"Well, I'll be damned," J.R. held the Dallas Business Journal taut in his hands.
John Ross peered up from the sports section of the Dallas Observer, "What's that, daddy?" Eleanor and Harper also paid attention to their fathers astoundment while they tucked into breakfast.
Their father tossed the newspaper onto the table for all to see and Eleanor perused the headline over her cup of coffee - Denault Inc. open to acquisition talks with Barnes Global. "Who's Casey Denault?"
"He's a damn con artist, that's who he is," her father answered irritably. "Just ask your cousin Lucy. He tried to swindle her the first chance he got." Casey Denault had all but disappeared from the Texas oil business but J.R. often heard rumblings about minor successes in Oklahoma over the years. Frankly, J.R. had assumed Casey would amount to very little and it bothered him that, perhaps, he had underestimated the businessman. "It doesn't surprise me that incompetent fool Barnes would do business with him."
The elder Ewing siblings met one another's eye with mild amusement; the feud between Cliff Barnes and their father held very little interest for them. Their fathers arch-enemy had brokered peace with every other family member except him and had risen to prominence since his position as C.E.O. of Weststar Oil, promptly renamed Barnes Global. Incompetent was not a word many used to describe Cliff Barnes.
"Could he cause trouble for us, daddy?" Eleanor queried, while Harper guzzled his glass of juice.
"No, I don't think so," J.R. offered little reassurance and set a mental reminder to contact Bum once he arrived at the office. The P.I. would at least be able to explore the extent of Casey's success in Oklahoma and his newfound business relationship with Cliff. J.R. didn't doubt that Casey would benefit from the acquisition in one way or another.
"Well… that's it," Ann nervously twiddled her thumbs behind her back, as she chaperoned Sue Ellen to the final destination of their tour. She braved a wide, hopeful smile. "What d'you think?"
"This is nothing short of incredible, Ann," Sue Ellen asserted and, to Ann's relief, she appeared to be truly impressed. The Turtle Creek Recovery Center was the finest rehabilitation and wellness center in Dallas with state of the art facilities available to patients, and it reminded Sue Ellen of the health and wellness institute she had briefly attended in search of her own sobriety. She wondered whether her own journey to recovery would have been quicker if she had been blessed with the support of a therapist like Ann.
"I'm happy you think so," Ann switched on her southern charm. "Because we are always on the lookout for new donors."
"The work you do here is certainly deserving," Sue Ellen generously noted with a newfound admiration for Bobby's wife; Ann had surpassed her addiction and endeavoured to rescue others from their disease. Sue Ellen, however, found it difficult to apply the twelve steps or adapt to the recovery speech. In fact, she had done her utmost to distance herself from the most harrowing period of her life.
"Think it over," Ann affectionately patted her arm, and Sue Ellen was relieved she didn't have to scramble for a polite way to decline then and there. "Donors have the option to join the advisory board, too. We need the ones who make the important decisions to really understand the process of recovery, and it's a worthy investment. Here, you can see the direct impact your many and your time has." Sue Ellen forced a smile, as they wandered beyond the sign directing visitors to the detox ward. "Plus, we are in desperate need of a decent fundraiser and Bobby tells me the only woman who could charm a man out of his money better than Miss Ellie is you."
"Quite the endorsement," Sue Ellen bowed her head with a smile. "You've almost convinced me," she offered the hint of assurance. "Give me some time to discuss it with my accountant. She's had her work cut out for her since the divorce."
"No problem. How about I take you to lunch as a thank you?"
Within forty-five minutes, Ann had wrapped up her work day to the jests of 'part-timer' from various colleagues as she departed the center with Sue Ellen and they were seated at a table across the street in The Charles. Sue Ellen mindfully sipped her soda water. "I truly admire the work you do, Ann. I'm not sure I could face a daily reminder of my own addiction," she confessed, uncertain as to the extent Bobby had confided in his new wife. Her alcoholism was one of the many narratives that surrounded the Ewing family name and true events were often blown out of proportion for scandal's sake.
"You know, I was hesitant at first but it's become a part of my recovery and my own process to stay well," Ann answered honestly. "It helps me to be honest with myself, hold myself accountable. Every day I'm reminded of the damage addiction can cause and I know I would never want to inflict that pain on Bobby, or anyone else I love and care about."
"I can certainly relate to that," Sue Ellen concurred. "Sometimes I think about the hurt I caused John Ross and Eleanor when I was drinking. John Ross seems to have forgiven me but Eleanor," she paused with a shake of her head, "I'm not so sure. I don't know, it's like there's a disconnect there."
"Between you and me, Bobby and I were under the impression that's why she didn't fly out to London with John Ross last summer. It seemed like she was worried that maybe you'd start drinkin' again. She's never said as much," Ann rapidly added, wary not to cause any upset. "But she became real anxious when we heard you and Don had separated."
"Anxious?" Sue Ellen expressed her bewilderment with a frown. Eleanor had always been a confident, bubbly child; even in the most turbulent times between her parents, she showed emotional resilience beyond her years. Still, Sue Ellen couldn't deny that her fears were rational. With the exception of her final separation from J.R., she had always lost her sobriety after a relationship failure and the temptation had been there the day Don walked out the door too. Why would Eleanor have expected any different from her?
"I know she hides it well, runnin' 'round Dallas like she doesn't have a care in the world," Ann smirked. Her husband's niece and nephew were under the impression that their misadventures went unnoticed - and, perhaps by J.R., they did - but Ann held a watchful eye on the comings and goings in the early hours. "But I think she worries about you more than you realise."
"Do you think I should talk to her about it?" Sue Ellen pondered aloud.
"Honestly," Ann paused, "In my experience, it's not your words that matter. Your actions are what people pay attention to. In time, you'll prove yourself to her and she'll learn to trust you again," Ann promised with a hearty smile.