"You can go talk to him if you want."

She hadn't been staring at him for more than five seconds, but it felt like an eternity. Ford's voice broke her momentary trance.

"Do what?" She turned towards him.

"I said you can go talk to him if you want. It won't bother me."

She glanced in Brock's direction. He was still there, hands in his pockets, as if he knew she'd be heading his way in mere seconds.

"Are you sure?"

Ford leaned forward and kissed her gently. "You love me, I love you. I trust you."

She smiled before standing and heading in her ex-husband's direction. When she arrived at the place he stood, she sighed. "I didn't intend on seeing you here."

"I could say the same."

"How have you been?"

"Great. You?"

"Same."

Conversation quickly dribbled away, if you could call it conversation. They used to be able to talk for long hours without stopping, having deep, meaningful talks with one another. But that was in the early years of their marriage. But still. Conversation had never been this awkward. Not even when they first divorced.

"Are you here with Ari?" Reba asked, trying to get things going again. Part of her hoped he was here alone. She knew it was wrong, but she kind of wished he was still single. She wanted him to know how it felt to not have a significant other while the other ex was married. On the other hand, she wanted him to be happy. It was a confusing situation her mind had come up with.

"Wouldn't you rather ask if I'm still with her?"

"Yes, but that wouldn't be very polite, now, would it?"

"Since when are you polite to me?"

"Since I'm in a public place where I can be judged."

"Oh, so now you're self-conscious."

"Maybe. What's it to you?"

He started laughing and Reba couldn't help but smile. She soon realized the two were flirting but became aware just as quick that she didn't care. Her husband was sitting feet away but flirting with Brock was on her mind at the moment.

She didn't understand it, though. She adored and thought the world of Ford. Plus, she loved him with her whole being. So why did she want to stand here and banter back and forth with her ex?

"Hey, we better get goin'."

Reba flinched as Ford's arm went around her waist and he stepped up beside her. She looked up at him then back at Brock, saying, "I guess we should. It was nice talking to you."

"Same. See you later." He nodded his head at Ford who did the same before walking off to find Ari, Reba supposed.

"Why are we leaving?" She asked as her and Ford exited the hotel after saying goodbye to some friends.

"I just want to get our late night started early."

Reba laughed and the two got into Ford's truck. Her heart soared when Ford reached across the middle seat to grab his wife's hand. Affection was something she had missed and to have it after so long, it nearly brought tears to her eyes.

"I'm thankful for you," She said suddenly.

Ford smiled and gave her hand a squeeze. "And I'm thankful for you."

xXx

That Friday evening, Reba was busy getting ready for Ford's son, Brent, to visit for the week before going back to school in Dallas the following Friday.

She had set up the guest room with new sheets for the bed, made sure the dresser was dusted and the floor was vacuumed before cleaning the adjoining bathroom. Once she was satisfied with her cleaning, she went downstairs to find the nineteen-year-old already there. His bags were thrown on the couch and his head was in the refrigerator, rear end in the air.

Reba had only met Brent two other times. Once, before her and Ford got married, and then again at the wedding. He was the spitting image of Ford, and gave her an idea of what her husband looked like in his younger days. Sure, she had seen pictures, but there was something about the physical thing.

"Findin' everything you need?" She said with a teasing tone to her voice, hands on her hips.

Brent turned around with a sandwich in his mouth, soda in one hand, and leftover barbecue in the other. "Hey," He mumbled with his full mouth.

"Hi," Reba said, going into the kitchen and grabbing a plate from the cabinet, handing it to him.

He took it with a sheepish grin and sat down at the bar. "Thanks."

"No problem." Reba went and stood on the other side of the bar to load the dishwasher and talk to her stepson at the same time. "How was your trip?"

"Boring. As usual."

Reba nodded, reaching into her pocket. "Your dad wanted me to give you this." She handed over a few twenties and Brent took them graciously.

"Thanks. It's been hard since I lost my job."

"Where did you work?"

"Taco Bell."

"Laying people off, huh?"

"Oh, no. I sat in one of the sinks on a dare and my manager saw me on one of the cameras."

Reba's eyes widened and she put her head down so Brent wouldn't see. And this kid got accepted into a college? She knew Ford was a strict father, but apparently his efforts hadn't paid off.

"I'm trying to get another job at McDonald's, though," Brent went on. "Can't be much different flipping hamburgers than folding burritos."

"Have you ever considered working in an office doing clean up or anything like that?"

"Nah. I'm not cut out for stuff like that."

Reba nodded, turning around to clear off the counter next to the sink. She stacked the mail in a neat pile before throwing out a few empty beer bottles Ford had just left there.

"Whose are those?" Brent asked.

"Your dad's." The lid on the trash can slammed shut as Reba began wiping off the counter.

"What's he doing with them?"

Reba looked over at him carefully. "What do you mean?"

"He's not drinking them, is he?"

Brent had stopped eating and his eyes were getting wide. Reba looked at him like he was insane.

"Well, yes. Why?"

"Nobody told you? He didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"He's an alcoholic. He'd been sober for ten years before he met you. Now he's drinking again?"

As promised, another chapter. Hope you all liked this one. (: