Why Can't I Be Happy?
Chapter 14
--
Van was in the kitchen making a sandwich when Brock walked in.
"Hey Mr. H you alright, you look pretty stressed out."
"I'm fine, I just need to speak with Reba." Brock said as he went into the living room hoping he'd find her in there.
"Well your going to have to wait until Monday morning."
"Why's that?"
"Oh she didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what Van, where the hell is she?" Brock became increasingly frustrated.
"Brad took her up to his cabin for the weekend. They left Friday morning. If you ask me she was extremely excited, if you catch my drift." Van said while arching his eye brows. Brock's mouth fell to the floor. What Van said hit him like a ton of bricks. His anger and jealously was becoming harder and harder for him to contain.
"What did you just say?"
"Brad and Mrs. H went away together." Brock didn't waste anytime and quickly left the house. He practically ran home so he could call Reba to see if she'd answer her cell phone. He wanted to know if the rumor was true. As he ran into the house, Brock leaped to the phone. His fingers trembled as he tried dialing the number. The phone began to ring. About two minutes had passed and Reba hadn't answered the phone. He called three more times but still got no answer. With each call he left slightly angry messages. The last time he called his message was less than friendly.
"Hi, this is Reba Hart. I am not here at the moment so please leave your name and number and I'll be sure to get back with you. Bye."
"Reba this is my third time calling you. Just stop what your doing and pick up the damn phone. I really need to talk to you. My patience is running thin. I suggest you pick up."
Reba and Brad slept peacefully through the night and arose to the morning sunshine. Brad woke up with the beautiful red-head facing him. She looked so peaceful and content. He planted a sweet kiss on her forehead, which caused her to wake up.
"Good morning beautiful." he said while moving a strand of hair away from her face. She could get use to waking up with him in the morning. Reba smiled sheepishly to him, totally happy with the way things were going.
"Good morning. Have you been awake this whole time?"
"I waited for you to fall asleep last night. Eventually I dosed off myself. I woke up a few seconds before waking you. How do you feel this morning?" he smiled seductively to her.
"I feel absolutely fantastic." Reba gave him a big hug before bringing him into a kiss. She truly was feeling fantastic. Her body felt renewed and refreshed. She felt like a new woman to be quite honest. Nothing could spoil this moment.
"Well I'm happy you feel great. How about we get out of bed, get ready and do some more sight seeing." Reba nodded in agreement. As he arose from the bed, Reba tugged at his side, causing him to turn around. Without saying a word, she kissed him. Brad was caught off guard a little.
"I love you."
"I love you too." Brad slowly made his way out the room. Reba looked at him until he was out of sight. She smiled to herself. She couldn't believe how happy she was. Happiness like this was rare to her. Reba hadn't felt this way in a long time.
Reba was about to get out of bed to take a shower when she noticed her cell phone blinking on and off. It meant she had voicemail. Reba looked to see who the calls came from and to her dismay, it was Brock. She wondered why he would call her so many different times. She listened to the voicemails he left. Reba became increasingly frustrated listening to the messages from Brock.
"Reba this is not funny. Now answer the damn phone, we need to talk about our situation. I will not let up on this. Now stop being so damn stubborn."
Reba was in shock at Brock's persistence. She couldn't believe that he would sink to this level, it was just like it had always been. He only thought of his feelings and never considered the harm it would cause to everyone around him. Reba had had enough, she wasn't going to let Brock ruin her romantic weekend with the new man in her life. She turned off her phone and went into the bathroom so she could take a shower.
Reba allowed the warm water to drip down her body. The shower also had a ceiling shower head. She soon allowed the thoughts of Brock to leave her mind, and brought in the new thoughts of Brad. He was so wonderful, so gentle. Reba knew in her heart that he loved her and would do nothing to harm or hurt her. Four years after the divorce, Reba finally found the love that she so longed for. She had officially moved on with her life, and was happy to let it happen.
As Reba became consumed in deep thoughts of Brad, a pair of muscular and tan arms wrapped around her waist. She jumped and turned around, only to find that the arms belonged to the man that had taken her heart. She smiled to him, happy to know that the sight in front of her would no doubt make her happy for a long time.
"Hey I was coming in to check on you and instead found you looking awfully sexy in the shower." he gave her a seductive smile.
"Brad I love you so much. I want us to be like this forever."
"I love you too baby. I promise I will do everything in my power to make us work."
Reba hugged him and kissed him. She happily believed everything he said to be true. They both soaked a while longer in the shower before getting out. They went about the rest of their day, sight-seeing and happy to be around each other. They talked and laughed about everything.
As the weekend came to a close, Reba dreaded going home. For she knew that Brock would bring her an array of problems. She would also miss this time with Brad. Reba loved the thought of waking up to him in the morning, and falling asleep with him at night.
After they made passionate and fierce love their last night alone together, Reba turned to face him. Brad could see the look of dismay in her eyes.
"Reba baby what's wrong?"
"Nothing" she said in a whisper, not able to look him in the eyes. Brad gently placed his hand under her chin and lifted her head so that she made eye contact with him.
"I know when something's wrong with you, so tell me." Though reluctant, Reba finally told Brad what was bothering her.
""Brad I really had a wonderful time with you this weekend and it hurts to think that this is almost over."
"Honey this isn't over. We'll still be together even when this trip is done with. I love you and have no intentions on letting you go. When we get back I promise to make sure we take time out for us. Is that the only thing that bothers you?"
"No."
"What's wrong?"
"It's Brock…I didn't tell you this because I didn't know how you'd react. But a couple days before we came here, he confessed that he was still in love with me. He's been acting really jealous and crazy these last few weeks. I didn't say anything but apparently he's been calling my cell phone non-stop since we've been here, leaving me stupid voicemails."
Brad didn't say a word. Now he knew why Brock had acted so coldly towards him every time he came around. Brad looked at Reba and asked her a bold question.
"Reba do you still love him?" Reba was shocked by his question. She pulled away from him.
"Of course not, not like I love you. I mean he'll always have a place in my heart as the father of my children and a man that I share a twenty year history with, but I am not in love with him."
Brad didn't seem to convinced. This frustrated and confused Reba. She abruptly put her robe on and hopped out of bed.
"Reba don't leave, I just thought…"
"No you didn't think. Okay I love you Brad and that's that. I don't toss that word around lightly. I am over my ex-husband."
"I thought that maybe there were some pinned of feelings that you had for him."
"Well I don't. I care for you and only you. But if you don't trust me, I don't see how this is going to work." Reba's eyes filled with tears. She was about to walk out the door, when Brad grabbed her arm and brought her into a hug. He knew he was wrong for assuming that Reba would ever hurt him the way she had been hurt.
"I'm sorry Reba okay. Your right, I wasn't thinking. I know you love me and I completely trust you. I'm sorry." he kissed her forehead.
"I don't want to lose you Brad. I'm ready to be in love again and not alone."
"I know baby. How about we forget this whole mess and go back to bed. A good night's rest should make things all better." Reba nodded her head in agreement. She climbed back into bed with her back facing Brad. He felt so bad about making her so angry at him. So when he climbed into bed, he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck.
"I love you Reba" he whispered into her ear until she fell asleep, knowing that he meant every word he said.