Road Trip To The Destiny - 11

Reba was getting ready for her date, so many times she was thinking if she should go. Tommy Johnson was her high school boyfriend, they bumped into each other yesterday during her lunch hour. He asked how has she been. She told him roughly about herself, and she found out he was still single. He asked if they could go out for dinner. Reba right away though of Brock, then she said yes. She wanted to know if she was over Brock or fell for him all over again. Sure, Brock had been very sweet to her for the past 25 days, but what would it be like after all these Valentines were over? She wanted to make sure she moved on. When she told Brock yesterday that she had a date, her heart sank seeing sorrow in his eyes. He didn't stop her, he didn't beg her not to go. He kept his promise that he would not invade her personal life.

"Mom, how could you this to dad?" Cheyenne shot the question the moment she stepped in her mom's house. She had been watching them, she had never thought her dad would be patient enough to put up with her mom's stubbornness, but he did. Even Kyra caved and finally wanted to see them back together. Barbra Jean wanted to see Brock win Reba back for all the effort he had put into impressing her. He won over every one, except the one that was his target: the love of his life.

"You're quick to forget what he did to me six years ago."

"Mom, even prisoners have their release date after they've served their time. Are you going to hold his one stupid mistake against him for the rest of his life?" Kyra remarked.

"The kids are right, Reba. Brock did make one stupid mistake and he has been living the past seven years regretting his decision." Barbra Jean came in from the kitchen and overheard what Kyra said. "For crying out loud, he was so depressed he had to take the happy pills! He cheated on you once Reba, only once. He never touched me after that one time, until I found out I was pregnant."

"Oh cut it out y'all. I forgave him for that. I'm going on this date to see if I still... you know, love him or not."

"You mean for almost a whole month that he pretty much kissed your feet, he still couldn't make you fall in love with him? I'd cave the moment I've got my car waxed!" Comment Barbra Jean; she couldn't believe how stubborn her friend could be.

"What's your heart made from? Stone? Don't you even have feelings?" Cheyenne questioned. She felt so bad for her dad. He tried his best to prove his love, but her mom didn't let it register in her heart.

"Good luck finding another love slave mom," quipped Kyra. And she thought she was stubborn.

"You guys haven't walked a mile in my shoes, you wouldn't understand." Reba was upset the way her friend and her daughters just switched sides and thought she was the evil one.

"But I-" Barbra Jean was going to protest but Reba cut her off.

"You think you do, but you don't. He wasn't the only man you ever loved, the only man you ever shared your bed with. You don't know how many nights I reached out for him in the middle of the night and found nothing but an empty bed because he was spending his night holding you. You told me yourself that you saw it coming, you always feared that he'd leave you and come back to me, you can't give him 100, but not me. I gave him everything I've got, and one day just like lightning, he told me he's leaving me to marry you. You don't know how hard it was for me to get over him. I made it look like it's easy, but no, it ain't something I want to go through again." Reba poured her heart out, reminding herself why she shouldn't give in. "I forgave him for what he did, but when you fall so hard, and you're going back to that same road, you can't help but fear that you'll see a stumbling block that make you fall again. You learn from your mistake"

"And you think he hadn't learned from his mistake?" Kyra found her opportunity to help her dad.

"And he worked so hard trying to get you back, don't you think he'll try even harder to keep you?" Cheyenne threw in her two cents. Reba was at a loss for words for a few seconds.

"I don't have to answer to any of you." She left her living room to sit and wait for her date at the chair outside the house, and thought about what her kids said. She didn't notice Brock sit next to her.

"Ready for your date?" He started conversation. Reba was startled.

"Yep, let's go." She got up and then she realized that tonight he wasn't her date. "Sorry, I have something else in my mind." She sat back down.

"I should have seized that opportunity and just grabbed you hand and put you in the car and drove off." Reba chuckled at his comment.

"Maybe you should." Brock was wondering if she was just kidding. "What are you doing here?" She didn't think she would see him today since she had a date.

"I just remembered the guy Tommy, wasn't he the one that dumped you because you wouldn't ring-a-ding with him?"

"Did I tell you about him?"

"You did when we first went out and you weren't ready. You told me to wait but you were afraid I'd dump you like the way he did." Brock recalled.

"It was thirty years ago, and I don't think he'll try anything on our first date," commented Reba starting to have second thoughts. Tommy really pressured her back then, but they were just teenagers.

"I'm going to give you a call, to give you a getaway excuse if things don't go well."

"Brock..."

"Reba, to stop worry about someone you love and cherish for almost thirty years, it's an old habit that hard to break. I'm going to call you every hour. If there's nothing I should be worried about, then you can discard my call, hit the busy button. Please..."

"Alright then. He's here now." Reba spotted a car stop in front of her house. Brock looked at the guy that taking her out on a date. He was quite handsome, and he drove a Jaguar, so he must be loaded. He watched Reba step in Tommy's car with heartache from jealousy. He knew he shouldn't wish for something to go wrong on her date, but he selfishly kept his finger crossed that this would be her very last date that wasn't with him. He called her an hour later, she discarded his call. He took that as a sign that things went well so far.

Reba had her phone in silent mode, when she saw his number flashed on her screen, her heart pounded. She almost picked up, but she decided to give Tommy a chance. However, she couldn't put her mind to the guy in front of her, it kept wandering back to the guy who just tried to call her. After dinner, Tommy told her he'd like to take her to see a movie, and she agreed to go.

"Now, Tommy, when you told me you'll take me to a movie, I didn't quite think you're going to take me to a drive-in. You remembered that was where we broke up right?"

"That's why I'm bringing you here, so we can correct what happened that night that broke us up." Reba wasn't sure what he meant; she had her cell phone ready, just in case. "You know Reba, up until today, you are the only one that ever said no to me," said Tommy after he got his car parked at the furthest spot from the screen. She now became really suspicious. "But you're not going to repeat that mistake again tonight, are you?" Reba dialed the number, but before she had chance to talk, Tommy had already captured her mouth with his. Reba struggled to get out.

"Let go of me!" She shouted at him when she was finally free.

"What's your problem?" He barked at her "You did this to me thirty years ago. But back then it was your first time and you wanted to save yourself for someone you love, but now you're not a virgin anymore, what are you holding back for? And to think about it, the guy that you were saving yourself for, did he even appreciate you? I doubt it."

"You just don't get it do you? Virgin or not, it wasn't the point, I'm not a s-lut who could sleep with just about anyone on their first date!"

"Well, how many dates does it take to get through your panties, woman?" Tommy became frustrated, Reba said no to him before and she did it again. Reba was fumed up too, he was so rude to her thirty years ago and he hadn't changed. She punched his handsome face, caused his nose to bleed

"I wouldn't sleep with you even if you're the last man on earth!" Reba got out of the car and slammed the car door so hard the car shook. She could hear him cursing and swearing. She too was angry by the way Tommy treated her. Brock gave her 25 days of Valentine already and she didn't even give him one single kiss, how dare Tommy try and take advantage of her on their first date, especially since they didn't leave on good terms thirty years ago. She walked out of the drive-in, still gripping on her cell phone as if it was her lifeline. Her cell phone rang: a call from the person that she wanted to see the most.

"Hi Brock, can you please come to pick me up at the drive-in. Long story, will talk to you later." Reba didn't have to wait long; Brock was already half way there. Reba didn't notice how fast it took for him to arrive; she got into his car and buried her face in the palm of her hands. Brock let her sit quietly, deep in her own thoughts as he slowly drove back to her house. "I'll never find someone, will I?"

"You'll always have me." Brock held her hand. "Even if after I tried everything I could and you don't want a relationship between us, we'll still have friendship. If you want, we can still grow old together as best friends. We'll take turns looking after each other, how's that sound?" Brock buttered her up. Reba smiled.

"Thanks for being patient with me." He was patient with her almost thirty years ago, he waited and waited until she was ready, and apparently he was willing to wait for her again. He picked her hand up and kissed her wrist. Reba let a few tears escaped her eyes.

"Don't mention it. You're worth the wait. And just so you know, I really appreciate what you have given to me."

"You heard?"

"Yes, you might have accidentally called me or something, but the moment I heard your voice said 'let go of me', I jumped in the car and started to drive not knowing where you were, but I heard every words he said to you. He's a jerk. I swear if I see him again, I'll punch him!"

"Already taken care of." Reba giggled. She had a bad night, but seeing Brock's sincere concern made her feel better.

"I thought I heard he was crying in pain." Brock glanced at her with a smile. "I thought you'd talk to me after you slammed the car door, but you didn't so I assumed that you didn't know you dialed my number, so I hung up and call you." Brock explained. Reba flashed him a smile.

"And just so you know, I've never regretted that I gave it to you." Reba unbuckled her seat belt and leaned over and lightly pecking his cheek. Brock spread a huge grin across his face. He parked the car in her driveway, but he wouldn't let her back to her room yet. He told her to wait; he still had to set up her 26th Valentines gift. Reba thought he wouldn't give her anything today since she kinda broke his heart by going on a date with someone else. In a way, both of them were glad she went on a date with Tommy. Reba was glad she found out what her heart desired, Brock was glad her date was a disaster, now she knew he wasn't that bad. Reba knew she had fallen for him once again, but she wanted to wait a while longer, she wanted to see what would happen after the Valentine's were over. He came back down the stairs a while later with a blindfold.

"Don't peak."

"And how the heck would I walk up the stairs?" Brock scooped her up and walked to her bedroom. He didn't have to blindfold her that early, because her surprise was in her bathroom. He could wait until she got to her room, but he didn't mind carrying her. Reba stood in the center of her bathroom when Brock removed her blindfold. She sniffed the air and noticed scented oil was lit. She gasped when the blindfold came out. Her bathroom was lit only by a few scented candles. Bathtub filled with luke-warm water with a few rose and lavender petals floating on the surface. He lay a foldable table across the bathtub that she could slide closer to her once she settled in the tub. And there was a glass of her favorite wine, a bowl of little pieces of cheese and a little vase of a red rose. He handed her her favorite book.

"Enjoy," said Brock with a flash of smile.

"Brock" He was about to close the bathroom door when Reba stopped him by calling his name. "Thank you" and she blew him a kiss. Reba enjoyed her nice warm bath and was a little startled when she came out and Brock was still in her room. She made sure her robe was securely tied. She blushed when Brock opened the notebook he gave her as one of the presents and the napkin with his kiss printed flew out. Brock grinned when he saw the napkin, there's another kiss print on top of his. Reba just added it not long ago. "You still here."

"I'm waiting to complete your Valentine's gift." He tossed a bottle to her. Reba caught it.

"What is it?" Reba read the label; she wasn't sure why he gave her a bottle of massage oil.

"A hot oil body massage after a nice warm bath," answered Brock with a mischievous smile. Reba let her jaw drop; she didn't expect this kind of a gift.

"You're kiddin' right!?" Brock sighed.

"I thought you might feel that way, so here." He walked up to her and gave her a piece of paper. "A day spa certificate." It just dawned on her that his past 25 gifts weren't any store bought stuff. This one was the first. Reba stared at the certificate in her hand and massage oil in another, as Brock was leaving her room.

"Brock." He stopped by the door and turned his head her way. Reba tossed the massage oil bottle back to him. "Give me a few minutes to get ready." Brock was beaming. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it waiting to re-enter. He knocked a few minutes later and Reba let him in. His heart pounded a thousand beats a minutes seeing her lying on the bed, face down and only a towel covered her behind, waiting for her body massage he promised. He had earned her trust, and she let him touch her body again. "If you try anything, you won't get within three feet of me again." She just had to let him know that she wasn't ready for anything more, but Brock wasn't gonna rush and risk, he'd take his time like he did almost thirty years ago. He knew she was worth waiting. Reba got goose bumps when she felt his hands on her bare back, massaging her tense muscles. He lingered, took all the time he could, before moving down to her lower back and her legs. He didn't try anything, but Reba was fighting the temptation to change her mind and just roll over on her back and rip his clothes off. The first fifteen-minute was hard to fight, but when she got used to his hands massaging her skin and not trying to be seductive, she became more relaxed. The next thing Brock knew, she felt asleep. She rolled on to her side to get comfortable. Brock bounced off the bed and quickly covered her naked body with the blanket. That should be enough massage for tonight. He kissed her cheek, whispered good night in her ear and turned off the light. "Brock" he once again got stopped at the door. "Thank you."

"My pleasure." He replied before he went back to his place.

Reba woke up finding herself naked on the bed, and her heart skipped a beat. She recollected every moment after she stepped out of the bathroom and remembered that Brock didn't do anything more than give her body massage that he promised. But there's a chance that he might have saw her naked though... oh well nothing he hadn't seen before anyway. She reached the jar of heart-shaped note that Brock wrote 'I love you because...' and randomly picked one up. She read one of them every day before she started her day. And today he loved her because her smile always brightened his world. Reba smiled big, she loved these little notes, they made her start her days feeling loved. Reba hurried to put her robe on when she heard a knock on the door.

"Come in" Brock came in with another breakfast in bed. Reba put the heart-shaped paper back in the jar and put it away, hoping Brock didn't catch her reading them. Well, he did. That was why he had a playful grin on his face. He was happy that the effort that he put on cutting those papers and hand writing each one of them was paying off.

"Got you some breakfast and once you finish, we're going out." Brock placed the tray in front of her.

"Where are we going?" Reba started to get accustomed to being pampered

"Nowhere fancy. Wear something comfortable, jeans and t-shirt would do."

"My last Valentine's gift isn't it?" She missed the attention he had given her already.

"It's extra special, you'll see."

"You know, you made me gain almost two pounds with all this pampering. All the dinners and I hardly lift a finger, and barely have time to exercise." Reba complained, but she still enjoyed her hearty breakfast.

"You gained two pounds? For what I saw last night, I can assure you that you still have a great body. Even better than when I saw you last time." Even her neck turned red after his comment. He did see her naked! Although she kept telling herself that nothing he hadn't seen before, but still couldn't help but feeling bashful.

"I'm done eating, now get out so I could get dress. I don't care what you see before, but you ain't gonna see that again!" Brock shook his head and chuckled, he took the tray down to the kitchen and he waited for her to get ready. Reba wore jeans and a white tank top. He said to dress comfortable. He complimented how sexy she looked, the way her tank top contoured her figure. Reba smiled coyly realizing that he saw more than what he was suppose to last night. Brock took her by the hand, ready to give her the last gift for this year. He kept his fingers crossed that she would love it.