On Monday Jackie was at work at the Lanford Lunchbox. Today she was waitressing and working the cash register, while Nancy was preparing the meat and Leon was busy being Leon. Jackie had just written down a couple's order when in through the door walked Booker, Jackie's ex-boss and ex-boyfriend. He was older, had shorter hair and was as hot as ever. Like a popular kid in high school he trudged to the counter at sat on a stool, much in the same way a teenaged Dan would in the presence of a teenaged Roseanne, while wearing a leather motorcycle helmet and slicked back hair.
Jackie hid all of her emotions and played hard to get. "What are you doing here Booker?"
Booker smiled wide and showed all his teeth. "Well I want a loose meat sandwich."
Leon heard this and butted his way into their conversation. "Get the man a sandwich, Jackie. Hi I'm Leon." Leon held out his right hand for a handshake, and shook hands with Booker.
"And he's gay." Jackie claimed in order to deter Leon. Leon locked eyes with Jackie and stayed where he was. With Roseanne gone, Jackie and become Leon's frenemy in her place.
Booker smiled slightly, "Uh that's okay…" He said looking at Leon.
Nancy called Leon and Leon left Jackie and Booker alone. Jackie stood there with her hands gripping the edge of the counter. "I thought you moved to Chicago." She said, trying to be nice.
"I did, but I lost my job…again, so I decided I'd move back to Lanford." Jackie stared at Booker.
"Well if you want to get back together with me I won't be able to do it. Not now…" Bookers face showed confusion.
"What are you talking about?" Booker asked, putting his hand closer to Jackie's.
Jackie looked Booker straight in the eyes. "A lot has changed since you were here last."
Booker's confusion remained. "I still don't understand."
"Roseanne died, Booker, Dan is tipping toeing on the line of insanity, I got pregnant, then got married and divorced. Becky got married, oh and we opened this place up." Booker took all this in and let it sink for a minute.
"Did you say Roseanne died?"
"Yes, she and Dan were in a car accident. Dan was okay but not Roseanne."
Bookers face registered extreme sadness. "I'm so sorry Jackie."
Jackie lightened up. "I'm sorry too Booker. You're just trying to be nice and I'm brushing you off."
Jackie and Booker watched each other silently for a minute. Then a customer called for Jackie and Jackie excused herself and went and took care of them. Booker stayed there a whole thirty minutes despite being finished with his sandwich. When Jackie came back, he spoke, "What would the possibility of us getting back together be?"
Jackie stared at him again. "Good, if I think about it long enough."
Booker shook his head and left.
When his AA meeting was over, Benny took Dan aside. "You know Danny, the secret to sobriety is finding one thing that you can do to get your mind off of whatever it is that makes you want to take that drink."
Dan listened too Benny. Benny was his sponsor and had gone to an AA meeting every day for twenty years. Benny first drank when he was twelve and was an alcoholic at 15. Once Dan asked why Benny continues to go to the meetings even after being sober for so long, Benny answered: "Because alcohol should have killed me and I don't believe in God." At first Dan had no idea what that meant and had often pondered that statement, now he thought he was slowly beginning to understand.
"What's that thing for you?" Dan asked still craving a damn cigarette.
"My wife, my dogs, and my grandkids." Benny said happily.
Dan smiled a little bit. "I'm about to become a grandpa myself."
Benny also smiled. "Ah, grandkids are meant to be spoiled by their grandparents, remember that." Dan shook his head thinking about how his dad always brought Becky, DJ, and Darlene gifts when he came to visit. "Say, you should come over and eat dinner with us tomorrow night. You could bring your sons so I finally get to meet them." Benny said enthusiastically.
Dan thought about it for a minute. "Umm what time?"
"Seven sounds good to me." Benny said. The two said their goodbyes and went to their respective trucks. Dan drove to Jackie's.
At Jackie's, Jerry ran to Dan as soon as he walked in. Dan cheerfully picked him up and held him in the air above his head. "How was the diner today, Jacks?" Jackie exhaled and slumped down on her couch. Dan sensed her mood and sat down on the couch next to her. "That bad huh?"
Jackie's face showed displeasure. "Booker showed up today."
Dan looked confused. "I thought he dropped off the face of the earth?"
Jackie looked at Dan. "Me too, he showed up wanting to get back together, like what happened last time was no big deal."
Dan put Jerry on the ground and Jerry and Andy played with MEGABLOKS. Dan was not used to these in depth conversations with Jackie and he was finding himself a tad uncomfortable. "Do you want to get back together?" Dan asked, thinking that as a quick end to this conversation.
Jackie shifted. "Booker's a nice guy but I don't know if I can trust him."
Dan waved his hand. "Then that's the answer. You can't trust him, don't start a relationship with him."
Jackie's face showed discontent at this answer. "I kind of want to be with him."
Dan sighed. "Okay then get together with him. Would you feel better talking about this with Ann Marie or Crystal?" Dan was clearly uncomfortable with this conversation, and Jackie found it funny.
"I'm sorry I forgot you don't like this subject when it comes to me or any other woman."
Dan exhaled. "Thank God. How about we talk about me?"
Jackie turned around and made herself comfortable. "Okay go."
Dan smiled. "Rocko came by yesterday. He offered me a job at the hardware store."
Jackie looked confused again. "I don't see the problem here Dan. "
"I left my nice city job, to work with my friends for more money. It's okay to leave them for another job?" Dan was exclaiming with his hands without realizing it.
Jackie sat back. "You're dry walling again. You hate that." She said rattling off a good reason Dan should leave his current job.
Dan absent mindedly ran his right hand through his hair. "I made a commitment to Chucky, and George even Mark."
"I know and you always honor your commitments. Dan, their friends. I am sure they'll understand and be okay with you taking this other job."
Dan leaned back more. "I do hate dry walling."
"Okay that settles that. Take the job."
