Author Note: …Jimmy's life is turned upside down….

-RH-

Chapter 03Chasing Jimmy

-RH-

Jimmy dropped Hope off at Shelly's, ex-girlfriend-turned day care provider, and whistled his way to work. He was making his way to the line to clock in when a crowd had gathered at the end cap in the center aisle. There were some snide comments and some laughter so he edged his way through the pack to see what was going on.

Some wise guy had taken some poster board from the school supply aisle and glued a bunch of candy bars to make a sign.

I am BUTTERFINGERS around you.

I used to be a CHUNKY SINGLE but you wouldn't know it now.

Some day I hope to cover you in HERSHEY KISSES

If only you'd be my WHATCHAMACALLIT….umm..date to the company picnic…..

Jimmy smiled – it was actually kind of cute! Someone had a great imagination but then here comes Eddie who ripped off the Butterfingers bar and now it just said, "I am - - - - - around you." That seemed a little ominous. Still, while the crowd was commenting on who could have created this, Jimmy ran to the time clock just three seconds before the digital number hit 8:00. No late days for this guy!

Sabrina shoulder nudged him on her way to produce. "Are you bagging today?" She asked with that twinkle in her eye. Jimmy tried to hold his breath but the butterflies were going crazy in his gut. "Ha….hi Sabrina! Actually I'm supposed to be training the new girl today."

"Bethany." Sabrina gritted the name through her teeth. "I think Barney's going to put her on shift work."

"Oh." Jimmy felt bad for the second shift workers – they missed all the good television nights and a regular dinner! Okay, so it might not be so bad working evenings once in a while…maybe when Hope was older. "I guess I'll be seeing her later then. So….do you still have the Rolling Stone cantaloupes?"

Sabrina smiled mischievously. "Yeah…I mixed them in with the watermelons when Barney wasn't looking. Say, what did you think of that poster?"

Jimmy grinned, "Looked like delicious graffiti. Speaking of posters….about the company picnic….you wanna…..maybe you wanna go with me and Hope?"

Sabrina put a hand on Jimmy's chest and his stomach pitched. "Oh Jimmy, I'm sorry. I talked to Wyatt last night and he's coming home for the holiday weekend. I wish I had known sooner." Sabrina saw the sad expression he tried to hide and added, "How about you and Hope hang with me and my boyfriend?"

Jimmy turned to look at Barney who was tapping his foot. "That's okay Sabrina. My whole family's coming so I'll stick with them. Maybe next time?"

She smiled, "It's a date." Jimmy's heart soured on that note and he felt an extra bounce in his step as he walked towards the waiting manager. "Good morning boss!"

-RH-

Training Bethany wasn't the chore Jimmy expected it to be. She was a quick learner, fun and kept him laughing all day. She reminded him of someone but he couldn't remember who and did it really matter when the hours just rushed past in one big fun filled day?

Sabrina was conspicuously absent and Eddie mentioned that Barney had her working in the office. That was just about the time Barney came out and put a hand on Jimmy's shoulder. "Jim….you may need to make arrangements and I understand, but with the party coming up….I need you to work nights with Bethany and Clive. I asked Sabrina but she's taking that night class and Denver has a transportation problem….so that leaves you."

Jimmy swallowed hard. How was he going to get Hope from Shelly's if he was at work? Would mom mind? He couldn't ask Maw Maw – she may or may not remember. Marcus and Eddie were terrible babysitters. Still, he liked this job and the benefits that came with it. This would show his daughter that daddy did everything he could to provide for her!

"Um….how long would I be on nights?" he asked hesitantly. Barney smiled, "Just for a week and you'll get premium pay."

"Okay…let me work out some way to get my daughter home." Who could help him with Hope?

Barney smiled his thanks and headed back to the office. Bethany tapped him on the arm, "Hey…what was that about?"

Jimmy turned and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm working nights next week." Bethany smiled broadly and clapped her hands. "Oh goodie! We'll have such fun! Clive is like a cadaver….I mean have you seen how he catches naps in the beer cooler? This will be so great!"

Her enthusiasm was infectious and Jimmy couldn't help but smile. He liked Beth and maybe a little change in routine would be good! As he got in the line to clock out, Sabrina was passing out the paychecks. She wouldn't even look him in the eye and instead just thrust the envelope under his nose.

"Sabrina….hey what's wrong?" Jimmy asked concerned. Finally she glared at him and said, "Bethany? You have to be kidding me!" Her eyes flashed and she walked away in a huff. Why did girls do that? Would his daughter do that when she got older? God, he hoped not!

- RH -

Burt frowned at the mess of Ragu and mystery meat that sat on his plate. In the center of the table was a bowl of day old hamburger buns and a second bowl of mismatched pasta noodles. He looked at his wife. "What is this supposed to be?"

Virginia sat down and spooned some buttered rigatoni shells and elbow macaroni into Hope's little plastic Hello Kitty bowl. Ten tiny fingers got stuck in the pasta rings and made her giggle. Virginia smiled, "Burt. This is dinner. You can spoon the sauce on a bun and have a Sloppy Joe or mix it with noodles and call it spaghetti. I don't care what you do with it, but this is dinner."

Burt looked at the sauce that seemed to congeal under his eyes. "What did you feed Maw Maw?"

"She wanted a Hungry Man TV dinner." Virginia replied spooning the sauce onto a bun.

Burt sighed, "Oh man! That fried chicken was mine. You know she only eats the pudding. Since Jim's been on nights, dinner has been terrible."

The feisty blonde raised a brow. "Oh big talk for a gardener slash pool cleaner! You try cleaning other people's toilets for a living and then come home to a granddaughter and make a healthy meal."

Hope looked at her grandparents. They were fussing and she didn't understand the words but the tones upset her and she started to cry. Virginia looked at her husband. "See what you did? You made Hope cry. I hope you're happy now!" Virginia grabbed up the baby and left the room.

Burt pondered the conversation – thought about it some more and decided to go take Maw Maw's chicken. She wouldn't touch it and he could still end this night with something decent in his stomach!

-RH-