Ghosts

Chapter 6

The sun was already beating down on the sleeping Dallas skyline. The valet parking attendant at the Hyatt Regency held the door to J.R.'s Cadillac Allante', open while Sue Ellen climbed inside. J.R. was taking her back to Southfork. Driving back to the ranch, J.R. wore a confident grin. Mission accomplished, he mused. Sue Ellen had forgiven his arrogance from the previous morning; when he had yelled at her for not being in his bed when he woke up. Their conversation heightened by the knowing glances and pleasantries they had exchanged. Sue Ellen didn't care what anyone thought about her relationship with J.R. She didn't need approval from anyone. They were consenting adults who had been to hell and back, lucky enough to reconnect, in spite of everything. Their lovemaking was better than it had ever been. Neither of them withheld anything from the other. Her face flushed as she mentally wandered back to the night before. Her Mamma, Patricia would pitch a fit if she knew that her socially prim and proper little girl was a lascivious vixen between the sheets. She smiled and tightened her grip on J.R.'s hand. She knew John Ross would approve of their reconciling. It was the only thing he had ever wanted from his parents. The convertible sped along the highway, the wind blowing Sue Ellen's hair about her head. Occasionally, Sue Ellen would reach up to uncover her face, only to have her hair cover her eyes again. J.R. drove, watching her fight a losing battle against the wind. He laughed aloud. She was such a determined woman, he thought. It was one of the many things about her he so genuinely loved.

John Ross had been outside, sitting at the patio table since first light. He wasn't worried about where his Mamma and Daddy had been. His only care was that they were together. He crossed his fingers, hoping that they were getting along together. John Ross grinned from ear to ear when he saw the Cadillac turning into the drive. He didn't want to appear anxious in front of his Mamma or Daddy, so he waited for J.R. to turn off the engine, before going to meet them. "Mornin', John Ross," said J.R., hugging his son. "How you doin'?" he asked the boy. "Great, how are you Daddy?" John Ross asked. "Mornin' Mamma, where were you guys?" "I told you last night, sweetheart, I stayed in Dallas to work on the Valentine expansion, and your Daddy picked me up this mornin'." Sue Ellen answered. John Ross lovingly looked at both his Mamma and Daddy. They were the only two people in his life whose love for him meant everything in the world to him. He relished seeing them together, even more when they seemed happy.

The three of them walked arm in arm into the house.

The next few days at Southfork were blissfully happy for J.R. Sue Ellen openly shared his bed, and he let her have complete control of him in that area. He didn't mind that at all. She had changed so much from when they were first together, he thought. Amazed and aroused by the changes. He discovered that he liked assuming the role of the submissive lover. It was a dramatic change for him, too. He caught his breath, just thinking about his daily escapades with Sue Ellen. Never before, had she been so assertive, so instructive. She told him what she wanted him to do and how she wanted him to accomplish it. He indulged Sue Ellen's every whim. Each morning, they would take long walks around the ranch, and long showers together each night before supper. Their evenings together at Southfork were more enjoyable than either of them had ever known. Neither J.R. nor Sue Ellen ever discussed problems they had had in the past. Their only focus was their own mutual satisfaction, and knowing that John Ross was as happy as he had ever been. The three of them had never felt closer. They were forging a bond that was stronger than any of them ever thought possible. Even Bobby and J.R were getting along.

Sue Ellen awoke early on a Sunday morning to the sound of J.R. talking on the phone. "I don't care how you do it, you just get it done, ya hear?" J.R. shouted angrily into the earpiece, before slamming down the receiver. Grumbling to himself, before standing up from the edge of the bed, "That idiot, I swear to…" "Who were you talking to, J.R?" Sue Ellen interrupted. "Jack Pendleton, he's a banker working on some financin' I've been trying to get to start a new business venture," J.R. answered. "That's wonderful!" Sue Ellen exclaimed, moving closer to where he was standing. "Yeah, if it comes through. I'm so damn sick and tired of bein' jerked around by some of these financial rules and regulations, it's no wonder people hate dealin' with banks, nowadays," he said. His thoughts wandering as Sue Ellen stood by his side, touching his arm. She wanted to ask him if there was anything she could do to help, but took his hand instead. She softly said, "I love you, J.R." "I love you so much. I hope you know that." She continued to speak, trying to get his mind off business. His frown changed to a smile, as he took her in his arms. He kissed her lips and said, "I love you, too, Sue Ellen." "I'm so very lucky to have you back in my life." He said, holding her closer, not wanting anything to change what they had finally found.

That evening, the entire Ewing family was seated at the dining room table, when Teresa announced that there was a telephone call for Mrs. Lockwood. "Thank you, Teresa," Sue Ellen politely said as she walked into the foyer to accept the phone call. J.R. followed her, curious about the unidentified caller. J.R longingly gazed at Sue Ellen as she picked up the telephone. She looked so devastatingly beautiful, he thought. She was wearing a beige colored, silk dress with a flared hemline. The fitted bodice of Sue Ellen's gown perfectly accentuated her curvaceous figure. "Hello," Sue Ellen said. "Oh, yes. How are you Miranda?" Who was Miranda? J.R wondered. "How did you know that I'd be here?" Sue Ellen asked. The conversation went back and forth, for several minutes between Sue Ellen and the woman on the other phone. J.R. was not paying any attention to the words the two women were saying, until he heard Sue Ellen say, "You have a lot of nerve callin' here and blamin' me for something Don did to himself." Sue Ellen hung up the phone, before the other woman had finished speaking.

"Darlin', is anything wrong? J.R. asked. Sue Ellen's face had turned pale, and J.R didn't know whether the tears slowly running down her cheeks were the result of anger or sadness. Sue Ellen looked up at J.R. and said, "Don tried to kill himself last night." "The woman on the phone was his sister, Miranda Barrington," she explained. Why should J.R. care about what Don Lockwood did to himself? J.R. did care about Sue Ellen and seeing her upset made him upset. "What are you gonna do, Sue Ellen," J.R. asked as he tried to get her to open up to him. J.R could tell from the way Sue Ellen spoke, that there was no love lost on Miranda, but Sue Ellen still cared for Don, despite their divorce. Sue Ellen looked deeply into J.R.'s eyes, searching for the answer she already knew. How could she leave Southfork? How could she leave John Ross? How could she leave J.R.? She felt so confused. Sue Ellen often found herself in this situation – torn between two men, but that was years ago. She was past all that, or so she thought. J.R. held her tightly against his chest. He smoothed her hair with his hand, as his other arm held her protectively around her waist.

J.R and Sue Ellen walked upstairs to his bedroom and closed the door. Sue Ellen told J.R that Miranda had been trying to locate her for days. Miranda blamed Sue Ellen for Don's suicide attempt. She told him that Miranda had said that Don was still in love with Sue Ellen and he just couldn't handle their divorce. J.R. became angry. "How dare that woman call here and accuse you like that!" He fumed. J.R. was trying his best to understand. He always considered British people to be overbearing, British women in particular. This woman reinforced his prejudice. "What am I going to do, J.R?" Sue Ellen asked, her voice trembling with emotion. "I can't tell you what to do Darlin'." J.R responded. He wanted to tell her to stay at Southfork with him and John Ross. He wanted her to pick up the phone and tell that bitch who had caused Sue Ellen so much grief where to go, with explicit instructions on what she could do, once she got there. He said, softly, "I love you, Sue Ellen, but I can't tell you what to do." "That decision is yours alone," he said, his voice etched with frustration at the thought of Sue Ellen actually leaving him to go back to London. Sue Ellen stared at J.R., angrily wiping away the tears spilling down here face. J.R. exhaled and brought her to his chest. He held her, supporting her while she let loose her emotions. J.R. helped her change into a nightgown and lay beside her on the bed. He held her close to his chest as she gave into exhaustion, and fell asleep.

J.R. possessively gazed at Sue Ellen, as she lay sleeping next to him. So much had changed between the in the last few weeks. They had been so intimate, physically and mentally. He wasn't frightened by their attachment. He savored it. He felt whole. It had taken him an entire lifetime to finally feel like this. He was absolute, and it was because of the woman asleep in his arms. J.R softly caressed Sue Ellen's shoulder. He wanted desperately to calm her down, and put her mind at ease. He wanted so many things. J.R. even wanted to ask Sue Ellen to marry him, again. He felt disappointed when he thought that he might have to put his plans for their life together on hold - indefinitely. Damn the fates, he cursed. Sue Ellen had horrific dreams of how Don had tried to commit suicide. She envisioned the usual methods; the gunshot, the overdose of drugs or alcohol, the carbon monoxide poisoning from exhaust fumes…She screamed in terror at some of the more graphic visions rampant in her dreams. She bolted up in bed, startling J.R. He tried to soothe her, saying, "It's okay Sue Ellen. It was just a bad dream." She apologized to him for giving him such a start. She put her head against his chest and allowed him to hold her. He had certainly changed, she thought as sleep claimed her once more.

John Ross vacantly watched his parents, as Sue Ellen and J.R. waited for the boarding announcement for the flight to Heathrow from Dallas. The announcement arrived much too soon. It was a letdown for all three of them. Sue Ellen hugged her son and kissed his cheek. She said, "Bye, John Ross. I'll call as soon as I get to London." John Ross said, "I love you, Mamma. Have a safe flight." Tears of sorrow started falling from his eyes. J.R watched the exchange between his son and the love of his life. J.R. didn't want to let her go, fearing that she might not return. Sue Ellen smiled weakly at J.R. He held her tightly against him, and kissed her softly on her forehead. He cupped her chin with his hand as he kissed her mouth. He told her how much he loved her and supported whatever she felt she had to do. He lied to her. He didn't want her to board the plane. He wanted to take her back to Southfork as his wife. Sue Ellen said, "I love you, J.R. I'll make this up to both of you, somehow." Sue Ellen walked away as the final boarding announcement was made on the public address speaker.

J.R. hugged John Ross as they watched the plane taxi down the runway. J.R. watched as the very plane that had brought Sue Ellen back to his life and back into his arms, took her from him. J.R walked over to the window of the terminal as he saw the plane bank and disappear from view. John Ross looked up at his Daddy and asked, "Will Mamma be coming back?" J.R. could feel his heart breaking as he searched for an answer. Would she be coming back? Would she stay in London? What if she felt so guilty about what Don had attempted to do that she remarried him out of pity? He had to be strong for both of them, he answered, "Of course, your Mamma's comin' back, son. She has to come back." J.R. wasn't sure of anything he had said at that moment. He had to placate his son's fears. He had to quell his own burgeoning fears, as well. Two pairs of cowboy boots walked from the terminal to the waiting limousine, the sound was echoing with each step. There are over a million people livin' in Dallas, Texas, J.R. thought. How in the hell could two of those people feel so alone…?