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Chapter 28 – A Lucky Man


Kelso was hanging upside down on the uneven parallel bars in the gym. Why a boxing club had this equipment was unknown but Hyde smirked, "See, if you can't hang with all that blood rushing TO your head, how are you going to run five kilometers with blood rushing FROM your head. Makes sense, right?"

Kelso's face was a bring pink as he thought about his friends analogy. "I guess that's right but I'm starting to get dizzy."

Hyde leaned against the poles, "That's called a Runner's High." He was joking of course but Kelso was gullible. "Usually you don't get that until you've ran a lot of miles. So…since you're getting it now….I think you are probably ready for the race."

Kelso swung his torso back and forth until he could unhook his legs from the bar but unceremoniously fell flat on his face. Hyde gave his a hand up. "Ready for some pull ups?"

Michael Kelso groaned. "Space Mountain better be worth all this."

Hyde watched as his friend jumped up to the higher bar and started doing a couple sets of pull ups. He advised again, "Kelso, man, you won't appreciate this now, but I went to the grocery store and bought two ten pound bags of potatoes."

Kelso's eyes lit up, "You gonna make me some fries?"

"Hell no." Hyde replied. "The next time you go running, you take these potatoes and run with them. They will remind you of the weight you lost, well at least half of it. I didn't have enough cash to buy four bags. Anyways, you only have 15 more pounds to go before May 28 and you'll be back to your pre-donut eating self."

Kelso stopped in mid pull up. "Really? I mean last December I could hardly catch my breath and now I'm doing real exercising." He dropped to the mat and looked at his loose sweat pants. "I'm gonna be handsome again."

"Just keep telling yourself that my friend. Maybe it will happen."

Kelso grinned. "Oh, it's gonna happen Hyde and I'm never touching a Krispy Kreme donut again!"

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"…and?" Jackie asked excitedly.

Eric was holding the phone tightly and replied, "I'm not a dumbass anymore! They liked it! Oh and thank you for the food, it was really good and Mom took the ham bone home to make some Navy beans for Dad. Apparently it was a staple food while he was at war."

"Great. So, I was thinking." Jackie began a new conversation.

"I'm all ears." Eric replied happily at the enthusiasm in her voice.

"Well, I'm technically on hiatus for a few months so I'm coming to Point Place to start a charter group to manager my fan club. Fez is….he is….Eric, I asked him to bring the sleeping bags and you know what he brought to Utah?"

"I have no clue." Eric answered disbelieving his garage was still filled with fluffy backpacks. Jackie huffed into the receiver, "He brought toothbrush kits! These little girls don't need dental hygiene reminders! I was so embarrassed! Now when they see me on TV all they will think about is that I think they have bad teeth."

Eric tried not to laugh because it was so typically Fez to screw things up, but Jackie was taking this way too personally. "Hey….so why don't you just send the sleeping bags anyways?"

Jackie sighed, "Because that's something I like to do in person. I guess I'll have to wait until my next visit. Oh, I need a favor."

Eric responded with, "Sure. Anything."

In Hollywood, Jackie was looking at her phone and knew it was time to make her play. She twirled the twisted coil around her index finger, "I need….the phone number of your realtor."

In Point Place Eric pulled the receiver away from his ear and looked at it like it was a dumb piece of plastic. "My realtor?"

She answered from across the miles, "Well, I have to live somewhere for three months and I can't mouch off of you…."

Eric didn't know where the words came from – they spewed from his mouth like vomit in his haste to get it out. "Me. You can stay with me. Here. You already have half my closet. You don't need to live anywhere else. I want you."

In Hollywood, Jackie smiled. Arrow hit the spot! "Eric…." She said softly, "That is your home. You moved so you could make your own choices….I would just be in the way."

"No." he answered almost frantically. "You would never be in the way. You helped me pick it. You know what a terrible decorator I am. I need you."

Just what she wanted to hear. "Well…if you are sure it wouldn't be a bother….oh crap."

"What now?"

She answered, "I can't live with you. My reputation. I'm a successful single actress. What kind of example would I set for all the tweenagers that look up to me?"

Eric countered with, "Just get here….we'll figure all that out when you are here. It's a gated community so the public can't intrude, you already have a key and you still have half of my garage." He added, just in case she still wasn't sure. "You would be helping me more than you know."

She chuckled. "Well, okay, but don't complain when a big truckload of my stuff shows up in your driveway."

Eric didn't mind one bit. He smiled inwardly and replied, "Good night Jackie. I'll see you when you come home."

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The week before Memorial Day was filled with activity. Hyde now found himself running the track with Kelso, not only as a motivator, but as an excuse to see the beautiful women jogging in short shorts. Fez would waltz around on the grass bringing water and towels in an effort to appear helpful. He was trying to redeem himself since Jackie fired him as Fanclub president.

Some afternoons, Eric would join the guys at the gym while Kelso lifted weights but most of the time, was spent at Grooves relaxing in the listening pit. Hyde was complaining, "Kelso, you are ruining circle time for me."

Fez was puzzled by that comment and asked how it could be. Hyde replied, "While I don't mind running a little, I can't do both that and this." He held up the lit blunt and inhaled slowly. "It's messing with my lungs and I don't have some yearning to be super healthy like Kelso here."

Eric smiled. "Hey, this helping Kelso has helped all of us. I got to hang around you three more than I used to but pretty soon I'll be starting my store and you'll have to come see me."

Kelso grinned, "You finally got enough comics to start a store?"

Eric nodded, "And I got a backer. Some body that is going to be in the background helping me out."

"Speaking of somebody in the background," Hyde interrupted. "Guess who is back in town."

Fez jumped up and down in his seat. "I love this game! Is it….is it…Willy Wonka?"

Hyde's expression looked like he was sucking on a sour lemon fizz. "No! Where the hell do you come up with that?"!

Kelso raised his hand, "I know! Edna's back. And.. and you have a little brother she didn't tell you about."

Both Eric and Hyde looked at Kelso who was grinning stupidly like he had won the prize. "NO! God, you guys are idiots." He looked at Eric, "Donna's back."

Eric's smile turned upside down. "Shit."

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Donna had finally located Henrik's last known address and sent off a postcard hoping that he could contact her. She left her parents address, Anna's address and an 800 number so he could call the cable station toll free. Henrik had virtually stayed in contact with Donna will she was in Baku and she hoped that he would help find the missing Anna Cantana.

During the day, Donna spent hours learning how to use the fancy word processor Carl procured for her. Once she got used to the functions, her old high school typing skills came back and words appeared on the blank page and by the end of the week, she nearly had a draft of her first chapter.

Donna spent some time with her parents and carefully let them know of her career plans to work out of Paris with plenty of promises to come home and visit. Midge asked her daughter to send her something French, like that special "Bread" everybody raves about and Donna only smiled and nodded her head.

Bob was more emotional. "I just get you back and you are leaving again? What about your passport?"

Donna went out of her way to assure her father she would not lose her passport again. "Don't worry Dad I'm not scheduled to fly out until June 2nd so we'll have plenty of time together."

Bob hugged his little girl, "You are coming to Red's barbecue right? I mean it's tradition. Oh….Eric's gonna be there."

Donna smiled, "It's okay dad. He and I aren't married anymore, but that doesn't mean we can't be civil in company right?"

Bob tilted his head, "Well….if he makes you cry…I'm gonna….I'm….I probably won't do anything."

Donna laughed. "Dad, it's nice just knowing you have my back."

Midge wanted to be included. "and I have your front!"

Donna rolled her eyes and hugged both her parents. She would miss them, but she was an adult and ready to get back to work. It had been too long.

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Eric was waiting at the private terminal just outside of Kenosha's main hub. Jackie had another "rich" friend that didn't mind loaning his personal aircraft to the famous star. The plane door opened and she ran down the steps into open arms and peppered Eric's face with breathless little kisses. He grinned and gave a thumbs up to the pilot who walked around to unload his passenger's luggage.

Seven suitcases later, and Eric's car was loaded to the brim. He was taking his girlfriend home. The previous night, he had tossed and turned, his impulsive actions making him question this whole moving Jackie into the condo situation. But seeing her happy face, Eric knew he made the right decision.

She sat sideways in the passenger seat as much as the seat belt allowed and she was chattering. He listened for key words and tried to keep his attention on the freeway. "Oh! The moving van should be here by Saturday." She added with enthusiasm. "I have so many ideas for the house and oh, I need to get a loaner car so I can drive into town without an escort."

Eric looked in the rear view mirror as he signaled for a right turn. He glanced at her pretty face, "Is that safe? You aren't going to get mobbed again….are you?"

Grinning, Jackie replied, "I brought plenty of disguises. Even a fake nose."

Eric laughed,"I have to see this fake nose. I mean I've seen your wigs….but a nose is a big deal. Wait, is it a big nose?"

She laughed, "Nope. It's crooked and I also have fake eye glasses. No one will know who I am."

Eric reached over and squeezed her fingers. "I'll know who you are.

Jackie sighed happily. This was exactly how she dreamed returning to Point Place would be. She would still be famous but she could be herself – with Eric, she could be herself. Her insides felt as bubbly as a freshly uncorked bottle of champagne. It was a wonderful feeling.

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As a finishing touch, Jackie set her Oscar on the mantle above the fireplace. On either side of the award was a picture of Eric's "movie star kiss" clipped from the newspaper article and the other picture was a photo from Dick Clark's New Year's Eve kiss. Jackie liked them both when she discovered the pictures in the dresser so she had them framed. Eric would be tickled! She threw a couple of her favorite fluffy pillows onto the sofa and then sprawled out to rest.

While Jackie "made herself at home" Eric was picking up a few things from the market so they didn't have to venture out for every meal. The goofy smile on his face wouldn't go away. He had the actress in his house and his best friend there to talk to all at the same time. In the back of his mind he wondered why he didn't feel like this with Donna. Did he ever feel this way with his ex-wife? Oh well, she was back in town and sooner or later they would meet up.

Would it be dim fireworks or a sputtering ember. Could they be courteous or did she still resent him that much? Eric mulled that over as he set his groceries on the narrow conveyor belt. He certainly wasn't going to seek her out to talk about their deteriorated relationship, but Eric still wanted to know when Donna decided that the marriage went kaput. Perhaps he would never get answer but there was his Dad's party was coming up next Monday.

He pulled out his checkbook and opened the register marveling at the amount he had in his savings account. Selling that old house was a windfall and buying the new one at a lesser price was like blessing. He had money in his savings, a promise in his jacket pocket and enough to start his comic book store with help from Mr. Mel Dupree. The last thing to do was decide when to turn in his resignation letter to his boss.

That was something that he needed advice about and the best person to ask was waiting for him at home!

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The sun was setting and the dinner dishes were done while the kitchen smelled faintly of burnt tuna casserole but Eric wouldn't have it any other way. Jackie had hung a string of twinkle lights over his short row of hedges that lined the patio fence and it looked festive in the dwindling dusk. The two shared a bottle of cheap wine Eric picked up from the store and the taste rivaled the most expensive brand.

"I like with you did with the house." Eric said quietly.

Jackie looked over and smiled, "Well, I had to make it feel homey…you know for the next few months."

Eric smiled, "About that."

She furrowed her brow. "What? You're giving me a time limit? Now? When I got most of my stuff put away and a shipment that is probably stuck in Texas?"

Eric grinned. "No, I'm not giving you any time limits. You know you can live here any day or any time you like. I would just like it if you stayed here a lot longer."

Lifting an arched brow, Jackie spoke softly. "Continue."

"Well, I was thinking about something you said a while back. You know….about your reputation?"

She did? Jackie didn't remember the conversation exactly but she wanted to see where Eric was going with this. "Refresh my memory."

Eric turned and covered her hands with his warm ones. "We were talking on the phone and you wanted my realtor's phone number." He reminded her of the telephone conversation:

"Eric…." She said softly, "That is your home. You moved so you could make your own choices….I would just be in the way."

"No." he answered almost frantically. "You would never be in the way. You helped me pick it. You know what a terrible decorator I am. I need you."

Just what she wanted to hear. "Well…if you are sure it wouldn't be a bother….oh crap."

"What now?"

She answered, "I can't live with you. My reputation. I'm a successful single actress. What kind of example would I set for all the tweenagers that look up to me?"

Eric countered with, "Just get here….we'll figure all that out when you are here.

Then from his jacket pocket Eric pulled out a small box. "I got you a reputation present."

Jackie held a curious smile. "I've never heard of a reputation present before. What is it?"

He smiled charmingly. "You have to open the box."

Her delicate fingers opened the square box and she inhaled sharply at the beautiful little diamond ring. It wasn't huge by Hollywood standards but the setting was too pretty for words. She looked at Eric who took the box from her hand, removed the ring and slid the diamond on the finger of her right hand. Puzzled, she wondered why he chose her right hand when rings like this usually go on the left hand. He only smiled after admiring it on her finger.

With a serious tone, Eric continued. "Jackie. I'm not ready to get married again but this ring was bought with a promise."

She felt her heart flutter. This was like a little proposal! She smiled and urged him to continue. Eric could feel his palms getting sweaty but he had to do this the right way. "A promise ring. Because I promise you that eventually, one day I can get you the ring you truly deserve. I know I can't afford a mansion or a horse or an airplane, but if you need those things to be with me….I'll find a way to get them."

She pursed her lips before she started gushing. A horse? He would really get her a horse? Jackie brushed his hair from his eyes. "Eric, I don't need a plane….I'd like to go horseback riding some time but I don't need a horse." She looked into his green eyes and smiled. "I just need to be with you. I feel like I can still have my ambitions and follow my dreams and you'll still be there for me."

He fell off his chair while she still held on to his hand. She was looking down at him with that beautiful face that America loved to watch on television but she was talking to him from her heart. "Deep down through all your nerdiness and the sensibility that makes you someone I want to be with, is something rare and special. I can connect with you, trust you. Love you. Eric, you make me laugh and that kind of love is built on true friendship and I feel like we have that."

He stuttered. "You-you really love me?"

She knelt down on the concrete patio so they were eye to eye. "I love you. And like you, I don't want to get married right away but there will come a time that I will. Can you handle that?"

He nodded. Speechless but scared to death. Jackie continued. "I will eventually want a couple of kids and probably a bigger house but not right now. Right now….I only need what we have."

Eric closed his eyes and felt his breath caught in his throat as Jackie's lips covered his. She kissed him feverishly and he returned the kisses without hesitation. The ring, the moonlight…everything about this night felt perfect. The lips kissing his were perfect.

He was a lucky man.