Austin, Texas
Sue Ellen opened the door to the bedroom she and Paula shared, there were clothes everywhere and Paula sat silently on her bed, "what's wrong? You look like you've been crying" she was worried about her friend; Paula was never emotional like this. Paula didn't respond to Sue Ellen's question, instead directing her toward a completely different topic, "are you free this Sunday? I'm getting married and I'd love for you to be my bridesmaid". Sue Ellen was confused, Sunday was three days away and Paula hadn't even been engaged this morning, she and Roger had barely been dating three months, "well yes, but I'm going to need an explanation for everything, because I can't work out why you'd be getting married so quickly and why you're upset. Marriage is supposed to make people happy". Paula moved toward the window, she couldn't face Sue Ellen as she spoke, "I take it all back, you're the smart one, I was the risk taker and I knew the possible consequences, I took all the precautions and it still happened", it took a minute to register with Sue Ellen, but she finally understood what Paula was so upset about. "Is it Roger's?" she hated that her friend had to go through this, "the dates match up, that's the one thing I am happy about, if it was going to be anyone, I'm glad it was Roger. I really do care for him; I think I may even love him. He has a good job and his family are all very nice, though I'm not sure they'll like me much when they find out", Sue Ellen moved toward her friend and hugged her, she needed support, not questions right now.
Dallas, Texas
"JR, I'm sorry, something has come up and I have to cancel our weekend plans" she apologised on the phone and JR listened, it had to be important if she was cancelling, she loved coming out to Southfork for the weekend. "Is everything ok? Do you need help?" he wanted her to be able to tell him things, but she hadn't offered much of an explanation, "yes, everything is fine. It's just something that I really have to do and it can't wait. I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you soon", she obviously wasn't going to confide in him and he didn't want to start an argument. The ended their phone call and JR went back to work, though Sue Ellen's pressing issue was now the only thing he could think about, he had to know, what if she was in trouble, or even worse, what if she was with another man? Dialling the number he launched into his request, "Harry, it's JR, I need you to send someone to Austin and report back to me about the activities of Sue Ellen Shepard. An immediate start would be helpful, and make sure it's discreet, I don't want anyone else knowing about this", he felt a little guilty about having her followed, but he had to know what she was up to.
Austin, Texas
Sue Ellen walked through baby department of The Store, she'd only intended to come in to buy a wedding gift, but something pulled her toward the nursery area. Paula was slowly coming to terms with the pregnancy and the upcoming marriage and Sue Ellen was excited to be included in the events, especially when it meant that she could shop. Roger had been very understanding and about the whole thing, they would marry on Sunday and Paula would finish the remaining ten weeks of the semester in Austin, before moving back to Dallas with Roger. She was lucky that she was only eleven weeks pregnant right now, she was still small and no one would really be able to tell, especially with the A-line and empire waist dresses that were in fashion. At graduation she would be about twenty three weeks, but everyone would know she was married and with a loose fitting dress and her gown on, no one would question how far along she was. Sue Ellen was pleased that everything was turning out fairly well, it could have been much worse. She had already selected a few homeware items for the wedding, a set of plates, cups and bowls as well as an electric hand mixer and bowl; she was sure that Paula probably already had sheets and towels in her hope chest. Browsing the baby section, she selected three newborn sleepers in white, yellow and green, gender neutral because they wouldn't know the sex of the baby until it was born; she also purchased a silver photo frame and crocheted baby blanket. The shopping trip made her think about her own future; she would love to be a mother one day, and hopefully that day would be soon. Paula's wedding and pregnancy was bringing her own feelings to the surface, she really did want to marry JR and she would love a proposal by the time she graduated. Marriage and motherhood would give her a purpose and it would make everyone happy.
"By the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife. Roger, you may kiss your bride" there was only a small crowd, Sue Ellen, Roger and Paula's parents and Roger's best friend David, everyone clapped while the newlyweds kissed and the pastor waited to speak again. "It's my great honour and privilege to be the first to present to you Mr and Mrs Roger Hensley"; the newly married couple walked down the aisle and out of the church. As everyone gathered afterward, Sue Ellen's mind moved toward her own wedding day again, she definitely had wedding fever; she was ready to settle down, be a good wife and have as many children as JR wanted. As much as she had resisted turning into exactly what her mother wanted, she had come to the realisation that maybe it wasn't such a bad thing to aspire to, she didn't really want to be a working woman and her life as Mrs JR Ewing would be wonderful, that was all she really wanted, a happy life. The group celebrated the wedding at the restaurant inside the Stephen F. Austin Hotel and when the celebration was over, Sue Ellen returned to the sorority house. She hadn't told her mother that Paula was getting married, she just couldn't deal with that conversation right now, things were tense between them lately and that kind of news would not be good for their relationship.
Dallas, Texas
"On Friday morning she went shopping at The Store in downtown Austin, she was there for two hours. She then went to lunch before going to her mother's house; she stayed there Friday night and returned to the sorority house on Saturday after lunch. That afternoon she went to the Gregory Gym and spent thirty minutes running the track before returning to the sorority house. She and a few other girls had dinner at a local diner and spent the evening there, they just talked amongst themselves and were alone, no male guests were present. On Sunday morning, she left the sorority house wearing a pale pink formal dress and drove to a small church downtown; the bride looked about the same age as Miss Shepard, and the groom was a few years older. It was a small wedding, only six guests in total, Miss Shepard appeared to be the bridesmaid and another man was the groomsman, they didn't interact much except for a few friendly words. The wedding party celebrated at the Stephen F. Austin Hotel restaurant before Miss Shepard returned to the sorority house alone just before midnight. On Monday morning, Miss Shepard went to her classes before attending a cheerleading practice and having dinner with two other girls, there was no further activity that we noted". JR listened to the report, it all sounded quite normal, except Sue Ellen was a bridesmaid in a wedding and had kept it a secret from him, something was not quite right about the situation. "Thank you; I will remember your help in the future. No further investigation is required", the man left the file with JR and left the office.
Austin, Texas
"Excuse me", a middle-aged woman interrupted Sue Ellen as she walked around the drugstore, she looked up and the woman spoke again, "are you Miss Texas?", "yes" Sue Ellen nodded and smiled, "my little daughter thinks you are very pretty, she's seen your picture in that new magazine" the woman gushed. "Oh, thank you, that's very flattering. Is she here with you?" Sue Ellen looked around for a younger girl, "no, unfortunately she's at school, she'll be upset that she missed you. Would you be able to autograph something for her?" Sue Ellen took a pen out of her purse and signed a small paper for the woman's daughter. The woman watched as Sue Ellen opened her purse, a small blue pamphlet was folded in the side pocket, she could just make out the word 'expecting'. She looked at Sue Ellen's basket of items she was purchasing; a new mascara and eyeliner, a face moisturiser and a small bottle of 'vitamins'. "Is it true that you're dating the owner of Ewing Oil?" the woman became nosey and Sue Ellen wondered why she was asking, "yes, well, he's the vice president, but it's a family company". The woman nodded, "will you be marrying him soon? I read in the newspaper that you were soon to be engaged", Sue Ellen didn't like how she was prying into her personal life, she didn't even have an answer for her own mother, she certainly didn't want to answer some random passer-by. "We'll see. I really must be going, tell your daughter hello from me" she quickly walked toward the cash register and paid for her items, she didn't want to answer any more questions today.
To be continued…