Chapter 10 – Catching Cars and Catching Up

"I can be very nice Eric. You either want to talk or don't. It's your call."

Eric's workweek was quick. He and Jackie spoke once more and she was vague when he asked personal questions but encouraged him to talk freely about himself. Normally he would have been suspicious, but like she said, he really couldn't hide, she knew a lot about his habits and haunts.

He got dressed for school and found it odd that his parents were missing and there was no breakfast, just a note that they had business.

*

Kitty looked at the dusty old café. It was small and narrow but had two good sinks, a nice sized stove and she had that refrigerator in the garage. This would make a great Kitty's Café for Red's customers to wait in for their cars. She smiled at Red who handed her the key.

"I can't help you clean it today, but we'll guilt Eric into helping tomorrow. I need to go fill out some forms at City Hall, but if you want, I can bring Jackie over to give you a hand."

"No Red. This is my café. I'll clean it and I'm so excited about cooking for other people! I just have this gift…Oh, and everyone is going to love my coffee and a hot brownie!"

Red smiled. Kitty's part time job as a nurse was stressful and this little café would keep her from going crazy in an empty house. "Love you Red Forman! I'll see you later."

*

Jackie was watching the exchange between husband and wife – they were such a cute couple. Red told her of his idea and Jackie thought it was brilliant. It would keep people out of the shop and a phone call to the café when the car was done was perfect. Red made money twice! He was becoming quite the businessman.

Kitty crossed the street and smiled at Jackie who was flushing a radiator. "Honey, I'm just going to borrow some of his cleaning supplies."

Jackie gave her a "thumbs up" and continued working. Kitty thought it was so cute that she was wearing the newer better fitting uniform. Yes, she did resemble a young boy just as long as the uniform was zipped and she kept her hair under the hat. But that was an all girl body and Kitty trusted Red to keep an eye on their little money maker.

By the time Red came back, the Café windows sparkled, the counters were shined and the electricity was turned on. Kitty had big dreams that were coming true. She loved to cook and she loved watching people eat her food. And she was going to earn money for it!

*

Eric came home and there was another note for him instead of dinner. Come to Dad's shop after school.

He made a quick call to Fez to explain they'd have to get together later and headed to the garage. What was mom doing there?

The bay door was down and locked so Eric parked in front and knocked on the side door. Red was drinking a beer and waved Eric into the office. "Son, come in."

Eric looked around warily, his dad was being happy again. A beer was pulled out of the mini-fridge. "Son, have a seat. Your mom and I want to talk with you."

"Er, where's mom?" He accepted the beer and sat on the sofa. "She's a… talking to Jack. She'll be right back." The woman in question slid into the office. "Did you tell him yet?"

Red grinned. "No, I thought I'd leave that for you."

Kitty was a bustling bundle of energy. "Oh Eric, I'm opening a café - across the street! Your Dad's garage doesn't have a waiting room and the business is so good, that they can come to the café and wait for their cars…and buy my famous cakes and brownies!"

Eric smiled – his mom was the best cook. "That's great mom, but why couldn't you just tell me over the phone?"

"Because, dumbass, this is your legacy. Do you think I'm leaving my business to your sister? You need to get involved and that means tomorrow, you're helping your mom move in some furniture and supplies."

"But I'm helping Kelso move."

Red fumed, "Do you plan on living with Kelso?"

"Well, no but …."

"Speaking of butts and my foot….get over to the café and see what your mother has worked on all day long and you give her the respect she deserves."

Eric felt whipped. "Let's go mom."

Kitty clapped her hands and led the way to the café. Jackie slid in from the garage bay. "That went over well."

Red mumbled. "That dumbass thinks his friends are more important than his family. Here's a beer, drink one on me. I'm locking up."

"See ya on Monday Mr. Forman!"

He looked back and smiled. "Good night Jackie."

*

Kitty unlocked the glass door and switched on the lights. Eric walked in and something about the place seemed familiar. "Mom, didn't this used to be Joe's Ice Cream Shoppe? Yeah, me and Laurie used to sit by the window and watch the trucks drive by."

Kitty smiled. "It did. Now it's going to be Kitty's Café. I'm going to sell sandwiches to the businesses in the area and serve coffee and dessert to your dad's customers. Since you slipped – I mean had that terrible fall, he can't have people waiting for their cars."

Eric looked around. His mom had done a nice job of cleaning and it smelled good. "What do you need me to do?"

"Well, I'm renting a van tomorrow so I need the refrigerator from garage; the sofa from the basement, Pastor Dave is giving me some folding chairs, and I need some appliances all brought here. Do you think Fez will help?"

Eric almost snorted a laugh. "Well, after Story Time at the library, he was supposed to help Kelso and I bring Brookes stuff up from Chicago. She's moving back with little Betsy."

"Oh that's nice. But you can do that on Sunday right? I need my furniture tomorrow so I can get set up and start selling on Monday."

"Sure mom, I'll call Kelso and explain what we're doing."

Kitty kissed the top of his head. "Thanks Eric, you're a big help. My strong handsome son!"

Eric could argue about the strong part considering he got whupped last weekend! He checked out the back and the storeroom and was impressed. His mom would do well here…wait…no folks at home for the entire summer? This was great!

"Mom, do you need a ride home? I have to go make those phone calls."

"No sweetie, I'm riding with your dad. I'll see you at home!"

*

Eric told Kelso and Fez his tale of woe and although the guys weren't happy about waiting until Sunday to start moving, the idea of free brownies at Kitty's new store was a fair trade off.

He took his shower and still didn't hear his parent come home. Eric guessed this new retirement of Red's was a good thing. He turned down the covers and climbed in turning off the lamp. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.

The phone rang halfway through his dream of rescuing R2D2 from Darth, the phone rang. "Hello." He muttered sleepily.

"Why are you in bed on a Friday night?"

His eyes flew open. "Jackie?"

"Of course, how many other girls call at this time?"

"None." Oops! Shouldn't have admitted to that. "I mean some, but not many." He could hear Jackie chuckling in the background.

"I feel like getting something to eat. Do you want to meet me?"

Eric looked at the clock, it was only 9:30 and he didn't have any dinner. It sounded tempting to eat with the devil. "I'll buy. Meet me at Crowley's on Main."

She hung up before he had a chance to accept or turn her down. I know where you live. I know where you work and I know what car you drive… Eric decided he would like something to eat after all!

*

Jackie was sitting in a booth near the back of the restaurant. She noticed that Eric got there in record time. He looked nervous and kept wiping his palms on his pants.

She caught his eye and he nodded and started walking towards her. Dread was making his steps slower as he neared the table.

"Eric, I won't bite you - At least not too hard!" she teased. "Just sit. I was getting ready to order."

Eric looked at her like she was a stranger. He had seen her in the princess dress, but this Jackie in front of him was gorgeous. She had filled out in all the right places and that low-cut blouse left him with just enough to think about. He slid into the booth and she smelled good.

She smiled at him as she passed a menu. What happened to the short skinny bossy midget that annoyed him in the past? This woman was confident and had seemed mature – how did that happen.

"Eric, do you know what you want to order?"

Eric snapped out of it. "Cheeseburger and coke." He answered automatically. The waitress came back and Jackie ordered Eric's burger and a chicken sandwich for herself. The waitress took the order and left.

"Are you going to stare at me or cross-examine me?" she asked.

He blinked - yeah, he was staring but it was so weird sitting in public with Jackie Burkhart like this. "Sorry, I don't know where to start."

She smiled, "Well, since we're old friends, well not exactly friends, but friends of friends, why don't we catch up?"

Eric could agree to that. "Well, Fez still likes candy." Jackie laughed, "Some things never change. Candy and boobs – I missed him."

"Kelso and Brooke are moving in together. I'm helping him get her stuff on Sunday."

"Brooke? She is such a sweet girl." Jackie didn't want to let on that she had already seen Brooke. "How's Betsy?"

Eric tried to think back to the last time he saw the little girl. "She's about three or so and loves Barbie dolls."

Jackie smiled wistfully. "I remember how excited Michael was when she was born. He's gonna be a great dad." Eric still couldn't get his head around the fact that he was having a normal conversation with Jackie.

"Hyde moved into the office at Grooves and the last we checked, he and Pam Macy hooked up. I think she's pregnant." Eric expected a dramatic Jackie-type scene but all he got was a belly laugh. She snorted and laughed some more. "That's got to be the universe giving him back everything he deserves!" Her laugh was infectious. Eric thought about all the guys who slept with Pam Macy from high school and Hyde was the one that got her pregnant. That was funny!

"I've been in contact with Donna. She's marrying Randy next year."

Eric froze. Donna conversations shouldn't bother him anymore but he couldn't help but wonder about his life long almost wife. "How is she?"

The waitress came back with their food and provided a comfortable respite from the tension of talking about Donna.

"As I was saying, she's doing great. She had an article printed in Readers Digest about businesses owned by women and then one in the New Yorker magazine about the homeless. She writes really well. Now that finally got a phone I was able to call her."

"So you still talk to her?" Eric asked woodenly.

"Once in a while – we kind of keep track of each other. You're not still in love with her are you?" The chicken sandwich was great! She watched as Eric struggled to put a sentence together.

"I – I don't love her… I mean I'm not in love with her. I care a lot about her; I mean she was a part of my life for years.'

"She was like my big sister. How's the burger?"

"What? Oh, it's good. Mom didn't make dinner and I can only heat leftovers. I don't have that cooking talent yet."

"So you're not in love with her but you are deeply interested in everything she still does…."

"God, do you like torturing me? I thought we were having friendly conversation and you have to bring out the Donna-gun."

Jackie took a drink of her diet Coke. "Eric, when you were in Africa, did you or did you not break up with her by letter?"

"Guilty."

"How did you feel about her then?"

"I wanted her to move on and not have to wait for me."

Jackie reached out and touched his cheek. "So you are angry because she did exactly what you wanted her to." Jackie's fingers felt warm on his skin. He looked at her face and didn't see any mocking expression, just beautiful eyes looking back at him. "Yes." He said simply.

Jackie bit into her sandwich. "Do you date a lot of girls that resemble Donna?"

Eric almost choked. He did! How did she know that! He dated tall red heads and blonds but they weren't Donna. She was the Devil! "How did you know that and were you following me?"

Jackie laughed. "No. I went through a similar phase when I exorcised Steven from my life. Then I realized that dating guys that looked like him stopped me from moving forward in my life. God, I wasted so much time that I'll never get back. He only made me feel small and insignificant and I am so much more than that."

If truth be told, Donna was always jokingly, he thought, calling him skinny, and twitchy, and nerd-like and she was the alpha mate of the couple. Okay, so she was physically bigger than most girls and a tomboy but he loved her.

"So maybe you just loved the idea of her." Jackie suggested. "You know - the whole mystery of what if? What if she came back and you had a second chance?"

"I suppose you could say that." He admitted. Jackie pressed further, "Then maybe what you really loved was the chase."

"What? The chase? What are you talking about?"

"Okay, a dog sees a car and chases it. What does he do when he catches up to it? Nothing. Eventually he forgets what it was and goes away, but he remembers the thrill of the chase!"

"Jackie, I'm not a dog. I wasn't chasing a car."

"Eric, you were chasing the idea of Donna even though she clearly moved on. What would you do if you caught her? She's still going to choose Randy. If she wanted you, she would have come back."

"God – you are harsh!"

Jackie laughed. 'I've become a realist. Life has too many dramas without us lowly people adding to it. You probably expected me to say something like, "Oh I miss my puddin' pop, he was the looooove of my life oh boo hoo….."

"Well, yeah. I was."

"Well, you don't know me very well do you? I'm only having dinner with you now because I was hungry and didn't want to waste a phone call. Why are you here?"

"You invited me?" Was that the right answer?

"You didn't have to show up. You actually only have to do the things you want to do. You can tell me to go to hell and storm out of here – but you won't."

"I won't?"

"Nope." She bit into her sandwich again.

"Maybe I will."

"Go for it."

"You're right, I won't. I'm such a loser." He picked up his drink. "How do you know me so well?"

Jackie chuckled. "Eric, I just know a lot of people like you. I've been studying personalities and everyone is predictable at some point."

"Really - I guess that puts me at the top of the list."

"Well, you did surprise me by sneaking into the dressing room; I would never have predicted that you would do that."

Eric laughed, 'Yeah, and I never would have thought you so freakishly strong for a small girl."

Jackie giggled. "Self-defense courses and weight training - don't feel bad, I can take down a 300 pound man."

Eric liked the sound of her laugh. "So that's supposed to make me feel better?"

"Would you like a rematch?" she challenged.

"Er – no. I think one ass kicking a month is good enough. Wait until all the kids learn that Princess Bee is a bully."

She glared at him. "You wouldn't."

Eric smirked and threw her words back at her," Well then you don't know me very well do you?"

Jackie laughed and paid the dinner bill. "Eric you are still funny. I missed snarky wit of yours. I think we will be talking on the phone again soon."

"Or not." He quipped as he slid out of the booth.

Jackie winked. "You're catching on. Nice sarcasm there Forman. Walk with me to the door."

"Am I the bodyguard tonight or are you?" he joked. Jackie flipped her long dark hair over her shoulder and walked ahead of him. Eric got a nice view of her tiny waist and curved hips. Whoa! He quickly caught up and opened the door for her.

"Thank you. Manners are always appreciated." Eric was about to say something when Jackie started leaning towards him. He could feel her soft breath on his face and he closed his eyes as toffee flavored lips gently brushed his own. She whispered, "Good night Eric."

By the time the blood in Eric's brain started flowing again, she had already left. He heard a car drive off and stood there touching his lips which still tasted like toffee candy. She kissed me. Why would she do that? A girl kissed me!!!!!

*