Terry died three weeks before Reba went into labor. Reba couldn't think of a better way to honor Terry than by naming their only son after him. And so after a painful delivery Reba welcomed Terrance Noah Holliway Jr. into the world.
Ten years have passed since Terry's death. Dayna and Megan missed their dad of course but Terry Jr. never knew his father. Dayna was a junior in high school and Megan was a sophmore. Terry Jr. was preparing for the fifth grade. Dayna and Megan were always making new friends and spending time at their houses. Terry just liked to stay at home or play on soccer. Reba joined the Parent Teacher Organization at Terry's school to make him feel more comfortable.
One day when Reba was working in the office she overheard Mr. Gosselin, the principal, talking about a new family moving to town. He mentioned that there were three children in the family, two girls and a boy. Even though the girls were in high school, there was a chance that the boy would be coming to the school in the fall. Reba thought of her children making friends with the new family. She laughed and shook her head to clear the thought. Reba had end of the year events to plan, she couldn't waste her time daydreaming.
Summer passed and the new school year had begun. Dayna and Megan seemed to have a new friend over ever week. One day when Reba walked by Dayna's room she was surprised to see four teenage girls inside. Slowly walking into the doorway, Reba made her presence known.
"Dayna, Megan, who are your friends?" Reba asked skeptically. She didn't realize her daughters had brought friends over today. Dayna jumped at the sound of her mother's voice.
"Oh mom, this is Hannah and Cara. Hannah is my age and Cara is Megan's age. Isn't that great? And they even have a brother Terry's age too. They all just moved here over the summer..."
Reba began to think about everything Dayna was telling her. Reba knew that she probably wanted something from her. Her daughter was usually never this straight forward with information about her friends.
"Mom?"
Reba was snapped out of her thoughts. "Yes sweetie?"
"I was asking you if Hannah and Cara could sleepover."
'Ah that's what she wanted,' Reba thought to herself. Reba glanced at the four smiling girls. Dayna and Megan were silently begging her to say yes. She let out a sigh.
"It's fine with me-"
"YES!" The four girls exclaimed.
"But you have to check with their mother too." Reba immediately saw Cara's face drop and Hannah rushed to her side. Megan's eyes widened while Dayna pulled Reba out into the hallway.
"Mom I don't know how to tell you this but Hannah and Cara's mom is dead. It hurts Cara a lot when people talk about her mom because she was very close with her." Dayna stated. Reba regretted what she said.
"It's only their dad taking care of them. That's why they moved. He couldn't afford their old house on just his salary." As Dayna explained more Reba felt awful.
"I feel horrible that I brought it up. They can sleep over just make sure they get permission from their father first."
"Ok mom thank you." Dayna quickly gave Reba a hug and went back in the room to share the good news with the other girls.
As dinner time appoarched Reba ordered pizzas. The girls came down stairs and grabbed their food. Hannah and Cara told Reba their dad would be by soon to drop off their things. Reba thanked them for letting her know and the girls disappeared upstairs again. Reba called up the stairs to Terry. He was in his room playing video games or watching a movie, Reba couldn't remember which he decided on doing. Reba sat down on the couch and let out a sigh. She looked around the living room and realized how alone she truly was. Her daughters had friends and their own lives now and her son was entering that age when he just wanted to be in his room. Reba twurled her wedding band around her finger and thought about her husband. She was snapped out of her thoughts when the dorrbell rang.