Chapter 11
Stars
Point Place, WI
2004
(the 1st year anniversary of Eric and Paige's meeting in Loan Periods)
6:05PM
The forecast called for showers but Eric had hoped that for his and Paige's 1st
anniversary of what he liked to call "Long Overdue Books and Hearts" that the rain
would stop and the sun would shine. But it had started raining at five o'clock and no
let up seemed to be in sight and to make matters worse they both had to work today.
Paige got a job a few months ago as an assistant at the local daycare center. It
wasn't the library, she liked reading to the kids, but it wasn't the same. She and Eric
both arrived at his place at the same time in their separate cars. He smiled through
window and waved for her to go ahead of him. Jacen saw them from the kitchen
window as he placed a note on the kitchen table before grabbing his knapsack and
heading out the front door. Eric and Paige kissed by the backdoor before heading
inside. "I promise there will be more tonight." Eric said as he opened the door where
they were greeted with the smells of lasagna and the kitchen table was set with their
nicest dishes premiums from the Piggly Wiggly. "Oh, Eric! I thought we were going to
the Vineyard?" Eric saw the note by the unlit candles that were in their pseudo green
marble holders.
"Dear Dad and Paige,
Happy Anniversary. I hope you don't mind that I cancelled your dinner
reservations and made you lasagna. I'll stay over Tony's house tonight. (His
Mother said it was Okay) and yes, I'll do my homework. Looks like you can keep
your bedroom door open tonight. P.S. The salad is in the fridge and the bread is in
the microwave.
Jacen."
"What a sweetheart." "Yes, he's a good egg." He took an unopened bottle of red
wine out of the refrigerator along with the salad bowl. "Personally, I think this is better
than the Vineyard." "Why is that, Paige?" "We're closer to the bedroom, dear." He
kissed her on the lips. "I like your style. Even though it's still light outside, I'm still
going to light the candles." She put the blinds down and went to get the basket of
sliced Italian bread that Jacen put in the microwave. "I like your style, too."
8:30PM
"That was fantastic." Paige rubbed her leg against Eric's as she kissed his chest.
"I aim to please." Eric opened up the drawer in his nightstand to take out a long red
velvet box. "Happy Anniversary, Paige."
"You didn't have to---"
"I wanted to." It was a white gold necklace with a "P" charm dotted with sapphires.
"Oh my god. This is so beautiful, Eric...."
They kissed each other on the lips. She handed him the necklace so he could put it
on. He kissed her bare shoulder. "I decided to take the scenic route."
"When you are done, if you'll hand me your t-shirt that's on the floor, I'll get your
present."
"You hid your present here?" "I knew we'd be making a sexual segue."
"You look better in my t-shirts than I do." Paige smiled.
"Close your eyes."
"Will do. How long have you had my present hidden?"
"I can't tell you that." She put it in the one place Eric would never look- - the spare box
of tampons that she kept under the bed. She tapped his shoulder and told him to
hold out his hand. It was a smaller ring-sized gray velvet box. "I hope you like it," She
bit her lip. It was a man's ring, not necessarily a man-ring, nothing that screamed
gaudy Bob Pinciotti. It was a gold signet ring with an old-English style "E" engraved on it.
"I love it."
"I know the only jewelry you wear is your watch, but when I---" He kissed her as she
put it on his pinky.
"I love it."
"It's been the most wonderful year, Eric." They cuddled back into the bed together.
"I know and I'm very glad we decided to take things slow. I learned my lesson from past failures."
"From where I sit, the blame lie on Donna. I remember Stupid High School Promise when I worked at the library.... she is not a doctor. That book was crap."
Eric smiled. "Thanks, Paige. You brought sunshine into my life when I needed it. I
love you so much. I was afraid I almost ruined it when that bitch tried---"
"Ssh...that was my fault for overreacting. I'm just glad it didn't break us."
He kissed her head. "I could go for a bowl of ice cream. May I do the honor of
making you one, m'lady?"
"I need to lose ten pounds."
"Where?"
She kissed him on the lips. "You are so kind as to ignore my love handles."
"You're beautiful, Paige."
"You're handsome," She loved watching him blush, "Maybe, just a small bowl of ice
cream."
"Okay and I'll get a movie for us to watch in here."
"Fine, but no Star Wars!"
He laughed, "You sound like Jacen."
"I love you, Eric."
"I love you, too, Paige."
Eric was grateful to have this wonderful woman in his life. He was beyond honored
that Jesus, God, or whatever spiritual entity allowed him to have a second chance at
love and to meet his true soulmate later on in life. Paige was indeed worth the wait,
after all the turmoil with Donna and his ex-wife; she was the light at the end of the
tunnel. They were ready for the next level, but first he was going to have to discuss
this with one very special person.
4:43PM
Eric wanted to wrap his arms around his son and thank him with a hug and a
kiss on the cheek, but he was fourteen years old and as difficult as it was going to be
he was going to have to start cutting the apron strings year by year until his son
would leave the nest.
"Hi, Jacen."
"Sorry, I'm late, Dad. I asked Mr. Smith if he would grade my final exam."
"Did he?"
"No, he gave me a lecture on the rules. But I'm sure I did well. I always ace history."
No kissing Mindy behind the school? Eric couldn't ask the question even though he
wanted to.
"As long as you do your best, son. Thank you for making dinner for Paige and me. It
was delicious and that's what we're having tonight in about fifteen minutes or so."
"You're welcome, Dad. I had some money left over from when I mowed Mr.
Anderson's lawn so I figured it could be my gift."
"It was a great gesture. You didn't have to leave Jacen."
"I don't think you or Paige would have wanted me around when you went to the
bedroom. Did Paige like the necklace?"
"I meant for dinner, smarty. And yes, she did."
"Did she buy you the signet ring?"
He finally noticed the ring on his father's right pinky finger.
"Sure did. Do you like it?"
"Yeah, it's cool. Just weird. Not as cool as my friendship bracelets."
Yes. The purple, pink, yellow, green, and blue bracelet embroidery threads of "love",
Eric hoped that Mindy was not going to break his heart, but he knew not only as a
grown man but as someone who experienced the same heartaches that
unfortunately it was going to happen. How he wished he could prevent it or take the
future pain on so his son wouldn't have to go through it. Jacen got up to set the table.
He didn't have to be asked. How was Eric blessed with a wonderful son like this?
"Jacen, there is something I'd like to talk to you about."
"Uh-oh."
"No uh-oh's. This is quite good actually."
"Are you finally going to ask Paige to marry you?"
"Not quite, but you're on the right track."
"Which is?"
Jacen asked as he put the plates down on the table.
"When Paige comes over tonight I'm going to ask her if she'd like to move in with us.
How do you feel about that?"
"Good."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I like her and she makes you happy. But there goes our penis talk around the
breakfast table."
Eric laughed as he took the fork from Jacen.
"You know I'm laughing with you, son. Anytime that you want to talk to me, you know
I'm here for you."
"I know...I was only joking, well partly."
"Are things going well with Mindy?"
"Yeah, Dad. I know you don't like me to lean on the plans I've written and to follow my
heart more, but everything is going according to plan. Even if I followed my heart the
results would be the same."
"That's good son. I hope you're hungry for your lasagna?"
Eric got up to take the pan out of the oven.
"Yeah, this is our last bachelor meal."
"But not our last meal as a family."
"Go for it, Dad. I hope that Paige says 'Yes'."
"Me too, son," Eric said as he sliced the lasagna with the rubber pancake turner,
"Me too."
Tarrytown, NY
8:38PM
Jackie's life was a mess. It'd be easier if Phillip hit her, drank too much, or
cheated on her, but he did none of those things. He just chose business over her
every single time. Jackie's Boutique becoming more like a chore, a chipper
disguise for her broken heart. She didn't need the store to define her. Maybe it was
because Steven and Donna lived nearby. Nah. She missed her best friend. She
couldn't stop crying when she broke out her Point Place High Yearbooks. Eric was
too busy with Paige, his job, and Jacen to answer her emails. They didn't have a
fight; although she imagined her pre-Christmas fight with Paige a few months ago
probably didn't help matters any. They were separating. Poor Eric could never have
a zit free yearbook photo but he still looked very handsome in his senior class
picture. His quote was: I love Donna Pinciotti forever. If only life could go the way
you always thought it should. Were they ever this fucking young? She was in bed
before nine o'clock in the evening feeling all of a sudden very old. She felt older than
Yoda. (Damn you, Eric.) Jackie could not eat any more junk food. She almost
wanted to throw up after eating half a package of double stuffed Oreos. She threw
her cookies and other snacks wrappers on the floor. What happened to her
fireworks? She picked up the phone and bit her lip to stop herself from crying.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Jacen! How are you?"
"Jackie? I'm fine," He lowered his voice to a whisper, "Mindy and I were about to go
on the porch. I'll get Dad for you."
"Okay, baby."
She wasn't making any sounds but the tears were still streaming down
her face. She was afraid to look in her mirror and see if tonight was the night that she
lost her looks. She missed her friend, Eric. The man who used to talk to her on a
regular basis, but now she felt that she wasn't needed because he found his other
half and she didn't want to rain on his happiness. Lord knows one of them deserved
it.
"Hi, Jackie? How are you? I know I haven't had time to email lately. I'm afraid I can't
talk long. Paige is going to move in with me! I know Red and Kitty wouldn't like me
'shacking up', but it just seems right to do this! I'm sorry, I can't stop talking!"
"I'm GOOD! That's great for you Eric! How does Jacen feel about it?"
"He's good with it. Well, I'm sorry to cut this short. We'll all have to get together
sometime. I set up Jacen's old telescope so Paige and I could look at the stars
tonight...It's not even raining tonight! I can't believe the good luck hand that I've been
dealt."
After this phone call Jackie was going to go downstairs to polish off the raisin
muffins that were supposed to be for tomorrow's breakfast. Then she would crawl
back into her overdone pink and floral adult princess bed and cry herself to sleep.
What happened to her fireworks indeed?
"Take care, you two." Jackie hung up the phone.
It was the perfect end to the many string of perfect nights for Eric Forman and Paige
Allen to look at the stars and ponder their future on this planet called Earth together.