Austin, Texas

"No mama, not that one. Mama, I don't really need a new dress" Sue Ellen tried to deflect the attention away from dress shopping, she couldn't risk her mother seeing any of the marks on her neck or chest, she would assume the worst and Sue Ellen would never hear the end of it. "I don't know why you're being so difficult, but you will do as I say. These three first and then a few more later" Patricia was suspicious, her daughter never turned up her nose at trying on clothes, she loved shopping; something was wrong and she was determined to find out what it was. Sue Ellen reluctantly agreed, hoping that none of the dresses were cut in a way that showed her collarbone or any cleavage, she entered the dressing room and locked the door. "No, no, you look very big in that one, have you gained some weight?" Patricia commented and Sue Ellen flinched, she hadn't gained weight, but her mother would imagine what she wanted to. "Much too short, I don't know who they make these dresses for" Sue Ellen rolled her eyes at the comment, it was a standard size dress and she was tall, they probably made the dress for shorter girls who didn't shop with their mothers. As she stood in the final dress, she dreaded opening the door, the previous dresses had been round necks, but this was a V-neck and clearly showed the evidence of her Halloween night with JR, she could just imagine how many insults Patricia would throw at her when she saw the marks. She took the dress off and changed into her own clothes, she hoped that her mother wouldn't question it though she knew that she probably would.

Patricia was silent at Sue Ellen's refusal to show her the third dress, she was hiding something, Patricia would find out what that was, but for now it was better to say nothing, she'd get her answers eventually if she played her game right. Returning home empty handed, Sue Ellen was grateful that her mother hadn't pushed the subject, she'd gotten away with it; a few more days and she'd be in the clear, just in time for the Oil Baron's Ball. As they prepared dinner, Sue Ellen began to relax, Kristin set the table and Patricia watched and critiqued Sue Ellen's culinary skills, "good, a good wife should always know how to cook, even when she does not have to", Sue Ellen silently listened to her mother repeat the same line she had heard thousands of times before. After dinner, Kristin went to finish her homework and Sue Ellen was left alone with Patricia, "the Oil Baron's Ball is next weekend, I think you should wear your hair up, show off that lovely jewellery JR gave you. Actually, your dress and jewellery are here now, I'd like a dress rehearsal, just to make sure everything is perfect", Sue Ellen was fine until her mother suggested a dress rehearsal, she couldn't put that dress on now, especially not with her hair up. The panic in her daughters eyes tipped Patricia off, something was wrong and she would find out what. "Mama, I don't think that's such a good idea, we just ate dinner and the dress won't fit the way it's supposed to, besides, we know everything looks good, I don't think a dress rehearsal is necessary", Patricia pursed her lips, "it was not a suggestion, now, go upstairs and get dressed". Sue Ellen still feared her mother even though she was technically an adult; she slowly walked to her bedroom and put the dress on, quickly reaching for her makeup bag to at least try to conceal some of the bruises and marks. She was startled by a loud knock on the door followed by her mother entering, she'd been caught and now had to face the consequences.

"I knew it; I knew there had to be something seedy going on. How could you let that man do that to you? I thought I taught you better than that. Did you learn nothing from the way you were raised? You tell me that nothing happened and I'm just supposed to believe you? I think the evidence speaks for itself. How many times do I have to tell you, men are only after one thing. The kind of man that you give that gift to depends on the kind of lady that you are; holding out until marriage and even then, only acting when he makes the first move, is the only way to keep yourself wholesome and virtuous. Do you remember Carol Thomas? She was on the path to finding a good husband and then ruined all of that hard work by losing her morals. Oh, the official story was that she went to live with her aunt and uncle in Seattle, but I think we both know how to read between the lines. I will not have that happen to you, I have worked too hard just to have you throw it all away because you want to feel good. It's called having a little self-control Sue Ellen; JR I can't really blame, he's a man, they're bound to want that. But you, you're supposed to be a proper lady, one day a suitable wife, really, what man is going to want a tarnished woman for his wife? In future, I expect all nights to end on the doorstep and I will expect a confirmation of this, I obviously can't trust you to be alone with that man. When you are married, then your husband will be in charge, but for now, you are my responsibility and I will not have you disobeying me". Sue Ellen was focused on a small knot in the wooden floorboard, she couldn't make eye contact with her mother, it was humiliating to be reprimanded and the intense anger in her mother's words only made her more ashamed. "Look at me!" she jumped and looked upwards, "yes mama, I understand. I won't do it again, I promise", she just wanted to leave.

Dallas, Texas

"You don't have to leave. I live alone, no one will disturb us" JR listened as he buttoned his shirt, "I know, but I don't. How would it look if I spent four nights a week away from home? Even I can't pretend that I 'met an old friend' or 'had a late night at the office' that many times. My mama would get suspicious, daddy too. I'm sorry, I have to leave" he sat on the edge of the bed and tied his shoelaces. "But JR…" Julie began to whine before JR shot her a glare, "look, we have fun, but this isn't a relationship, we aren't together, I don't think spending the night is required. Here, buy yourself something nice" he opened his wallet and handed her a few hundred-dollar notes; he could buy anything with money, including silence. Truthfully, he would have dumped Julie in a minute if Sue Ellen had been willing, but she wasn't, and he just didn't have the self-control that she seemed to. Plus, Julie did things that he would never even dream of asking Sue Ellen to do, Julie was common, Sue Ellen was a lady, they were very different. He wondered about marriage to Sue Ellen, would he be satisfied with her? He was convinced that he would, he loved her and he wanted her, but she was holding out on him, though that made her even more appealing, probably not the effect that Patricia had intended.

Julie lay in bed and cried, she knew that JR used her because he couldn't have Sue Ellen, she hated herself for letting him do that to her. She was attached, despite all the times he reminded her that they were casual, there was no attachment and she shouldn't act as if there were. At times like this, she wanted to let him know exactly how she felt, but when he was actually there, they had other things on their minds. She wished that he'd never met Sue Ellen, Sue Ellen was the one that had changed everything. Their relationship had been fine before, he would treat her like a woman he actually cared about and less like an object that he only needed for one thing. Walking into her bathroom, she looked at the small, pink pills; if she stopped taking those, then maybe she could 'accidentally' end up carrying something that belonged to JR. A child would make him commit, Jock would make sure of it. She was seriously considering it, but then remembered JR's many speeches about the future Ewing heir, a bastard child would not do, marriage had to come first. Besides, did she really want to be married to a man who only said 'I do' because of their child? She didn't even really like children. She placed the pills back in the drawer and went back to bed.

To be continued…