Dallas, Texas

"Goodnight Charlie."

Closing the door behind her, Sue Ellen walked down the hall, checking in on John Ross again before heading back downstairs.

"Was your mama named after someone?"

Walking into the living room, she sat down where JR directed her to, right beside him.

"I… I don't think so. Why?"

Chucking at the confused expression on his face, she shook her head and explained.

"I was thinking, we wanted a son the first time and we got one, this time I think it might be nice to have a daughter, I just wasn't sure whether Eleanor was a family name or not."

Setting his hand on her abdomen, he asked her the obvious question.

"I'd have to ask daddy. But before I do, did I miss something?"

"No, I'm not sure of anything yet; it's too soon to tell."

Back less than a month from their anniversary vacation she couldn't expect to have an answer one way or another yet, although she had hope.

"So where is this coming from?"

"Charlie and Lucy. Our time together got me thinking."

With Bobby and Jenna away on their honeymoon Charlie had been staying with them, something she was very much enjoying. She had been trying harder to be around for Lucy too, initially fearing that she hadn't done enough following Miss Ellie's loss, however soon realising that Lucy was more resilient than she gave her credit for.

"You wouldn't want to name our daughter Patricia?"

Laughing at his own joke, JR's chuckles increased when he saw her reaction.

She hadn't thought about her mother at all and now that he'd mentioned it she wasn't so sure they could use a family name the next time they brought a Ewing into the world, it would all be too much drama.

"Why don't we leave that one for Kristin to deal with?"

"I think that's an excellent idea."

Houston, Texas

"Should I be upset?"

Twisting the phone cord in her hand, Katherine waited to hear Cliff's thoughts on the subject.

Thoughts of Bobby had once been pleasant, but recently they'd turned sour, and she wasn't sure she really had reason to feel that way.

"Are you?"

Not answering straight away, he turned the question back on her.

"I don't know. I feel strange about it. I never met Pam but from everything I've heard she loved Bobby, and now he's married to someone else, he's moved on."

Bobby's engagement hadn't lasted very long, announcement of his marriage appearing in the newspaper less than a month after she'd first read about the intentions. She'd known he had a lady in Dallas, he'd told her that himself, but to make her his wife so quickly felt off to her. Mixed in with her feelings on his marriage were feelings about what they'd shared, causing her to wonder whether perhaps she didn't feel ill towards Bobby because he'd gone and married so soon after Pam's loss but because he'd taken her to bed even sooner than that.

"He has to, we all do."

Responding, Cliff didn't sound nearly as bothered as she felt.

"So soon?"

"From what I understand, Jenna has been in his life for a long time, even before Pam. I don't think it was a hasty decision."

"No?"

She had an idea of what she wanted to hear, that it had been long enough between the two events that remarriage was socially appropriate, and Cliff had all but said those exact words to her, so she didn't know why she kept at the subject, asking for further details.

"I don't know the specifics, I didn't attend the wedding, but Pam knew Jenna and she knew of the deep history she and Bobby had."

"What did she think of it?"

Curious, she wondered what her sister would have thought of her, and more importantly, what she'd done with Bobby.

"She didn't like it."

"So Bobby betrayed Pam by marrying someone she disliked?"

She tried hard not to think of herself as a guilty party, however the increasingly familiar metallic taste in her mouth when she thought about her past actions, and sometimes even when it wasn't on her mind, was a reminder that whether or not it had felt right at the time, in hindsight she'd made a mistake.

"I don't think it was like that."

"Why not?"

"Katherine, look, I wish Bobby weren't in a position to be marrying again, because I wish he were still married to Pam, that she was still here with us, but she isn't, and she isn't coming back. Bobby is a good man, it took me a while to understand that but I believe it and I believe he's doing what feels right to him."

Listening to Cliff, she appreciated what he had to say. He'd been far closer to Pam than she ever could be and he didn't have a problem with what Bobby was doing in her absence, which meant she likely shouldn't either.

"So, I shouldn't feel angry with him for leaving Pam behind?"

"I don't think that it's productive, you'll make yourself miserable doing that. Pam can't come back, as much as we might like her to. We all have to go on with our lives at some point."

Sipping her glass of water, she took in what he was saying. Bobby had been a single man up until a few days ago, he'd been free to make decisions that were best for him, Cliff accepted that without issue which made it easier for her to do the same.

She'd met Bobby at a time that they'd both been unattached; he'd expressed where he was emotionally, not in so many words but she knew he hadn't been looking for anything more than the support she'd given him, he'd thanked her for the clarity she'd helped him achieve, and afterwards they'd separated without any expectations. He was married now and living a new life, free from uneasy feelings about the past; his example was something she should live by.

"That helps. Thanks Cliff."

"You're welcome."

To be continued…