveling these days. Usually it's to work and back."
Jackie smiled, "Let me take you home and I'll pick you up around nine-ish?" Eric thought that sounded reasonable, "It's a date."
"It is not" she corrected. "A date is when you take me dancing"
Eric's jaw dropped. He hoped she was kidding.
She grinned, "I'm messing with you Eric, relax. Can you imagine the devil and the geek going on a date? Give me a break!"
She dropped him off at his modest apartment and remarked that the Forman condo wasn't too far away. Wasn't that a coincidence? Eric didn't know whether to invite her in or shake her hand. Instead he leaned down to the window. "Jackie, I don't know if I could have packed all that shit without your help."
She smiled sweetly, "Oh Eric, there's nothing I wouldn't do to help your parents. I'll see you at 9:00 tomorrow!" And she sped off leaving Eric with his hand in the air.
Evil Midget, he thought before he fell asleep.
*
Jackie honked her horn outside of his apartment. Eric looked around – what if she wanted to come in? Well, it was decently clean but nothing he would bring a girl into. Why was he thinking of Jackie as a girl? He quickly grabbed his wallet and house key and was out the door in a flash. As he slid into the passenger seat, he looked over and nearly stumbled over his good morning greeting. Jackie looked extraordinary. Her hair was still damp and she had it tied up in a ribbon. Her green/blue eyes were full of mischief. She was wearing a tank top that clung in all of the right places. She noticed him noticing her. "I got too hot yesterday – so….."
Eric cleared his throat, "No, that's okay. You're hot. I'm meant it WAS hot yesterday. Damn, I mean…" She put her hand on his arm, "Don't worry Eric, I know what you meant and I don't bite." she could tell he was a little uncomfortable with her attire, but she was damned if she was going to sweat in a tracksuit again. Eric could just deal with jeans and a tank top. The drive was a little over an hour but it sped by as the pair talked about their respective lives. Eric was almost saddened when the camaro pulled into the driveway.
The Forman's had rented a van to haul the heavy furniture. Eric was relieved to see a couple of burly men moving the sofa into the van. Thank God, he only had to move boxes. Red was standing outside supervising and Kitty was fluttering around making sure the movers had drinks and snacks.
Jackie bounced out and gave Red a peck on the cheek and slid into the kitchen to see her mother. Eric went to stand beside his dad. Red nodded towards the driveway, "How did you like the car."
Eric knew he meant the camaro and not the rusted Vista Cruiser. "It was nice Dad. She let me drive it." Red looked over, "That girl is a keeper. I've never seen any of you boys work on a car the way she can. Think about that the next time you have a date"
Red walked away leaving Eric befuddled. Dating and Jackie fixing cars in the same conversation was like a square peg in a round hole. It made no sense. But it didn't matter because Kitty came out to offer her son some breakfast.
The day moved along at a fast pace. The moving van was packed tight and the drivers were ready to go. Jackie volunteered to drive Kitty to the new house so they could get there before the furniture - Red and Eric could lock up and follow. Kitty was thrilled at the idea of some girl time in a new car. Red wasn't pleased at the prospect of cleaning up behind the movers. Eric wasn't too happy at being left alone with his dad.
Red sat down heavily on the patio chair. "Son, sit with me." He opened two beers and put one on the table next to him.
Eric looked like a deer in the headlights. Oh no, what did I do now? He took a chair and sat across from his father. Red sat silently for a few minutes and Eric could feel that he was under scrutiny. Finally, Red spoke. "Eric, you used to be a twitchy little girl, but in the last few years I could tell you have grown up."
Praise…good so far, Eric thought.
"Now, I wasn't all that excited about you and Donna getting married and having the damn Pinciotti's as part of the family… I mean I liked Donna, but she was too much of a girl for you at 19. Hell, she's too much for that damned pansy ass Randy-whatever-the-hell his last name is. I just want to say that it would have been a mistake for you to have married that young and I'm sorry I never told you this earlier."
Red is apologizing? That's great!
"Now, your adventure to Africa – It just about killed your mother to have her baby run off to another continent. I knew you would be fine, but I think that was a little extreme." Red paused for a drink of beer.
Semi-praise was good, Eric thought. But then Red wasn't finished either. "I wanted to tell you that I am proud that you are a teacher. You've had a job for several years now, you seem happy doing it, you make a decent wage…but you're lacking."
What?!? Eric was swallowing and nearly choked. "I'm lacking? What do you mean dad?"
Red scoffed at Eric's confusion. "Son, your mother and I are getting older. She wants grandchildren and if you aren't playing the field, how is that going to happen?"
Grandchildren? Eric could feel a headache beginning at the base of his skull. He was 26 and had plenty of time to start a family.
Red continued, "Eric, if you could find yourself a nice girl, like Jackie, to settle down with, your mother and I would be very happy. That is unless you are…." Red couldn't bear the thought that his son may not be "manly" enough.
Like Jackie? What the hell! "Dad, what about Laurie? Why isn't she getting the grandchildren speech? I like my life the way it is now", he exclaimed. (I'm lonely.) "And how do I go about finding a girl like Jackie?" (She's so out of my league –as if I would even consider someone like her) "Does mom know we are having this conversation without her? What about Betsy? You and Mom love Betsy."
Red chuckled, "I adore Betsy, but she's a Kelso, dumbass. And before you go there, Steven and The Stripper aren't cut out to be parents. And don't get me started on the foreign kid…." Eric almost laughed out loud when he remembered Fez and Laurie were briefly married. God, their children would have been tan and… smutty.
Red sighed loudly, "Eric, I'm not saying you need to get married now or tomorrow. Just consider it in your future okay? You could do worse than Jackie." Red stood up and clapped his son on the shoulder. "Let's go home."
*