Love by Love – 11
Reba was literally tossing and turning in her bed, unable to sleep. She really cared for had to admit, he was one darn good-looking man, but she was hurt for being lied to more than breaking her heart for liking a married man. She would never want to be the other woman. If she knew he was still married, she wouldn't have gone out with him. She also couldn't sleep because of the man next door. Barbra Jean said she should give him a chance, but how could she? He was her friend's ex. It would be weird… wouldn't it?
'G'morning, hun." Brock greeted seeing Reba walking half asleep to her kitchen. She flopped on a chair resting at the kitchen counter. Her hair was frizzy, and not a trace of make-up on her face. This was the first time ever that he saw Reba just out of bed. She looked so adorable.
"Is it considered good morning when you didn't get any sleep?" Comment Reba, followed by a big yawn. She mumbled, "Thanks," as Brock poured a cup of coffee and put it in front of her. Reba sat upright; suddenly realizing Brock had broken into her locked house while she was sleeping. She stared at Brock who wore just his robe on top of his pajamas. "How did you get in here?" She questioned, closing her robe.
"I ran out of coffee, so I thought I'll have some of yours. Don't worry, I'll replace it."
"Didn't I lock the door before I went to bed last night?" Reba began to panic.
"You did. Barbra Jean has the keys to your house."
"Not anymore!" Reba snatched them back from Brock.
"You look tired. Couldn't sleep?" Brock showed his concern. Reba tiredly shook her head. "Because of Jack?"
"Part of it." She sighed.
"You really like him?" Brock was hurt by his own question.
"It's not that. He lied to me, I mean… I didn't mean to hurt anyone, but I just…" Reba just didn't know what to say.
"Here…" Brock parted his arms motioned her to step in. Reba graciously took the offer. All of the sudden tears flow down her cheeks like a broken dam. She needed this, she needed someone to lean on. Despite being a soul survivor, and one stubborn mule of a woman, she didn't want to be alone. Brock rubbed her back gently, letting the silence fill the room, not one word was exchanged between them. He let her cry all her pain away. They just savoured in the moment of tenderness. It seemed like an eternity before Reba started to calm. She snickered. "Hmm... What's funny?" Questioned Brock lowering his eyes looking at her.
"No, nothing. I just haven't cry this much since Terry passed. It feels really good. Thank you." Reba stepped away from his embrace and went to get a tissue to blow her nose.
"Hey, if you need a shoulder to cry on, you can always count on me." Brock said with a grin. His robe was soaking with her tears.
"Thanks, Brock. I really appreciate it." Reba smiled at him with few tears remaining in her eyes. Brock reached over almost touched her face when Barbra Jean barged in to Reba's kitchen.
"Hi guys, don't mind me, I just need an egg." She took an egg out of the fridge, then she spotted a tray of Canadian bacon, she took that too. She also grabbed a loaf of bread and left. Reba poked her head outside looking above her door.
"What are you doing?" Brock was confused.
"Checking to see if someone put a 'grocery store' sign above my door." Brock chuckled at her answer. "Don't you people have food in your house?"
"Yeah, I got to do some grocery shopping. So, I see you're feeling better."
"Much better. Thanks again."
"Any time." And there started an awkward silence. Reba twirled her finger around her coffee cup, Brock checked out his empty cup.
"Mom." Oh, thank the Lord Kyra came in to break the silence. "Why your eyes are all red?"
"I... got something in my eyes honey. But I'm fine now. Are you hungry yet?" Reba quickly changed the subject.
"No. Can you give Teddy a bath? He fell into the toilet." Kyra held her soaking teddy bear up high, the water dripping on the kitchen floor.
"I hope it was clean when Teddy took a dive. Put him in the laundry hamper honey, and wash your hands. I'll make you some pancakes."
"I want Cheerios." Kyra demanded before taking the dripping teddy bear into the laundry room leaving just the two adults alone again.
"Uh... I better go back to my house, Cheyenne would get up soon too," stated Brock rubbing the back of his head. "You want to go grocery shopping together, later?" He invited. Reba nodded accepting his invitation. "See you later then." As he was leaving, Reba walked up to him. Brock stopped dead in his tracks and forgot to breath for a moment when Reba pecked him at the corner of his lips.
"Thanks for giving me your shoulder to cry on."
Brock was dumbfounded; he stared at the closed door for a while before it registered to him of what just happened. YES! Reba kissed him. Oh well, just a quick peck, but still. He almost floated back to his house. Meanwhile, Reba was leaning against the door fanning her collar, trying to cool herself down. That peck sure created some kind of heat. Her day went better than she was expected. She was tired from lack of sleep, yet she was in quite a good mood.
Brock was also happy that things went pretty well between them. They hadn't had a real date yet, what they had was more like a play-date. They always brought the kids. Kyra and Cheyenne grew to love each other like sisters. One time, a boy tried to pull Cheyenne's pigtails, Kyra came out of nowhere and punched him. Reba grounded her daughter for throwing a fistfight. But Brock thanked her for trying to protect Cheyenne.
"Kyra, did you see dad?" Cheyenne came looking for her father at Reba's house.
Not taking her eyes of her children's book, Kyra replied, "in the backyard. He's helping mom take a dead squirrel out of the pool."
"Can you read? Or you just look at the pictures?" Cheyenne looked over Kyra's shoulder taking interest in what she was reading.
"Why? You can't read? Want me to teach you how to?" Kyra glared at Cheyenne.
"Shut up, Kyra."
"Bite me!" And the fight started. The girls shouted and yelled at each other, calling names. As always, Cheyenne couldn't beat Kyra. She decided to ask for Reba's help, Reba usually took her side. Kyra knew Cheyenne was going to complain about her to her mother, she wasn't going to sit still and took the blame, she would tell Brock, Brock would take her side.
Reba had a disgusted look spread across her face when Brock eventually fished the dead squirrel out of her pool. She had to call the pool maintenance company to change the water again. The kids raced to them. All Reba and Brock could hear was 'Mom! Dad!' Not know whose voice was whose. To their confusion, Cheyenne ran to Reba and Kyra ran to Brock still yelling 'mom, dad'. The girls were trying to tell on each other, but all Reba could think of was 'did Cheyenne just calls me, mom?' Brock had the same thought running in his head.
"Did you just call me dad?" He question to Kyra silenced everyone.
Before Kyra denied, Cheyenne shouted. "That's my dad!" Well that just started a new game for Kyra. She chanted 'daddy, daddy, daddy' trying to make Cheyenne mad. And Cheyenne wouldn't let Kyra have her way, if Kyra wanted her steal her dad then Cheyenne would steal Kyra's mom. So when Kyra called Brock, 'dad' Cheyenne would call Reba 'mom'. Reba rolled her eyes while Brock chuckled.
But Cheyenne made Kyra cried when she shouted, "He's mine! Your dad is dead!"
"Cheyenne! Go to your room!" Brock grounded his daughter immediately. Reba tried to calm Kyra down while Brock went to talk to his daughter asking her to apology to Kyra. Cheyenne felt bad for what she said. She went back to Reba's house to apology.
"I'm sorry, Kyra. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Cheyenne gave her a lollipop. Kyra still sulked. Reba leaned back against the kitchen counter watching them with a smile, with Brock standing beside her. Reba jumped when Cheyenne offered, "I'll share my daddy with you." Nevertheless, that put the smile back in Kyra's face. Reba jumped even more when she heard Kyra agreed to share her mommy with Cheyenne since Cheyenne's mother wasn't nearby. Brock just grinned from one ear to another.
"Don't I have a say in this?" Whined Reba, taking the bake goods out of the oven. She set the tray on the table to cool it down.
"I do like the deal they made." Brock just couldn't wipe the stupid grin off his face. Reaching for the snack, Reba slapped his hand. "Oaaw"
"I don't care what deal the kids made, you have no right to touch my muffins!"
"Alright then, I'll just look," stated Brock with a mischievous grin, making her think of the accident in the pool many weeks ago. He opened his hand knowing Reba would give in. She almost smashed the muffin in his hand. "So when are we going on a date?"
Reba turned her head at him, startled. "Who says I'm going on a date with you?"
"Well, don't you think before we play mommy and daddy, we should at lease have a dinner together? Ooow!" Brock dodged when Reba hit him with a spatula.
"That's their decision, not mine!" Reba determined. But Brock evilly told the kids that Reba didn't want to play family with them, and all three of them looked at her with puppy dog eyes. "Urrggg! All right fine! I'll play!" Glaring at Brock, Reba gritted her teeth. "You better keep your hands away from me."
"You keep clenching your teeth, no wonder why you have a sensitive tooth." Brock noted. Reba let out a long heavy sigh instead. "Honey..."
"Don't you honey me!" Reba grumbled.
"Kids, mommy doesn't cooperate again!" Brock told the kids knowing they would take his side.'
Pouting, Kyra crossed her arms, glaring at her mother. "Mom..."
"Honey..." Brock repeated again when both Kyra and Cheyenne were backing him up.
"Yes dear?" Reba mustered through her teeth, shot her eyes up.
Brock decided to push his luck a little further. Reba wanted to skin Brock alive and tear him into pieces when he wrapped his hand behind her shoulder and said, "What do you say, kids? Should mommy and daddy kiss and make up?"