Chapter 23 – Home Sweet Home

(✿◠‿◠) *

April

Kelso huffed his way to the finish line and promptly collapsed on the track. A Charlie horse in his foot was curling his toes painfully in his new running shoes. Fez dropped to his knees with a Styrofoam cup of water. "Drink this."

Instead, Kelso splashed his face with the water and panted. "I'm dying."

Eric trotted across the field with his stop watch in hand. "Hey man, you did that lap in 8 minutes! You ran a quarter mile in eight minutes!" he exclaimed excitedly.

Kelso rose up on his elbows with a big grin. "Really? How many more laps until I can win the 5k run in May?"

Eric counted on his fingers. Four laps equaled a mile so converting feet to metric… he smiled because it turned out that High School math DID come in handy. "That's about 3 miles so you'd have to run about 12 laps or more."

Kelso flopped back on the ground. "Eight minutes times twelve? What is that? Like two hours? I'll never make it."

Steven Hyde strode over from the bleachers. "Don't get all whiny ass now Kelso. Look, you ran. I told Forman that I thought you'd be crawling after the first turn…but you didn't. Hyde crouched down and gave his old friend a slug in the bicep. "So now you stink like a big sweaty dog…hit the shower and I'll give you a ride to Betsy's."

Hyde looked at Eric. "What are you doing this afternoon man?"

Eric looked at Fez, "I'm busy. The moving van is coming after 1:00 and I'm cleaning up the old house while Fez is settling the garage in the new house."

Hyde lifted a brow, "No regrets?"

Eric smiled. "No regrets. It's like I'm getting a do-over and this time I'm doing it right."

Fez moaned, "Doooiinnnnggg it. Don't say that. I miss doing it."

Eric rolled his eyes, "Man, don't go there again. Remember? We had this talk?

Shaking his head sadly, Fez replied, "Sorry. " Using his skinny arms, Fez helped Kelso to his feet. "Just think Kelso….in a few weeks we can all go to the House of Mouses! They have stores and stores of candy!"

Kelso grinned, "They have Space Mountain! I can finally be the astronaut I was meant to be."

Hyde turned his attention to Eric. "So how did you get the money to buy this new condo so easy? What I heard, it's been pretty difficult to sell property these days."

Eric shrugged. "Tina, my realtor said my current house was in a prime location and she had three buyers already lined up. I took the best bid and used the money to pay for the condo. All the extra dough will be for those stupid home owner fees."

Hyde scratched his chin. "So…Jackie didn't have a hand in getting all this selling and buying done for you?"

Eric wondered what Hyde was really implying. "No. I did this on my own. I took care of the escrow, the closing costs….Jackie wasn't involved in anything except for helping me decide which one to choose. She has good taste."

Hyde shrugged, "Well I'm asking because she's been out here almost every weekend. Do you know how much plane tickets cost? She's spending a lot of her own money to hang out with you and what is she getting out of this?"

That small question sniggled in the back of Eric's mind for the rest of the day.

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Donna heard a series of small raps on her door. Rising from the cot, she padded across the cool floor and opened the door to find one of the Embassy employees standing in the hallway. He had a manila envelope addressed to her. The envelope was dropped in her hand and the employee quickly walked away.

Curious, Donna clicked on the small lamp and sat at the desk by the window where the sun was just making her morning announcement. Yawning, Donna ripped the envelope open and was delighted to see a Passport book fall out. Her parents came through! There was no picture so she assumed that would happen today, but the rest of the book had all the government required information. She could finally go home.

She spent some time watching the sun come up over the horizon and realized this may very well be one of her last mornings in Baku. Thank God! They still hadn't found Anna and Henrik said to keep fingers crossed. No unidentified bodies had been recovered so there was still a good chance Anna might be fine.

Donna hoped that was the case but still, she was eager to go home and finish writing her book on the journey and personal discoveries. It had been real. Some of it had even been fun, but it hadn't been real fun at all.

(✿◠‿◠) *

Eric was signing off some paperwork when Reggie and Kathleen stopped by his desk. "Forman, hey we got some inside news."

Eric set down his Bic pen and swiveled around. "What inside news?"

Kathleen was smiling. "You know that big project? BD & A? They are doing a Ground Breaking ceremony tomorrow morning. The City employees are invited and there will be coffee and donuts."

Reggie grinned, "You know I never pass up a free donut."

Eric wanted to roll his eyes. Reggie never passed up a free anything. "I don't know guys. I have a lot of work and that presentation for the budget after lunch."

Kathleen put a hand on Eric's arm. "C'mon. Be a team player. We won't stay long and how often are we invited to see the other side of what we do? I mean we approved permits for everything from digging sewers to drilling for groundwater. If they are going to request dynamite to explode part of the land, then I want to know what they're building."

Eric had forgotten that he approved a permit for explosives. Not a massive amount but significant enough that he had to get his manager to second approve it. "Sure…I'll go, but I have to be back for that presentation."

Reggie gave Eric two thumbs up. "You'll be back if I have to drive you myself!"

(✿◠‿◠) *

Eric loved his new drive home. The route was different, the landmarks were memorable and he loved his new two story condo. Granted he'd only lived it in for less than a week, and most of his belongings were still in boxes…it was like he was granted a reprieve for the last ten years. Eric pulled into the driveway, just as a delivery van was leaving. Did the fan club drop off more crap? The garage was already filled to the brim with Jackie Burkhart Backpacks.

Fez waved and was grinning so Eric parked in the driveway and walked into the two car garage. "Does she ever not get deliveries?" he asked amazed. Still there was a slight delineation between the Forman Collectible side of the garage and the overwhelming pile of boxes that Fez was unpacking.

Fez was still grinning. "There's a surprise for you inside."

Eric lifted a brow. "You didn't rearrange my furniture again…did you? I swear, I'm going to trip over something one of these days."

Fez scoffed, "No, and I only moved your furniture three times…it looked tacky the way you had it and the sun was going to fade your Barcalounger. Besides, it's a different kind of surprise."

Eric sighed and just thought about taking off his shoes and mellowing out with a cold beer and a view of his colorful patio. The leather loafers were kicked off as soon as he passed the busy laundry room. Fez was washing clothes? He swept into the kitchen and opened the nearly bare refrigerator shocked to find it was stocked with food. Where was the six pack that sat lonely on the second rack this morning? Fez was a busy guy today.

Found the beer, popped the top and Eric dropped himself onto the leather sofa. It was good to be home. A radio was playing some horrible pop song on the second floor and Eric needed to remind himself to tell Fez to stay out of the bedrooms. Closing his eyes, he sighed with pleasure and relaxed. He was home.

His eyes were closed for quite possibly only 5 minutes when he became aware that the horrible pop song wasn't coming from the radio – it was Jackie Burkhart singing on the second floor. He smiled and ran up the carpeted stair and stopped short of a heart attack at the master bedroom door.

"Hi Eric." She smiled. "How was work?" Jackie was tucking a sheet under the mattress of a huge mattress.

He was speechless. "What have you done?"

Jackie proudly displayed the new California King bed with a massive headboard. "Egyptian cotton sheets…so soft."

Eric was flummoxed. "You bought me a bed?"

Jackie shrugged, "Well, you didn't expect me to sleep on that old nasty one did you? I put that in the second bedroom. I mean that was Donna's bed…."

Still confused, Eric hugged her and then gently scolded his friend. "Jackie. You can't keep buying me things. Some of this stuff I have to do for myself." He sat down on the edge of the mattress and had to admit it did feel good. He reached for her hands and pulled her towards him.

Jackie was looking at him with dark eyes that did crazy things to his stomach. Damn butterflies. "What I mean to say is that while I appreciate what you do for me…it's really too much!"

Jackie took the opportunity to perch herself on his lap and sigh, "Then I guess I have to unkill that half a cow I bought for your folks. I know your mom wanted some good beef and if I wanted to come over for dinner…I didn't want her to have to fuss."

Eric touched her cheek, "Now what am I supposed to do when you go and do nice stuff like this? What do you want from me Jackie? I'm not rich or exclusively handsome. I'm not even coordinated on a good day."

She giggled and ran her palm against the scruff of his five o'clock shadow. "Eric. You give me a sense of normal. For me, in my made up world, that is priceless. I couldn't be half the actress I am if I didn't have some place that reminded me that I have roots. I thought I had that with Michael, but you know how that went." She tugged playfully on his hair and continued, "I thought I had it with Steven but….you were gone, he got married, blah blah blah….my mom is who knows where – but you. I always know where you are."

Eric frowned. "Now you make it sound like I'm boring."

She popped a kiss on his mouth. "No." she whispered. "That's the best part. You are the salt to my pepper. The yin to my yang. You are like the normal half of me and I need you."

That was an emotional jolt for Eric. No one ever said they "needed" him for anything! He swallowed hard. "What do you need me to do?"

Jackie hugged him and he was surrounded by her floral scent and it was intoxicating. She rested a hand behind his head, a little firm…just holding him there as she leaned forward and kissed his lips.

Not a stupid movie star kiss.

A small kiss.

A promise kiss.

A heated kiss that left him confused and wanting and hungry. "I don't need you to do anything. Just be here. Be yourself. Be my friend. Be available."

He dared to wrap his arms around her in a loose hug that kept Jackie next to his chest and her soft hair against his chin. "You have me. I'm yours."

She murmured, "I have your heart."

Eric closed his eyes. "You do and please don't break it?"

She snuggled closer. "Don't worry. I'm not like your ex-wife."

Eric whispered, "Thank God."

(✿◠‿◠) *

Red Forman was flabbergasted. "A what? Say again?"

The delivery man was still holding cardboard boxes on his dolly. "I didn't stutter. Are you Red Forman?"

"Yes I am." He replied.

"Then this delivery is for you. I hope you have a second freezer some place." The uniformed courier set the chilled boxes beside the sliding glass doors. Kitty came running from the kitchen. "Red, honey. What's wrong?"

Red was still in shock. He looked at his wife and accepted the clip board to sign for the packages and finally uttered. "Someone bought us a half of a cow." Kitty looked at all the packed meats and picked up a hefty parcel. "Oh my gosh! These are T-Bones! Red! We have steak!" She sifted through some other packages, "Look at all the fresh ground beef! Is it Christmas?"

Red wanted to ask what dumbass would buy the Forman's a whole side of cow but the question was already answered when he recalled the conversation about casseroles with a young brunette. Red smiled – this had to be the most thoughtful gift ever…well besides the Brew of the Month club membership that made Bob Pinciotti was most envious.

Red walked out to the garage fridge to clear out some beer to make room for his ribs and steaks. He was going to have the best Memorial Day barbecue Point Place had ever seen! Kitty was still exclaiming over the cuts of filet and roasts while he dumped some old cans in the trash. Red Forman smiled and determined he would give Jackie Burkhart a big hug the next time he saw her.

(✿◠‿◠) *

Mel draped himself over the leather sofa and sipped a red Solo cup filled with champagne. "Eric, don't make me call your mother."

Eric laughed. "She would love you to call her. So don't – you'll only piss off my dad."

Jackie came down from her bath with a soft chenille bathrobe and fuzzy blue slippers. "That shower head is wonderful!" she exclaimed. "So, did we work out the sleeping arrangements?"

Mel gave Eric a toothy smile. "Sure did cupcake. Norm's sleeping on the sofa – whenever he gets his ass back here – I swear that man would get lost turning in a circle. Now, moi is taking the old marriage bed in the spare room while you two get to share the new Cali-King."

Eric wanted to protest but at the same time he didn't want to sound like a prude. "It's not like Jackie and I are gonna…like we're…."

Jackie ran her fingers through her damp curls, "Eric, get over it. We're sleeping on the same mattress. We haven't progressed to naked sleeping or anything like that."

Mel interjected with a "Yet.", comment which had both Jackie and Eric looking at him in astonishment. "Oh don't give me any of that BS. The two of you will be all cozy and talking about matching pajamas before you know it."

Fortunately, a knock on the door stopped any further discussion. Eric was still wrapping his brain around 'matching pajamas' while Jackie was thinking about getting 'cozy' in some strong arms.

"I'm back!" Norm announced in his most authentic accountant voice. He spoke like he had found the missing penny in a column of an unbalanced checkbook. "I like it out here."

Mel smiled. "I knew you would because you are just that kind of guy. So, can we all go to bed now? Jackie has an early morning tomorrow and we have to fly back later in the day."

Eric found an extra pillow and blanket in new linen closet and noticed several brand new bath towels. He looked at Jackie who pretended to shrug. The beddings were tossed onto the sofa and Norm promptly began to make his bed.

Meanwhile, Eric went through the condo turning out lights, making sure Fez wasn't hiding in the garage and locking the house. It felt extremely rewarding to have such a nice new place to live and friends to share it with. Norm? He didn't really know Norm Ashworth, but if Mel and Jackie were friends….Norm was welcome too.

Jackie grabbed Eric's hand, "C'mon, I need my beauty sleep and I hope you don't snore or I'll smother you with my huge pillow."

Eric looked at Mel who was roaring with laughter. "Keep that in mind my friend, sleeping with Jackie is an adventure!"

Eric looked at his friend, "You slept with Mel?"

She consequently frogged Eric on the arm. "Like I would tell you!"

(✿◠‿◠) *

It was dark when the cab driver dropped her off at the sidewalk. "Do you want me to wait?" The driver asked. Donna hitched her backpack over her shoulder and replied, "It's okay. My ex-husband lives here. Thanks for the ride."

The driver nodded and Donna watched him drive off. She patted her pockets feeling the square of her passport in one pocket and some folded money in the other. All she needed was a good night's sleep before she let her parents know she was back. Her dad was going to make a big fuss and right now Donna just didn't have the energy for it.

She trudged up the walkway, stopping to retrieve the spare key from under the small rock to the left of the front door. However, when she inserted the key, it wouldn't turn. What the hell? So, like any stranger would, she started knocking on the door.

Instead of her ex-husband standing in the doorway, this guy looked like a linebacker for the Packers! "Waddaya want!" He groused.

Donna stepped back and mumbled, "I think you're in my house."

The football-type player stepped forward, "You got that wrong girlie. This is my house so why don't you scram before I call the cops."

Donna wasn't going to argue at this time of night, "Sorry. It's late. Maybe I am confused." She backpedaled until she was on the sidewalk. The occupant of her house stayed framed in the doorway as she walked away. Donna walked until she could no longer see her old house.

She sat down on the deserted bus bench and put her head in her hands and uttered, "What am I supposed to do now?

(◠‿◠)