Chapter 9

After Reba had left Lexi alone she went straight to her room to get ready for work. She truly disliked that woman and Reba knew she was up to something. Lexi didn't just agree to coming to Reba's home just because her son insisted. Lexi had a hidden agenda. Reba knew she had something going on. It was just a feeling she was going on right now but it was a strong feeling and Reba knew to keep an eye on her. Whatever she had planned, Reba was going to make sure it did not happen. Reba was going to make sure Lexi went to this wedding and she could be happy about it or she could be totally against it but it was going to happen and Lexi was going to be there.

Reba had showered and was ready for work at nine thirty. She was happy her children learned to make breakfast for themselves. Don't misunderstand her now. She loved making breakfast for her family sometimes but Reba wasn't exactly a morning person. She walked downstairs in a happier and more pleasant mood than she was an hour ago when she had to deal with Lexi and her comments. She walked into the kitchen to find Lexi talking with her daughter Cheyenne.

Cheyenne smiled when she saw her mother walk into the kitchen. "Good morning mom."

Reba smiled slightly and tried not to glare at Lexi. "Good morning Cheyenne. Don't you have morning classes?"

"My first one was canceled. I don't have another until noon." Cheyenne said with a smile. "I was just talking with Mrs. Smith here…"

"Please…" Lexi said in the sweetest voice ever. "Call me Lexi."

Cheyenne smiled. "Lexi was just telling me that you two will be bonding this week while Vic is away on business."

Reba turned her head sharply to Lexi and raised an eyebrow. Lexi just gave Reba a smile, a smile that seemed to chill the room. "Well…I guess we will sort of be bonding this week." Reba didn't want to give her children any indication that there was something wrong. This was her thing she had to deal with. She didn't need her children worrying or telling her she was crazy for believing that Lexi was going to do something.

Cheyenne smiled and turned back to Lexi. "So…are you enjoying your stay here?"

"Oh yes…" Lexi said sweetly. Her sweet voice was making Reba want to gag, "Your mother is making my stay wonderful. She is just a sweet woman." Lexi turned to smile at Reba and Reba glared.

Cheyenne didn't notice the exchange between the two women and she stood up the best she could with her huge stomach in the way. "Well…I think I better go. I called Van on the way home. I told him I would be home soon. Are we still invited to dinner mom?" Cheyenne asked her mother who was filling a mug with some coffee.

Reba cringed. "Oh right, I forgot you all were coming to dinner. Perfect timing too." She said not really trying to sound sarcastic. Brock and Barbara Jean were invited to dinner tonight as well. She wasn't expecting Vic to be out of town and she wasn't expecting his mother to be joining them. They probably should to it another time. "I think we should have the big dinner another time."

Cheyenne frowned. "Well, I guess we can..."

Lexi decided to speak up. "Don't cancel the dinner on my part." She said sweetly. "I would enjoy it very much to meet the rest of your family Reba."

Reba sighed. The woman had backed her into a corner. She couldn't say no now. "I guess that would be great." Reba said trying to sound positive.

Cheyenne clapped happily. "Great, Van, Elizabeth, and I will be over around six, okay?"

Reba nodded. "That's fine." Cheyenne smiled and then kissed her mother goodbye quickly as she left. Reba waited until she was sure her daughter was gone before she turned to Lexi who was giving her an evil smile. "Why did you do that?"

Lexi shrugged. "I don't see why I can't meet your family. I don't know what I did to you Reba to deserve such treatment…"

Reba scoffed. "Oh cut the act old lady! You are up to something I know it. I don't know what you think you're going to do but nothing is going to stop Vic and me from getting married."

Lexi chuckled deeply as she sipped her coffee. "Don't be so sure."

Reba just shook her head and put her empty coffee cup into the sink. "I have to go to work. If you need anything the number to my work is by the phone. Please…" Reba said picking up her briefcase and walking towards the door, "Hesitate to call."

Lexi smiled and waved. "Have a wonderful day at work Reba." She said in a fake cheerful voice. Reba sneered walking out the door and to her car.

Reba was actually happy to go to work for once, not that she was never happy before but today she was exceptionally happy. She was able to avoid Lexi until tonight when she got home at five. She would have to deal with Lexi when she arrived home. Why Reba agreed to have her stay there she didn't know. She forgot about the dinner she was making for the whole family. She didn't think Vic would be away. He did say it was an unexpected trip. Reba should have just canceled the dinner. Now she had to deal with Lexi judging her family during dinner. She only hoped she would be able to get through dinner without killing anyone.

Reba pulled her car in her usually parking spot and did a quickly make-up check before heading inside her building. Reba did her usually greeting to everyone and smiled politely, hiding the fact she was going crazy on the inside. Reba arrived at her desk and was ready to start her day. She had just sat down when her desk phone rang.

Curious as to who would be calling her this early, she picked it up. "Reba Hart."

"Soon to be Reba Mariano."

Reba smiled. "Hello Vic, shouldn't you be getting ready to get on the plane?"

"It's a little delayed and I knew you would be getting to work right about now. What's going on?"

Reba was happy he couldn't see her. He would be able to tell she was disappointed with something. "Nothing, everything is fine." She said trying to sound positive.

"Now I know that isn't true. I can hear it in your voice. Something is wrong."

Reba sighed. How did he know? She guessed he was telling the truth when he used to say he knew so much about her. "It's just…I miss you already and…I forgot about the dinner tonight. I'm not sure how your mother is going to take to my family. You know my family has their little quirks."

Vic chuckled. "I know your family and she will love them just as much as I love them. Every family has their little quirks. Even my family, now you need to relax. Don't worry about tonight. Let's focus on me and how much you miss me."

Reba giggled. "You sure have a big ego."

"You were the one that said you missed me already."

"I do miss you already." Reba said twirling the phone cord around her finger. "You just want to talk about you. I have never met a man so obsessed with himself."

"Well, you have to admit I am good looking."

Reba rolled her eyes. "You're all right."

"I am just all right?" Vic asked but smirking while he said it. "That's why when we were first together you couldn't keep your eyes off my when I came in from my jog?" Reba blushed, remembering the moment she couldn't help but stare at his gorgeous self. "You are so cute when you blush."

Reba scrunched her eyebrows together. "How did you know I was blushing?"

Vic chuckled. "I told you I know you. I wished you would blush all the time, you look adorable."

Reba smiled. "Why thank you."

"Is anyone around where you are?"

Reba received a confused look on her face and looked around. "No, there isn't anyone around. What are yo…oh no…" Reba said shaking her head as she soon realized what he was getting at. "You need to quit that."

"What are you talking about?" he asked chuckling.

Reba rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You're just a dirty old man. That's what you are, a dirty old man."

"Are you talking to Vic?" a voice asked

Reba turned and smiled to see Stacy leaning up against the side of Reba's desk. Reba nodded her head and Stacy's giggled as she asked for the phone. Reba smiled and handed the phone over. "I'm sorry honey but I was just couldn't help it. The fact we still haven't had any decent time alone together since we decided to get married. It was just the image of you sitting alone at your desk, looking so sexy, it drives me crazy."

Stacy giggled. "You really shouldn't be calling me honey or picturing me in your mind when you're talking with your fiancée but I thank you for calling me sexy."

Vic's eyes shot up. "Who is this?"

Stacy laughed and Reba laughed right along with her when she heard Vic's panic voice penetrate the phone. "This is Stacy Vic. How are you?"

Vic relaxed a bit. "Hello Stacy. I am fine. How are you?"

Stacy smiled. "I am good. I was just talking with your fiancée."

"Yes, I THOUGHT I was just talking with her too."

Stacy giggled. "Sorry Vic. I just wanted to say hello and to tell you that you're keeping Reba from work."

"Can I talk to Reba now?"

Stacy rolled her eyes. "Yes, here she is."

Stacy handed the phone back over to Reba and she happily took it back. "Sorry Vic, I really need to get to work though and I am sure your plane will be taking off soon."

Vic frowned. "I told you the plane was delayed but I understand you need to get back to work. I don't have anything to do tonight. My meetings don't start until tomorrow so I will call you once I arrive."

Reba lit up inside at the thought of talking with him again later. "All right but don't call me if you're exhausted."

"You're the one that's exhausted all the time. Maybe you should go to the doctor."

Reba smiled when she detected concern in his voice. She thought it was so cute how worried he was but there was no reason for him to be. "I'm fine. I just need to rest myself. I never get enough sleep."

"Never get enough sleep? You take naps and I know you get at least eight hours of sleep. I'm just really worried about you. I think you should go to the doctor."

Reba sighed. "Would it ease your mind if I made a doctor's appointment?"

"Yes but it would but it would ease my mind even better if you actually went and then called me as soon as you left to tell me word for word what the doctor said."

Reba rolled her eyes. "You worry too much. I'm telling you I just need to rest a bit."

Vic frowned. "I would still feel better if you went to the doctor."

"All right…" Reba said trying to ease his mind. "I will go to the doctor."

"Promise me." He said knowing she might not go.

"I promise I will try to fit it into my schedule to go to the doctor. Now I'll talk to you later. I have to go. I love you goodbye." She said that as fast as she could and hung up. She didn't have time to argue with Vic about going to the doctor. Reba knew there was nothing wrong with her. She was just overly tired. There was no reason for her to go to the doctor and she knew she wouldn't have time, not with her work, her family, taking care of her home, and dealing with Vic's mother this week.

Stacy smiled and Reba forgot she was there. "How is the wedding planning going?" she asked politely.

Reba sighed and put her hand to her forehead. "We haven't even started." Reba said sadly and then looking up to see the look on Stacy's face.

Her eyes were wide. "You haven't even started? What is stopping you?"

Reba shrugged. "I was finally ready to start planning but then his mother showed up. She doesn't like me and now Vic is off to New York and Los Angeles for a week so the planning is being pushed back for another week I guess."

Stacy frowned. "Why does she hate you?"

Reba shrugged. "She doesn't think I am the right woman for him because of the way we met."

Stacy was quite confused. "You two met here at the office. Why is that so scandalous?"

Reba chuckled at Stacy's choice of words. "No, she doesn't like the fact that we got drunk and were…or thought we were married. She thinks I'm a tramp."

Now it was Stacy's turn to laugh. "She thinks you're a tramp? Miss it would be better to wait until the wedding night?"

Reba raised an eyebrow. "I didn't wait until my wedding night with Brock but yes he was the only man I have ever been with, well, other than that one time with Vic."

Stacy's eyes widened. "You two never….?"

Reba shook her head. "Except for that one night almost three months ago no, my family always interrupted our time alone. It's driving us both nuts."

Stacy smiled and shook her head. "Honey, you know I hear you talk about your family and I know you love them but if they were mine and they kept doing that I would just give them one of you're smack's up side the head and tell them to go away and leave us alone, especially if Vic was my fiancée." Stacy shivered and gave a smile. "I would never be able to resist that man. Here is what you do…" Stacy said shifting a bit and leaned forward. "You kidnap him when he gets back. You both just go to a hotel and just don't leave the room for a whole weekend."

Reba laughed and shook her head. "I would love to do that but I have a family and work."

Stacy shook her head. "Take a weekend off, I'm sure Mr. Slaton will let you and forget your family, just tell them you're going away and will be back when you feel like it and don't take your cell phone because they will call you and don't tell them where you're going."

Reba continued to chuckle. "I can't, I wish I could but I can't."

Stacy smirked. "If you can't I sure can."

Reba turned to Stacy shocked and smacked her on the arm. "He's taken and so are you!"

Stacy smiled. "I was only kidding and I know I'm married but I would divorce my husband if I knew I had any chance with Vic."

Reba shook her head and chuckled. "Well, too bad, I don't plan on giving him up anytime soon." Stacy nodded. "You want to go to lunch with me today?"

Stacy shook her head. "No I can't. I brought my lunch with my today. I have tons of paper work to do. I figured I could maybe sneak a couple of bites of my sandwich in between reports."

Reba chuckled. "Well, all right then." Reba sighed and scratched the side of her head as she looked around her desk. "I suppose I better get to work. I have potential houses to research and clients to call."

Stacy smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'll talk to you later and don't forget to take my idea into consideration."

Reba laughed and nodded. She had taken Stacy's idea into consideration. It would be such a lovely idea, the two of them getting away from everything and everyone around them for a weekend. They could go to the beach or a lovely bed and breakfast just on the out skirts of town. It would be such a lovely time for them alone but she doubt her family and his mother would let them go. Her family seemed to need her all the time and his mother was a major annoyance when it came to them at all. Reba sighed and went back to looking at the clients list she was looking at earlier. She really did wish they could get away.

Lexi had smiled and waited until she had seen Reba drive down the street and was sure the redheaded hussy wasn't coming back for anything. Lexi smiled and wiped out her cell phone, punching in a phone number. She pressed the phone to her ear as she glanced out the living room window. "She's gone." She simply said and hung up quickly.

End of Chapter