A/N: with countrygirls86
Reba sat on her bedroom floor lost inside of her own thoughts. She had locked her door to keep out anyone to avoid asking how it went. She checked her phone every once in a while to make sure she didn't miss any important calls, and regretted every time she picked it up. Scott's name had appeared more than once in her missed calls, and she couldn't handle the text messages. Was he just trying to prove he was something to her? Or was he being sincere? She knew that she had hurt him with her reply, but she tried to convince herself that's what she wanted.
She fell asleep hours later, and slept through the night up until Cheyenne woke her up knocking at the door. She was the only visitor she would even talk to. "Mom, are you okay? You're worrying me; I heard you crying last night. And don't say it's nothing because it's something. It's a big something or you would not be trying so hard to shut me out. And you've got that picture opened up on your phone," Cheyenne stated, pointing out the dress photo on her phone.
Reba glanced at the phone as Cheyenne picked it up from the floor. She felt her lips begin to tremble, and her swollen eyes ached as a set of new tears tried to slip down her cheeks. "It would have been nice to wear that dress, but it won't happen now." Reba ignored Cheyenne, talking more to herself than her daughter. She sighed, taking her phone away from Cheyenne and staring at the picture once again. Cheyenne watched her mother almost convinced she'd lost it completely.
"It could happen…if you really wanted it to." Cheyenne tried to tread lightly, wanting to ease her mother into telling her what was going on inside her head. Reba shook her head, closing the photo and turning off her phone. She wouldn't be able to handle any phone calls or text messages from Scott right now, and she knew if her phone was turned on it'd be impossible for her to ignore him.
"No, Cheyenne, it takes more than a want to, to get married. So much more is involved." Reba stood up, moving to stand next to her window. Cheyenne stood up as well, taking a few steps closer to her mother.
"And you and Scott have what it takes, Mom." Reba turned to look at Cheyenne, wanting to believe her so much. "Why are you being so stubborn about this? Don't you love him?" Cheyenne's questions forced Reba to close her eyes and take a deep breath.
"You won't understand, Cheyenne." Her tone held a warning growl, but Cheyenne had never been one to back down so easily. She nodded her head, saying she'd like the chance to try to understand. Reba opened her eyes, her arms protectively wrapping around her chest. She took a deep breath. "I'm scared…What if he leaves me, Cheyenne? What if he hurts me?" Reba let out a shaky breath, looking away from her daughter.
"He won't, Mom. He loves you." Cheyenne spoke softly, wanting to help her mother get past her fears. Reba shook her head, her thoughts running wild as her fear dug it's deadly claws deeper into her mind.
"You don't know that for sure. Nobody does." Reba started to pace a little, her eyes occasionally glancing at her daughter. She knew she couldn't change her mind no matter how hard Cheyenne tried to convince her otherwise. If she stuck with no as her answer then Scott could never hurt her, and she could continue to love him because he wouldn't be the one to have caused her pain.
Cheyenne sighed, hating how stubborn her mother could be at times. Most times it was a good quality, but when it wasn't good, it drove everyone crazy. "Mom…" Reba held up her hand, instantly getting Cheyenne to stop talking. Her facial expression was distant and blank as there was a moment of silence, but when she started to speak, her defences began to crumble.
"No, Cheyenne, he will leave me…just like all the other ones did. I'll get hurt." Her voice cracked at the end, and she looked at the floor in embarrassment. Cheyenne took a deep breath, moving closer to her mother. She felt a tiny bit of comfort in the fact that she was getting somewhere, but at the same time, she could tell it would take a lot to change her mother's mind and answer.
Cheyenne took a minute to think, finding what she hoped would be comforting and reassuring words. "Maybe they left you so you'd recognize a good man when you got one? Like you have in Scott." Reba's eyes shot to Cheyenne, and after a few seconds of shock, Reba pointed to her bedroom door.
"I want you to leave. I'm done talking."
"But, mom, we need to talk about this. You don't need to keep hurting yourself! You don't need to keep hurting Scott!" Cheyenne didn't realize the level of loudness her voice had escalated to. She was trying to understand her mother's position and concern, but she just couldn't help but be angry with the way she was treating everyone. "I'm sorry, but..."
Reba cut her off, "No, I needed that, and I deserve that. I just can't function right now with this, and I don't want to talk about it. Please, just leave me alone right now. I'll be down in a minute to fix breakfast." She watched as her daughter walked out of the room in silence. She allowed herself to lie underneath the covers of her bed for a few more minutes before getting up. The mirror image caught her eye; the woman looking back had smeared makeup and was a total wreck. She pulled her hair back and cleaned up, then headed down stairs. As she neared the bottom, she realized that it was Saturday.
Scott sat on the couch next to Jake playing another one of his many video games. She had completely forgotten that it was Saturday, and had not expected him to be there after what happened. He smiled, "Good morning, Reba." He didn't know what to say to even strike up a simple conversation. She smiled and kept on walking into the kitchen to find something to make for breakfast.
When she entered the kitchen she found Van sitting at the kitchen table with Elizabeth and Adam. She smiled sweetly as her granddaughter wished her a good morning. Van could see the strain in her smile, but decided to ignore it, knowing his wife had probably pestered her enough about it. He sighed, feeding his son the last of his bottle. Elizabeth sat next to him, eating a bowl of cereal. "What would you like for breakfast, Van?" Reba asked as she searched the cabinets for an idea.
"Oh, uh, pancakes?" He watched as she nodded her head before beginning on breakfast. His attention shot to the kitchen entry way when Cheyenne walked into the room. "Cheyenne." He spoke quickly, his body straightening as he did. Cheyenne turned towards him, her voice matching his exactly as she called out his name. Reba glanced between her children, wondering what they could be arguing about this time. "I think I'm going to join Jake and Scott. Adam, why don't you come with Daddy so the girls can be alone…to do girly things." Van stood up, carrying his son into the living room. He took a few extra steps in order to go around Cheyenne.
Cheyenne rolled her eyes, her attention shooting towards her mother. "Did you see Scott was here?" Reba gave Cheyenne a warning glare, turning around shortly after to pour the pancake batter onto the frying pan. "He's still here, Mom. Doesn't that prove something?" Reba hesitated for a minute before turning back around to face her daughter.
"You called him, didn't you? You told him to come over today." Reba crossed her arms, trying to stay calm and in control since her granddaughter was still in the room. Cheyenne rolled her eyes, moving closer to her mother. They stood on either side of the island, staring intently at each other.
"No, he came all on his own. Said something about promising Jake he'd play video games with him today. He didn't want to let Jake down...like he thinks he has you." Reba lowered her eyes to the counter top at Cheyenne's last words, feeling guilt and regret stab at her heart. She quickly reminded herself that he would leave eventually, and this was her only chance to leave him before he left her…for good.
"If you don't mind, Cheyenne, I have to fix breakfast. I don't have time to talk right now." Cheyenne sighed, shaking her head as Reba turned to face the stove once again. Elizabeth caught her mother's attention by saying she was ready to leave for her friend's house, and Cheyenne glanced at her mother one last time before walking Elizabeth to her friend's house at the end of the street.
Van sat next to Jake in the living room, watching as he beat Scott for the second time. "Man, Scott, you suck!" Scott shook his head, ready to give Van a great comeback when the living room door burst opened and Brock, followed by Barbra Jean, walked into the house. Jake added two more controllers to his game system before starting a new game. Barbra Jean rolled her eyes as the guys began to play their game, and left the living room for the kitchen.
Barbra Jean called out Reba's name, startling the redhead. She smiled at Reba, trying to hold back her squeals as she waited for Reba to stop yelling at her. Reba rolled her eyes at the blonde, returning her attention to the pancakes on the stove. "So…" Barbra Jean dragged out the word, jumping up and down when she finally continued. "Where's the ring? I wanna see it!" Reba sighed, holding back her tears as she answered her friend.
"I don't have one." Reba kept her back to Barbra Jean, pouring the last of the pancake batter into the pan. Barbra Jean's excitement settled down before a small anger filled its place.
"He proposed without a ring! That's horrible!" Reba could hear the blonde's heels clicking on the kitchen floor, and quickly turned around to get her attention before she tore into Scott for not having a ring.
"Barbra Jean, wait!" Barbra Jean turned around, crossing her arms and tapping her foot. Reba sighed, looking down to the counter for a second before returning her eyes to Barbra Jean. "He had a ring…" Reba watched as Barbra Jean's eyebrows scrunched together, and knew what would come next.
"He proposed with a ring, but you don't have one? Was it not the right size? Did you not like it? I mean, why else wouldn't you have a ring?" Reba swallowed the lump in her throat, wishing Barbra Jean would leave it alone. She wished they all would leave it alone. She would much rather this be between her and Scott, but with her family, that would never happen.
"I didn't say yes." Her voice was quiet, and she closed her eyes when Barbra Jean yelled at her.
"Have you lost your mind, Peaches?" Barbra Jean took a deep breath, calming down once she saw the tears in Reba's eyes. Something was wrong with her best friend, and it was her job to figure out a way to help her. "Why?" Barbra Jean sat down in one of the island chairs, staring at Reba with curiosity.
Reba took a deep breath, shrugging her shoulders. "I can't." How many times had she said or thought those words since Scott proposed? She was so tired of feeling defeated, but she couldn't let herself get hurt again. Reba sighed, flipping the last pancake onto a plate in order to avoid Barbra Jean's eyes.
"You're scared, aren't you? I can understand that…if you are, Reba. I mean, what relationship doesn't come with fears, huh?" Barbra Jean moved to Reba's side, pulling the redhead into a tight hug. "I'm here for you, Reba, and I can tell you that Scott loves you more than I think anyone has ever loved someone…You're his sassy queen." Reba chuckled, pushing away from
Barbra Jean. She thanked her before grabbing some plates and glasses in order to set the table.
Reba announced that breakfast was ready through the window connecting the kitchen and the living room. She then continued to finish setting the table, feeling chills come over her with the extra place she had to set. The living room cleared out, as Reba walked out, and headed for her bedroom.
"Hey, Reba. How are you?" he asked. After a moment of silence, he sighed, "I'll just go on home."
"No, you can stay. Jake was having a good time and I already set you a place at the table." she turned away and started up the first few stairs.
"Are you going to eat anything, baby? You really should."
"I'm fine, really." She slowly walked back to her room. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it would explode. Crawling back into bed, she tried to ignore the laughter coming from the floor below.
"Scott, can I talk to you for a minute...in the living room?" Barbara Jean quietly asked.
He stood up, taking his plate along with him. "What's going on?"
"I don't like to meddle in people's lives, but...well, I do, but you get the point. What happened with Reba yesterday? I have never seen her that upset before, and I don't like seeing my best friend hurt."
"I can't tell you. Hell, I wish I could figure it out myself. She just told me she couldn't do it, and she's been so cold to me this morning." Barbara Jean gave him a faint smile, and then ran up the stairs to her bedroom, knocking silently then barging in, in true BJ-fashion.
Reba raised her eyebrow, as if signifying her irritance toward her coming in. "Shouldn't you be downstairs?" She wasn't surprised when Barbra Jean ignored her.
"I'm just gonna come out and ask this. Why are you doing this?" Barbra Jean folded her arms, her facial expression demanding that Reba answer her. The redhead glared at her friend, wanting so badly to scare her away. "It won't work so start talking." Reba sighed, looking down to her lap.
"I'm scared. He'll hurt me. I know he will, Barbra Jean." Reba slowly looked up, seeing the realization stretch across Barbra Jean's face. She quickly moved to Reba's side, jumping onto the free side of the bed. Reba allowed Barbra Jean to pull her in close, and rested her head on the blonde's shoulder. "I mean, I trusted Brock for twenty years. I've only known Scott for a little over a year. How can I trust that he won't leave me? What about Brian and Jack? I just don't know if I can make it through another heart ache if Scott turns out to be just like them."
Barbra Jean sighed, thinking for a minute. She gave Reba at tight hug before pulling away from her. "Why don't you take some advice you gave me and Brock a few years ago?" Reba stared at her, waiting for her to continue. "Go talk to Scott about how you're feeling. Tell him what you just told me. You two will work it out, I promise." Reba shook her head as she looked to her feet. "Do it, Reba. I won't leave you alone until you do."