Author Note: Hey thanks for coming back and all you new readers! I'm glad everyone likes the story and I realize in Chapter 2 it was sort of out of character for Bob to punch Eric, but I don't think Bob Pinciotti ever really wanted his daughter to marry Eric. But enjoy!
Chapter 03 - Start a Tab
The paramedics covered Bram's body with a sheet and wheeled him out of the hotel lobby. Jackie turned her head into Eric's chest and the young employee behind the counter sobbed. "Excuse me Miss Burkhart; we need to ask you some questions."
Jackie looked up to see a plainclothes policeman standing near Bram's chair. "Am I under arrest?"
Eric squeezed her hand then watched as a police officer led her to a corner of the lobby.
Vickie, the counter girl, wiped her tears. "Mr. Forman, we don't have a day manager anymore. Mr. Carver is dead." She pulled a procedure manual from the drawer, "It says here in the organization chart that the auditor succeeds the day manager if there is an instance of a layoff or attrition. Mr. Forman, you are now the manager."
Eric looked over at Jackie who was still talking to the cops. His old friend, inadvertently, got him his dream promotion!
*
Jackie went straight home and put on her pajamas. It was already freaking cold and this was a horrible day. She turned the television on to a movie channel and grabbed a blanket. She was a half hour into an old Steve Martin movie when someone knocked on her door. "Who is it!" she hollered.
"It's me Goddess! Let me come in."
"Fez, use you're key, I'm not getting up." She grumbled. The key turned in the lock and Fez peeked in his head. "Eric called me – what happened at the hotel?"
Jackie invited him in and he sat on the end of the couch rubbing her stockinged feet, "…and then I asked him about the indoor pool and he fell on the floor. The cops said it was a heart attack but I think I put too much stress on him."
Fez shook his head sadly. "Well at least he died looking at your lovely face."
"Ew, Fez - you're going to give me nightmares!" Jackie put her blanket over her head. "Now I have to protect my reputation." She groaned.
There was another knock on the door. "It's Eric!" said a muffled voice.
From outside, Eric heard, "Use your key!"
He hollered back through the door. "I don't one!" The door opened and Fez laughed embarrassed. "Sorry Eric, I thought you had one too." Eric patted his friend on the shoulder, "Hey, how's our resident boss killer doing?"
Jackie pulled the blanket off her face and glared at Eric, "That is just mean. I didn't kill him. He died."
Fez sat up, "Jackie you are like Dorothy and you killed the wicked witch with your house."
Jackie looked at him like he was crazy. "I didn't land a house on him, Fez"
Eric grinned and sat in a chair opposite the house. "No, actually Fez makes sense. With Bram out of the way, all the little minions, like me, are finally free of oppression. Jackie you saved Munchkin Land!"
Jackie didn't know whether to laugh or cry – "Wait, are you being mean?" She tucked her feet under the blanket. "If you are being mean then you can leave."
Fez shook his head, "Goddess, Eric wouldn't be mean to you. It was the other's that were mean."
Eric leaned forward, he had forgotten about that history. "No, Jackie what I meant to say is, Bram had been having heart problems for months. His doctor said this was just the final heart attack. You didn't have anything to do with it. He could have had it in the elevator!"
Finally Jackie looked relieved. "I thought my talking killed him. What a relief! But Eric, you don't have a boss anymore."
Eric grinned, "You're looking at him." He said proudly. "I am the new Day Manager of the Happy Day's Hotel!"
Jackie smiled and jumped off the couch to catch him in a hug. "I'm so glad for you! Now I can use the hotel!"
Eric smiled at the hug. "Are you wearing pajamas? And yes, you can use the hotel and we'll be rich!"
Fez didn't want to be left out of the excitement, "I'll do the hair!" Eric and Jackie looked at him strangely, "I mean – I want to be rich too."
*
Eric sat on one side of Jackie and Fez sat on the other. The rest of the evening was spent watching and laughing at a Steve Martin movie. Eric couldn't remember having such an enjoyable evening doing basically nothing but hanging with friends. He also realized he missed this in his life – he needed more of this!
"Aiiy... if I don't pick up Rhonda soon, she won't give me sweet lovin!" Fez exclaimed. Jackie looked at the clock. "Fez, it's only 7 – what time were you supposed to meet her?"
Fez looked sheepishly, "I told her I'd get her at 6:30."
Jackie frowned, "Fez, you better go now! You're half an hour late!" Fez jumped over the back of the couch and scrambled out the door. Jackie turned to Eric, "That's the fourth time he was late for a date. Lucky for him, I told Rhonda to add a half hour to whatever he told her so he'll be fine."
Eric looked over, "Is that allowed?"
Jackie laughed, "Eric, when's the last time you dated?"
Eric thought about it and couldn't remember seeing any other women besides Donna. Oh how sad am I? He confessed, "Well, probably before I went to Africa. I guess. Then I got married and divorced – so I'm a dating virgin."
Jackie laughed. "Eric, tell you what. I have a wedding next Saturday at Ray's Bowling Alley and there will be plenty of single bridesmaids that will be looking for a single guy. Come with me."
Eric looked at his friend. "Are you trying to set me up?" Jackie grinned. "So are you available?"
Eric was apprehensive. Going on a date with an unknown girl? "I don't know Jackie – this is new for me. I don't feel comfortable asking out someone I don't know."
"Eric, this is probably scary for you…just come with me to the reception, look around…have a few dances… you might have a good time!"
"I'll think about it – but no promises!" He finally relented. Jackie smirked, "I'll bet you 20 bucks you have a great time."
"You're on Missy. " Eric took the challenge and was determined to win Jackie Burkhart's money!
*
Eric felt really odd wearing a suit and being at a bowling alley! Apparently Jackie reserved the entire bowling alley for the wedding reception. Everyone was wearing bowling shoes and while some couples were bowling a few frames, others were in the lounge where the bar was set up.
Jackie arrived just before the bride and groom, talking into a two-way radio – she waved at Eric and winked. A team of neatly uniformed waiters ushered the guests into the large guest room to be seated. Eric stood in a corner of the room while Jackie assisted the DJ and did a sound check on the microphone.
Someone nodded to her from the door and she stepped into the center of the room. Eric smiled, she looked so pretty wearing a floral suit and jacket and some satin pumps instead of her spiky heels. "May I have your attention please?"
She tapped on the microphone and the room quieted down. Thank you for coming and with no further ado, may I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Wellington. Give a hand to the newlyweds!" The crowd stood and cheered as the smiling bride and groom entered through the double doors.
Jackie pointed at the DJ who played a fast tempo version of "Here Comes the Bride." Eric was impressed at how Jackie successfully kept the proper music playing and her caterers kept the champagne flowing and the whole party was smoothly orchestrated.
There was the dance between the newlyweds, then the father/daughter and mother/son dance and the grandparents attempted to do the Hustle with cheers and laughter from the audience. Jackie spoke into the radio and the waiters began carrying large trays of food.
From nowhere, Jackie came up behind Eric and snagged his arm dragging him to an empty table. He sat in a chair while she collapsed kicking off her shoes. "Dang, this is a difficult crowd!"
Eric smiled, "Looks like you have it well under control. I thought I would hate it because I didn't do the wedding thing, but I can see how much mom and Red would have loved it. Everyone looks like they're having a great time."
Jackie bumped her shoulder with his. "Just think, my next party will be at your hotel, and you will make oodles of money…and then a bunch of drunks will book your most expensive rooms and sleep off gallons of champagne. Just imagine how much fun that will be!"
Eric laughed. "I get your point. And it will be good for the hotel…" Jackie watched the best man give his traditional speech and smiled. "This reception is pretty cool. The bride and groom were on different bowling leagues and met each other during a competition. She accidentally dropped her ball on his foot and they just fell in love. Hence, the bowling alley theme and everyone has to wear bowling shoes."
"So they're actually going to bowl a few frames?" Eric asked incredulously?
Jackie nodded. "So…Eric…. Have you seen anyone…interesting?"
"No, I feel so weird. There are all these happy people and I don't know anyone of them – I think I'm destined for single-hood for the rest of my life."
Jackie sighed, "Eric stop talking like a loser and ask me to dance." He looked up, "What did you say?" She stood up and reached for his hand, "It's a party – let's dance!"
Eric allowed her to drag him on the dance floor while Rick Springfield's voice belting out Jessie's Girl. She danced around him while he made his few key moves and at some point realized he was having a good time. The music changed to Smokey Robinson singing Being With You. Jackie put Eric's hands around her waist and she put her hands on his shoulders.
"See that girl in the blue dress?" Jackie swung Eric around so he could see table three. "She's single and dateless. I'll bet you if you asked her, she'd dance with you."
Eric shook his head, "I don't like blonds." Jackie laughed and swung him around again, "Check out the black haired girl by the door. She's the groom's sister and she's available."
Eric smiled, "Nice try Jackie – there are a lot of pretty girls here but I can't see me picking one up for a date."
She looked up at him. Eric was a handsome guy – a little more toned than before he went to Africa and he smelled good. It shouldn't be hard for Jackie to find a girl to dance with him. "Hey, dance me back to my shoes. I have to go check on the dessert."
He grinned and whirled her back to the table he'd been haunting. He wouldn't admit it out loud, but he really did like dancing with Jackie – He and Donna never danced together ….Hmmm why was he thinking of Donna now?
"Excuse me?" Eric turned to see a young girl dressed in pastel standing beside him. "My name is Mandy and I am dying to dance. I saw you dancing with Miss Jackie and I was wondering…."
Oh God he moaned internally. Jackie set him up. But ever the gentleman, Eric replied, "Sure, I don't know this song but let's give it a try." Mandy led him to the dance floor where Eric struggled through Kim Carnes singing Bette Davis Eyes. Jackie was watching with laughing eyes from the corner of the room. This is what Eric needed to get over Donna and look at him he's actually laughing!
*
The reception was officially over and Jackie was settling the tab with the open bar and the owner of the bowling alley. Eric had got roped into a bowling match with the groom's best man and he found that he was having a good time. Jackie wrote out her remaining checks to the caterers and the DJ and tucked the receipts in her day planner. She looked up to see Eric pulling out a chair. "Thanks for inviting me, I did have fun. And I know you roped that Mandy girl into dancing with me."
Jackie laughed. "Eric, it's a reception, everyone dances and hey, you looked good out there."
Eric grinned and adopted a John Travolta stance. "Like this?"
"Not that good. Sit down buddy, I'm almost done. Hey, you owe me $20!" She added with a smirk. "Do you want to pay now or should I start a tab?"
"You better start a tab because I think that hanging out with you and Fez is going get expensive!"
*