-Chapter 22-
Something fluttered against my foot.
"Van, stop it!" A hushed whisper came into my thoughts, followed by a chuckle. I felt something brush my foot again. A tickling sensation ran through my leg as I yanked it up. I popped up quickly in bed to find Cheyenne sitting next to me and Van at the foot of the bed holding a feather.
"What are you doing?" I asked, half asleep and half agitated.
"Sorry, Mrs. H. We've been trying forever to get you up." Van responded. I stared at the long blue feather in his hand.
"Where the heck did you get that?"
He looked at it a second, as if wondering the same thing himself. "I'm not sure." He continued to stare at it and scratch his head and Cheyenne began talking to me.
"So mom, I just realized something…"
"That I need more sleep?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.
"No, silly. It's something important!"
I glanced at the clock. "Important enough to wake me up at 7:15 on a Saturday morning?" Cheyenne had came into my room after mine and Brock's date last night, and ended up keeping me up until midnight wondering about all of the details.
"Yes, mom. You know how they're having one of those dance nights tonight at that place we always went to growing up?" I would have had a hard time understanding her even if I was fully awake.
"I have no clue what you're talking about."
"You know! That place on the outskirts of Nashville where you and dad used to take us and everyone would dance?"
I looked at her for a second before realizing what she was talking about. "The place in the middle of nowhere? With the big trees around it?"
"Yeah, that place!" She smiled big and stared at me. I cocked my head to the side.
"Well…"
"Yes?"
"What about it?"
"Oh yeah! We'll they're having another dance night tonight, and I was thinking that since it's been so long since we've been, we should all go together! Van and I could dance, Kyra might meet a cute boy there, and you could invite dad…" She tried to make the last part seem as casual as possible.
"Oh I don't know, Cheyenne. I haven't been to that place in years. I couldn't even tell how to get there anymore." I hadn't even thought about the place. For what I could remember, it was an old dance hall on the outskirts of town, practically in the middle of nowhere. When Brock and I first came to Nashville, we used to go all the time. When the kids were born we would take them, but only until around 8. That's when the rough crowd came in and things got wild. But before then, it was a pretty family oriented place. There was a lake in the back, and it always played good music. Brock of course never danced with me, but I knew he didn't like dancing so I never took it personal. Even though I would always see my friends dancing with their husbands and feel so left out. But that's all in the past.
"C'mon mom, it will be fun! It would do you good to get out some. Plus, we really need to go there again. That place was a tradition for us before…" She trailed off. "Please just go. You'd love it. Who knows, you may even get dad to dance with you."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not going just for that reason. I doubt he would anyways."
"I don't know, mom. I think at this point he'd do anything you asked him to."
"Oh yeah! It found it in the front yard yesterday." Cheyenne and I turned to Van, who finally figured out where the feather came from. "Jake and I think it's from a peacock." He held the feather close to his face and inspected it. Cheyenne and I turned back to each other, acting as if he wasn't there.
"I'm not sure, Cheyenne. What if he doesn't dance with me? Then I'll end up sitting there like an idiot like I always did."
"Please just try mom. Dad really has changed. You never know. Take chances, remember?"
I sighed. "Do you know for sure he's going?"
"Van and I talked him into this morning." She said with a grin.
"How long have y'all been up?"
"A while. Dad was worse than you were. He just mumbled with his head in the pillow the whole time. But when we told him you were going, he rolled over and looked at us like he didn't believe us. But we told him you were, so he said he would, too!"
"But you didn't even know I was going."
"Mom, stop arguing and just say you'll go!"
I thought for a moment. "Okay, fine. I'll go. But I'm not wearing a dress."
"Oh yes you are."
"Oh no I'm not."
.
…
.
My heels wobbled against the gravel and I had to hold the bottom of my dress to keep it from flying up.
"I can't believe you made me wear this." I mumbled to Cheyenne.
"Oh shush, Reba! You look perfect." Barbara Jean pushed between us.
"I can't believe you invited her." I mumbled again. Cheyenne smirked. I smoothed down my dress with my hands, feeling the soft satin material. It was almost the same as my black one, except it was red and showed a little more cleavage.
Old memories were resurfacing as we approached the familiar place. Music was blaring and people were laughing. I noticed Brock's car as we walked past it, and wondered how long it would be until his truck was repaired. Jake and Van ran past us quickly, almost knocking me over.
"I'll beat you to the door!" Jake yelled as Van tried his hardest to get there first.
I was laughing at them when my thoughts were interrupted by a high-pitched southern accent.
"Reba! Reebbaa!" I turned around. "Wait up!" Dolly came rushing up to us, somehow running in high heels on gravel. I would wonder how she could do that, but then again she's Dolly Parton. Stuff like that comes natural to her.
"Hey!" I said, hugging her.
"What are you doing here? And dressed like that?" She said, looking me over and whistling.
"I know, I know. I was talked into it." I said, glaring over at Cheyenne who put on a proud face.
"Well it's about damn time. You look cuter than a button." She said, looping her arm around mine as we walked in.
As always, the room got a little quieter and we were greeted by stares when we walked in. Two country icons, one with boobs bigger than her body and one looking a little too uncomfortable, plus two ditsy blondes laughing at the way their dresses twirled seemed to draw a lot of attention.
"Well helloooo!" Dolly said, easing the tension and making everyone laugh. The room settled and everyone went back to normal as we walked in.
"We're going to go look for dad. He's probably wondering where you are." Cheyenne said as her and Barbara Jean ran off. Dolly looked at me questionably.
"Oh yeah," I chuckled nervously. "I guess we haven't talked in a while."
Just then, Barbara came walking up, dragging Lori Ann behind her.
"Stop tugging on me Barbara! I'm going home."
"No you're not, Lori Ann!"
"Yes I am! I haven't seen one cute man, therefore I have no need to be here. Reba feels the same way I do about these kind of events, don't you Re-" She stopped when she looked at me. "Since when did you get hot?" She asked looking at me. I rolled my eyes. "Really, Reba. Are you dressing up for someone special?" She asked slowly as she walked up next to me smirking. Barbara came up behind her, eager to know my answer. I looked over at Dolly, and her face showed that she knew what was going on. She didn't look very happy, either.
"Well," I started. "Last night I had a date. And he should be here right now." I said, looking around and trying to decide how to break it to them who it was.
"Oh Reba!" Barbara squealed. "Who is it? Can we meet him?"
"Well you already know him." I said, still not looking at them.
"Who is it, then? Is he cute? Have you two…You know…?" Lori Ann asked. Barbara hit her arm playfully. I turned to face them, and then looked to Dolly who was still staring at me almost in disbelief. I bit my lip and looked down. I could tell Lori Ann and Barbara noticed the awkward tension.
"Well… Who is it?" Barbara asked.
Right as I was about to answer, Barbara Jean screamed my name and came running up to us. Lori Ann rolled her eyes. I turned my back to them as Barbara Jean approached me. "Hey Reba, we found Brock! He's looking for you too!"
"Okay, tell him I'll be right there."
"Okay!" She ran off, as energetic as always.
I turned back slowly and looked at them. Dolly wore the same face, Barbara looked stunning, and Lori Ann looked like she was going to blow.
"No way." She said.
"You don't know the whole story."
"I don't need to know it, Reba! Are you seriously taking him back? After what he did?"
"Lori Ann, stop it. You don't know what all has happened these last few days."
"Yes, I do. He got in an accident because he was drinking and driving. I could have looked on TMZ and figured that out." I cringed. I hated when the media brought up Brock. It always made me feel guilty. "That doesn't mean you can just run back into his arms!" Barbara looked down sadly, but didn't say anything.
"Lori Ann, you just don't understand."
"I don't need to. This is pathetic. He hurt you! Do you remember what you went through every night while he was gone? Because I do, Reba! I remember you calling me in hysterics because you didn't know how you were going to make it! I remember finding anti-depressants in your purse because you just couldn't handle the pain he put you through! I won't stand by and let you take that man back, Reba."
Her words killed me. I knew she was right, but it had taken me this long to allow myself to forgive him and start over. I wasn't going back to where I started. "You really don't have a say in what happens between us." I said, looking her in the eyes. Barbara's eyes got big and she grabbed onto Dolly, who still hadn't moved. Lori Ann looked at me viciously.
"Okay, fine. Just know this. If you take him back, you lose me. For good." She looked at me one last time before turning sharply and walking away. The tears forming in my eyes must have been evident, because Barbara stepped forwards and hugged me tightly.
"Just do what makes you happy. Don't worry about her." She said before turning and chasing after Lori Ann. I looked to Dolly, who still hadn't spoken.
"Are you angry with me too?" She shook her head 'no' and stared at the ground. "I'm just sick of being sad all the time. And believe it or not, he makes me happy."
She looked up at me, her face unreadable. "Okay." Was all she said. I couldn't tell if I was relieved that she wasn't as mad as Lori Ann, or angry that she wouldn't tell me exactly how she felt. Couldn't they get over themselves and let me be happy? Barbara could, why couldn't they?
I waited for her to add something, but she never spoke. She just kept looking towards the ground. Finally, I broke the silence a little harsher than I had meant to. "Well I've got to go." I hated walking away from her, but I knew I had to stop thinking about others before myself. If only once, I was going to focus on me. I walked through the dancing crowd until I saw Cheyenne in the back. I walked up and saw her talking to Brock. All of my troubles disappeared when he looked at me and smiled.
"Hey." I said, walking up and trying to hide my concern over what just happened.
"Hey." Brock said. His smile faded a little when he saw my face. "Are you okay?" He mouthed. I nodded and forced a smile. Of course, I could tell by his face that he didn't buy it.
"Me and Van are going to go dance. Jake and Elizabeth are with Kyra." Cheyenne said, oblivious. "So, I guess you two can just… hang out." She said with a wink before walking off, dragging Van behind her. He used his fingers to make the 'I'm keeping my eyes on you' gesture to us. Once they were gone, Brock turned to me.
"What's going on?" He asked concerned.
"It's nothing."
"I know you."
"It's nothing I want to talk about right now."
"Okay, I understand." He said, lightly smiling. "Do you want a drink?"
"Yes please."
"Same as before?"
I nodded, in shock that Brock remembered. He came back from the bar off to the side with a Sunrise Margarita, which I managed to down in about 4 minutes. He laughed at me, and I laughed back, a little louder than expected, which made us laugh even harder. When we finally settled down, Brock stared at me for a second, nervously fidgeting.
"So, Reba…" He started, not looking at me directly. "I saw on the track list that they're playing a pretty appropriate song next," Butterflies formed in my stomach. "So I was just wondering if, for old time's sake, you would want to dance with me?" I giggled at how nervous he was as the current song was coming to an end.
"I'd love to, Brock." He sighed with relief and smiled at me. I offered my hand to him, and he took it in his as we started towards the dance floor. The beginning of 'Nobody in His Right Mind' by George Strait started playing, and I looked up at him.
"You were right, this is pretty damn appropriate." I said, and he smiled squeezing my hand.
When we found our spot on the dance floor, we positioned ourselves in front of each other. I could tell this was his first time dancing in a while by the look on his face as he tried to figure out where he should put his hands. I smiled and took his hands, placing them on my waist. I put my hands on his shoulders as the words of the song started playing.
"I burn with desire each time my heart fans the fire to that old flame that burns inside of me. She cried when I left her, now I cry to forget her. Oh, how foolish I was to ever want to leave. 'Cause nobody in his right mind would've left her. I had to be crazy to say goodbye. Nobody in his right mind would have left her. Even my heart was smart enough to stay behind."
I looked into Brock's eyes as the song went on, and felt as if he were saying it directly to me. His hands rested gently on my hips, reminding me that love didn't have to be rough and mean.
Midway through the song, Brock's eyes drifted off to the side and the dreamy expression he wore fell. I followed his gaze to find Cheyenne, Van, and Barbara Jean staring at us. Barbara Jean and Cheyenne were jumping up and down, and Van was sternly staring at Brock. Beside them, some other people were staring. Barbara and Lori Ann must have left, because I didn't see them. I couldn't find Dolly either, which made my heart hurt. I looked on the other side of the unfamiliar crowd and saw some of Brock's friends who were hooting and hollering, obviously drunk. One was smacking the air and mouthing out 'Smack her butt'. I turned to Brock, smiling.
"Listen to him and you lose an arm."
"I wasn't planning on it." He chuckled, turning his attention back to me.
We danced through a few more love songs, and with each one I felt myself fall harder and harder. He never tried to 'make a move' with his hands, which I had expected him to. He just kept them where I had put them and stared at me in such a loving way that it made my knees go weak. Finally, when 'Me and You' started playing, I allowed myself to lean into his chest. He moved his hands a little above the small of my back and held me close to him as he rested his chin by my forehead. Everything about the moment seemed so real, and for once in a long time, I felt at home. This was how it was supposed to be. I could hear Cheyenne and Barbara Jean, who sounded a little tipsy at this point, oohing and ahhing in the back ground, along with Brock's friends yelling, "Get you some!" and Van telling them to shut up. I closed my eyes and drowned them all out as I kept my head against his chest and listened to his heart beat. He sang the last few lyrics to the song quietly in my ear, bringing a tear to my eye. He kissed my forehead gently when it was over, and then a loud, obnoxious song started playing to ruin the moment, signaling that the place was about to get wild. I painfully pulled away from him and we laughed as we looked into each others eyes again.
I turned to find the crowd still watching us, making me uncomfortable. I knew there was no way we could get away from our family and his obnoxious friends.
The change in music had gotten everyone excited, and soon I saw a conga line being formed and coming our way.
"Hey Brock…" I said under my breath, still watching the line of dancing people.
"Yes?"
"When this line passes us, we run." They were getting closer. I saw Cheyenne and Barbara Jean start walking our way.
"What?"
"Just follow my lead." I made eye contact with Cheyenne right as the line started to pass us. When we were covered, I grabbed Brock's hand and yanked him behind me. We ran through the dance floor, squeezing between people and even coming between some dancing couples. We were laughing so hard it was difficult to see where we were going.
"Mom!" I heard Cheyenne yell behind me, and I picked up the pace, pulling Brock even harder. Finally, we came outside. The cool air felt good against my legs and I felt the bottom of my dress twirl. I turned to Brock, who's frantic face made me laugh even harder.
"Where do we go?" I asked through my laughter. Before he could respond, we heard Barbara Jean yelling our names. Without thinking we took off towards the cluster of trees to the side. Somehow, I managed to run through the forest without tripping in my heels. I heard Brock right behind me and yelling at me to go left and then right, while still laughing.
Finally, we came to an opening in the trees. The ground was flat and even, and you could see the moon on the lake through the trees. I stopped and turned to face him, panting and out of breath.
"I haven't ran that much in years." I said, feeling my age catch up to me.
"Me either." He chuckled, holding his sides. My feet were killing me, so I took off my heels and was relieved to feel the soft grass underneath my feet. I sighed contently as I made little circles with my foot in the grass. I looked up to find Brock staring at me and smiling.
"What?"
"You look beautiful." I blushed and looked down.
"Thank you. You look pretty nice yourself." I added, looking up and smiling at him.
"Thank you."
"I really appreciate you dancing with me, Brock. I know you probably didn't want to, but it meant a lot."
"I did want to." He said with a smile.
"Really?"
"Yes. The whole time I couldn't help but wonder why I never danced with you when I had the opportunity." He said shamefully.
"I wondered that too." He looked down. I knew it hurt him to think of things like that. I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. "But you said you're going to make up for it all, right?" I said with a smile. He smiled back, and put his hands back on my waist.
"Right." Honky Tonk Badonkadonk started playing. "Are you sure you want to dance to this?" He asked and we both laughed.
"Yes. As long as I'm dancing with you, I don't care." I was embarrassed by how cheesy I was being, but stared deeply into his eyes anyways.
A gust of wind came, pushing my hair into my face. Right as I was going to move it, I felt his hand already there. He chuckled and tucked it behind my ear. He left his hand there and traced his thumb along my cheek bone, still staring into my eyes. He leaned his head in slowly, and I anticipated his lips with every part of me. Right as his face was close enough to mine for me to feel his breath, he looked down quickly and pulled away.
"Why did you do that?" I asked in a hurt voice.
"What do you mean?" He didn't look at me.
"I just… I guess I thought you were going to kiss me. But you pulled away." He was quiet for a second.
"I'm sorry." He said, finally looking at me. "It's just; I want you so bad, Reba." I don't know how he meant that, but hearing him say it sent chills through my body. "But at the same time, I can't lose you again. After what you went through, I want to take things slow. I don't want you to feel rushed into doing anything you don't want to do. So, I don't want to make any moves unless I know for sure that you're ready."
"Thank you." I said with a smile. Then, I reached my hand up and stroked the side of his face. He smiled and leaned into my hand. "Hey Brock?"
"Yes?"
I slowly moved my hand to the back of his head, running my fingers through his hair. "I'm ready." I said in a quiet, southern hiss. I slowly pulled his head down towards mine and closed my eyes. I felt his hand cup my face before feeling his soft lips gently brush mine, as if making sure it was okay. I parted my lips slightly, and embraced him as our lips finally locked. He continued to keep his hand on my cheek, and I felt his other hand slowly slide up from my waist. When it slid across where my dress ended and I felt his warm hand against my bare back, fireworks exploded inside of me. His lips massaged mine as he brought his hand up my back, and ran his fingers through my hair. I did the same to him, and moaned gently against his mouth when our tongues met.
I don't know how long we kissed for, or what songs were playing as we did so. All I knew was that I never wanted it to end. When I finally forced myself to pull away, Brock was so lost in the kiss that he fell forward briefly. He caught himself before falling on me, and I couldn't help but laugh at his silly expression. He smiled down at me as I placed my hands on his chest and smiled back. He pushed my hair away from my face and behind my ear again. He ran his finger down my cheek, and then over my lips.
I rested my head against his chest as we started dancing like before. I could feel his warm breath on my forehead. "I love you." He said just quiet enough for me to hear. "So much." He added, making me smile.
"I love you too, Brock."
.
…
.
When we finally pulled ourselves apart and realized the time, we rushed back towards the building. I held his hand as he led me through the forest. It took way longer to get back than it did to get there.
Finally when we came out of the trees, I pulled on Brock's sleeve and he turned to face me.
"What are we going to say?" I asked.
"About what?"
"About where we've been."
"In the trees?" He responded, confused and still a little love-drunk.
"We can't say that, butthead! They'll think we were making out or something." He stared at me with a grin. "They can't think that, Brock."
"Okay, you come in from the front and say you were making a phone call outside, and I'll come from the back and say that I was talking to some friends by the water."
"Okay, sounds good." I said. We both began to go our separate ways, but then turned back towards each other. I ran to him and pulled him into a hug, which he returned, and then looked up and kissed him deeply. I pulled off and he sighed. "Okay, I'm ready now." I said smiling at him one last time before rushing to the front of the building.
I turned the corner, and I could hear loud music and people hollering from inside. I knew we needed to leave as soon as we could. I mentally slapped myself for going off with Brock when we should have been getting Elizabeth home.
I stared at all of the various trucks and cars as I was walking towards the entrance. There was a Mercedes parked next to an old beat up Ford, parked next to a Honda, parked next to a motorcycle. I chuckled at the variety of vehicles before stopping dead in my tracks and turning around. My breath caught in my throat and I felt my hands shake as I realized what I was looking at.
It wasn't just any motorcycle. It was the motorcycle that I rode on the night that changed my life forever. Then, a chilling thought crept over my body like a cold wind.
He was here.