A/N: Wasn't sure how much I'd continue since nobody reviewed chapter 4; but I had close to the obligatory 25 chapter views; and I'm anal retentive so I have to finish the story. It'll be done today. Enjoy chapter 5! =)
When Barbara Jean walked into Brock's office the next morning, the lobby was quiet. Reba was filing some paperwork and had her back to Barbara Jean.
"Hey Reba," she said walking over to the counter. Reba whirled around and looked at her; but then she smiled.
"Hi Barbara Jean; what are you doing here?" She shrugged.
"Eugene said he thought it looked bad for us to be working together and dating. So he thought I could come work for Brock. That way I'll still be in the building."
"Well, you'd probably have to talk to him yourself. I can't speak for him."
"Where is he?" Barbara Jean asked. Reba motioned to the hallway behind her.
"He's in with a patient right now. They are doing x-rays. If you have a seat, I'll let him know you're here when he's done." Reba replied. After Barbara Jean sat down, Reba ducked into an exam room and sat down panicking. "This can't be happening. Barbara Jean can't come work here. This is how it happened the last time. She is not going to come in and take my life. I won't have it!" Then she heard Brock's voice coming down the hall.
"Those x-rays appear to be looking really good. So we'll just clean your beautiful teeth and we'll be done." Brock walked into the room with a girl about ten years old with glasses and a braid that went halfway down her back. When he looked up, he was surprised to see Reba in the room with them. "Hop up in the chair Sarah." Then he turned to Reba. "What are you doing in here?"
"Barbara Jean is here. She wants to talk to you about a job." Brock's face scrunched up into a frown.
"She works for Eugene. Why does she need a job here?"
"That's what you'll have to talk to her about later." Brock nodded.
"We'll discuss it after I'm done cleaning Sarah's teeth." She leaned over the chair and looked at Brock.
"No, you can go ahead and deal with her first. I'll wait." Reba laughed and Brock chuckled.
"I don't think your parents would like that. It's okay, you take care of those teeth. We'll look at them and then you'll be able to go home. This probably won't even take ten minutes."
"Alright." Reba looked at her watch.
"I have to go. I need to go pick up Jake from school." Brock nodded.
"I'll see you later. We'll talk about Barbara Jean when I get home."
"Do we have to?" Reba joked and Brock nodded.
"It's up to both of us to decide whether or not we want her to work here." Reba nodded.
"I'll go; we both have a lot to do." When Reba walked into the lobby, she saw Sarah's parents look up at her. "Sarah should be out soon. Dr. Hart said it should only be about another ten minutes." Barbara Jean stood up and walked over to her.
"What about me?"
"Brock will be done in a few minutes. I have to go pick up Jake." She picked up her purse and walked out of the office.
"I think we can let her stay." Reba moved back from the refrigerator door and looked at Brock.
"What'd you say?" He nodded.
"I think we can let Barbara Jean come to work for me. She needs the job and I could always use the help." Reba scoffed.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"What?" Brock asked confused. He didn't see the problem. Barbara Jean needed the job and Reba couldn't do it all by herself. It seemed like the perfect solution; although it seemed like Reba didn't feel the same way.
"Are you saying I'm not doing my job? I work in your office and I have for almost twenty years; so I'm not sure why you think you need help now." Reba said angrily.
"I'm not saying you don't do your job; but I'm thinking maybe you could use some help in the office. You have so much to do; she could take some of the load off and you could even spend some more time with Jake." Brock explained. Reba scoffed.
"This is just how she tried to get into our lives the last time!" Reba exclaimed to herself.
"What?" Brock asked. He didn't have any idea what she was talking about. Reba stopped herself. She couldn't say anything because her life wasn't that way. She had gotten the time back; but Reba had to make sure it didn't happen.
"Never mind," she said, "but if she's coming into the office, I'm not quitting."
"Nobody asked you to." Brock replied.
"I know you haven't yet; but I'm still going to be in the office. "
"I want you there!" Brock exclaimed. Reba slammed the door and stormed towards the living room.
"Yeah; you sure have an interesting way of showing it."
"Reba!" He walked out of the kitchen and followed her up the stairs, long enough to hear the slam of the bedroom door. He sat on the couch and rested his head against the pillow. He would never understand her. Things for the past several months have been up in the air and confusing. The only time she had even seem similar to her old self was the surprise anniversary party that Cheyenne had planned for them. What did she have against Barbara Jean? She was just working for him, he didn't' have any feelings for her; and he knew he never would. He loved his wife and that should be enough for her; but would it be?