Tuscan Skies
Part 2
Miss Ellie greeted J.R. and Sue Ellen, when they walked into the foyer. Miss Ellie gave Sue Ellen a piece of paper with a message on it. Her wedding dress was ready for her at the dress boutique. Sue Ellen said, "Thank you, Miss Ellie." She turned to J.R., and said, "Darlin', I know we just got here, but would you mind if I drove back into Dallas to pick up my wedding gown?" J.R. said, "I wouldn't mind at ll. I'll drive you there, if you'd like?" They said goodbye to Miss Ellie, and walked back outside. J.R. lowered the top on his convertible, and started the engine. Sue Ellen said, "I really appreciate this, J.R. I can hardly wait for you to see the finished product." J.R. placed his hand over Sue Ellen's knee, gently rubbing his thumb back and forth across her bare skin. Sue Ellen opened her purse, and reapplied her lipstick. J.R. parked his car in front of the dress boutique, and walked around to the passenger side to open the door for Sue Ellen. She took his hand as they walked into the boutique. The dress designer greeted them as they stepped into the showroom. Sue Ellen said, "Good morning, I'm Sue Ellen Ewing. I'm here to pick up my bridal gown." The dress designer said, "Of course, follow me, please." J.R. said, "I know it's bad luck to see the bride in her gown before the wedding, so I'll wait out here for you, Sugar." Sue Ellen let go of his hand, and winked at him as she followed after the designer. J.R. watched as Sue Ellen was out of earshot, before he reached into his jacket for his mobile telephone. He called the private investigator he hired to find out information about Don Lockwood. J.R. was fed up with Don's meddling in his and Sue Ellen's life. The detective answered, "Yeah, Rattigan." J.R. said, "This is J.R. Ewing. Do you have any information for me, yet?" Rattigan said, "No, sir. Not, yet. But I might have a lead on a former business associate from Lockwood's past." J.R. said, "Good, keep me informed." J.R. ended the call. He placed the phone back inside the pocket of his suit jacket. Sue Ellen returned from the dressing room carrying a garment bag, followed by the dress designer. Sue Ellen thanked the designer, as J.R. said, "Let me carry that for you, Sugar." Sue Ellen said, "Thank you, J.R.," as they left the boutique. J.R. opened the trunk of his car, and carefully placed the garment bag inside. He opened the passengers' door, as Sue Ellen touched his face with her fingers. J.R. smiled at her as he watched her step inside the car. He closed the door behind her and walked around to the driver's side of the car.J.R. started the car, and pulled out into traffic.
They returned to Southfork, just as Teresa was serving lunch. J.R. helped Sue Ellen carry her dress into the house. Sue Ellen hung the garment in the closet in their bedroom. J.R. waited until she closed the closet door, and said, "Are you hungry, Sugar?" Sue Ellen said, "Yes, I'm starvin'." J.R. put his arm around her waist as they walked downstairs for lunch. Teresa had prepared various sandwiches, and a fruit salad for the family to enjoy. J.R. quickly ate a sandwich. He helped himself to another half sandwich, while Sue Ellen ate her lunch. Clayton and Bobby were discussing a problem with the herd, and cattle rustlers who had broken into a fence on the outer perimeter of the ranch. J.R. appreciated living at Southfork, but he was far more interested in the Oil business than he was in livestock. Bobby and Clayton were better suited to taking care of the herd, than running a business, as far as J.R. was concerned. Sue Ellen talked with Miss Ellie about wedding decorations, and invitations. Miss Ellie asked her if she wanted to invite Ray and Jenna. Sue Ellen said, "Oh, I hadn't thought about them. I feel terrible. I wonder if we sent out an invitation, if they would get it in time?" Miss Ellie said, "I have their telephone number. I suppose we could call them?" J.R. turned his head and rolled his eyes. The last person he cared to invite to his wedding was that half-breed Ray Krebbs, and his wife Jenna. Jenna dated Bobby when they were kids. J.R. thought that she would marry Bobby, but she left Dallas and married an Italian, Reinaldo Marchetta. They were later divorced, and Jenna moved back to Dallas with their daughter, Charlotta, or 'Charlie,' as she came to be known. J.R. never understood Jenna's attraction to Ray Krebbs. Sue Ellen interrupted J.R.'s train of thought, asking, "What do you think, Darlin'?" J.R. said, "Huh? I'm sorry. What was the question?" Sue Ellen flashed him an annoyed look, and said, "What do you think about inviting Ray and Jenna?" J.R. said, "Well, the more the merrier, I always say." Sue Ellen knew he was being facetious, but she was determined to get a concrete answer from him. She said, "I'm serious, J.R. do you think if I were to call them today, that would be enough advanced notice for them to fly back here in time?" J.R. said, "If they were to leave Switzerland by tomorrow afternoon, at the latest, they'd be here just before we get married."
Sue Ellen didn't have much to say for the remainder of the afternoon. J.R. could tell that something was troubling her, but he was hesitant to ask, fearing that she might be irritated with him. His curiosity won out, and he asked, "Sue Ellen is somethin' botherin' you, Honey?" Sue Ellen turned to look at him, while she fidgeted with her engagement ring. She softly said, "I'm nervous about gettin' married, J.R." He laughed, and said, "There's nothin' to worry about, Sue Ellen. It's not as if this were our first marriage." Sue Ellen said, "I know, J.R. It's just that things have been goin' so well between us, I can't help but wonder if we were to get married, if that wouldn't change our relationship." J.R. raised an eyebrow, and said, "If we were to get married? Are you tryin' to tell me you don't want to marry me?" Sue Ellen said, "I just think we might be better off living together. I would use your last name, if you wanted?" J.R. considered what she said. He had never lived with a woman, before. Hell, it might work out better than he thought. He said, "I can see your point, Sugar. I just don't know what the rest of the family would think about our living arrangements." Sue Ellen said, "It's not as if we have been celibate, J.R. " He laughed. She had a point. He walked over to where she was standing in their bedroom, and asked, "What about our trip to Tuscany?" Sue Ellen put her arms around his neck, and ran her finger over his lips. She said, "We can still go to Tuscany. We don't have to get married for that." J.R. grinned at her, and asked, "How would you feel about bein' a 'kept' woman?" Sue Ellen kissed his mouth and said, "As long as I'm the only woman you keep company with, I have no problem with the living arrangements." J.R. kissed her neck, and asked, "How will we break the news to John Ross?" Sue Ellen said, "He's old enough to understand. I don't think he'll have a problem with it, as long as we reassure him that we're together, as a couple." J.R. had maneuvered her next to the bed, while they were talking. Sue Ellen's thigh brushed against the side of the mattress. She looked J.R. directly in the eye, and said, "Are you tryin' to seduce me?" He said, "Yeah, is it workin'?" She kissed him, as he lowered her on top of the mattress. She pulled away, and said, "It's workin' like a charm." J.R. grinned a wide smile, as his mouth covered her lips.
John Ross knocked on their bedroom door. J.R. opened the door, while Sue Ellen finished getting dressed for dinner. J.R. said, I'm glad you're here, John Ross. Your Mamma and I would like to discuss somethin' with you." John Ross' smile quickly changed to a look of worry. He asked, "What's going on? Are you splitting up?" Sue Ellen walked into the bedroom, and said, "Of course not, Sweetheart. We just want to let you know about a decision we've made." John Ross folded his arms in front of his chest. He was afraid that his worst fears had come true. His parents' had a knack for short-lived happiness. J.R. noticed the change in his sons' demeanor, and shook his, head back and forth, saying, "You get that stubborn stance from your Mamma." Sue Ellen understood John Ross' fears, and asked, "How would you feel if your Daddy and I lived together?" John Ross thought about her question, and asked, "Would you still be together, as a couple of people who loved each other?" J.R. smiled at Sue Ellen and said, "You know how much I love your Mamma, son." Sue Ellen said, "I know you know how I feel about your Daddy, Sweetheart." John Ross asked, "Are you sure that you'll stay together, as a couple?" J.R. and Sue Ellen reached for each others' hand and said, "Yes." John Ross, grinned at them, and said, "I can live with that." He hugged and kissed J.R. and Sue Ellen. The three of them walked into the hall, to go downstairs for dinner.
J.R. and Sue Ellen walked outside on the veranda, after their evening meal. He held Sue Ellen possessively around her waist, as he kissed her shoulder. Sue Ellen muttered, "Mmm, that feels so nice." J.R. whispered in her ear, "I want you, Sue Ellen." Sue Ellen lifted her, and touched the side of his neck. She turned her head toward his face. She pulled his face closer to hers, and kissed him. J.R. said, "I was afraid that you no longer wanted me, when we were upstairs, earlier." Sue Ellen leaned her head against his shoulder and said, "I've always, wanted you, J.R. I just don't want to complicate our relationship with a ceremony here at Southfork, and a reception, afterward. I like how our relationship feels as it stands right now. I made a commitment to you the first time we made love when I came back here from England . I just don't see how a piece of paper would have any bearing on that." J.R turned her around to look into her eyes. He put his arms around her, and said, "I made a commitment to you, too, Sue Ellen. I just can't get over how you've changed. The woman you've become is so confident, and self-assured. You've become a challenge to me, and one hell of a turn-on. I look forward to wakin' up by your side every mornin', anxious to hear what you have to say." Sue Ellen lifted her hands, and placed them on his shoulders. She asked, "Do you think you could stand living with just one woman?" J.R. said, "As long as that woman is you. I love you, Sugar." Sue Ellen kissed his mouth, silencing anything else he had to say.
J.R. and Sue Ellen informed the rest of the family that there wasn't going to be a wedding ceremony. Miss Ellie asked, "What happened? Did you get into an argument?" J.R. reassured her that they were fine, saying, "No, Mamma, nothin' like that. We decided that we get along better as lovers, than as husband and wife." Miss Ellie glanced at Clayton. He wore a surprised look. Bobby was seated on the couch, looking puzzled, and confused. J.R. said, "We're still going to take our trip to Tuscany." Miss Ellie asked, "What about the dress you bought, Sue Ellen?" Sue Ellen smiled, and said, "The dress is so functional, I can wear it to any formal gathering. I'll probably find a use for it on our trip." J.R. said, "Our flight leaves in the morning. We'll say our goodbyes before we leave for the airport. J.R. and Sue Ellen left the parlor, to go upstairs for the evening. Bobby watched as they left the room, and said, "I'll be damned." Clayton said, "If that doesn't beat all." Miss Ellie scratched hr head, and said, "I can't believe it." Christopher looked at John Ross, and shrugged his shoulders. John Ross smiled at him, and said, "I don't care whether they're married or not, as long as they're together, and happy." J.R. and Sue Ellen had been listening to their families' reactions, before walking upstairs. J.R. turned to Sue Ellen, and said, "They took the news better than I thought they would." Sue Ellen smiled at him, as they walked hand in hand, upstairs to their bedroom.
The Ewing limousine drove J.R. and Sue Ellen to the airport. They would fly from Dallas to London, England. There, they would make a connecting flight from London, to Zurich, Switzerland. Then, a plane from Swiss International Airlines would fly them to Florence, Italy. J.R. left their itinerary with Miss Ellie and Clayton. He faxed a copy to Bart in the Gulf. John Ross had a copy. Sue Ellen faxed a copy to the Valentine Boutique, and a duplicate copy to her assistant, Kelly. J.R. had his arm around Sue Ellen's waist as they walked through the airport terminal to the gate for their flight. They waited for the boarding call for British Airways flight 731 from Dallas, Texas to London, England. J.R. lifted their carry-on luggage onto his shoulders. He held Sue Ellen's hand, as she handed the flight attendant their boarding passes. They walked through the jetwalk, and boarded the plane. They took their seats in first class, as the plane's captain welcomed the passengers aboard the plane. Sue Ellen and J.R. fastened their seat belts, as the plane taxied down the runway. J.R. pulled Sue Ellen to him, and passionately kissed her, oblivious to the stares of the nearby passengers. Sue Ellen smiled at J.R. as he pulled away from their kiss. She reached for his hand as the plane started its ascent. They were hours away from a vacation neither of them would forget.
