I couldn't help but smile at the sight of Jackie sitting in the Forman's living room watching television with Mr. Forman. "How was work?" Jackie asked me. It was hard to believe that it was March already.
"It was good." I said as I sat down next to Jackie on the sofa. It wasn't long that before Mrs. Forman came in busting with excitement.
"You are never going to believe what came in the mail today." She said with a smile.
"Kitty just spit it out already." Mr. Forman said as he looked up at his wife.
"I got the graduation tickets." She said as she held up some envelopes. "Three sets." She squealed. This was no surprise to me, but Mr. Forman practically jumped out of his chair. It was strange, but he had formed a real bond with Jackie these past few months. "Jackie why didn't you tell us?" Mrs. Forman asked her as she helped Jackie up.
"I didn't want to get your hopes up." Jackie said weakly.
"I am proud of you." Mr. Forman said as he hugged her.
"I am so proud of you too." Mrs. Forman said. "And you too Steven. Come give me a hug." She said as she held out her arms for me. I just walked over and let her hug me. What can I say it made her happy?
"Wow, what's with the love fest?" Eric asked as he came into the living room.
"Jackie is graduating." Mr. Forman said proudly as he looked at the young woman who he now saw as a daughter.
"And Steven." Mrs. Forman said with a smile.
"So, am I." He said as looked at his parents.
"We know, sweetie. It's just that we always knew you would." Mrs. Forman said sweetly.
"Let's celebrate." Mr. Forman said with a smile. "Let's go to the Duck Lodge." He said.
"Oh I can wear my nice pearls." Mrs. Forman said with a smile. "And Eric you can bring Donna." She said with a smile.
"Do I look like I am made of money?" Mr. Forman asked.
"Red." Kitty said.
"Fine." He said. It wasn't two hours later that we were sitting in the Duck Lodge having one of those family moments.
"Can you take a picture of our family?" Kitty asked one of the waiters.
"Sure, what's the occasion?" He asked as he took the camera from her.
"Graduation." She said as we all moved closer together. Then the camera flashed.
"You have a beautiful family." The waiter said before he handed the camera back and took our order. Everyone got the chicken because it was the cheapest except for Red. He got his usual Steak.
"You know this is probably the last time we will go out as a family before the baby is born." Kitty said with a smile.
"Mrs. Forman this is the first time that we have went out as a family." I said as I looked at her.
"Well, times have been tough Steven." Mr. Forman said. "But, we have so much to look forward to now. Like Eric leaving." He said as he looked at his son.
"Or us getting married." Eric said as he looked at Donna.
"And there goes the happy moment." Mr. Forman said.
"Okay I don't see the big problem with this. At least I am not pregnant." Donna said as she looked at Red.
"Sweetie, there is a difference between making the best of a bad situation and ruining your life. You two are too young for marriage. Plus, you two are so on again off again, who knows if it will last?" Mrs. Forman said as she took Donna's hand. "Now can we stop talking about this? We are here to celebrate a few wonderful things." She said.
"Would you stop moving?" Jackie muttered softly.
"Doll, no one around you is moving." I said as I looked at her.
"I was talking to the being inside of me." She said as she looked at me.
"Oh." I said as I looked at her. "Hey killer, go easy on your Mommy." I said to her baby bump.
"I am telling this kid is going to make a great soccer player." She said with a smile.
"You still think it is a boy?" Donna asked.
"Well, its gender sure didn't change." I said with a laugh.
"I have a pretty good feeling it's a boy." Jackie said with a smile.
"I thought Eric was going to be a girl." Mrs. Forman said.
"Explains a lot." Donna said with a laugh.
"I just had a feeling it was a little girl." Mrs. Forman said.
"Well, you came really close." I said as I looked at her.
"Steven, Eric is prefect the way he is." Mrs. Forman said.
"If it's a boy we can't let him let Eric corrupt him." Red said as he looked at Jackie.
"I would not let that happen. My boy is going to be a man's man, like his father." She said as she looked at me.
"But, he will play sports. Grandpa Red will make that happen." Red said with a smile.
"Well, why we are talking about the baby. I want you two to move up to Laurie's room. The basement is no place for a baby." Kitty said as she looked at us.
"We don't want to be a bother. We are fine in the basement." Jackie said.
"In the basement you are a bother. Kitty sent me down three times last night to check on you." Red said as he looked at her. "I can only imagine what it will be like when the baby gets here." He said.
"Jackie I don't think they will back down till we say yes." I said as I looked at her.
"I don't want to sleep in Laurie's bed." She said.
"Oh sweetie we will switch out everything. Bring all your stuff up." Kitty said as she looked at Jackie.
"Okay then." She said softly.
"Wait the crying baby is going to be a room over." Eric wined.
"You and him will get along fine. After all you still wine like a baby." Red said as he looked at his son.
"You know we will be fine in the basement I don't want to bug Eric." Jackie said as she looked at Red.
"No you are moving upstairs. He is just being … a dumbass. He is lucky we don't put him in the basement." Red said.
"Oh honey Eric couldn't handle the basement. There are too many scary noises." Kitty said as our food came. Things just seemed to click that night. We truly fit together like a family. And there is just something special about that.
