Chapter 11

Reba couldn't believe she had lost her cell phone in the water, all because of Lexi. She had a feeling the woman did it on purpose but she couldn't prove that of course. Reba went to work the next morning, slightly depressed she didn't get to talk to Vic as long as she was hoping for last night. Her spirits were somewhat lifted when Vic called her that morning at work and she had to explain that his mother walked in, causing her cell phone to be out of order at the moment. Vic promised to call her that evening and he did of course.

Vic made it a point to call her every evening after dinner. That seemed to be the high light of her day. After dealing with work and then coming home to deal with Lexi, she needed something to lift her spirits. They would always have their normal hour conversation. Reba would talk about her day and then Vic would vent by complaining to her about the work he had to do with his father. Reba would always sympathize with him. Before he could turn the company around he had to take over it completely and before he could take over it completely he had to learn anything and everything about it.

Reba thought the week was going quite well despite Lexi being around. The only thing she had to deal with from Lexi was her verbal threats but Reba hadn't seen or heard anything she felt she needed to be afraid of. It seemed Lexi was all talk, very little action but that still didn't keep Reba from keeping her guard up. The only thing Lexi seemed to be was annoying. She didn't keep it a secret that she didn't like Reba except when her family was around. She was a different person when Reba's family was around. Lexi especially loved Elizabeth, which was weird. Elizabeth seemed to adore her and this made Reba mad to no end. Lexi had to know it annoyed her.

It was Friday evening and Reba was relaxing against the couch as she listened to Vic continue on about his day. "Why did I agree to taking over the company again?" he asked after finally finishing his rant.

Reba smiled. "Because you are a wonderful man."

Vic smiled. "I knew there was a reason."

Reba giggled and shifted her position, lying down. "And once you take over you will turn the company around."

"I hope so. Waiting for my father to decide when I am ready is driving me insane. He still sees me as a child."

"Well, the fact that you sometimes act like a thirteen year old kid doesn't help very much."

"Hey!" Vic said playfully. "I do not act like a thirteen year old kid."

Reba shrugged. "Well, you did get all excited when you received that model rocket not too long ago. You, Van, and Jake did immediately go out and build it, making it wrong of course and then sending it through Mrs. Jones front window, causing the old woman to almost have a heart attack, making me apologize for my fiancée's child-like nature and then you having to also pay for Mrs. Jones new window."

Vic frowned. "I apologized to her too. All three of us did.

Reba chuckled and shook her head at the memory. They all looked like three seven year olds, looking down at their feet and apologizing profusely for the broken window. "Sometimes I swear I have three sons instead of just one."

Vic laughed. "I'm sorry. I know I can be a hand full sometimes."

Reba sighed. "You have no idea."

"I thought you liked my boyish charm?"

Reba smiled. "I like it better when you're serious."

"Okay, enough talk about me, what about you? How are you doing? How is my mother doing?"

Reba sighed. "I am doing fine for the most part. Your mother is doing okay I guess. She seems only nice to me when my family is around so I have some plans tomorrow."

"Honey I doubt that is necessary."

Reba rolled her eyes. "I wish you would see what I see. She is only nice to me when other people are around. When are you going to have a talk with her?"

"I will talk with her tonight, as soon as…"

The phone was suddenly ripped from Reba's hands. "How about now?" Lexi asked with a smile. She put the phone to her ear and started walking away. "Hello honey how is New York? When will you be home?"

Reba glared at the back of the head of the woman who was driving her completely insane. How dare she just take the phone away from her! Was she listening to their conversation? She hadn't done anything to this woman but love her son unconditionally. Maybe Lexi wasn't ready to let go of her 45 year old son. Reba rolled her eyes. The woman needed to let go.

Reba got up and walked into the kitchen, following Lexi but trying not to seem like she was listening in on her conversation. She saw Lexi laugh and smile as she continued to talk with Vic for almost an hour. The woman seemed to not want to get off the phone. Reba could tell that Vic was trying to say goodbye but every time Vic tried Lexi would bring something else up and they would have a whole new conversation. Reba could only wish she knew exactly what they were discussing.

She smiled when she saw Lexi frown and throw a glare Reba's way. He must be talking about her or Vic was finally discussing what Reba had told him his mother had said. Lexi glared at Reba and left the room. Reba was just putting away the dishes and now wiping down the counter. She was a little worried that Lexi left the room. She couldn't very well follow her. It would make it look like she was trying to listen in on her conversation and of course she was.

This was her house, why couldn't she go to another room? Reba threw the dirty rag into the sink and walked toward the entry to the living room. She was greeted by Lexi shoving the phone in her face. "Vic wants to speak with you." She said smiling.

Reba didn't like that smile. She took the phone and started toward the stairs. "What is it honey?" she asked walking up the stairs and into her room.

"It was just a misunderstanding."

Reba was quite confused. "What was a misunderstanding?"

"The whole watching yourself thing, she just meant your blood pressure and other people around you because of who my father is. She didn't mean anything by it honey. You really do need to relax. She says she loves you. I would hate it if you and my mother were at odds."

Reba sighed. If only Vic knew the way she said it and knowing Lexi she probably didn't tell the whole truth. She wanted to tell Vic this but she was a grown woman and she should be fine. Reba didn't want Vic to think any less of his mother. Sure, the woman was vindictive, mean, and cruel but she didn't want to put Vic into a situation where he would have to choose between her and his mother and Reba would more than likely lose to the woman who gave birth to him. "I guess I was just overreacting." Reba said in a reassuring voice.

"It's understandable. You're stressed and you need to relax and you know the best way to relax is…" he said suggestively.

"Vic…" Reba said warningly as she sat on her bed.

He chuckled. "I'm only joking honey."

"When will you be home?" she pouted.

"I have a couple of meetings tomorrow and a business dinner then Sunday I take a plane to Los Angeles. I have a meeting with the editors of some newspaper and then I take a plane that same afternoon, I should be home Monday evening."

Reba sighed in relief. "Thank you Lord. I am missing you so much. I can't wait to see you."

"You just need to relax. My mother doesn't hate you okay because I know that's the only reason you will be happy for me to come home."

Reba made a face. "You assume too much. I don't want you home just because of your mother. I miss you."

Vic smiled. "You are too sweet and speaking of mothers. When do I get to meet yours?"

Reba sat up in alarm. "I forgot my parents were visiting next week! They said they would be here Tuesday. I am happy you will be there. I don't know how well our parents are going to get along. I mean your parents are city slickers while mine are more country."

Vic chuckled. "I am sure they will love your parents and I will love your parents. I can't wait to meet them."

Reba smiled. "Their excited to meet you too, I told them about you. I must warn you my mother knows about how we got together but my father doesn't and it won't be a good idea if he found out."

"Why not?" he asked completely clueless.

Reba rolled her eyes. "You really think it's a good idea to tell my dad, who owns a shot gun by the way, that you got me drunk, had a one night stand, and thought we were married for a month?"

"I didn't get you drunk and I didn't force you to sleep with me."

"Daddy won't see it that way."

Vic sighed. "Okay, I get it. Daddy doesn't know a thing about how we really met. Otherwise I will be dead before I can even shake his hand."

Reba chuckled. "You're learning well."

"Just afraid for my life really, I understand that we can't tell him but what did you tell him?"

Reba smiled. "I just told him half of the truth. I told him we had met at work almost five months ago and that we decided to get married just three weeks ago. He doesn't understand why we don't wait a little bit longer but I then brought up how he married my mother only two months after he met her."

Vic chuckled. "Good job, bringing up your parents past." Vic then suddenly got worried. "Am I still going to get a big speech or get grilled when I meet your father?"

Reba chuckled when she detected some serious concern in his voice. "You might."

"Really?" Vic asked, the worry still evident in his voice.

Reba laughed. "Let's not worry about my dad right now, okay."

Vic sighed. "All right but it would be nice to know if he travels with that gun."

Reba held back her laughter. "He never travels with his rifle."

Vic nodded but then his eyes widened. "What about the shot gun?"

Reba decided it was best to change the subject. "So, I was thinking of taking your mother shopping tomorrow."

Vic smirked. "Really, you don't think she will frame you for stealing or anything do you?"

Reba raised an eyebrow because she really wouldn't put it past her to do something like that. Reba, of course, didn't mention it to Vic. "I plan on bringing Cheyenne with me. There is no way I am going to be alone with your mother. I had to bribe Cheyenne though with a week's worth of baby sitting once my grandson is born. She loves shopping but she says it's quite depressing to see all the clothes she can't fit into anymore."

Vic chuckled. "She will be all right." Vic scrunched his eyebrows together and got comfortable on his hotel bed once more. "Now back to the shot gun, does he carry it with him?"

Reba smiled and chuckled. "You have nothing to worry about honey. My parents will love you."

"Yeah but…does he carry the shot gun with him?"

Reba got a good laugh. "Honey I love you but I have to go now. Remember I plan on getting up tomorrow and going shopping."

"Okay, I love you too. Now one last question before we hang up."

"What is it?"

"Does he carry the shot gun with him?"

Reba rolled her eyes and smiled. "Goodbye Vic."

"But…"

Reba hung up before he could say anything more. He didn't need to worry because her parents would love him, as long as her father didn't find out about how they really got together, everything would be fine. She was worried about his mother though. Lexi was a stuck up snob, or she was with Reba but she wasn't sure how Lexi would react to her country parents. She wasn't ashamed of her parents or anything. She loved her parents. She couldn't ask for a better pair.

Reba went to bed that night shortly after her conversation with Vic and for once she had lovely sweet dreams of her wedding to Vic. This time he didn't run and she awoke the next morning quite refreshed and ready for a day of shopping. She was like every woman who loved shopping and she took an hour just to get ready. Reba was downstairs by eleven in the am and Cheyenne was already there, sitting at the kitchen table once more, talking with Lexi.

"Good morning." Reba said with a smile. "I hope you two are ready for a full day."

Cheyenne sighed and rubbed her stomach. "I'm ready I guess but don't get mad if I need to rest once in a while. I thought being pregnant with Elizabeth was bad, I am completely exhausted now."

Lexi frowned. "Maybe we shouldn't go. I mean, Cheyenne should rest."

Reba was about to speak up but Cheyenne shook her head. "Oh no, I enjoy shopping and I could use some time to get out. I have been cooped up in my house except when I go to classes but their never any fun. Van is usually working a lot. Even when he comes home so getting out will be good for me."

Reba smiled and nodded. "All right, let's go."

Cheyenne got up the best she could and waddled out the door. Lexi put a hand on Reba's arm, stopping her from following her daughter. "I don't know what you are doing but if you think taking me shopping is going to get me to like you, you are sorely mistaken. I am still determined to see this wedding is stopped."

Reba just smiled and gave Lexi a raised eyebrow. "Bring it on then old lady." Reba then picked up her purse off the counter and walked out the door, leaving a quite confused Lexi. Usually her threats had an affect on Reba and she knew this because she had seen the look in Reba's eyes but today was different. Lexi didn't like this.

Reba put Cheyenne in the front seat, claiming it was more comfortable for her and she stuck Lexi in the back seat. She turned up the country music station and started singing along, which made Lexi and Cheyenne plug their ears. Reba wasn't a terrible singer. We all know that but Cheyenne and Lexi hated country music. Reba just smiled and stopped singing, turning down the volume as she pulled into the mall parking lot.

Reba got out and immediately went to the other side of the car to help her daughter. "You tell me if you need to rest or if you're hungry."

Cheyenne nodded and they started walking towards the double doors. Reba opened the door and let her daughter walk through, following after and checking behind her to make sure Lexi was following. Reba smiled when she saw that she was but she didn't look very happy. "Mom…" Cheyenne said walking down the hall.

"Yeah." Reba said turning the corner towards the stores.

Cheyenne smiled. "I'm hungry."

Reba chuckled and shook her head. "Already?"

Cheyenne nodded shyly and shrugged. "I had a small breakfast."

Reba took her daughter's arm. "Come on. I'm hungry myself." Reba glanced back at Lexi and she stopped when she saw the woman was far behind. "Is it okay if we stop at the pretzel stand?"

Lexi just shrugged. "I don't care."

Reba frowned and turned to her daughter. "You go ahead sweetie. Order me a large pretzel with ranch on the side okay?" Cheyenne made a face at her mother's request but nodded and walked away. Reba then turned to Lexi with a glare on her face. "All right, I have been pleasant to you even when you haven't been equally pleasant to me. Now I understand you don't like me. I am not exactly a big fan of you either but I don't want my daughter becoming stressed over something that has nothing to do with her because I know her and if she suspects that something is wrong she will get worried and it will eat at her and I don't want that to happen, so, just for today can we at least pretend that we like each other."

Lexi gave her an equally evil glare. "I hope you don't think your strong words have any affect on me but I will be pleasant the rest of this annoying trip for your daughter because believe it or not I actually like her." She gave Reba an evil smile and walked away to catch up with Cheyenne.

Reba rolled her eyes. She didn't know what had caused it but Lexi's words didn't seem to affect her. Reba suddenly felt like she could take the old woman. She didn't need Vic and she didn't need to inform Vic of anything…for now. Reba almost had to run to catch up with them and they sat down on a bench in the middle of the mall, Cheyenne and Reba happily munching on their pretzels. Cheyenne almost couldn't look at her mother eating, pretzels and ranch dressing, didn't sound too good to her.

After pretzels were eaten and they both received a big raspberry slushy to wash it all down with they finally made it to the shopping part. Cheyenne immediately forgot about being exhausted when she saw the cutest dress in a store window and dragged her mother and Lexi into it. Cheyenne was then disappointed when they didn't have it in the maternity section.

Reba patted her pouting daughter's back and went over to the jeans. She could use some more jeans. Reba grabbed a couple and a nice blouse to go with it. She went into the dressing room and began to try them one. "I want to see those when you come out mom!" she heard her daughter's voice yell through the door.

Reba rolled her eyes as she brought the pants over her hips. She pulled the button towards the loop but there was just one problem, it was a little snug. She tried again and again but to no avail, the pants wouldn't button. Reba gave out a frustrated groan and tried once more. "You ok mom?"

Reba sighed and looked in the mirror. She had put on the blouse first and it seemed a little snug too, particularly around the chest. "These clothes don't fit."

Cheyenne rolled her eyes. "Mom you always say that, now come out here so I can see."

"I don't think so. It looks bad."

"I am sure it doesn't because you always say clothes look bad but they always look great." Reba didn't move. She didn't even make a sound. "I am not taking your word for it until I see them."

Reba sighed and opened the door. She was thankful only Cheyenne and Lexi were there. Cheyenne's eyes widened and Lexi held back a laugh. "Now do you believe me? I knew I had gained weight. I just didn't think it was this much where I couldn't even button up my pants. I am going to change and then we're going to the food court for lunch." Reba shut the door.

Cheyenne smiled. "You read my mind."

Lexi couldn't help but giggle. "You guys just ate about an hour ago."

Cheyenne shrugged. "I'm pregnant, I have an excuse. I don't know what my mom excuse is."

"I'm hungry!" Reba yelled from inside the dressing room, "That's my excuse."

Cheyenne laughed and Lexi actually joined in with her. Lexi then caught herself, realizing she just laughed at a lame joke that the woman she was supposed to hate made. Reba came out of the dressing room and put the pants and blouse up on the discard rack. "Let's go eat." She said dragging them both out the door and away from the depressing clothes.

They went up the elevator because Cheyenne was too tired and Reba was too, to go up the stairs. They arrived in the food court and Cheyenne immediately went for the Chinese food while Reba made her way towards the burger stand. Lexi shook her head at the both of them and went straight for the pizza place that had salad. She understood Cheyenne's hunger but she was beginning to suspect what was wrong with Reba.

They all met up at a small table and Cheyenne had to shake her head at her mother's meal. She had a burger with everything and fries on the side but that wasn't the odd thing. She had ordered a cup of ranch for her fries. "You sure you're going to eat that mom?" Cheyenne asked as she watched her mother dip a greasy French fry into the ranch dressing.

Reba nodded and smiled as she brought the fry to her lips. "It's really good, try it." She said trying to hand over the cup and some French fries.

Cheyenne shook her head. "I may be pregnant but I am not crazy enough to try that."

Reba just shrugged her shoulders and went on eating. "So Cheyenne…" Lexi said whiling cutting up her salad, which annoyed the hell out of Reba. Who cuts up their salad? "How far along exactly are you? I don't think I ever heard."

Cheyenne smiled and rubbed her stomach. "Almost eight months. This little one has been worse than carrying Elizabeth. He likes to kick when I'm trying to sleep."

Lexi laughed. "I had trouble with Vic. He would kick my stomach all through the night and the morning sickness was terrible. I think boys make it harder on us."

Reba smiled. "Jake wasn't that bad. Kyra was my worst. I had morning sickness, night sickness, afternoon sickness, middle of the night sickness, it was terrible and I felt bad for your father…" Reba said taking a sip of her soda and pointing at Cheyenne, "Because he had to clean up the mess I made." Cheyenne and Lexi cringed. Reba nodded. "Yeah, it wasn't pretty and the labor was worse. I was in labor for almost three days. She would get ready for me to give birth to her but then she would move on over to my side again. She was stubborn but it makes sense, she's exactly like me." They all laughed.

They were so engrossed with getting food and relaxing they didn't notice the stares and the points. They especially didn't notice the woman approaching with a magazine until she was right next to the table. "Reba Hart?" she asked.

Reba looked up from her burger, quite confused, she didn't know this woman. "Yes, can I help you?"

The woman smiled. She thrust the magazine and a sharpie marker into her face. "Can I have your autograph?"

"What?" Reba asked confused. The woman nodded and Reba took the magazine. Reba took one look at the picture and title of the front page and she almost had a heart attack.

End of Chapter