Alliances
Part 4
J.R. dressed for dinner in a hand-cut, custom-made, Merino wool black suit with a chalk stripe, tailored exclusively by the Robert Tallbot men's clothier in Highland Park Village in Dallas. He wore a crisp white Oxford cotton shirt underneath his suit jacket. He opted to wear a tie with alternating, thin silver and black stripes. He cut a very dashing figure as he waited while Sue Ellen finished dressing.
Sue Ellen walked out of the bathroom wearing a black crepe, slip gown with a black beaded Chantilly lace inset at the sweep. The plunging deep-v neckline was the perfect framework for a simple diamond pendant. The gown fit her like a glove, and the sweeping hemline fell across the floor like a royal robe, giving her the appearance of gliding as she moved across the floor. He hair was pulled back in a bun, and lent to the dramatic display of her three-Carat diamond earrings that J.R. had given to her.
J.R. was unable to contain his smile, and said, "You look ravishing, Sue Ellen."
Sue Ellen lowered her eyes, as a flush of red spread across her face.
She said, "Thank you, J.R. You look very handsome, yourself."
J.R. held out his arm for her, as he opened the door to go downstairs for their evening meal. He leaned against her, as she took his arm, and wrapped her hand around his forearm. John Ross grinned when he saw his parents. They presented the image of a blissfully happy couple, very much in love.
They walked downstairs to join the rest of the family in the parlor before dinner. Bobby would be arriving late. He had a meeting with an investment banker that was taking longer than he had anticipated. J.R. smiled at Miss Ellie and Clayton, as he and Sue Ellen walked into the parlor. Clayton stood up tall and straight upon seeing how exquisite Sue Ellen looked in her evening gown.
Clayton said, "You look lovely, Sue Ellen. You must be very proud, J.R."
J.R. possessively held his arm around Sue Ellen's waist, and said, "I am very proud, Clayton. I consider myself a very lucky man to be given another chance with the love of my life."
Sue Ellen gazed into J.R.'s eyes. His eyes were dark, and his tone of voice was sincere. His words had moved her, and she asked to be excused momentarily.
J.R. watched as she walked out of the room. He excused himself to see if Sue Ellen was feeling all right.
Sue Ellen stood by the stairs in the foyer. She was gently dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
J.R. touched her arm, and asked, "Honey, did I say somethin' wrong?"
Sue Ellen shook her head from side to side, and said, "No, J.R. You just said the most eloquent and heartfelt comment I've ever heard you say."
J.R. smiled solemnly and pulled Sue Ellen into his arms. He wiped at her tears with his fingers, being careful not to smear her mascara.
Sue Ellen softly said, "I'm sorry, J.R. I don't know why I 'm havin' such a hard time controllin' my emotions lately."
J.R. said, "You don't have to apologize, Sugar. These past couple of months have brought about changes for both of us."
Sue Ellen said, "Thank you for understandin', Darlin'."
They walked back into the parlor. John Ross handed his Mamma a club soda, and asked his Daddy what he would like to drink.
J.R. said, "If you're pourin', son, I'll take a club soda, too."
Miss Ellie and Clayton looked surprised. They were not aware that J.R. had been advised by his physician to consider giving up alcoholic beverages. His life might well depend on it, at the rate he had been drinking.
Sue Ellen asked Miss Ellie if she and Clayton enjoyed the cattle auction in Austin.
Miss Ellie said, "It was very noisy, and you couldn't hear the auctioneer, but we bought several head, and Clayton thinks that we should be set for the herd, for the time being."
Clayton winked at Sue Ellen, and said, "Ellie really knows her livestock. She helped me choose which cattle to bid on, and which ones to avoid."
J.R. was oblivious to the conversations taking place around him. He was preoccupied with Sue Ellen's appearance. She carried herself with the utmost dignity, elegance and grace. She was refined and articulate, and the epitome of the belle of the ball in his eyes. Sue Ellen could feel him staring at her, and turned to look at him. The look in his eyes was enough to take her breath away.
Sue Ellen stiffened as he touched the bare skin on her back. His hand was warm, and fueled her reaction to his intense gaze.
Teresa announced that their meal was ready to be served.
The family went into the parlor for after-dinner drinks, and conversation.
J.R. said, "Sue Ellen and I won't be joining you for drinks. We have another engagement in Dallas."
Sue Ellen flashed J.R. a surprised look. He hadn't mentioned anything to her about an after dinner engagement.
Sue Ellen waited until she and J.R. were outside before asking, "Where on earth are you takin' me, J.R.?"
J.R. opened the passenger door of his Cadillac Allante' and waited as she stepped inside. He walked around the front of the car, and opened the driver's side door. He climbed inside, and placed the key into the ignition. He was humming a made-up tune, and didn't answer Sue Ellen's question.
Sue Ellen was insistent, and said, "J.R. Ewing, I asked you a question. Where are we goin'?"
J.R. had reserved seats for two at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's premiere of its' newest, and youngest Conductor, Andrew Litton. Mr. Litton had previously been a student at Julliard. Sue Ellen had followed his career from his days as a music student. She had no idea that J.R. knew of her interest in Andrew Litton, only her appreciation of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra over the years. The Orchestra would be playing their rendition of Ronald Catalbiano's score of Preludes, Fanfares and Toccatas for Orchestra.
J.R. escorted Sue Ellen through the lobby of the Myerson Symphony Center, which opened its doors to the artistic public on September 6, 1989. World-renowned architect I.M. Pei designed the building with the assistance of acoustician, Russell Johnson. Pei's design combined basic geometric shapes, with a rectangular concert hall, set at an angle with the square outer walls. Segments of circles also enclosed the building.
The details of the concert hall was designed to make the acoustics as perfect as possible for orchestral music. The heating and air-conditioning systems were located separately to avoid machinery vibrations. The canopy over the stage could be raised or lowered to enhance sound quality. Double sets of doors stood at each entrance. The seats were covered in mohair, and the walls were covered in African cherry wood. The 30,000 square feet interior hall floors were formed of Italian travertine marble.
Sue Ellen felt a rush of excitement, as the sound of the Orchestra tuning their instruments could be heard from the lobby.
J.R. placed his hand at the small of her back and said, "You look too beautiful this evening to spend it talkin' with the family at Southfork."
Sue Ellen leaned against J.R.'s shoulder, and whispered, "I love you, J.R. Thank you for the wonderful surprise," as the lobby lights flickered, signaling the patrons to take their seats in the concert hall.
J.R. turned around to escort Sue Ellen into the concert hall, and bumped into Cliff Barnes and Marilee Stone. J.R. was ready to apologize for not watching where he was going, but he chose not to upon seeing Cliff and Marilee.
Cliff glanced at Sue Ellen, and said, "You're looking wonderful Sue Ellen. Your trip to Italy looks like it did wonders for you, excluding your taste in escorts."
J.R. was about to tell Cliff off when Sue Ellen said, "Please, J.R., allow me. Cliff, You should be ashamed of yourself, bringin' someone as trashy as Ms. Stone to a concert hall as elegant as this. You know how difficult it is for her to keep quiet when the lights go down."
Marilee screeched, "You bitch!" as she reached out her hand to strike at Sue Ellen.
J.R. stepped in between Marilee and Sue Ellen, and barked, "Barnes, take out this trash, or I will. You might as well join her curbside, while you're at it."
Cliff stood next to Marilee with his mouth gaping, unable to think of a snappy retort.
J.R. said, "Tsk, tsk, Marilee. Your poor, departed husband Seth must be rollin' over in his grave. Then again, maybe you were the reason he decided to end his disappointin' life in the first place. God only knows how he stood livin' with you for as long as he did."
Sue Ellen covered her mouth to avoid laughing out loud at Cliff and Marilee, as J.R. said, "Come on, Sugar, we've got a concert to attend."
The crowded concert hall was overflowing with photographers, and members of the press, eager for the first shot at photographs of the Symphony's new conductor. The lights dimmed, as the first movement of the musical piece began a crosscut snarling cacophony, combined with rhythmic athleticism. The prelude sections wove slow string melodies with quietly exotic excursions in the winds, and high-pitched rattles in the percussions, similar to an electronic whine. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra never sounded more sleek or pure as in the treacherous and dynamic showpiece they played.
Sue Ellen would tightly squeeze J.R.'s hand as the tempo of the music increased, and lean against him when the music slowed. The finely tuned sounds from the cellos and bases sounded like an angelic choir, as the piece hit home its powerful conclusion.
J.R. thought about their earlier confrontation in the lobby with Cliff and Marilee. He would never understand why Cliff would make such a dubious effort at seeming cultured. How could a man who ate leftover Chinese food right out of the box from a greasy, neighborhood restaurant ever hope to aspire to become socially respected and accepted?
J.R. muttered, "Barnes, you jackass."
Sue Ellen leaned closer to J.R., and said, "What, J.R?" I couldn't understand what you just said."
J.R. tried to cover up his expletive, and said, "I said, that was tremendous. That piece was tremendous."
Sue Ellen could tell when he was placating her, and smirked at him.
The remainders of the musical pieces were traditional orchestra fare, much to the delight of the audience in attendance. The conductor and his orchestra received a fifteen-minute standing ovation at the end of the evening. J.R. waited until the majority of the concert's patrons had left the concert hall, before pulling Sue Ellen into his arms for a long-awaited kiss. Sue Ellen opened her mouth to J.R. His unrelenting tongue filled her mouth, as his hands roamed over her back. Sue Ellen could feel his arousal as he hugged her tightly to him.
J.R. released her, and cleared his throat, saying, "I have another surprise for you, Sugar."
Sue Ellen asked, "What else could be better than this concert?"
J.R. pulled a door pass-card out of the interior pocket of his suit jacket, and said, "A suite at the Hyatt Regency Dallas."
Sue Ellen grinned at him seductively, and said, "You've thought of everything, haven't you?"
J.R. chuckled and said, "I'm anxious for you to have your dessert, Honey."
They were the last two people left standing in the deserted concert hall. J.R. took Sue Ellen's hand as he led her into the lobby.
Their evening together was just beginning…