The vows had been spoken and the couple left the altar, or the front of the living room, rather, as Mr. and Mrs. Ford Stokely. Everyone clapped and whooped and hollered when they first kissed as husband and wife. The two posed for pictures on the staircase and in the front yard before the cake was served, everybody mingling with each other.

Upstairs in her bedroom, Reba changed into a shorter dress for the reception, Ford shedding his tuxedo jacket as well.

"You ready to get home?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind as she spritzed perfume on her wrists.

"Home?" She asked, looking at him through the mirror in her vanity. "The reception just got started."

"I know." He kissed her neck. "I'm just ready to finally be together, just the two of us."

She nodded, understanding what he meant. As soon as they had announced their engagement, all the kids had suddenly started visiting more. They were rarely alone and it was beginning to get on Reba's nerves. Just a few short months before, she was damn near depressed from loneliness, but now she just wished everybody would give her some breathing room.

"It'll be hard to leave this house, though," She said, turning to look at her packed room, boxes scattered here and there.

"Why? We'll make new memories in our new house."

She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck, overwhelmed with happiness that her night in shining armour, for a lack of a better word, had been found, and he would stop at nothing to make her happy.

"I know." She gave him a kiss.

"You know I love you," He said, rubbing her cheek with his thumb.

"Yes."

"Good. I never want you to forget that. I never want you to question that. This won't end like the other ones, okay? Do you trust me?"

"I trust you. I promise. That's why I married you."

"Okay." He kissed her lips this time, holding her close to him a second more before turning and grabbing her hand to walk downstairs where everyone was waiting for them.

xXx

After a few hours of catching up with old friends and talking to her children, whom she had missed so much, Reba scampered off into the kitchen for a moment's peace and a glass of wine. She nearly jumped right out of her skin, however, when she saw a shadow appear at the back door. It wasn't completely dark yet, so she could tell who it was. And she wasn't sure how she felt about him being there.

Reluctantly, she unlocked the backdoor and Brock stepped in.

"Hi," He said.

"Hi," She responded, dowing her wine. "Need something?"

He shrugged, running a hand through his hair. "I probably shouldn't be here."

"Probably not. Ari wouldn't like it."

He rolled his eyes. "How come you didn't tell me you were getting married? I didn't even know you were engaged until I called Jake and found out he was in town."

"I wasn't aware I had to let you in on anything that goes on in my life anymore. You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend."

"Would you have wanted me to?"

"What would it have mattered?"

"Exactly."

"You just answered your own question. Is there anything else you need? I'm kind of busy, if you hadn't noticed."

"Sorry. I just wanted to drop by and tell you congratulations and all that. You look beautiful, by the way."

She set her wine glass down on the counter, folding her arms. "Thank you." "You're welcome. Barbra Jean here?"

Reba nodded. "She's in the living room with everybody else."

"With Henry?"

"He's running around here somewhere with Elizabeth, I'd imagine."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

The conversation became so slow so suddenly as well as awkward.

"Well, I better get back in there with Ford-"

"You're selling the house?"

"Do what?"

"You're selling the house? This house?"

"Yes."

"I just now noticed that the kitchen is pretty much empty." He tried to chuckle. "I guess you've moved in with…Ford? Is that his name?"

"Ford Stokely, yes."

"Reba Stokely… Sounds funny."

She rolled her eyes, not even bothering to respond to his comment about her name.

"Anyway…" She said with a hint of an annoyed tone. "Was there anything else you needed? I really should get back in there." "Nope. I can tell I'm not really needed or wanted here."

"Brock, quit being a dramatic five-year-old."

He held his hands up. "Sorry. I'm leaving. Have a nice night, marriage, relationship, year, whatever. I'll see ya when I see ya." He began backing towards the door with that sideways grin Reba always found so attractive. "I love ya, Red."

"Love you, too, ya big idiot."

xXx

That night, her and Ford spent the night at one of Houston's finest hotels. Thoughts of Brock left Reba's mind and she focused on her new husband, determined to make this relationship work. She had to admit, she had felt a little apprehensive about jumping headfirst into a second marriage, but there was nothing bad about Ford that she could see. He was giving, considerate, hard-headed at times, loved with all his heart, mind, soul and body, and never, ever took anything he had for granted. He was trying to shed his countrified Oklahoma image, but Reba still saw that manly southern gentleman in him, and she hoped that that would never go away.

She fell asleep to him humming quietly to her in the dark room, curled up next to him, and wondering if this was what God had planned for Heaven. If not, this was pretty close.

"Brock, you idiot."

The tanned blonde man turned his head to look at Reba who stood behind him.

"What?" He asked innocently, revving his motorcycle loudly in her driveway.

"What are you doing here?"

He shrugged, not responding but waiting for her to continue.

"It's eight o'clock in the morning and you're sitting here revving your engine in my driveway? You'd better be happy Ford isn't here or he'd come out here and whip your butt."

"I thought you might like to go for a ride." He grinned. "Come on. Just one ride."

"No. Get out of my driveway." She turned around to walk back into the house, embarrassed she had come all the way out there in her bath-robe. "And you're gonna reimburse me for that oil stain you just left." She stooped down to pick up the paper that the papery-boy had thrown in the yard before turning around, "And another thing-"

But before she could finish, she saw Brock back out of her driveway without looking. What he didn't see was a dump-truck hauling ass down the street. Reba watched in horror as the two collided.

xXx

"Reba. Reba, wake up."

Gasping, Reba opened her eyes, sitting up and looking around the dark hotel room. She put a hand to her head, trying to figure out what was going on. She was somewhat disoriented and tremendously hot.

"Bad dream," She whispered to Ford, who was sitting up as well, trying to hold on to her to comfort her.

Pushing him away, she apologized. "I'm hot. Sorry."

"Hot flashes again?"

"Yeah."

She leaned over with her head in her hands, the cool air of the hotel room hitting her bare back while cursing menopause with her whole being.

She had been having those nightmares about Brock dying ever since she met Ford. They were very frustrating and put thoughts into her head that she didn't want to think about. Thoughts that concerned her still having feelings for him. She knew she did, she just didn't want them to become any more extensive than she feared they might be. She needed to keep him at bay if she wanted this marriage to Ford to work. Which she wanted more than anything.

"You alright now?" He asked from his side of the bed.

"Yeah, I'm okay. It was just a bad dream." She laid back down, settling into her pillow.

He laid down next to her, his arm wrapping around her middle. She instantly became hotter at the skin on skin contact. It made her temper rise and her patience wear thin.

Taking hold of his hand, she moved it away from her. "I'm boiling. Don't touch me right now."

"Sorry."

"I don't mean to sound like a bitch, but I can't handle it."

"I understand."

"Alright. Thank you."

A second later, she felt him shift in the bed and lean over to kiss her briefly. She returned the kiss with an I love you before closing her eyes, praying the dreams would cease.