One of the first things Sue Ellen discovered when she moved to London was everything she had heard about the food was true. Compared to the hot, spicy flavors of Texas, the English diet was bland. However, eating out in London was not. The vast number of multicultural communities throughout the city created a wide variety of world cuisine ranging from Chinese to Italian, French to Bangladeshi, Thai to Ethiopian, Russian to Indonesian, with the more exotic cooking of anywhere seemingly being preferred to the traditional home recipes. There were even American restaurants in the mix and Sue Ellen had made a point to take John Ross and visit as many as possible.
Once during a trip to London's celebrated West End to see a play, she was surprised to find right around the corner from Trafalgar Square a Texas state flag gently ruffling in the wind, bolding announcing the entrance to the Texas Embassy Cantina. Though she didn't go in, the restaurant instantly enchanted her. With country music playing in the background and brightly lit by festival lights, it lived up to everything she loved about Texas and Texans - it was loud, bigger than life, and looked like damn good fun.
The restaurant spanned two floors, resembling a combination of a 19th-century Texas frontier saloon and an old Mexican village at fiesta time. Besides the food, widely known as being the best Tex-Mex available in London, the main attraction was the Texas Long Bar which featured a staggering variety of Tequila and Mexican beer. Also popular was the Mercado, a merchandise shop that sold a variety of Texas Embassy souvenirs. It was a favorite of John Ross who loved to wear symbols from the state he was born in.
As Sue Ellen entered the restaurant with her son and J.R., she was instantly reminded of what she loved most about the restaurant - the smell. It was a combination of warm tortillas, hot spices, steaks on the grill and barbeque sauce. So much like all the warm afternoons spent at the Ewing rodeos and barbeques.
She looked over at her ex-husband, who had just slipped off his hat in the customary tradition when inside. From his expression, it was obvious he was experiencing the same sensation. As if sensing her gaze, J.R. looked at Sue Ellen.
"Smells like home," he said with an honest smile.
"I thought so, too," she replied.
A waiter soon approached the family. "We must have a true Texan with us today," the young man said to J.R. with a charming London accent. "No one else in this city bothers to remove their hat when they come in here."
"Well, my mamma back in Dallas wouldn't have it any other way," J.R. replied.
"Then welcome to a little part of Texas in London, sir," the young man grinned. "And feel free to wear your hat. We don't stand on formality around here. Consider this a barbeque in your own backyard."
Sue Ellen laughed. If only the young man knew what an experience a Southfork barbeque was.
As they were led to the table, J.R. replaced his cowboy hat and grinned. "John Ross, you sure know how to pick restaurants."
John Ross looked up at J.R. and returned his grin, delighted by the compliment. He never hoped J.R. would visit London let alone spend the day with him and his mother. Being with both of them, seeing them get along so well was fulfilling the only thing he ever wished for … for them to be a family again.
The waiter guided them to a table back by the open kitchen where the chefs prepared meals in plain sight. John Ross quickly stepped to Sue Ellen's side, taking the chair next to her, hoping his father would take the chair opposite. Unnoticed, he picked up on a look that passed between them before they sat down and realized it might not be as hard to get them to reconnect as he thought.
"While you're deciding," the waiter asked as he handed them menus, "what would you like to drink?"
"Iced tea, please," Sue Ellen replied.
"Same for me," said John Ross.
"Make it three," J.R. nodded. Then he looked over at the bar. "Say, young man, is that a collection of tequila I see over there?"
"Yes, sir," the waiter replied, "the best in Europe. Would you like something?"
"Only if you've got Chinaco Anejo."
The waiter was impressed. "Yes, we do. Excellent choice."
"One shot then, before the ice tea."
"Yes sir," the waiter said with a grin and hurried off.
"How come your not drinking bourbon 'n branch, Dad?"
"It's a little early yet, son," J.R. said with a grin as he looked over at John Ross. "But there is somethin' special about tequila. It reminds me of the wildcattin' days with your Grandaddy."
J.R.'s mind flashed back to his childhood and being out in the oil fields with Jock … the way it felt when the oil first came up out of a new well and turned everything black … how the fresh crude smelled on his clothes, hands and face. Those days were long gone … the environmentalists put a stop to letting gushers spray a long time ago. Plus it was too damn expensive to lose that much oil, let alone clean it up. But damn, what a feeling that was, being covered in crude and standing at the side of his proud father.
Sue Ellen watched as J.R.'s expression softened with his mental images, fascinated by the joy she saw in his eyes. Jock was a hero to many especially to his oldest son.
"Can I have a tequila, too, Dad?"
John Ross's question brought J.R. back to reality with a laugh, his blue eyes sparkling with humor. He exchanged a knowing looking with Sue Ellen and she shook her head even as she smiled.
"In about 10 years," she replied to John Ross with mock strictness.
"And I will be there to pour your first, I promise," J.R. added. "We'll take a bottle out to Ewing One and toast your grandaddy. But always remember to be careful with tequila, son. Drink only the best or else it will leave you with a headache for days."
"Speaking of headaches, how's yours," Sue Ellen asked J.R.
"After all that water you force-fed me at the soccer game, I feel like the inside of the Southfork swimmin' pool."
"But it worked, didn't it?"
J.R. slowly grinned. "Yes. I feel much better. And I'm starvin'! What's good to eat in this place, John Ross?"
John Ross sat up a little straighter, so proud that his daddy had asked for his opinion once again.
"I like the Southern Fried Steak. Reminds me of Grandma's cooking."
"Then I'm all for that, son." J.R. looked over at Sue Ellen. She and John Ross were the only connection back to his mother and Southfork at the moment. "Know what I miss most 'bout home?"
Sue Ellen smiled and nodded. "Mmm-hmmm, your mamma's chili."
"Yes, I do," J.R. replied with a laugh. Sue Ellen knew him so well.
The pleasure of being with his family again swept away the remaining traces of the last few rotten years J.R. had finally escaped from. To hell with Paris. He was going to be spending quite a bit more time in London from now on, whether Sue Ellen … or her husband … liked it or not.
