Chapter 34
The week had ran smoothly, they didn't move the furniture around too much, the still had the empty nursery and a the walls seemed bare, Jackie had decided she would take care of that when she got her trust fund, though she wasn't sure what she would do with all that money and really hadn't talked to Steven about it. She figured if anything it could be a rainy day fund or to help with a college fund for their children. They had dinner last night over at the Foreman's, with Bob and Donna since she was leaving over the weekend and Bob was leaving shortly after. Jackie was packing her bag to go stay with Angie for the night, Steven had already packed his.
"Hey you about packed, I want to get on the road soon"
"I just finished, is everything going to be OK in the back of the El Camino?"
"Yes, Red made me go get a tarp this week to cover anything I'll have in the bed"
"Ok, just don't want snow on my bag"
"I'll make sure it stays dry, I am going to go get it loaded" he gave her a quick peck on the lips and left the bedroom, Jackie took and looked over to make sure nothing was missing. Part of her just wanted to stay home, but she knew that Steven didn't want to leave her by herself and apparently Red and Kitty had plans for an auto show or something out of town.
She walked down to the kitchen and grabbed a bag of chips, Steven would have to deal with her eating in his precious car, she grabbed some leftovers from breakfast and made herself a sandwich. She was putting it in a bag when Steven came back in, "The car is warming up, what do you have there?"
"A sandwich in case I get hungry on the way" he looked at her, he had a no food policy for his car, but he figured it would have to be thrown out, if she needed to eat on the way down it would be better than stopping, they needed to get on the road. "Ok just this once, we can stop if you get hungry tomorrow on the way home."
"Thank you Puddin"
He went through and made sure all the doors and windows were locked, lights were off, something he probably wouldn't have thought twice about but with Bob's phone call from Pam, he hoped that might be the end of it, Pam would think that Jackie was in Chicago with no communication to anyone in Point Place. Red had talked to him last night while the girls were cleaning up, as far as he knew Pam had no idea who was the overseer of Jackie's trust fund, and she hadn't called them.
Once they got on the road everything seemed to be going smoothly, Jackie was sitting in the middle with her head on Steven's shoulder, "You going to sleep on me doll?"
Jackie yawned, "No just this is really comfortable. So are you looking forward to the concert?"
"Yea, I get to see Clapton, and great seats too, I am just going to miss you tonight"
"Just think you won't have me waking you up several times in the night to go to the restroom."
"You put it like that, I might finally get a good night sleep" giving her knee a squeeze.
"I can't remember when I got a good night sleep it's been so long, and when he finally gets here, who knows if we will ever get a good night sleep again."
"Ah the joys of motherhood"
Sitting up, "Joys of motherhood, if you think you are going to pull a Red Foreman and pretend to sleep whenever your son wakes up, just remember I know that you wake up when I get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, what is going to change when our son is born?"
Steven couldn't help but chuckle, she had him, he has always been a light sleeper, always woke up when she would crawl into the cot with him when she would be late sneaking in. The only time he didn't wake up was when Sam came in from a night at the club, but that was because he was too wasted to stir. At that thought his chuckle died. And it didn't go unnoticed by Jackie.
"Puddin what is wrong?"
"Just thinking, I always woke up when you would get in the cot with me back in high school, I never stirred when Sam did late at night, but I was too wasted that I was passed out, I could have drunk myself to death back then and no one around stopped me, but I guess I hid it well."
"Angie said something to me about the bottles she found in your desk at Grooves, but there was just so much going on that we never got around to talking about it again."
"Well you made sure to point it out at the festival"
"Yea I guess I did, I am sorry about what I said about you turning into Bud and Edna"
"No you were right, I guess I never wanted to realize it, I thought that not turning my back on a marriage I could keep from being them, but in reality it was making me be closer to turning into them. That night I sat down and talked to WB, and then I went through and cleaned everything out. I was so glad she was gone from the moment she left."
"Hey we don't have to worry about it now, you are better. We make mistakes, but as long as we learn from them that is what really matters."
"Yea never get drunk in Vegas"
"And never leave me without talking to me first"
"OK, that is number one on my list of learning from mistakes, along with trusting you and making sure we talk"
The rest of the drive was done in lighter banter, fussing over radio stations, making sure she didn't get the car seat covered in crumbs.
In another car that left after Steven and Jackie was Red, Kitty, and Donna. Kitty was excited, "I just love baby showers! I can't wait to see what all Jackie gets"
"Kitty you just love parties, if you think about it we had 3 in almost a week's time"
"Well Mr. Grumpy Pants, aren't you excited you get to miss this party?"
"Sure I already gave them a gift for the baby, I didn't need a party to do it either"
"Red Foreman, when did you give them a baby gift and how did I not know about it?"
"I took it over while everyone was busy with the wedding preparations, put it upstairs in their room for them to find that night."
"What did you get them Mr. Foreman?"
"I cleaned up Laurie and Eric's cradle again, for use for when the baby is small so they could have it in their room for the first few months"
"And Jackie didn't make a fuss? That doesn't sound like her, I can't believe she didn't tell me"
"Well they stopped by the shop the next morning to thank me, I told them you didn't know anything about it, it was something to be kept in the family for their babies along with Eric and Laurie's if they ever have any, I guess we just hope we don't have any at the same time"
"Red that is the sweetest thing I have ever heard"
"Well I feel better if the 1st bed my first grandson sleeps in is something I made"
"Wow Mr. Foreman this becoming a grandfather is making you soft"
"Only for the grandchild, the rest of you dumbasses can still get a foot in the ass if you misbehave"
Kitty and Donna chuckled, he might be soft when it came to his first grandchild, but he was still Red Foreman.
"So Donna did you and Jackie have a good talk yesterday?"
"Yes, I had tried to talk to her alone all week but it seemed Steven wouldn't let her alone, I think the only reason we got to talk yesterday was he thought we were in the kitchen with you and not talking in the dining room. I was able to apologize for never really being a good friend, and just everything. I really apologized for never taking the time to really get to know her and just seeing her as the front she put out there."
Red looked in the rearview mirror at the girl, "The problem is that in high school everyone seems like they have to put up this front and then they make friends but sometimes never get below the shallow surface to see who they really are. Don't you two give me that look, it was the same when I was in high school, hell it was the same when I was in the Navy. You see their actions but never question the reasoning behind those actions."
The rest of the car ride was quite after that, contemplating what Red said, who knew he could be so deep.
Steven and Jackie pulled up to WB's house and parked beside Brook's car. He helped Jackie up and then bent down to wipe out any crumbs from the seat.
"You know this was once owned by a dirty hippie right, crumbs are not going to destroy it"
"Hey I have spent a lot of time keeping this clean and taking care of her"
"I was there washing her, usually by myself"
"Sorry if it got to the point I just sat and enjoyed the view" As he stood up and looked at her and smirked.
"Perve" she smacked his chest
"Only for you doll"
Jackie could only shake her head, "So how are you going to treat it when we have a baby riding with us?"
"Um, I hadn't thought about that, I guess then we will go in your car, so he can mess it all up and not the Camino"
"Just be glad you got your car before all this happened and not like Red and his Corvette"
"I am not selling the Camino just because of the baby like Red did his Corvette, and then didn't even get a baby out of it"
By then they were at the front door and Angie opened to greet them, taking Jackie into a tight hug, Steven just stood there, "Good to see you too sis"
Letting go of Jackie gave Steven a hug, "Dad is looking forward to tonight with you, I think you are leaving soon."
"Well I'll grab our bags, is the Camino good there?"
"Well we could move it into the garage if you want after you leave"
"Ok, but only Jackie drives it, just to move it, and no eating in it!"
"Put Jackie's bags in my room, Brook has the guest room with Betsey"
Jackie couldn't help but smile proudly even if he put the dig in about eating in his car, but that he trusted only her to drive it. She knew that after Fez's accident in his car he only let her drive it.
Just as he was coming back to the living room where the girls were sitting around talking WB came out, "Let's go son"
Steven went over and helped Jackie off the couch and held her in his arms, "You behave this weekend, I'll try and call you tonight when we get to the hotel room, but it might be too late"
"No even if I am asleep, I still want you to call, I am going to miss you"
"Ok, we need to get moving, love you Jackie, and I'll take care of him for you." Steven and Jackie broke apart, WB came over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, you all just no crazy parties in my house"
"That is exactly what we have planned, we have a pregnant Jackie and little Betsey of course that screams crazy party." Angie told her dad.
WB looked over at Betsey sitting on her mom's lap, "I am trusting you to keep an eye on these women and keep them in line" Betsey smiled back at WB as he pinched her cheek.
After Steven and WB left Angie looked at the other girls, "I thought we could go out to dinner tonight, Marie is going to watch Betsey for us."
"That sounds great, Betsey can you be good for Miss Marie while mommy goes out with Auntie Jackie and Angie?"
Marie took Betsey from Brook and the little girl nodded.
"That sounds great, there have to be more variety of restaurants here than back in Point Place."
The girls got to the restaurant and Brook told the girls she was going to go check on Betsey while they waited on their table. After a bit Brook came back, "Girls Marie said that Betsey hasn't stopped crying since we left, and nothing is calming her down."
Angie looked at Brook, this was the plan to begin with to get Jackie out of the house while everyone got there, "Well I guess we could just go back, we can just order some delivery from somewhere, if pizza or something sounds good, just have a girls night in, is that OK with you Jackie?"
Jackie was a little disappointed looking forward to a girls night out even if it was just dinner. "Sure, I guess I have to get used to babies messing with plans"
"Yea it isn't easy with babies to make plans, but she seemed to warm up to Marie, but I guess being in a strange place and all was just too much. Michael was going to take her but he had to work."
The arrived back at the house from the outside everything looked like when they left. The other 2 girls made sure to let Jackie walk in first, "SURPRISE!" everyone shouted as she walked in. The living room looked completely decorated for a baby shower with blue balloons and streamers everywhere. Marie and whoever helped her was quick, Betsey was content in a play pen in the corner.
Jackie turned to the girls behind her, "So this was a set up?"
"When dad finalized the concert tickets for him and Steven I got with Brook and we got this started."
"thank you both" Jackie hugged Angie and Brook, then she was greeted by some of the ladies that work in the Grooves offices and then she saw Kitty and Donna. "You guys drove all the way down here?"
"Well Red drove us, he is at a car show and booked us a hotel for the night." Kitty gave her signature laugh.
"Donna is going to stay here tonight with Brook and Betsey and then we will take her to the airport tomorrow"
Jackie took and hugged both Kitty and Donna, "thank you for coming"
The ladies proceeded to mingle and eat and play games. They were all sitting around the living room as Jackie was getting ready to open her presents, when Kitty asked "Have you two decided on a name yet?"
Jackie was thinking of what to say, they had but it depended on Laurie tomorrow, she felt in her gut everything would go OK but she didn't want to say anything till it was sure. "We are debating a few names, we don't want to say anything till we made our decision."
Angie was sitting on one side of Jackie to hand her presents and help when needed, Brook was on the other side with a note pad to write down who gave what, Betsey had been moved and was toddling in the center of everyone, like her father she was loving the attention she was getting from all the ladies. As Jackie opened a gift Angie would take and pass it around for all the ladies to see, and Betsey played in front of Jackie playing with the wrapping paper. Bottles, diapers, layette sets, sleepers, blankets all passed around, all gifts from the ladies from Grooves. Donna had got her a high chair that was in a big box, while Brook got a tub and bath supplies. The next gift Jackie opened the card, was shocked to see it was from Laurie and Fez, she looked up at Kitty, "She gave it to us last week when we visited her, she figured she wouldn't make the shower but wanted to make sure you had this"
Jackie put the card aside, there was a little note in it she wanted to read later when she was alone. She opened the box, there was a baby book and baby toys and little stuffed animals. As the box was passed around Donna looked at it, "Well I am sure that Steven is glad they didn't get his son a stuffed unicorn" she said as she held up a stuffed lion.
The next gift was from Angie, she had gotten a swing. Then Kitty's gift she had gotten her a stroller but also had made a small blue sweater and matching hat. "I would have put his name on it if I knew what it was like I did for Steven" Jackie and Donna shared a giggle knowing the sweater and that he never wore it, but kept it. "Well I could make him one and maybe even you one and you can have it in time for family Christmas pictures" Now a Angie and Brook both started in with the giggles, none of the young girls could see Steven posing in a studio for family pictures, especially in sweater with his name on it.
"Mrs. Foreman let's see what Steven thinks before you go to the trouble of another sweater" Jackie finally managed to get out. "Thank you all for the gifts, they mean so much to Steven and I that we have so many that are helping us with things for the baby"
Angie stood up with Brook, "Ok one more thing from Grandpa WB," as she and she and Brook both slid two big gifts towards Jackie. She stood up and opened up and the smaller of the two to reveal a changing table and the second box was a crib
"I guess this is why Steven insisted on bringing the El Camino, this is probably going to fill it up"
"Red and I can take some stuff in the Toyota too."
"Yea that would be great for the clothes and blankets and such."
After the ladies from Grooves left Red showed up to pick up Kitty, Jackie ran up and hugged him, "Thank you for everything, thank you for driving Kitty and Donna down here for this"
"Ok Loud one, of course Kitty wouldn't let me hear the end of it if I didn't" even if he tried to put it off, he hugged her back. "Do you want us to come by in the morning and we can load some of this up in our car for you?"
"yes, I want to look at everything again, it makes it feel more real, even if he has been kicking for a while."
Kitty came over after getting her coat on, "Good night sweetie, we will see you tomorrow." She looked at Donna, "What time is your flight tomorrow?"
"It leaves at 2"
Brook looked around, "I need to leave in the morning, Betsey does better traveling in the mornings or late afternoons when it is her nap time. And I want to get home before it gets dark."
"Well why don't we have breakfast here before Brook leaves?" Angie spoke up.
After Red and Kitty left the girls sat around with mugs of hot chocolate talking about different things, Donna and Jackie shared with the other two the story of Steven's Steven sweater on his 18th birthday.
"Jackie you remember kissing Steven on his cheek that day?"
"You are right I did didn't I?"
Brook looked at the two, "I take it this was before you two were dating?"
"Yea, it was right at the end of Michael and I. Todd my manager at the Cheese Palace had kissed me, and Michael had gotten upset over it. At Steven's party I just went up and kissed his cheek and wished him a happy birthday and Michael went off, you would have thought I stuck my tongue down Steven's throat."
"Ok, that is a little more than I want to hear about you and my brother"
Jackie started laughing, "Donna have you been by to see our new employee at Grooves?"
"No, I sort of been avoiding Randy and everything so I haven't been there since I got back, why who is it?"
"It's Todd!"
"You have got to be kidding me, and you are just now telling me" now Donna was laughing
"OK, what about Todd? Hold on you said a Todd kissed you when you were with Michael, that is the same Todd?" Angie asked
"Yes, and I figured it out and Steven was like well I know I can't kick his ass but I can fire him if he tried anything with me"
"Todd is a little guy, I would think Steven would have no trouble"
"Angie trust me, I was there when Michael confronted him for kissing Jackie, he didn't budge when he was punched in the stomach"
"He has a black belt, Michael who never really listened to when I talked back then didn't pay attention that I had told him that"
"I am just glad he is seeming to get not smarter but maybe more common sense"
"This is true, he hasn't started a fire or glued himself to anything in a long time."
The girls talked and laughed for an hour before heading to bed.
Angie let Jackie sleep on the side with the phone so she could answer when Steven called.
Jackie layed in bed unable to sleep missing Steven, she had gotten use to sleeping in his arms. She wondered how Steven was doing and hoped he was having fun. She had come to love WB when she was staying here, she knew that he cared about Steven and wanted to get to know him better. So much has changed since they first met WB.
Finally the phone rang Jackie picked it up right away "Puddin"
"Jackie" Steven said with annoyance in his voice
"Everyone is asleep, I haven't been able to fall asleep yet"
"Little guy giving you problems?"
"No but he might later, I drank some hot chocolate earlier, but sleeping in bed with your sister doesn't compare to sleeping with you"
"Good to know, but if you can take a picture of the two of you in bed I bet Michael would pay me good money"
"Well Brook and Donna are in the other room in bed"
"Wow he might give me Betsey's college fund for those two pictures, how did it go tonight?"
"It went good we have a lot to take home, Red and Kitty are coming over in the morning for breakfast and we'll pack somethings in their car"
"Well our plans are breakfast and then I'll go see Laurie not sure how long it will bebe and then we'll head back"
"Tell Laurie thank you for the baby book and toys tomorrow, how was the concert?"
"It was great best I have ever gone to, missed you though"
"I miss you too, maybe now that I got heard your voice I'll be able to sleep now."
"Love you Jacks, see you tomorrow"
"Love you Puddin"
AN: Writing process is slowing but still going next Laurie finally talks to Steven and Jackie reads the note from Laurie.
Another note, I remember when I was little the gifts were passed around for everyone to see at showers, I know it doesn't happen now, but some of the things I have used in the story are personal experiences.