CHAPTER 3

Reba was the last one to enter the restaurant. She felt that her red locks were falling down and pins weren't so tight anymore. She went to the ladies room to pin her hair back up. She stood by the mirror and was trying so hard to pin her curls back to its place, but she couldn't do it. Her hands were shaky and she didn't know why. What are you doing, Reba, pull yourself together, breathe in and breathe out, it's just another family dinner...she was trying to tell herself. She slowly inhaled and then exhaled, checked her lipstick and finally pinned her the last curl up to its place. Slowly her nervousness flew away and she was back to her old self.

She heard her phone chirp, so she took it from her purse and saw that her best friend Lori Ann wrote her a Lori-Ann-kind-of message for her birthday.

Girl, you are fifty today, go get it…..Oh, and happy birthday. Reba chuckled at the message. Lori Ann was always wicked with her words, always insinuating on something. Reba was more subtle with her words, but tonight she felt that this message from her best friend was on point. Maybe she can loosen up a bit tonight and not worry about everything.

She missed her best friend. They would celebrate Reba's birthday when Lori Ann came to Houston the following week. Lori Ann wanted to throw Reba a big birthday bash but Reba didn't wanna have a big celebration. She didn't want to be in the center of attention, that's why her nervousness about tonight's dinner. Reba said no and she agreed on a small gathering of her closest friends. To be honest, her closest friends were Lori Ann, her kids and to think of it, Brock too. The birthday bash wouldn't be much different from that evening, except she knew Lori Ann would have her taking shots and dancing. Reba slipped her phone back into her purse and made a mental note to call her best friend back in the morning.

When she walked up to the table, she looked up and saw the most beautiful sight. Her family, all dressed up, happily conversing with each other and waiting for her to sit down with them.

The table was decorated with a beautiful centerpiece-her favorite bouquet of flowers, pink roses-four silver candles were lit at each side of the round table. She sat down beside Brock, her eldest daughter sitting immediately to the left of her.

She noticed a small black box with a little bow. It sat on her dinner plate. It was a small beautiful black velvety box with a turquoise bow.

She confusedly eyed Brock but he was engaged in a conversation with Jake, so she turned to Cheyenne. At the same time, Cheyenne turned towards her and noticed the little box.

"Wow Mom, What's that?" the blonde girl asked.

"I don't know.I thought you would know,"

"No. Open it then," Cheyenne suggested.

Reba took the box into her hand and slowly examined it. The box was very similar to small ring box but with a bow. She remembered how Brock proposed to her with the similar black box. She started to dream about this very sweet night but Brock's words snapped her out.

"Wait. Don't open it yet, Reba," Brock said and startled Reba with his hasty voice. He put his hand on her fingers that were tangled with the bow on the box. "Save it for later."

"Hmmm, okay."

Reba felt little butterflies chirping with excitement in her stomach. Her eyes stayed on his fingers tangled with hers and she liked the feeling that his touch gave her. If she was being honest, it felt a bit electric.Get a grip, Reba...Focus...she thought and put her box in front of her wine glass. He removed his hands quite quickly and she felt a cold breeze flowing through her fingers. It was a very strange feeling being without his warm touch.

She took a large gulp of her red wine soon after the waiter had poured it into her glass. Brock noticed her anxiety and put his hand on her back and started to caress her. He noticed that she tensed at his touch so he moved his hand and went back to his conversation with Jake instead.

Dammit! His touch wasn't supposed to make me go all soft inside Reba thought to herself as she noticed that every time he touched her she felt warm and her heart beat faster. She didn't like those feelings being shown to Brock; she didn't want to give herself away, so she stiffened.

He slowly leaned back to her ear and his whisper made her shiver. "Why are you nervous, it's just dinner? You look radiant and your eyes sparkle. Relax, Reba."

His words calmed her, the tone of his voice was so soothing, she started to breathe slower. She closed her eyes, his whispers still in her ear.

"I'm just nervous about being here, in the center of attention. I'm not used to that, but it was very sweet of you to think of me. I'm just overwhelmed ….and all the words you said last night, really struck me. We have to talk about it!" Reba said to Brock silently.

"What words?" Brock smirked

Reba glared at him, thinking she didn't hear him right but he turned away smiling. Is he toying with me or was he really that drunk last night?

They ordered almost everything the restaurant had on the menu. Everybody was sharing with everyone and they chatted over one another. Every now and then his hand slightly brushed by her fingers and she couldn't hide her smile. Brock noticed and intentionally did it again.

After dinner, Jake asked "Hey Dad, can I get a dessert menu ?"

"Of course, buddy. Do you know what you'll order?" Brock asked.

"I don't know yet, maybe a chocolate cake or ice cream sundae." Jake said.

"I wanna ice cream sundae too, mommy, " Elizabeth said to Cheyenne "and Mikey and I can share!" Elizabeth pointed out to her brother who was so excited that his sister acknowledges him, that he started to cry. Cheyenne was very happy that Elizabeth welcomed her little brother. She was super protective from day one and it was so sweet to watch her interact with him. She shared her toys with him and all her attention was very comforting to Cheyenne. She was proud of her little girl.

"Oh, Elizabeth you are a really sweet sister" said Reba.

"I'll have cake!" Kyra voiced her desire.

"Oh, miss fancy pants wants cake" joked Van in his girly voice, mocking her and he couldn't even finish his sentence, he got punched in his arm by Kyra.

"Moron" she said triumphantly.

"Ouch, you sassy redhead, stop punching me!" Van squiled and brushed his arm in pain.

"Can you two behave tonight, please" Cheyenne pleaded.

"Grandpa, will you share your dessert with grandma?" Elizabeth innocently asked Brock.

He smiled, looked at Reba and said: " If your grandma would let me, I'll share anything with her."

Reba blushed and said with her soothing voice to Elizabeth "Grandma likes her desserts, so she will not share, but you can give one spoon to your grandpa."

Everybody laughed and Reba smacked Brock's hand. "Order for yourself. I deserve my own dessert. It's my birthday!"