Christmas passed, the New Year passed, and time was simply marching forward. Kyra had moved in with her boyfriend, much to Reba's dismay, but everything else seemed to be falling back into place. She had barely spoken to Brock, except for the occasional phone call about the kids, and she hadn't once spoken to his wife since their last meeting in her kitchen.
Her life was well again, though. She and Cheyenne were much closer than ever, given the circumstances, and she found a new best friend in her eldest daughter. Also, she and Van were considered the top agents in their real estate firm. There was even going to be a fancy party held for them in a couple of weeks, where they would receive plaques and hefty raises in their salary. Reba was ecstatic…
At least, she thought she was happy. Of course her antidepressants were helping her as they should, but she still felt like there was something missing from her life. She thought the missing piece of the puzzle had to do with being alone when it was time to go to sleep at night.
She had moved past her affair, for the most part, but there was always the fear in the back of her mind that she was going to end up alone. Perhaps she had used her ex-husband to fill the void in her life that held her loneliness, and it worked for a while. But she was convinced that it was time for her to really find someone to care for.
"Mom, can I ask you a question?" Jake sat next to her upon the couch, where she was folding some laundry. She nodded, and he began their conversation. "Why don't Dad and Barbra Jean come over anymore? You haven't talked to her since before Christmas."
"We just had a disagreement, that's all." She had been dodging the questions from her kids ever since they noticed the absence of the two family members from every supper or get together they had.
"But, you always make up by now. What did she do to you?"
"She didn't do anything wrong, I did. I said something that really hurt her, and she's not quite ready for me to apologize for it."
"What did you say that was so bad? I really miss having them over here, especially Dad. He was over here all the time after I got back from Grandpa and Grandma's this summer." She smiled, placing the last of the folded clothes into her laundry basket. Yes, the past summer was wonderful, and it was one of the most fulfilling summers for being so harsh.
"I miss them too, and someday everything will be back to normal. I can't promise that, but I'm pretty sure."
"What did you say to her?"
"It was just something I said during an argument that I should have kept to myself." He nodded, well aware that she wasn't going to tell him anything about their 'disagreement.'
"Is it okay if I go over to Holly's for supper tonight?"
"Be home by eight, okay."
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"Brock we are not going to that stupid party." Barbra Jean complained as she slammed the supper plates against the kitchen table in front of him. Van had come over and invited them to his and Reba's ceremony for the plaques they were receiving the next week, and Brock had immediately agreed.
"Yes we are. Honey, Van is a part of our family, and I would like to be there for him when he gets his award. This is a big deal."
"I don't want to have to get all dressed up. That party is formal."
"It's only for one night. It'll be fun to go out. We'll get a babysitter and everything."
"But she is going to be there." He nodded, well aware that was her reason for not wanting to go in the first place. It was silent for a moment as he weighed his words. They had been working through the issue of his affair, and he didn't want to say something that would make them backtrack through all of their progress. It was a delicate conversation every time they spoke about Reba.
"It's been over between us for a while."
"I don't want to see her face."
"Our marriage counselor said we had to face the problem instead of just working around it. Let's see if we can take that step." She shook her head as she sat in her chair, sighing.
"I don't know if I'm ready for that." He placed his hand over hers, hoping to show her some support. His touch felt awkward so she shook it off, folding her hands in her lap.
"She knows what it's like to be on your side of the fence, and you know what it's like to be on her side. Don't you think you could find some common ground?" She missed her best friend, it was obvious, but she was still so angry. She knew she had done the same thing, but they hadn't been friends then, and it was simply a different situation. It was difficult to get the idea of Reba in her husband's arms out of her mind.
"I guess we'll have to see at the party."