(a month later)
12:30AM
Jackie was wrapped her pink and purple comforter. The TV was on mute and
she was talking to Eric on her cell phone. The repairs were almost finished on his
house and he and Jacen could leave the Days Inn. He could've stayed anywhere,
but at the same time she admired that he wasn't taking advantage of her generosity.
He said to watch her mailbox because she was going to be getting change back..
"It happened again?" she asked
"Yes," Jacen nor Eric hasn't had good nights sleep since he left the hospital. The
little boy would wake up all sweaty, sometimes screaming, and he wanted to sleep
with his father. Eric even caught him resorting to sucking his thumb like a two year
old when trying to fall back to sleep.
"Eric, I'm so sorry. Is he asleep now?"
"Yes," he talked softly, as he stroked his son's hair, "My poor little boy. Only part of
this is because of the damn fire. The rest is because of my wife. I cannot wait for all
this to be over, Jackie."
"I take it she still hasn't seen him?"
"No. She won't answer my calls and we only talk through our lawyers. She was
always there before. I can't figure it out. She always seemed to love him and paid
more attention to him then she did me. Granted, Jacen and I have always been
closer, but it's tearing him up inside because he still loves her."
"Eric, I know it's going to sound corny, but all you can do is love him. When it's all
said and done he's going to know who really loves and cares for him."
"I will. I just don't want to him to have to go through this."
"I know and that is why you are a great Dad. I keep forgetting to tell you
something…the whole reason I got you those Star Wars convention tickets."
"Because you love me—as a friend." He added so she wouldn't get the wrong idea.
"Yeah that. And you know why else?"
"No."
"I think the reason why you were afraid to file for divorce was because you had your
own nightmares of a red headed harlot taking Jacen away. Which I can almost say
that if you married Donna and things got rough…"
"She'd have taken Jacen in the middle of the night."
"Yes. Your soon to be ex seems to be the opposite. She never would have fought
you on custody. And although, I don't like Jacen going through this pain just as much
as you don't. The fire aside, because that was an unfortunate accident. Isn't it good
to know that he's with you now?"
"Jackie, you're something, you know that? Clearly something. You do make me feel
better. And I'm sorry for calling you at such a late hour."
She smiled. "Eric, I'm glad I could help and you know we have our 24/7 call anytime
pact. Give it time with Jacen. He'll probably feel a somewhat better when he gets to
sleep in his own bed again."
Eric sighed, "I hope so…oh I've been meaning to tell you. I heard that song on the
radio and before turning it off, I listened to the lyrics, and all I can say—is if I ever see
Steven Hyde again, I'll pop him one. Not because he ran off with Donna but because
he's rubbing salt in your wounds."
"Thank you, Eric. You make me feel better, too. Email me tomorrow."
"I will. Goodnight, Jackie."
"Goodnight, Eric and give Jacen a hug from his godmother."
"I will."
(2 months later)
Jackie knew Eric would be supportive of her decision to quit musical theatre.
And despite the return of Lauren Hutton Jackie had no desire to be an "older model"
because she wasn't A-list and that makes all the difference in the world. She had
money and wanted to buy a country house in a sleepy suburb somewhere and
manage a dress shop that her friend Vi said would be "perfect for her."
Reflections a dress shop in upstate NY that catered to upper middle class
housewives and spoiled high school snots went out of business. A man named
Phillip B. Jennings II bought the property and was looking for a bright and energetic
woman to manage the store. He liked Jackie's spunky vision so much that not only
did she have the job as manager the store was re-Christened Jackie's Boutique.
"Congratulations, Jackie!" Eric beamed into the phone when she called him one
afternoon on her lunch break.
"I wish you and Jacen could come to my 'welcome' party."
"I know, honey. But---"
"You don't have to explain, Eric. Your son has to come first. How is he doing?"
"Better. He's not trying to suck his thumb anymore. He's sleeping through the night.
I know it still tears him up and he tries to be brave that his mother doesn't want any
contact with him anymore. I keep telling her ambulance chaser of a lawyer to get it
through her head to just pick up the phone. Talk to him. But it doesn't make a bit of
fucking difference. You will be here for Jacen's 10th birthday party will you?"
"Yes, Eric. I wouldn't miss it for the world. And," she played with the ends of her hair.
"What?""I think by then I might have a date."
"Who?"
"My boss, Phillip. I mean there are no fireworks but I don't think I'm settling for…I
deserve to go out."
"Yes," he coughed, "You do. And you do deserve fireworks, Jackie."
"So do you, Eric. I should go I have to check on the salesgirls and make sure they
are doing things the Jackie way."
"And I have to pretend to be interested in a meeting about sales figures. These
fireworks that you speak of not everyone is that lucky."
"I know," she looked at her left hand and finally came to terms with that the only way
there might be a wedding ring on it would be if she bought it herself.
"but I'll tell you something Eric, right now I'd rather be content with a rainbow."