That afternoon, after the boat tours, the family ate at a cafe downtown then made their way to some of the other attractions Branson had to offer. Reba was so involved in her own confusing thoughts, however, that she didn't even notice where they were. She just followed where everyone else went.
As Cheyenne led the way into a large building, Reba heard music playing from speakers outside and on into the stadium-like place where they would sit. She spoke a little to Elizabeth before finally getting up and escaping to the bathroom to call Barbra Jean.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me." Reba shut and locked the stall door.
"Oh, hey, Reba! Havin' fun yet?"
"I couldn't tell you. Haven't been paying much attention."
"More trouble with Brock?"
"Yeah. I kissed him again."
"Why? I thought you were takin' it slow."
"I was. I don't know what happened. It was a spur of the moment thing. And to top it all off, Dr. Jack Morgan is staying at the hotel we're at and he asked me out for drinks tonight."
"Uh..."
"That's what I thought you'd say."
"Reba, look, I'm not going to tell you what should should or shouldn't do, but I am going to ask you this: Is Jack there? Can I talk to him?"
"Barbra Jean!"
"Sorry, sorry. Okay. I think you should just go have drinks with the man. See what he has to say, then go talk to Brock."
"Talk to Brock? What for? I'm mad at him."
"Just discuss things. Look, Reba, I know you don't see it, but you still have feelings for him. I can tell."
"I just don't think I can talk to him. I mean, this time it wasn't just a kiss. It was a full-on make-out session."
"Well, Reba, you gotta talk to him sooner or later, but I bet you'd feel better if it was sooner. Get all your cards out on the table. Consider therapy."
"That's what Brock said we should do. Okay, thanks, Barbra Jean. I gotta get back or they'll start getting suspicious."
"Alright. Tell Jack I said hi."
"Oh, I might," She said with a smile in her voice.
The two said their goodbyes and Reba decided to do what Barbra Jean suggested.
But unbeknownst to her, Cheyenne had just left the bathroom after having followed her and listened at the door. For a ditzy blonde, she was sure a smart one.
That night, after an early dinner, Cheyenne told Van all that she heard while Elizabeth was next door watching a video with Jake.
"So, Dr. Hunky's back, huh?" Van asked. "How convenient."
"Van, calm down," Cheyenne told him.
"No, I'm calm. I mean, why wouldn't I be calm? Your mom's just cheating on your dad. No big deal, right?"
Cheyenne sat down on the bed. "It just doesn't seem right. It doesn't sound like Mom. I mean, she said in the bathroom that she was mad at Dad, but why would she cheat on him so early in their new relationship?"
"We have to tell your dad. It's the right thing to do."
"But what if it just stirs up trouble?"
"It won't. Trust me. Now where are those Lemonheads?"
That evening, at ten till eight, Reba was dressed in a nice black blouse with lace around the somewhat revealing neckline, ready to go downstairs.
"Hey, Jake, tell your dad I'll be back after while," Reba said as she grabbed her purse.
"Where are you going?" Jake asked, not taking his eyes off the TV.
"To have a drink downstairs. Tell him when he gets back, okay?"
"Okay."
She stepped out into the hallway and shut the door, double checking that she had her room key. She walked to the elevator, got in, and hit the button for the lobby.
On the way down, she began to get nervous. She didn't want to say the wrong thing to lead him on.
The elevator stopped and she got out, walking to the bar near the hotel's restaurant.
She saw Jack already there so she slowly walked up to him.
"Anyone sitting here?" She asked, trying to break the ice.
Jack turned. "Oh, hey." He stood and pulled out her chair. "Have a seat."
She thanked him and they both sat down.
"What'll it be?" The bartender asked.
Reba chose a white wine and thanked the man when he brought it to her.
"You like white wine?" Jack asked.
That's a stupid question, Reba thought, but nodded.
"I like it pretty well."
"I prefer red myself."
"It's alright, I guess."
Jack nodded. "You know this is a nice hotel."
Reba thought about how slowly the conversation flowed. When they were together before, words flowed quickly, never a dull moment in the conversation.
"Yeah, it is pretty nice. Big, too."
"I've been in ones bigger than this."
"When I was a kid, I thought the Motel 8's were big."
He laughed. "You're just so fun."
"Thanks."
"Believe it or not, I've missed that. I've missed you."
"You did, did you?" She sipped her wine, trying not to make too much eye contact.
"I did."
"Well, I thought about you pretty often there in the beginning."
"I miss what we had," He said quietly.
"You mean what we could have had?"
"I suppose..."
Reba nodded. "Kind of hard to know now."
"We can know. If you'll have me."
Reba looked up. Did he seriously just ask her that? After not contacting her for so long, he sees her in the hotel and suddenly he wants to date again.
"Well, Jack, I don't know. I mean, Jake just got out of the hospital and you're in Boston. I don't know if that kind of relationship would work."
"Nothing is keeping me in Boston. I could work from Houston just as easily."
"But what if it doesn't work out? What if we break up and you can't go back to Boston. You'd hate me."
"Why don't we just make sure it works out, then?"
"Look, Jack, you're a really nice guy, but there are some things going on in my life that my family doesn't even know about. I just need time to think over some things before I jump into a relationship. I can't just put those things on the back burner. I have to deal with them."
Jack nodded. "I understand."
Van and Cheyenne knocked on room 713 and waited to be let in. Brock answered the door a moment later.
"Hey, guys, come on in."
"Actually," Cheyenne said. "Could we talk to you for a minute out here?"
"Okay, sure." He stepped out and pulled the door to. "What's up?"
"Well," Cheyenne began. "We don't want you to freak out."
"Or get mad," Van added.
"But Mom's downstairs having a drink."
Brock raised an eyebrow. "Yeah...I know..."
"Guess who she's having drinks with," Van asked. "A man by the name of Dr. Jack Morgan."
"Oh, really?"
"Now, Dad," Cheyenne said. "I know that since you and Mom are engaged that you might be jealous, But there's probably nothing going on. We just thought that you should know."
Brock had a confused look on his face. "Engaged?"
"Yeah..."
"You think your mother and I are engaged?"
"We found the ring when Van broke into your car."
"You broke into my car?"
Van held his hands up in defense. "We were just, you know, looking for quarters for the Coke machine and the ring box just happened to pop up."
"Why were you looking for quarters underneath the driver's seat?"
"I dunno."
"Dad, look," Cheyenne said, trying to take attention away from her husband. "Don't overreact, okay?"
"We're not engaged. This is all just a big misunderstanding, alright?" He walked past the two and down the hall.
"Where are you going?" Cheyenne called.
"Downstairs," He yelled. "Watch Jake."
As he got in the elevator and the door closed, Van looked at Cheyenne.
"Your dad's gonna kill him."
Cheyenne bit her lip. "I know. Come on." She started down the hall.
"What about Jake? He's alone!"
"He'll get over it. Let's go!"
Review? Please and thank you!