Author Note: …Donna's long day continues…..
T7S
Chapter 03 – Complications
T7S
March 1984
Donna's producer gave her the play list for the day and the names of the independent artists she was going to interview on her show. "Stan, you have to be kidding. Angry Ants? What the hell kind of punk band is named after an insect?" Stan gave her a cassette tape. "This is a 30 second clip of their music. Use it as bumper music prior to the interview. This is a sound clip of Nasty Ned and the Nobodies. I actually like this group. Keep the interview's down to ten minutes at the most unless you get callers. I need the revenue the commercials bring in."
Donna saluted and shoved the cassettes into a cubbyhole on the sound board. She hated studio interviews. The guests didn't know how to use the headphones and they inevitably would spit on the microphones. Jerry, the morning guy, got to go out on location and work the job she wanted. That's what she got for asking for the afternoon spot. Still, her mornings spent with Randy every once in a while were totally worth it.
Donna plopped her headphones over her eyes and started queuing up the music she was going to play in the first half hour of her show.
T7S
Red looked at the new inventory and grinned. "This is just the thing to get the husbands to the car wash - pretty things for the wife to shop for while they wait. Jackie it is genius."
Jackie smiled. "I love rhinestones and thought that the ladies could use the colored initials for a key ring or to hang from their rear view mirror."
Red could see dollar signs and a Bahamas cruise with Kitty in the back of his mind. "So how did the seat covers go? It's been what…five months since we started selling them?" Jackie looked at her day planner. "We were on back-order at Christmas and this store and the one on Tennington are always sold out."
Red nodded. "Good. There's a new auto supply store opening in Kenosha. I'm meeting the manager this afternoon so I'll need a sample of everything. This might be our fourth secure customer."
Jackie clapped happily. "This is just the best day!"
Red looked at his watch. "It's almost noon! I've got to go."
Jackie had a lunch date! "Tell Mrs. Forman I said hello."
Red kissed the top of her head. "Will do."
December 1983
Jackie rolled over taking the sheets with her, "God that was the best sex I've had in a long time." A warm hand circled her waist as soft lips kissed her neck. "Me too…in fact it feels like it's been years."
She turned her head and smiled at the friendly green eyes. "It's just sex okay? Remember that. We're releasing frustrations and as mature adults we don't work well if we're frustrated."
Eric laughed, "Call it what you want, but I want seconds." Jackie laughed, "I'd be insulted if you didn't!" Eric pretended to growl and take a bite out of her belly as she howled with glee. "God, I miss being happy!"
Eric rose up on his elbow. "I miss seeing a happy face. Jackie, you are the best." She kissed the tip of his nose. "You do know that we're no better than they are." She said solemnly.
"Well….I know that I am happier. Spending the afternoon with you makes the rest of the day more bearable."
Jackie stroked his cheek tenderly. "You are just the sweetest guy. I wish Donna could know what she's missing." Eric captured her hand and replied in kind. "I wish Hyde would get his head out of his ass and give you the love and family you deserve."
That touched Jackie's heart more than anything had in the past several weeks. This relationship started off as a drunken one night stand filled with lust and passion meant for someone else…but over the weeks, Jackie and Eric discovered that this lovemaking wasn't about revenge sex but rather finding their own rhythm and trusting each other. This helped Jackie deal with Steven's indiscretions and helped Eric not think about who Donna warmed her bed with.
All for of them were wrong and they knew it. Steven knew something was going on with Jackie just as Donna suspected that Eric's happiness was not from anything she did. Steven and Donna never suspected that the love/hate relationship Jackie and Eric had….turned into something more. Something really big.
March 1984
Eric kissed Jackie on the cheek. "I was surprised to get your call. We don't usually meet on Wednesday's."
Jackie watched with glowing eyes as Eric sat down opposite her at the table. "I know and I made sure we weren't followed. I had something important to tell you and I couldn't do it over the phone."
Eric smiled at her happy face. "I have something important to tell you too! What is it?"
Jackie whispered, "You're going to be a daddy. I'm pregnant!" If she could have done a cheer, she would have. Eric was stunned. "Really? I'm gonna have a baby? We're gonna have a….oh no."
"What oh no? Don't oh no me, Eric! This is a blessing." Jackie started to get upset and Eric moved into the chair next to her and took her hands. "Wait." He kissed her knuckles and made her look into his eyes. "This is a blessing really…but Jackie, what happens when everyone else starts to notice?"
Jackie didn't care! She was having a baby. She threw her arms around Eric's shoulders, "Thank you for this! I've never been happier!" The midget enthusiasm was hard to ignore. Eric had wanted a family for so long and he almost had given up hope that the wish would ever come true.
Eric cupped her cheek with his hand, "When do you see the doctor?"
Jackie smiled, "I made an appointment for this afternoon. Can you come with me?" Eric looked so proud. "Wild horses couldn't keep me away."
With a hitch in her voice she said, "Good." She took a moment to compose herself before continuing, "I'm guessing our little For-Hart here is around 10 or 11 weeks old." Eric was amazed, "You can peg the date just like that?" Jackie blushed slightly, "Well, let's say that I'm a pretty regular girl…in that way….and I know when I'm missing something."
Eric hesitated but he had to ask, "Jackie….please don't hate me for asking but….this baby….it isn't…."
She pressed a finger to his lips. "Steven hasn't touched me in months. Eric, trust me, this is yours." Jackie scratched out an address on the back of a piece of paper. "Meet me here at 3:00 o'clock okay?"
Eric smiled. "I'm gonna have a baby. How cool is that?" He glanced at the address and tucked it in his pocket. "I'll see you there."
"Eric, wait. What was your news?"
He smiled. "I made co-editor of the paper. You're the first to know." Jackie squealed happily and hugged him again. "Oh I'm so proud of you! You tried really hard for this and it happened!"
He did feel proud. He got the new job….he was going to be a dad…he had to break up with his girlfriend. Still, he was over the moon! Eric buzzed a kiss on her lips and ducked out of the café.
Jackie sat back in her chair. She thought about Eric's question, "…but Jackie, what happens when everyone else starts to notice?" In her joy, she never thought that far ahead. Steven was going to be pissed. Donna was going to freak out. Well maybe not Donna so much, but definitely Steven. She was going to lose him, of that, she was certain. But when he found out that the father of the baby was his own best friend…oh god, there was going to be more fireworks than the 4th of July at Michael's house!
T7S