Never Give Up
He didn't fall in love with her hair.
But they'll get through it all because they're survivors.
Chapter Two: A Weight Lifted
After Brock had finished talking, the room went a deafening quiet as Cheyenne, Van, Kyra, and Jake sat in front of them with their eyes as wide as saucers. Brock's hand rested on Reba's knee, his thumb moving in soothing circles, and she had never been more thankful for his presence than she was now.
"Mrs. H, you have… cancer?"
Reba could hear the hurt and confusion that laced Van's voice and she felt a shattering in her chest once again. How was she supposed to protect them from this? All she could do was nod her head and right on cue, she watched all of the walls around her crumble to the ground.
Van took in a shaky breath and put his head in his hands. Kyra immediately stood from the chair that sat under the window that connected the living room to the kitchen and pulled her mother into a tight embrace. Jake walked over to Brock and the two could see the fear in his eyes.
"Dad?"
Reba tried to breathe through Kyra's hair and looked to Brock, trying desperately to get him to help Jake. He quickly pulled the boy down onto the couch next to him, wrapping his strong arm around his shoulders.
"It's going to be okay, buddy."
Kyra finally let go of her mother and sat next to her with her arm draped around her shoulders.
"I love you, mom." Reba smiled at her youngest daughter's words before turning to Cheyenne who had yet to say anything.
"I – I just don't understand. You can't have cancer."
"Honey…"
"No, mom, you just can't. You're mom, you're the strongest one in this family. You can't."
"Cheyenne – " Van tried to place a hand on the small of her back, but she only pulled away from him.
"No, Van. This is mom we're talking about, you don't understand. She can't die."
Reba felt all of the air leave her body as those last three words hit her ears. Tears were streaming down Cheyenne's face and suddenly she wished it was twenty years ago when she could've picked her up in her arms and protected her from the harshness of the world.
"Shut up, Cheyenne! Why would you say that?" Kyra stood from her seat on the couch and shouted at her sister who stood at the opposite end of the couch.
"Die?" Jake muttered and Brock pulled him closer. He had to stop this. This whole situation was starting to spiral out of control.
Kyra and Cheyenne were yelling back and forth, and Brock was trying so desperately to get them to stop. The silence that had filled the room before had completely vanished and was replaced with incessant bickering and Reba could feel a headache beginning to form. She couldn't take this any longer.
She placed her thumb and index finger between her lips and whistled loudly, causing their voices to come to a halt. Everyone turned to face her and it didn't take long for all of their cheeks to flush.
"Everyone, sit down." Reba spoke harshly and they all sat. She inhaled deeply before continuing on. "Now listen, I know you are all scared, I am, too. But you cannot do this. You cannot fight against each other like this. Now more than ever we need to come together as a family. I need to know that you guys will support and help each other because there will be times when I won't be able to do that."
Cheyenne and Kyra both looked down into their laps, instantly feeling the guilt wash over them.
"I'm sorry."
"Me, too."
"Good. Now I'm going to have to go through chemotherapy and I may start to look a little… different. I don't know all the details yet, but I'll find out on Wednesday at my doctor's appointment."
"I'm going with you."
Reba held her hand up into the air signalling Cheyenne to stop.
"No need, Cheyenne, your father's going to come." She felt Brock squeeze her knee and turned to smile at him.
"Oh."
"And y'all are going to come over that night and have dinner with us so we can relay all of the information to you."
Everyone nodded and silence filled the room once again. Reba felt a sense of relief wash over her. Keeping that secret from her family had been the hardest thing she had ever had to do, but now that it was out in the open she felt a sliver of her strength return. She had never been one to hide.
"Mom?" Jake's quiet voice brought everyone out of their thoughts. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course you can, honey." Reba gave him her warmest smile and reached over Brock, nudging his knee encouragingly. She knew there would be questions, how could there not be questions? Even she had questions.
"Can we have a movie night? You know, like we used to when Cheyenne and Van still lived here?"
Reba's smile reached her ears when the innocence of his question hit her. She stood from her seat on the couch and pulled Jake into a bone shattering hug, swaying from side to side.
"Oh, I sure do love you."
"Mom… I can't breathe." Jake managed to croak out as all of the air in his chest seemed to vanish. Reba blushed and let go of him after messing his hair for a quick second.
"What do yah say, gang?" She wrapped a motherly arm around Cheyenne and pulled her close. She wanted to help her children forget their pain for as long as she could and Jake's idea was the perfect way to do that.
"I'm in."
"Me, too."
"I'd like that."
Reba nodded her head triumphantly and squeezed Cheyenne. "Well then, it's settled, Jakey, a movie night it is!"
They all grinned and giggle in unison before Kyra asked the obvious question:
"Where's Barbara Jean?"
Reba had been so caught up in their moment, she had completely forgotten about Barbara Jean. She thought she'd be back by now and the fact that she wasn't worried her. Reba opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Brock watched Reba hesitate and quickly stood, placing a hand on the small of her back.
"She didn't take the news as well as you guys did. She went for some air, she shouldn't be too much longer."
The kids seemed to accept that answer and Reba turned to Brock and smiled, silently thanking him.
"Why don't you guys pick out the movie while I go make us some popcorn?" Van and Jake jumped from their seats and raced to the cabinet underneath the television. "And no horror movies!" She narrowed her eyes and pointed at the boys who groaned at her words.
Reba giggled to herself and walked into the kitchen, finally able to let out the breath that she had been holding in. That went better than she thought it would and she was so grateful to have Brock by her side during that time. She couldn't even imagine having to do that on her own.
She walked over to the cupboard next to the fridge and pulled it open. She spotted the popcorn and reached for the top shelf. As she closed the small door, she felt her skeleton leap out of her body when she noticed Barbara Jean standing next to her.
"Barbara Jean! Don't sneak up on me like that!" She held a hand to her chest and tried to catch her breath.
Barbara Jean jumped back a step and bugged her eyes. "Oh, my lord, Reba, I'm so sorry! Did I make it worse?" She began to hyperventilate and wave her arms in the air. "I'm so stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid."
"Barbara Jean, calm down. It doesn't work like that." She placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder hoping to calm her down before she took it to the next level.
"It doesn't?" She stopped hyperventilating and looked at her friend with wide eyes.
"No."
"Oh."
"Yeah." Reba turned her back and walked to the microwave, placing the bag on the turn table and shutting the door.
"I'm sorry I walked out." Her voice was quiet and calm. She'd never heard Barbara Jean's voice take that tone before. She figured the woman didn't have a quiet voice.
"It's okay. I wanted to walk out of the room, too, when I found out." She turned and gave Barbara Jean a small smile.
"You'll get through this, you know? We'll get through this." Barbara Jean put a hand on Reba's shoulder and Reba just smiled and nodded. She wanted to say something, but she knew she couldn't. If she spoke, she was afraid she'd cry once again.
"C'mere." The blonde said as she pulled the redhead into a hug, but rather than pushing her away, Reba hugged back tightly, thankful for the warmth and closeness of her friend. Lord knows, she'd miss her if she were ever gone.
Cheyenne and Van had left, Kyra and Jake were asleep on the couch, and Reba, Brock, and Barbara Jean were making work of the mess they had left behind. They had just finished two Austin Powers movies in a row and Reba swore her sides hurt so much from laughing – maybe not so much from the movie itself, but from her family joking and laughing around her. It was a sight that filled her heart with warmth and she wanted to hold onto that feeling for as long as possible.
Brock placed the dirty popcorn bowls in the sink with a clank and rested his palms on the cool tile surrounding it. He eyed Reba as she set the dirty glasses on the counter top. She had managed to turn a bad situation into a good one and he had no idea how she did it. He knew she was terrified, yet she managed to turn that into a family night and all thoughts of cancer were lost. Well, except for his.
All he could think about during the movies was Reba and the journey to come. He had to admit, he was also scared. He couldn't bear to see this woman in pain. She was his best friend, the love of his life, and the last thing he wanted to see, the very last thing, was her in pain. He remembered when they first got married and she had broken her leg skiing. Every time she would walk, whether it was from the couch or to the bathroom, he could see the pain in her eyes so he took it upon himself to carry her everywhere, just like he had when she was pregnant. Just like he would in the upcoming weeks if need be. It was the very least he could do.
Reba could feel Brock's eyes on her and it made her uncomfortable. The last thing she wanted was for everyone to treat her differently. She was still the same sassy Reba she had always been and she didn't want her family to forget that.
"Quit starin' at me." She said as she climbed onto one of the tall, green chairs that sat at the island.
"You're amazing, you know?"
"Knock it off." She brushed him off, wanting no weirdness between the two of them. They'd had enough of those moments to last them a life time.
"No, really. You turned that into a fun, family night. I don't know how you do it, how you always remain so strong."
"Well, I think technically it was Jake's doing, but thank you." She smiled at him and he looked as though he was about to say something, however Barbara Jean re-entered the room.
"Listen guys, I've been thinking." Reba turned in her chair and faced Barbara Jean.
"Oh lord, Brock, the woman's been thinking."
Brock tried to hide his giggle and Reba smirked at Barbara Jean.
"Ha. Ha. Glad to see you haven't lost that sense of humour yet, but I'm being serious, Reba."
Brock and Reba's smiles both fell immediately, giving Barbara Jean their full attention.
"What is it then?"
"When I left earlier I did a lot of thinking and I think Brock should move back in with you for a little while."
"WHAT?!" Reba and Brock both said in unison as Reba planted her boots on the ground and stood from her seat.
"Well yeah, you're going to need someone to care for you and the kids because you won't be able to. My grandmother had cancer and I've seen what it can do to a person. You won't be able to do this on your own, plus Cheyenne and Van don't live here anymore and I know you don't want me movin' in."
"She has a point, Reba. You'll need someone to cook and clean and drive the kids where they need to go. Well, Jake anyway. And there will be days when you won't be able to get out of bed, I'm sure."
"I hadn't really thought about that." Reba sat back into her chair and rested her head in her hand. Barbara Jean was right. She needed someone here to help her, and Van and Cheyenne had lives and kids of their own. And there was no way in heck that she was letting Barbara Jean move in with her. God, for once in her life she needed help. She didn't like that feeling.
"Why don't we wait until my doctor's appointment and we'll talk about it then?"