John Ross was delighted to see his mother when he arrived home. He was even more pleased to hear that she had agreed to stay for dinner. His parents' problems had been the source of much trauma for the young man over the years but, deep down, he recognised that they still harboured intense feelings for each other. It was only a couple of weeks ago that he spied his father looking wistfully at a framed photograph taken at their second wedding. "She looked very beautiful didn't she?" John Ross had asked, jolting JR from his private thoughts. "Prettiest girl in Texas, your mama. I bet she still is" JR replied. "Do you miss her?" JR shook his head. "Things went way too far between us. Anyway she has her own life in London now." John Ross knew he was lying. That was when he decided to disclose the fact that his mama and Don had split and a "quickie" divorce was in the offing. He could tell by the expression on his face that his father was pleased by the news, not pleased in a churlish or bitter sense, but happy to have at least the possibility of trying again with her. He rarely saw his daddy smile these days. He had an air of desolation about him and John Ross knew he was lonely. However, what he had just imparted served to lift JR's mood, to give him hope and a sense of purpose once more.

It was bizarre, Sue Ellen thought, as she sat in her usual seat at dinner that the three of them were able to converse entirely normally. Topics of conversation included Sue Ellen's business ventures, her life in London and her plans for the future. JR was absorbed by what she was saying. It wasn't put on, she decided. It was genuine and sincere interest on his part and she knew that if she ever needed his help it would be given by him freely.

"Time to go. Thank you for inviting me. I've really enjoyed it" she told JR and her son when dinner was over. "It's late, mama, why don't you stay over?" the young man asked. JR smiled. She might have been able to refuse him but surely not John Ross, he schemed. "It's nice of you to ask but maybe another time? My hotel is just fine. You've nothing to worry about." "Okay mama, I'll come and visit you tomorrow after school then." At that she kissed her son and hugged him warmly. Gosh, she thought, he's almost as tall as his daddy! A wave of sadness suddenly washed over her. She had missed so much of her son growing up, time that could never be retrieved or made up. She resolved to do better by her boy in the future. They had his college years to look forward to and, of course, at some point the handsome young man would meet the girl he would marry. There are still exciting times ahead for them she pondered as she began to walk out of the house.

"Penny for them?" JR asked as he escorted her to her car. "Oh, I was just thinking about the past, what a mess I made of being a mother and all the milestones in John Ross's life that I missed, out of choice." "He knows you love him very much, Sue Ellen, and he knows you have always done your best for him. If anyone was at fault it was me. I drove you away. The decisions you made were to protect yourself, to be happy again and to maintain your hard fought for sobriety." They instinctively stopped walking. Had he really meant every word of that? She wondered. He turned her to face him and placed his hands on her shoulders. His touch was the same as ever- electric. "I mean it, darlin, you're much stronger than you think. You're a true survivor."

The temptation to let him kiss her was strong but she knew she had to resist. JR wanted to take her in his arms but realised that he shouldn't push too quickly. He didn't want to send her the other way. Progress had been made today which he would build on, gradually and at her pace. Instead, he gently kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, Sue Ellen. Drive carefully. I hope you won't be a stranger here" he told her. She brushed her cheek where he had kissed her lightly with her finger as she got into her car. God, it would be so easy just to follow him back into the house and ask him to take her to bed right now. Age hadn't diminished her desire for physical pleasure and she and JR had always been so good together in that regard, she thought as she put her car into reverse.

Driving back into town Sue Ellen reflected on what had happened. You're vulnerable right now, she told herself, and JR knows it and will capitalise on it in his own inimitable way. He'll charm you, flatter you and appear to be kind to you but only for as long as it takes for him to get his own way. She had to be careful where he was concerned. If they were ever going to make it they would have to take it slowly. JR would have to convince her that he had changed, not just in words but with evidence, hard proof that he would never return to his old ways. He was right. She was strong and no pushover this time.

As she entered her hotel suite the telephone rang. "Sue Ellen, it's me. Can I take you out for lunch some time?" JR asked. He knew that this was how it had all started, all those years ago, with an innocent lunch date that hadn't left the beautiful new Miss Texas feeling threatened or out of her depth with him. Old fashioned wooing, that was what was required, he determined. He was going to win her again, just like he'd done before, but this time it would be forever, for the rest of their lives.

"I don't know, JR." "Come on honey. What harm can a lunch date do?" he pleaded. "I want us to be friends. You know in an ideal world I want more but I'd settle for just your friendship. I've been so lonely, darlin, and I think you have been too."

"Alright then. I'll contact you when I've looked at my diary. Oh and JR? I'm buying this time." "Sure honey, good night now. Sleep well." He knew she wouldn't and neither would he. The day's events had rocked him. He would lie awake all night just thinking about her, how she looked and how she felt for that brief moment when he touched her. He would let her dominate the pace of their reconciliation, up to a point, but when he finally seduced her it would be all his doing.

tbc