Dallas, Texas

"…I'll have to call you back."

Cutting his call short as he spotted his daddy in the doorway to his office, JR stood, approached him and shook his hand.

"Daddy."

"JR."

No longer the president of the company, Jock Ewing would always be the founder of Ewing Oil and his presence at the office would always be a welcome surprise, which was what it was now. He hadn't expected to see his daddy, he hadn't made a habit of showing his face after his retirement party, preferring to spend his days on the ranch, Southworth Stables, the Cattlemen's Club or the Oil Baron's Club, but now that he was here he had time for him.

"That was Franklin Horner; he's come through with the financing we asked for."

"You didn't have to go above him to get that approved?"

Falling into an easy conversation about business, he felt happy and free, having made the decisions himself, ones that benefited the company and the entire family.

"No, I gently reminded him that even during the recent crisis Ewing Oil remained in a strong position and his bank would be taking no chances lending to us."

"Damn right."

Chuckling, he wasn't surprised when the next question was, "so, what else do you have going on?" His daddy was retired, but he still had an interest in the company he'd built from nothing.

Detailing a few of the deals he himself was working on, he paused as he thought about what his head of departments were dealing with, but didn't get as far as telling his daddy about those projects.

"You've got it all under control, don't you?"

"Yes sir. I'm the president, that's my job."

Delighted by his new job title, one he'd worked his whole life towards achieving, he didn't miss the opportunity to say it again. The nameplate on his door and respectful handshakes he received from professional connections always gave him a little thrill and he lived for thrills.

"You're happy?"

"I'm very happy."

He'd achieved what he'd once feared would be taken from him, and he was doing an excellent job at it, proving that he was the right man for the job, just like he'd always been told he should be and like he'd assured everyone he was. Happy didn't even being to describe how he felt about his new job, but it was an easy word to use.

Nodding, his daddy looked pleased, although his tone indicated hesitancy when he asked, "outside of work too?"

"I've got everything a man could want, a wife, a son, another little Ewing on the way."

He loved and adored Sue Ellen, she truly made him a better person in a way he'd not realised possible. John Ross was his pride and joy too, walking, talking, and with a complete and changing personality of his own, looking up to him the way he had his own daddy. Adding to that, at thirteen weeks along in her third pregnancy, Sue Ellen's condition was very clear to him and wouldn't stay hidden from public knowledge for much longer, something he was very much looking forward to proudly confirming to people beyond the circle of family members. Sue Ellen hadn't told Patricia and Kristin the news yet but it was only a matter of time and with their improved relationship over recent months, albeit at a distance, he didn't anticipate the delivery of news to bring anything but congratulations.

"I'm proud of you."

Hearing the words, their occurrence came as a complete surprise to him. It probably wasn't the first time his daddy had said it, but it wasn't a regular compliment he heard in his life and the words were powerful, they held meaning for him because of their rarity.

"Thank you daddy."

Extending his hand, he was shocked to find himself in a hug; that was definitely new.

Embracing the personal closeness they'd rarely shared, he couldn't help but worry, the behaviour wasn't usual and something must have pushed him to it, but it wasn't clear what that was.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking recently, the thoughts started when your mama died, but they really took hold when I was in Alaska…"

Pulling back, he listened closely as his daddy began to speak, telling him everything and nothing at the same time.

Not far from the Ewing Oil building, Cliff Barnes was in much the same headspace as JR Ewing. Jock Ewing had paid him a visit, one he'd not expected at all and had been apprehensive about. He considered Bobby Ewing a friend but the rest of the Ewing family were strange acquaintances. Nevertheless, once he'd heard what Jock had to say, his uncertainty had begun to dissipate.

There had been a discussion, a very honest one, much too honest for a busy Friday morning, however it hadn't been an argument, and that he was grateful for.

He'd never know the unbiased truth about what had started in South Central Texas in the 1930s and had carried on for decades, Digger was gone, Jason was gone, Rebecca hadn't been there and Jock had his own version of the truth. What he did know now was that the time to hold a grudge had passed. His history with Bobby had led him to peace earlier than it had Jock, but it seemed that now everyone was on the same page, and that was something he could honestly say was a relief.

Much like he had a complicated and not overly close relationship with the Wentworth family, the Ewing family had their own place in his life. He doubted he'd be making regular trips to Southfork any time soon, not to visit Bobby nor Jock, but he didn't feel that if he did step foot there now he'd be unwelcome, and that was progress. With so much individual and shared loss, and completely separate paths in their present lives, there was very little point in being hostile, so going forward they wouldn't be.

To be continued…