Chapter 8 - How Do I Live

Jesse and Eric return to Salem and head to the DiMera mansion. They enter the house to see Marlena and John in the living room. Marlena speaks first. "What happened in Colorado?" "It was confirmed that Samantha is my mother." "What are you going to do?" "Well first of all, I will be moving out today." "Where will you go?" "I talked to Carrie. She said that I could move into her apartment. Billie and Bo will move into Kate's when they comeback." "This is crazy. There's plenty of room here. You and Maddie should stay here." "I think it would be easier if we leave. John could you help me move my stuff." "We will all help you."

Jesse packs her things and all five of them head for Carrie's apartment. They get everything into the apartment and Jesse asks to speak with Eric alone. Marlena and John tell Jesse that they are just a phone call away and they leave. Jesse looks down at her engagement ring. She removes it from her ring finger. "I think this is yours." "What am I going to do with this?" "One day you will give it to a girl who can marry you." "You know if I could have one wish it would be" Jesse puts her hand on his mouth. "No, don't. It's better that we know the truth." "I was going to say that I wanted one last dance with you." Jesse lets out a giggle. "OH…turn the radio on." Eric turns the radio on and the song 'How do I live' by LeAnn Rimes comes on. Tears start to fall from Jesse's eyes. They dance very close. They hold each other very tightly because they know that this will be the last time they will ever be in each other's arms. As the song ends they break their embrace. Eric turns and leaves. As the door closes Jesse whispers to herself, "I will always love you Eric." Eric closes the door. He looks back towards the door and whispers "I love you Jesse."

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Jesse is at the Horton Center working when Maggie and Alice drop by. "Jesse dear, how has your first week been?" "Well they've been taking it easy on me. I haven't had much to do." Maggie speaks. "Well before you know it you will be begging for less work." "Well right now work and my daughter are all I need." "Dear don't you think you should start dating again?" "Dating? Oh Alice I don't think I'll be ready for that for a while." "You don't have to start a relationship you just have to get that first date out of the way as soon as possible." "What?" "You know the first date after you have broken up with someone is always the worst." "Yes I guess so." "Well why don't you get right back out there and get that first date over with." "Are you two trying to tell me something?" Just as Jesse finishes speaking a man walks in. "May I help you?" "My name is Joe Meyers. I'm a social worker over at University Hospital. You must be Ms. Hayes the new social worker here." "Yes I am." "We'll be working together a lot and I was wondering if we could get together tonight to discuss the procedures and the types of cases I will be referring to you." "I don't know." "It will be strictly a professional dinner." "I am a little worried about my daughter. You see she's been with the sitter all day and I am not sure if she can stay with the sitter that late." Alice interrupts. "Jesse I am sure if you tell Marlena that this is for work she will allow Maddie to stay." "Thank you Alice! I guess I can join you after all." "Great! The Penthouse Grill at 7 o'clock? I'll see you there." Jesse flashes an exasperated look towards Alice and Maggie. "You'll be fine dear. Just think of it you will have that pesky first date out of the way."

Maggie and Alice leave Jesse alone so she can call Marlena. "Marlena, I was wondering if you could keep Maddie a little longer tonight. I should be there to pick her up at 9." "Sure. Is it that busy over at the Horton Center?" "No, it's just that Alice and Maggie decided that I should go out on a date tonight. He's a social worker from over at the hospital. His name is Joe Meyers. Do you know him?" "I don't know him very well but he seems very friendly." "All I can say is that I can't wait until this night is over with. Thanks again for keeping Maddie." "I'll see you when you come to pick up Maddie. Goodbye Jesse."

As Marlena hangs up the phone Eric walks into the room. Eric could tell that this mother was a little uneasy. "Who was that on the phone?" "It was Jesse." "Was she checking up on Maddie?" "No. She was just wondering if we could keep Maddie a little longer tonight." "Why is she that busy with work?" "Sort of. Don't worry honey she's fine." "Mom, you're keeping something from me and I want to know what it is." "She has a date tonight." Eric is upset and he tries to cover. "She's a free woman and she can see whomever she wants." "She said it's a business dinner." "Mom I know that seeing her with another guy is going to be difficult but I just have to get used to it. I'm going over to visit Sami and Will if you need me." "Are you sure you want to see her?" "I've had a week to think about what she did and how I feel about that." "And?" "And?! I don't know what I am going to say to her. I have the feeling that once I see her I will know what to say."

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Mike walks in to the Horton Center. "Is my grandmother around?" "You just missed her." "I have tonight off and I was wondering if she wanted to go out to dinner with me." "The great doctor Mike is taking the evening off. Are you sure the hospital can function without you?" "Very funny! What's wrong with you?" "Your grandmother and your aunt took it upon themselves to find me a date for tonight." Mike starts to laugh. "Don't laugh. This isn't funny." "Who's the lucky guy?" "Joe Meyers he's a social worker over at the hospital. He said that this would be a business only date. Can I trust that he will stick with that?" Mike continues to laugh. "Oh I think you're safe. This guy is all business. He will bore you all night with the hospital policies." "I'm glad that you are taking great pleasure out of my pain." "I'm sorry."

A young blonde woman walks in the door. "Can I help you?" "No but Mike I think you can help me." "Jesse this is Monica Ward. She's a nurse over at University Hospital." The two shake hands. Monica's attention turns right back to Mike. "Mike I have been looking for you all day. Word has it around the hospital that you are looking to get back into the dating word. I just wanted to be the first girl in line for a date with the handsome doctor. So are you free tonight?" Jesse gets an idea. "Aren't you a lucky man Mike? We were just talking about what he was going to do with his evening since he had it free. Of course he asked me to go to dinner at the Penthouse Grill but I already had plans." Mike looks like a deer caught in headlights. "Well you need to look no farther Mike, how about dinner tonight at 7 at the Penthouse Grill?" Mike finally speaks. "Sure. I'll meet you there." "I'll see you tonight." "You sure will." Monica leaves.

"Why did you do that?" "That's what you get for laughing at me. What are you complaining about? She's a very attractive woman." "Yes a very attractive woman who is in love with herself and who is looking for a husband who just happens to be a doctor." Jesse begins to chuckle. "I'm sorry. I had no idea. How about we make a deal?" "What kind of a deal?" "Why don't you bring your beeper along and sometime during the night I will excuse myself from the table and I beep you. Now the deal is that when you are out pretending to answer the page you beep me as well. Do we have a deal doctor Horton?" "It is a deal!" The two seal the deal with a handshake.

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Eric enters Sami's room at the Kiriakis mansion as he enters the room he sees that Sami is not alone. "Eric, what are you doing here? Where are my manners? Eric this is my friend Jamie Caldwell. Jamie this is my twin brother Eric." The two shake hands. "I came over here to talk about what you did." "What I did? I don't understand." "You can stop your little act Sami. I know that it was you who sent Jesse's adoption records to her." "Jamie maybe you had better go. My brother and I need to talk alone." "No, Jamie don't leave this won't take long. I just came here to tell you I know what you did and why you did it. I'm telling you right now I never want to see you again." Eric turns to leave. "What difference does it make? The information on those papers is real. It would have been worse for the two of you if you had gotten married." "What I object to Sami is how you told us. That was the cruelest thing you could have done. I don't think I can forgive you. Maybe with time I could forgive you but for right now I want you to stay away from me." "Eric you don't mean that!" "Oh but I do." Eric turns and leaves. Sami is in shock. Is that what aunt Samantha was talking about? Sami does some quick thinking. "Jamie I need a favor from you." "What is it?" "I need you to talk my brother into forgiving me. Please Jamie. I think he will listen to you." "Oh Sami I don't know." "Go on. He's staying over at the DiMera mansion." Jamie still feels guilty over telling Sami's secret that she drugged Austin to sleep with her. "I ought to have my head examined! I'll do it." Thanks Jamie whether you know it or not you are going to be the one to help my brother to get over Jesse.

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