Startled by the sound of Brock's name, Reba immediately stopped what she was doing and gave her full attention to her friend. "What about you and Brock?" Barbara Jean was about to tell her the news when they both heard Jake calling. "Mommy, mommy I need you!" Reba and Barbara jean exchanged glances and they both headed in different ways. Reba walked swiftly up the stairs towards her son, while Barbara Jean walked out the back door towards her home.
When Reba opened the door to her bedroom, she didn't see Jake in the bed. She looked around the room and saw that the lights were on in the bathroom. As she walked into where her son was she felt her heart ache. There lying on the floor on the rug by the toilet Jake was crying, sweat running over his body. Reba got a cold wash cloth from the sink and put it over his forehead. Pulling Jake in her lap, she couldn't get her mind off what was said downstairs a little while ago.
"Brock, I'm back did you finish?" "Oh hey. Yeah I'm just about finished only a few boxes left." "Ok. Where is Henry?" "He's upstairs taking a nap in his room." Barbara Jean smiled at her soon to be ex-husband and walked up to check on her toddler son. She stood in the doorway of Henry's room and let the tears fall that she had been holding in since last night. This wasn't how she pictured her life at all. A single parent sharing custody with her ex-husband,. What was she supposed to do now?
After Reba got Jake settled about 30 minutes later, she made her way downstairs. Hesitating, she picked up the phone and slowly dialed Brock's cell number. In a tired husky voice Brock answered his cell, "hello." Reba smiled at the phone, missing his voice he was tired. "Did I wake you up?" "No, its ok I was just resting for a second." "Are you ok Brock?" Taken back by the question that his first ex-wife asked him, obviously she didn't know the news. "I guess Barbara Jean didn't tell you then?" Thinking back to the conversation she had earlier with her, Reba couldn't think of anything important that was said. " No, she didn't say anything. We got interrupted by Jake." Brock knew he had to tell her and soon was better than later. "Do you think its ok if I stop by around 6 or 6:30 tonight?" " Yeah that's fine. Jake's sick so maybe he will feel better by then." "ok great well I'll see you later Reba." "Bye Brock."
Reba set the phone down slowly on the counter. This was the first time the two had talked in over a week and it was killing Reba. She remembered the day that the argument occurred, the one that stopped their communication, like it was yesterday.
Reba was finishing up cleaning the kitchen after supper, and Brock
walked in with a look of someone very upset. "What do you want
Brock?" "Reba I can't handle this anymore and I think its finally
over between me and Barbara Jean." Brock told his best friend
hoping she would understand and take his side. "And why do
you say this? What was the big fight about this time." Rolling
his eyes at the things she was saying , he was trying to bite his
tongue , not wanting to say something he would later regret.
The argument escalated and ended with both of them yelling .
That was the last day Reba and Brock spoke for almost two weeks.
To hear his voice again brought a smile to Reba's face whether she admitted it or not. She had always loved him and these past two weeks of not talking to him just about killed her. Reba looked at the clock and realized it was almost 4:30 and she needed to get dinner started. Since Jake was sick it would only be her and hopefully Brock eating. She decided to make spaghetti with a small salad . Just before 6 there was a knock on the front door and Reba's stomach started to get butterflies.