Author Note: ….old lovers make contact

T7S

Chapter 02 – Finding Old Friends

T7S

April 2011

"Yes I'll hold and no he doesn't need to know my name. Just tell him it's an old friend from Point Place." Jackie couldn't believe all the hoops she had to go through just to get Steven Hyde's personal secretary. A couple of well placed tantrums and some nice personal business threats had landed her in the right spot.

There was a soft click and a familiar voice said, "This better be important." Jackie's mind flashed back to high school, the years spent in the Forman basement, the brief affair they had 15+ years ago. "Hello? Is there anyone there?" The voice asked annoyed.

She cleared her throat of all emotion. "Steven. It's Jackie….do you have a minute?" She heard something fall in the background and then his voice came back on the line.

"Yeah…it's fine. Talk." The second she spoke, Steven James Hyde knew that voice. He knew the pauses between words. He never forgot that soft tone she took when she was concerned. How the hell did she manage to break through his walls of defense? It took stronger people much longer to get to his private office and Jackie Burkhart did it. That was admirable.

He picked up the picture of Angie and her deceased husband and put it back on his desk. He had knocked it off in his surprise. "Talk." He repeated and then her voice came back on the line. "Steven. It's about Mr. Forman."

"Is something wrong?" Hyde asked concerned for his dad. God, why hadn't he kept up with Kitty?

"It's the Alzheimer's. Eric and Kitty think this might be his last good year of remembering. We're planning a special Father's Day surprise and were kind of hoping you could be there. It would mean a lot to the Forman's."

Wow, that took Steven back. He didn't like to think that the strong father figure that formed his adult life was getting old and losing his memories. Red Forman was such a great man and had guided him through the rocky cliffs of his teenage years. He encouraged a young Steven Hyde to meet his birth father and take some chances in his life. "Steven, you can't always be a jaded young man. Wait until you're my age and then you've earned the right." Red had said and now, Steven Hyde was roughly the same age Red had been all those years ago!

"Steven, I'm still waiting!" Jackie said impatiently. He felt a smile curve his lips – a rusty expression he hadn't felt in years. Happiness. Of course he couldn't let Jackie know he was happy, that would probably give her a heart attack! "Look, I'm going to give you my personal email address and you send me the details. I'm late for a meeting."

She huffed. 'Fine. Let me get a pen." He heard some background noise and Jackie came back on the line. "Ready. What is it?"

"It's SJGrooves at eastbaud dot com slash WI. Do not share that with anyone, I hate getting spam. That shit is a waste of my time."

"Thanks Steven. I'll email you when I have more details. Say, you wouldn't know any way that we could find Laurie would you?"

"Are you asking if I've slept with her too?" he said irritably. She laughed that carefree lilting tone he remembered. "No. It's just Red would really like to see her but no one has heard from her since she went to Canada. We don't even know if she's still alive. I just thought that since you had access to unlimited resources…."

"You thought I could hire a private investigator." Steven finished her sentence.

"You know what? Forget I said anything. I'll just send you the information when I have more details. Thanks for sparing me some of your special time." Jackie hung up the phone and muttered, "Asshole."

Steven hung up the phone and muttered, "Bitch."

T7S

May 2011

Steven Hyde got comfortable in his home office and opened his laptop finding an email from TheNewSexy with the subject of Red Forman Surprise. Hyde smiled, that had to be Jackie.

Steven:

Remember Philly's? Red Forman's old favorite restaurant? Well, it's Philly's Cheesesteak Factory now, but Kitty booked the garden room for Father's Day. So far the guest list is Michael and Brooke Kelso, Eric and his son Benjamin and me.

The party is scheduled for two o'clock because he takes an afternoon med that makes him tired. Mrs. Forman says that this is the perfect time of the day for him to be aware of what's going on. The Alzheimer's is tricky. He keeps calling me Laurie (skank) and we just play along with it (which I hate) so we don't get him upset.

Please tell me you can attend so we can add your name to the giant cake we're having made.

You have my email address now so there's no excuse NOT to reply.

I'll be waiting for your answer. The holiday is next month.

Thanks Steven.

Jackie.

Hyde smiled. She reached out to him despite that last phone call. Damn, she could be a real bitch when she wanted. Poor Red. Losing his memory like that…slowly…and it must really bug the hell out of the old man. Maybe he should go. WB passed away from a stroke while Steven was in Europe working on a series of videos. Angie never forgave him for missing the funeral.

The only funeral he had attended was his brother-in-law's. Angie's husband Walter was killed in a car accident. Steven Hyde decided right there and then that he didn't want to lose more people that meant something to him until he had the chance to say goodbye. Red Forman deserved it.

He replied to the email.

Dear Jackie

I have some business obligations but I'll try to clear my calendar. I'm NOT promising so don't say anything. It's still more than a month until Father's Day. Did I ever tell anyone that WB passed away a few years ago? I don't want to have Red's funeral pass by without at least calling.

Say, do you know where Donna is?

Sincerely,

Steven

T7S

Jackie forwarded the email to CloneMe . She knew Eric was at work being the best vice principal Point Place Junior High School ever had, but she wanted him to be in the loop on anything related to the Father's Day party.

She added: Eric, I don't know what to say about Donna. BTW, how did the date with Delilah go? Wink wink.

Love Jackie.

Eric smiled as he read the email. Did he dare tell Jackie the date was wonderful but he was still seeing Juliet Anderson, the public librarian, on Saturday? Both women were beautiful and each one had a quirky personality that appealed to him. If only he could merge the two women into one perfect girl. That would be heaven.

Eric looked at the bookshelf in his office at the last family picture with Donna, Eric and a 12 year old Benjamin. Mentally, Donna had already left them. The couple ended up filing for divorce. Donna was in Panama City doing what she loved and Eric was working for the school district. What a freaking dysfunctional family. It's a wonder that Benjamin turned out to be such a great kid!

Now if he could only find his sister. His dad would be so happy and at least have a tiny memory of seeing his blonde or gray haired daughter one last time. Maybe Kelso could help from Washington. He'd have to ask the next time he emailed KelsolovesDemi at eastbaud dot com/WA.

At least Hyde wasn't turning down the invitation so that had to be good right?

T7S

A/N: Audience….I confess….I'm struggling with this story. It started as a great idea firstly by not killing off the older Forman's but trying to envision how the gang would be as middle aged is challenging. Specifically Kelso!

So if I bump and stumble, forgive me – I'm out of my comfort zone. And if you hate it…please tell me so and I'll stick to the original formula.

THANKS