Reunion
Part 6
J.R. drove back to the Valentine Boutique to wait for Sue Ellen. His meeting with Jack Pendleton ended earlier than he had planned, so he decided to surprise Sue Ellen by meeting her at the boutique. He parked the car and removed the keys from the ignition. He left his Stetson on the passenger seat and walked into the boutique. He was greeted by a salesclerk before the door closed behind him. Sue Ellen had obviously trained her employees well. Give the customer what they want, before they realize what they wanted to begin with. He laughed as he thought of the slogan he came up with. The salesclerk asked if him he was looking for something for someone special. J.R. said, "Hell, no, I'm here to pick up my wife." The salesclerk had no idea who J.R. Ewing was, let alone who his wife might be, so she said, "I'm sorry sir, which salesclerk are you referring to?" J.R. laughed, and said, "Darlin', my wife owns Valentine Lingerie." The salesclerk was obviously embarrassed and managed to say in a sheepish voice, "Pardon me, sir. I'll go find Mrs. Lockwood." J.R. was annoyed at the reference to Sue Ellen's ex-husband's last name. He needed to do something about that, he thought, the sooner, the better. The salesclerk came out of the backroom, she told J.R. that he could go back, Sue Ellen was on the phone with a fabric buyer. J.R. thanked the clerk and walked into the backroom. Swatches of different colors and types of fabrics hung on the walls, several sketches from different designers sat atop binders of other types of fabric samples. Sue Ellen was pacing back and forth as she spoke to the buyer on the phone. She hadn't seen J.R. come into the room. J.R sat on a barstool next to a drafting table and watched Sue Ellen as she rattled off information to the buyer. She had taken a hole in the wall lingerie store, and turned 'Valentine Lingerie' into a household name the world over. Sue Ellen had indeed changed, for the better as far as he was concerned. She was confident, self-assured, and sexy as hell. She turned J.R. on in ways he never imagined.
Sue Ellen ended the phone call and swore out loud, "That miserable son-of-a-bitch!" J.R. cleared his throat, startling Sue Ellen. "Trouble, Darlin'?" he asked. Sue Ellen said, "J.R., how long have you been back here?" J.R.'s grin told her that it had been long enough to hear her curse. Sue Ellen looked down at the floor, "I'm sorry you had to hear that, J.R. One of my buyers insists on finalizing purchases without my final approval," Sue Ellen said, trying to justify her profanity. J.R.'s response was simple, "Fire him, Sue Ellen. You do own the company." Sue Ellen explained, "I'd love to, but he's the best there is, he has a degree in textiles and millwork." J.R. raised his eyebrows in disbelief, and said, "They give out degrees for knowin' fabrics, now? Hell, Sue Ellen, maybe you ought to hire Mamma or Mavis Anderson. They know a thing or two about fabrics, too." Sue Ellen knew he was joking, but it was a serious matter for her. "I wish it were that easy, J.R.," she said in a frustrated tone. "The degree you find so amusing is in the fashion merchandising department curriculum at most of this countries' colleges and universities," she said. "Well, why don't you call the department heads at some of the local colleges? I'm sure some fresh blood would breathe new life into some of this stuff, then you could tell your buyer to kiss your . . . " Sue Ellen put a finger to his lips, trying to hush his last word, and smiled. She threw her arms around his neck and said, "J.R., that's a fabulous idea. How can I ever thank you?" J.R. pulled her to him and said, "We'll have to put some thought into that last question." Sue Ellen winked at him and said, "I'll grab my purse and we can get out of here." J.R. waited by the entrance to the boutique as Sue Ellen thanked her employees and said that she'd be in later in the week when the new merchandise shipments arrived. J.R. held the door for her as she walked outside, and he watched her, wearing a devilish grin on his face, as she walked in front of him to his car. He opened the door for her as she climbed inside. She handed him his Stetson, as she gracefully moved her legs in front of the seat. "Thanks for waiting for me, J.R. how did your meeting go with Jack Pendleton?" she asked. "It went fine, it didn't take as long as I thought it would, so I decided to surprise you, " he said as he leaned over and kissed her. Sue Ellen never really liked surprises, but when they involved the "new and improved" J.R. Ewing, she could get used to them.
J.R. and Sue Ellen arrived back at Southfork, and saw Bobby's car parked in the drive. J.R. said, "Either Bobby's given up on tryin' to fix that idiot Barnes' mistakes, or he's actually managed to fix everything." Sue Ellen said, "J.R. I have a hard time believin' that Bobby would let Cliff ruin things for Ewing Oil." J.R. walked around the car and opened the door for her as he tipped his hat, and said, "Darlin', nothin' Bobby or Cliff does surprises me." Sue Ellen laughed as she shook her head. J.R. put his arm around Sue Ellen's waist as they walked into the house. They walked past the parlor, and saw Bobby sitting back on the couch with a drink in his hands. J.R. asked, "Rough day, Bob?" Sue Ellen was somewhat more sensitive and asked, "Is anything wrong, Bobby?" Bobby leaned forward and rested his hands between his knees, shaking his drink back and forth, and said, "Thank you for your concern, Sue Ellen. I've had a long week, and I'm really not up for conversation." Sue Ellen shrugged her shoulders, as J.R. flashed a disgusted look at Bobby. They walked upstairs, leaving Bobby alone in the parlor. Once inside J.R.'s bedroom, J.R. said, "It wouldn't surprise me at all if Bobby let that idiot run Daddy's company into the ground." Sue Ellen turned her head over her shoulder and asked, "J.R., do you honestly think Bobby would let that happen?" J.R. said, "Did you ever think a Barnes would be a partner in Ewing Oil?" Sue Ellen looked down at her shoes as she pulled them off her feet, and said, "I never thought about it like that." J.R. thought about it every time he looked at Bobby. J.R. would never forgive Bobby and Cliff for taking his Daddy's company away from him. He would never have the Ewing name back, the State Department had assured him of that, but he would be back in the oil business before anyone knew what hit them. He wouldn't need Ewing Oil, or the Cartel, or anyone else who had turned against him. J.R. Ewing would be back in the oil business with a vengeance.
Miss Ellie and Clayton flew in from San Angelo, via the Ewing helicopter. Clayton had finished all of his personal business, and Miss Ellie had a reason for wanting to return to the ranch, now that Sue Ellen was home. J.R. was the first to hear the helicopter outside. He pulled the covers away from his legs, and put on his robe. He walked over to the window and looked outside, to make sure the helicopter had a legitimate reason for landing on Ewing property. When he saw that it was Miss Ellie and Clayton, he turned away from the window and sat on the bed next to Sue Ellen. She was sleeping. J.R. considered what she had told him, about Don neglecting her for four years during their marriage. His eyes scanned Sue Ellen's sleeping form, she was so beautiful, how could Don not want to spend every hour of every day, making love to Sue Ellen? To hell with Lockwood, J.R. thought. That bastard had his chance. Now, it was J.R.'s chance, and he fully intended to make the time he and Sue Ellen had together count. J.R. was amazed that after all the years they'd been together before, and all the time that had passed between them since, that he could feel so sexually, and emotionally attracted to this woman. They had always been good together, J.R. recalled, but lately, it had been incredible for both of them. J.R. watched Sue Ellen sleep, and he was oblivious to the minutes passing by on the bedside clock. He was gazing at her so intently, he didn't hear the knock on his bedroom door. Sue Ellen rolled over in bed, facing J.R. He continued watching her sleep. He was fascinated by having her lying beside him, in his bed, at Southfork. His life had fallen apart the day she left Dallas, to go to London with Don. Who was he tryin' to convince? J.R. felt that regardless of where Sue Ellen had gone, or who she was with, she had left him. If someone had asked him then, if he thought this day would ever come, he would have said a resounding 'no.' He rested his head on his hand as he lay next to Sue Ellen. J.R. Ewing was not the kind of man to give in to emotions, but the emotions he felt for Sue Ellen as he gazed at her were so intense, he couldn't even describe his feelings. He shook his head back and forth, finally understanding. J.R. was in love, completely and undeniably in love with Sue Ellen.
The family had breakfast on the patio. J.R. didn't mind having everyone back home at Southfork, as long as Sue Ellen and John Ross were with him. Bobby asked how things went for Clayton in San Angelo. Clayton told him that things should finally be taken care of, the Southern Cross' new owners had some problem with the irrigation system on the back forty, so Clayton and an Engineer from the Water Rights & Redevelopment District Association went over the area, isolated the problem and Clayton and Miss Ellie left when the new owners said that they were satisfied that the problem had been resolved. J.R. watched Sue Ellen as she and John Ross discussed plans for John Ross' birthday party. John Ross wanted to invite boys and girls to the party. John Ross asked, "Grandma and Grandpa Farlow, would you two help Mamma and Daddy chaperone my party?" Miss Ellie looked at Clayton, Clayton nodded his head, and Miss Ellie said, "John Ross, it would be our pleasure. How many friends are you planning to invite?" John Ross started counting on his fingers, then on a piece of paper. J.R. moved his face closer to the table so he could see exactly how many friends John Ross wanted to invite. Sue Ellen smiled as she watched her son tally up the numbers. She was glad that John Ross was such an outgoing young man, because his first few years at Southfork had been so isolated, and fraught with emotion. J.R. and Sue Ellen loved their only child dearly, but their relationship with each other had been nothing short or troubled. John Ross had attended counseling when he was four years old because of the impact of his parents' openly vocal battling, and a fire that occurred at the ranch that same year. The structure of the house remained intact, but the smoke damage to the interior required a complete remodel of all the rooms in the house. John Ross sat the pencil down on the piece of paper he had been writing on, and said, "Well, there's a couple of kids in my class whose parents won't let them go to co-ed parties, so if everyone I'd like to invite shows up, the total will be thirty-five, including Christopher and me." J.R. put his head in his hand, not sure that he could handle the thought of thirty-five kids running around the ranch. Sue Ellen reached for his hand, reassuring him that everything would be fine. The party would be a pool party, so the kids wouldn't be running in and out of the house.
J.R. sat back in his chair and looked around the patio. The last time they'd had a party at the ranch with that many kids, was when Lucy had graduated from high school. How long ago was that? He wondered. Hell, he thought, Lucy has a girl who would be turning twelve later in the year. J.R. mused, "you're not gettin' any younger, old man." Sue Ellen saw the change in his appearance and wondered what J.R. had been thinking about. Everyone left the table except J.R. and Sue Ellen. Sue Ellen reached for J.R.'s hand, and asked, "J.R., is anything wrong? You look as if you're in pain?" J.R. shook his head and said, "No, Darlin', I was just thinking how quickly time is gettin' away from me. Before long, John Ross will be out of high school and havin' kids of his own." Sue Ellen gave him a scolding look, and said, "Neither one of us is that old yet, J.R. Besides, he's here now and I promise you John Ross' party won't be as bad as you're thinkin'." J.R. reluctantly smiled at her, and brought her hand to his lips, and kissed the back of her hand. He searched her eyes, trying to see if the love he felt for Sue Ellen reflected back at him. Sue Ellen leaned forward over the table, and kissed him, telling him everything he needed to know. Sue Ellen arose from the table and took J.R.'s hand. She asked, "Join me for a swim?" J.R. thought about the last time he had seen Sue Ellen in a bathing suit, he had found her so desirable, he wondered what suit she'd wear for him today. They walked into the house to put on their bathing suits.
Sue Ellen wore a dark purple bandeau suit with a sheer panel around the waist. The suit fit her perfectly and complimented her hazel eyes. She pinned her hair up, and tied a black sarong around her waist. J.R. wore a black pair of swim trunks and a pair of slip-on shoes. They walked arm-in-arm downstairs, and outside to the pool. They both used a couple of floating lounge chairs in the pool. Sue Ellen lay on her back, and J.R. lay on his stomach. Sue Ellen's eyes were closed, behind her sunglasses. J.R.'s eyes were open while he gazed at Sue Ellen as she floated next to him in the pool. He watched the rise and fall of her chest as she inhaled and exhaled. He glanced at her long, slender legs hanging over the edge of the lounger. He reached for her hand, and pulled her closer to him. The water splashed back and forth, against the sides of the pool. The sound was hypnotic, and before long, J.R. and Sue Ellen fell asleep. John Ross looked down over his parents from the balcony overlooking the pool. He was biting his bottom lip. He was deep in thought as he watched them sleep. His Mamma and Daddy were back together. They were going to get married, and they appeared to be happier than he had ever seen them. He was ecstatic that his Mamma had returned to Dallas from London. Don Lockwood wasn't such a terrible person he concluded, but he simply wasn't John Ross' Daddy. He had watched as his Mamma's relationship with Don had deteriorated, leaving his Mamma alone, more often than they were together. Eventually, he knew his Mamma would put and end to her relationship with Don. He was so pleased that she chose to renew her relationship with his Daddy. Now, by having a party at the ranch, all his friends at school would see that his parents did love him, and each other. John Ross finally had everything he'd ever wanted. Well, almost. They weren't remarried yet, but the summer was just beginning . . .
