Reunion

Part 9

Sue Ellen awoke to an empty bed. She glanced at the pillow where J.R. had been sleeping to see if he had left her a note, telling her where he had gone. She pulled the covers away from her legs and climbed out of bed. She put on her robe and tied the sash around her waist. She opened the door to J.R.'s bedroom, and peered out, into the hallway. She noticed the door to her bedroom was open. She walked across the hallway, and looked into her room. J.R. was sitting on the foot of her bed, staring into space. Sue Ellen walked over to him and touched his shoulder, and said, "J.R., is anything wrong?" J.R. reached for her hand on his shoulder, and pulled her over to sit next to him on the bed. He looked at her and flashed her a forced smile. He said, "I came in here to make a phone call. I called Harv Smithfield, and he said that the only way the British courts could force you to go back to London to testify against Miranda, would be to submit a subpoena, demanding you appear before the judge." Sue Ellen looked at him, and calmly asked, "Do you think they would do that?" J.R. put his arm around her and hugged her to him. He said, "I don't know, Darlin'. I want to go with you, if they do." Sue Ellen lovingly looked into his eyes, and said, "Thank you, J.R. I don't think I could go back there alone. I know I can't face Miranda, alone." J.R. cupped her chin with his hands and tenderly kissed her lips. She reached up and touched the back of his hands with her fingers. She leaned against his shoulder as he pulled away from her. He stood up from where he sat at the end of the bed, and closed her bedroom door. He turned his head over his shoulder and grinned at her as he heard the lock securing the door in its frame.

The rest of the family was seated on the patio, as J.R. and Sue Ellen came out of the house. Knowing glances were exchanged between Miss Ellie, Clayton and Bobby. J.R. pulled a chair out for Sue Ellen and she said, "Thank you, Darlin'." J.R. helped push her chair in as he ran his hand down the length of her arm while he pulled out his chair, next to her. Sue Ellen felt a flush of red color her cheeks. She fanned her face with her hands and said, "I can't believe how hot the days are gettin'." Miss Ellie winked at Clayton. They both knew why Sue Ellen had blushed. Teresa handed J.R. and Sue Ellen their coffee. J.R. thanked Teresa as he casually rested his arm against the back of Sue Ellen's chair. Clayton asked Bobby if he'd join him in Austin for a cattle auction. Bobby agreed. The ranch needed about twenty more heads of cattle to complete their stock. Clayton and Bobby excused themselves. Clayton kissed Miss Ellie before they left in Clayton's truck. The telephone rang and Teresa handed the phone to J.R., and said, "Telephone call for Mister J.R." J.R. arose from the table and walked over to the other side of the patio, for more privacy. It was Bart Castleberg, J.R.'s foreman on the offshore drilling site. Bart called to tell J.R. that the submersible was in place, and the jack-ups had withstood preliminary wind shear tests, so they should be able to make their first bore holes with J.R.'s approval. J.R. gave him the "go ahead," and thanked him for calling. J.R. walked back over to the patio table and told Sue Ellen that he had to drive into Dallas to meet with the interior decorator for his new offices. He kissed Sue Ellen and told her that he'd be back before lunch. John Ross and Christopher were at a friend's house, leaving Sue Ellen and Miss Ellie alone at Southfork.

Miss Ellie clasped Sue Ellen's hands in her own and said, "I can't tell you how wonderful it's been having you back home, Sue Ellen." Sue Ellen smiled and said, "Thank you, Miss Ellie. It's wonderful to be back here at the ranch. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I came back." Miss Ellie looked at Sue Ellen's hands and said, "I was wondering how you and J.R. managed to reconcile, given the bad blood that existed between you both before you left for London?" Sue Ellen said in a low voice, "We both decided that revenge is far too exhausting, and it's much better for John Ross' sake, if we get along." Miss Ellie tilted her head to one side and asked, "How did you and J.R. get to the point where you became engaged?" Sue Ellen smiled and said, "Funny you should ask that. J.R. and John Ross met me at the airport when I first arrived in Dallas from London. I had every intention of stayin' at a hotel, but J.R. wouldn't let me settle for a hotel." Sue Ellen's voice became very animated as she continued, "One afternoon, J.R. and I were walkin' around the ranch, and we wound up standin' by that tree across from the horse stables. J.R. held me in his arms, and it felt so good to be held by strong arms, I didn't resist. The next thing you know, we were kissing. God, Miss Ellie, I never intended to fall in love with him again, but, I love the person he's become." Miss Ellie patted Sue Ellen's hands and said, "It wasn't easy for J.R. to change, Sue Ellen. J.R. hadn't been himself since the day you left for London." Sue Ellen wiped at a tear slowly trickling down her cheek. Miss Ellie went on, "I watched him go into a shell. He didn't talk to anyone for almost a year. When J.R. finally did come out of his depression, he'd say a sentence or two, here and there, and only to me. It wasn't until I learned that the two of you were together in London, that I prayed you had reconciled. You've given me my son back Sue Ellen. Thank you." Sue Ellen wiped at the stream of tears running down her face and onto the table. Miss Ellie stood up from her chair and walked over to Sue Ellen and hugged her, as she kissed the top of Sue Ellen's head.

J.R. had to wait for over an hour before the interior decorator arrived at his new offices. The decorator left swatches of wallpaper and carpeting samples, wood grain samples for the walls, and stacks of office furniture brochures. J.R. looked at the pile on his desk and shook his head in disgust. What the hell did he know about all this stuff? Good lord, he thought, that's the reason he hired a decorator to begin with. He wondered if Sue Ellen wouldn't mind helping him choose the patterns and textures for his new offices. He did admire her expertise in that area. He called the ranch to see if she was home. Sue Ellen sat outside on a chaise lounge by the pool. She was reading over some sales figures from Valentine Lingerie's last quarter report, when the telephone rang. Sue Ellen picked up the phone and said, "Hello?" She was relieved when she heard J.R.'s voice. He told her that he was on his way home and wondered if she had any plans for the rest of the afternoon. Sue Ellen said, "That depends, Darlin'. What did you have in mind?" J.R. laughed, he knew exactly what she was hinting at. He said, "I'll be there in about twenty minutes. I love you, Sugar." Sue Ellen closed her eyes, and said, "I can't wait, J.R." Sue Ellen considered what Miss Ellie had told her about J.R. She had a difficult time imagining J.R. being distraught over her leaving to go to London. Then again, he had treated her with the utmost dignity and respect when he accompanied John Ross to meet her at the airport. She did acknowledge that he had changed in many ways, Miss Ellie had confirmed it. She glanced down at the ring on her left hand, as she heard J.R.'s car pull into the drive. Sue Ellen tossed aside the stack of papers she had been reading and hurried to meet J.R. She leaned over the side of the car and kissed him. Her lips were soft against his mouth. Her kiss was urgent. J.R. pulled her into the car, before she knew what had happened. He said, "Hell, Sugar, if that's the kind of reception I'm gonna get when I come home, I'll leave and come home more often." Sue Ellen smiled, as he returned her kiss.

J.R. and Sue Ellen walked into the house and upstairs into J.R.'s bedroom. Sue Ellen closed, and locked the door behind her. She walked over and stood in front of J.R. Her fingers absently played with the collar of his shirt. J.R. grasped her hands in his, and kissed her. The kiss was intensely passionate. They were left short of breath when Sue Ellen pulled away from him. She kissed his chin, then her lips slowly traveled down his chin to his neck, then underneath the collar of his shirt. J.R. pushed her away and said, "Don't start somethin' you ain't willin' to finish, Sue Ellen." Sue Ellen exhaled, as she removed his tie and threw it on the floor. She rapidly undid the buttons on his shirt and was pulling at his belt when Miss Ellie knocked on his door. "Damn it!" J.R. swore under his breath. He called out, "Who is it?" Miss Ellie invited them to have lunch with her. J.R. looked at Sue Ellen. She was grinning at him. He said, "We'll be right there, Mamma." J.R. pulled Sue Ellen into his arms and said, "You will finish what you started, right?" Sue Ellen touched his bottom lip with her finger and kissed his lip next to where her finger had touched. She looked him square in the eye and said, "I plan to do that, and a whole lot more, Darlin'." Sue Ellen bent down and picked up his tie. J.R. grumbled as he buttoned his shirt. She walked over, and stood against the back of the door, watching as his obviously shaky fingers fumbled with the buttons. She twirled his tie around in her hands. He flashed her a wicked grin, as he watched her play with his tie. She opened the door when he walked toward her. He put his arm around her waist as they walked downstairs for lunch.

Miss Ellie watched as J.R. and Sue Ellen sat across from her at the table in the dining room. Their lunch consisted of a grilled chicken Caesar salad, croissants with butter, and key lime pie for dessert. Miss Ellie couldn't stop the smile spreading across her face. She had never seen J.R. so happy. She had never remembered Sue Ellen to appear more radiant. It must be love, she mused. Sue Ellen said, "Miss Ellie, J.R. and I were wonderin' if you'd be willin' to help us plan the details of our wedding?" Miss Ellie glanced at J.R. , he was nodding his head in agreement. Miss Ellie took a sip of water and said, "I'd be honored. How many people were you planning to invite?" J.R. took Sue Ellen's hand as she turned to look at him and he said, "Well, I think we both want to keep it simple. Just family, right, Darlin'?" Sue Ellen looked at Miss Ellie and said, "We want to start fresh. We don't want anyone here who might cause trouble." Miss Ellie smiled approvingly, and asked, "When did you want to get married?" Sue Ellen looked at J.R., seeking an answer. He said, "We haven't given a date much thought, Mamma. We wanted to make sure we had your blessing, first." Miss Ellie wiped at her eyes, and said, "Of course, you have my blessing, J.R. You're both adults." J.R. squeezed Sue Ellen's hand and winked at her. He said, "Maybe after John Ross' birthday party. What do you think, Sugar?" Sue Ellen said, "That sounds wonderful, J.R." Miss Ellie resumed eating her lunch. J.R. lifted Sue Ellen's hand to his mouth and kissed the back of her hand.

Later that evening, J.R. asked Sue Ellen if she'd join him for a night on the town. Sue Ellen asked, "What did you have in mind, J.R.?" J.R. said, "Well, I thought we could grab a bite to eat at the Oil Baron's, then, if you'd like, we could go dancin'." Sue Ellen raced into her bedroom to pick out a suitable dress. J.R. showered and put on a dark blue suit, and a maroon colored tie. The tie matched the color of the handkerchief he wore in the left breast pocket of his suit jacket. Sue Ellen picked out a navy blue gown with a flared hemline that fell just below the knee. The gown had a plunging neckline, and sequined straps. She finished the ensemble with a pair of silver high-heeled sandals. She quickly showered and dried her hair. She applied her makeup and pinned her hair up. She wore a pair of silver earrings, and her cuff bracelet. J.R. was buttoning the cuff of one of the sleeves of his shirt when she came out of his bathroom. He stopped what he was doing and his mouth fell open. He found the words to say, "God, you look incredible Sue Ellen." She bowed her head, accepting his compliment. She lifted her eyes and said, "You don't look so bad, yourself, J.R." He closed the distance between them and reached for her hand. He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her shoulder. He inhaled as his senses were filled his with the scent of her perfume. He closed his eyes as he kissed her cheek. Sue Ellen turned her face toward him and gently kissed his lips. J.R. grabbed his car keys from his dressing table and placed his hand at the small of her back, as he closed the door to his room. They walked downstairs, arm in arm, anxious for what they hoped the night held in store for them.