Denison, Texas

Awaking just before seven in the morning out of habit, Sue Ellen looked at the clock and then willed herself to go back to sleep for a little longer, she had a rare opportunity and it felt wrong to waste it. Living at Southfork, breakfast was served promptly at eight and attendance was expected, and combined with the fact that she didn't want to be impolite or seem lazy and wanted to be a hands-on mother to her son, sleeping in was something she almost never did. Today was different though, she wasn't at Southfork and as he had promised, JR had come in to collect John Ross earlier, so she had nowhere she needed to be and there was no one around to judge her for what she did or didn't do with her time. She had no doubts about JR's capability or willingness to care for John Ross, so right now really was the perfect opportunity to rest and relax for a little while, however, knowing and doing were two different things and as much as she wanted to, her mind was now awake and sleeping was not on her agenda. Lying in bed for a few minutes, she eventually gave up trying to sleep or even just rest, because thinking about her son and husband downstairs and the lovely, peaceful environment that awaited her when she did eventually step outside today, staying in bed now seemed like a waste. When they were happily married, she and JR were usually desperate to spend time alone together as a couple or with John Ross, and although the state of their marriage was still up in the air, she was softening and she want to enjoy every opportunity for alone time with her family. Sitting up, she got out of bed and walked into the bathroom to get ready for the day; she was awake, so she may as well make the most of it.

An hour later, after having breakfast as a family, Sue Ellen, John Ross and JR set out for a nice morning walk along the lakeshore. She hadn't necessarily planned on spending time with JR this weekend, but right now, Sue Ellen found it to be a pleasant and appealing idea, because so far, he had been nothing but sweet to her and if she was honest with herself, she really did miss being in a good, happy relationship, specifically, a good, happy relationship with JR. Having had a little time to think after their conversation the previous evening, as well as during the few weeks of their separation back in Dallas, she was finally coming to terms with the way things were. Attending sessions with Doctor Williams hadn't just suddenly changed everything and allowed her to forget the past, but thinking and talking things through, she had started to see the other side of events, especially in relation to the incident with Cynthia Moore and her son and the situation with Jock and the morality clause in JR's contract. Yes, it was JR's decision to be unfaithful to her in their early marriage and it was his actions that had brought a possible illegitimate child into their lives, however, as angry as she had been about that situation itself, she did truly believe that he felt guilty and remorseful, he wanted to change and he was changing. The morality clause in his contract was both degrading and particularly counterproductive if the aim was for JR to learn a lesson about being a good husband because it was the right thing to do, however, after considering and discussing with JR, Jock and Doctor Williams, she also somewhat understood why it existed and why JR had agreed to it. It was a small comfort to her when she realised that JR was telling the truth when he said he hadn't been unfaithful to her since they'd reconciled earlier in the year, and the commitment he'd made to her during that time had been because he'd wanted to, not because he was being guaranteed a reward if he did so. If he could promise that there would be no secrets, lies or other deceit in their future relationship, and he could promise to keep acting like the husband that everyone wanted him to be and he claimed he wanted to be, then perhaps a reconciliation was possible. There was still the issue of JR's relationship with his father and his current indebtedness to his wishes via the contract he refused to renegotiate right now, however, with the general tense atmosphere at Southfork over the past week, she had a feeling that Jock was beginning to have a few revelations of his own. If Jock hadn't been so rude to her in his quick dismissal of her opinion, she would've probably understood more of his motivations, but right now, she only empathised with his decisions on a very basic level; Jock wanted his eldest son to behave and if he had to bribe him to do so, then so be it. Choosing to not think too much about the situation with her father-in-law right now though, Sue Ellen sighed happily as she and JR fell into a comfortable silence on their walk; so far, they were having a nice family weekend together and she wanted to make the most of the remaining time they had together.

Walking along the lakefront and into a wooded park area, they carefully made their way up a small cliff to a lookout. Looking out over Lake Texoma, Sue Ellen broke the silence between them, "I'm really enjoying this", smiling to herself contentedly and then looking at John Ross and JR, she verbalised her thoughts in a very general, but meaningful way. For the first time in weeks, she felt good about her life outside of being a mother and she wanted JR to know. "So am I darlin'. Thank you for including me", genuinely meaning what he said and genuinely pleased that his wife had expressed her feelings to him, JR too felt good and had good feelings about what the future held for them, especially the immediate future. It was only Saturday morning and they were already on a good path, so he was optimistic and intended on doing everything he could to win his wife back and be the husband he wanted to be and she wanted him to be.

To be continued…