It was dinner time and everyone was happy. When suddenly Reba went quiet. Narvel looked over and noticed his love looking unwell. He looked her in the eye and mouthed "What's wrong?" Reba looked back and ran to the bathroom. Narvel's first instinct was to run after her. But was that okay in her family home? Susie quickly brought him out of his thoughts. "You are allowed to go after her you know" he quickly got up and ran to her. She was laying her face on her arm which was draped over the toilet bowl. She was all sweaty and looked weak. He ran to tie her hair back and then wet a facecloth. He pulled her into him and wiped her face "Are you finished?" "I think so, I'm so tired I think I just want to lay down." "Okay well how about we brush your teeth first and wash your mouth out so you don't have to put up with that awful taste." "Will you help me?" "Of course" He sat her on his lap and brushed her teeth. He cupped his hands under the running water to collect enough for her to rinse her mouth. He then carried her to the bed Susie had set for them in the spare room. He put her Pj's on and tucked her into bed, then went back to join the rest of the family to finish dinner. "Is she ok?" Susie asked across the table. "She just wanted to lay down so I tucked her into bed." "Hey Narvel you any good on a horse? You think you could help Susie, Paul and I round up the cattle in the morning?" "Well Sir I can't say that I am very good, but Reba has taken me riding once or twice. I'm sure I could give it a go and help" "Good, see you in the stables at 5" Susie will show you how to tac em up. You can ride Reba's horse Blue." "I'll be there Sir."
The next morning Reba woke and rolled over to reached out for her man, but he was gone. She didn't know what had come over her but she started to weep. Her Mama heard her sobbing and went to knock on the door. "Reba, can I come in?" "Yes Mama." "What's wrong honey?" she said sitting down on the bed beside her "Oh nothing, I just, I'm so emotional. It was the first time in ages that I had woken up without someone next to me. "Oh your father has taken him out to round up the cattle with Susie and Paul" "Round up cattle? He can barely ride." "I think your father just wanted a little bonding time. And he knew you and I needed to have a chat alone, so two birds, one stone. You know I don't give him enough credit for how well he thinks." Reba smiled and snuggled into her Mama, "I've missed you. You give the best hugs" "That's what mothers are for darling. Now do you want to do this now, or after a shower?" "Now is good, where do I even start?" "Why don't you start with telling me how things are between you and Charlie." "Well the divorce was final he asked for 2mill and all my assets. He got every cent and pretty much everything except what I needed to continue my music. Narvel and I are now renting a house in Nashville not far from Barb, we haven't seen him or heard from him since. "Okay, I'm glad you are near Barbara, she is like family, and at least you have her close. You know I worry about you honey." "Yes, and Narvel has been taking very good care of me. He is so kind and gentle with me. We have our arguments, but when we make up, ohh it's the best." "I can see he has had a very strong upbringing and after what he did for you last night I am sure you have a keeper" "Yeah," Reba dipped her head, she was worried her mother was going to bring up last night's episode. "Reba, do you have any idea what was going on with you last night?" "I think I just felt sick from the travelling, nothing major." "You have traveled all your life, is there something you're hiding?" "No Mama, not at all I am as healthy as ever. I just don't know what came over me last night" "Reba, have you and Narvel been using protection" "Mama, I'm a grown woman, how can you ask me that?" "You may be a grown woman, but there may also be something else that is growin." "Wait, you don't think?" "Well that's why I asked, have you used protection every time?" Reba thought about it for a minute. She was sure they had. After all she was on birth control pills. "Oh no Mama…Not the first time, it kinder slipped our mind" "Hey Reba, I think I may just pop down to the pharmacy for a minute. My blood pressure pills ought to be in by now. Say you think you could take me? Your father says I aint allowed to drive no more." "Uhh, yeah, of course." "Good now let's get up and ready for the day, I'll go fix us some breakfast. Those lot are due to come in any minute.
The road to the pharmacy seemed to go on forever, and thankfully Mama was only making small talk. She must have known my mind was elsewhere when she suddenly snapped me out of my daze. "Reba are you scared?" I quickly shut her down "No Mama, I'm just thinking about this being the first Christmas without… well, with Narvel and how different it may be." "Well yes honey, it will be different. But if it wasn't different then it would be the same. And things that stay the same for too long become stale and stagnant. Change is good baby" "I know. I just guess I don't know what to expect. But I am ready to find out.