A/N: Sorry for the long wait guys. I was very busy there for awhile and then I got a small stubbling block but I'm back and I hope you enjoy.
On her route to the door, Reba noticed Terry still hadn't come down to get his pizza. Reba paused and yelled up to him.
"Terry hurry up and get your pizza! It's gonna get cold!" Reba let out a frustrated sigh and turned to the door.
"Hi there, what can I do for you?" Reba said with a smile.
"Hi I'm Hannah and Cara's dad. I'm here to drop off their things for the sleepover." The man took a small step forward into the light. Reba's eyes quickly adjust and she felt a breath of air get caught in her lungs. The man in front of her was about six feet tall with short blonde hair and beautiful green eyes. "I'm Brock by the way," he said with a smile while extending his hand. Even his smile was gorgeous.
"Uh-um I'm sorry," Reba said when she was finally able to breath again. "I'm Reba. It's nice to meet you. Would you like to come in? We could get to know each other a little before your girl sleepover," Reba said stepping aside a little.
"I would but I've got my boy in the car, and I don't want him to get lonely waiting for me."
"Oh you can invite him in too. I have a son myself, plus we have a ton a pizza. He is certainly welcome to have some."
Brock looked at the car and thought for a moment. "Alright, let me just go and get him." Brock smiled. 'There's that smile again,' Reba thought to herself as Brock walked away. Brock came back after a minute with a little boy following him closely. He had beautiful blue eyes and curly blonde hair. He looked to only be about five maybe six years old.
"Reba this is my son Joel. Joel this is Reba. Hannah and Cara are going to stay at her house tonight for a sleepover." Joel simply nodded his head. Reba turned to Joel and bent down to be at his eye level.
"It's nice to meet you Joel." Reba stuck her hand out to shake his. Joel didn't say anything but just nodded his head and shook her hand. Reba was surprised at how quiet Joel was. Joel hasn't spoken yet.
"If you want Joel there's pizza inside. You can go and get some if you are hungry." Joel looked to his dad.
"It's ok. We can do our special dinner night some other time." Joel nodded and walked inside. He quickly found the pizza and looked for the best slice that still remained. Reba and Brock followed him in.
"I'm sorry Brock I didn't realize that you had a dinner planned." Reba apologized.
"It's alright. Joel's special dinner night was pizza and a movie anyway. This is just saving time." Brock smiled. Reba laughed at his statement and looked up when she heard someone jumping down stairs. It was Terry.
"It's about time you came to eat young man. Terry this is Joel. He is Hannah and Cara's brother. Joel this is my son Terry."
"Hi," Terry said to Joel. "I'm nine how old are you?" Joel held up six little fingers.
"Oh well do you want to come to my room and watch a movie? We could bring the pizza with us." Joel nodded his head.
"Mom we're going to watch a movie in my room." Reba smiled. "Just remember to clean up your mess later."
"Ok mom. Come on Joel let's go." Terry and Joel turned and went up the stairs. Reba turned to Brock.
"I guess it's just us now."
"I suppose it is," Brock smiled as he sat down on the couch. Reba sat down in one of the chairs.
"Brock does Joel ever talk?"
Brock let out and looked down. "Joel stopped talking about three years ago. Wow I can't believe it's been that long already. I took him to a doctor last year and she said not to push him. Joel will talk again when he is ready."
"Really?" Reba was surprised to learn this about that sweet little boy. "So how does his teacher handle him with the rest of the class?"
"Oh Joel's is still very dependant. It would be a big chance to take with him being in school full time so he is home-schooled."
"That's why I haven't seen him in school. I'm on the PTO for the elementary school around here so I get the privilege of meeting all new students. So does your wife teach him?" Reba couldn't believe she had forgotten so soon. "Oh Brock, I'm sorry. Dayna already told me about your wife."
Brock smiled slightly as he felt tears starting to form. He quickly blinded them away. "I teach Joel and it's quite alright."
Reba gentle returned the smile. "How are you all doing? Dayna was telling me how the girls were handling it, and I can see from Joel how he's doing, but how are you?"
"I'm fine," Brock started. He smiled as he looked Reba in the eye and then dropped his glaze to the floor.
"Brock if it's any consultation I lost my husband ten years ago." Brock's eyes quickly locked on Reba's.
"Really?"
Reba nodded her head and gave him a sympathetic smile. "I know from experience that it helps to talk about it."
Brock tried to smile. He wasn't comfortable opening his heart to someone he just met let alone a beautiful woman like Reba. He figured there was no harm in trying. Brock took a deep breath and began. "It stills hurts. I know Hannah is trying to be strong; Cara is a mess when anyone even mentions her mom's name, and Joel hasn't talked to me since. He was actually there with Katie, my wife, when it happened."
Reba looked at Brock confused.
"Katie knew from the day that Joel was born that he wouldn't be very close with her. She thought for most of her pregnancy of ways they could have special bonding time. Eventually she figured it out. Katie and Joel would go out for ice cream after dinner every night. That was their special way of bonding. Well one day as they were walking to the ice place in our neighborhood Katie was shot. Someone called 9-1-1 but by the time the paramedics arrived she had lost a lot of blood. Poor Joel was there the whole time watching his mother bleed to death. I haven't heard a word pass his lips since I picked him up at the hospital." Brock took a moment to collect himself. "The worst part is the irony of my little boy. Before he left he was telling me a long story about his day when Katie walked in to take Joel for ice cream. I can still remember he turned to me and said 'I'll tell you the rest when we get back Daddy. I love you' and he was gone."
Brock tried to laugh the memory off but the tears in his eyes told Reba otherwise. She knew that Brock was still hurting and hurting badly. From the looks of it his kids were still hurting badly too.
"If you ever need anything at all just let me know," Reba said while gently placing a hand on his shoulder.
A/N: Jumping down stairs is something that is a lot of fun when your a kid. I know from experience lol. I hope you liked this chapter.