"Wow Sue-Ellen, you sure are lucky going to Paris and then London!" Lucy exclaimed as she watched her aunt methodically packing for the trip. Since the barbeque debacle Lucy had been working hard to ingratiate herself once again with the family. Because Sue-Ellen had been very unwell in the early part of her pregnancy the family had protected her from the full detail of what had occurred. Lucy was, therefore, able to maintain a much easier relationship with her aunt than with her uncles. Lucy was also genuinely excited for Sue-Ellen about the baby. She couldn't wait to have a little cousin to cuddle and fuss over.
After the consultation with Dr. Scott JR wasted no time in making arrangements for the trip. Five nights in Paris at the George V Hotel followed by five in London at Claridges. Only the best for Sue-Ellen he thought as he booked first class return flights and the hotels. He was excited to be spending time with Sue-Ellen away from home. The romance of Europe was somewhat lost on him but that was irrelevant. The aim was to keep Sue-Ellen happy. She was going to be the mother of their child and JR wanted her to feel very much loved and valued.
Just prior to the trip an unexpected opportunity for JR's plan to bring Bobby down a peg or two arose. "Mr. and Mrs. Kay are coming for dinner this evening" Miss Ellie announced over breakfast. "I want you all present and correct by 6pm at the latest please." JR and Sue-Ellen nodded politely. Bobby felt his stomach lurch. He had been trying to cool things off with Grace by not returning all of her calls any more. When he did speak to her on the phone he kept things light and jovial and avoided any subject that might lead to a discussion concerning the future. Bobby had resolved to break it off with Grace face to face and as kindly as possible when she came home for Thanksgiving in just a few weeks time. Seeing her parents over dinner and pretending that everything between him and their daughter was alright would be awkward to say the least.
Grace was far from stupid. She realised that things were not exactly the same as they had been before Bobby had come out to see her. She blamed the pressure of the long-distance relationship. How could matters progress when they hardly saw each other? she pondered. She was thinking of seeing her personal tutor after Thanksgiving to discuss a transfer of her studies more locally to home. There were good law schools in Texas and the plain fact of the matter was that she wanted Bobby more than graduation from prestigious Harvard. This is my life, my future, she mused. If he meets someone else while I am stuck here I would never forgive myself.
Life for JR and Bobby at Ewing Oil was, as ever, busy. They were looking to the future. It was all well and good increasing their ownership of the oil fields of Texas but without a refinery they would never become major players in the oil business like Weststar, JR had proposed to his father. "JR is right" Jock told his sons over lunch in the office. "If we are going to compete with the big boys then we need to be producing and selling our own oil and gasoline."
Jock had always been an empire builder. He wanted the business to grow for his sons and their sons. Sue-Ellen was just a few months away from giving birth to his first grandson. Given the way that Sue-Ellen was coping with the pregnancy, a fact that had earned her a lot more respect in his eyes, it was likely that further children would follow this one. Jock was staring right in the face of the future and he was determined to ensure that his legacy to the family was a great one.
At six o'clock precisely the whole family was gathered in the living room waiting for their dinner guests. Miss Ellie had gone to great trouble to make sure that the menu she had devised with Teresa would demonstrate to the Kays her consummate talent for hospitality. JR and Sue-Ellen were describing the itinerary for their forthcoming trip when the Kays were shown in by Raoul. "Good evening John and Sandy!" Jock exclaimed "what can I get you to drink?" "I'll have whatever you are having Jock" John replied amiably. "White wine for me thank you" Sandy said as she sat down to chat to Miss Ellie.
Dinner was a thoroughly convivial affair. The conversation turned to the Kays' plans for retirement. "Stephen isn't interested. He would rather lead the playboy lifestyle than run the show and Grace's heart is set on being an attorney" John remarked. "Are you and Miss Ellie not thinking of slowing down a little?" "Not just yet, John. Strictly between us we want to acquire a refinery or a suitable plot of land to build one" Jock remarked.
John paused for a moment to think. "Do you know what? I think we have a plot that would suit you down to the ground. It's close by to the fields that we sold you in the summer." "Can we come and see it please?" JR replied excitedly. "Sure, if you need your surveyor to come down that's fine too." Bobby shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The last thing that he wanted right now was to start doing business with Grace's father again. "Would we not be better off buying an already functioning refinery though?" he suggested, attempting to put John's proposal on the back burner. "Hell no, Bobby, a purpose built Ewing Oil refinery would add clout and prestige to the company" his father replied. "You're on! When JR gets back we will make the arrangements to come over."
JR noticed Bobby's awkwardness. During dinner he had also noted how any mention of Grace, her studies or her return home for Thanksgiving appeared to make him uneasy.
As JR and Sue-Ellen got ready for bed Sue-Ellen remarked on the success of the dinner. "They are a really nice couple and their daughter has real designs on Bobby" Sue-Ellen commented "Miss Ellie told me that Sandy had confided in her that Grace is hoping for a proposal at Thanksgiving. How nice would that be?" she asked innocently. JR took Sue-Ellen in his arms and kissed her. "Real nice darlin" JR grinned evilly "now get into bed. I have designs on you."
After half an hour of immense pleasure with his wife JR lay back in bed. A plan was being hatched.
TBC