This is essentially chapter 9 part 2, I dont like to think of it as another chapter, just because it is mostly a continuation of the plot happenings in chapter 9. (:

Recap:

Van sighed at his father in laws actions. "He will come around. He knows that you are not a selfish person and you look out for the well being of your family before yourself. Don't worry about it."

Reba smiled, feeling better about her fight with Brock. Hopefully van was right; hopefully Brock would see that she really was looking out for him. Until then she could only hope. "Thank you, Van." She thanked him appreciatively before turning out the light and closing her eyes. Maybe the talk with Van would welcome sleep a bit easier.

A week had passed since the family dinner that Reba referred to as disastrous. She had not spoken to Brock or Carmen, but knew it would only be a matter of time before their paths crossed again. After all, she was their realtor. She wasn't complaining about the absence of either person though. To be completely honest, it was a welcomed break. There was no young girl trying to flaunt herself, and there was no old man pretending he was in love.

She had just brewed a pot of coffee, the best way she knew how to start her day. As she waited for her energy boost to be completed, she walked to the end of the drive, picking up her newspaper and emptying out her mailbox. She rustled through the envelopes, tossing them on the counter. They were all bills and junk mail.

She was about to pour herself a cup of coffee, when she noticed one envelope had fallen to the floor. She picked it up, but wanted to throw it back to the ground when she saw what the envelope held. It was the invitation that she and her family were promised to receive at dinner weeks ago.

It was an invitation to the union of Carmen Chiquita Garcia and Brock Enroll Hart. Reba couldn't help but burst out into hysterical laughter. "Her name is the same as a banana and his name is a terrible spin off of rock 'n roll!" She threw the invitation on the table, welcoming her cup of coffee that had been calling her name. "This wedding is a joke." She said to herself. In the back of her mind, she couldn't help but secretly hope it turned out equally disastrous as the dinner had.

She drank her coffee in silence, as she mentally prepared herself for another day. She would be fine if she could keep the invitation out of her mind. She laughed at it again. It was clear that Carmen had had a hand in planning, as the invitations were a light, baby pink with gems and a bow on the front. "Brock would have died if I would have picked something like that." Reba spoke to herself again.

The invitation did get her thinking though. Why was Brock so willing to spend money on this woman? Everyone in the general Houston area knew how cheap he was. Why was he suddenly willing to look at million dollar homes, and buy engagement rings that were the size of Texas? Brock always had the means to spend much more than he did, but during their marriage, and even his marriage to Barbara Jean, never did.

She threw the fancy piece of paper back on the table and retreated to her room to get herself ready for work. The whole time, her thoughts were occupied by Brock and Carmen. She hated thinking of them, but couldn't free her mind. The fight with Brock was still playing in her mind as well. She and Brock had known each other for well over 30 years, and he had the nerve to tell her that she was being selfish; she still couldn't get over that one. Reba sighed, hoping it was just something he had said out of haste, and didn't actually mean it. Arguments tended to bring out angry words that were soon regretted; hopefully this was one of those instances.

"Reba, you have a client here to see you." Reba's boss stuck his head into his office, hoping he hadn't disturbed her. Reba was slightly confused. She didn't think she had any appointments today. She smiled back at her boss, trying quickly to clean up her desk and make it presentable.

"Hi." Reba felt her muscles stiffen as she heard who had just walked into her office. It was none other than the subject of the wedding invitation she had received in the mail this morning.

"Hi Carmen!" she hoped the wince on her face wasn't as noticeable as it felt as she forced a smile and tried her hardest not to walk out of her own office.

Carmen quickly made it known that she was here for a specific reason. "So, I was hoping that you could help Brock and I find locations for our wedding reception, we haven't exactly figured that out yet."

Reba raised her eyebrow, honestly confused by her request. "Carmen, that isn't my job. I can help you find a house, but…" she paused running her hand through her red, curly locks. "Shouldn't you find a wedding planner to help you with this sort of thing? Heck you could probably Google it!"

"I know it seems like a silly request, but Brock said that you would be willing to help us."

Reba raised her eyebrow, yet again. "Did he now? He said that I would help you find a place for your reception?" Carmen nodded, not seeing the problem. Reba sighed heavily, trying to keep her anger down in her place of work. Brock knew how she felt about Carmen, and about the wedding. He was an idiot for even suggesting that she wanted to be in Texas when this wedding happened. She wanted to be as far away from it as she could possibly get.

"Carmen I am sorry, but I can't help you with this." Reba tried to be as polite as she could, but there was no way she was going to help find a location for the reception to a wedding she wanted nothing to do with.

Carmen nodded, understanding completely why Reba didn't want to help. "I understand," she said kindly, too kindly for Reba's liking. "I know it must be hard watching a man you obviously still have feelings for get married to a younger, more attractive woman."

"What?" Reba was shell shocked. "What makes you think I still have feelings for Brock?"

"It's so obvious, Reba." She spoke as if everyone knew of Reba's 'infatuation' with her ex husband. Reba gave her a questioning look asking 'How so?' "These past few days, I have seen the way you look at him and refer to memories from the past."

"What?" Reba was genuinely confused. "I give him 'looks?'" Carmen nodded again. "I look at him in the eyes, so now, suddenly I am eying him? I talk about our kids, whom he hasn't seen in a year, so suddenly I am bringing up past memories?"

"I'm just sorry that you don't have a man of your own, I mean how old are you, 60?"

Reba glared at the blonde bimbo sitting in front of her. "Carmen, I am going to ask you to leave before I say something I regret." It took all the strength she had to keep her temper down. She didn't need to have an angry outburst; it wouldn't be good for her high blood pressure.

"Honestly, Reba, why can't you just be happy for Brock and I?"

Reba felt her blood boil. Taking slow, deep breaths she tried her hardest to keep herself calm. She could feel an outburst coming, so she slowly walked over to her office door and closed it gently, turning back to see Carmen at sitting across from her desk.

"I told you to leave, but now that you have pushed the limits, I am going to tell you exactly how I feel." Reba's voice was low and intimidating, one that made her kids run to their room before the got grounded. "I think this marriage between you and Brock is a horrific idea. Honestly, I thought it was a joke when I saw you." She sat back in her chair, scanning the room once over. "And let me just tell you," she leaned forward in her chair, "I am on to you. I know why you are marrying Brock. I know you are only in this for the money."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Carmen played off Reba's accusation.

"Oh, so you are perfectly fine with the fact that you are marrying a grandpa?" Reba smiled when she saw Carmen hide her cringe.

"I love Brock, and I know you are jealous of our relationship."

"Get over yourself!" she had recently said the same thing to Brock. She was clearly dealing with the two most self absorbed people in Houston. "This is not high school hallway drama! This involves me and my family. This may be hard for you to understand, but I don't want to see Brock get hurt. Sure, that makes me still love him, whatever. Unlike high school, I can actually care about the well being of someone without wanting to get in their pants!"

Carmen stared at Reba, shock written in her eyes. "I have to go."

"I think that is a wonderful idea!" Reba said cheerfully. Carmen looked back at her with one final glare before finally slamming the office door. Reba sighed with relief, she had finally gotten hidden feelings off of her chest, and she wasn't going to lie, it felt great.