"Chassidy this is ridiculous," Reba mumbled towards her daughter who was holding onto her legs as she knelt down in front of Reba's belly.
"Hi, baby sister." Chassidy mused as she pressed her face up against Reba's belly, the cloth from Reba's silk black shirt grazing against her cheek. Rolling her head back in annoyance, Reba tugged away trying to break free of her daughters grasp.
"You talked to Jadyn when I was pregnant, now it's my turn." She stated sternly as she pushed Reba's blouse up, revealing her bare belly, and her growing bump.
"Why do you hide this perfection?" Chassidy questioned in astonishment as she took a second to look up at Reba, who was now glaring back down at her.
"Please pull my shirt back down," Reba answered in a monotone voice, ignoring Chassidy's question. Reba had been up the night before, with morning sickness yet again, and to say the least wasn't in a very playful mood.
"It's gender time!" Shawna called out as she entered the living room of her childhood home, immediately breaking out into a laugh when she found her sister kneeling into her mom's bare stomach.
"I go to the bathroom and your already trying to convince our sister that you're the favorite." Shawna teased as she handed Reba her black leather purse and held her hand out, helping Chassidy to her feet. Today was Reba's gender reveal doctors appointment. She had made sure to schedule it today so that both of her daughters could accompany her, Chassidy would be leaving later that night as she'd only flown back to Nashville with Reba for the appointment, but she had made sure to not and miss this.
"If it's a boy we're turning him gay," Chassidy mumbled as the three of them headed for the front door, causing Reba to crack a smile for the first time that morning.
"Are we ready to find out what this healthy little one is?" The young OBGYN questioned as she smiled down at Reba, who's blouse was pulled all the way up to her chin, eyes glued to the monitor.
"We are!" Chassidy and Shawna answered in unison, as they held each other's hands. Reba giggled softly, rolling her head to the side in her daughter's direction.
"We all are." She reported sweetly, as she scooted up a bit on the hospital bed, putting her left arm behind her head.
"Looks like you have yourself a little girl." The doctor announced with excitement as she moved the probe around towards the left side of Reba's belly where her little girl appeared to be sleeping.
"Seriously?" Chassidy asked in relief. They'd made so many jokes about the baby being a girl that she was almost certain, just to spite them she'd have another little brother. Not that she would have minded having another little brother, she just wanted a little sister more.
"Scouts honor." The woman smiled back as she finished monitoring the baby and took out Kleenexes for Reba to clean up her stomach.
"How do we know you were in the Scouts?" Shawna questioned incredulously as she held on to Reba's arm, who proceeded to shift into a sitting poison.
"Why does everyone swear by the Scouts?" Reba mumbled under a laugh, before managing to fully sit up.
"It doesn't matter, as long as she's sure she doesn't have a wiener," Chassidy added with an excited smile as she watched the young OBGYN laugh under her breath, jotting down some notes on her iPad.
"There's no 'wiener', I have four brothers, I'd never lie about something like this." She said holding up her right perfectly manicured hand, as a salute.
"Dang," Shawna mumbled back in surprise. She thought two was bad, but four?
"So there looked to be a little spotting that I'd like Dr. Smolders to take a closer look at, can we schedule you for next week?" The preppy woman asked as she handed Reba the copy of her ultrasound and a few other informational pieces of paperwork.
"Is it anything serious?" Reba pondered aloud as she accepted the papers eagerly.
"Doesn't appear to be but we would like to just make extra sure." She added reassuringly as she stuffed her hands in her coat pockets and began to turn towards the door.
"I'll give you three a few moments while I put her in the system for next week." She added once more before heading out of the room. Watching as Reba scooted to the edge of the chair and adjusted her loose blouse and leggings, Shawna and Chassidy giggled.
"You know big shirts and fancy pajama pants won't work forever." Chassidy teased as she reached out her own hand, pulling Reba to her feet.
"I know!" Reba said defensively as she eyed her judgmental daughters. They'd really been teaming up against her lately.
"Then do you know what time it is?!" Shawna added lightly.
"Time for what?"
"Shopping!" The girls sang in unison, causing Reba to shake her head with a long eye roll.
"I still can't believe I'm helping Reba McEntire!" A young clothing receptionist said as she held a gray butterfly lace blouse against Reba's frame. Earning both Shawna and Chassidy's nod of approval for the try on pile.
"You're really very sweet." Reba giggled back as she took the blouse and handed it to Shawna.
"Ashley what kind of pants would you suggest for a superstar, so that we can highlight that she's pregnant and not fat?" Chassidy questioned as they moved closer to the fitting rooms in the desolate store. For five a clock in the afternoon in a busy mall, the store had been really quiet the last hour.
"Thanks, Chass," Reba mumbled slightly under her breath.
"Your welcome," Chassidy responded obliviously as she followed the young blonde, who's ponytail swished swiftly as she led Chassidy to a rack of maternity pants.
"How about any of these?" She questioned with a warm smile as she ran her hand along the fashionable dark washed jeans and styled leggings.
"I think these will be perfect," Chassidy replied sincerely as she shifted through various items on the rack, thanking the girl in advance.
"Okay Mamacita, time to model." Chassidy eagerly informed as she hung a handful of clothes on the hooks inside the spacious wooden dressing room. Smiling back at Reba, she proceeded to join her sister on the coach bench outside of the room, ready to watch as Reba tried on the various items. Sighing a bit Reba shook her head as she quickly shut the dressing room door and begin to shift through the clothes picking her first item.
"You look like super grape woman," Chassidy said as she crinkled her nose watching as Reba twirled around in a deep purple top with bat wing type sleeves.
"Hey!" Reba whined a little.
"I picked this one." She added as she looked down at her black leggings, that she had "seamlessly" paired the outfit with.
"That's obvious, next!" Shawna intervened as she too shook her head in disgust at the top.
"Tough crowd," Reba grumbled as she walked back into the room to try on the next outfit.
"Try the butterfly shirt!" Chassidy enthused from the other side of the door. The top, Ashley had pointed out, had by far been Chassidy's favorite.
"I didn't really like that one," Reba muttered under breath as she looked the top over once more before shedding it from its rack and reluctantly putting it on.
"Too bad!" Shawna added. As she awaited Reba to come out in the next outfit. Her step-mother had a tendency to gravitate towards clothes that hid her stunning body. Both girls, however, gasped pleasantly, in unison, once Reba stepped swiftly out of the dressing room. The appealing top, hugged her belly tightly, making it painstakingly obvious that she was with child, while a few squiggly butterfly's fluttered across the shirt, finishing it off with a deep lace v neck, that tastefully highlighted her pregnancy cleavage. Putting her hands up to cup her mouth Chassidy's smile widened proudly.
"SOLD!" She said sternly as she shared a glance with her sister who nodded in agreement.
"Are we good or are we good?" Chassidy added with a giggle as Reba herself took a glance in the mirror, looking at the shirt from multiple angles. Shrugging a bit she turned around and faced her daughters once again.
"I guess you were right." She said with a smile as she finally agreed.
"Thank you again, Ashley, all of the pieces were lovely," Reba said sweetly as she reached for the pink bags and receipt, the blonde receptionist handed her.
"Especially the butterfly one," Chassidy added with a nod as she shared a sweet smile with Ashley as well.
"It was my pleasure and thank you again for the autograph, I adore your music!" The girl squealed back as she shared a look with her slightly older dark haired co-worker Gisele.
"Anytime honey."
"Now that we clothed the woman it's time to feed her," Chassidy stated as they all headed for the store's exit, Reba nodding eagerly in agreement.
"Gisele!" Ashley screeched once she was sure that Reba, Chassidy, and Shawna were outside of the store.
"What time is my break?" She questioned, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"5:20," Gisele responded back unfazed by her co-worker's excitement.
"Good, I'm taking it now!" Ashley stated before swiftly running around the counter and towards the exit of the store before Gisele had a chance to object.
"Clarisse! Ashley squealed running up to the young receptionist who was currently checking out an older gentleman.
"Claire!" She screamed again, grabbing her friend's hands and pushing the man aside.
"Reba McEntire was just in my store!" She yelled out breathlessly as Clarisse quickly let go of her friend's hands.
"Paper or plastic Sir?" She questioned softly momentarily returning her attention to Narvel as she handed him back his visa MasterCard.
"Paper please." He replied softly, as he looked Ashley up down, trying to not make it noticeable that he was eagerly waiting for her to continue her story.
"Wait."
"Isn't Maddie Rose a maternity shop?" Clarisse questioned as she reached down below the counter to grab a paper bag for Narvel's cologne. Usually, Reba stopped by this shop on her days out with the girls and picked him up a bottle, but these days it was something that he now had to take care of.
"Well, she was buying maternity clothes."
"With her daughters, so duh." Ashley continued, slightly hitting Clarisse on the arm before Clarisse went to grab the box that held the cologne.
"What?" Narvel coughed aloud as he quickly scratched his head trying to pretend like he wasn't listening to their conversation. Pausing a moment both girls looked over at him, puzzled looks on their faces. What would this old man care about Reba McEntire?...
"Uh yeah..." Ashley mumbled looking Narvel over, a slightly uncomfortable look gracing her face.
"Aren't her daughters like older though, in their late thirties or so?" Narvel questioned softly, sticking his wallet in his back jean pocket as he tried to play the question off casually.
"Yeah I guess, I don't know, what does it matter she wasn't buying for them?" Ashley continued turning her attention back towards Clarisse who handed him his bag as if to shoo him out of the store.
"Have a nice evening." She mumbled under her breath as she quickly looked back towards her friend.
"You have to be pulling my chain!" Clarisse said as she too began to jump up and down.
"Not even a little, she even signed CD's!" Ashley said again letting out a little scream. Watching from the entryway of the store as the scene unfolded, Narvel stood there stunned a moment. Reba was just at the mall? Reba was just at the mall with his daughters? Reba was just at the mall shopping for maternity clothes, for her? Taking a deep breath he pushed the door open and decided that it was time to finally talk to her once and for all.