Chapter 15

Reba stayed at the hospital over night just for observation. Her family stayed with her until visiting hours and left for home. Reba was happy to have some time for herself. She felt much more relaxed but she also felt terrible for what she did to Vic. She loved him dearly…she did but she had just started to think that maybe his mother was right in a way and they did rush into it all way too fast. Maybe they would have been better just dating for a while, getting to know each other truly first before they fully committed to one another. She wasn't sure what the future held for them but she knew she needed some time. She needed some time to think. Some room to breathe.

Reba knew that she and Vic would never be truly done with because now they were connected forever. The baby she was carrying was the link between them. She couldn't believe that the one encounter they had they created a miracle. She couldn't believe she didn't notice it before but she sure noticed now, her stomach was definitely thicker. She was happy the baby was the reason she couldn't zip those pants rather than the reason be she was just overeating. She knew she couldn't keep Vic away from the baby. He seemed happy about it and that made her think even more that their relationship wasn't truly over.

Reba finally arrived home on a Tuesday morning. Her daughter had picked her up alone and dropped her off. Reba didn't really feel like any company and they all understood. They all didn't ask what happened with Vic but they saw Reba wasn't wearing the ring anymore. They thought it was best not to press on the subject. Reba had called in to work to talk to her boss and explain the situation. He told her to take her two week vacation with pay to relax. Reba was happy her parents, who were supposed to come that day, couldn't. It wasn't exactly the best time for them to show up. She didn't tell them she wasn't engaged anymore because to be honest she didn't know what she was going to do about Vic.

Reba sat happily on the couch of her home, thoroughly grateful to have the house to herself. Kyra was off at a friend's house and she planned on staying the night there and Jake was staying the night with Van for some guy time. She didn't know where Brock and Barbara Jean were but they weren't there and she was happy about that.

She was cuddled up on the couch in her sweats with a pint of French silk ice cream. She moaned when the spoon slipped out of her mouth and left the taste of mocha chocolate. Since she can't have anymore coffee since she realized she was pregnant she figured she could at least have ice cream that tasted like coffee and it was oh so tasty.

Reba was happily munching on her ice cream and watching a beautiful love story on TV when the door burst open and in walked Barbara Jean. Reba groaned, so much for a day by herself. Barbara Jean flopped down on the couch sadly and grabbed the ice cream out of Reba's hands. Reba looked confused at her empty hands and then at Barbara Jean. "What do you think you're doing?" Reba asked very annoyed. Barbara Jean sniffed and stuffed a huge amount of ice cream into her mouth, mumbling something. "What?" Reba asked, not understanding her.

Barbara Jean swallowed what ice cream she had left in her mouth. She sniffed again and poked at the ice cream. "How did you put up with Brock?"

"I divorced him." Reba said with a smile. Barbara Jean glared at Reba but then turned her attention back to the ice cream which was quickly snatched back by Reba. Barbara Jean pouted. Reba rolled her eyes as she dipped the spoon back into the cartoon. "What is wrong now? Did he try to throw away your beanie babies again?"

"No...he..." Barbara Jean stopped and went wide eyes, "When did he throw away my beanie babies?"

"Barbara Jean please just tell me the reason why you came over here. I wanted a nice day alone and…"

"I'm pregnant!" Barbara Jean burst out.

Reba eyes widened and she stopped poking at her ice cream. "What?"

Barbara Jean nodded. "Yeah, I'm pregnant."

Reba just stared at her wide eyed. "Wow, have you told Brock?" she asked curiously because knowing Barbara Jean she came to tell Reba immediately after she found out but Barbara Jean surprised Reba.

She nodded. "He knows that's why I'm here."

If Reba thought she was confused before she was really confused now. "If he knows why aren't you two celebrating? Isn't this a happy occasion?" Barbara Jean burst into tears and Reba frowned, patting her back in sympathy. Reba handed over the rest of her ice cream. "Here, finish the rest of this. I'll get two more pints of French silk ice cream, some cheetos to go with it, and I'll order a pizza with everything to top it off and then you will tell me all about it." Barbara Jean smiled at Reba and happily accepted the ice cream.

Reba patted Barbara Jean's back one last time and went into the kitchen to grab the ice cream, cheetos, and order the pizza. Reba came back in the living room and handed over another pint of ice cream to Barbara Jean. They both sat on the couch facing each other adding cheetos to their ice cream and Reba waiting patiently for Barbara Jean to continue.

-

Vic was good to his promise and he left Reba alone. He didn't see her, call her, write her, or email her. He made no contact to her whatsoever. It killed him to stay away, to not know she was doing, how the baby was doing. He talked to Stacy, to see if Reba had talked to her about anything, she hadn't. Stacy just told him that she had taken a two week vacation. He was itching to go over to her home but he respected her wish to stay away until she was ready.

Vic tried to keep busy. He worked beside his father and continued with meetings. He refused the out of state business trips just incase Reba decided to call him and she needed him. He kept his cell phone on him at all times. He answered every call, hoping he would hear the sweet southern voice on the other line. He knew to win her back he needed to change. He was an idiot not to realize what was going on between his mother and Reba. It was visible right in front of his face the moment Lexi stepped into the door of his apartment that first day.

He hadn't talk to his mother since the day of the hospital. She tried to get a hold of him. Lexi had tried to explain herself but he didn't want to hear a word of it. If she did have anything to do with those articles he wouldn't know how long it would take to forgive her.

Vic yawned as he sat at his big desk in a huge corner office of the tallest building in downtown. He had just gotten back from another boring meeting. He didn't really pay any attention to what his father was speaking about. All he could think of was Reba and how she was doing. He wanted to call her so badly. He would pick up the phone, dial the number but hang up before the first ring went through. She didn't want to talk to him right now and he had to respect that.

Vic was brought out of his thoughts by a powerful knock on his office door. "Come in." he said sadly.

His father walked in with all smiles. "Hello my son. Do you like your new office?"

Vic nodded. "Its nice." He said quietly.

Max smiled big and sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. "Smile Victor! It's a wonderful day, for today I step down and get to watch you in action."

Vic rolled his eyes. "Forgive me father if I really don't feel like celebrating."

Max's smile faded. "Don't tell me you're still thinking about that redhead?"

Vic glared at his father. "I was going to marry that redhead and her name is Reba."

Max shrugged. "Forget about her."

Vic shook his head and stood walking towards the wall made of windows. "I can't. I love her."

Max rolled his eyes. "Love is overrated son. You need to put your focus on the company. If you want some companionship I can arrange something but don't lose sight on what matters most."

Vic sighed. "You don't get it dad. I don't want companionship. I want a friend, I want love, and I want her. I want Reba to be my wife."

Max scoffed. "She is not the right wife for you. You have your head in the clouds. It's a good thing I did what I did otherwise you would still be losing sight on what matters most."

Vic paused and turned toward his father. "What did you do?" he asked with a shocked expression on his face.

Max just waved it off as if it was nothing. "I did what I had to do."

Vic thought back for a moment and then glared at his father. "You had those magazine articles written?"

Max nodded. "Yes and I took a great risk for you by doing that. I paid a lot of money for those articles to be written." Max chuckled. "It took a lot of money and a lot of threatening."

Vic shook his head, not believing what he was hearing. "How could you do that?" he said in a hushed tone.

Max approached his son. "She wasn't good for you. Reba wouldn't understand what it meant to be a Mariano. She wouldn't have been able to handle the responsibility that came with being your wife."

Vic gave his father a menacing look. "Do you realize that you cost me the love of my life! Do you understand the depth of your actions! You hurt her! She was crying her eyes out because of one of those articles! How dare you! And to top it off you might have ruined my chances forever with Reba. I don't understand. She was perfect. She would have made the perfect wife. She is a wonderful. She always puts others before herself. What were you thinking? I thought you liked Reba?"

Max smirked. "I would like her in my bed." Vic's eyes widened and before Max knew it Vic's fist connected with his nose. "AHHHH!" Max screamed as he fell back and held his nose. Max looked at his hand which had blood all over it. "Are you crazy?"

Vic chuckled. "Yeah, crazy for being here, crazy for listening to you, I'm done Mr. Mariano. Consider this my notice." Vic grabbed his jacket and walked out of the office, leaving his father bleeding on the floor.

End of Chapter