"Joel did you say something?" Reba asked surprised. Joel quickly shook his head. Reba looked at the clock and walked with Joel into the living room.
"Can't sleep?" Joel shook his head no. Reba sat on the chair and nodded. Joel watched her but didn't sit down.
"Did the video game scare you?" Joel thought for a minute and nodded. He didn't want to get his new friend in any trouble but the game did scare him. Reba sighed and smiled at him.
"Come here and I can try and make it all better. Does that sounds alright?" Reba asked with her arms open. Joel smiled slightly and sat on her lap. Reba wrapped her arms around the small boy and gave him a hug. Unconsciously Reba began to rock him while she talked.
"So that video game really scared you, huh?" Joel nodded his head.
"And you didn't want to tell Terry because you wanted him to like you and be your friend?" Joel smiled. No one ever understood him this well better.
"I think I understand all of it now." Joel looked scared again when he looked into Reba's eyes.
Reba stopped rocking. "Are you afraid that I'm going to tell Terry you were scared?" Reba asked. Joel's smile disappeared when looked down and nodded. Reba smiled and hugged the boly closer to her and began rocking again.
"Don't worry Joel. We can keep this as our little secret." Joel perked up again and giggled a little.
"Would you like it if I told you a story?" Joel nodded and rested his head on Reba's shoulder. Reba started telling a story that she used to tell her kids when they were Joel's age. Within minutes she heard his breathing become regular and knew he was asleep.
Reba smiled and carried him back upstairs. She opened Terry's door and walked to the other bed in the room. When she placed Joel down, he stirred slighty. Joel opened his eyes and in a sleepy voice he mumbled, "Good night mommy." Reba's heart melt at his words.
"Good night Joel." Reba walked back to her room and sat on the edge of her bed. Her mind kept filling with thoughts of Brock's wife. She was missing out on being with her children. Hannah and Cara had no women in their life to teach them the important things and poor Joel is still so little. He needs a mother's love more then anybody. They all deserve a mother figure in their life.
Reba looked at the clock and sighed at the time. She got up and went to get changed. Coming out of her bathroom Reba shut off the light and crawled into bed and looked around the room. She was alone now. Alone in her empty bed in her empty room in her quiet house. "I still miss you Terry," she admitted in the silence.
The next morning everyone woke up at ten. Reba told them if they were good she'd make them pancakes. The four girls were all sitting around the table while the two boys sat at the barstools and watched Reba work. She served up the pancakes just as someone rang the door bell. It was eleven already.
"Hey Brock, right on time. They're all in the kitchen eating breakfast," Reba greeted as she opened the door.
"Am I here too soon? I can come back later."
"No, no, no it's fine. Are you hungry? I have some extra pancakes." Just then Dayna, Megan, Hannah and Cara came in.
"Hi Dad," Hannah and Cara said in unison. "Can we say a little longer?" Cara asked.
"Only a little bit. I have to talk with Reba."
"Thanks Dad."
"You're welcome." The girls all giggled and ran upstairs. Brock smiled when he heard the door slam behind them. "So about those extra pancakes, does the offer still stand?"
"Of course," Reba smiled. God how he loved that smile. 'Where did that come from?' Brock thought to himself as he followed Reba into the kitchen. He spotted Joel sitting on a barstool.
"Hey Buddy, how you doing? Did you have fun?" Joel flasked Brock a thumbs up sign and hopped off the chair.
"Hey mom we're gonna go up to my room and play video games ok?" Reba saw the look of fear shot across Joel's face.
"How about you watch a movie instead? I'll even bring you guys up some popcorn in a little bit."
"Ok mom," Terry said. Joel smiled at Reba and then left with Terry. Reba brought Brock some pancakes and they began talking. They had moved into the living room when Brock had finished eating. Time seemed to fly by as Reba and Brock got to know each other again. Soon they were joking and laughing with each other.
"I remember that!" Reba laughed at Brock's story from their bar days. Brock joined in the laughter.
"Mom we're getting hungry," Dayna said as she came down the stairs with Hannah, Megan, and Cara. Brock looked at the clock. It was almost five.
"Wow we've been talking all afternoon."
"Yeah it looks like we have," Reba said flashing Brock her most beautiful smile. Dayna and Megan exchanged glances with Hannah and Cara.
"What's going on between them?" Dayna whispered to Hannah.
"I don't know but if I had to guess I think they're flirting with each other," Hannah whispered back.
"We should get going," Brock said smiling at Reba oblivous to the girl's conversation. "We've been in your hair long enough."
"If you say so," Reba smiled. Terry and Joel came bouncing down the stairs.
"Is Joel going home now?" Terry asked walking over to where everyone was standing.
"Yeah we're going to be leaving," Brock told Terry.
"Oh man," Terry whined collapsing into a chair. The girls stopped whispering to each other and Joel looked sad.
"But why Dad?"" Joel asked.