Author Note: …..moving right along…..

xXx

Chapter 28 – Let's Get to Work!

xXx

By Friday, Brooke and Eric had worked out a boss/employee relationship and business had begun. Brooke had several phone calls with Maxine and developed a working relationship with the craziest lady she ever spoke with. Eric had approved heartily of all her purchases and Kelso loved the van. The first thing he recommended was doing it in the back.

"Brooke, we gotta break it in before someone else does."

"Honey, it's the studio van. No one is going to do it in this van!"

"I know because WE are!"

Brooke didn't know how it happened, but she lost a shoe somewhere in the van and it was the best sex she had in quite a while!

xXx

Eric had found some rolls of film in his bag that he didn't remember shooting so he set about developing the film. The first image that floated to the surface was his dad's open mouthed expression and Eric laughed as he remembered the pot roast dinner and the conversation about the Swedish Bikini models.

Jackie had stolen his camera and took some amazingly candid shots of his family that he would never have been able to capture. In a separate tray was a picture of his mom pulling the roast from the oven with the heat of the dish washing her face in a steamy haze. His mom looked beautiful.

There were several pictures that Jackie took while Eric was telling his parents about the balloon ride. These were actually the only real good family pictures he had of the Forman clan. His dad was relaxed and smiling and his mom looked so pretty. Jackie did a good job. He hung those to dry and pulled out the roll from the Pearson family shoot. It felt good to go back and get his hands wet in the chemicals again.

xXx

Amy swiveled in her chair. "Jackie, you know that ranch house you kind of put aside?"

Jackie stopped writing and looked up, "What about it?"

Her assistant smiled, "Well, I have a buyer and they are asking for it now and will add $20,000 to the list price. Jackie, you can find the photographer another house….this is a boon! The buyer is a landscape artist and sees a lot of potential in that huge yard. Can I show it?"

Jackie really thought that could be the house for Eric but in her gut, she knew she needed to keep looking. "Okay, show it, but it has to sell for more than we're asking."

"Great, I'll get them out there today. Thanks boss!"

Jackie smiled. "You're welcome. I'm going to the Permit's office to finish up with that pesky termite company."

Her telephone rang just as she stood up. "Burkhart Realty may I help you?"

"Jackie it's me. Maxine wants me to fly to New York. What do I do?" Brooke was frantic. Jackie just had to laugh. "Meet me for lunch and we'll talk."

"I've never flown before!" Brooke exclaimed.

"Okay, how about the diner by Fez's salon?"

"Perfect."

xXx

"Oh honey, these are so perfect. Red, look at this picture of you! Eric, we have to get these framed."

Eric handed the rest of the stack to his mom. "Those are the ones Jackie took when she stole my camera."

"I didn't steal it, I borrowed it. Big difference." The brunette argued. Eric squeezed her hand. "Okay, borrowed."

Red poured over the photographs with a critical eye. "So this is what they look like before they go inside a magazine?" Eric sat down across from his dad. "Yeah…what do you think?"

Red held the photo of the Forman family by the edges and he did like seeing the three of them together. "I think I like the rough stuff better than the glossy pages of a magazine. Oh. I got the package from your agent. Thank you."

Kitty looked up from the stove, "What package was that Red?"

Jackie bit back a smile as Red looked embarrassed. "It was a foreign car magazine dear. Just some Swedish parts and tools that I really need to study."

"Oh, that stuff you need for the muffler shop." Kitty replied.

Red clapped his hands on the table top. "Exactly dear! Eric let's go get a beer out in the garage."

Jackie watched the two men leave and she sidled up to the bar on one of the stools. "Mrs. Forman, I need your help."

Kitty smiled, "What's that sweetie?"

"Well, I thought I found the perfect house for Eric but I don't know exactly what he's looking for. Has he ever said anything to you about where he wants to live for the rest of his life?"

Kitty wiped her hands on a towel. "Well, I had always envisioned that he would take this house. Keep it in the family, Ahahahaha. But it's getting old and worn out. Red and I will probably eventually move to something smaller because things keep breaking down and it's just too darn hard to keep clean."

"If you want, I can keep an eye out for a good deal when you're ready to move." Jackie reminded her.

"Oh honey, it'll be a few years. Who knows….maybe Laurie will come back with a string of grandbabies and need a place to stay. You just keep looking, I'm sure whatever you find Eric will love it."

"I'll keep looking. He's just so hard to shop for!"

xXx

Brooke was late to work that next Monday. She was still in a daze as she carried the locked briefcase into the studio. Eric looked at her pale face and insisted she sit on the loveseat. "What happened?"

Brooke looked at Eric. "I'm still in shock. A freaking private jet? Eric, just how rich are you? I'm sorry, none of my business. Here." She handed him the briefcase and a sealed envelope. "Maxine told me not to open it until I got it back to the studio. What was I picking up?"

Eric laughed, "Eyeglasses. It's my next assignment."

Brooke blinked. "Glasses? I flew on a private jet and went all the way to New York for eyeglasses?"

Eric unlocked the case and unclasped the lid. "Yes, very expensive eye glass frames. He found twelve individual boxes with different designer names. "Let's see the product."

Brooke opened one box from a French designer and tipped the contents into her hand. It was a diamond encrusted frame and so exquisitely beautiful she gasped. "Oh my god…this has to cost a fortune!" She slid the frames onto her face and walked on the set to look in a mirror. The diamonds reflected the natural light back into the mirror and the result was breathtaking. "Can I keep these?"

Eric laughed, "No. They're going back to New York when we finish the shoot. Bring a mirror over here and let's check out the rest."

Brooke got to model the 14 carat gold cat's eye shaped frames and the sterling silver aviators. There were some new resin frames in gorgeous new colors and Brooke loved all of them. She carefully put the glasses back in their original boxes and locked the case.

"How are you going to shoot these?"

"I have a plan." Eric suddenly smiled. Brooke could almost see the gears turning in his head. "I'm going to need some more props and some costumes."

Brooke grabbed a notepad and pencil and started taking notes. Eric rattled of a need for a microscope, an ironing board, a treasure chest, a Christmas tree, a porcelain bathtub, a ladder and a stethoscope. Then he asked her to get permits to use the Point Place fire station, a sailboat, a room at Kenosha's best hotel and Fez's Tresses Salon.

After making sure she was clear on all of the items on the list, Brooke asked, "Did you forget anything at all?"

Eric rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, I need Jackie to be here. Maxine wants her to be the model. They made a big deal about the color of her eyes…but Brooke, I think I want you in this calendar too."

Brooke covered her mouth. "Really?"

He smiled, "Yes really….you have great bone structure and the frames look good on you. So, I'll be taking hundreds of pictures and you'll be in the calendar too."

Brooke could only think of her husband's favorite word. "AWESOME!"

xXx