For those of you who like Layla .. this is one of my favourite chapters with her on
April 16th, 1983
10:22 pm
WB's house, Milwaukee
Jackie and Steven had spent the last three months avoiding most people and social engagements. Somehow Kitty had made sure that everybody respected their wish to be left alone, though she would drive to Madison from time to time to check in on them, loaded with brownies and cookies and casseroles and other stuff.
Reluctantly, Jackie had gone back to work at the end of February. Her boss had been very sympathetic and reduced her workload considerably. But Jackie didn't feel the joy her job used to ignite anymore, so after a couple of weeks she decided to quit. She had spent the following weeks mostly at home, reading, drawing, and trying new recipes. Some days she would go to the mall and pick up some things for the house.
Steven was sitting on a big couch between his sister and Layla. He was thankful to Layla and his sister for throwing a small birthday party instead of the big soirée that Layla would have organized under different circumstances. Like her usual New Year's parties. Those had been crowded, loud and tiring. He wasn't sure neither him nor Jackie were up for something like that just yet.
On the couch in front of them, Jackie was sitting with Kitty and Donna, talking enthusiastically. Jackie hadn't seen much of Donna lately, even though they lived only six blocks away. She and Steven hadn't even been to either Donna's or Forman's birthdays this year. And they hadn't done anything special on Valentine's Day actually; just a quiet dinner, only the two of them. But now Jackie seemed happy, catching up with her best friend and Kitty, the closest thing she had to a mother
"She's not happy" said Layla, in a low voice, following Steven's gaze
"Good one, Sherlock" he replied, bitterly.
"Don't you sass me, boy" reprimanded Layla, smacking him lightly on the back of the head, laughing.
"She needs a new job" said Angie, unperturbed by her brother and her grandmother's behavior.
Without a word, Steven nodded and got up. He knew they were right, but he didn't want to patronize Jackie telling her what was best for her… pretending to know what was best for her. She was a strong and determined woman and she wouldn't take it nicely if he started to meddle. Even in the current circumstances. He needed to find a way to help her find a new job that excited her as much as her old one used to.
Jackie seemed to be having such a good time that he relaxed and started to enjoy himself. He'd gone back to the kitchen and grabbed two cans of beer from the fridge. Eric was absentmindedly looking through WB's vast record collection.
"I'm sorry we missed your birthday" Steven said, handing a beer to Forman.
"It's ok, man"
They stood there in a companionable silence for a little while, until Jackie and Donna walked towards them. "Do you want to leave?" whispered him on her ear when she reached him.
"We haven't even had cake yet" she replied, giving him a small peck in the cheek.
She's right, he thought. It was his father's birthday, after all. And anyway, Layla had already said that she would not let anybody out the door before singing happy birthday and cutting the cake.
/-/-/-/
11:42 pm
Right now, she was feeling good, discussing with Angie the best way to redecorate WB's house. Not that he'd asked for advice anyway.
From the other side of the room, Steven was looking at her, sipping his beer absentmindedly.
"How have you been?" asked WB coming from the kitchen
"I don't know, really" replied Steven, sincerely. "Way better, for sure" he added, thinking of how miserable the past winter had been for both of them. "Work is fine, as you know… We finally finished furnishing the spare rooms upstairs and Jackie picked all the last tiny things to decorate and stuff… And she seems good…"
"But?"
Steven shrugged, and went back to his beer.
/-/-/-/
April 17th, 1983
12:17 am
WB's house, Milwaukee
They were back in the living room, talking amiably. Donna was helping WB go around the room with more cake for everybody and Eric was changing the vinyl on WB's state-of-the-art music station. Kitty was giggling happily, a big slice of cake in her hand, with Red sitting next to her, drinking his beer.
Jackie sat on the couch between Layla and Steven with a large slice of cake in her hand. To her right Layla was talking, but Steven wasn't paying attention to his grandmother, and he had the feeling that Jackie wasn't either. They were both still under the effects of the circle, which had included Eric, Donna, his sister, and his father.
Seeing that nobody was paying attention, Layla focused her attention on the piece of cake in her hands, and he could hear her mumble something. "Sorry, I didn't hear you, grannie" said Steven mockingly. There wasn't something that she hated more than to be called that. Just as much as he hated being called boy, and she knew that.
"I said: next time you have a meeting with your father" replied her in a low voice, emphasizing the word meeting, "you should invite me too".
"My mistake" apologized Steven, suppressing his own mirth about his grandmother's annoyance for being left out of the circle. Jackie chuckled, amused by Layla's wit. On Layla's other side Angie laughed loudly.
"Now you owe me one" said Layla, dropping the secrecy and straightening a strand of her hair and returning to her cake. After a moment she turned back to her grandson and continued: "and as penance, you have to answer something"
Steven rolled his eyes. The look on her face told him that it wouldn't be an innocent question. Their conversation was starting to attract some curious faces and Steven braced himself to be humiliated by his grandmother.
"Are you planning on getting married before or after my funeral?"
According to fandom * com WB's birthday is April 16th