Dear Readers-
There's a new poll for this story and series. Please vote for who you want to end up with whom is this story and series. I really want your feedback for this one. I want to get each female character to end up with a guy to love in the series. It's about finding love for all the female characters, but the emphasis is on Reba for now in the story.
It's finally September 2008 in the story! Spoiler: Lori Ann is the next to find love, but with which guy?
Let me know that you want me to keep this story going! It would be great to have plenty of feedback for this chapter. Remember your responses keep me writing. Here it goes…
Now on with the story-
I don't own Reba or any of the characters in this story from Reba. They belong to the writers of the REBA TV show. I also do not owe the rights to any of the songs and lyrics that I use in this story. Those are the property of the artists involved. I also do not own the rights to any television show or movie reference that I use in this story. Those are the property of the Hollywood creative teams involved in their production. I will be changing some release/airing dates of the titles used to fit in with the story.
The characters of Max Thornton, Cheyenne McEntire-Smith (Nana), Vince McEntire (Papa), Kenneth Smith (Gramps), Paige McKinney, Michael Davis, John McKinney, Barbara Ann Grant, Kim Campbell-Holliway, Sam Holliway, Jenny Miller, Nick Holliway, Terry Holliway, Jr., Josh Holliway, Madeline Mitchell, Greg Brooks, Jason Holliway, Emma Holliway, and Maggie from this story are my creation though. The story is just a year off from the way that the seasons of Reba actually aired. The story picks up from after the sixth season of Reba and beyond from fall 2008.
This chapter will consist of scenes that will be in regular font, not italicized font. I use the italicized font to distinguish between author's notes and regular scenes. I use bold font when things need special emphasis.
Previously- Reba locked herself in Brock's embrace. Something in his manner soothed her. She relaxed, sinking into his cushioning embrace. "You and me both," Reba responded in a weak and shaky whisper. Reba trusted Brock in that moment not to try to make a move on her. She wasn't disappointed when Brock proved to be the gentleman that he said that he was trying to be.
"I'm always gonna be here for ya, honey. Just like this, I promise." Brock said with quiet emphasis. "I'm not gonna let ya be sad about this weekend. Please don't cry. We are two consenting adults. We made a decision. We weren't even drinking yesterday. We've known and cared about each other for twenty-eight years. I am not gonna let ya feel bad about what happened between us. I still love you, Reba. Everything I did was out of that love. You had a good time, didn't ya?"
Reba nodded back at Brock without speaking. She leaned her head back and gazed into his eyes. She managed a small, tentative smile. His face split into a wide grin.
"I rocked your world quite a few times this week, haven't I?" There was a trace of laughter in his voice.
"Correction. I think that I'm the one who rocked your world more. I think that we're evenly matched in the bedroom. At least, I've never heard you complain." She heard his full masculine laugh.
"You win. You're right. I'm extremely satisfied when we're in bed. There's nothing in the world quite as fantastic as making love with you, Reba."
"I'm flattered, but I know that you're teasing me. You've got a young, eager wife at home."
"That is like comparing steak and hamburger. Now I like hamburger, but I could have steak every night of the week. And before you ask, Reba, I was comparing you to steak, a very satisfying meal."
The gentle teasing was helping to ease her guilty thoughts. She chuckled. "Can you think of other things to compare me to while you're on a roll, Mr. Sweet Talker?"
"Sex alleviates tension. And you, Sweetheart, are the best stress relief that I've ever had!"
Seeing the amusement in his eyes, Reba laughed. "Right back at ya, Sugar!" she quipped.
The moral crisis was temporarily averted, but Brock knew that the angel on her shoulder was back. He knew that they would have having this discussion again. Reba was not a person who made a habit of having casual sex and he knew that their weekend would bother her conscience again sometime in the near future.
Reba was too content spending the time alone with Brock to get online to talk with LovinCowboy84 about her date and the movie. She figured that she would come up with a good excuse when she talked to him again. She considered telling him that she went with the kids to Six Flags and that's why she wasn't online all weekend. She'd hoped that he'd buy that excuse. She hated lying to him, but she didn't want to admit to him what actually happened. She didn't want him to get the wrong idea about her being some lonely desperate divorcée. She valued his opinion and didn't want him judging her recent behavior. She felt guilty enough as it was.
He was a good friend and she didn't want to lose him. She didn't know before how wonderful it felt to be friends with a man without any sexual attraction getting in the way. He seemed to genuinely like and care about her as a person. She trusted him completely with things that she couldn't share with anyone else. She really needed someone like that in her life. She sometimes wondered if Brock said sweet things to her just to get his own way. He often used to trick her to win an argument or to get her into bed when they were married. She'd hoped that life would resume back to normal between her and Brock. She wondered if they really could continue being best friends. She decided that only time would tell...
What happens next? Stay tuned to find out this chapter!
We left the story in chapter 30 in the present year of the story- June 2008 with Reba and Brock heading home from their date. Brock romanced Reba more. Brock gave Reba a heart locket with a picture of teenage Reba and a picture of teenage Brock inside. The pictures were taken the day that they met in September 1980. That's why the pictures meant so much to Brock. They made love and Reba decided to ask Brock if they could let go of their painful past for a little while. Reba asked if they could just pretend to be husband and wife more just one more day. Reba doesn't want to be in an on-going affair with him.
They spent the day together as a couple. Brock paid for the kids to be gone for the weekend to Six Flags Over Texas. Reba doesn't know this, but Barbra Jean does. They played miniature golf and Reba beat Brock, who used to be a semi-professional golfer. They went to a movie and shopped at the mall together. They watched Romancing the Stone together before the end of the evening when they made love again. Brock continued to be sweet to Reba the next day when the deal was over. Brock watched sports on TV while Reba visited with Barbra Jean.
Barbra Jean was gushing over her date with Eugene Fisher. Reba found out that Brock and Barbra Jean were in counseling again with Dr. Baker. Dr. Morgan called to ask Reba out on a date again. Lori Ann called to tell Reba that she's moving back to Houston. Paige called to talk with Reba about her love life and find out about Reba's date on Friday night. Paige saw Helen having dinner with her ex, Jason Holliway.
Reba believes that Helen is having an affair with Jason Holliway again. Brock comforted Reba. Reba felt guilty about her weekend with Brock. Reba hadn't talked to LovinCowboy84 all weekend. She wondered what to tell him when she finally did talk to him again. She wanted things between her and Brock to go back to normal.
What will happen to Reba and Brock after this? Will Barbra Jean keep on dating Eugene Fisher? What else does the future hold for Reba and Brock? What will Reba say to LovinCowboy84 when she talks to him again? Is Helen really cheating on JV? Who will Reba end up with in Vegas?
What happens now? What happens in the present when Reba wakes up in Vegas? How did she end up in Vegas? Keep reading to find out more!
Author's note- Summer-Fall 2008: Brock told Reba that she's his best friend. They were working to put the animosity of the divorce behind them and work towards the friendship that they had years ago in Oklahoma. Brock was making that hard when his physical presence was all over her house again as a roommate once he moved in again. Brock begged Reba to let him stay at her house temporarily while he and Barbra Jean worked things out in the spring. When it looked like the separation wasn't so temporary, Brock suggested that he stay and help Reba out with the bills. He encouraged her to go back to college and finish her degree so she could become a teacher just like she always wanted to. The family jumped behind that idea. Van and Cheyenne offered to rent out their house and move back in to help Reba out to make things easier while she went back to school.
Van and Cheyenne were worried about being on their own so they quickly made the offer to help Reba so they could get the sanctuary and comfort from living at Reba's house. Brock remodeled the basement into an apartment for Van, Cheyenne, and their two kids. Cheyenne wanted her parents' help with the new baby. John Christopher Montgomery was born in July. The name made Reba sad and happy at the same time. Van and Cheyenne picked the name without knowing that it held special meaning for Reba. They still weren't aware that Cheyenne was not Reba's firstborn child. Reba saw a resemblance in her new grandson to her own baby John from twenty-five years before.
Van and Cheyenne were busy and extremely exhausted. Cheyenne returned to college classes in the fall. Van worked long hours at the real estate office. Baby John was put in campus daycare until five o'clock when Reba or Brock picked up the baby from the daycare. Brock offered to make the attic into a bedroom for Kyra so she'd have more privacy back in April. Kyra graduated from high school in June. She spent the summer playing gigs with her band. She came home less often. In September, mother and daughters were all college students at the University of Houston.
Elizabeth and Henry started kindergarten by then. Kyra was staying in the dorms on campus. She still had a bedroom at Reba's house whenever she decided to come home. Jake was thirteen and started eighth grade in the fall. He also started his own lawn mowing business in the neighborhood so he could have some spending money. Elizabeth and Henry started kindergarten that fall. Henry spent weekends with Brock at Reba's house. He stayed in the guest bedroom, which was Kyra's old bedroom. Barbra Jean was very busy with her new job as a television news reporter so Henry also stayed at Reba's house after school until his mother got off work. Brock cut back his work hours so he could be home when Elizabeth, Henry, and Jake got home from school.
Reba was pleasantly surprised that her family was finally able to sit down all together for dinner at six o'clock every night after all these years like she always wished that they could. Reba and Brock traded off cooking duties. Everyone had assigned household chores to keep things running smoothly since Reba had so much on her plate while returning to school after all these years. Reba put the family on a budget so they could make it financially while she was in school and not working. Brock wanted Reba to be able to focus on school full-time so he suggested to her that having a job, being a full-time student, and being a full-time mother would be too stressful and hard on her blood pressure. Brock and Barbra Jean have filed for divorce behind Reba's back. Brock is worried about Reba's reaction to the news.
Brock is staying in Van and Cheyenne's old bedroom. This was hard for Reba to grow accustomed to. She was comfortable in her old routine. The change and disruption of her routine was hard for Reba to handle. She was used to living as a single mother alone. Reba and Brock's bedrooms are separated by just one wall. Reba was just getting out of a bad relationship with Jack Morgan that was rekindled in February. He'd tricked her into believing that his marriage to Cheryl was over. When she found out, she was furious and broke things off with him in March. Six months after the breakup, he wouldn't leave her alone. Lori Ann suggested setting her up with a blind date so Jack could see that Reba was dating again and off limits to him. Reba agreed. She is enjoying her new role as a full-time college student. Reba finds Mike Holliway at her door as the blind date set up by Lori Ann. After the initial shock wears off, Reba and Mike sit down with everyone else to watch a video tape that Lori Ann made for them about the big moments in their past relationship.
Author's note- Note to readers: This chapter will deal with Brock backs off on pursuing Reba at her request. He is waiting for his divorce to be final. Reba starts college. Mike Holliway comes back into their lives. Reba and Mike get to know each other again. Reba and Mike go on a double date with Brock and Barbra Jean. Lori Ann helps Reba get Dr. Jack Morgan off her back. Dr. Jack Morgan was in a relationship with his ex-wife, Cheryl again while pursuing Reba. Reba and Lori Ann plan for Lori Ann to seduce Jack and be caught by Cheryl. Stay tuned for Cheryl's reaction to Jack's infidelity.
Remember the most important thing that you can do to keep this story going is to Read and Review! Any comments and feedback is appreciated. I may consider using one of your suggestions and giving you full credit. I need feedback so I know if I should keep the story going. Please let me know if you like this story and want it to continue.
The answers to the questions above will be revealed as you read the story. Here is the latest installment of Believe in Love Again.
Now on with our next chapter-
Reba went through with her plan of not revealing much about her weekend with Brock to LovinCowboy84. She gave him a G rated version of the evening and the following weekend. Three months passed and life went back to normal. Reba talked with LovinCowboy84 two nights a week plus weekends. She was very busy with adjusting to life as a college student. She was attending the same college as Kyra, which wasn't too awkward for the teen. She had lunch with her mother one or two days a week on campus, depending on her schedule. She usually had lunch with Reba on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays. Cheyenne also had lunch with her mother one day per week.
Cheyenne had lunch with Reba on Tuesdays. That was about the only time that she had during the school week to spend with her mother. She had taken on an extra course load after she changed majors to become a drug and alcohol counselor. Reba cherished the days when Kyra was able to join her and Cheyenne for lunch. Those were special Tuesdays. Her children were grown up and she missed spending time with them. She was glad that she was able to attend college again. Now she had something in common with her daughters and they had time to be with her¸ even if it was just for an hour.
She really had to thank Brock. He really came through for her. He was paying her college costs and helping around the house with the kids. He made sure that he was home for Jake, Henry, and Elizabeth every day after school. Why wasn't he like that when she started back to work five years ago? It must be because Barbra Jean went back to work and couldn't play the role of the perfect housewife anymore. There it was again, a small amount of old hostility rearing its ugly head. She had thoughts like this about Barbra Jean creep into her mind every so often.
She felt bad because Barbra Jean was one of her best friends. She knew what Paige would say about that! Of course, if she gave in to these thoughts about Barbra Jean as husband stealing homewrecker, then she would start having thoughts about Brock as a husband. She didn't want that. She had a nice, comfortable life and she didn't want anyone to mess it up. Things between her and Brock were terrific. He had a firm place in her life as a best friend and a roommate. She had dreams from those days in June, but she dismissed those as frustration over her lack of a love life.
Lori Ann moved back to Houston in August. Every Friday night was girls' night out. Barbra Jean only came along when Lori Ann was in enough of a good mood to tolerate her. Lori Ann developed a plan of action to get rid of Dr. Jack Morgan, which would also benefit Reba by jumpstarting her love life. That's when Reba got a surprise at the door, Mike Holliway. Everyone was in Reba's room watching a video that Lori Ann made for Mike Holliway and Reba. The video was just about finished. Mike was in the scene that they were currently watching.
Video- "Okay. So now I've sent the flowers and serenaded you on the radio. You're not impressed. I should have expected it. I should've told ya what I was plannin', but I really wanted to make sure that everythin' was in place before we saw each other again. If you're watchin' this now, I've moved to Houston to be with ya. I've uprooted my whole life. I want you to know that you can depend on me. I love ya, Sal.
I always have. I know that you're dating other guys, but that's okay because I know that I can rise up to the challenge of showing ya how much we belong together. I have a lot of work to do in order to prove myself to ya. We need a fresh start, but I figured that it couldn't hurt to look back to the past right now since that's all we've been doin' with this video."
Mike picked up his guitar that was beside his chair and began to play an old favorite song of theirs from their teen years, "Thirteen".
Won't you let me walk you home from school
Won't you let me meet you at the pool
Maybe Friday I can
get tickets for the dance
and I'll take you
Won't you tell your dad, "Get off my back"
Tell him what we said 'bout 'Paint It Black'
Rock 'n Roll is here to stay
Come inside where it's okay
And I'll shake you.
Won't you tell me what you're thinking of
Would you be an outlaw for my love
If it's so, well, let me know
If it's "no", well, I can go
I won't make you
"So Reba, can we make a new start together? You are my past, my present, and my future. Can we try to work things out and be a family?"
Reba was watching the video and tears filled her eyes. She looked over at Mike and took his hand. "I'm just not sure. I need time to think. I do love you. I'm just not sure if we really do work anymore, especially here. Things are easy back home in McAlester, but this is my real life."
"I know that. I can give you time." He said, patting her hand.
"Guys, that wasn't the last scene in the video. There's one last scene that was a surprise for you." Lori Ann explained.
Video- Terry Holliway came on the screen. "Hey, guys. I'm makin' this for ya. The doctors haven't given me much time. I've got cancer. If you're watchin' this, then I'm gone. This is not meant to be a goodbye, which is why this isn't bein' played at my funeral. You see, I know that we are in a very messed up situation. We have been for the last twenty years. You see Brock is in love with Reba, who's always been in love with Mike, despite the fact that she married Brock. I know that she loves Brock, too.
They do have three children together. I understand this, Reba, because I'm in love with two people too. I love Lori Ann, but we do not have a permanent relationship. We have a relationship that fits on her schedule and I'm okay with that. I just wanna be with her. I'm also in love with Kim. That snuck up on me. Mike's an idiot. Neither one of us has been makin' good decisions lately. Reba walked out on Mike again and he just stood there and watched her go. She almost died, Mike. You better let her know how you feel before you lose the chance. I should know I'm in love with a stubborn woman myself."
Lori Ann's voice came on from behind the video camera. "I'm not stubborn. Just sensible. Kim is carryin' your demon spawn so I'm not gonna marry you."
"Come on. If Reba was given the choice on her wedding day, don't ya think that she woulda married Mike, despite Kim's pregnancy?"
"She loves him. She can't help it. It's true love. When it comes to love triangles, let me tell ya somethin'. Someone is always gonna come out cryin'. I've watched Reba suffer for the last year or two. She dies a little bit more each day because of Brock and his bimbo. I can't do that. I'm just gonna go home and celebrate life. When the time comes, I'm gonna bring Mike and Reba back together again."
"That's all I ask. I love you, Lori Ann."
"Shut up and unmask the she-devil! She started this whole thing and seduced the two of you into it. I've waited long enough. You will tell the secret now!"
"Reba, I never meant to hurt ya so badly! I really didn't think that your relationship with Mike was that serious. I know better now. I've seen how you two have worked together to help raise Paige. You fight being in love. Let me tell ya somethin'. Brock wasn't worth runnin' back to. Let me tell ya how the whole thing started back in 1983. Kim was mad because Mike dumped her to be with you.
She wasn't gonna stand by and take it. She thought that she was in love with him herself. Brock was in love with you. He told me so. I saw what happened the night of the party just before we left for Vegas. Reba, I figured that you shouldn't rush into marriage without bein' absolutely sure. When Kim came to me with a plan, I joined in. Brock was already part of Kim's plan.
The plan was to stop the wedding. Here's the truth- Kim knew that Mike was gonna call it quits before prom night. I knew it, too. I got Mike away from your house that night. Then I left and ended up at the party with Lori Ann. Kim saw Mike at the party. He got really drunk. I think that it was because he wanted to be with you and didn't know if you two had a future. He was drinking his pain away.
Kim took him upstairs, but nothing happened. He was passed out drunk. They didn't have sex. Kim made it look like they did. This got her two more weeks with Mike. Then he really did end it with her. She was never pregnant. You two got together so fast. It was hard to form much of a plan so it was developed as plans for the wedding went rollin' right along.
You shoulda known that somethin' was wrong when Brock was chosen as the best man instead of me. I'm Mike's only brother. Brock was just a friend. That was part of the plan. The plan was to make me look like the threat to the whole thing. For some reason, you seemed to trust Brock more so Mike decided to make Brock the best man. It bought Brock lots of time to be close to ya, Reba. Every time your instincts told ya that somethin' was off. You were right. The best man was tryin' to steal the bride.
There were plenty of opportunities to stop the plan. When Lori Ann told me about the private ceremony, I prayed that Mike would still go get a minister. You shoulda listened to your grandmother. She saw that somethin' was gonna happen, but she left it up to free will and fate. I wanted out of the conspiracy, but I was sleepin' with Kim. I wasn't gonna go against her. That's why Lori Ann was set up with Brock in Vegas. I didn't want Lori Ann to find out. Brock was my best friend, too.
I didn't wanna hurt him. He thought that he'd get ya right away with Mike out of the picture. I wasn't in love with Kim at this point. She and I were just killin' time together. Lori Ann had a crush on Brock. With Brock out of the way, I figured that Lori Ann might start to have feelings for me. The night before the wedding, Brock was certain that he'd made some progress with you. But you were still plannin' a wedding and honeymoon with Mike.
You only saw Brock as a friend. Kim flew into Vegas the night before the wedding. Everything that happened at the wedding was planned precisely. She came in to stop the ceremony. Brock didn't plan on you asking him point blank if he knew anythin' about Kim stoppin' the ceremony. He looked ya straight in the eye and lied. Of course, he knew! Half of the plan was his idea.
Brock and Kim knew how Mike would react to Kim's ultimatum. Reba, you played right into their hands because you were wantin' revenge by sleepin' with another man in the honeymoon suite. Brock acted so innocent when Lori Ann suggested that Reba sleep with him. Brock figured that Mike wouldn't want ya anymore after that. We all know how wrong he was. Mike won Reba back and things were great until she left town. Reba, I don't know what happened that night in Vegas, but I owe you the biggest apology.
That was supposed to be the most romantic night of your life. You were savin' yourself for your husband and we ruined that. You didn't get a husband and you ended up alone with a baby. I knew that you would end up back with Mike though. I didn't mind at all bein' a part of your plan, Reba. You developed your plan out of pure love, but the breakdown of your relationship was caused by lack of communication. Mike was afraid to take your relationship to the next level because you didn't tell him that it was okay with you. You insisted that Mike try to keep the marriage goin'. He didn't know what else to do. Reba, men aren't all knowing.
Women have to tell men exactly what they want sometimes. I'm sorry about what happened to you. I never imagined that you were that depressed. I figured it out on my own. Brock never told me what happened. Maybe Brock was what you needed to heal back then. But he played a part in hurting ya every bit as much as the rest of us. He kept after you until you broke down and then he played the hero in puttin' ya back together again.
Please don't let some stupid ole drama from twenty-five years ago keep you and Mike apart anymore. Brock is the idiot for ruining things. If you'd spent your life happily ever after with him, then this wouldn't matter to you. But after everything he did to get ya to fall in love with him, he screwed it up and broke your heart. It's Mike's turn now. You were both victims. Kim said that she'd make things right with you someday. I'm goin' to even if she doesn't. This seems right somehow.
I brought you and Mike together in the first place so maybe it's okay if I'm the one who helps bring you back together again. Thanks for the song and the dance, Reba. I feel privileged to have seen you one last time. You really shine on that stage. I hope that you can forgive me someday. I wish that I could see you again. I know that I will someday in heaven. I'll be up there with your grandfather and the baby, so don't cry for me. I've lived a good life. I've been happy. My best times were with the four of us together: Mike, Lori Ann, you and me. I love you guys. Be happy."
When the devastating confession was over, Reba's eyes were so watery that she couldn't see. Tears were flowing down her cheeks. She looked over at Mike. "Let's try to work things out and see where it goes."
A wide grin spread over Mike's face. "Well, Ms. McKinney-Hart?" He paused the question there as he always did. He wanted to see if Reba remembered what he was asking.
"If you have to ask, then you're doin' something wrong, you mo-ron." she responded jokingly.
"Honey, I've never been so happy to hear you call me that."
"If you like that, then you'll love it when I end up smackin' ya upside the head. I kinda hate you, love you anyway."
"You love me. I heard that hate had top billing, but I know that you love me. I've just gotta do some work to prove myself to you and I will. I told ya that before." Mike brushed his lips against hers as he spoke.
"Okay. You owe me a date, mister."
"I know. Do you have any plans for tonight?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. It's Friday night and that's girls' night out so you're not invited. We're gonna celebrate life and give a toast to Terry. I do forgive him, you know. I'm not so sure about Kim. First, she tries to break us up and now she's tryin' to get us back together. Jack, your ex-wife is completely looney toons."
"But at least now she's my ex-wife. Unfortunately, she's still family. She's the mother of my children and my brother's widow. That makes her my sister-in-law."
"She's family? Can I back out now?" Reba quipped.
"Not on your life, Sal. Besides whatever you can say about Kim, I can say about Brock. I have to accept the fact that he's family too."
Reba laughed. "You have jealousy issues and I'm gonna clubbin' tonight. Good luck with that." She patted him on the shoulder. "Everybody out! I have to get ready to go out."
"Mrs. H, are you sure that you should be doin' that?"
"Yes, Van. I'm very sure."
"Reba, can I come?" Barbra Jean asked.
"Ask Lori Ann."
"Lori Ann, can I come clubbin' with you two tonight?"
"That would depend on whether or not Brock would be comfortable with us takin' you out. It's Brock bashing night and we're gonna talk about all of his embarrassing secrets." Lori Ann looked over at Brock. "On second thought, we would love for you to come with us, Barbra Jean. It's time that you learned just what kinda man you're married to."
"Oh, that's okay. It won't be that much longer anyway."
Brock shot Barbra Jean a look of anger, silently warning her to keep that information to herself.
"What won't be that much longer anyway?" Reba asked.
"'Til we go out. I know that we'll be out on the town soon." Barbra Jean's reply didn't make much sense to Reba, but she shook it off as typical Barbra Jean nonsense.
Reba lost track of the number of jello shots that she consumed while out clubbing with Lori Ann and Barbra Jean. She really did have fun making fun of Brock with Barbra Jean. Barbra Jean was defended him less than usual so it was great to see his adoring wife cracking jokes about his behavior at his expense. The surprise at the end of the night was when Mike showed up to take the ladies home. He picked Reba up in his arms and carried her upstairs to her bedroom. He was a gentleman. Reba tried to entice him into kissing her, which he did once. He stopped and tucked her into bed before leaving.
Brock walked into Reba's room a little bit later to check on her. He got her the necessary hangover supplies that she might need and put them by her bed.
Reba woke up slightly. "Why?"
"Why what, honey?"
"Don't call me that! You don't get to call me honey, sunshine, babe, or sweetheart ever again."
"How about I call you, Sally? Do you like that better?" he remarked in a low soft voice as if it were a come-on. His face held a familiar smirk.
Reba was not amused. "Only Mike gets to call me that. You're avoiding the question. Why?" she responded in a whisper, her voice breaking.
"Why what, Reba?" Brock answered softly.
"Why did you do it? Why did you rip my whole life apart? If you loved me so much, then why did you leave? I've told ya that I hated you and you didn't leave. You waited until I loved you so much and then you left. Did you ever really love me, Brock? Or did you just love what I could do for you? You got to be the big hero and save my life.
You gave me Cheyenne. I married you and waited on you faithfully like poor dumb Barbra Jean. I gave you two more children. I helped build up your dental practice. I gave you a clean house and home cooked meals. I practically raised our children alone for most of their lives without complaint. I did all of that out of love. I was more than warm, willing, and responsive in bed. But you moved on to the next poor victim. Then you cheated on her too with the pathetic fool who fell for your charm again. Is that how you love someone, Brock? Do you even know what love is?"
"I'm gonna stand here and take this now because you're angry and I deserve it. You're drunk and I don't know how much of this you'll remember in the morning. But get this through your head, I love you, Reba. I know that I hurt you. I'm sorry for that. I was wrong. I made mistakes, but that doesn't mean that I didn't love you. By the way, you weren't warm, willing, and responsive for a long time towards the end of our marriage, except for that one night. I thought that you didn't want me anymore.
I'm not gonna beat a dead horse. You are not a pathetic fool and Barbra Jean is not a victim. She got me drunk and seduced me one night. I wasn't the one who pursued her. It happened once. I've been paying for it ever since. By the way, I'm the one who's cooking meals, cleaning house, and taking care of the children when you're not home now. The tables have turned and I still love you. If I were the type of man that you're accusin' me of being, then I would be in bed with you right now because we both know how warm, willing, and responsive you are when you're drunk."
Before Reba could respond, she felt Brock's lips pressed against hers. She melted into the kiss. She was drunk, but not too drunk to know what they were saying and doing. She put her fingers into his golden locks. She wasn't just responsive and yielding. She was demanding as her mouth deepened the kiss. She pressed her body against his as she pulled him into bed with her. He pulled away and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Because I'm not the man that you accuse me of being, I'll be right next door in my own bed. I love you and I want you, but at a time when you come to me without alcohol in your system."
"You're a monkey's butt. I don't wanna love a monkey's butt like you."
"Then I'll try not to be a monkey's butt anymore, Sweetie. It'll be hard because somehow I always end up makin' a fool of myself over you."
"Fine, go! You're good at leaving."
Brock sighed with exhaustion and the challenge over overcoming their past had just begun. The weekend was here and Brock found himself in Reba's shoes. He was forced to watch Reba and Mike together spending time at the house right in front of his face. He was uncomfortable and Lori Ann noticed. Reba and Mike were sitting together on the couch. He was standing in the kitchen when Lori Ann confronted him.
"You can dish it out, but you sure can't take it! This is poetic justice for Reba, you mo-ron. You are gonna shut your mouth and let her be happy because she did the same thing for you and the bimbo. How does it feel, Brock? What you're feeling right now is exactly how you made Reba feel. I've waited six years to laugh in your face, but you look so pathetic right now that I just can't. Darn it! That's okay. I'll just wait to laugh at you when they go out on their date."
It turned out that Mike was also in college majoring in education. He and Reba had classes together on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. He drove her to campus on those days. Brock felt out of place because he used to drive her to campus on those days on his way to work. Now he only got to drive into town with her on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Those were the days that Cheyenne drove Reba to campus, but she suddenly came up with a reason why she couldn't and that left Reba without a ride. Reba's used car that she had for the last six years died on her. She didn't have the money to buy another car and she didn't want to ask Brock for the money when he was already helping her out so much.
It disturbed Brock that Reba was so comfortable with Mike so quickly. On the second morning that Mike drove Reba to school, she was making breakfast for the family. He walked right into the house through the back door with a Venti Vanilla Cappuccino from Starbucks. She gave him a quick peck on the lips and made him a fried egg sandwich to eat on the way to school before rushing out the door with him. Brock brought it up to Reba the next day on the drive into downtown Houston.
"He walks into the house without knocking like he owns the place. He kissed you right in front of everyone. Then you fixed him breakfast and rushed out the door without even saying goodbye."
"I was in a hurry. We were runnin' late. Professor Crews always locks students out of the classroom if you don't make it to class on time. Let's talk about exes who walk into my house without knocking like they own the place. That would be you. It's my house. I got it in the divorce and that has never stopped you. You have never once knocked on my door and I've never confronted ya about it.
You and Barbra Jean just waltz in. Family does that. I've accepted y'all as family. I told Mike that he didn't have to knock either. He is welcomed to walk right in because it's my house and I said so. I fixed him breakfast. What a crime! I made my ex breakfast when he came over to give me a ride.
Oh boy, Brock! There have been plenty of times when I've made you breakfast when you've barged right in with no reason at all. As for kissin' him, I can do that anytime I want in my own house. He brought me my favorite coffee from Starbucks. We're in a relationship and I showed him my appreciation. It was just a quick peck. You and Van were the only ones in the kitchen at the time. None of our children were in the room. Van doesn't care because Mike is getting him a job."
"What job? Van is doin' well sellin' real estate."
"He is, but you know how much football meant to him. Mike is a substitute teacher at Westchester High School. He's also the new football coach there. He's gettin' Van a job as an assistant coach. It's a part-time thing. Van will still be workin' in real estate."
Brock sat there speechless, his eyes were on the road in front of him while he drove. Reba couldn't see his eyes to tell what he was feeling.
"Are you okay?"
"No, this guy seems to have taken over everything in the last few days. You treat him like a member of the family. He's coaching the Wildcats. I feel like he's replacing me."
"I've known him for thirty-seven years. We've been friends since I was five years old. We lived together. We used to be married and we had a child together. He has always been a big part of my life. That's what makes him family. He's coachin' football because he was head coach at McAlester High School. You quit coachin' to become a professional golfer. Nobody forced ya to. He got to know Van over the weekend and I talked to him about giving Van the assistant coach position. I know that you're close to Van. Don't you want this for Van as much as I do? Van and Cheyenne are thrilled."
"I'm happy for Van, but that doesn't change how I feel. Things are changin' fast."
"You knew that things would change when I went back to school. You knew that things would change for us once I started dating. After six years, you had to know that I would eventually meet someone that I could date seriously."
"After our weekend in June, I was hopin' that wouldn't happen."
"I told ya that it was a onetime thing. Maybe you should go home and work things out with your wife there."
"I've been talkin' to Dr. Baker. I can't do that right now. He said that I have to give her the time and space that she needs."
"Okay, Brock. I understand that. I'm glad that you're tryin'. I just can't be in that place in your life. We're just friends. Is there anythin' that I can do to help you out with Barbra Jean?"
"Yeah, there is. I was hopin' that we could double date on Friday night. I wanted to ask you yesterday morning, but I got distracted."
"I'm not sure. It's my first date back with Mike again. I'm also busy gettin' Dr. Morgan off my back."
"Please, Reba! You've got to help me. What if I mess things up with her? I need you to help me so I don't. You want me to patch things up with her, dontcha? I promise that I'll be nice to Mike. I'll work on being friends with Mike again. It'll be like old times. Remember when we all used to go out together before in Oklahoma? Please!" Brock said, giving her the sad puppy eyes look.
"Alright, alright! I'll help ya because we're friends and you obviously need the help. You've always been a rotten husband. You need all the help that you can get and I'm holdin' ya to that promise to become friends with Mike. I mean it! You'd better be nice or I promise ya that I'll hand ya your walkin' papers. You'll be out the door so fast you won't know what hit ya." Reba responded.
Brock smiled and continued the drive into the city. The days flew by and Reba was busy preparing for her date with Mike. She talked about it with LovinCowboy84. It was Friday and Reba was in the computer lab studying when she noticed that Lovin Cowboy84 was online. It was an hour before lunchtime. She was supposed to meet Mike for lunch after studying.
LovinCowboy84: So let me get this straight, you bought a special dress for your anniversary dinner in Oklahoma and then wore it for a special dinner with your ex-husband. Now you're going to wear it for a date with your Oklahoma boyfriend and you're double dating with the ex-husband. This has disaster written all over it.
RamblinRedRose: It doesn't have to be. This is going to be a fun evening. I bought the dress for a date with Mike and I'm wearing it for a date with Mike. Brock and Mike are friends. I am friends with Brock's wife so this will be a nice night out with friends. Brock is not the most romantic guy. He wants a chance to patch things up with his wife so at least he'll learn a thing or two from Mike.
LovinCowboy84: I hate to break it to you, honey, but that's not how it works. You might be able to get these guys to be civil to each other, but you are not going to get them to be buddies in one night. No guy is going to like the guy who's dating his ex-wife.
RamblinRedRose: It's been six years since the divorce. I've dated since the divorce. This is someone that I dated long before I ever dated Brock. It'll be fine. Brock was at our wedding. This isn't anything new for him.
LovinCowboy84: Have you asked him about how he feels about this?
RamblinRedRose: No. I don't need to. We have an understanding. I'm helping him save his marriage. He promised to be nice to Mike and becomes friends with him again. If he doesn't, then he'll be forced to live elsewhere and that's how it's done.
LovinCowboy84: By forcing his cooperation. You're a gem of a friend, aren't you? I'll bet that you're a really scary ex-wife.
RamblinRedRose: Only when I have to be. He asked for my help so I offered my help with some conditions. That's the only way that it will work out. This is one time when I will force Brock to behave himself. At least his behavior should impress his wife. We both need this night to work out so it will. I don't want to talk to him anymore about it. I'm nervous enough about my date to add Brock's feelings to it. He'll have to deal with his own nerves by himself.
LovinCowboy84: So you'd be okay if your ex showed up for the double date wearing the same outfit that he wore when he took you out for your date.
RamblinRedRose: Sure. It wasn't a date. It was just a birthday dinner between friends.
LovinCowboy84: Sure it was. I'm a guy. I know that something more went on between you two than you're telling me.
RamblinRedRose: No, it did not! He's married. Don't be ridiculous! We're just friends. I've known him for twenty-eight years. It's easy for us to continue to be good friends because we're known each other for so long.
LovinCowboy84: Fine. Everything is perfectly innocent. But I have a feeling that this whole thing is going to blow up right in your face.
RamblinRedRose: Everything is going to be fine. Just you wait and see.
Reba was determined to make this evening special. She wanted everything to be perfect. She was envisioning the date to be just as special as the anniversary date they had planned, except for the fact that Brock and Barbra Jean were tagging along. Reba felt the added pressure to help Brock make the evening special for Barbra Jean as well. She had enough trouble with her own love life to be expected to help Brock with his. She wanted to see Brock happy and she hoped that this date wasn't too uncomfortable for him. She wanted a love life, but she didn't want to rub it in Brock's face. By this time, Reba had settled on a nickname for LovinCowboy84.
She had to give him a name, even if she didn't know what his real name was. Paige and Lori Ann teased her about that. She came up with Luke as her nickname for him. At first, she used the initials LC for LovinCowboy, then she came up with Luke from LC. She was amazed at how well he could read her by now. He'd known that something else had happened, but that could've been because he was a guy and he knew that guys always think about a date ending in an invitation into a woman's bed. She'd hoped that Brock wouldn't be too uncomfortable with seeing her on a date with Mike, but the double date was his idea. She wondered what the evening would hold for the four of them. She also wondered if Lori Ann would be able to pull off their plan. Dr. Jack Morgan had to be taught a lesson. Reba wondered if she was the one who was about to learn a lesson herself...
What will happen to Reba and Brock after this double date? What will happen between Brock and Barbra Jean on the date? What else does the future hold for Reba and Brock now that Mike is in the picture? What is Lori Ann and Reba's plan for Dr. Morgan? Who will Lori Ann end up with? Who will Reba end up with in Vegas?
What happens next? Stay tuned to find out in the next chapter!
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