A/N: I'm sorry about my last chapter guys. I fixed it so now it matches the rest of the story. This chapter is correct. Also just to note I know this story time line might be confusing so to clarify it takes place in season one and right now it is August. So R&R and enjoy.Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Reba as she began to cry. Elizabeth couldn't help having tears fill her eyes.
"Maybe you should tell Brock, Reba." Reba nodded her head.
"But not yet. You need time to get everything in order before you tell Brock. How is Dakota doing?"
Reba smiled a little. "She doing great. You wouldn't believe how big she has gotten. Dr. Bruno said we could bring her home in two weeks."
Elizabeth nodded her head and smiled. "That's wonderful sweetie."
"Comparing her to Darren was almost night and day. When I looked at her she appeared to be a normal baby, but when I looked at Darren he was just as small and helpless as when he was first born. You would hardly believe that he was born a month ago let alone that he was the twin of the baby next to him."
"Would you like me to make the arrangements for Darren's funeral?" Elizabeth asked. Reba looked into Elizabeth's eyes.
She could tell that Elizabeth sincerely meant what she said. "You would do that for me?" Reba asked.
"Of course. That's why I offered. I figured it would be better for you and the kids other kids to focus on Dakota coming home."
"Thank you Lizzie. Just when you make the arrangements could you do it privately? I don't want the kids knowing they lost a baby brother. It would be best for them to focus on the happiness of Dakota."
The funeral took place early in the morning. Only Reba, Elizabeth, and the preacher were there. The service ended and Elizabeth began to walk back to the car. Reba stood and stared at the grave stone a little while longer. Upon the stone it read:
Darren Joseph Hart
Taken too soon
June 18, 2001 – July18, 2001
Reba slowly walked back to the car. She thanked Elizabeth for all her help in planning the service.
"Don't worry about it sweetie. I was honored that you allowed me to help. I am so proud of you considering everything you've gone through. I just wish Brock could see that too."
"I do too sometimes."
"Promise me you'll tell him about all this one day? He might be able to understand." Reba's smile faltered a little.
"I promise Lizzie."
"Good because I have to be tumbling outta this town today."
"You're leaving me too?"
Elizabeth stopped. "Don't think of it as me leaving Reba. Think of it as I'm taking a vacation. I have to go home to check on a few things there but I've got a secret. I've been looking at houses around here and I found a perfect one only a few minutes away. I put a down payment on it."
Reba's face lit up brighter than the northern star. "You're moving to Houston?"
Elizabeth nodded her head. "Yup so don't think of this as good-bye. I'll be back as soon as I sell my other house."
Reba smiled. Then she got in her car a drove home. She had a baby girl that needed her love and care. Reba spent the remainder of the morning sending Kyra and Jake to school and caring for Dakota. It was almost lunchtime when Reba laid her down for a nap.
Dakota was such a good baby. She rarely cried and was always smiling. Reba wished that Darren were still here. She quickly shook her head trying to rid herself of those thoughts. It was a hard state of mind to stay out of. Reba knew once she thought about Darren, she would lose control of her emotions. She needed to stay focused on Dakota and Kyra and Jake and Cheyenne. They all still needed her very much.
Reba returned downstairs and turned the baby monitor on. You would hardly believe that there was a three-month-old baby living in the house because all the baby toys were neatly put away, invisible to the untrained eye. Reba made a sandwich for herself before heading to the living room. She placed her sandwich down and went to get the mail.
"Bills, bills, and more bills. Hey what's this," Reba slowly opened the letter. It was from Elizabeth.
Dear Reba,
How are y'all doing there? Everything here is going great! Someone made an offer on my house so it looks like I'll be moving out by you sooner than we thought. I just wanted to give you a heads u. I should be moved into my new house by October. I love you bunches.
Elizabeth
"Wow, October? That's only a few weeks away. I wonder why she sent me a letter instead of calling me?"
P.S. My phone's not connected yet and my cell phone is getting a new number. I'll call you when I get to Houston.
"Ah, that's why," Reba laughed to herself.
"Hey Reba," Brock said as he walked into the front doorway.
Reba spun around. "Brock! What are you doing here?" she said surprised.
"Well I saw your door open and I wanted to come see the kids, and you." Brock's voice began a tad bit quieter as he said the last part.
"The kids are at school Brock."
"Oh, are you busy today? Can we go out to lunch and talk?"
Reba panicked. She couldn't just leave Dakota here by herself. "I can't today Brock. I'm-I'm very busy." Reba was beginning to have a struggle with just talking with Brock. There was a lump forming in her throat. She never realized how much Darren looked like his father.
"We could just stay here and talk."
"Why do you want to talk so badly Brock?"
"I wanted to talk about us."
"Brock there is no us. You have Barbara Jean now."
"She's gone, Reba."
"Why what happened?"
"She's pregnant with someone else's baby. So I told her to leave. This whole situation is crazy. I got drunk one night at work thinking about us and everything we were going through, and the next thing I knew I was waking up in my office the next morning. Barbara Jean said that we slept together but I never remembered that. I looked at the security video and I never slept with her. I was alone all night but it didn't matter. She still claimed that I got her pregnant and she single handedly ruined our marriage. The worst part is that I didn't even know that baby but I loved it already. And the most horrible thing is that out of this entire thing I hurt you the most and I can never forgive myself for that."
"Brock you're being too hard on yourself. Have you talked with Barbara Jean?"
"Yeah she said she was going to have the baby and then give it to the real father. She just doesn't care. She is such a-" Brock could feel his anger and resentment towards Barbara Jean quickly rising. Reba had to stop him before he said something stupid.
"Hold it!! How can you be so sure that she doesn't care!? Maybe she loved that baby. Maybe she realized how precious a new life can be. Maybe she knows that there is no way she'll be able to take care of a new baby by herself. Did you ever think of that? It's going to be very hard for her to give up her baby."
"Why are you defending her?!" Brock's anger was still fueling and Reba couldn't take it anymore she had to get him to understand. With her own anger being to take charge Reba began yelling back.
"Because even if the child is still alive or passed away, it is very devastating to lose them!"
"And how would you know?!"
"Because I have!" Reba immediately regretted those words as tears sprang to her eyes. Brock's anger subsided and his face immediately softened.
"What?"
Reba couldn't look at him. No one except Elizabeth and herself knew of Darren's death. She knew she would tell Brock eventually but she never imagined it was going to happen like this. Reba turned to leave the room and get as far away from Brock as possible. She just wanted to crawl into bed and cry until the pain went away. Brock grabbed her arm before she left.
"Reba what happened? Was it a long time ago?" Brock was concerned. He let go of Reba's arm. They were together for 25 years. If this happened a long time ago then Reba was secretly carrying around this pain. The thought of that made Brock sick to his stomach. Reba was just about to tell Brock when it happened when a cry echoed over the baby monitor. Dakota was waking up. Reba sniffled back the tears.
"I guess there's your answer." Reba left Brock in the living while she went to Dakota.
