Chapter 9

Statement:  The last part of this is another transition part.  I don't like the way it ended but it gets me to the next chapter –where stuff is gonna happen.  (Some conflict even.)  So enjoy this chapter for its smooth sailing.  And ignore the abrupt ending.  I'm not a polished writer but everything I do is for a reason and on purpose (even if it seems unlikely).  Once this story is finished it is going to flow I promise even though right now it seems not to.  That is merely an illusion.  :)

Hyde spent the next hour watching Jackie sleep and running over the events of the last 15 hours in his head.  He remembered most of it now.  Enough to know they weren't married and they hadn't slept together.  He tried not to be disappointed at the former but was grateful for the latter.  He wanted that to be memorable. If it ever happened. From what he could recall –after Jackie "proposed" he had found a bartender who knew of an all night pawnshop.  They had stumbled there on a drunken mission.  He had spent most of his tip money on a simple silver band that Jacks had favored over any of the diamond and fake diamond engagement rings.  She had said –and he was sure it was the liquor talking –that she didn't like diamonds anymore.  She said they were flashy and stupid.  So he'd got the band.  Then they had promptly stumbled back to the hotel and passed out.  So last night they were engaged –but he was sure when Jackie woke up she would remedy that situation.  It was fun while it lasted.  He could still remember how good it felt last night when she was in his lap.

"Steven?"  She was up. 

Here goes, he thought. "Yes?"

"We didn't get married."  She sounded as sad as he felt. 

"I know"

She was playing with a loose string on the bedspread.  She seemed like she had something she wanted to say.  But she was getting as bad as him at not being able to say it. He hated that that was his fault.  That his betrayal had made her guarded and less –less Jackie.  He took her chin and made her look at him.  She choked it out.

"I don't want to give the ring back though" 

He smiled.  He didn't know what that meant.  But it couldn't be bad. 

Two weeks later, they had enough money to move on.  They had loved Nashville and had had a great time meeting new people and seeing the town –but the goal was Mobile.  And they were too close not to go all the way.  Hyde figured they'd stop in Birmingham –rest for a day or two and then head on.  It was only about a 7 hour drive from Nashville to lower Alabama but they had nothing but time.  The time in the car was his favorite anyway –because Jackie would talk about anything and everything and he could just listen and enjoy while pretending not too.  It felt like the old days.  Or maybe this was the new days.  After "the engagement" they had evolved into a more than friends less than back together couple.  He was no longer afraid to take her hand or touch her hair and she used just about any excuse to grab his arm or pull his beard.  It was like they had just met and were falling for each other instead of a couple that had crashed and burned and were trying to put the pieces back together. 

"We are in Alabama" Jackie stated as they passed the Welcome to Alabama/The Beautiful sign. 

"Cool" Hyde responded, even though he was going to miss Tennessee.  He suddenly had a bad feeling about continuing.  Almost as if things had been going too well and they were pushing it by going further.  The thought almost made him stop the car.   But Jackie's enthusiam kept him from it.  

"I can't believe we are almost there.  I wonder if anybody at home realizes how far away we are from Wisconsin." 

He made a face.  He didn't like talking about the gang.  He didn't want Jackie thinking about the last couple of weeks in Point Place.  But he guessed they had to deal with it eventually.  The bad feeling returned.

"I told Eric the last time I called to check on Red that we were heading south.  I'm sure everyone knows by now."

"Oh yeah Erica can't keep a secret", she laughed.  "I should call Donna and talk to her- see how she is – but I don't want to".

Hyde smiled.  She didn't want anyone intruding on their time any more than he did.  They were still fine.   

"Hey Birmingham is a rough city.  I know you are all political but is it a good idea for us to stay there?"

"Hey its not the 60's anymore.  And besides I know people.  I called Leo's nephew.  He knows a guy who lives in Birmingham.  He gave me his number and gave me a good place to stay.  His name is Jason."

"We aren't staying with him are we?" Jackie looked worried at that.

"No he lives in the boonies.  We are staying at this boarding house. Some old lady owns it. But the guy said if we called he would come by and show us some of the city.  ."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Cool".

The boarding house was not anything Hyde had ever experienced.  It was this big old antebellum looking place.  As soon as he pulled up he thought –Great I'll never get Jackie out of this place.  And the second thought was –how could this ever be affordable?  He was going to kill this Jason guy.  But true to his word –the old lady was cheap.  Hyde kind of fell in love with the place himself -when he found out that all of the rooms came with only one bed.  One huge comfy bed.  Maybe Jackie would have to drag him away instead.