Chapter 12
Brock took in a breath and took a seat across the table from her. "Is this a good or a bad talk?" He asked searching her eyes, trying to find what was going through her mind. He could usually read her like a book but today he couldn't figure out what was going through her mind.
"Brock is this…thing," she said gesturing with her hand at the space between them. "…this thing between us serious."
"You mean our relationship?" he asked but didn't wait for a response. "Look Reba, I don't know what this relationship means to you but I know what it means to me. I finally have you back and I don't ever want to lose you again. I understand if you are hesitant and scared and I am willing to go as slow as you want. But I really want to work at this and I am willing to do whatever it takes." Brock said grabbing her hand.
Reba turned her head and looked at the floor not able to meet his eyes. "Brock…what abo-"
She was cut off by Jake coming into the kitchen.
"Oh Dad! And at the camp I met this…" He trailed off when he seen the look on his parents face. His dad looked preoccupied and his mom was looking at him with what was obviously a fake smile and what he thought looked like a little bit of sadness in her eyes. "…I'll tell you later." He said and spun around and headed back upstairs.
Brock watched him leave and then turned back to Reba. "What were you saying?"
"Brock…. I don't want to go back to fighting... I can't go back to fighting all the time." Her voice cracked in the middle and Brock felt a searing pain shoot through his chest.
Brock stood up and squatted beside her chair. He gently laid his hand on her cheek and turned her head so they were looking each other in the eyes.
"Darling, I don't want to fight either." He said rubbing his thumb over her cheek.
"I'm scared Brock."
"What can I do to make it so you aren't scared?"
"I don't know…I just…what if you…" she fumbled looking away from him again.
Brock turned her face towards him once again and waited a moment before speaking. "What if I what?" When Reba didn't reply he tried again. "Honey what if I what? Come on just tell me."
"What if you run off again? What if you find someone else?" She said in a hushed tone a tear sliding down her cheek.
Brock swiped at the tear and stood up. "I will never leave you again unless that's what you want. As for me finding someone else, I don't want anyone else. I want to spend the rest of my live beside you." He replied pulling her up so she was standing in front of him.
A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. When he held out his arms she didn't hesitate moving in and resting her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and brought his lips to her ear. "I mean everything I just said. I love you; I will never leave you again."
Reba pulled away and looked at him. "I would never want you to leave me again."
Brock moved in and gave her a kiss on the forehead. They stood there for a while in a comfortable silence, enveloped in each other's arms. It was Brock who finally spoke and broke the silence.
"Can I take you out tonight?"
Reba smiled up at him. "I would like that, but I want to talk to the kids first."
"Reba you are the adult you don't need their permission."
"I know but I just want to make sure they are all okay with this."
Brock understood her wanting their approval so instead of replying he stayed quiet and gently connected his lips with her cheek.
Reba smiled and slowly turned and headed up the stairs to find Jake. He was lying on the bed upstairs facing the T.V but it looked like his mind had wandered to something else.
She stood in the doorway for a while and just watched him. He had grown up so much. He was her baby and now he was a fourteen year old boy. All grown up, interested in girls and always gone hanging out with friends or at basketball.
"Hey Jake," she said moving in quietly and sitting on the bed beside him. "How are you doing?"
"I'm good. What's up?" he asked sitting up.
"I'm getting ready to head home. Are you comin?"
"Nah, can I just hang out here for a bit? I wanna talk to dad a bit more about camp."
"Alright well can I ask you something? I wanna know if you are alright with something."
"Sure mom, what is it?"
"Well when you were at camp some things changed around here. I am no longer seeing Narvel, but there is someone else that I am seeing, and I like him a lot but I want to make sure it's alright with you kids."
"Mom, it's your life. I don't really care who you date as long as he is nice to you and you are happy."
Reba smiled at his words. "Thanks honey, but the guy I'm seeing…" she took in a breath not sure how to say the next part. "…well the man I'm seeing is your father…"
"Oh…."
"But if you kids don't want us back together I understand. I will end it if you guys aren't comfortable with it." She said quickly
"No... I just… are you sure this is what you want? You're happy?"
"Yeah we have talked about it and I am happy as long as you kids are alright with it."
"Well I'm okay with it but can I ask you something?"
"Of course honey! You can also ask me anything."
"If you are happy with dad, then why did you look so sad when I walked into the kitchen?"
Reba hesitated. She wasn't sure what he was going to ask but that caught her off guard. She wasn't sure how to answer. After a moment she decided to just be honest and tell him the truth.
"I had some doubts about your fathers and mine relationships. Scared he might run off again and I was just asking him about that when you came in…"
"But those doubts are gone now?"
"We talked about them. I'm sure there will always be a little bit of doubt there but I trust him and I think we will be able to work out any problems this time around."
"Well if you are happy then I'm okay with it."
"Thanks honey." Reba said kissing the top of his head and heading to the door.
"Your dad is coming to our place later are you coming home with him?"
"Yeah, probably." Jake said laying back down.
"Alright see you then." Reba said before leaving the room and heading back to her place.
When Reba arrived home it was empty. Van and Cheyenne were still out with Elizabeth. She decided to call Kyra and then clean while she waited.
Her conversation with Kyra went by quickly like they all seemed to be lately. She was such a busy kid. Kyra was pretty much the same as Jake and said she was okay with it as long as Reba was happy and that she was sure he wasn't going to hurt her again. After she hung up with Kyra she got right to cleaning.
After she had finished dishes, laundry and dusting the kids finally arrived back home.
"Hey ma where's Jake?"
"Oh he stayed at your father's. Umm do you mind if I talk to you guys for a minute?"
"Sure. Elizabeth can you run upstairs and clean up your room please?"
"Alright mom but then can I watch some T.V?"
"Yeah as soon as we are done talking and your room is spotless."
"Fine." Elizabeth said and headed towards her room. Her beautiful curls bouncing with each step she took.
"So what's going on mom?"
"I just want to make sure you guys are okay with the whole situation between me and your father…"
"You mean you and Mr. H-H-Hot." Van joked as he sat on the couch beside his wife.
Cheyenne elbowed him in the stomach before turning back to her mom.
"Are things between you two getting serious?"
"Well…yeah I guess I just want to make sure everyone is alright with it."
"Oh…." Cheyenne said getting up taking a few steps around the living room.
"Look Cheyenne, I will stop it right now if you aren't okay with it. I know at one time you said that me and him getting back together would be the worst thing we could do… is that how you still feel?"
"I…I don't know. I mean if you two like each other you should be together, I just can`t help but think about Barbra Jean though."
Reba looked into her lap not sure what to say. She was thankful when Van stepped in.
"Cheyenne, Barbra Jean is gone. It wasn`t working between them but maybe if your mom and dad still feel so strongly about each other then maybe it was meant to be for them."
Reba looked up at him and smiled with appreciation. He was such a sweet kid. Granted he could be goofy and a little immature sometimes but he wasn`t afraid to say what he was thinking and he would always stand up and protect his family.
Cheyenne took a breath and looked at her mom. "I guess he is right. And if you two are meant to be together then we shouldn`t stand in the way of that."
"So you are okay with it?"
"Yeah, you deserve to be happy." She said smiling at her mom.
Just then Elizabeth bounded down the stairs and onto the couch beside her dad. She looked at her grandma with a quizzical look on her face. "Grandma, are you and Grandpa going to get married again?"
Reba chuckled. "Oh I don`t think we will get married again but we will be hanging out more."
"Oh okay," Elizabeth responded before turning her attention to the T.V.
Cheyenne settled on the couch beside her husband and daughter and watched the show with them. Reba smiled and then got up and headed to the kitchen.
"Hey Brock," she said when he answered the phone.
"Hey sweetheart. So am I picking you up tonight?"
"Yeah I guess you are. What should I wear?"
"Just jeans and a t-shirt will do fine. I`ll be there to pick you up around 5:30."
"Alright oh and bring Jake home I`m sure Elizabeth want to see him."
"Will do dear. See you in a bit."
"See you." Reba responded before hanging up the phone.
