"It's done. And you?" JR had no time for niceties, he simply had to know. Sue Ellen wound her finger around the telephone wire and took a deep breath. It wasn't that she was unsure, at least not about her feelings, but this was all too fast. Only a matter of a few hours ago he was getting married, to someone else, someone much younger and far more malleable than she was which, where JR was concerned, might have been just what he needed. And her? Had she honestly really been contemplating a new life in England with Don or had she just been waiting for the opportunity to arise to let him down gently?

"The same" she uttered quietly, prompting an audible sigh of relief at the other end. "I need to see you, darlin" he responded quickly. She paused, shaking her head. "Not tonight, JR. I'm sure there are things still to be resolved at home. Come over tomorrow morning instead." "Alright" he answered reluctantly. "How's John Ross?" she asked although, deep down, she knew. "Our boy's just fine, Sue Ellen. Mama is taking good care of him." "What have you told him?" she asked, suddenly anxious. "Not a lot, just that Cally and I have decided that getting married wouldn't be a terribly sensible thing to do and that she won't be living here anymore."

She exhaled deeply, satisfied with his response, if only where her son was concerned. This really was it now. There was no turning back and no room for regret, just as Don had told her immediately before he had left.

"What time shall I come?" he asked. "Nine or thereabouts?" she replied. "Yes, fine. Sue-Ellen, I love you. You do know that don't you?" "I do" she answered flatly. "See you tomorrow." As she hung up tears began to well in her eyes. If only love were enough, she reflected, but it wasn't nearly as straightforward as that, as both of them were only too aware.

She moved into the living room and sat down on the sofa facing the window. It looked like a storm was brewing which was apt in the circumstances, she told herself. She hugged her knees and remained motionless, not sure what to do next. Any attempt at working was likely to prove fruitless, she decided, and the television held no attraction right at that moment. Exhausted, she lay her head down, stretched out and closed her eyes. Even if she didn't go to sleep, at least she was resting, she resolved.

She awoke with a start, not sure what day or time it was at first. The sun was streaming through the window blinding her with its light. She glanced at her watch- 6.10am. Sitting up stiffly, she stretched and then began to orientate herself.

She moved to the window and looked out. The remnants of a storm were evident, her usually immaculately tended garden battered with debris, evidencing what had happened whilst she lay deep in slumber, oblivious. She touched her temple briefly. If she hadn't known better, she would have felt hungover.

Mouth dry, head pounding, she moved to the kitchen where she poured herself a large glass of water and drank. As she imbibed, she reflected on all that had happened yesterday and shuddered. Between them they had been the cause of so much damage, she mused sadly, and for what? Now, she felt incredibly unsure.

JR turned once more in his bed, exhausted. He'd downplayed matters deliberately to Sue Ellen in their phone call, so as not to worry her, but the aftermath of his revelation had been far from pleasant. He cursed himself inwardly for accepting her instruction to stay away last night. He needed her, that was the plain fact of the matter. He leaned over and grasped his clock from the bedside table, straining to see in the half light. Disappointed that it was still so early he rose and walked to the window, peering through the gap between the curtains.

He sighed. Most of the wedding paraphernalia had been taken away after he had announced that he wasn't going through with it, but some still remained, unable to be taken down before nightfall and the advent of the storm. Yellow and white bunting, Southfork colours, and numerous strands of fairy lights waved in the breeze as if triumphant that they had survived the tumult of the night before. Balloons floated aimlessly in the pool, evidence of the party that was never meant to be. It was a sad sight, he reflected, but not one that he regretted. By evening, no doubt through the determination and efforts of his mama, the house and gardens would be back to normal again, as if it had never happened, as if he and Cally had never been.

He shook his head regretfully. Standing there, almost ready to put on her wedding gown and complete her transformation, she'd begun by begging him, then apologising, then promising to become more like her rival, to be the wife that he wanted and deserved, until, eventually, she realised it was futile. Then only silence as she packed her things, assisted by his mama, and he wrote the cheque.

Carnage, he reflected, once again down to him. If only he'd been better, if only he'd been the husband to the only woman that he ever really loved that he should have been. Instead, wicked, twisted games destined to result in separation, loss and sorrow…

Rapidly shaking off his guilt, as he was so wont to do, he walked to the wardrobe and began picking out his clothes for the day. In a few hours he would see her and all would be well, he told himself. This time, he would show her just how it could be between them, he resolved. They'd start, as they mentioned yesterday, with a trip, somewhere that neither of them had been before, a chance to get to know each other again, to reconnect and build a new, better future together.

Beginning to feel more hopeful, excited even, he moved to his dresser and opened the top drawer. There he found it, his ring, the only one that he ever wanted to wear. He slid it gently onto his finger, relieved that it still fitted, albeit a little tighter than before. I'll show Sue Ellen, in all ways, he decided determinedly.

Tbc

Sorry I haven't updated any of my stories for ages. Thanks for the messages and reviews. I'm perfectly fine, just snowed under with the weight of my work and family responsibilities. I still love writing about JR and SE and I will try harder, I promise : )