Dallas, Texas
JR was still unsure of where they stood; her last words had been "I'm sorry JR, I can't do this anymore" and he was still uncertain about whether she'd meant she was ending their phone call or their whole relationship. He had tried to call her the next day but Kristin had informed him that Sue Ellen wasn't at home, he assumed that she was lying to cover for her sister, but if Sue Ellen was avoiding his calls then they definitely weren't in a good place. He decided that he would try again and if she really didn't want to talk to him, then he would give her space, for now at least. He had a plan long-term and it included Sue Ellen as his wife, he had no doubt that he'd get her back, he just didn't know exactly how he would do it, but he wasn't too worried, he was JR Ewing after all. "Shepard residence" he smiled as he heard the voice, Patricia was on his side at least, she wanted nothing more than for her daughter to marry a wealthy, powerful man and JR Ewing would be the perfect ticket to the high life. "Mrs Shepard, it's JR, I was wondering if Sue Ellen was available, I'd really like to speak to her" he hoped that Patricia would help him. Patricia smiled, JR Ewing was one persistent man, she liked that, Sue Ellen could do a whole lot worse than him, he obviously still wanted her daughter even after she'd made a big fuss about a little problem, something Patricia had failed to include in her lessons. She had never had much of a problem with men doing what they wanted, as long as their wives were still reaping the social and economic benefits of a marriage, it didn't matter too much about the emotional side. Sue Ellen was just overly sensitive, something she would have to make sure Kristin didn't learn, she wouldn't go through all of this drama twice.
"Sue Ellen?" Patricia lightly knocked on her daughter's bedroom door, trying a friendly approach to start the conversation, if she came off too hostile, Sue Ellen would definitely refuse to speak to JR. "Yes mama?" she opened the door and immediately sensed something was wrong, her mother had a strange look on her face, "you have a phone call. Now, come along, you don't want to keep them waiting too long" she made sure to not mention JR's name. "Hello?" she sweetly answered the phone and JR smiled, she wasn't hostile anymore, "darlin', how good it is to hear your voice again", Sue Ellen froze, she wasn't prepared for this conversation, she would definitely have a word with her mother afterwards. "JR…how are you?" she wasn't sure what to say, they'd ended their last call so awkwardly and emotionally and she still wasn't sure how she was feeling about everything. "I'm fine darlin', but I'd be better if you were here with me", Sue Ellen smiled, she almost felt the same way, but she had mixed feelings. She audibly sighed, giving him a sign that she'd begun to soften, "Sue Ellen, please, I really think that seeing each other in person would do us some good" he very much wanted her but he didn't want to force it. "I'm sorry JR, I just can't right now, I'm so confused"; she seemed to be confused a lot lately, her emotions making it hard to think straight; being alone was what was best for her right now, though no one else seemed to think so. "Whatever you want", his new approach was to carefully guide her into the decision, with a little JR Ewing manipulation, they would see each other soon enough.
Fort Worth, Texas
"Thank you Mr Ewing, we'll have everything set up just as you have instructed", JR shook the two men's hands and grinned as he left the room; his plan would give them the perfect opportunity to reconcile. "What do you think he's planning?" the event manager had never encountered such an idea before, "I don't know, but he's paying good money, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see; I'm not going to ruin a good think by asking unnecessary questions", his co-worker knew better than to pry into personal details. "I suppose you're right. Whoever she is must be mighty special though", the other man agreed and they went back to work.
Austin, Texas
"They want Miss Texas to present a golfing lifetime achievement award? Wouldn't a professional golfer be a better option?" she never knew why she was invited to some of the events that she attended; they seemed out of her personal circle and out of the pageant queen circle. "Sue Ellen, Miss Texas doesn't ask why, she just smiles and politely works the room; you've been in the role for almost a year and still question these things?" Mrs Crawford, one of the Miss Texas pageant organizers, quietly laughed at the questions, she often wondered these things herself, they did get quite a few strange appearance requests. "Just be thankful you're not being asked to feed the alligators at a new wildlife park, last year's queen had to do it three times", Sue Ellen's eyes grew, she immediately felt better about the golf award, there weren't going to be any wild animals present at that event.
Fort Worth, Texas
JR waited patiently in the large ballroom, he'd planned everything perfectly; they would be alone and free to talk, he was ready to get back to the way things used to be, he just needed an opportunity to make her see things his way. He hoped that she stayed because she wanted to, but if necessary, he would remind her that he was paying the appearance fee for her to be there and she was contractually obligated to stay for at least two hours.
Sue Ellen's pageant chaperone had received a call earlier in the afternoon, she now knew exactly what Sue Ellen was heading into, but she was sworn to secrecy. She didn't mind so much though, Sue Ellen hadn't been happy without JR in her life and if he was going to this much effort to win her back then he must be sorry for whatever it was that he did to hurt her. She could tell that Sue Ellen wasn't completely over JR either, she wanted him back, but she wanted him to apologise first. If tonight went to plan then both JR and Sue Ellen would be happy again.
Sue Ellen entered the elegantly decorated ballroom and stopped walking, she had been tricked; there was no awards dinner being held tonight. Instead, there was only one table set up, two place settings and one other guest, JR Ewing. She got shivers as he stood and walked over to her, "Miss Texas, you look stunning", he'd done it again, the JR Ewing charm offensive had begun and she was powerless to stop its effect, nor did she really want to.
To be continued…