Chapter Two: Date Night

Reba had just finished getting ready for Steve to pick her up. She was really looking forward to tonight. Even though she had just met him, she had felt a connection with him and it just felt right. She was still nervous of course, but anxious as well.

She walked down the stairs, and saw Van and Cheyenne playing with Elizabeth on the living room floor and Kyra and Jake watching television on the couch. She walked to the love chair and set her purse down, then continued into the kitchen to get a drink of water without a word.

When she walked out of the living room, Van and Cheyenne looked at each other with suspicion and ran into the kitchen to ask Reba what was going on. They had noticed she was dressed very fancy and had suspected she was going on a date. They walked into the kitchen as she was taking a drink, and stared at her smiling. She looked back and forth between the two of them. "What?"

"You look awful nice, what are you up to?" Cheyenne asked.

"I'm goin' out." Reba replied simply, as she put her empty glass in the dishwasher. Van and Cheyenne shared another look.

"On a date?" she asked, still smiling. Reba hesitated for a second before she replied.

"Yes." Van started jumping up and down, obviously quite excited.

"With who? With who?" he asked with each jump.

"Oh, I knew this was comin'." She paused for a moment before answering. "Someone that you don't know."

Cheyenne walked closer to her, Van followed. "Well we figured that much," Cheyenne said, "but aren't you gonna tell us anything about him?"

"Yeah, Mrs. H. We, as your children, have a right to know who your new Mr. H-h-h-hott is." Van was trying to be serious about it, but it just turned out sounding really dumb.

"Well, I, as your mother-in-law, have a right to keep my business to myself." Reba replied as she walked back into the living room. And with that, Reba picked up her purse and walked out the front door.

When she walked out, Steve was just pulling up. She walked up to the passenger side of the car and he rolled the window down. "I heard there was a young lady around here who needed a ride to the new Italian restaurant in town."

Reba, flattered, replied, "That would be me." She gave a chuckle and got into the car.

They had a somewhat quiet drive. But it only took about 10 minutes. They got inside, and were seated quickly. Steve pulled the seat out for her, and then took a seat himself. After they ordered their drinks, Reba said, "I'm surprised they're this empty. I would've thought all kinds of people would be here tryin' it out."

"Maybe they already did. I think this place has been open for a while."

"But, no one's come back? That's odd. Maybe it's not that good."

After they were done, she was proved wrong. It was a wonderful meal! The best Italian either of them had ever had. "I'm so full. I don't think I'm gonna eat for a week." Steve said, leaning back in his chair as he finished his last bite.

"It was delicious! The best I've ever had."

"Me too."

They left the restaurant, and he drove to the park and they took a walk on the trail. The sun was starting to set, and it was beautiful. As they walked however, they were unaware that someone was watching them.

A Couple Months Later

Reba and Steve were getting pretty serious in their relationship. They went on a date, almost every night of the week. They had so much fun together. They were sure that they were meant for each other. They couldn't find a single thing they didn't like about the other.

One night, she was expecting Steve's call, but never received it. She started to get worried, but thought maybe he just got caught up in work or something. She sat on the couch waiting, hoping he would still call, even though it was getting late. But he never did, and she ended up falling asleep on the couch, with the phone still in her hands, waiting to pick it up. She was awoke the next morning by the phone ringing in her hand, and she thought it would be Steve.

"Hello."

"Is this a Miss Reba Hart?"

"Yes it is. May I ask whose callin'?"

"My name is Carl. Carl Robinson. I'm with the police department. Did you know a Mr. Steve Howard?"

"Yes. Why, is somethin' wrong?" Reba got the feeling something bad had happened because she hadn't heard from Steve last night, Mr. Robinson had referred to him in past tense, "Did you know", and he was a policeman. She was starting to get worried.

"He seems to have disappeared without a trace, and we were wondering if you had any idea of where he could've gone."

"None. I don't know why he would've even gone anywhere."

"Do you mind if I come by and ask you some questions?"

"No, not at all, please do. I'd like to know what's happened to him."

Mr. Robinson arrived a few minutes later and started asking questions. He was very sweet, and comforting to Reba. At first, Reba accepted his comfort, but after a while, thought that maybe he was a little too friendly. She brushed it out of her mind though, thinking he was just a caring person who felt bad for what she was going through. But she was very wrong…