-- 04 --
"Brock, they are beautiful," commented Reba, staring at the diamond earrings she always wanted. "I can't accept these, they are too expensive."
"But I want you to have them."
"What have you got?" Helene was interested. Reba showed her mom a pair of beautiful diamond earrings that were hidden in a wooden jewelry box. "They're beautiful. Doesn't your husband deserve a kiss for giving you such wonderful gift? All I got was fishing rod."
"I thought you wanted a new fishing rod," exclaimed JV
"I didn't know diamond earrings was an option"
"But the fishing rod is more practical."
"The earrings are more personal."
"Alright, I'll get you a pair of earrings" JV promised, knowing that his wife would forget a while later. She'd already forgotten that she said Reba should kiss her husband, to thank him for a wonderful gift. So she didn't kiss him. After the gifts were open, they went about their business. JV took Helene out fishing at the pond near the house. Reba curled up by the window reading a book.
"Something smells nice," commented Reba sniffing the air.
"It's me, I'm trying out the cologne you gave me." Brock walked over to Reba with a cup of eggnog.
"Gotta admit, this scent suits you well." And it was about to drive her insane.
"Thanks, The earrings look beautiful on you too." He handed her the cup. Reba said thanks softly, taking the cup from his hand. Brock grabbed a chair and kept her company.
"Brock, I'm not pregnant," said Reba, eyes still locked on her book.
"Huh?" Brock was truly confused.
"The last time you sat and stared at me like that was when I was pregnant with Cheyenne. Although my mother believes that I am, I am not." Reba spoke, but her eyes weren't moving away from the book. Only she knew that she had been reading the same sentence since Brock sat down and had no idea what the sentence said. Brock chuckled.
"Yeah, I remember. I used to carry you everywhere."
"You were such a sweetheart." Reba commented with a soft grin.
"I drifted away didn't I?"
"I guess I didn't hold you tight enough."
"I promise, from now, everything's gonna change." Brock determined.
"About six years too late don't you think?" Brock pulled the book out of her hand, turned her around by her shoulder to face him.
"If I can turn back time, and make everything right, I'll do it in a heartbeat. I can't change what I have done, but I can make sure it's not going to happen again in the future. All I ask from you is not to push me away." Brock pleaded. Reba wasn't sure where he was going with this, but she nodded. "Can I ask you something?"
"You know, it has always bugged me when someone asks 'can I ask you something?', that's already a question!" Reba glanced at him "Fine, yes, go ahead and ask me."
"Did our marriage have a chance if Barbra Jean wasn't pregnant?"
"It still didn't erase the fact that you cheated on me."
"I do realize that, but if I asked you for forgiveness, would you have given me?"
"Brock..." Their conversation was cut off by the sound of her parents returning from fishing. Reba went to help her mom with the fish she caught. Brock followed her. He did not get the answer, he would find an opportunity to ask her again later.
"My my, mama this is huge!" Reba commented the size of the fish her mom caught.
"Told ya' fishing rod is practical."
"Please don't tell me I have to gut this fish." Reba stared at the poor catfish.
"I'll do it for you." Brock offered his help. "So I'm guessing we're having fish for dinner."
"Well you three could have fish for dinner, I have an urge for salad for some reason." Brock chuckled. He helped Reba make dinner. Helene came to check on them from time to time.
"Reba, do you have problem with your husband?" Asked Helene after they had Christmas dinner. "You two seem distance. You used to be all over each other."
"We're not newlyweds anymore mama, the affectionate wears off."
"No wonder I never have any grandchildren. Love should grow as days go by, as you get older your love should grow deeper. How could you let affection wear off? If this how you act now what would it be like twenty years from now?"
"Don't worry about us mama, we may not be as affectionate as we used to be, but we still..." the words just got caught in her throat "care for each other." She finally coughed it out.
"Alright, if you say so. You young kids have a weird way of showing love."
"Mama... What if Brock and I... separate?"
"Why? You two love each other, why would you even want to talk about separating? Did he do something so badly that you can't forgive him?"
"No..."
"Then I don't want to hear you talk about that ever again! Go hug your husband and tell him you love him!" Helene pointed at Brock who just came back from a long walk after dinner. "Go!" Helene glared at her daughter. Reba walked up to Brock and wrapped her arms around him. Brock was stunned from her action. But he held her close as his automatic reflex.
"I made a mistake of asking mama what she'd think if you and I separated, so she wants me to hug you." Reba muttered for Brock to understand why she did what she did.
"You only made a mistake of asking her, but I made that mistake by asking you that question." Brock uncomfortably chuckled.
"Is she still looking? Can I let you go now?" Reba sighed
"She's still glaring at you with her arms crossed and her brows joined."
"Still?" Reba about to turn her head to look at her mom who was standing behind her, but Brock pressed her head against his chest. Helene was long gone, but he wanted to hold her a little longer. Reba listened to his heartbeat, which seemed to increase its rhythm. Reba impulsively wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him closer. She jumped when she felt him kiss her on the top of her head. That was a little too much affection.
Reba walked away quietly, looking for her mom. Brock wished he knew what was in her mind. Reba had been avoiding him for the rest of the evening. She still hadn't answered his question. She didn't know what to tell him. She didn't know why he asked that question. Maybe because his marriage to Barbra Jean was at the end of a rope. He probably just needed to make sure he still had someone he could lean on. But she couldn't avoid him for too long, she would have to face him again when they went to bed. She was thinking maybe she could set up a guest room for him when her mom wasn't looking. And he could discreetly sneak out of her room and into the guest room without her mom knowing. Brock had already settled down for the night before Reba decided to come to bed.
"Good night, Reba"
"Good night Brock, I'll see if I can move you to another room tomorrow."
"Reba I got you some more blankets." Her mom knocked the door and Reba went and open. "Brock, what are you doing sleeping on the floor?"
"Uh... I..."
"We had a little disagreement, mama"
"You two had a fight?"
"Not exactly, we just didn't agree on something" Helene sighed after hearing her daughter's answer.
"Sit," demanded Helene pointing to the bed. "You too Brock. I need the truth." Brock sat next to Reba on the bed. "Reba, did he do something that so bad and you couldn't forgive him?" Reba still did not answer. "Every since you arrived, I've been noticing you two are distance. It hurts me not knowing what's going on with my daughter. I want to see you happy. But you're not. I admit, I'm old, I may not remember so many things, but I still remember how you used to smile. How your eyes used to spark. You don't have that anymore. All I can see in your eyes right now is worry and vacant stares. Now I'm going to ask you again. What's going on?"
"Brock and I… we had a little problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"He..." Reba stumbled
"Alright, if you're not comfortable telling me, that's fine. Answer me this, would you be able to forgive him for what he did?" Reba pondered at her mom's question.
"I have already forgiven him, mama." Reba answered her mom, and answered his question he asked her before as well.
"Well then just kiss and make up. Don't let him sleep on the floor!"
"Mama..."
"Do you still love each other?"
"Why do you ask me that?" Reba tried to avoid the question.
"I ask, you answer."
"I've never stopped." Brock answered firmly. Helene glanced at her daughter; she still didn't let out a word.