Dear Readers-
I am thrilled with the overall support for my newest story, Drop Dead Hero. Thank you so much! The only thing that I had to decide is how to proceed with my story updates. I have decided to post weekly updates for both stories. I was thrilled that there were readers who did want to read both story updates each week. These will be slightly shorter than what readers are used to. I just didn't want to stop writing this story.
I want to let you know that I will not be updating regularly on Sundays anymore. My life is really busy right now. I was trying to get whatever I could written to get it posted on time. I think that it affected the quality of the writing and my ability to keep the story going in the direction that I want it to go. I have a story map that I like to stick to while writing.
Remember we are heading towards the supplement story, Reba Nell Got Married. We really are so close to getting into that story. The truth is that I don't have as many ideas for Drop Dead Hero as I do for this story. If you have any ideas for Drop Dead Hero, please feel free to PM me or send your suggestions in a review for that story. Thanks.
Let me know that you want me to keep this story going! Show your love for this story by reviewing. Let me know what you think about the story so far. Let me know what you think is going to happen. Let me know what you hope will happen in the future. It also 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 own 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 (Maddi), 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 and flashbacks.
Previously- "I was under the impression that you didn't like me."
"I didn't. You conspired to hurt my granddaughter. You did many things to lie to her and hurt her. Then I began to see the good things that you've done for her and the good things that you will do for her in the future. I also love my great-grandchildren and you are their father. There's another feisty redhead in your future. Your daughter will be a remarkable young woman."
"Are you saying what I think you're sayin'?" Brock couldn't believe his ears.
"From what I've seen, that seems to be the case. But Reba is very fond of telling me how visions are not set in stone because the future can be easily changed. No matter what I see, Reba seems to be determined to change it. You have a hard road ahead of you. But I can tell you that Maggie will be a source of great joy for you and Reba, if the future plays out like I've seen. Welcome to our family." Nana Cheyenne revealed.
She stuck her hand out and Brock shook it. "I'm honored, Ma'am. I truly am. I'm not gonna blow it this time. I promise."
"You better not, if you know what's good for you. I'll be watching you." She narrowed her eyes at him and pointed her finger at him for emphasis as she gave him the warning. He smiled fondly. She was just like Reba. He pictured Reba saying the same thing to Elizabeth's future husband.
Brock enjoyed the dinner with Reba's grandma and step-grandfather. He was dreading the moment when they had to go to Holliway's. He didn't want to see her with Mike. The thought of seeing them together wounded him deep. He had to come up with a way to win her back. He had an extra incentive now. They had a daughter to bring into the world together. He was not going to let that go without a fight. Being here brought up so many memories of their past for Brock. He wondered if the same was true for Reba. He hoped so. He was hoping that they'd shared enough memories here together to compete with the memories that she shared with Mike. Only time would tell...
What will Brock do after this? What will happen between Reba and Mike now? What will happen in Oklahoma? What will Brock do to help his chances with Reba? What will happen to stop Reba from reconnecting with Mike in their old apartment? Who will Reba end up with in Vegas?
What happens next? Stay tuned to find out this chapter!
Author's note- Note to readers: This chapter will deal with Reba's visit to McAlester. There is also an old-fashioned sleepover with Reba, Kim, Barbra Jean, and Paige at the apartment. It's Barbra Jean's idea. Mike surprises Reba with a remodeled apartment and her old vehicle fixed much to Reba's delight.
On Friday, Reba and Mike will take everyone to dinner with their parents. Everyone is gathered to show approval to Mike and Reba's relationship at Frontier's. Reba's father is giving the couple a custom built house on their family's land. Mike's father paid for the renovations to the apartment. The Holliways give the bar and the restaurant over to Mike and Reba to own jointly. Mike is avoiding Reba's efforts at lovemaking because he wants her to agree to marry him first. He wants proof of a commitment. Mike takes on a silent partner in the bar. Reba is not happy with the silent partner.
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-
After dinner, Brock heard shouting coming from upstairs. Reba was arguing with Nana Cheyenne. "I wanna forget. Please just for a little while. Please let me forget. I need to forget. You can help me. I know that you can."
"I've told you before, child. No, I'm not gonna do that."
"Please. It's not fair to have t' live this way. I'm carryin' around too much baggage and it hurts. I can't even lead a happy life. These things are keeping me from living my life as a happy and whole person."
"But Reba, these dreams and visions that you have of the past are important. They keep you from making mistakes in the future. History tends to repeat itself and you haven't learned your lesson yet."
"What lesson is that, Nana? Tell me. Is it the one where I get dumped at the altar on my wedding day? How about the time that I got pregnant, gave birth prematurely, and watched my child die? Is it the one where I feel so absolutely hopeless that I try to end my life? How about the time that I have horrible visions about having my heart crushed because my husband is gonna cheat on me and leave me? I marry him anyway, hoping that I can change the future somehow. Is it the one where I know what's gonna happen and I still kiss the love of my life goodbye, breaking his heart for nothin'? How about when I came back to town pregnant and had to live through losin' another child on the floor of our apartment while I almost bleed to death and lie there dying? I've made so many mistakes that I don't know where to begin again. I don't know how to find my way back from that. I can't stand to look at myself in the mirror. I can't sleep because I'm so haunted by these things. I'm haunted every time I close my eyes and I have a hard time bein' touched. Spare me the lecture."
"But sweetheart, you will have a wonderful future. I promise. I've seen it. Maggie..."
"Spare me the Maggie thing again, will ya? I'm gonna show you my pain," Reba stated as her voice got choked up and tears filled her eyes.
"Oh honey, I know how much you've been through." Nana said, gently trying to calm Reba down.
At this point, Barbra Jean came running up the stairs to help calm Reba down. Her best friend was in pain and she couldn't stand to let her go through this without her. That's what best friends are for. Barbra Jean made it upstairs in time to see Reba grab Nana's hand. Barbra Jean went to grab Reba's other hand for comfort without knowing what was really going on. When Reba has a hold of both hands in hers, she goes into the flashbacks to show them what really haunts her. The flashbacks run like a slideshow of joyous and later painful memories through the years. When it ends and Reba released their hands, Barbra Jean had tears flooding her eyes as well.
"Oh my God, you knew what was gonna happen all this time. Why didn't you do somethin'? My relationship with Brock didn't have to happen."
"No, Barbra Jean, you're wrong. I believe in free will. I'd hoped that love would be enough to change things. Brock had the free will to make his own choices. He simply didn't love me enough. My love wasn't enough for him. You have to see that you belong with him."
"I'm gonna go back downstairs," Barbra Jean responded. Reba nodded. Barbra Jean gave her a hug and went in search of Brock.
Nana had tears in her eyes also. She took her granddaughter in her arms and held her, gently rocking her back and forth for a few minutes.
"Hey, guys! Let's get Reba ready to meet Mike," Paige suggested, trying to help Reba regain control of her emotions.
Barbra Jean found Brock on the back porch. "I just couldn't stand to hear her so upset. I figured that she would be in good hands when you went up there."
Barbra Jean slapped him upside the head, which was unexpected because that was something Reba normally did. "Reba is right. You really are a moron."
"What was that for?" Brock yelped, rubbing the back of his head.
"She knew everything that was gonna happen before you two got married. She had nightmares and visions about it. She decided to marry you anyway. She loved you that much. Your marriage was a beautiful disaster. She knew all those years ago about the separation, our affair, and everything. She had faith in you and you let her down. Mike is with her now because he was there for her when you weren't."
"Does she know about Vegas?"
"I don't think so, but does that really matter now? You've got a huge mountain to climb."
"I already knew that!"
"Most of her pain is because of you."
"Was she ever happy with me?"
"Of course, why do you think that she sticks around? She could've moved back here to be with people who loved her as soon as the divorce was final. She obviously loves you and there are moments between you that make her happy. So, she's stuck around, even if it causes her pain down the line. That is incredible. What are ya gonna do?"
"I'm gonna start climbin' that mountain. I've also got a wall to tear down, brick by brick."
Paige and Nana helped Reba get ready to meet Mike. She changed into a mid-length black silky crepe jersey dress that showed off her legs with a pair of basic black pumps while giving her a look of glamour. She left her hair down in curls. Paige worked on her makeup. By the time that they were done, Reba felt beautiful. She looked at herself in the mirror with pride. She was ready to knock his socks off. She turned to Nana to say goodbye. Just then, Paige got a call from Michael Davis. After she hung up, she turned to Reba.
"Max is at Holliway's with Mike. Michael just came from there."
"He's gonna ruin everything. Mike is gonna dump me for sure if he finds out what's really been goin' on." Reba said. Her panic was rising by the minute. This entire part of the visit had Reba's blood pressure skyrocketing. Suddenly, Reba's world went black. Her body went crashing down to the floor. Brock and Barbra Jean heard a crash from downstairs. They went running up to see what had happened. Brock saw Reba's body on the floor and rushed to her side. Barbra Jean was crying.
"What happened?" Brock asked. His face was clouded with worry. The mother of his children, who happened to be the love of his life, was passed out on the floor.
"She panicked. She worried about so much that her body couldn't take the stress anymore," Paige explained.
"Barbra Jean, go get a wet washrag and some water. Brock, step back." Nana ordered. She took Paige's hand. "I'm gonna do what she asked."
"It's only temporary, isn't it?" Paige asked.
"Honey, you know that I can't make it permanent. It will be just enough to get her over this and stabilize her blood pressure."
Barbra Jean rushed over with the water and washrag. Reba started to slowly pull out of her unconscious state. "It's okay, Reba. We're here. Don't try to talk yet." Nana commented. Nana whispered the spell to Paige and they began to chant it over Reba. There was a glow around Reba. The glow faded and Reba sat up, smiling.
Brock felt the rush of relief wash over him. "Are you okay, honey?"
"I'm fine. I've never felt better. What happened?" Reba asked.
"You passed out from high blood pressure. I did what you asked, but it's only temporary." Nana explained.
"Okay, so what did you do and when does it wear off?" Reba asked.
"I did a small spell. You will feel no pain, panic, worry, or fear for tonight, but it wears off at 3 a.m." Nana explained further.
"Why 3 a.m.?" Brock asked. He still didn't understand how all of these things that were a part of Reba and her family worked yet.
"It's called the witching hour. It's like midnight changing into a new day. Temporary spells end. New spells begin. Sometimes even abilities get stronger during the hour between 3 and 4 a.m." Paige explained.
"That's fine. I'll be too busy with Mike to worry about a thing at 3 a.m." Reba responded. Without warning, her mind took her to a phone call six years ago at 3 a.m.
Flashback-
Her cell phone rang, bringing her out of a deep slumber. She picked up the phone and answered it without looking at it. "Hello," she answered groggily.
"Hi there, honey. I really wanted to talk to you. Did I wake you?"
"Yes, but that's okay. I've been waiting to hear from you. Is everything okay?"
"Yes. Things are doing better."
"Is she there with you? Is Blondie there right now?"
"No, honey. I'm all alone."
"Good. I know that I promised to be nice, but it's gonna take me awhile to stop being bitter. That woman wrecked my marriage. It's not easy."
"I know. Are you doing okay?"
"Yeah. I had fun tonight."
"What was the best part of the evening?"
"It was amazing to get up on stage again. I haven't sung like that in years."
"I know. I always loved to hear you sing."
"I told Lori Ann about Vegas. I figured that we should be honest about the whole thing. She seemed surprised. I guess she should've been. I never had any indication from your reactions earlier that day that we'd end up in bed together later that night. Just to let you know I'm really happy that it was you. It makes it so much more special to me."
"Really? I figured that you didn't want to talk about it ever. You never mentioned the baby at all."
"That's what's so great about being here. I feel like the old me. I'm working things out. I don't have any reason to let the past haunt me anymore. I want to talk about the baby again. Speaking of kids, did you get a chance to check on the other kids?"
"They're in bed sound asleep. Being a father is important to me, you know."
"I know that. Is the little guy okay now?"
"He's doing a little bit better. I have everything under control. Don't worry about a thing."
"That's a relief. I went to bed, worrying about that tonight. I miss you."
"I miss you too, honey. You have no idea how much."
"I hate it when we argue. We've wasted too much time already to let stuff like that get between us."
"I agree. What are we gonna do about that?"
"I like the sexy thing that you're doing with your voice."
"Really? What do you like about it?"
"I can't quite describe it. It's just turning me on. I also love being sung to, you know."
"Really?"
"Yep, it works as an aphrodisiac for me. I'm a sucker for a man with a guitar. You'll have to sing to me in the privacy of our bedroom sometime."
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Why are we just now having this conversation?"
"I don't know. This seems like the right time. You're my best friend. I don't want to lose you again. You said that we'd work on things so I'm trying to communicate with you more. I can't keep my heart locked up forever to keep from getting hurt. I'd miss a lot of good stuff, too."
"I wanted to tell you that I thought about what you said to me earlier. You're a wonderful mother and I want to do more to help you with the kids. It's not fair for you to have to take on so much. I want to be involved and work on parenting together. You shouldn't come back to Houston until you're ready. No pressure here. I really do love you, you know. I don't think that you really believe that and I can see why. I do see things from your perspective. I've made mistakes, but that didn't stop me from loving you and wanting to be with you. I tried telling you two months ago."
"I know. The message was clear. I was in a really difficult situation and very confused. I was scared of committing to something else when I clearly couldn't give you what you needed. I've just blown through two marriages at this point. I've lost two men to pregnant blonde bimbos. It doesn't feel good. I'm scared that the next time I get to say those important vows, I'm gonna get hurt again."
"You shouldn't feel that way. You didn't do anything wrong. I did. You tried as hard as you could to keep us together. I messed up. I'm so sorry. I've been wondering how in the world I could get you to take me back after everything that's happened."
"That part is easy. Love makes it easier than you think. We've hurt each other a lot; but if we can get past that, we'll be okay."
"I still see you as my wife, you know. I always wanted to marry you. I've felt that way since the first time that I asked you to marry me. It's not old-fashioned for me to want to marry the mother of my child because I'm in love with you. It's always been about love for me."
"I believe that I've found the magic formula to keeping you happy. I told Lori Ann about it and she laughed at me."
"That sounds like Lori Ann. So what's this magic formula?"
"The one thing that I learned from my ex is that there are three things that are important to a man: a sexy woman, a sandwich, and a sexy woman making him a sandwich."
He chuckled. "That sounds about right."
"I'm doing my best here. I just want you to be happy. I even put it in the guide. Lori Ann and I were baking cookies and I told her that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. It's true," she remarked.
He chuckled again.
"You've got to stop doing that with your voice. You really working that Texas drawl, aren't you? It's been too long," she continued.
"Well, I like your Okie twang, too. You've always had a sexy voice."
"How much do you miss me?"
"Very much. I'd show you how much, but I'm not there with you."
"So come home already. It feels like I've been waiting forever for you to come home. I could dress in something sexy and greet you home properly. Maybe we could have a candlelight dinner, if we could get the place to ourselves."
"You want me to come back home?"
"Definitely! You've been gone too long. I really miss you, honey." Reba's voice changed to a more sultry tone. "I've been frustrated all night. I was thinking about how it used to be for us before. I've missed singing to you and seeing your face every day. I've been really lonely. I don't want to be lonely anymore. I want you to wrap your arms around me and hold me. I want to feel your touch on my skin. I love kissing you. When you're not around, it feels like a part of me is missing."
"I guess I didn't realize that you still felt that way. I just didn't know you felt so strongly about me. I want the same thing, honey. I just didn't realize how much I missed you until you kissed me again. I just haven't known what to do or say. Just when I figured out that things were really over, you came back to me. You have no idea how much that means to me."
"I'm lying here dreaming about satin sheets, rose petals, tequila, Passion Margaritas, slow dances, black lingerie, your strong arms wrapped around me, the way that my fingers feel running through your hair, your bedroom eyes, fiery kisses, and wild passion."
"Is that what brought you back to me two months ago?"
"Sure. Being with you again would be like a dream come true. Since we've technically been married twice already, do you think that third time is the charm?"
"Sure thing, honey. Do you really want to marry me again?"
"Yeah, I thought that I made that pretty clear. I've got the papers. A wedding should be in our future."
"How about we forget about those papers?"
"Sure. No more talking about the divorce papers. We'll can take things slow and see where things go. I just really thought that you wanted me to be married to you."
"I do, honey. Believe me, I do. This is a strange conversation. We never talk like this."
"So who's the better girlfriend, me or the blonde?"
"You. Why? Do you want to be my girlfriend? I thought that you wanted to be my wife."
"I thought that we'd date until we finally get married again. Why? What do you want to call me?"
"I call you anything that you want to be called, honey."
"I like it when you call me honey. It sounds so good to me."
"I can remember a time when you hated it when I called you honey."
"If you're not going to be honest and upfront with me, then I always get mad at ya. You tried to chicken out on being with me forever."
"It wasn't like that."
"Then what was it like? Sorry, honey. She's pregnant and I have to marry her. You vowed for better or for worse, and when things got rough, you wanted out. All you had to do was talk to me. You never even asked me how I felt or tried to work things out with me so we could face it together. I was ready to accept the situation and deal with it, but you didn't want to know that. After that, I think that I've earned another wedding where you prove to me that this time will be forever."
"That doesn't seem like such an unreasonable request to me. I would love to prove to you exactly how much I love you by exchanging vows in front of the kids and our families."
"But we've got to be equal partners. I'm strong willed and you're stubborn. We've got to agree to do everything 50/50 this time. We've got to talk, laugh, and spend time together. We've got to have nights out without the kids. I want to dance with you every night before we go to bed. I want to wake up in your arms every morning for the rest of our lives. I want us to fool around while making breakfast in the kitchen, fall asleep watching movies on the couch, and maybe even make love in every room of our home. We've got to share fantasies and stuff."
"Fantasies, huh?"
"We've got to keep things exciting. We could fool around on the desk in your office or we could try the one where you pretend that we're strangers and you try to pick me up. You take me home and have your way with me. If you are so attracted to blondes, then I can wear my blonde wig for you. It'll be like you're cheating on me with me."
He chuckled again. "You want me to have my way with you? When did you go out and buy a blonde wig?"
"Don't laugh. I have a brunette wig, too. I bought them twenty years ago when you made that dirty little comment."
"What comment?"
"You said that you'd barely begun to sow your wild oats before settling down with me. You'd wondered how I would look as a blonde and a brunette. It got me thinking. I figured that our married life wouldn't be so boring for you if you got to indulge your fantasies a bit with me. I'd like to try the one where I'm dressed in nothing but your old football jersey and laid out on the bed like a Playmate. I'd let you take pictures of me and then ravish me on the bed or the floor or both."
"Where have you been all my life?"
"Waitin' for you to wake up. You've had the key to happiness all along. All you had to do was reach out for it. I've been waitin' for you to want to be with me again, really be with me. Connect with me like the soul mates that we were meant to be. We have a second chance now. Let's not blow it this time."
"I know, honey, I know. If you really take me back, I'll promise you all of that and more."
"I'm glad. If you're good, I have plans for you when I see you again. I wanna grab you, throw you up against the wall, and make love with you right there with fierce, passionate intensity. I wanna see that look in your eyes that you had the night we first made love. You had that look in your eyes the last time we slept together, too. I've missed seein' that look in your eyes."
"Honey, you're the sexiest woman that I've ever met. Wanna come home with me, tonight?"
"Ohh, now you're getting' into it. Can you picture me on top of the bar singin' and dancin' for you? I could handcuff you to a chair and do a sexy striptease for you or you could strip for me. I could always undress you, but remember you don't get to touch me until I say so. I know that you'd like that."
"Honey, you have no idea how badly I want you right now."
"Are you sure? I'm gonna be a grandmother. Are you still gonna want me when I'm somebody's grandmother?"
"Well, you're not my grandmother. Believe me; I'll still want you when we're old and gray."
"We're getting old. Just ask one of your kids. We're almost in our forties."
"We're barely gettin' started. Besides you'll always look twenty to me."
"Good answer. You're lucky that you're not here 'cause I'd rip the shirt right off ya." The phone on the nightstand began to ring. "Hold on, a sec. I have to answer this. I'll be right back." Reba answered it.
Reba froze. She looked at the phone in her hand. Who was on her cell phone? It's not Mike on the cell phone. Mike is on the other phone.
She moved slowly back to the call on the cell phone. "Hi. I'm back. Okay, who is this because I know that this has to be some kind of joke? It's not funny. Terry, I swear, if you think that you can sweet talk me, you've got another thing comin'. You're dating Lori Ann, you moron. She's not gonna find this funny either. You can't be comin' on to me while you're sleeping with my best friend. I'm taken and spoken for, so that's that. I thought that we'd cleared this up before. I wouldn't have danced with you tonight if I'd known that you'd pull somethin' like this on me. Prank calls are so stupid, you moron. You better not be serious, Terry. 'Cause I'll take you down. I'll punch you in the gut and knee you in the groin. You know that I can do it."
"Slow down, Reba. This is not Terry, okay?"
"Is this your idea of a joke? I didn't do anything to deserve this. You woke me up out of a dead sleep. It's three o'clock in the morning. Who in the world would call someone at this hour to have this type of conversation?"
"Reba, honey, I didn't start this type of conversation. You did. This was a friendly call to see how you were doing and to set your mind at ease. Before you start jumping to conclusions again, I suggest that you look at your caller i.d. Honey, I didn't call to fight with you, honest."
Reba took her cell phone away from her ear. She looked at the name on caller i.d. It read Home. Reba's hand flew to her mouth. "Brock, wow, what are you doin' at the house?"
"Honey, you didn't leave me much of a choice. I got a note and then you left. There were four kids in the house to take care of. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to take care of a sick little boy, an angry preteen, and two married teenagers who can't keep their hands off each other."
Brock was remembering pieces of this conversation in his mind, too. He remembered some things that stuck out in his mind, the things that Reba said and the way that he responded to her.
Reba-"It wasn't a stranger in Vegas, okay. Drunk or not, I wanted somethin' to happen. I'm not sorry."
"It wasn't hard to follow the train of breadcrumbs, Brock. There were little clues. I just had to piece them together. It was just too personal to have been with a stranger. It wasn't just sex. It was somethin' else, somethin' that really touched me deep inside. It was just like I'd imagined that making love would be like. It's nice to know that my baby was conceived that way. You were a good friend to me, Brock, through the whole thing with the baby. I really have to thank you for that. I really appreciate how much you helped me through that. I was terrified and alone. I did a horrible thing. I do that a lot. Every time, things are really bad. I hold it in. There have been so many times that I should've been leaning on Mike for support because that's what you do when you love someone. You let them be your shelter from the storm, your home."
"Every marriage that worth savin' deserves to be saved. I really believe that."
"Whenever I'm mad, hurt, or scared, I run as fast and as far away from the problem as I can. My life is back to being that tornado out of control again. I can't live like that. The kids and I need stability. I need to be with someone who's gonna love me forever, even through the bad times. I need a real partner to rely on. I need to be with a man who knows for sure what he wants. I need someone who wants to fight for me, for our life together, our family, and our marriage. Can you put us first before anything else, no matter what? I need to rebuild a life, a good one. I might even want more children someday."
Brock-"You love me. The way that you talked to me tonight showed me that. Come on, you had to have recognized my voice somehow, even on a subconscious level. You've asked me to come back home. We just made love two months ago."
Brock remembered some of their next conversation.
"That's a convenient story, Brock. You didn't talk to me for two days after. We haven't talked about that night at all. Actions speak louder than words, you mo-ron."
He remembered something from the video, too.
"As long as we're here, we might as well finish gettin' drunk," Lori Ann remarked. She started pouring more whiskey into glasses. Reba took the glass and made a toast.
"To the past, leave it there because it can really come back to haunt ya. To Terry, may he rest in peace. To us, may we finally find someone that we can each spend the rest of our lives with."
"I'll drink to that!"
"I really feel like gettin' some revenge tonight. I'm so mad!"
"You're only sayin' that because you're not in the pool room gettin' lucky right now."
"No, I stood here earlier and sang Terry's favorite song right in front of Brock and Mike. Mike didn't do anythin', but give me the secret signal. Brock had tears in his eyes. He practically begged me to stay at the motel with him tonight to talk about Terry. He's not takin' this whole thing very well. I expected Mike to do somethin' to get things out in the open, but he didn't. I want a relationship; instead I've got two mo-rons who want to confuse the heck out of me. I'm not doin' the grief sex thing with Brock. If I'd stayed, it could've turned out that way."
"Instead you chose grief sex with Mike. At least you would've been on a bed with Brock. With Mike, you ended up on a pool table."
"Yes, but it was hot and excitin'. I've never done anythin' like that before. Every time we see each other, I wonder what will happen next. I kinda like that. It's never boring. It's like a roller coaster ride. I can usually predict exactly what would happen with Brock, down to every move that he makes. Barbra Jean can have him. I don't want that anymore. I'm gonna save myself the time and energy. I don't want safe, predictable, and dependable anymore. It hasn't gotten me the happily ever after that I've spent my life wishin' for."
"Brock is not that predictable or dependable. Did you predict that he would have an affair with Barbra Jean? Didn't he walk out on your marriage when you were depending' on him?"
Reba took another swallow of the burning liquid. "Yeah, who does he think he is anyway? Nobody plays around with my emotions like that. I need revenge. I know exactly what I wanna do. I'm gonna call Barbra Jean and pretend to be at the motel with Brock. She's been callin' the motel because she's worried that he's gonna end up in bed with me."
"That's priceless. You should do that."
Reba picks up the phone on the bar and dials out for anonymous call to Barbra Jean's place without the number showing up on caller id. She sets the phone down on the bar counter and starts making moaning noises near the phone while Kim is leaving the bar. Mike comes out of his office.
"What is she doin'?" Mike whispered to Lori Ann.
"She's gettin' Brock in trouble with his new wife," she whispered back.
Mike whispers into Reba's ear. She stops for a second, obviously stunned by what he said to her, when she heard Mike making the same noises and moaning Reba's name with a Texas drawl. He grabbed Reba and started to really kiss her. Lori Ann ended the call.
"Okay, fun's over," Lori Ann declared.
Mike stopped kissing Reba. She stood there, silently stunned by the kissing.
Mike starts laughing. "Brock is gonna be in so much trouble when he gets home. That was actually a lot of fun. I haven't done anythin' like that in a long time."
Reba started laughing, too. "Yeah, me neither. How'd you do that thing with your voice?"
"In junior high and high school, Brock and I used to call girls on the phone to see if they could tell us apart. It was a pretty good trick. Most girls always thought that they were talkin' to Brock when they were talkin' to me."
That's when a plan began to form in Brock's head. He only knew one way to stop Reba before she could reconnect with Mike again. He was gonna have to rely on Barbra Jean for help again. He hoped that she'd want to help out. He was counting on her cooperation to make his plan work. He hoped that she would side with him over Reba, if he explained that it was for her own good. He was counting on the fact that she promised to do anything she could to help him and Reba get back together.
When they pulled up in front of Holliway's, Reba turned to face Brock and Barbra Jean. "I'm gonna tell ya what's goin' on. But you have to promise to listen to what I have t' say and not judge me, okay? I'm talkin' to you both about this because you are my two best friends. What I have to say doesn't leave this car. I don't want Mike to find out any of this until I decide to tell him, okay? I mean it, Brock. You can't tell Mike any of this, no matter what."
"Reba, you should know that I'm always gonna be on your side. Now, talk to me."
Reba took a deep breath. "Okay, things with Max aren't quite as innocent as I've made them out to be. We've been carryin' on an affair on and off for the last five and a half years or so. We're both single, but I've made it clear that I've been waitin' for things between Mike and I to solidify so we can start the rest of our lives together. It's purely physical and it only happens about once or twice a year. It's helped my stress level and my blood pressure. He's showed up when I've really needed someone."
"Reba's been havin' booty calls? Way to go!" Barbra Jean remarked.
"Barbra Jean, that is not an appropriate response," Brock responded.
"I kinda like this. I'm not worried or afraid, so all that's left is honesty. Hey, Barbra Jean, I need your help."
"You got it!"
"Don't you wanna know what it is first?" Reba said, rolling her eyes at the thought of her friend's unusual behavior. Barbra Jean simply shook her head. This time Barbra Jean's unusualness would serve a purpose for her. "Max has kinda been stalking me. He knows that I'm not interested and he's still comin' around. I need you to flirt with him. He's rich and handsome so you'll like him. He's better looking than Dr. Morgan. I just need you to do your usual thing with him so I can pretend to get mad and break up with him."
"Better looking than Jack? Count me in." Barbra Jean answered eagerly.
"Barbra Jean, this is not the way to handle this. Reba, you are askin' my wife to openly flirt and kiss another man right in front of me. Do you realize that?" Brock responded in disbelief.
Reba shot him a questioning look. "Brock, she does this all the time. This time I'm askin' her to put her tart behavior to good use. You've been married to her for almost six years. This type of thing has never shocked you before. I'd think that you'd be used to it by now."
"It's not a problem. Brock and I are separated. It's really none of his business what I do."
"Perfect. Just follow my lead. I'll get Mike out of the way and then after I start talkin' to Max, I'll give you a signal and you can pounce on him. So, how do I look?"
"You look nice." Brock answered. Barbra Jean went to lie back down in the backseat, determined to stay out of the way of the argument.
Reba shot him a venomous look. "You mo-ron, when a woman asks how she looks, you don't say nice. There are so many adjectives to use to make a woman feel attractive, but nice isn't one of them. You will never learn, will ya?"
"Wow, those hormones really are causing you to overreact. Reba, I am caught in a Catch-22 here. Men don't say anything to make another woman feel attractive when they are with their wives. You challenged me to become a better husband. Wouldn't a better husband give an answer like that?"
"Fair enough. You are right." Reba answered. Brock gave her a look of triumph with his usual smug, satisfied smile. Reba rolled her eyes again. "There's a first time for everything."
Reba got to work checking out her reflection in the mirror. She added more of the soft blush lipstick, applied some floral perfume and began to fix her hair.
"What is that scent? That's not your usual perfume." Brock asked, clearly perplexed by the change in Reba's demeanor.
"I know. I make this myself. Paige and I make our own perfume. I mix a touch of oriental, floral, mimosa, rose, musk and bergamot oils with my own pheromones."
"Is that one of your new things?" Barbra Jean asked, still lying down in the back.
"No, I've been makin' my own perfume since I was 17. I worked to find the right combination of fragrances that work with my body to produce the best smell. The chemical reaction to the oils and pheromones make me irresistible to Mike."
"So it's part of a spell?" Brock asked.
"No, it's just good science. I paid attention in chemistry class in high school unlike you." Reba stuck her tongue out at Brock playfully.
"Why didn't you ever wear it before?" Brock asked. He was a little peeved that Reba went to so much trouble for Mike and not for him.
"Because I had to work and raise a family. I didn't have time to work on developing a formula that works specifically for me with you, so I used a store brand. Different people respond differently to various smells."
"How did you get pheromones to use for that?"
"Science, Dr. Hart. Pheromones are found in sweat. I used a cloth with a small amount of my sweat on it to filter the oils. Did you actually pay any attention in your science classes or did you get some girl to do your homework for you?"
"Hey, Miss Smarty Pants, you're the one who tutored me in some of my science classes. I just don't remember that particular lesson."
Author's notes: I'm not making this up. My perfume got discontinued. I'd been wearing it for my husband since we met. He loved how it smelled on me so I found out the ingredients. It's easy to mix up your own fragrance. I found the information about pheromones a while ago. I thought that it might work for Reba in this story. Wouldn't it be cool if Reba came out with a perfume and called it Forever Love?
"You should give your special perfume a name," Barbra Jean suggested.
"I do. I call it Forever Love."
"You should call it Forever Reba." Barbra Jean commented.
"Thank you, Barbra Jean." Reba responded.
"I think that I do remember you wearing a fragrance like that before."
"That was long before we got married."
"I remember that now," Brock responded softly. He remembered kissing her neck. He had to shake off those memories for now. He had to keep his head on straight in front of Reba. Reba was smart enough to catch on to any mistakes that he made.
Brock pulled the car up to the parking lot at Holliway's. There was a fancy sports car parked out front with Oklahoma license plates. "What in the world is that? Whose car is that?"
Reba smiled proudly. In the aftermath from their divorce, Brock ended up with a poor dental hygienist who was tall, blonde, and goofy. The woman had a past full of affairs with married men and she enjoyed spending Brock's money like water. Reba temporarily landed herself an attractive, wealthy widower. This man wanted Reba for herself and she wanted nothing to do with his money. If only Reba could love him, it would be the perfect situation for her. Reba was saddened to realize that she was going to have to give this really nice guy a dose of reality. How do you tell someone who was so genuine that you're truly was only in the relationship for the temporary thrills that he gave you in bed?
She was grateful to him for how much he helped her when she was pregnant and alone all those years ago. That was how he managed to maintain a connection with her, even after all this time. He watched her grow while she was having John and watched her grieve when she lost him. It wasn't his fault that she couldn't love him. Reba shook those thoughts off and glanced at Brock. He was seething with jealousy. Reba was secretly thrilled. It was a petty victory, but it made Reba feel so much better about having to see Max that night.
Reba did another eye roll when she addressed Brock. She didn't want to give her true emotions away. "Brock, that is a 1984 Ferrari Testarossa. It belongs to Max."
"You know I could've afforded a car like that before that IRS mess if I'd wanted to."
"Sure, Brock. Sugar, you are so tight-fisted that there's no way you'd ever buy anything like that. Remember I was married to ya for eighteen years. That's too bad because I look really good in that car," Reba responded. She winked at him and patted him on the shoulder. "You know, the last time we were in front of this door, Barbra Jean was worried about old feelings bubblin' up to the surface for us in one far away from home in a hotel with your ex gettin' sloppy drunk night. Hey, Barbra Jean, how do I look?"
Barbra Jean was out of the car and standing right behind them. "Still lookin' all sassy, Reba. I've gotta watch out for you," she joked.
"Barbra Jean, you still have nothin' to worry about. If Brock tries to rekindle anythin' during this trip, I'll hit him upside the head with my suitcase."
"Reba, I told ya. I don't care what he does." When Barbra Jean said this, Reba immediately felt bad for Brock.
She wanted to shrug it off with a joke. "Men don't usually like when I don't wanna sleep with them anymore. Isn't it funny that I'm gonna be in a room with every man that I've ever slept with?"
Barbra Jean looked inside the bar through the glass. "I'm not sure that room is big enough for all the men that I've slept with."
Reba couldn't control her burst of laughter. "Thanks, Barbra Jean. My stomach felt like it was full of firecrackers and vinegar."
"I'm nervous, too. I've gotta be nice to the guy who's replacing me. I'm not sure that I'm that good of an actor."
"Shame on you, Brock. He's always been our friend. He should be mad at you. You kinda took me away from him in the first place. Actually, Brock, I think that you are a very good actor. You pretended to be his friend when you were trying to steal his fiancée from him the whole time. I actually do feel better now. I can handle this. It's not like I have any interest in sleeping with you or Max anymore." Reba had no intention of permitting herself to fall under the spell of either of those two men. She had to focus on the current man in her life.
"We've had a lot of great times here, haven't we?" he remarked. Brock's hand came down over Reba's possessively. Reba nodded. "Any chance of us staying sober tonight?" he asked.
Reba softly chuckled again. "Never can tell. Maybe Barbra Jean can be your designated driver. Someone has to drive you back tonight." Barbra Jean had managed to wrangle an invitation from Helen for her and Brock to stay at their house while they were in town. "I still say that your best years are already behind ya," she said to Brock mockingly.
"Ha, ha. After you," Brock responded, opening the door for Reba to enter Holliway's first.
He was struck by the same memory that he thought of when they came back to McAlester for Terry's funeral.
Flashback-Young Reba and Brock enter the bar. It was the day after their night on the beach at Lake McAlester. That was the night that they conceived Cheyenne. "Okay, say it again. I have to hear it one more time," Brock said, gently looking into her eyes.
"I love you, Brock." Reba said, smiling at him.
Brock was so excited to hear those words from her. Those were the words that he'd waited so long to hear. He moved to put his arms around her to hold her in his arms. He didn't care who knew that they were officially a couple. She finally loved him as much as he loved her. "That's all I need. With that, I can climb the highest mountain or swim the deepest sea."
Reba wiggled out of his grasp. They argue a little over which one was going to tell Terry and Mike about their relationship. Flashback ended.
Reba was remembering that moment, too. She remembered how bad she felt when it was time to tell Mike that she was with Brock. She remembered the look on Mike's face when they told him. That was the look on Brock's face now. When she looked at Brock, he quickly changed his expression. He smiled at her as if nothing was wrong. Mike was behind the bar, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Max was sitting at the bar, drinking a beer. It was evening and there weren't any customers in the bar because the bar was closed for the night.
Reba was unprepared for how she would feel at seeing Max again, sitting casually with Mike. Max was also in jeans and a t-shirt. He stood up off the bar stool upon seeing her. Max was six feet tall with an average build. He carried himself with an air of confidence. He had dark brown hair and blue eyes like Mike did. He really didn't look like he was a man in his fifties. The only thing that would give away his age would be the gray outlining his beard.
He was sporting new facial hair- the moustache and beard. She was sorry that she ever told him that she'd found that so attractive about Brock in their early years. Why in the world was he there right now with her boyfriend, Mike? What was going on? She couldn't wait to get the answers. Mike was startled to see her. "You're early. Honey, I'm not ready. I wanted to look good for you when you arrived. I've got to shower and change. I wanted things to be romantic for you when you came home."
Reba smiled, but was thrown by this exchange happening in front of Brock and Max. She lost her head for a moment, sauntered over to the bar, and gave Mike her standard greeting. "How's my favorite ex-husband?" Brock winced. Barbra Jean felt bad for him.
"Better now that you're here. Hello, darlin'." Mike pulled her into his embrace.
"I just had to see you. I left Nana's early."
"You're a sight for sore eyes, darlin'. It's so good to see you again. I missed ya all week." Reba lifted her head up and kissed him.
"You owe me a dance, Cowboy."
"Just let me get cleaned up and I'll give ya that dance, Sal. Why don't you catch up with Max until I get back?"
"Je t'aime de tout mon cœur. Tu es ma meilleure amie y amour de ma vie. Je veux passer la reste de ma vie avec vous. Dans tes bras c'est mon destin."
Author's note- Translation- I love you with all my heart. You are my best friend and love of my life. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. My destiny is in your arms.
"God, you're so sexy when you're speaking French." Mike bent his head down and kissed her neck, taking in her fragrance. "I've got to go before I change my mind. I've got a big surprise planned for ya. You stay here and I'll be right back." He turned to the others. "Keep an eye on my girl, Max. Good to see ya, Brock. I'm glad to see you with Barbra Jean. I'll be right back." Mike ran upstairs to their apartment.
Reba was left to talk to Max, in front of Brock and Barbra Jean. "What are you doin' here, Max?" she asked him sharply, abandoning all pretense. She made the mistake of looking into his eyes as she spoke. His electric blue eyes smoldered with fire.
Brock was watching this exchange with curiosity. Again, he was seeing a new side of Reba that he hadn't seen before. She'd had an affair and hid it rather successfully for a long time. She'd actually had casual sex without a real relationship. This wiped away the entire pretense that she'd held up against him. She could be seduced. This man had done that. She had given herself to him when she wouldn't give herself to any other man that she'd had a real relationship during the past six years. It was clear that she was fighting off any attraction that she felt. She was frustrated because she did not have a physical relationship with Mike right now. Brock had to figure out how to work that situation to his advantage and get this Max guy away from Reba. But how...
What will Brock do after this? What will happen between Reba and Max? What is Mike's surprise? What will Brock do to help his chances with Reba? What will happen to stop Reba from reconnecting with Mike in their old apartment? Who will Reba end up with in Vegas?
What happens next? Stay tuned to find out in the next chapter!
Coming up: Reba, Mike, Brock, and Barbra Jean have a night out at Holliway's. Reba and Mike sing with the band. Kim and Jenny sing with the band also. After a night of fun and too much to drink, Reba is hopeful that she will have a romantic night with Mike. She proceeds to seduce him, but wakes up to the shock of her life.
Thanks for the reviews, make sure you review this chapter and give me your thoughts and comments….
If anyone has any suggestions on them I'd love to hear! Review or Send me a P.M with your suggestions! Please feel free to make any comments that you wish. I may just decide to include it in the story. If I do include one of your suggestions, then I will give you full credit.
Shout out to Chatte578. Thanks for your feedback! I'm glad that you liked last week's chapter update. Yes, there will be more Breba moments during this trip to Oklahoma. They will be sharing some memories together. I'm glad that you like the Cheyenne McEntire-Smith character as Reba's grandma. The things that haunt Reba's dreams will be talked about in upcoming chapters. This is also true for the bad dreams that she had during the drive to McAlester. I do hope that this chapter cleared up a lot for you about her nightmares. It's leading up to the Reba Nell Got Married story and more Breba moments. Brock will take drastic measures to stop Reba's plans.
Shout out to merylandrebafan: Thanks for your encouragement! Welcome back! I love your new story, Afraid to Sleep.
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Shout out to ss9: Thank you for your frequent updates to Dynasty Series 12: Blood Lines. It makes my day to read about my other favorite couple, Blake and Alexis. Your writing is so good! When you update daily, it helps my own creative imagination flow for my own story, sometimes I get writers' block and your new updates help me relax and get back to work.
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