Chapter 18

Reba smiled at Vic as they drove down the street and away from the doctor's office. Vic had been so sweet and so cute at the doctor's office that day. She had to hold back her tears when she had seen Vic trying to fight his. She knew what it was like to hear your baby for the first time. She had three children but it was always moving, each and every time. If he cried just seeing the baby now, she couldn't help but wonder what he will be like when the baby actually arrives. She knew she couldn't wait. It was going to be a long seven months though that was for sure.

Reba smiled and looked down at the ultrasound photo she still had in her hands. It was still an amazing sight to see and amazing to know that she was holding this small little life inside of her. This baby was one of the best gifts that God has given her. She was truly blessed. "He looks like a little kidney bean." A voice said, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"What?" Reba said looking up to Vic as they came to a stop at the red light.

Vic smiled and pointed to the picture. "He looks like a little kidney bean."

Reba giggled. "How do you know it will be a he? It could be a she."

Vic shrugged as he pulled through the green light but still kept on smiling. "Since we don't know what the sex of the baby is yet, we can just call the baby kidney bean."

Reba smiled and shook her head, slipping the photo back into the small envelope. "Kidney bean?" Reba asked looking at him with curious eyes.

Vic nodded. "Yeah, kidney bean."

Reba rolled her eyes and smiled. "Okay but I'm hungry. How about we go back to your apartment and I cook you breakfast?"

Vic nodded again, not truly understanding her meaning behind going to his apartment until he saw her suggestive smile. He grinned at her and drove to his apartment in record time. Reba giggled as Vic practically dragged her up the stairs. She smiled as she kissed him intensely and continued to distract him as he tried to get his key into the door. Vic smiled as he finally opened the door, picked her up in his arms, and kicked the door shut.

Reba kept the passionate kisses going as he laughed, trying to lock the door. "Hey…" he said as Reba kissed his cheek and neck, "I can't exactly concentrate."

Reba giggled. "You're not supposed to have to concentrate. Just let yourself go."

Vic smiled and turned his head to kiss her beautiful sweet lips. He carried her to the bedroom and immediately went straight to the bed. He laid her down gently and he took a moment to smile down at the beautiful creature before him. He couldn't ask for a better fiancée. Reba was everything he was looking for and now she was giving him the greatest gift a man could ask for…father hood. He caressed her cheek lovingly and leaned down to kiss her lightly on the lips. "I love you." He said sweetly.

Reba smiled back. "I love you too." Vic leaned back down and this time brought her into a passionate kiss. Reba gladly kissed him back and was completely happy with their moment. She broke it only for a brief moment. "I can't believe we finally have some time alone together." She breathed heavily. She rubbed his shoulders for a moment and smiled.

Vic shook his head and chuckled. "Don't say that, you might jinx it and then we will get interrupted."

Reba just shrugged and kissed him again. She broke once more and paused. Smiling she turned to him and said, "Hear that, nothing. I think were safe." Vic smiled and their lips connected once more. Vic moved his hands down her side, to her hips, and then…they stopped. Reba sighed and Vic moved away from Reba. "I spoke too soon." She said taking out her vibrating cell phone out of her back pocket. Reba flipped her cell phone open and sighed. "Hello." She said, not so happily to the person on the other line.

"Rebaaaa!"

Reba rolled her eyes and glanced at Vic. "What do you want Barbara Jean?"

"Just wanted to know what you're doing?"

Reba raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious? You called me for that?"

"Yeah, did I interrupt something?"

Reba sighed and sat back against the bed. "No, its okay Barbara Jean, what do you want?" She smiled as Vic cuddled up to her and began to kiss her cheeks and neck.

"I just wanted to know if you had anything planned tomorrow."

Reba thought about it for a moment. She giggled when Vic's breath tickled her ear. "Stop." She whispered harshly.

"Am I interrupting something?" Barbara Jean giggled.

"No…" Reba said sitting up and moving away from a disappointed Vic, "Its fine. As far as tomorrow goes I have nothing to do but some paperwork I need to catch up on before I return to work on Monday. Why do you ask?" she said standing in front of Vic's dresser.

Barbara Jean was smiling big on the other end. "Well, I just wanted to know because Cheyenne and I have something planned tomorrow for you that I think you will enjoy."

Reba raised an eyebrow as she opened his top drawer. "What are you doing for me tomorrow?"

"Just a little surprise, I'm not really supposed to tell you anything about it. Just bring you."

Reba paused for a moment. "Are you planning a surprise bridal shower for me?"

"How did you know?" Barbara Jean asked shocked.

Reba rolled her eyes. "Just a guess Barbara Jean, don't worry I will act surprised."

"Good now I'll let you get back to whatever you were doing." Barbara Jean said while giggling, "Tell Vic I said hi."

Reba smiled. "Goodbye Barbara Jean." Reba shook her head and hung up the phone.

Reba smiled when she felt Vic's arms wrap around her. "What are you doing going through my stuff?" he asked smiling.

Reba shrugged and started to close the drawer. "I wasn't looking for anything. It's just a habit of mine. I am usually doing something when I talk on the phone." She was about to shut the door when something red caught her eye. She opened the drawer a little and then hooked her finger into a string that was attached to the red fabric. She pulled it out and turned to look into Vic's eyes. "What is this?" she asked looking at the red silk g-string.

Vic couched. "It's…uhhh…mine."

Reba smirked and held it up better. "I suppose you wear these on the weekends then?"

Vic smiled and nodded. "Yup, want me to model them for you?"

Reba giggled and then shook her head. "No…" She suddenly got serious and her smile faded, "Who's are they?"

Vic shrugged. "I don't even remember okay. They were probably left here months ago."

Reba raised an eyebrow. "By who?"

"I don't know. Look, does it even matter?"

Reba thought about it for a moment and decided it didn't. It still made her a bit jealous that he had some other woman's underwear in his dresser drawer but she didn't want to start a fight. She knew he would never do anything like that. She looked up to him and shook her head. "It doesn't matter." She said walking out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.

Vic was confused as he followed her. "What are you doing with them?"

Reba opened the trash and held them over it. "If they mean nothing to you then you can throw them away."

Vic shrugged and nodded. "Sure, throw them away." Reba eyed him and then let them drop in the trash. Vic smiled and pushed the trash away. "You know, you would look so hot in a pair like that."

Reba smiled and shook her head. "I don't think so."

Vic wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in close. "Maybe for my birthday gift then?" he asked smiling.

Reba giggled. "Maybe." She said giving him a hopeful smile. Reba wrapped her own arms around him.

Vic smiled down at her. "You think if I kiss you we won't be interrupted?"

Reba shrugged again. "You'll just have to do it and see." Vic kissed her and Reba moved her arms to around his neck. They broke away for a moment and Reba smiled. "I think we can give this another try."

Vic chuckled and lifted her into his arms again. They got half way to the bedroom when the door bell to Vic's apartment rang. Reba sighed and Vic groaned as he set Reba down. Vic wasn't moving toward the door so Reba started towards it. Vic quickly grabbed her arm to prevent her from leaving. "We can ignore it." He said kissing her shoulder gently. "I am sure they will get the point and leave."

Reba closed her eyes and smiled. For a moment she agreed until the door bell kept ringing and they heard a voice they hated. "Victor I know you are in there. Open this door right now."

Vic stopped and his anger started to boil. His father was outside his apartment door. He quickly walked over to it and roughly yanked it open. "Can I help you." He said harshly.

Max sighed. "Look, I need to talk to you."

Vic glared. "I don't want to talk with you." He said trying to shut the door.

Max blocked the door and stepped into the door way. "I want to talk to you about the woman you are…" He stopped when he saw Reba standing near the couch. He smiled and walked over to her. He held out his hand. "It's great to see you again Reba." Reba didn't take his hand. She didn't even say anything. "What's the matter, you don't like me anymore?"

Reba gave him an evil glare. "No, not really." She said casually. "I hate what you did to Lexi. I hate what you did to Vic. I hate what you have done to me and my family."

Max just smiled. "You have to understand. It was nothing against you or your family…"

"Wait…" she said interrupting him. "I don't understand. I do understand! I understand you're a jerk. Do you understand that your articles sent me into the hospital or the fact that I broke off the engagement to Vic because of you! You don't care about anything but your stupid company and I don't think tha…" Reba started to feel a little dizzy and held onto the couch for support.

Vic immediately went to her side. "Are you okay?" he asked holding onto her. Reba nodded and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down. "You have to stay calm, remember your high blood pressure." Reba nodded again and opened her eyes to Max.

Max smirked and clapped. "Wonderful performance, now I need to talk to Vic alone."

Vic shook his head. "No, I am going to take Reba home. You can head home too. Come on." He said pulling gently onto Reba's arm.

Reba gladly followed him out the door and to the car. "Does he ever give up?" she asked when they were working their way out of the parking lot.

Vic shook his head. "He doesn't get it. I thought I could try with his company but I don't think so…it's not exactly something I always wanted to do."

"What is it that you want to do?"

Vic smiled as he turned down a street. "Real estate, why do you think I had the job before? I like it, it's what I decided to do when a while back when I got tired of putting up with my father and his crap and of course it led me to you." He said smiling and picking up her hand, kissing it gently.

Reba smiled and held his hand tight. Reba looked out the window and thought about something for a moment and then turned back to Vic. "Maybe we should start bringing some of your things over tomorrow."

Vic smiled and was happy she was thinking about him moving in still. "I thought you had that thing with Barbara Jean tomorrow."

Reba shrugged as he pulled down her street. "I am sure it won't be all day so shortly after we can go to your apartment and start packing some of your things. You can even stay at my house until we move all of your stuff into my house."

Vic smiled when he pulled into her driveway. "So does that mean once we move my stuff in I have to move out."

"What?" she asked confused.

Vic smirked. "You said I can stay at your home UNTIL we move all of my stuff in."

Reba shook her head and rolled her eyes. "You know what I meant, when we move all of your stuff in it will be our house."

Vic smiled and leaned over to kiss her. "Our house, huh…" Reba nodded. "I like the sound of that." Reba smiled and gladly accepted his lips onto hers.

The rest of Reba's day was somewhat wonderful. She was disappointed when she and Vic were interrupted, twice but the rest of the day was wonderful. She had most of the day to herself. Her family was gone and Barbara Jean thought she was with Vic so she didn't show up or call or nothing. She relaxed with a good book and a nice tall glass of juice.

She couldn't pay much attention to her book. Her mind kept drifting towards Vic. She couldn't believe how lucky she had been these past few months. Reba couldn't stand Vic five months ago and now she was getting married to him and having his baby. Reba's hand drifted to her stomach and caressed it a little. She couldn't believe she was having another baby. Reba smiled. She couldn't think of a better man to have another child with than Victor Mariano and she couldn't think of a better husband.

Reba went to sleep right after her nightly talk with Vic. He apologized over and over for having to drop her off and her having to deal with his father. Vic was completely honest with her and told her that Max tried to convince him to dump her and take the company. It hurt Reba to know that his father hated her so badly but she had been trying not to be so concerned with it. Max was a jerk and Vic told her not to be concerned with him because Vic had no intention of leaving her.

Reba awoke the next morning feeling as if someone was staring at her. At first she thought it was Vic and she smiled as she opened her eyes. The minute her eyes focused though they widened and she screamed as she moved and fell off the bed. "Barbara Jean!" Reba yelled when she fell on her butt. She stood up and glared at a smiling Barbara Jean who was sitting on her bed.

"Hey buddy." Barbara Jean said moving to the edge of her bed.

Reba sighed and rubbed her still tired eyes. "What are you doing here?"

Barbara Jean smiled big and stood up going straight to Reba's closet. "I came to take you shopping with me."

Reba shook her head and went back to bed, pulling the covers over her head. "I am not going shopping with you today. I am tired. I'm sleeping in. Go home."

Barbara Jean rolled her eyes and yanked the covers off of her. "Get up, your daughter asked me to take you shopping today so she could set up for your surprise bridal shower. Now put these on and let's go." Reba groaned and took the jeans Barbara Jean had given her. Reba sneered as she looked at them and then she threw them. Unfortunately she hit Barbara Jean. "Hey…" she said setting the jeans on the bed, "Watch where you're aiming and what's wrong with these?" she said pointing to them.

Reba frowned and walked to her closet. "I can't fit in them anymore." She looked into her closet and threw her hands in the air. "I can't fit into anything in here anymore!"

Barbara Jean held back her laugh and walked up to Reba to stand next to her. "I am sure we can find something." Barbara Jean tapped her chin as she searched through Reba's closet. Reba just sulked at all her un-wearable clothes. Barbara Jean smiled and handed her a pair of dressy stretchy black slacks and a nice white blouse. "This should fit. We can get you some new jeans today."

Reba grabbed the clothes and went into the bathroom. She took a quick shower and was dressed in record time. She just blow dried her hair. She didn't straighten it or flip it and so her hair was exceptionally curly today. She put on a small amount of make-up and walked out of the bathroom.

"Wow." Barbara Jean said who was still standing at her closet, going through her clothes.

Reba scrunched her eyebrows together. "What?" she asked confused.

Barbara Jean smiled. "Your hair looks great. Why don't you wear it like that more often?"

Reba shrugged. "Let's go." She said grabbing her purse off her dresser.

They were just about to walk out the door when Reba's cell phone rang from her night stand. Barbara Jean was closer so she answered the phone. Reba did not like this. It could be Vic and it was. "Hello." Barbara Jean said in a cheery voice.

"Barbara Jean? Is Reba there?"

Barbara Jean smiled. "Yes she is but you're not going to be able to talk to her."

"And why not?"

"Because Reba and I are going to the mall and shopping till we drop then pig out on junk food in the food court." Barbara Jean giggled. Reba rolled her eyes and tried to take the phone from Barbara Jean but she smacked Reba's hand around. Reba pulled her hand back, rubbing the small red mark.

Vic chuckled. "Well, that sounds great. She needs some time out. If you could do me a favor and make sure when you guys pig out Reba at least pigs out on something healthy." Vic said with a tremendous amount of concern in his voice. "The doctor told us yesterday she needs to have a better diet. It not only for the baby's health but for her health as well, her blood pressure hasn't been so great."

Barbara Jean frowned towards Reba. She didn't want her friend to be unhealthy. "I will be happy to make sure she does that." Barbara Jean hung up with Vic shortly after that. Reba bugged Barbara Jean the whole way to the mall. She refused to give Reba her cell phone and this annoyed Reba to no end. Barbara Jean said she could talk to Vic after the shopping and the bridal shower was over.

Reba had forgotten about asking Barbara Jean for her phone and what Vic had said once they arrived at the mall. Reba enjoyed the shopping tremendously as she tried on different sizes of jeans to fit her. She was a little disappointed when she realized she had gone up two sizes but she was happy none the less that she found clothes that fit.

Once they shopped till they dropped they went upstairs to the food court. Reba was exhausted. "I am so tired. How can you have so much energy?" she asked Barbara Jean as she flopped onto a chair.

Barbara Jean smiled and set her bags in the chair. "Reba, it's me. I always have extra energy. Now you sit here and I will go and get the food."

Reba smiled as Barbara Jean started to walk away. "Make sure you get the ranch dressing!" she said. Barbara Jean just nodded and continued walking away. Reba sighed and sat back, waiting for her food, she was starving. She had a craving for a big piece of pepperoni pizza.

Reba was admiring a new lovely dark purple button down silk blouse she had just bought when a tray was set in front of her. She set her blouse back into the bag and smiled as she turned to her food. Her smile faded when she saw a big plate of salad in front of her. Reba looked up just in time to see Barbara Jean sinking her teeth into a greasy cheese burger. "What in the world is this?" Reba asked poking a fork at the lettuce.

Barbara Jean took a quick drink of her vanilla shake and smiled. "It's your lunch. Vic told me about what your doctor said. He told me not to let you eat any junk food."

Reba glared and pushed the tray away. "I am not eating this."

Barbara Jean rolled her eyes. "Oh please, you're acting like Henry when I give him broccoli. Now I am not letting you eat any junk food. Vic told me your blood pressure wasn't great. Now just relax and eat."

Reba sighed and looked around. "Where is the dressing?" she asked

Barbara Jean shook her head as she bit into a fry. "They didn't have any low fat so no dressing for you." Reba glared at Barbara Jean and took a bite of her salad. Reba cringed. She hated eating a lot of salad.

Reba sighed and moved her food around a lot. "So, when does this party start?"

Barbara Jean smiled and finished off her burger. "It will start…" She glanced at her watch, "In about an hour. Cheyenne is setting up and then she is going to the airport with Van to pick up Lori Ann." She grabbed her shake and began to finish that off.

Reba's eyes lit up. "Lori Ann will be there?"

Barbara Jean smacked her head. "Ahhh…"

Reba shook her head. "Don't worry, I'll act surprised." Reba said excitedly.

Barbara Jean continued to hold her head and shook it. "No…brain freeze."

Reba just chuckled and shook her head. Her day was starting to look much better. Reba picked up a piece of lettuce in her salad and sighed, staring at it. She could only hope they had some real food at this bridal shower.

End of Chapter