Chapter 6
After returning from their trip to Hawaii, Brock and Reba struggle with the choices they must make, as well as the consequences for their actions. Read to discover how this will play out for themselves, as well as the family.
[R] Enjoy and read on
"Okay, kid count!" Barbra Jean shouted over the murmur of the family. This was such a big and stressful task for her, she had never done such preponderant duties without Reba looming over her. Gathering the family and being responsible for getting them all safely back to Houston? She let out a nervous laugh at just the thought of it.
She looked around at the family whom was still talking amongst themselves. She placed a hand on her forehead. "WWRD," she told herself. "What would Reba do?" A light bulb seemed to go off and she placed her index finger and thumb in her mouth and let loose a long and loud whistle.
Everyone looked in her direction, surprised at the authoritive look she wore. "Alright, listen here Hart gang." She placed one hand on her hip and the other she used to point at each and every one of the members around her. "Reba left it up to ME to get us all back to Texas and good God almighty I'm going to get us to Texas in one piece." She looked down at Elizabeth whom was clinging to her mother's leg. "And you Peaches, no crying on the plane. We don't want a repeat of the mall trip." She gave her a threatening look, but Elizabeth just looked back at her with big brown eyes. "Okay everyone load up!" Barbra Jean stepped out of the way and counted each person as they boarded the plane. "One..two..three..four.." She looked around suddenly, her head bouncing from side to side. "Kyra!" She screeched loudly.
Kyra leaned back out of the door at her stepmother. "You already counted me," she noted before slipping back inside the plane, never failing to roll her eyes.
Barbra Jean looked up, trying to remember who all came. Suddenly, her hands flew up in the air. "The middle child!" She was just about to tear back through the crowd of people, when Jake bounded up to her.
He made it a point to stop in front of her before entering the plane. "It's Jake," he said and disappeared behind the door frame.
Barbra Jean giggled and gave the flight attendant across from her a nervous smile before hurrying inside herself.
xxx
Reba rearranged the pillows on the couch for it seemed the thousandth time. She cocked her head to the side and observed it. She released a sigh and groan before shaking her head and shifting one of the pillows again.
"Reba, they're just pillows. I don't think that's going to be the difference between the family having a mental breakdown or not," he said half kidding as he entered the living room.
Reba glared at him before placing the pillow she was holding back down in its former position. "I don't know what to do with myself," she said in an exhausted tone. She had been cleaning all morning, trying to keep her mind busy. Now, the time was ticking away and the family would be arriving soon. Was the food going to be heated to the right temperature by the time they arrived? Should she offer a family movie or game before the meeting? No, they would probably be tired anyways. She needed another glass of wine. She stood up and walked to the doorway of her foyer, "want anything?" She asked Brock, motioning towards the kitchen.
Brock shook his head, "Nah, I'm alright. Well…on another thought, I could do with a beer." He gave her a sheepish smile.
Reba rolled her eyes. "Mhmm," she remarked and turned the corner.
Brock picked up his cellphone and scrolled through his messages. A few from Barbra Jean mentioning they were about the board the plane. Another saying she lost Jake. His eyes went wide and he was about to call her, when his phone received another message saying "Jk, found him!" He sighed in relief and shook his head at his wife. He and Reba would be lucky if they got their kids back with just a few scratches. There was a sudden crash that sounded as if it came from the kitchen. Brock shot to his feet and called out Reba's name. "Craaaaaap," he heard from the other room. He walked briskly and when she came into view, he had to stifle a fit of laughter. "What happened?" Brock asked in a muffled tone with his hand covering his mouth. Flour powdered her shirt from collar to hem and was sprinkling to the ground with every movement she made.
Reba glared at him. "I got flour all over my shirt obviously." A snort escaped from Brock as he tried to retain himself once more. Reba paused to roll her eyes before explaining. "I was trying to get that cup out of the cabinet," she stopped to point at the open door of the cabinet, revealing the cups and mugs. "Somebody-Van," she said under her breath, "put this bag of flour in front of them so I was trying to move it and it fell, exploding on me." She finished with a huff and turned to a hysterical Brock. "Oh, you think that's so funny do you?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
He nodded through laughter, squeezing his eyes shut as a whole new burst overcame him. Just the thought of a flour bag exploding on her had him laughing like a hyena.
"Oh yeah?" Reba continued, turning around to gather a handful of flour out of the bag. "Let's see how funny it is when you're covered in it!" She spun around on her heels and chucked the pile of flour at Brock. The bits of power covered his face in a blanket of white.
His laughter halted and he stood in shock for a moment, before wiping the mix out of his eyes. He stayed unmoved for a minute longer as he slowly nodded his head. He moved towards Reba, taking careful steps.
She stood smirking, satisfied with her actions. He neared closer and she crossed her arms, expecting him to scold her lightly. His face was centimeters away from hers and he leaned in, his lips approaching her lips. She smiled at how cute he was trying to be. Just as she was leaning in herself, she felt flour falling down her face and spilling out of her hair.
Brock held his now empty hands over her head, grinning from ear to ear. "Now it's funny," he said, the movement causing flour to fall off his face.
Reba dusted her hands off, chuckling sinisterly. "Is that how it's going to be?" She cocked her head to one side, her lips forming into a smirk. She moved her hand to rest on the counter top and the other to her hip.
"Mhmm," Brock responded, stepping closer to her body. He wrapped his arms around her waist and looked down at her, smiling.
Reba smiled sweetly, gazing back into his eyes. Her face remained flirtatious as her hand on the counter moved ever so slowly towards an egg. This went unnoticed by Brock and she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him as she quickly moved her hand over his head and crushed the egg. The shell crushed easily under the weight and the liquid oozed and dripped onto his head. The yolk landed right on top and Reba stepped away from him, the sweet smile never leaving her face. "You're so gullible," Reba said, shaking her head.
Brock narrowed his eyes at her. "I see what you're playing at woman. But two can play at that game!" He spun around and whipped the refrigerator door open, retrieving the bottle of chocolate syrup. He turned back to face Reba, bottle at the ready to squeeze.
"Brock, let's not be rash here," Reba chuckled nervously and held her hand to show yielding.
"I think it's a bit late for that Reba," Brock replied and smiled evilly as he pressed down on the bottle, syrup squirting all over her face and shirt. Reba squealed and hopelessly tried to shield her face from the sticky chocolate.
She was just about to pull out the sink hose and water him down when the family emerged from the doorway.
Reba and Brock froze in their place. Brock's hand was suspended in the air with the syrup bottle pointed towards a disheveled Reba. They could barely see through the ingredients covering their faces.
"What is going on?" Cheyenne stepped forward and put her hands on her hips. Her eyebrow cocked and her lips in a straight line as she tried to read her parents.
Van joined her with little Elizabeth in his arms and Cheyenne's bags hanging on his shoulders. "Yeah, I'd like to know too." He looked silly with all the pink gear on him that belonged to Cheyenne. He was sporting a Hawaiian button-up shirt and visor that said 'Aloha.' Reba would have laughed at his appearance if they were under different circumstances. The tension in the air was so thick, it could be cut with a knife.
Since Brock wasn't making any effort to say something, Reba spoke. "We got a little carried away with the food.." She turned her body to face her family fully. "Anyways, how bout we get cleaned up and eat something?"
"I want to know why you two came back early." Barbra Jean appeared from behind her daughter and stepped to the front.
Reba swallowed hard and her palms became sweaty. "I, uh-"
"If it's okay, we'd like to discuss that after we get cleaned up and maybe get something to eat. You guys must be starving," Brock answered for her.
Reba didn't look at him, in fear the family would notice and call her out on it. She knew they were wondering why they were being so suspicious. Oh god, she couldn't do this. "I'll take my shower first," she blurted and dismissed herself from the room before anyone could reply to Brock.
Brock stood there awkwardly and stuttered, "I'll uh, I'll wash up in your bathroom if that's okay?" He asked Cheyenne whom nodded, still having a questioning look on her face. He felt all eyes on him as he stepped out of the room. He climbed the stairs quickly and nearly ran into his daughter's bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him, as if he was outrunning something. Maybe he was trying to-confrontation, rejection? Both.
He turned on the shower and watched the water fall from the head. He sighed as he relieved himself of the messy clothes he was wearing. Egg and flour clumped together in his hair and he tousled it about as he pulled the curtain back and got in the shower.
xxx
Reba ringed her hair out, hoping to get all of the food out. She could feel the chocolate syrup sticking her hair together in knotted lumps. She applied more shampoo and conditioner, lathering it until there was nothing but suds covering her entire head.
"Okay, go over it again," she told herself. "Me and Brock…Brock and I…Your father and I…we sort of…" She ran a hand over her face. This was not coming out good. She felt irritated, she just wanted to scream out what she had done. If not to anyone else than to herself, to be blunt about it for once. "Brock and I fucked and I feel bad but I don't regret it because it was fucking amazing!" She threw her hands up and sort of laughed at her misfortune. A desperate laugh. She stood there, allowing the water to just sort of consume her until she no longer felt it. Minutes passed slowly and the water turned cold, awakening her from the trance.
"Okay," she said quietly to herself. "Let's do this." She held her head high as she turned the knob until the water shut off.
xxx
Brock slipped his shirt on over his head, the last piece of apparel. He looked at himself in the mirror. This was it. This was the moment in which he and Reba would announce their adultery-something he would've never in his life imagine to have happened. Especially Reba. But here they were.
He walked out of Cheyenne's bathroom and down the hall to Reba's bedroom. She was standing over her bed, sort of zoned out. "Reba," he whispered gently as he approached her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, breaking her out of her own little world. She turned to look back into his worried eyes.
"I can't believe we're about to do this," she looked down to the floor, unable to hold Brock's eyes any longer. When he said nothing, she inhaled a deep breath and put her hand on his upper arm, squeezing softly before walking past him and out of the bedroom. Brock sighed before following her.
xxx
Reba stepped off the last stair into the living room to find her whole family seated. She cleared her throat and wrung her hand around her wrist as she approached them. They all turned their heads to look at her and she heard Brock close behind her. "Did you guys want something to eat? We made-"
"We ate while you two were cleaning up," Kyra cut her mom off. "Now, let's hear whatever it is you need to tell us."
"Well," Barbra Jean began before Reba or Brock could say anything. "Your father and I actually wanted to do a family meeting thing." She looked at Brock and bit her lip.
"What? Why?" Kyra asked, looking between her step mother and dad. What the hell was going on?
Cheyenne stood up, holding her hands out. "Hold on. Mom, Dad, come sit down. You guys go first." She sat back down and pulled Elizabeth into her lap.
Reba hesitated when she noticed Elizabeth in the room and she didn't think it was the kind of information you sit down and tell. She looked back to Brock and he nodded, encouraging her to move closer to them. She walked around the furniture to stand in front of the TV, with Brock next to her. "Elizabeth, honey?" She waited for the little girl to look up expectantly. "Why don't you go watch a movie upstairs in your mommy's room?"
Cheyenne raised an eyebrow as her daughter climbed out of her lap. "Mom?" She asked, watching Elizabeth ascend the stairs out of the corner of her eye, then turning her attention back to her parents.
Reba just stood there, keeping her eyes off of Cheyenne. She was half tempted to ask Jake to leave, but he was old enough to handle family meetings, even if it was something as bad as the news about to be given. "Barbra Jean, Brock, why don't you go first?" She asked gently.
Barbra Jean nodded and turned her head to look at Jake, Kyra, Cheyenne, and Van. "Well you see, your father and I," she paused to glance at Brock, whom was looking at her with an unreadable expression. She turned back to the children. "We are getting divorced."
Kyra jumped to her feet and was the first to speak, "what? Why! You guys can work through whatever it is you need to. You haven't even thought this through. You can work on it like last time!" She shouted, almost pleading.
"Mr. H, is this true?" Van looked at his father-in-law. At that question, all of the kids turned to face Brock.
"Yeah Dad, when was this decided?" Cheyenne asked.
Brock put his hand on the back of the neck. "We've been talking about it and well, this is the best option for us. We're just not working."
Yelling broke out between everyone except Reba, whom remained silent. "This is the best thing for us, for everyone!" Barbra Jean tried to get out over the constant arguing. It was useless.
Brock waited until it quieted down a bit. "Look, everyone. This was a decision we thought about for a long time. We knew it would affect more people than just us, so we wanted to make sure it was the right decision."
The family sat down, allowing what Brock had just said to sink in. This was really happening. It wasn't just a false alarm like before.
"If this is what both of you think is best, then I support it," Cheyenne said, tears forming in her eyes. Van intertwined his fingers with his wife's. "Me too," he noted.
Kyra sat silent and Jake just stared at the floor, wanting to leave the room. He didn't really know what to take from all of this. He knew Barbra Jean and his Dad had been falling out of love for a while. He could tell they had changed and by the constant arguing. He was tired of it, he wanted them to be happy and if being together didn't make them happy, why were they forcing themselves to stay together?
Silence settled and Van sat up, looking at Reba. "Ms. H, you've been quiet, that's not you at all. Especially when it comes to Mr. H and BJ."
Reba smiled weakly and looked to Brock next to her. This was it. She closed her eyes, inhaled, exhaled, and opened her eyes. Suddenly, everyone was staring back at her. "Brock and I have something to say and I think you all deserve to know." She felt Brock's fingers lace with hers. Her eyes traveled around her family's faces to see eyes widening at their locked hands. "We're-"
"Together," Brock finished for her. There were gasps, but Barbra Jean was the first to speak. "You're….cheating on me?" Her hand flew to her mouth and tears poured out her eyes. "And you, my, my best friend, you cheated with my husband?" Barbra Jean stood up, anger filling every crevice in her face. "This is the worst thing you could have ever done to me." Her voice grew strong and firm as she stood tall over them. Her jaw locked in place as she looked between them and settled on Reba. "I never want to see you again."
"Barbra Jean-" Reba said, tears brimming her eyes.
"NO!" Barbra Jean screamed and ran out of the living room, leaving through the kitchen door. It swung crazily on its hinges and settled on staying open, the light breeze rushing in and chilling the already icy atmosphere.
"How could you!?" Kyra stood and shouted at her parents. "And you of all people," she turned to her mom. "I hate you! I hate both of you!" She ran out of the house, after Barbra Jean.
"Kyra!" Reba shouted and spun around to chase after her, but Brock held her back.
"Reba! Reba, it's no use!" He said, trying to get through to her.
Tears were streaming down her face and she put her hand over her mouth. She turned to face a speechless Van, a sad Jake, and a shocked Cheyenne. She could feel herself breaking down completely. "I'm sorry," she whispered and ran out the front door.
Minutes passed and Brock didn't know what to do. He heard Reba tear out of the driveway in her car and knew she just needed some space right now. As for the other two, he assumed they were at Barbra Jean's and talking to them would not be the brightest idea.
Jake climbed to his feet and turned to the staircase. "I'm going to stay at Robbie's for tonight," he said, knowing his parents wouldn't tell him no under the circumstances. He didn't want to be around his family for a while, he couldn't handle all of this.
Brock said nothing as he watched his son go upstairs.
"Dad, what happened? How long has this been going on?" Cheyenne asked, wanting to know every detail.
Brock sighed and sat down in one of the chairs. "I, I don't know. We'd really been getting along and I just, these feelings I haven't felt in a long time emerged when I was with her. Then one night, we had been drinking and she was really upset about something and stalked off. I was worried about her, so I went after her and when I found her, she was a complete mess. I went to comfort her, I still don't know what it was really, but I guess being that close and having those feelings and being intoxicated sort of mixed and one thing led to another."
"Bow-chicka-bow-ow" Van sang quietly to himself. Cheyenne glared and smacked him harshly. Now was not the time.
"I'm sorry it happened this way, but hurting Barbra Jean like that was wrong, you know that." Cheyenne said seriously.
Brock nodded his head. "Yeah, I know. And your mother, she regrets it I think. But every time we're alone-"
"Hey, hey, hey! I do NOT want to hear that Mr. H!" Van covered his ears and made a disgusted face.
Brock rolled his eyes. "No, I mean when it's just us, we have this chemistry. When there's no stress it almost feels like when we were first together." He smiled at the memory and thought of them.
Cheyenne smiled knowingly. She knew what was happening between her parents. She remembered seeing them act like that together when she was younger. "Dad, I think you need to go after Mom. As for Kyra, she just needs some time. She'll see how you two are when you're happy and in love. I don't know about Barbra Jean, I've never seen her this way."
Brock nodded his head and climbed to his feet. "Thank you Cheyenne, I'm sorry also." He looked down at the ground apologetically before leaving the house in search of Reba.
xxx
Brock called Reba for the twentieth time. "Hey it's me, AGAIN. Please tell me where you are Reba, we need to talk about this." He ended the voicemail and sighed. Where could she be? The bar or somewhere quiet? Brock weighed his options and went with the latter. His foot fell heavier on the gas pedal as he sped up.
xxx
Reba shut the car door as she climbed out. The air was crisp, the sounds consisted of only the nature surrounding her, and the creek was beautiful at sunset. She tiptoed down to the water's edge, not wanting to disturb the peacefulness. The only other person that would know this place would be Brock, but she doubted he'd remember it. They came here many years ago, BC (before children.) She smiled at the thought. They would sit here getting their pants covered in dirt and mud and just talk for hours. Somehow it always ended up getting heated and they found themselves in the car, getting lost in each other's sexual appetites until morning.
A tear slid down her already tear streaked cheeks. It traced one of the stains and dripped off of her chin. How did she get here? She was always the sensible one, she was always the careful one. This wasn't her. Another tear fell.
"Please don't cry," Brock said quietly as he approached Reba.
She nearly jumped out of her skin and turned abruptly to see him. "What are you doing here Brock? I didn't hear you drive up." She wiped at the tear trailing down her porcelain cheek. "I didn't think you'd remember this place."
Brock smiled as he sat down next to her. "I parked a ways back and just walked, it's beautiful here, you know." He paused to look around at the familiar ground and narrow creek. "How could I not remember this place when we made so many wonderful memories here?"
Reba sighed and drew her knees to her chest, hugging them as she did so. "Everyone hates us, Brock. I don't want to go back, I don't deserve to go back."
"Not everyone hates us, honey. Van and Cheyenne are actually somewhat supportive. Jake is, well...I can never tell with that kid. I think Kyra will come around to the idea once she sees us together," Brock replied. He didn't make eye contact with Reba, instead he kept looking forward into the forest.
"What do you mean 'us together'?" Reba said with sorrow in her voice. She didn't know if she wanted a relationship with him anymore. Not with everything that they had caused.
Brock turned to face her. "Reba, you know we are meant to be together. It's almost inevitable really. I don't know if you need me, but hell, I know I need you. I need to hear your sleepy voice at night, smell your heavenly hair, feel your soft skin against mine, Reba I need you in every way."
Reba gazed into his eyes, tears glistening in hers. "Brock-" Her voice cracked and she simply shook her head. She knew she needed him as well. Her eyes followed Brock's hand as it reached for hers. She met him halfway and their fingers locked. She stared at their hands for a while, allowing the buzz of insects to fill the air as the night crept over the fading light. "What are we going to do?" She asked quietly.
Brock stared her in the eyes sternly. "We're going to go home and face the family. Tell them how being together strengthens us, completes us. Tell them how much we love each other. Apologize for whatever it's worth and take the outcome in strides. I love you and I'm not losing you again."
Reba smiled softly. "I love you too, but that doesn't mean it's not going to be hard."
"I know it won't be easy, but I'm not going to give up. I want you, I need you," Brock responded honestly. Silence settled between the two of them and Reba started staring off in space, smiling to herself. Suddenly, she felt her body being lifted as Brock tugged on her hands, helping her to her feet as he stood up. "Let's go home," he said and walked by her side to the car, holding her hand the whole time.
Chapter 6
The End
A/N: I decided I'm going to leave it here. It's been a while since I last posted, but this will be my last story for Reba. I know the ending is cheesy, do forgive me on that note. Thank you for all of those who read and/or reviewed on my stories. You guys are stars. I thought I'd post the remaining bit I had written for this story a while back and just end it there. It's not too bad of a spot to stop, and open enough for your imagination to fill the gaps.
Best regards to all of you fellow readers and writers, Rachel/rarararawr x