Narvel was waiting in the car while Charlie sorted his paperwork. Narvel didn't want to pry into his business, but he felt the need to ask what was going on.
"This isn't the way home." "I thought we would take a little detour." "And go where?" "I don't know. Wherever men go to talk." "Men don't talk Narvel. They're men." "Well these men do, because this man can't help but worry for his mate." "We're mates?" "Well we've known each other a long while. We might as well be."
"You already know I'm not well. Doc says it won't be long now." "What? What's wrong with you?" "The big C. Catches up with all of us at some point." "Where? How bad?" "Lungs. They say it's very strange, aggressive, and growing quickly. My head is full of tumours that can't be removed. It's pretty much taken me all over." "Charlie, I'm sorry." "No. It's fine. We've all gotta go at some point, my time is about up." "But your little girl. You only just found her." "Don't. Please. Just don't. I can't leave her here. Without any parents. She is the only reason I'm holding on." Charlie started to cry. Narvel tried not to look shocked. He had never seen Charlie cry. Ever.
"Reba and I will look after her in a heartbeat. You don't need to worry about her." "Would you really? I'm so glad she met you. I was going to get in touch with you two soon. I saw in the paper that Reba was coming to town so I thought I would just get in touch with you then." "Well here we are. Of course we will have her. She is a lovely young lady. Reba and I both adore her." "You do realise you have a child on the way to think about." "Yes. But there will always be enough room in our hearts, and our home for her. No matter how many children we have." "I planned to talk to her and let her know the situation, and then hopefully ask you and Reba if you would adopt her. She can stay with me until I go, but it will just be easier later when I'm not around to take her if you have already adopted her." "That makes a lot of sense. We would be happy to." "You need to talk to your wife first, and I need to make sure she is fine with it. She is pregnant after all." "She will be. I know my wife."
"I miss her so much. She has grown so beautifully with you." "What do you mean?" "Well when she was my wife she was just so young. I liked her like that. But seeing her now I know she could never have become who she is today with me. I know I was too restricting of her. As much as I envy you, and how much you are able to be with that body today, I am so thankful. I'm thankful that God brought you into the band. I'm thankful to you for treating her so well, and helping her bloom. I knew she had the makings to be a big star. I was just too selfish. I wanted her to myself." "Well she has worked her butt off to get where she is today, and so I can only take very little credit for it. But she is the most beautiful woman in the world. I really lucked out there."
They were back on the road, heading home. "Narvel can I ask you something personal." "Uhh, Sure?" "Did you and Reba ever sleep together before we were divorced?" "Hmm. It depends on what you class as sleeping together. If you mean did we have sex? Then no. Not until the divorce was final. But yes we did sleep in the same bed, and we did kiss a few times. But I didn't touch her until she was officially single" "Thank you. I have been wondering for years."
"Anything else you wanna know?" "No not really. Wait how is Susie? I always liked Susie. She was always so much fun to take out on the town." "She's good. She recovered fine. Her and Mark are fitness freaks these days, staying in shape and keeping healthy." "Damn we had some good times together in the beginning." "You didn't sleep with her too did you?" "No way! I only ever wanted the redhead, but Susie certainly knew her way around the dance floor. She could have had anyone she wanted, and she settled for the biggest idiot of us all. I couldn't believe it." "Yeah well that didn't pan out so great." "No… no it didn't"
Narvel sat down and had a chat with Reba. "Of course I will adopt her. She's gorgeous." "Perfect because Charlie is not well at all by the sounds of things." "Charlie c'mere." Charlie walked in. "We would love to care for Kylie if she will let us." "Let's find out."
"3 weeks. The doctors have given you three weeks." Her heart was breaking. God had helped prepare her heart, but nothing could take the hurt away from hearing those words out loud. "But darling I may have longer, it's just an estimate." "But Why? There's nothing wrong with you?" Charlie pulled her into his arms. "I love you pumpkin." "I love you too Daddy." "Now promise that even though I won't be around you won't ever forget me." She let the floodgates open and Reba had to run for the Kleenex. "I won't ever forget you. I'll be waiting patiently till I can see you and Mama again." "We will be right there waiting for ya as soon as God decides it's your time. I promise you that." She nodded and wiped her nose.
"So Kylie how do you feel about Narvel and I adopting you? We would love for you to come and join our family." "You have a baby coming, you don't want me. I'll just get in the way. It's time to find an orphanage." Reba placed her hand on Narvel's knee. She knew he would get upset. "You can call us Aunt and Uncle if you like. We know you already have a mother and father. We're not trying to replace them. We just want you to feel safe and have a home." Kylie got up and went to run into Reba's arms. Reba stood up and took her in first. Kylie snuggled in to Reba. "I really would love to come be a part of your family if you're sure you want me." "Were more than sure!" Narvel joined their small hug.
Kylie lived with her father for a month until he got too sick. They both then moved into Reba and Narvel's Tennessee home so that Kylie could get used to a new school, the surroundings, and still have her daddy close by in the Nashville hospital. Charlie fought till the very end, and after 3 months the Angels had finally come down to take his spirit home to the Lord. Kylie was distraught and didn't know what to do with herself. She got up, went to school, came home, did her homework, cleaned and went to bed. She repeated that same routine over, and over until Reba finally intervened. Kylie at some point we need to talk about this. Charlie had been buried, but the will still hadn't been looked at.
Reba got a shock when she saw all her previous assets returned to her. Narvel hadn't told her what was in the will. And the findings truly surprised her.