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Chapter 35 – Places and Spaces

T7S

"Red…honey….oh Red, that is so sweet!" Kitty exclaimed. She held the tickets in her hand and marveled at the thought of her wonderful husband going out of his way to make her happy. "But dear, how can we possibly afford this?"

Red sat down beside his wife on the gold sofa and patted her knee. "Now you know how we are always saving for a rainy day…"

Kitty gasped, "You didn't go in the rainy day coffee can did you?"

He smiled, "No dear. With all the money those kids are bringing and the cash from my part-time job – I got a deal…well, plus the fact that we are going in an off-season…."

She pulled his wrinkled cheek down for a kiss. "I have always wanted to go on a cruise."

Red's face was slightly flushed but he knew he had finally made his wife of 20 something years a happy woman. "Now, there are all kinds of things to do and I can even get some fishing time in there. We don't have the best cabins but hell; all we'll do is sleep there anyhow."

Kitty squeezed his denim covered knee, "Maybe not? Ahahahaha!"

The kitchen door swung open and Marco announced, "Dumbass!" Red didn't even bother looking back, "Welcome home son, you're early."

Kitty stood up, "Oh Eric you will never guess what your father got me?"

Eric sat on the edge of the sofa, hooking his knee around the corner for balance. Kitty showed him her tickets. He didn't seem impressed. "Dad's finally taking you to the ballet?"

"Better! We're going on a trip!" She replied excitedly.

Eric looked at his dad, "Is that one of those bus things where they dump you off at a casino and pick you up later?"

"No dumbass. It's a boat. A huge vessel that will take us to Cancun and away from you."

"Dumbass!"

Kitty lightly chastised the bird, "Now Marco…be nice." Marco made kissing sounds and thrust his beak between the bars. Kitty lightly scratched between his eyes as the bird cooed softly. She looked at her son, "So while we're gone, I want you to be extra sweet to this bird. I can't take him with me."

Marco made a show of holding up his healing wing. "Boo boo!"

Red smirked, "And that means while we're gone, you need to take care of the house. So no wild parties and no drinking all my beer."

Mentally, Eric was thinking more along the lines of freedom. Running down the stairs in his underwear and watching cable without his parent's bogarting the remote control.

His place – his space.

Maybe that's what Jackie meant. The thought of freedom after being home from Africa was liberating. Well, that and his "roommate" that worked late hours…yet still, the house was his. He grinned at his father. "Dad, you don't have to worry….in fact, there will be extra beer for you when you get back." He turned to his mom, "…and for you a perfectly clean house."

Red pointed his finger, "And don't go getting yourself fired from your job either." He tried to sound threatening but it came out sounding just tired. Red Forman needed this vacation as much as his wife.

"Mom, will they have someone on your ship – I mean just in case your back goes out again?"

Kitty's wrinkled hand patted her son's, "Sweetie, every ship has a doctor – don't you watch Love Boat? I can only hope the doctor is as nice as that."

Eric nodded and glanced at his dad, "When do you leave?"

Red grinned, "Next Monday so you kids will have to suffer with us through the weekend. I can get Jackie to take us to the airport since she starts work later than you."

"Dad – I can be late to work." Eric argued.

"Son. Never be late to work unless you are in an ambulance or you're calling from a hospital. Good work ethics will take you far. Now why don't you twaddle on up to your room so your mom and me can talk about all the fun stuff we're going to do without you."

Kitty giggled and Marco made a mocking laugh. Eric rolled his eyes and headed for the stairs. He really wanted to reread Jackie's letter and talk to her about it.

T7S

Fez sat in the salon chair across from his former roommate. "Of course I'll give Miss Kitty a perm. I have some apple pectin solution and some large rollers that will give her bouncy soft waves. But that's not why you came to see Fez."

Jackie sighed and shook her head. "I'm confused."

Fez grinned that signature white-toothed smile, "Of course you are, you're a girl."

She smiled thinly, "No…it's about a guy."

Fez reached for a large tooth comb and went to stand behind Jackie's chair as he gently began combing her locks. "Tell Fezzie. Was it that double date?"

She met his eyes in the mirror and replied, "Sort of." Fez said nothing but continued to comb her brunette hair. She continued, "The date was horrible but it was later, when we got back to the Forman's….it's confusing."

Fez raised a brow as he pulled her hair back into a twist and fastened it with a clip. "How can it be confusing?"

"Eric kissed me." She confessed.

Fez shook his head, "You kissed him back."

There was a small gasp. "You talked to him?"

"Nope. You feel guilty because you usually go for guys with dark hair." Fez replied simply.

Jackie thought about that and yeah, Michael and Steven had darker locks than brown headed Eric Forman. Even that ill-fated kiss with dark-haired Fez….yuck. "Okay, so yeah, I kissed him back and it…it wasn't horrible. It was….it was wonderful and I don't know why I keep obsessing about it."

Smirking, Fez tugged the hair at her temples and looked at her in the mirror. "So kiss him again and see if it's still….how you say wonderful. I'm a guy and we don't much care what's above the sweater – I mean you can have a bag over your head."

Jackie reached behind her head and grabbed Fez's wrist and squeezed, "I'm not an uggo that needs a bag on her head."

Fez shook off her hand, "I didn't say YOU were an uggo – just some girls are, and if we have to kiss them to get to other places…well, we just do that."

Jackie felt a little relieved but was Eric trying to get to her other places? No! He was just a nice polite guy and it was the end of a rotten evening and she tried to dismiss him in a letter. What a rotten friend.

"Soooo…you're saying I should kiss him again just for a test?"

Fez was chuckling – when did the cheerleader get so insecure? "Yes my love, kiss him and then make sure you tell me all about it. Now hurry up and be gone so I can close up."

Jackie slid from the salon chair and gave Fez a hug. "Thanks, I feel better now. I'll bring Mrs. Forman by in the morning okay?"

Fez was already sweeping up hair from around the base of a chair, "Just bring some brownies with you!"

Jackie smiled, "You got it!"

He was smiling but reiterated, "I said be gone!"

T7S

Eric turned on his table lamp and unfolded the letter to read it again only this one section stood out at him like a neon sign. "…While you are a good kisser, I shouldn't have kissed you back. We are united as friends and I would not do anything to jeopardize the relationship I have with your parents…" How could Jackie think that anything he and she did would affect Red and Kitty Forman?

He really needed to talk to her about this kiss or not a kiss and most importantly about the discovery that was made in the basement conversation. But first things first, he reached for his pen and shorthand tablet. It was time for a letter of his own.

T7S

Dear Jackie

I don't have all the facts, but it feels like you're avoiding me. That's okay, I respect your boundaries but I want you to know my intentions are honest and I would never take advantage of you (unless you want me to – haha) We really need to find a time to talk because there were some…I guess you can call them revelations made in the basement Sunday night and I don't want to say it in our daily correspondence.

But really, if I made you feel uncomfortable or anything, please let me know. I'm your friend and I'd like to think that in this house, I'm your best friend. Seriously, who could be best friends with Red? Sheesh!

Well, have a good night and let's get together soon. I can always meet you at your lunch break and bring a sandwich or something.

Let me know

Eric.

With the letter sealed, Eric crept across the carpeted hallway and slid the envelope under the closed bedroom door. Why wait until morning and leave it in her car? She may even want to talk sooner! (He hoped) Still, he went about getting ready for bed and laying out his uniform for the next morning.

T7S

Dear Eric

Thank you for your thoughts. Yes, I have been avoiding you because I thought it would be awkward. We ARE friends and since we live in the same house, there should be some boundaries and I'm glad you respect them.

Your mom told me about the upcoming cruise. I'm glad she's well enough to take a trip but I am concerned about the motion of the ocean and her back – do you think Dr. Bricker, or whatever that love boat doctor they will have, will look out for her?

Mr. Forman seems more excited about fishing than actually being on the ship. You guys are funny that way.

We'll talk after they leave for their trip. For now, I need to concentrate on work. Go rescue a puppy and be a hero.

Love Jackie.

Eric's eyelids nearly made a "boink" noise. She actually wrote LOVE Jackie. Or was that just a closing line….or was there a hint of something there? Maybe he was making too much of this whole thing and should just call Mona.

Or...there was no "or". He was smitten by a brunette kitten that had a wicked temper.

He tucked the letter in his pocket and started the truck. It was another day of four-legged creatures – he could deal with the non-humans far better than he could deal with women.

Go figure!

T7S

The remainder of the week passed in a blur. There was so much packing that needed to be done for the trip, that Jackie thought Pam Burkhart was going to Acapulco again. Mrs. Forman loved her new wavy curls and still decided to bring along the old pink foam rollers. She had three different bathing suits and six pair of shoes. Red's luggage consisted on one suitcase and a pair of black socks to go with his Bermuda shorts.

Jackie sat on the bottom stair step and watched at the husband and wife scurried about making marks on their "to do" check list. Every third check or so, Red would stop and give his wife a kiss. The love in their eyes made the young brunette sigh happily. One day she would have that.

Red gave the living room one last look over and turned to Jackie. "I've stopped the milkman and had the mail forwarded to the post office. I don't want anyone stealing from my mailbox while I'm gone."

"Oh Red, no one is going to take any of our mail." Kitty chided with a smile. "It's not like we get post cards from Laurie anymore…ahahaha….oh that's just sad."

Red wrapped an arm around Kitty's shoulders and pointed at finger at Jackie. "If that bird gets out of hand, you have my permission to put a quilt over his cage."

Marco sat up on his perch and his head swiveled towards read. "BAWK?" His dark beady eyes glanced at Jackie and he exhibited his now famous low wolf whistle. Jackie was tickled by the compliment. "Thank you Marco."

She turned towards the Forman's. "Well, let's get you to the airport so you don't miss your flight and don't worry, Eric and I can take care of the house. You concentrate on having a good time."

Red grinned, "I think I might take some long deserved naps on a ship that isn't going out to bomb the commies – what a change a few dozen years make."

T7S

Eric got home and was saddened to find that there was no hot dinner waiting. The house was nearly quiet with the exception of the ticking kitchen clock. He sighed. It was back to January again and his mom was upstairs, disabled, and he had to make Forman version of spaghetti again.

Still, he was alone and it was like his own space. This wasn't Africa and he had cable television and beer. Oops, he needed to make something for dinner or Jackie wouldn't make anything for breakfast. Wait a tick….he could make his own damn breakfast.

No.

He could only do toast. Oatmeal was a disaster and cold cereal was the lower priced knock off that didn't taste as good as the real stuff. Opening the fridge , Eric almost squealed with pleasure at the plate of fat roast beef sandwiches that were covered in plastic wrap. Oh thank you mommy.

Alone. No Hyde living in the basement. No Red hanging out in the garage. It was going to be a week of bliss. A long lonely week. Maybe he should call Jackie and make sure his folks got on the plane. Eric wouldn't put it past Red Forman to stay away for a few hours and then show up as a surprise.

xXx

"Of course they got on the plane. I was there." Jackie's voice explained over the line. I saw the jet take off. What else is bothering you?"

Eric didn't speak for a few minutes and Jackie looked at her office clock – lunch break was just a short ways off and she was meeting Mona for coffee at the diner…."Eric? If you aren't going to speak, I'm hanging up on you." She waited a beat and added, "Honestly, are you just trying to tie up on Suicide line so no one can call in?"

There was a low chuckle as he replied, "No smart ass. I….I guess I miss talking to you."

Jackie leaned back in her swivel chair and smiled wryly. "Oh yeah? I've been around; I guess you must really be….lonely."

"I guess I was busy."

Jackie laughed. "Right. Busy is the new lonely"

Eric retorted dryly, 'Maybe it is…somewhere in the world." His voice took on a more upbeat tone. "So what time does your shift end?"

"I get out of here at 9:00 or somewheres like that unless I get some calls….did you want me to lock up when I get home?"

"No. I mean my folks are gone so I can finally watch M.A.S.H. without Dad having war flashbacks. Trust me, African television leaves a lot to the imagination…."

Jackie laughed. "Okay, I'll take your word for that. Just leave me some dinner."

He replied,, "Mom made roast beef sandwiches – I'll heat a plate for you and leave it on the table."

The minutes on the clock had seemed to tick by quicker and her break was coming up soon. She had to go! "Okay Eric, I'll talk to you later and please – leave this number for the desperate people!"

Eric hung up the phone and turned on the television with the remote. He stretched his long limbs and for the first time in years, put his feet on the sofa cushions without getting bitched at. Yeah, this was good."

T7S

Jackie got home later than she thought she would and was saddened to find that her hot roast beef sandwich had congealed into a wet messy meat bun. The house was nearly quiet with the exception of the ticking kitchen clock. She sighed. It was almost like being back in January once more while Mrs. Forman was upstairs, disabled, and she had to eat Forman spaghetti again.

Setting her tote bag and purse on the floor, Jackie set about making herself a toast and jelly sandwich. She really wasn't that hungry, but was looking forward to a warm bubble bath and Chapter 4 of her new romance novel. This should be a good evening after all!

The small meal was finished and she quietly cleaned up her mess and headed for that much anticipated bubble bath, but as she passed through the kitchen, she discovered Eric had been watching TV in the living room. Or rather Marco was quoting the character Hawkeye, "Bawk! Insanity is just a state of mind bawk!", while Eric was snoring on the sofa.

She paused by the sofa and recalled part of her conversation with Fez.

"…soooo…you're saying I should kiss him again just for a test?"

"Yes my love, kiss him and then make sure you tell me all about it…"

Jackie smiled and leaned over the back of the couch, her long hair falling onto the Spiderman patterned pajama top as she kissed his stubbly cheek. She whispered, "I guess I miss talking to you too Eric. Good night."

T7S

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