1Reba
"Yatzee!" Brock yelled, pumping his fist in the air laughing.
"Oh, you cheated!" I yelled throwing a piece of popcorn at him. He just laughed.
"I think you're just a sore looser red!" he stuck his tongue out at me. I laughed and nudged his shoulder. Playing board games seemed to take the edge off everything pretty well.
"Sore looser? All right, rematch!" he laughed and raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, bring it on red, but just to warn you, I will beat you again!"I shook my head with my jaw to one side.
"Don't you worry, I'll put you in your place." we took the challenge head on. Part way through the game we were interrupted by Cheyenne, Van, Elizabeth, and little Matt.
"Grandma!" Elizabeth yelled running right into my open arms. I held that sweet 7 year old little girl with bouncing blonde curls close. She'd never know just how close to my heart she really was.
"Hi darlin'. I've missed you so much." she pulled away and smiled at me, holding my hands in hers.
"I've missed you too grandma," she smiled that innocent smile and looked at me sweetly. "Did you make those chocolate chip cookies you said you were?" I laughed. She never forgot anything did she?
"On the counter, just made them earlier today. They should still be soft in the center." She smiled like a champion running for the kitchen.
"Hey little girl! You didn't forget about me did you?" Brock asked a little hurt. I felt bad, even I forgot he was sitting there. But he didn't move or say a word so you can't blame us. She came running back around the couch, blushing in embarrassment.
"Sorry grandpa." he smiled, forgetting he was upset with her. She had such a soft spot in everyone that you just couldn't be upset with her. If you ask me, I think she makes it impossible.
"It's okay, but you know I missed you too right?" they pulled apart after only a few seconds, breaking all contact. She only half smiled at him. Being sure she was using her manners and not being rude to Brock. I felt proud of her.
"I missed you too grandpa." he smiled back at her. She looked at me. "May I please go get a cookie now grandma?" I smiled.
"Elizabeth, don't be rude, did grandma make those for you or does she need them for her work party?" van said to her while looking at me. Cheyenne got Matt out of his little carrier. I hurried to take him for myself selfishly.
"It's alright Elizabeth, I made those for all of us." she ran in the kitchen happily as I sat beside Brock on the couch, Matt in my arms. I just beamed with joy, this little boy was everything. I loved him heart and soul like he was my own. I had to remind myself like I did when Elizabeth was little that he wasn't mine, I was only the 'grandma' in the situation. No more babies from me.
"So what's going on here?" Cheyenne asked setting her coat on the empty carrier before taking her spot on the arm of the chair Van was sitting on.
"Yeah, here we thought Mrs. H would be here alone with Jake and Kyra being gone." I gave him a warning look.
"Just playing Yatzee. I game over to talk to your mother but things took a serious turn so we decided to play games to lighten the mood." they both looked at us in curious shock.
"Serious? What was so serious?" Cheyenne asked. I looked up at her recognizing what was in her voice. She thought that ment something between us. "Was it about mom, or you, or.. What exactly?" I looked from her to Brock who realized the same conclusion our daughter had drawn. He looked at me and sighed.
"Barbra Jean and I have decided to go through with the divorce." they sat there stunned. Cheyenne's face went red a little bit, realizing how off her thoughts were. They looked shocked but not surprised.
"Mr. H, I'm sorry." Van said sympathetically.
"You guys, I'm fine and so is Barbra Jean. It's been a long time coming and we all know that. And actually, I'm taking it a lot better than I think I should." they looked at him confused. "It's a personal thing, I'm not going to tell you anything about it." they nodded understandingly.
"Well, we're here for you if you need us." Cheyenne said. Van nodded in agreement. Just then Elizabeth came walking into the room with the plate of cookies, jug of milk, and five plastic cups. I laughed. Cheyenne got mad. "Elizabeth, one cookie. What are you bringing all this in here for?"
"Grandma said she made them for everybody, so I'm sharing them with everybody." she said looking up at her mother. Cheyenne sighed but couldn't help but smile at her sweet little girl. I was completely wrapped up in Matt, I was cooing, laughing, and making noises. When he laughed and smiled my heart melted into his little hands. I had no guards up what-so-ever when I had that little boy. Brock must've noticed because out of the corner of my eye I saw him watching and smiling at us.
"So how've you and Jake been? I know he enjoys pushing your buttons." I smiled.
"It should all be over. We had a mishap in the car. He's quite aware that the warden's back."
"What was the mishap?" Van asked with a laugh. He still teases me over the whole warden thing. A nickname he kindly made up for me.
"He had an attitude, I pulled over, threatened his social life, he got desperate, I gave him conditions, he agreed. And I'm gonna hold him to them." I cooed over Matt more.
"Ah, I remember those days." Cheyenne said remembering with a smile. "Very sneaky, I always thought you were so clever for pulling that." I smiled, sending her my 'I know' look. She shook her head with a little smile.
"Just wait and see Cheyenne, one day you'll learn all these tricks too."
Barbra Jean
I pulled into Reba's driveway with a sigh. It's girl's night. We're supposed to go out, but I just don't feel like being around Reba.. For once. Ever since therapy with Dr. Cole, I realized just how big of a lie it all was. She really was my bestfriend. I didn't want to loose her, but I couldn't be honest with her if I kept this to myself. So does that mean our entire friendship was a lie? Just a big charade? As I was lost in thought, staring at the steering wheel, Reba must've come outside. She tapped on the window, making me jump. I came back to reality with a thud. I rolled down the window and she smiled.
"You plan on getting out of the car so we can get ready, or are you just gonna sit here?" she raised an eyebrow smiling.
"Yeah," I said forcing a smile. "Just got lost in thought for a second." she stood up straight and took a step back as I opened the car door and got out.
"Long session with Dr. Cole today?" she asked sympathetically. Sometimes she knew what I was going through emotionally better than I did. Except for my secret of course.
"Like you wouldn't believe." she stepped closer and hugged me. I nearly burst into tears. How could I tell someone who trusted me so much that I did so wrong?
"All the more reason to drink right?" I laughed. "I'll cheer you up tonight if it kills me." she said as we walked to the house. I laughed at the irony in her words.
"This place is a little loud isn't it?" Reba yelled over the music.
"I thought it would be fun. Something different!" I lied to her. Just another on the list of lies. She scrunched her face at the smoke.
"You do realize this is a karaoke bar and we're not in our 20's right?" she asked nervously. I laughed nervously back at her.
"Well why not act like we're 20 in a karaoke bar? The night is young Reba! Let's live it up!" I said swinging my arms open wide. Just then a waitress was walking by carrying a tray of shots. My hand hit her square in the face, causing her to fall back and the shots to explode everywhere. I gasped. I looked at Reba who had her mouth open with wide eyes. We both got up to help the poor waitress. "I am so sorry miss!" I yelled over the music. We got her to her feet where she stood holding her face.
"Are you alright?" Reba asked keeping her hand under her elbow for support.
"I think you broke my nose!" she said in shock.
"My son's in football, maybe I can stop the bleeding." Reba said moving her hands away from her face. Blood poured down her face. My stomach twisted. I looked at Reba who was white as a sheet.
After we got the waitress some help, we had to clean up the drinks before we got kicked out. We sat on the front steps to calm down from the ruckus inside.
"I'm sorry Reba, this was a dumb idea." I said holding my face in one hand looking at her apologetically. She laughed and patted my back.
"Well it's not like it's our first time getting kicked out of a bar." we both laughed. "And besides, I think we need to talk. Couldn't do that to well in there now could we?" the way she looked at me I could tell she knew I was keeping things from her.
"I know. We really do but... not tonight, I just want to spend the evening with my bestfriend and just, try to be normal." we stood up and walked to the car. "A night where everything's as it should be and I'm not hurting anyone." she laughed at me.
"So I guess we're starting fresh here?" she made a face and I laughed.
"Hey, that waitress had it coming! She never brought us our drinks!" Reba laughed as she got in the drivers seat.
"Reba, you seem to be heavier when you're drunk." I said trying to keep her balanced on my shoulder as I walked up to the house.
"Are you calling me fat?" she asked as horrified as she could be drunk and laughing herself into tears. I rolled my eyes and tried to stand her up on the porch. She leaned against the door as she tried to unlock it. "I love girls night." she said resting her head on the door smiling. She reached out and patted my face a little hard. "I love you too you big blonde goof." she laughed and I shook my head. Maybe I took a step too far when I had the bartender double the alcohol in all three of her drinks. That was her limit. Two margarita's and a shot of tequila. But she kept asking me things and looking at me worried. I had to do something. So I guess seriously drunk was the answer.
"Are you going to be okay tonight? No one's here." she threw her arm out and made a sound. She was REALLY drunk.
"I'll be fine." she looked around, then leaned closer to whisper to me. "I'm just a little tipsy." I raised an eyebrow. She really didn't know she was drunk did she?
"A little? Honey, you're so drunk I think you passed legal limit more than a couple times."
"Pish posh!" she said mockingly. She opened the front door but fell onto the floor laughing the whole time. I jumped in shock and helped her up. "I lost my balance just a little bit." she laughed.
"Oh God." I helped her to the couch and ran around getting her things I knew she'd need. "Okay, I got you a few bottles of water, head medicine, blankets, and an old trash can incase you need to... throw up." she nodded, looking a little too serious. I was automatically nervous. Reba was never serious when she was drunk, she was the complete opposite.
"Barbra Jean?" she reached out and held my hand. I sat on the table. "I know something's wrong and you don't wanna tell me." she held my gaze the best she could. "Why wont you tell me?" my eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know if I can. I can promise you won't be happy with me."
"You're my bestfriend Barbra Jean, I'll always forgive and love ya." I started to cry.
"I wish I could believe that Reba, I really do. But this is bigger than the both of us." she sighed and looked at me sadly.
"I wish you'd believe me. I want to help you." she wiped the tears off my face with a shaking hand.
"I know you do. I want to too." I started to laugh. "You're pretty good at giving advice when you're drunk. Who would've known?"