Spirits of Hope (sequel) - 20

pat_pijig on Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:12 pm

--- 20 ---

Reba sat at the end of her bed staring at the closed door, tears flowing down her cheeks like a broken dam. She couldn't believe what just happened. She looked at her empty finger, the ring was gone, it was over. He gave her his blessing to be with someone else. Part of her wanted to run after him and tell him she didn't want to be with anybody else but him. But the stubborn part of her keep telling that it wasn't her fault, he should understand what she went through.

Brock left her room, their room, and sat on the couch staring at the ring a while. He was hurt. It took him forever to select this ring, he looked at every single one Terry had and he wanted it to be similar to the one he used to propose to her before. Brock may not be the most sentimental man, but when it came to an engagement ring, he was very selective. He recalled seeing a ring when he and a bunch of his college friends drove to Mexico, he spotted a ring and he was determined that was the ring he would use to propose to the love of his life. So when his friend went to Mexico again, he told him to smuggle it across the border. He went through so much trouble to get her the perfect ring. His heart was crushed when she sold it on e-bay, he had to buy it back. And now with a second proposal, he went to almost every jewellery store to look for a perfect ring. But she was shaken by the other ring, and the other guy almost bought it. He understood what she went through, but this was too hurtful for him to handle. He wanted to go back upstairs and just kiss her, and tell her to forget about Tim. He wanted to be with her, he wanted to share her dreams. However, the sound of her voice saying 'I want Tim' echoed in his head. She was just kidding, but he could never shake it out of his head. Brock got up and walked to the stairs. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs looking up, he sighed before turned around and leaving. Reba needed to clear her mind and so did he.

Reba woke up in the middle of the night, still in the dress that she wore to go out with Brock. Tearstains formed on her pillow, as she had cried herself to sleep. She got up, took a shower and changed to her pyjamas. Although it wasn't even a week that they were together in this room again. But the room was so empty without him. He didn't come back since he walked out. She didn't expect him to, but she wanted him to come back. She wanted to be in his arms, awakened by his kiss like the night he said he was going to propose. She tossed and turned in her bed trying to get some sleep. She missed his warm body next to her. He walked away from her once again. She should hate him. How could he do that to her after she was nice enough to give him another chance. He hurt her feelings over and over again. She could think of a million reasons why she should hate him. But she couldn't hate him. She loved him. She looked at the clock it was now almost six o'clock in the morning. She decided to shower again just to get rid of her tiredness. Kyra and Jake didn't know about the fight, maybe they shouldn't know about this yet. Later that morning Reba decided to go see Cheyenne and mini-Van, she didn't want to be alone and she had to do something or she'd go insane.

"Mom, are you alright?" Reba was surprised to see Kyra spending time with her sister. But ever since Cheyenne apologized to Kyra about her fifth birthday madness, they grew closer together as sisters should be.

"I am, I'm just tired that's all." said Reba casually. She took mini-Van from Cheyenne. She held the baby boy close to her heart, and accidentally let the tears fall.

"Mom..."

"It's happy tears honey." she lied.

"You had a fight with dad?" Kyra looked genuinely worried.

"We had a little misunderstanding, that's all." that was what she kept telling herself all night.

"Where's your ring?" Cheyenne's question made Reba brake into tears.

"Oh God, not again! See that's why we didn't want you two together in first place, you two are great friends but when it come to a relationship, you just weren't meant to be." commented Kyra

"You didn't even know what we are fighting about." Reba mumbled with tears.

"Does it matter? It's bad enough that you had to take off the ring, does it matter what it was about?"

"So we were right, you were happier without him. We thought that changed since you two were nice together again, but I guess it's not." Cheyenne and Kyra teamed up.

"How do you know I was happier without him?"

"That man broke your heart again, didn't he?" Cheyenne was furious; she saw her mom brake down once when she first separated from her father. She still remembered it vividly, how hard she cried and how depressed she was.

"Cheyenne! That man is your father and I do not appreciate your tone of voice!"

"How can you fall for him over and over again mom? When are you going to learn your lesson? You're much better off without him."

"Kyra! For better or worse, he's your father, show some respect!" Reba was upset. "You don't think we are meant to be together, but I do! I wasn't happier without him. You only thought I was happier because I made you see it that way. But I'm always happier when he's around. You were there when we were happily married; don't you remember how wonderful your father and I were together? You think you and Van are in love, you two aren't even half as in love or as affectionate as we were. We just had a fight, all couples will have a fight now and again." the two sisters discreetly glanced at each other. They had learned that if they attack Brock first, Reba would defend him. "And this time, it wasn't entirely his fault."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Cheyenne put the baby in the crib and sat next to her mom.

"Not really. I'm not ready to talk about it yet."

"Mom..." Cheyenne gently patted Reba's back. Reba sighed and decided to tell her daughters about the weird vision that she had when she went to Fisheye Bottom. Cheyenne seemed all excited but speechless, but Kyra just maintained her composure. "For crying out loud, say something!"

"Well... I mean wow, you can see your future?" Cheyenne found that was fascinating.

"To me, it's just like telling a joke." commented Kyra bluntly "The details may vary, but the punch line is the same. If you two are meant to be together, no matter which road you take, the destination is still the same. I mean, if you believe you are meant for each other, you shouldn't have shaken even if it was George Clooney who's the one who gave you roses, sang you that love song while getting down on one knee and proposing with that diamond ring. So I think in this case, it's your fault mom. Your uncertainty is breaking you apart." and just like in her dream, Kyra was the one who was putting sense in her head.

"I gotta talk to your dad." determined Reba, Kyra was right, she shouldn't have cared if all the signs were pointing to Tim, as long as it was Brock that she wanted.

"So are we still have the wedding?" asked Cheyenne with a smile.

"I hope so." answered Reba with a soft grin. She would talk to Brock, and she would tell him how much he meant to her and he was the one who she wanted to grow old with. Not Tim or anyone else. She called him and left him a message to stop by because she wanted to talk to him.

"Hi there" Barbra Jean barged in her kitchen just when Reba hung up the phone.

"Hi Barbra Jean. What's up?"

"Tim gave me this!" she showed off her ring. Reba flashed her a smile, trying to be cheerful. "Reba, are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm just tired. But I'm happy for you. Did you have lunch yet? Care to join me?" Reba invited, she just realized she didn't have dinner last night nor breakfast in the morning.

"Nha, I'm not hungry. I'm just so happy and wanted to show you the ring. Man that hangover really got me, I was sick all day yesterday. And Tim came home and surprised me with the ring. He said he had never proposed to me, so he created the moment that he wanted it to be like. Isn't he sweet? But I still have a bit of headache, and I can't eat much without oops... " Barbra Jean covered her mouth "Sorry..." She darted to the washroom. She came back look exhausted "Sorry thought about food made me..." and she ran again.

"Barbra Jean... are you...?" asked Reba after Barbra Jean came back from a washroom. Reba joined her eyebrow together. This couldn't be from a hangover.

"I am what?"

"Late?"

"Late for what?" Reba glared at her, Barbra Jean sucked the air in her lungs. "No..."

"Go get the test and find out!" suggested Reba as Barbra Jean started to squeal. However, She was worried about the amount of drinks she consumed two nights ago, and the champagne last night too.

"Oh gosh... and I drank like a camel..." Barbra Jean panicked as she left Reba's kitchen to go to the pharmacy. Reba watched after her with a grin, Tim would be really happy about this. Reba was enjoying her lunch thinking about how she would apologize to Brock, and how they would make up. She heard the doorbell when she put the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. She rushed over to open the door, hoping to see the familiar face.

"Brock... oh hi Tim." she flashed him a smile.

"Hi Reba, is Barbra Jean here?" Reba opened the door for him to come in.

"No she went to... shopping." her smile widens realizing that Barbra Jean might have good news for him. Tim was astonished by her smile, she never smiled at him like that before.

"You have very beautiful smile, Reba."

"Thanks."

"I really mean it, from the first time you smiled at me, you brightened my day." said Tim with the gleam in his eyes. Reba grew uncomfortable.

"Err... thanks..." she stumbled. He approached as Reba backed away. "What are you doing?" he didn't answer, but the sparkle in his eyes put Reba in a high alert. "I thought you love Barbra Jean." Reba's eyes darkened with anger.

"I love Barbra Jean, and I really adore you. Hey, just because you have dinner waiting at home, doesn't mean you should stop snacking." Reba looked at him with disgust, he was just a womanizer, a two-timer that Reba hated. "Get out of my house!" Reba hollered trying to push him, but he gripped her wrists to stop her.

"Admit it, you're attracted to me too. I can see it. When I sang to you, I can see the spark in your eyes. Isn't that why you cut yourself? You had to fight your temptation, didn't you? Why fight it when we want the same thing?" said Tim pressing his lips on hers. Reba was in a total shock. She pushed him away with all her force, and slapped him with all her strength, just when the door opened and there stood Barbra Jean. She turned away with hurt and anger.

"Barbra Jean wait!" Reba ran after her.

"What's going on?" Brock grabbed Barbra Jean's arm right by the door.

"I just saw my husband and your fiancé kiss!" she yelled and shook of his grip to run back to her house. Brock looked at Reba in shock. She ran pass him to catch up with Barbra Jean. Brock clinched his fist watching Reba run after Barbra Jean, the sound of her voice saying 'I want Tim' echo in his head.