Chapter 35
Steven woke up to the alarm he had set the night before, he hadn't had a good night sleep with tossing and turning, he had tried to hold a pillow, but it wasn't Jackie. He didn't realize he only got a good night sleep when he had her in his arms. He got up and started the coffee that was in the room, it was a two bedroom suite, and hadn't heard WB moving around yet. He planned on only taking an hour to talk with Laurie, but really thought it wouldn't be that long. He still couldn't think of why Laurie was so adamant about seeing him. She seemed nice enough as a big sister when they were little, she even thanked him for watching out for her baby brother when she couldn't. But then all that changed, and even though he understood now why, it made him uncomfortable.
After a quick breakfast WB drove Steven over to the rehab, Eric was right this wasn't what he was expecting. WB told him he would be back in an hour, he had a meeting nearby that shouldn't take long. He was shocked when the door was opened and he was pulled into a hug. This was not the greeting he was expecting. Laurie grabbed his hand and led him into a small living room and they sat on opposite sides of a couch Laurie sat sideways to face him.
"Not what you expected is it?"
"No not really" He turned to look at her, she seemed so different, there was a light in her eyes he can't remember if he ever saw it there before. "So what did you want to say to me?"
"Steven part of recovery is making amends with people I hurt, it started with Fez, as crazy as it sounds, I know we got married on a whelm for him to stay in the country, but when I started to wake up I didn't want my parents, part of me thought I did something nice for him to keep him in the country maybe he would do me a favor, and to be honest, what he has done is greater than anything I did for him. I talked to my parents and Eric, but you are as much of a brother as Eric. I know I gave you a hard time when you moved in and such, but looking back you adjusted with such ease to living with us after Edna left. I think I was jealous and a little guilty now that I look back, when mom and dad were having money issues you did what I should have done, you got a job and started paying rent even though they never asked you. I know as I was starting my recovery I was thinking of how great of son you really are and hoped that you saw yourself the way others saw you. Jackie has looked at you with love and admiration even after you cheated on her, she was looking at you that way even when we went camping before you guys graduated. I could see the hurt there, and trust me I never saw her look at Michael that way. I know I have to really make amends to Jackie, I had hoped she could come, but I understand why she couldn't. I did send her a gift with mom and a note in it, I hope she reads it."
"She told me last night to thank you for the gift, but she didn't say anything about the note."
"Well Fez said they did a shower for her last night so I am sure she really didn't have time to read my note yet. You know I know you tried to get Jackie to catch Michael and I back at Vanstock, but looking back aside from I was screwing with her boyfriend behind her back, Jackie and I had fun together that weekend. Truth be, I wanted to get caught if anything so Jackie could see Michael for who he really was, and hoped she would break up with him for good and move on from him, she didn't deserve the crap Michael tried to pull back then."
"Yea I couldn't rat out my friend, but I hated seeing with him, knowing what he was doing"
"When Fez told me about what happened to you and Jackie and when you came home from Vegas I honestly was sick. All the cracks you made at me and such and then to hear about Sam after a drinking binge. I knew something was up with Jackie when Fez said she ran, you would think she would be ready to kick her ass like she did me. Honestly I wondered then if she was pregnant, if that is why she was all over the place and pushing you for a real commitment. And then I worried for her. I haven't told anyone but Fez but when I came back from Mexico I found out I was pregnant, and it scared me I had no idea who the father was. You know me back then it could be Fez or several others. I lost the baby, and that is when I ran again, mom would find out if I went to the hospital in Point Place, even though I didn't know the father I had hoped it was Fez's. And when I got out of here I just went on a downward spiral, drugs alcohol anything that made me forget that I couldn't even carry a baby and that I wouldn't make a good mother. I remembered Edna and Bud, she once stopped me when I was going home from walking you home one night she told me if I was smart I would never get pregnant, kids ruin everything. It made me sick, I hated that I had to leave you with her, but there are voices that get burned into your head. I wanted to just forget everything and everyone. When Bud was back the last time, crap this is hard, we hooked up before he left, I honestly thought he could be the one and then he left with Edna. I heard what happened, and all I can say is that you are better off without either of them in your life. Bud was starting to do the hard drugs then, I did some with him back then, but it really started after the miscarriage. I finally cleaned up and decided to come back home, I thought everything would be better once I was home with everyone. I would get to see my brother get married, but the thought of him and Donna in a trailer, my brother deserves better than that, I hope he knows that. I ended up at the water tower but never went up, I had scored some drugs and even if I was somewhat out of it, I'll never forget seeing you and Donna up there."
"You saw me and her on the water tower the night I fell?"
"Steven I didn't hear anything, but I saw her try to kiss you and the arguing when you pushed her away, and then her push you. I felt worthless that night, I was so out of it, I couldn't do anything to help you. I was no good to help you or Eric, mom and dad were better off with me not there mooching off them. I mean dad had a heart attack and you started working more, and got Eric on so he could help out. After than night I really have no memories until I woke up in the hospital"
Steven just looked at her, he didn't know what to say.
"Look I want to remind you that you don't have to be Bud and Edna, Fez told me that you seemed to keep drinking after Vegas, and he didn't know how to reach you, and well I was keeping him busy helping me. We had talked and I told him that maybe once I was on the road to recovery I could maybe talk to you. Then he said you changed after the festival."
"I finally found Jackie, found out about the baby and found out that Bud and Edna were dead in a car crash from a DUI. I guess I had my own awakening. Then when I heard about you, I was just relived that I hadn't drunk myself to death or ended up like you or Bud and Edna. I had just not wanted to grow up and then realized that for years I had been imitating Bud and Edna even when it was everything I hated. I claimed I was staying married so I wouldn't be like Bud, but I was just I didn't see it till I sat down with WB that night Jackie was in the hospital. I was scared to come see you because I was pretty close to needing to be here myself, and maybe I do"
"Steven know you have a great support system, your dad, Jackie and mom and dad, and now that Eric isn't ready to kick your ass for what you did, and you have Fez and me. Mom and dad took you into the family long before Edna left. You take care of Jackie and that baby, Fez said it's a boy?"
"Yea they did this thing to check him out when Jackie was in the hospital and saw it was a boy. Which Jackie and I wanted to run the name by you and Eric so since we are waiting right now on his letter, but I figure he won't mind, we are thinking of Reginald William, if you don't mind?"
"I love it, dad and WB are going to be so proud. So I am guessing we are going to call him Reggie?"
"Yea that is what we talked about, I am glad we talked, please stop by when you get back to Point Place."
"I will, just hope Reggie will wait till Aunt Laurie gets home. I'll need to get a job and such, Fez has helped so much but I am not going to move in with him and mooch anymore."
"What are you doing now, Eric said you had a job"
"I am working in a boutique that is owned by a girl that graduated the program here several years ago, it's fun working with the customers"
"Well I might need more help with the record store once it gets closer to Reggie coming. I have 2 other guys and Leo, but I have a feeling one of them is going to be moving on soon, so stop by and see me at the store"
"Well it looks like WB pulled up, thanks for coming, I am glad I finally got to talk to you. Fez is the only one that knows what I saw on the water tower that night. But I feel like Eric needs to know."
"I told Eric and Jackie before he left, Jackie actually knew, Donna threw it in her face that she kissed me in a fight they were having."
"Donna really can be a bitch"
"She is changing some, she is living with her mom in California, she was in for a visit but I think she flies back today. I think she came to terms with Eric and her being over for good this time."
"Eric needs someone that will pamper him and Donna is not it. I'll have Fez let you guys know when I am coming home"
They hugged and she walked him to the door, "Take care" he told her and gave her kiss on her cheek. She felt as much of a sister to him after today as Angie was.
Back at WB's breakfast had been ate and Red had loaded up the Toyota with boxes of baby items to take back to Point Place, he told Jackie they would bring everything over tomorrow since they didn't know when they would get back and he could help Steven with the furniture and putting everything together and Kitty could help Jackie with sorting and putting things where they would be needed. Jackie hadn't slept much and was nodding off on the couch after everyone left.
Angie looked at Jackie sleeping on the couch and looked at Donna, "I think I'll take you to the airport, she needs to rest I don't think she slept much last night, I don't know how much it was the baby and how much it was sleeping without Steven."
"Yea when she first moved in with me she said she slept the most those nights she snuck in to Steven's room than she ever had.
Donna went over and touched Jackie on her shoulder, "Jackie, Angie is going to take me to the airport, I wanted to say bye before I left."
Jackie began to stir, "I am sorry I fell asleep"
"No problem, Angie is going to take me, you stay and rest. I'll call you tonight when I get home OK?"
Jackie took and hugged Donna, "Thank you and don't be a stranger"
"I won't just keep a guest room open for me and let me know when this little guy gets here"
"We will"
After Angie and Donna left, Jackie fell back asleep, she didn't even hear the front door open and the two men walk in, but when one of them kissed her cheek she jumped. "Steven!"
"Wow you was out of it, did you not sleep last night?"
"Some, I'll sleep better tonight."
WB came in, "where is everyone?"
"Brook took Betsey back after breakfast, Red and Kitty left after we got their car loaded and Angie took Donna to the airport"
Steven sat down next to Jackie and pulled her close to him, "I thought you was going to go to the airport with them?"
"I was but I ended up dozing on the couch, Angie just said she would take her, I was too tired to argue."
"Well if you want to let me know what to load up and then maybe we can get home and sleep in our own bed tonight."
"See those boxes over there? Basically all that, Red and Kitty took the small stuff like the clothes and such. So we have the crib, changing table, high chair and stroller. But before you do that how was your visit this morning?"
"It was good, she said she had a note with her gift, she is trying to make amends I think it's in the note."
"I got it and put it away, I didn't want to read it last night with everyone here, but then I had forgot about it, I'll read it on the way home."
"She has changed, she's more like the girl that would walk me home when we were little and seemed more like a big sister, not the earth mother whore she was"
"I know all that time I spent with the Foreman's they have missed her, Kitty would always talk about she wished Laurie would want to learn to cook, she said she never asked for help with school projects or anything, and loved that day she tried to help me make a pie"
Steven laughed at the memory of that day, "all those wasted pies, just glad you did learn how to cook" looking over at everything, "So do we have everything we need for Reggie yet?"
"Laurie was OK with it?"
"Yea she loved the idea, I am sure Eric will be fine with it too."
WB came back in the room with a cup of coffee, "Steven you are going to need this to make sure you stay awake to drive home. Finish that and I'll help you load everything up"
Steven and Jackie shared a look, Laurie and possibly Eric were the only ones that knew the name, Jackie gave Steven a smile to let him know he could tell, "Dad we decided on a name and wanted to tell you, just don't tell Kitty you know before her, we will tell her tomorrow. But we decided on Reginald William Barnett."
WB's eyes started to tear up, he figured it would be enough that his last name would be passed down, but to know they were giving his grandson his name for a middle name, and he knew how much Red was to the two of them, "I love it, I am sure Red and Kitty will too."
"Well we are going call him Reggie" Jackie gleamed
"let's get Reggie's things loaded up so you two can get home." WB said as he stood up.
"I'll go make sure I have my stuff packed and be ready for when you are done with loading all that."
Once they were on the road Jackie pulled the note from Laurie out
Jackie,
I just wanted to say I am sorry how I treated you back with Michael, but part of me wanted you to see him for how he really was, you didn't deserve that. We had such a great time at Vanstock and got along, I regret we didn't continue a friendship and I let Michael get in the way of that. You always deserved way more than what Michael could give you. I am glad my other brother has straightened up and done right for you. You both deserve so much more than you were born with in life, be a family you never had, but don't forget the adopted family you have with us Foreman's. I hope we can reconnect when I come home and be real friends.
Laurie
"Wow, not what I was expecting"
"If it was anything like my conversation this morning with her, I totally understand."
They spent the ride home with Steven filling her in on the concert the night before, having a great time with his dad. WB had gotten a guitar signed by Clapton. And then he told her about his talk with Laurie. She seemed so different to Jackie, than what she remembered, but then she thought back to Vanstock and her and Laurie really did get along. They let Fez sleep with them in the van and kicked Michael out. As promised they stopped at a diner on the way home and ate. The rest of the way home they talked about Reggie being able to hear and such, so Steven talked about making sure to have Jackie listen to only good music as he put it.
When they got home Steven was glad they had the garage to pull into, he wasn't unloading anything tonight, he grabbed their bags and they went in the house, knowing that they would finally be able to sleep.