Chapter 21 – Is This Love?

(✿◠‿◠) *

My heart is still fragile but I have a little happiness inside because you shook me, turned me upside down and made me a better person. In my mind, I see your face. On the television, I see your commercials – it makes me miss you. I miss your voice and your wisdom.

Come home soon again….won't you?

Love Eric.

•*¨*• •*¨*

Valentine's Day. Jackie's hand fell as she tipped her head and sighed quietly surrounded by dozens of beautiful flowers and boxes of candy from admiring fans. All the sweet smells and sugary treats were no match for the innocent letter she had read over and over again until it was wrinkled, folded, unfolded, tattered and stained with happy tears.

She remembered Mel's wise words, "….if you miss them when they're gone and you can still live your life when they are away…I think you have a pending relationship." She did miss Eric.

He did file for the divorce.

He did remove his wedding ring.

The signs were all there.

Right?

Jackie leaned her head back against the sofa and closed her eyes imagining what a real date with Eric would be like. She truly had no clue because she had been initiating all of their 'encounters' since landing in his sad little house back in December.

Would he take her dancing?

Would there be moonlit strolls through the park?

Maybe a quiet dinner with soft music in the background?

Would he display her on his arm like she was bright jewel… or…would he kiss her until she was breathless? With butterflies in her stomach, Jackie picked up the bright green telephone to make a long distance call.

•*¨*• •*¨*

Eric groaned as the bottom of the box burst and all of his new comic books splattered on the garage floor. Fez chuckled lightly and added his two cents worth. "Eric….they make this thing call packing tape….see this in my hand? You should use it." Fez held out the roller with the adhesive tape towards his friend's hand.

Eric shook his head, "Nah, it would have been nice if you told me about it BEFORE I dropped my investment. Luckily, everything is in a plastic sheath so there's no damage."

"So we're really moving?" Fez ventured to ask.

Eric nodded. "Yeah, a while ago I talked to this guy at work and his wife is a realtor….he says lots of families are looking in this area because it's close to shopping and North Point Place Elementary. I have an appointment at the end of the week to look at two town-homes that just went on the market." Eric felt a sense of pride at making such an adult decision without conferring with his folks or Donna.

Fez lifted a brow and broached the question he had been dying to ask, "A bigger garage for the fan club….does that mean I get a room in your house so I can move too?"

Eric blinked. "What?"

Fez shrugged, "I mean I'm here more than anywhere else….ayiiiii…..everybody likes to hang out at Eric's house. I'll be real clean." He promised.

"First, ew…you'll be real clean? And second, no, you aren't going to live with me." Eric wanted this new home to be his. He wanted to decorate it and put up the Christmas ornaments and get his own barbecue grill. There would be a swimming pool for summer parties and he was finally going to be happy dammit!

"Sorry Fez, but you'll still have to live in your own apartment and I promised Jackie that she could rent my garage until June so….."

Fez sighed and shrugged his shoulders, "I tried." He paused and turned his head towards the garage door. "I think your phone is ringing."

•*¨*• •*¨*

Eric ran to the ringing telephone and snagged the receiver at the just the last minute. "Hello!" he answered happily waiting for Jackie's response to his Valentine's Day card.

"Eric. What the hell! You couldn't help my parents get identification to get me out of this hellhole? I've been stuck here for almost a month and you do nothing?"

Eric held the telephone receiver away from his ear and exhaled. When he caught his breath he replied, "Hello Donna. Didn't you get the news? I signed the divorce papers. You're free."

There was a pause and Donna's voice came back over the phone. "Sorry. Eric, I'm sorry if I was rude."

Eric decided to listen and let Donna do all the talking – he knew that unnerved her. She continued, "It's just my mom and dad….they can't do anything right. They were upset because I didn't tell them that we were ending the marriage." She waited for a reply but there was nothing on the other end so she kept talking. "My high school yearbook picture would have sufficed if they had that….do you still have yours? Could they borrow it?"

Eric walked to the fridge and pulled out a cola. He popped the top, waited for the "kushhhh" noise and took a long swallow before replying, "Nope."

In Baku, Donna sat down on the three legged stool in the hallway beside the telephone. That was when she remembered tossing Eric's copy since there really wasn't a need for a married couple to have two copies of the same book…..Eric was a little peeved when she did that.

"Eric are you there?"

"I'm here. Look Donna, I really can't help you. I advised your parents to go to our government and start there. You left nothing here so….really, I can't help you."

Donna sighed, "You're pissed. I can tell. Did Jackie tell you about us?"

"Us? There is no us Donna. I signed off on that paperwork like you wanted. Look, I'm in the middle of something and I would have liked to have talked to you a couple of weeks ago, but as a courtesy, I'll follow through with Bob and make sure he checks with Point Place High to get a replacement copy."

Donna wrapped her index finger around the telephone cord, "Thanks Eric." He didn't know. "Anything you can do….it would be a big help. Really."

Eric could feel a twitch in his left eyelid and he really didn't want to be talking to Donna any longer than was necessary. Her voice was ruining his happy spirit. "Hey, you have a great day in Baku and when you get back….maybe you can stop by."

Donna was on the verge of saying good bye but all she had was the dial tone. She truly was all alone now.

(✿◠‿◠) *

Eric finished sorting his boxes, called for a pizza delivery, fed Fez and sent him home before promptly collapsing into bed. The office was getting busy, some company was requesting soil samples and arranging for bids on plumbing for the parking lot across the street from the Point Place mall. Must be some huge business park springing up in this growing town. Eric didn't really care, he had set his future sights on something better.

The shrill ring of the bedside phone made him smile. This time he knew exactly who was calling and why. Hell, he even let it ring longer than usual. When he finally answered, he greeted the caller with "I didn't get you flowers because they die too soon."

A happy voice answered, "No, you gave me something better and you are welcome."

Eric pulled down the comforter and slid into bed, using one hand to prop his pillow against the headboard. "C'mon, every girls wants flowers on V-Day."

Jackie answered, "Oh, I got flowers. Tons of flowers from well-meaning people, but I got your heart….don't I?"

Eric covered his chest with the palm of his hand. "You little witch….you cast your damned spell on me and now all I can think about is you."

She giggled, "I know that is only partially true, but I really wanted to tell you that your letter meant the world to me. Somehow you know what's important and I miss that."

"When are you coming back?" Eric ventured to ask. "I'm looking at a couple of townhouses on Friday….." He let the invitation hang in the air.

"If someone can pick me up from the airport ….I think I can help you in your housing quest….I know a lot about what you need."

"How….." Eric stopped asking the question he already knew the answer to; Jackie had been to his Married-with-Donna home and recognized exactly what was lacking. "I'll be waiting. Call me with your flight number."

•*¨*• •*¨*

Reggie was finally yielding in his pursuit of learning more about Eric's personal life and actually getting back to the job at hand. He tossed a packet of papers onto Eric's desk. "That new company, BD & A are requesting bids on that land in the 700 block off Main. Something big is going up and Kathleen Warner said the typing pool is deluged in permits."

Eric yawned and stretched his arms over his head. "Well man, I'll let you take lead on this one…I'm taking a Personal Day tomorrow and Friday."

Reggie perched his hip on the edge of Eric's desk. Lifting a brow he asked, "Anything you want to share?"

Eric smirked, "As if I'd tell you."

Reggie slapped his thigh, "I knew it! You ARE dating a celebrity and don't have the stones to admit it. Forman, really…..sometimes the best part of my job is this sad little swivel chair." Now Reggie was pleading, "C'mon man, bring her to the office….let's do lunch….quit leaving your coworkers in the dark."

Laughing, Eric pushed at Reggie's leg and replied, "Dream on man. She's my friend and she's coming to town helping me on a…..project."

"Damn. Well at least give me the winning Lottery numbers because you are the luckiest guy I know!"

Watching Reggie walked back to his cube, Eric pondered on his coworker's statement. Yeah, he was pretty much lucky these days. Next time he saw his ex-wife, he would have to thank her for that!

•*¨*• •*¨*

A big floppy hat covered a short blonde pixie cut wig and dark washed denim coveralls did not disguise the midget's appearance at all. Eric could have picked Jackie Burkhart out of any crowd, no matter how she tried to camouflage herself. She saw him waiting at the luggage carousel and lunged straight in for a hug.

He returned the hug and kissed the soft cheek that was presented to him. She whispered, "That's the last time I travel Coach!"

Eric laughed, grabbed her hand and tugged Jackie towards the suitcases that were traveling around the carousel. There were only two Samsonite cases in the color pink so Eric surmised that was what he was looking for. Jackie just held his large hand and smiled at the fact that no one recognized her nor did they think that the tall man and short woman were anything out of the ordinary.

It felt good to be normal.

She led the way to the car park as Eric struggled with the heavy bags. "How in the hell did you get these on the plane? They weigh a ton." Eric complained as he nearly ran to keep up with her.

Jackie turned around and walked backwards as she replied, "It is a-maz-ing what a $20 tip will do these days." She smiled and pirouetted as the air terminal doors slid open and promptly left them on the sidewalk. "Where did you park?"

Using his head, Eric motioned towards the garage. "Do you want to stay here and watch your luggage while I get my car or should I risk a hernia and we go together?"

Jackie giggled. "Really, they're not that heavy."

Eric lifted a brow and grumbled, "Okay, you carry them."

She laughed a wrapped her hand around his bicep. "Look how strong you are! How about I wait here….you run to the car and hope nobody recognizes me."

Eric momentarily forgot about her celebrity status and groaned. "I usually only run for Kelso, but for you I'll make an exception."

Her bright smile was all the reward Eric needed. "I'll be right back. Don't go flirting with the ordinary folks while I'm gone."

(✿◠‿◠) *

As was the norm, Jackie flew into Eric's room and claimed the bed. "I see you have been taking care of the bedding Eric. I'm impressed."

Eric dragged the second piece of luggage into his bedroom and let it fall to the floor. "Well, if you want to be impressed…you should try sleeping on the leather sofa…."

She smiled, her legs dangling over the coverlet. "So…..we're looking at town houses tomorrow?"

Eric sat on the edge of the mattress and replied, "Yep. I took a couple of days off so I could work with the realtor and make the appointments. I'm counting on you to make sure I get a good deal. You know, like you did with Donna's watch?"

Jackie remembered taking Eric shopping a she did indeed get a great price for the watch at the jewelers. Hey, she was a Burkhart – it was in her genes! "So, speaking of Donna…."

Eric exhaled and fell back onto the mattress. "I didn't tell you, did I?"

Jackie lay back until she was looking at the cracked ceiling. "Tell me what?"

"I finally talked with Donna on the phone." Eric admitted.

Jackie bit her lip. Did she tell Eric about Germany or let it go? "So….how is she?"

Eric turned his head to the left and looked at her warm smile, "Apparently Donna is no longer in Prague…she's in Baku and has been since January."

Jackie smiled back. Eric had the nicest green eyes. "Why Baku?"

He shrugged, "All I know came from Bob and Midge and from reading the newspapers. I guess she was covering a story about some people that were fighting communism…not exactly sure on the topic here, but there was a riot, she got some cuts and bumps and lost her passport and belongings."

With some concern, Jackie asked, "But she's okay otherwise? What about Anna Cantana?"

Eric shrugged, "I think they said she's still missing but, Donna is stuck at the Embassy until Midge and Bob can get two forms of identification to get a replacement passport."

Jackie rolled on her side and rested on her elbow. "So why did Donna call you? I mean she hadn't called you since Christmas…right?"

He sighed, "It actually goes back a few days. Bob and Midge came over asking for Donna's driver's license, which I didn't have, and then I had to explain to them about the divorce. They were completely blindsided. Later, I felt bad that their own daughter never told them."

Jackie liked Bob Pinciotti and felt that was extremely rude for Donna to have left out a little detail like, "Oh Dad, I'm getting a divorce so I can go to Europe and write a story." Okay, maybe that was a little harsh but…..

Eric still had some unresolved feelings about the telephone call from Baku. "So any ways, she calls me all pissed off because I wouldn't help her parents. I explained that I did all I could do and since she took all of her stuff with her…well, I can't give what I don't have."

Jackie touched Eric's cheek tenderly. She wouldn't confuse him by bringing up Germany so she just smiled. "You did the best you could. All that you could."

His brow furrowed a bit and Eric agreed. "Yeah I did." He sat up. "Thanks Jackie, you made me feel a whole bunch better about that whole conversation."

(✿◠‿◠) *

"Eric. What the hell! You couldn't help my parents get me identification to get me out of this hellhole? I've been stuck here for almost a month and you do nothing?"

Eric held the telephone receiver away from his ear and exhaled. When he caught his breath her replied, "Hello Donna. Didn't you get the news? I signed the divorce papers. You're free."

Donna sat on the cot in her tiny room and reread a few pages of the Adalat, a daily publication by the New Azerbaijan Party. Some of the words in the articles seemed familiar, but all Donna wanted to see was the photos again…her eyes scanning for pictures of Anna in one of the many crowds. She could swear she saw Henrik, but no Anna.

She was free and still she was not free. Free from the bondage's of marriage maybe, okay, perhaps Eric wasn't the worst person to be married to…..yet, Donna could feel a sense of blossoming when she was with Anna. Nothing was ever the same, she was not the same person she was a year ago. But here she was in the Embassy, not free to leave. Not free to walk the streets. Not free to go home.

She sat on the three legged stool and waited.

Waited for her parents to send the package.

Waited for Anna to be found.

Waited for freedom.

(✿◠‿◠) *

Eric couldn't ever remember drinking cheap wine on a Wednesday night and not feeling horrible the next morning. Granted he was still on the sofa, fully clothed and Jackie had left a dainty little drool spot on his shirt as she snored softly. What time did he pass out?

Nature called and Eric tried to gently extricate himself from being Jackie's pillow but her small hand fell into his lap causing Eric to suck in a breath and hold it. He bit his lip and moved his hips carefully to the right and her hand fell on to the sofa cushion. Eric exhaled slowly. That was close!

He quietly started a pot of coffee brewing and headed to the bathroom.

The aroma of morning coffee was like an exquisite perfume. Jackie smiled with closed eyes. Her neck was sore but she slept wonderfully. She could hear Eric washing his hands from the bathroom as she slowly stretched, working out the kinks and yawned. Why was she on the couch? There was a nice bed she could have slept in!

Pulling her hair over one shoulder, Jackie raked her fingers through the knots and tangles. She could feel something caked on the sides of her mouth and realized she had dried drool. Ugh! Eric probably got grossed out when he saw that! Standing up, Jackie padded to the small kitchen and looked through the cupboards until she found a couple of mismatched coffee cups. Donna really did take everything!

Quickly rinsing her face in the sink, she patted her skin dry with a paper town and poured two cups of coffee and carried them to the living room. Looking around the room in the light of day, Jackie surmised that Eric could pretty much pack up all he owned into one U-Haul truck. The interior was so bare it was almost embarrassing!

The bathroom door opened and Eric saw Jackie was already awake and there was a cup of coffee for him on the table. That actually touched his heart in a way he didn't think possible. Did Donna ever pour coffee for him in the latter years of their marriage? He couldn't remember and it wasn't important any more. He sat down. "Thank you."

Eric sat there and sipped the coffee and while it may not have been a big deal to his little movie star, just sitting there in the morning light and with the music of a quiet house was more intimate than he would have thought.

Jackie's eyes looked bemused, "Why are you thanking me?"

He smiled and placed both hands on either side of her face. Jackie's eyes softened and she mumbled, "Never mind. You're welcome."

Eric leaned forward and dropped a soft kiss on the corner of her coffee flavored lips. "You are adorable but we have things to do today…."

She tried to look unimpressed, but Eric actually changed the subject nicely and she did want to be the first to take a hot shower. She patted his cheek and smiled, "Enjoy the coffee…I'll be ready in a bit."

Eric watched his friend waltz away and he couldn't help but smile. How many days were left until his divorce was final? He needed to look at the calendar again. There was something here. Well, something special besides the dried drool on shirt.

Eric's life was changing for the better and he was ready to explore a "what if" scenario with one Miss Jackie Burkhart!

•*¨*•.¸¸ ¸¸.•*¨*• •*¨*•.¸¸¸¸.•*¨*• •*¨*•. ¸¸