Reba

*The Widow*

Mike Halliway is walking around the bar cleaning tables, listening to his sister in law Reba sing with the band. Reba's been working there for the last 25 years. She was just the prettiest thing this side of Heaven. That long, curly hair that went halfway down her back, and those sparkling blue eyes that could melt the sun. She just glowed as she sang, which is probably why his brother Terry fell in love with her. Even with as beautiful as she looked she was hurting bad on the inside. About 2 weeks ago her husband Terry died Nobody expeccted Terry to die when he did. A week or so before he just got a bad cold and died before it went away. Terry left Reba with their 2 daughters; Terri and Nellie. Terri was 19, and Nellie was 11.

As Reba's song ends she climbs off the stage. She walks over to Mike.

"Hey Mike. How do you think it's going?" Reba asks.

"It's good. It's always good Reba. The people love it when you sing." Mike says as he wraps his arm around Reba. Just then, Brock Hart enters the bar. Neither Mike nor Reba pay him any attention.

"Reba!" One of the guitar players call out out. Reba looks up and rushes over to him. They start looking over a song. Mike goes back behind the counter. Brock follows him and sits on one of the stools at the bar.

"Where's Terry?" Brock asks casually, not knowing that Terry died. Mike doesn't recognize Brock's voice or even look up at him. He takes a towel and cleans the bar.

"Very funny. You know he died 2 weeks ago." Mike says. Brock is taken back by this.

"What? Terry Halliway? Dead?" Brock asks confused that nobody told him he had died. Mike just sighs trying not to cry.

"He was very sick and now he's not." Mike says, and then he just starts crying. Reba rushes over to see what's wrong.

"What's goin' on boys?" Reba asks them.

"I'm just talking about Terry, Reba. No big deal." Mike says to her. Reba puts her hand on the back of Brock's chair and then realizes who it is.

"Brock! Brock Hart! How are ya? I hain't seen you in probably 25 years." Reba says hugging him.

"Hey Reba. How are you doing? I'm sorry about Terry. I just heard about it, so I couldn't come to the funeral." Brock says.

"It's okay. The girls and I are holding together with Mike and Terry's parents." Reba says and Brock just stares at her.

"You have kids?" Brock asks. Reba nods at him.

"Yeah, 2 girls. Terri is 19, and in her first year of college, and Nellie is 11, and in the 5th grade. I homeschool her though. Well since her dad died anyhow. She fell apart in school and I took her out." Reba says.

"Where are the girls now?" Brock asks.

"Nellie is at home, and Terri is at school in Massachusetts. She is going to Harvard. She got a full ride scholorship for law school." Reba says with a smile, so proud of her daughter. Brock stands up.

"Can I talk to you alone, Reba?" Brock asks her. Reba just looks at Brock.

"Sure." Reba says suspiciously. They walk away from Mike.

"I just wanted to ask you a question." Brock says.

"What'd you want to ask me?" Reba asks Brock with her arms folded.

"Look, I realize that Terry just died; but I was curious if you would go on a date with me." Brock says. Reba's jaw drops. Nellie just runs into the bar.

"Hey Uncle Mike!" She hollers out.

"Hi puddin' pie." Mike says. Nellie runs over to Reba and puts her arm around her shoulder.

"Brock, this is my daughter Nellie. Nellie, this is your dad and my friend Brock Hart. We went to college together." Reba says. Nellie waves shyly.

"Hi." Nellie says to him. Nellie has deep, red hair like her mama and those deep blue eyes. Right now it is up in double braids. The drummer, Mark, comes up behind Nellie and pulls on her braid. Nellie turns around really quickly and glares at Mark.

"What? It was your mom." Mark says defending himself. Nellie just looks at Reba. Mark looks between Reba and Brock and sees the chemistry.

"Come on Nellie. Let's go see Uncle Mike and let mom and her friend talk." Mark says. Mark and Nellie walk away from Reba and Brock.

"What do you say Reba?" Brock asks. Reba, while taking some of her hair in his hand playfully. Reba leans up against the table.

"I don't know." Reba says.

"Why not?" Brock asks innocently.

"Brock, I know this is hard for you to comprehend, but I just lost my husband, and my daughters and in laws and I are trying to cope with the loss of Terry." Reba says practically in tears.

"Is one date really gonna kill ya?" Brock asks.

"It might," Reba says with a smirk, "well just remember, it's only for one dinner."

"Fine. Just one dinner." Brock says as he shakes Reba's hand. He starts to walk away from her. He's excited.

"For 25 years I've wanted Reba and now she's mine." Brock thinks to himself.