CHAPTER 4: It must have been love
The day of the barbeque.
It had been an awful week for Ann. She had tried to avoid Bobby as much as she could because everytime she remembered the scene at Jenna's house. For the entire week, she had thought about Bobby's words once he had got home that night, but she hadn't found an explanation yet. Now she was in the bedroom, getting ready for the barbeque where they would have had to pretend to be happy. It was a sunny and warm day in Dallas, the perfect one for the Ewing Barbeque but Ann wasn't in the right moon to celebrate or to have fun.
"You have to believe me. I stopped her. Nothing happened between me and Jenna. I love YOU!"
The sound of his voice, saying those words, was still in her mind. Had he told the truth? Had he really stopped Jenna? A lot of question came up in her mind. *Bobby is not a liar* thought her, but she wasn't sure about it anymore. She took a deep breath and she stood up from the bed. She went in the bathroom and she put some make-up on to hide the redness due to the tears. She took a pair of earrings with pearls and rhinestones from the jewelry holder and she had to fight back the tears putting them on her ears. They were a present from Bobby for their third wedding anniversary. She remembered the day he had given them to her. He had brought the breakfast in the bed that morning and on the tray there was also a little black box. He had kissed her and had told her how much he loved her, than he had opened the little box and she had seen those earring. She had loved them since the first moment and she had never thought they could have brought some tears in her eyes wearing them. She took a deep breath and pushed away those memories. She decided to keep her hair down because there wasn't enough time to do a hairstyle since a lot of guests already had arrived. So she walked over her wardrobe, took the two dresses she had been torn between and she picked the light gray one. She took off the bathrobe and wore it. It was a easy short dress with wide straps and an heart neckline. She was looking at herself in the mirror when someone knocked at the door. The dress was still unzipped on her back and she didn't want that Bobby was the one who would have helped her with it. 'Come on in' said her turning to the door. Emma opened it and walked in.
'Hey mum' said her, walking over her.
'Hey sweetheart. What a lovely dress' said her smiling at her daughter. Emma was wearing a night blue short dress.
'Thank you. I like yours' responded her. 'Can I help you with this?' asked her talking about the zip.
'Yes, please'. Ann turned so her daughter could zip her up. 'Thank you' said her.
'Mum, what's going on?' asked Emma. Ann turned to her.
'What are you talking about honey?' asked Ann even if she knew what her daughter was talking about.
'Monday you said that the situation between you and Bobby was fixed but it's been a week that you two are avoiding each other. He's always out and you spend most of your time in here' said Emma. 'Last night, I woke up and went in the kitchen to take a glass of water and Bobby was sleeping on the couch, he said he just fell asleep but it was obvious he didn't' finished her. Emma was right, she had tried to avoid Bobby as much as she could and he had slept on the couch all the nights, she couldn't bear him sleeping in the same bed with her.
'Bobby and I have had a discussion that night but, sweetheart, you shouldn't worry about this' said Ann caressing Emma's face. She didn't want to tell her that she had seen Bobby kissing another woman and he had probably cheated on her. 'Come on, let's go downstairs' said Ann turning to the door. She wore a pair of black flat shoes and before to walk out of the door she turned to the mirror. She took a deep breath and put a smile on her face. It was time to pretend. They walked downstairs and Bobby was waiting for them in the hallway. She met Bobby's eyes but she didn't say anything to him and they walked in the kitchen to reach the backyard.
'Ann?' said him with an insecure tone. Emma and Ann turned to him. He needed to talk to Ann, alone so she smiled at her daughter and Emma walked away, giving them some privacy. They were alone in the hallway, one in front of each other. Bobby took some steps over her. 'You.. You're beautiful' said him, smiling.
'Thank you' said her, smiling politely at him. She didn't know what to say, it was the first time in that week they were really talking.
'Oh those earrings! Are they the ones I bought you..' started to ask him. *He remembered it?!* thought her.
'Yes, for our third anniversary' finished her. 'I still love them' said her. She knew those weren't the words she wanted to say. She wanted to say that she was still in love with him and she wanted to hug and kiss him but nothing happened because the scene of him and Jenna bumped in her mind once more. All she did was just stay there in front of him, looking in his eyes.
'I'm sorry, Annie. Please..' said him. She stopped him with a gesture of her hand.
'Not now, Bobby. It's not the right moment' said her. She stretched her hand so he could held it. 'Let's go. People are waiting for us' said her, smiling to him. He smiled at her and hold her hand. It was hard for her holding his hand without thinking about Jenna, but she had to. They walked over the backyard, smiling like a happy couple.
The barbeque was going well, she had laughed and talked with a lot of people. The Ewing barbeque was like a famous tradition in Dallas and it had always been full of people. It was a tradition started by Jock and Miss Ellie, it was a good way to meet up with some old friends. Ann always loved spend a day with people she couldn't see often but not that day. She had to admit to herself that she was pretending to be happy very good, maybe because it was so easy to be happy with Bobby by her side. They were near the pool talking with some business men and John Ross joined them. The men started to talk about the future of the Ewing Global and she knew it was a sensitive topic for Bobby and John Ross, so she was happy to see Sue Ellen in the backyard. 'Excuse me for a moment' said her, leaving Bobby's hand and she walked over her friend. She needed to take a moment away from him and to talk with Sue Ellen even if she would have to pretend with her too. 'Hi Sue Ellen' said her. Sue Ellen turned to her and smiled.
'Hi, darlin' said her, hugging Ann. 'I'm sorry for the delay but I had some business to work out before come here'.
'Don't worry. Let's have sit' said her, smiling. They took a drink and they set at a table next to the pool and far away enough from Bobby. 'So, how are the things going at the Ewing Global?' asked Ann. She knew there were some problems since Elena came back to Dallas with a friend of her and they created some problems to the family, but basically she asked it to her just to talk about something.
'Elena and this guy, Nick Trevino, are creating some problems but I let the boys to held this problem. I'm still working on the Governor for some favors for the company' said Sue Ellen, smiling. Ann smiled back because she knew that she loved having this control over the Governor after he tried to set the Ewing family up collaborating with Cliff Barnes and her ex-husband, Harris Ryland.
'I really can't understand what happened to that girl. I never thought she may turn her back on us' admitted Ann.
'Neither do I, but she did and our men won't let her win' said Sue Ellen. She was right but it was hard for Ann to hear those two words. Our men. Obviously she was talking about Bobby, Christopher and John Ross but thinking about Bobby as her man was painful for Ann. She turned to see him, he was talking with some others people and in that moment he turned to her and smiled at her. She turned away her face. 'Ann, what's the matter?' asked Sue Ellen.
'What do you mean Sue Ellen?' said Ann, pretending to look surprised.
'You're hiding something. I can see you are upset, honey' said her. Now Ann was really surprised. *How she made it?* thought her. She was afraid that she hadn't been a happy enough with other guests. She just didn't want everybody to know that there were some problems between her and Bobby. 'Don't worry honey, you're pretending very well but I know you more than anyone here. I just can see that something is wrong' said her, winking. 'And you know you can tell me anything' finished her. Ann really wanted to tell Sue Ellen what was going on but she didn't know the entire truth either. What she could have said to her? That she saw Jenna and Bobby kissing? That she wasn't sure if he had really cheated on her even if he had told her that he didn't? Ann was so confused about her feeling and about the entire story but she decided to keep the secret from Sue Ellen.
'I'm okay. We just had a little discussion and we still have to sort the things out' said her trying to sound more credible as possible.
'It doesn't look like just a little discussion, honey' said Sue Ellen, holding her hand on the table. Ann smiled at her friend, thinking about the best way to tell her the truth. She could trust Sue Ellen and she needed someone to talk about what happened. She watched around, thinking of how to start telling the truth but her eyes saw something that blocked her breath. Jenna had just arrived at Southfork, Ann couldn't believe in her eyes.
'I can't believe it' said her, without realizing that she had said it out loud. Sue Ellen watched her, she was confused. She left her hand and stood up. 'Excuse me, Sue Ellen' said her, leaving her friend. Ann started to walk over Bobby, the anger was growing inside her. After what he had said to her, that nothing happened between Jenna and him, she couldn't believe he had invited her at the barbeque. She reached Bobby and his friends next to the pool. 'Excuse me for the interruption. Bobby, can I talk to you for a second?' asked her, pretending a sweet smile. He left his friends and they took few steps away from them. 'What the hell is she doing here?' asked her, controlling the tone of her voice. Bobby looked confused but when she turned to Jenna, he realized what she was talking about.
'Jenna is here?' asked him, surprised.
'Yes, she is. Did you invite her to humiliate me even more?' asked her.
'No, Annie. I didn't invite her! I would never do anything like that to you' said him, reaching her hand to held it. She moved aside her back and watched him in his eyes. *He's not lying* thought her, deep inside she knew he was telling the truth. She walked away from him when Christopher and a man that she didn't know reached them asking to talk to him. Ann saw that Jenna was walking in the living room, so she walked over the house. She needed to face her, in private. She walked in and shouted the door behind her back and Jenna turned to her. They were alone, all the guests were outside.
'Hi Ann. How are you?' asked Jenna, smiling. Ann sighed to avoid to say a swear-word.
'What are you doing here, Jenna?' asked her with a serious tone.
'It's the Ewing barbecue, I thought it was a good chance to see some old friends' said Jenna. 'Is there any problem?' asked her.
'Actually yes, Jenna. I don't want to see you around Bobby' said her, feeling the anger growing inside. Jenna laughed, joking. 'I know what happened between you and Bobby, you better leave this house' said her.
'Why? Are you afraid I could take him away from you?' asked Jenna. Ann took a deep breath trying to calm herself down. 'Well, Ann, I already have' admitted her. *What? It means they really had slept together?* thought her. She was shocked but she didn't let Jenna destroy her.
'Jenna, for your sake, leave this house!' said her. It sounded like a threat and that's exactly what Ann wanted.
'One way or another, he'll be mine for good, this time' said Jenna. She would have never let it happen, Bobby was her husband and no one and nothing could change that. 'How long have you known him? Ten years? And you really think that he would choose you, the third wife instead of me, his first true love?' asked Jenna. Ann wished to slap her for those words, but she just took a deep breath. 'You don't know me, Ann. Bobby and I were in love even before he met Pam' said Jenna with a cocky smile.
'I know what happened between you and Bobby but I also know that he left you twice and he went straight back to Pam. You were nothing but a substitute for him!' said her proudly. Sue Ellen had told her about what happened between them and she used it to shut Jenna's mouth. Or at least she tried. They were one in front of each other, she could have slapped her just raising her hand.
'You're right but Pam is no longer his wife. You are. And do you really think he loves you at least as much as he loved Pam?' asked Jenna. Ann was confused and that's what Jenna wanted. 'I've been there Ann, I've seen the way he always watched at her. And now that she's out of his life, I'll do anything to have him' said her. Ann wasn't angry with her, she was furious.
'Hell yes, I'm his wife but you don't know anything about us. I'll never let you take him away from me. He's my husband and I won't give up on him. You don't know what I'm capable of!' said Ann with a secure tone. She remember when she shot her Harris, point-blank, even if somehow he had brought happiness in her life for a while. *She's just playing with the fire* thought Ann.
'What's going on here?' said Bobby. She didn't hear him and neither Jenna, they both turned to him. He was in the hallway and he started to walk over them, waiting for answers.
'She must leave this house. Now!' said Ann, before Jenna could say something. Bobby looked at her incredulous. She knew what he was thinking about, she wasn't used to this part of herself either. She's not that kind of person who threaten people, especially strangers, but her marriage was in danger and she couldn't live without Bobby.
'I'm not going anywhere. It's a barbeque, I just want to see some old friends, that's all' said Jenna as an excuse. *It's just a chance to see Bobby again* thought Ann.
'Come on, ladies. Calm down' said Bobby, trying to fix that embarrassing situation. She took few steps over him.
'Bobby, I can't see her around you! Please, tell her that she has to go!' said her. She didn't want to know with which excuse he'd have asked her to leave Southfork, she just couldn't have her around.
'Jenna, please..' started Bobby. A part of Ann was happy that he was on her side. 'Can you go outside for a moment? I need to talk to my wife' said him. *What?* screamed her in her mind.
'Bobby? I.. I don't have to talk to you. I just want her out of this property, now!' shouted Ann. She couldn't believe he didn't ask Jenna to leave Southfork. Bobby was in front of both of them without saying a word. She watched straight in his eyes, he didn't need him to say anything because she understood what he was thinking. *He's not going to ask her to leave* thought Ann. She had to fight back the tears, the last thing she wanted was to look weak in front of Jenna. She started to walk over the hallway but she had to step very close to him.
'Annie..' said him trying to grab her arm to stop her. She moved aside her arm.
'Don't!' shouted her with an angry tone. She kept walking and when she reached the stairs, she walked upstairs without watching them. She went in her bedroom, slammed the door and bursted into tears. *Why the hell he didn't ask her to go away? Well, the answer is pretty easy: he cares more about her than about my feelings* thought her. Even if he had cheated on her, she thought he was still caring about her, but apparently she was wrong. She reached the bed and sat on the edge of it, hiding her face in her hands. Her mind was a mess, a lot of emotions were inside her. She was angry because of Jenna, that woman just showed up at Southfork and clearly threatened her marriage but at the same time she was afraid that she could have lost Bobby. Ann knew he loved her but after his silence at her request, she wasn't sure about his love anymore. The tears were still dropping down her face, she couldn't stop them. Someone knocked at the door and she took a few seconds before realize it was real. *Please, tell me it's not Bobby* thought her, she didn't want to see him
'Ann, are you in there?'. She felt relieved when she heard Sue Ellen's voice
'Yes' said her taking a deep breath and wiping the tears.
'I couldn't find you anywhere, you just left so..' said Sue Ellen walking in the room but she immediately interrupted the sentence when her eyes met Ann's. She saw that she had cried and she walked over her. 'Oh my God, sweetheart. You're crying. What happened?' asked Sue Ellen, sitting next to her on the bed and holding her hand. It was the moment for Ann to tell her the truth, or at least what she knew about it. She took a deep breath before to start talking.
'Bobby.. he slept with another woman' said her with heartbroken. She could see the she shock of her words on Sue Ellen's face.
'He did what?' asked her. 'The Bobby I know he would have never done something like that, especially to you' said her. That was exactly what Ann thought either but she was trying to face the reality without falling apart. 'Are you sure, Ann?' asked Sue Ellen.
'I am. I saw him and Jenna kissing' confessed her, fighting back the tears. 'He said they kissed and then he stopped her because he realized it was a mistake. But, Sue Ellen, I know what I saw, she was unbuttoning his shirt and the last thing he wanted to do was stop her. I couldn't stand there watching them so I walked away' said her, busting into tears once more. She turned to the bedside table and she took the picture there was on it and put it on her legs. It was a picture from their wedding day, when it had been taken they weren't watching straight to the camera but they were watching in each other's eyes, laughing because Bobby had joked about the necklaces made of flowers they were wearing. A little smile appeared on Ann's face watching that picture but at the same time the sadness grew inside her.
'Maybe he said the truth. He could have stopped her after that kiss' said Sue Ellen. Ann shook her head, she didn't know what to think about this story anymore. 'I saw Jenna downstairs. She's the reason why you run up here?' asked her.
'Yes' said Ann, nodding her head. 'She threatened my marriage, she said she will do anything to have him back. I asked Bobby to tell her that she had to leave Southfork but he..' said Ann.
'.. he didn't' finished Sue Ellen. Ann put the picture on the bedside table again and stood up. She started to walk over the window on the other side of the room. 'It has to be an explanation for it, Ann. He would have never cheated on you. He's not like JR, he really loves you' said her. Ann watched out the window and she saw Jenna talking with a man next to the pool.
'I don't know what to believe anymore, Sue Ellen' said her, wiping the tears. *But I know what I can't do: stay here* thought her. She turned around and walked straight over the door, talking her handbag from the bed.
'Ann! Where are you going?' asked Sue Ellen, standing up and following her down the stairs.
'I'm leaving! I can't just stay here watching them' said her, keep walking downstairs. She reached the kitchen and walked straight to the door to go to the parking.
'Ann, don't do anything stupid. Stay!' said Sue Ellen, with a worried tone. She was right, leave Southfork was a stupid thing but it was the only thing she wanted to do in that moment. She turned to her friend in the middle of the living room.
'Sue Ellen, I'll be fine, I just can't stay here. I'll be back when the barbeque will be over' said Ann, holding Sue Ellen's hand, trying to convince her. Sue Ellen nodded her head and smiled at her, Ann smiled her back and she turned to door. She walked out and straight to the car without caring of where Bobby was.
'Annie?'. She heard his voice, apparently he had seen her walking to her car and he was reaching her. 'Annie!' said him. She ignored him and kept walking. She reached the car and opened the door to walk in but Bobby reached her and grabbed her arm. 'Where are you going?' asked him. She turned to him and her face was closer to his more than she thought.
'Let go on me!' shouted her with an angry tone, freeing her arm from his grip. She watched straight in eyes and she thought that for the first time, after he had kissed Jenna, he realized how much he had hurt her. He took a step behind and let her walk in the car. Driving away from Southfork she watched in the rear-view mirror and she saw that Bobby was still there, watching her running away.
She hadn't idea of where to go after she had left Southfork. She had needed to find a way to waste some hours until she would have come back at home so she had stopped not too far from Dallas downtown. She was sat in a bar drinking some scotch with ice. She didn't want that drink but it was the only thing who could help her to take the edge off. It already had happened to her before, when she had lost Emma she had started to drink, glass after glass until she had lost the control. Somehow she had found a way to stop drinking and she had promised to herself that she would have never hit the bottom again, at least not because of someone. She wanted to have only one drink, just one. She needed to see clearly if she wanted to find a way to win over Jenna. But she was already drinking the second glass of scotch.
'Annie?!'.
A male voice called her from behind. She was too lost in her thoughts that she hadn't recognized the voice so she just hoped it wasn't Bobby. She slowly turned around and she was surprised to see it wasn't him but someone else.
Harris.
