Chapter 9

The group of three decided to walk down the street to the deli that Bobbi recommended to Brocky. Reba had watched as Bobbi and Brock laughed together as they walked down the street. Reba didn't like how comfortable they seemed to be with one another. They talked about the two weeks they had together so far and laughed at some private jokes that Reba did not get at all. She didn't like this coziness that settled between them and she felt sort of left out of the lunch as they sat across from each other once they arrived at the deli and continued to laugh it up.

Reba just sat beside Brock as he leaned in toward Bobbi and she did the same to him. Reba picked at her chicken salad sandwich and looked at her watch for the fifth time in that hour hoping Bobbi would leave so she could have even some time alone with Brock before she had to head back to work but she didn't think that would happen the way Bobbi was terribly flirting with Brock and he was just eating it all up…the big jerk.

Reba finished her sandwich and pushed her plate away. "Well I am sorry but I am going to have to go." She said getting up.

Brock's head actually snapped up from his conversation with the blonde hussy and frowned at Reba. "You have to leave so soon? We just got here."

Reba gave him a strained smile. "We've been here for forty five minutes. I have to get back or Eugene is going to pitch a fit. I just hope I get back in time."

"Just trust in the boat and I'm sure you will get there on time!" Bobbi said giggling. Brock laughed right along with her and Reba gave them both a confused look.

"What?"

"Sorry…" Bobbi said giggling uncontrollably with Brock. "It's a joke we started. You see…"

Reba chuckled a little, wanting to kill this woman. "As much as I would love to hear the wonderful story in which I am sure is behind this "boat" I really need to go. Eugene is expecting me back soon and I don't want to get fired."

"Oh…" Bobbi said trying to sound sad but Reba could get a hint of a smirk behind the frown. "Well I suppose if you have to. Brocky can stay right?" she asked in a friendly excited tone.

Before anyone could react Reba shot across the table and began to punch the girl down with angry fists. Not even Brock could pull Reba off of Bobbi and as the girl began screaming about getting blood in her beautiful blonde perfect hair Reba smiled and screamed. "His name is Brock!"

Reba snapped out of her day dream and gave Bobbi a strained smile while she clenched her fists around her purse and nodded. "Of course…" Reba then smirked and then leaned down toward Brock. "I'll see you later honey." She then grabbed his face in her hands and placed a passionate kiss on his lips that left them both breathless and wanting just a bit more. "Goodbye." Reba kept a smile on her face as she ran her hand along his neck as she walked behind him toward the door. Take that Bobbi!

Reba couldn't believe Brock would just let her flirt with him like that in front of her. Maybe he didn't know? Nah…Brock is not that stupid. He knew when a woman was flirting. She hoped she wouldn't end up killing this woman. The thought of going to jail over her seemed not really worth it but then again if Bobbi decides to mess with her man…she just better watch because Reba was not about to let another ditsy blonde take Brock away from her. It would not be happening.

-

Eugene had grilled her when she arrived back from work even though she was still five minutes early. She hated that man but she did her work without complaint and had gone home at five pm like always so she could relieve Kyra of watching Jake. She had seen Brock's car when she was leaving and she suspected the pink cute convertible was that stupid Bobbi's. If she has so much money to buy a car like that why was she working for Brock? Reba knew what the woman was paid. The man was cheap!

Reba had to admit she was worried about Brock. Why would he hire someone like that? Wouldn't he know how she would feel about it? They had just gotten back together and the doubt that something could tare them apart was still high. Why would he jeopardize what they had…unless he wanted to jeopardize it? She hoped that wasn't the case. She couldn't take another break up from the same man. She had laid her heart out on the line when she took him back. She had given him her trust even when he didn't deserve it. She had given him everything she had for the second time and she couldn't afford to see it thrown away like that…she couldn't take it…not again.

Reba chopped up some onions rather violently as she continued to think about the hussy trying to move in on her territory. She wasn't going to allow it. She scowled to herself and chopped a whole onion in half in anger.

"Whoa…" a voice said from the kitchen entry way.

Reba looked up and glared at Barbara Jean who stood there not sure if she should enter the kitchen where the angry redhead was holding a big knife. "Don't start with me today Barbara Jean…I am not in the mood."

Barbara Jean approached slowly and sat down at the stool in front of the counter. "What is wrong?" she asked concern completely etched in her voice.

Reba scowled once more and chopped the half onion in half. "Stupid Brock…such a moron…" she mumbled."

"Oh, no, how could he screw it up again? It's only been three months! What the hell did he do?"

"Well…" Reba said with a sigh as she tried calming her. "He hasn't done anything really…yet." She began to calmly chop the onions. The onions burned and tears began forming in her eyes but Reba wasn't sure if it was the onions or actually tears over what had transpired today.

Barbara Jean frowned and stood up. "Here…" she said taking the knife from Reba. "I'll take care of this. You sit down and tell me all about it."

Reba gladly gave up her task of cooking and sat in the stool Barbara Jean had previously occupied. Barbara Jean set a cup of coffee in front of her five minutes later and told her to spill out everything that was bothering her. Reba sat there for a couple of minutes contemplating exactly what she should say and Barbara Jean allowed her to think, knowing pushing the redhead would only make her even more angry and then she would end up getting no information whatsoever and whatever the problem was would stay inside the redhead and fester until Reba just finally lost it.

Once Reba got going though, she couldn't stop. She started off with talking about how she encountered the new receptionist and then she went on about Brock inviting her to lunch and how they were acting with each other. Reba just kept going. She couldn't stop and before she knew it she was pouring out her heart and soul to the woman she was annoyed with. She explained how she was worried and doubted how Brock felt about her. She was scared of losing him again and how she couldn't deal with that.

"I mean I can't do it Barbara Jean…" she said holding on tightly to her cold cup of coffee that she never drank. "I can't just sit back and watch someone else take him from me." Reba paused for a moment and looked up. "I'm sorry. This must be very strange for you. I shouldn't be talking to you about this."

"Oh yes you should." Barbara Jean blurted. She then smiled and giggled nervously. "I mean…its good that you want to get it off your chest but you should also talk to Brock. Tell him how you feel about this woman. From what you described it seems that this woman really bothers you…a lot and it's best to talk with Brock than to hold in your feelings. That's what ruined it for the both of you the last time." Reba couldn't help but nod in agreement. "And if you don't mind me butting in…" Reba smiled and nodded for her to continue. "I think you might be going over board with this whole Bobbi thing. She could be just a friend. Just because she is pretty and get's along with him doesn't mean he wants her or she wants him."

"But the way they were acting." Reba said in a sad tone. "They just look so comfortable and happy with one another. What if Bobbi turns out to be another you!" Reba head snapped up and she hissed through her teeth. "Sorry I don't mean that I just…"

"Don't worry. It's okay. I took your husband and I understand that you will always see a part of me as the destruction of your marriage but I don't think Brock would make another mistake like he did with me. Yes, we made a huge mistake but we both learned and we've grown. Trust me on this, Brock loves you…" Reba was about to speak but Barbara Jean held up her hand. "I know you two are taking it slow and I know you haven't said it yet but he does. I know you love him as well and you both would never want to screw up what you have recently brought together again. No one in this family wants you guys to mess it up and I don't believe for a second that Brock will. You need to trust him because he would never do anything to truly hurt you like that again."

Reba sighed. "I know but…"

"No buts." Barbara Jean said in an almost angry tone. "I have never seen a man happier and more in love with someone than is he with you. With me…he didn't love me…well he did but as a friend…he doesn't love me the way he has always loved you and I have seen how much he is wiling to do for you. And I know this is so cliché to say but he would walk through fire for you. He would do anything for you." Reba suddenly felt very ashamed for doubting him. "Here you keep saying how much you want Brock to work on what you guys have and I have to say that I think he is doing a pretty good **** job of it so far! Now you need to do your part and trust him or you will lose him!"

Reba was completely silent. Barbara Jean made sense. There was nothing Brock had done lately that should make her doubt him. So the Bobbi girl was flirting with him but that didn't mean he would give in to her advances. Brock loved her. He made one mistake three years ago and he has done more than enough these past three months to prove how much he wanted this to work. She should trust him. She needed to or else, like Barbara Jean said, she would lose him. Reba couldn't let that happen.

"Am I interrupting something?" a voice asked at the kitchen entry way. They both looked up and saw Brock standing there looking a bit confused. "I just came from work. I heard shouting. Is everything okay?"

Barbara Jean smiled and nodded as she continued to chop up onions. "Everything's great. Reba actually just wanted to talk with you."

Reba's head snapped back toward Barbara Jean and she glared at the woman. But Barbara Jean just gave her a look that told her she needed to do this.

Brock walked up beside Reba and smiled to her. "What is it sweetie?"

Reba sighed and gave him a small smile. She looked at Barbara Jean who hummed and pretended to cook but Reba knew the woman wanted to listen. No matter how much of a help she was Barbara Jean would still be nosy Barbara Jean. "Come with me." Reba said taking his hand and pulling him out of the kitchen.

Brock was very confused as Reba led him up the stairs and to her bedroom door. She pushed him through and he couldn't help but smirk when she shut the door behind them. "If you're going to get forceful I think we should have Barbara Jean leave."

Reba ignored his comments and tried to think of exactly what she was going to say to him. She didn't need it to sound like she was already thinking he was cheating on her again. She just wanted him to know how she felt. "We need to talk."

Brock had lost his smirk when he had seen the conflict going on in her eyes. He wanted to know what was wrong. He was worried about her and the rapid movements she made walking back and forth across the bedroom floor were only making it worse. "Are you all right? Is something wrong?"

"I think you should sit." Reba said finally stopping and looking straight into his eyes. Brock took her advice and sat down immediately on the bed behind him. Reba brought over the chair from her vanity and sat it right in front of him. She sat down and took a moment to breath before looking him straight into his eyes. She saw nothing but confusion and she could only imagine what was going on through his mind right now. "This is quite hard for me Brock. I have gone over in my mind a bit on what I would say to you but it doesn't get any easier."

His breath hitched and the next thing Reba knew he was holding onto her hands tightly and sounding like he wanted to cry. "Please Reba don't do this. Whatever I did I'm sorry. What can I do to make it better? I will do anything honey just please don't end this. I love you."

Reba smiled and caressed his hands. "I love you too and I'm not ending anything."

Brock breathed a sigh of relief and he gently kissed her hands. "Oh thank God. I was worried. I am worried. What's going on? What's wrong honey?"

"It's about Bobbi." Reba said biting her lip.

Brock was confused again. "What about Bobbi?"

"I don't like her." Reba said with a scowl. Brock took a moment and then chuckled a little. "Why are you laughing?" Reba asked a little angry.

"You're cute when you're jealous." He stated patting her knee a little. "But there is nothing to…"

"This is not about jealousy Brock!" Reba interrupted and moving away from him. She had stood, pacing again, running her fingers through her short hair, wondering how she was going to get through this. "This is about us." She said calmly after a couple of seconds.

Brock stood up and stood in front of her. "I thought we were doing great."

"We are." Reba stated. "But…"

"But…" he said encouraging her to finish.

Reba sighed. "It's silly really. I had decided at first not to talk with you but then Barbara Jean thought I should. She said that if I didn't it might ruin our relationship again. I don't want that. I want to be able to talk with you. I want to have the relationship we had when we were dating in college and for those first nineteen years of marriage before everything went south. I want to be able to talk things out and get angry when we need to but at the end of the day say we're sorry and work it out like normal couples. I don't want to keep things from you and I don't want you to keep things from me. Don't you want that?"

Brock nodded. "Absolutely…what is it? Talk to me, you can tell me anything."

"Good…" she said smiling. "Now let's sit back down. There's a lot we need to discuss."

Reba allowed Brock to curl up on her bed with her and for the first time in almost five years they actually talked. They talked about their relationship and exactly where it was going. They talked about Bobbi. Reba voiced her concerns about what she had seen today and Brock didn't jump down her throat about being too paranoid. He understood and she understood when he talked about some concerns he had. Brock had wanted to know if she trusted him because he felt sometimes that she didn't. They talked about anything and everything that came into their minds. They wanted to hold nothing back and they didn't. And at the end of their conversation they both felt better and felt their relationship had grown even stronger.

"Wow…" Reba said glancing at the clock. "We have been up here for three hours…it's almost eight."

Brock chuckled and held her close. "It's all right. We needed to talk."

"Yes we did and it was a good talk." She said sighing in content as she turned on her side and wrapped her arm around his middle. "This is nice." She said resting her head on his chest.

He smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Yes it is." Brock then smiled and began chuckling.

"What?" she asked smiling.

"We said I love you."

Reba rolled her eyes and smiled as she snuggled to him. "I know we did."

"Say it again."

She sighed and looked up to him with a smile. "I love you."

He broke out into a huge grin and Reba squealed in delight when he rolled her onto her back and kissed her. "I love you too." He mumbled against her lips. "It feels so good to say that." He said leaning his head on the palm of his hand as he gently moved down next to her.

"It does, doesn't it?" she giggled.

Brock smiled and kissed her lips, slowly caressing her face with his hand. They had finally said it and it felt so nice. He always knew in his heart he loved her dearly but he respected her wishes and held off from saying it. She wanted to take this slow and he was happy to do whatever made her happy. "We should go away for the weekend." He suddenly said.

Reba bit her lip. "Brock we just said I love you to each I don't think…"

"Not that kind of weekend, just a small trip to get away and be alone, nothing else. Wouldn't that be nice? We could go to a lake and sail maybe or just go to a nice hotel in a nearby tourist town and relax. What do you say?"

Reba thought about it for a moment and wondered what she should do. Going away for the weekend would bring on a lot of temptation and she wasn't sure if she could control herself in a romantic setting alone with Brock. She wanted to take this slow but he did say it would be a short weekend and she could use a weekend of relaxation and it would be nice to be alone with Brock. They got some time alone but never longer than a couple of hours without one of the kids or Barbara Jean barging in. Their relationship would probably be even better if they went away.

She turned to him with a smile and nodded. "Okay."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it would be nice. We could use a weekend away from everyone."

Brock chuckled and pulled her into a kiss. "All right, now where do you want to go?"

Reba was about to respond but her stomach interrupted them with a loud growl. She chuckled and placed a small hand on her belly. "Can we discuss that later tonight on the phone or something? I need to eat and I think Barbara Jean cooked." She said with a grin.

"I am kind of hungry myself. Let's go." They both groaned as they got off the bed and stood up. "Oh man we're old."

Reba smiled. "Speak for yourself. I am still young. You're the old man."

"You're only three years younger than me!" he stated as they walked toward the door.

Reba put her nose in the air in a playful way and smiled. "But I look much younger."

"That you do babe that you do." He then kissed her and they walked hand in hand down the stairs.

Their relationship still needed working on. They weren't done talking yet but they both felt a lot better and were sure they could survive anything together, which was a good thing to be so sure of because there are still many rocky moments ahead that have yet to come.

End of Chapter