Why can't I be happy?
Chapter 16
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Barbra Jean angrily walked back to her now unstable home. She was in a frantic and confused state of mind. She knew that confronting Reba wasn't a good idea since Reba wasn't the one who caused all this mess. But her fear of being alone wouldn't allow her to think logically about this situation. Her only main concern was keeping Brock from leaving her. She couldn't or wouldn't allow her marriage to fall apart. Though the way they got together wasn't exactly a fairytale, Barbra Jean knew in her heart that Brock was the only man for her.
As she approached her house, Barbra Jean noticed Brock's car in the driveway. At this moment, Barbra Jean told herself that she would do all in her power to keep her marriage going strong. Once inside, Brock acknowledged her with nothing more than a slight head nod and then went back to his beer and sports. Whenever these two were even in the same area, the tension could be sensed miles away. Barbra Jean swallowed her pride and hurt feelings and approached her husband. She sat beside him placing her hand on his chest, slowly and sensually caressing him.
"Barbra Jean, what are you doing?" Brock asked a little annoyed. Barbra Jean just kept reminding herself that she had to do every and any thing to keep him home.
"Brock honey, I don't want to fight anymore. Can't we just go back to the way we used to be before Re…" Barbra Jean stopped herself before finishing her statement. She knew that if she brought Reba into the situation, Brock would flip out and her plan would be ruined.
"Barbra Jean can we not get into this again. I just want to drink my beer and watch the football game." Brock had just shunned his wife, so caught up in himself that he didn't realize she was trying her damned hardest to make things work.
"I think getting our marriage back on track is more important than some stupid game. Brock I'm trying to fix our problems but your so selfish that you can't see that." Barbra Jean said, becoming more angrier by the second.
"What problems are you talking about?"
"You can't be serious. Brock, I'm talking about our constant fighting. I'm talking about how every since Reba started dating Brad you've become a totally different person."
"You don't know what your talking about, I don't give a damn about Reba and Brad."
"Well you sure as hell could have fooled me. Whenever someone mentions their names you freak out. Now I know she's your ex-wife and its normal for you to be jealous, but I think this is a bit extreme."
"My behavior has nothing to do with Brad or Reba."
"Then what is it, our you depressed again? Are you still unhappy with your life?"
"I don't know, okay. I don't know why I'm feeling all this anger and rage, if I could control it I would but, I can't. I just can't." Brock said, feeling defeated.
"Then talk to me honey. I love you so much and if something is bothering then you need to confide in me, your wife. Please Brock." Barbra Jean pleaded with him. But Brock was too stubborn to admit the truth so he did what he always did, ran away from the problem.
"Barbra Jean I just need sometime to myself, so I can figure things out." With that said he walked out the door, leaving his tired and distressed wife to stand alone while he once again avoided the truth.
Barbra Jean couldn't believe that her life had been turned upside down. With no hope left she plopped down on the couch and buried her face in tears, praying that this nightmare would end.
It wasn't until the middle of the night when Brock finally made his way back home. Barbra Jean had stayed awake, waiting for him to return. When he did, she pretended to be asleep. As he climbed into bed, both of them felt out of place. Barbra Jean felt like a stranger had hopped into bed with her. Brock couldn't help feeling like he should be falling asleep with Reba by his side, not Barbra Jean. Once Brock settled into bed and turned the light off, Barbra Jean tried to make another effort towards bringing them together.
"I love you, Brock" she said silently but loud enough for him to hear. Barbra Jean's heart broke into a million pieces when he didn't repeat the three little words to her. Though she hated to admit it, her marriage was truly over and there was nothing she could do about it. But the question remained, does she stay in a loveless marriage or cut her losses and move on with her life?
As days went by nothing had changed, the tension between the Hart family remained the same. No one had a clue as to how they could fix the problems that were arising. Cheyenne and Van would talk amongst themselves about every thing that was taking place. Kyra knew there were major problems, but chose to ignore and avoid them. Jake knew something wasn't right but was too young to grasp what was going on. As for Reba, she could careless when it came to Brock and Barbra Jean. Selfish it may be but she had finally found her happiness and for once she wasn't going to let drama come between her and Brad. But Reba's refusal to deal with this problem would only last for so long. Brock was determined to get her back, not even thinking of his own marriage to Barbra Jean.
Brad had come over to Reba's house during his lunch break. She had surprised him with a romantic lunch and Brad knew he couldn't resist seeing his redhead fire cracker. Reba was sitting on his lap, enjoying his time and company when to her dismay Brock came walking through the door. Reba just looked at him, not getting up from Brad's lap. Brad held her onto him a little tighter for moral support, as a sign to let her know that she had him by her side. But before Reba could say anything, Brad had already spoken up, catching her by surprise.
"Is there something I can help you with Brock?" Brad said, taking on the role as the man of the house. Both Brock and Reba were taken back by the authority that he took. Reba, though surprised, had felt like for the first time someone was fighting for her side.
"Actually I need to talk with Reba," Brock said, attempting to bring some authority to his voice. Brad just looked at him and then gently pulled Reba off of him so that they were both standing. As if he were protecting her, Brad stepped in front of her.
"Well I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to talk to you."
"Reba doesn't need you to stick up for her. She has a mind of her own, if she doesn't want to talk then she can tell me herself. Otherwise you can stay the hell out of this."
"If you have something to say then just say it…"
"Brad, it's okay…" Reba tried to intervene.
"No Reba it isn't okay. This man is trying every thing in his power to break us up and see you unhappy. Now Brock you listen to me, I've held my tongue long enough. Reba and I are together and I have no intentions of letting you or anyone else messing this up for us. I love this woman and were going to be together whether you like it or not. You had your chance and you blew, now you must live with your mistake."
"Go straight to hell, alright. You don't love her like I do. Reba and I were married for twenty years and we have three children together. Nothing can compare to what we had."
"Yeah your right it doesn't compare, but at least this time I won't be dumb enough to leave her."
"Oh please you don't even know the story of what happened between us."
"I know exactly what happened. You had the perfect wife and family but you were to shit faced to see it. You thought only of yourself and what you didn't have versus what you did. Now when you see she's finally happy with someone else, you all of a sudden realize that you still love her."
"How about you take a hike pal?" Brock said, his anger increasing by the minute.
"Why don't you make me." Brad said, his temper equally escalating. Both men launched towards each other. Reba screamed for the two men to stop. Finally having enough, Reba ran to Brad and grabbed his arm, pulling him back.
"Brad please just stop, okay let me handle this."
Reba then turned her angry look to Brock.
"Brock, I want you to leave my house and never return. I am threw with you and your trouble. If I catch you on my property I will have you arrested for trespassing. Now you get the hell away from me and my house." Reba had a look of hate and animosity in her eyes.
"Reba please…"
"Out!" she screamed at him. With that said Brock threw his hands up in defeat and walked out the door, realizing that any chance he had with Reba was long gone.
Reba turned around and leaned her body into Brad's embrace, crying. For the life of her, she never thought that she and Brock would end up this way. It hurt her to do it but she had to for the sake of her love with Brad and the overall well being of the family. After hearing the last of the commotion, Cheyenne, Van and Kyra entered the kitchen.
"Mom what's going on?" Cheyenne asked, really concerned. Reba was so emotionally distraught that she couldn't talk. Brad knew she didn't have the strength to answer any questions so he spoke on her behalf.
"Guys your mother is having a hard time right now. When she feels better she'll let you know what's going on."
Brad walked Reba upstairs to her bedroom, never letting her out of his embrace. The kids stood in the kitchen dumbfounded and confused.
"Brad can we go to your house, I just really need to get away from here." Reba asked through her tears. His heart went out to her.
"Of course, honey. Why don't you go tell your kids, I'll be in the car waiting." he said soothingly.
Before heading downstairs, Reba wiped her face of any remaining tears. Brad had made his way to the car while Reba made her to towards the kitchen. Once she made it, all of the kids just looked at her, confused and concerned.
"Mrs. H what's going on here?" Van asked.
"Your father and Brad got into a fight. I don't want to go into too many details right now because I'll just get upset all over again. So to calm down I'm going over to Brad's house. If you get hungry use my credit card and you can reach me on my cell phone if need be. I love you all and I promise I will explain every thing when I get back."
They all nodded their heads in unison. Before Reba turned to leave, Kyra ran and hugged her mother, Van and Cheyenne soon followed after her. Reba kissed each of them and then made her way towards the door.