"So what did ya wanna talk about?" "I'm so hyped I forgot what I even came here for. You sure know how to put on a show! I thought I was watching the circus with all those dancers, and the production. Wow, just wow!" "Hahaha, that's very sweet of you to say."
"Okay so is everyone ready for the long story?" Narvel looked at her reassuringly. "Go ahead!"
"So awhile back my mother got very sick with Cancer, and she had no family to help her through it. She was really worried about what was going to happen to me so she set out to find Charlie. She had kept me from him, and vice versa, my whole life because she felt ashamed."
"You see her and Charlie were together a while and when she fell pregnant she was embarrassed and worried because he always said he wasn't looking for a long term relationship. So instead she ran away to a friends and never went back. She found him and introduced us. He was the sweetest man I had ever met. He instantly tried his hardest to change how he was, he tried to settle down his drinking, and even built a room for me on his house. He was so excited to have a daughter that he put in too much work."
"He started to work harder, he went back rodeoing trying to win some money to put in a college fund for me. He just… He did everything. When mom died he paid all her funeral expenses and paid all the debts she had. That alone sent him completely broke, but he kept up the hard work and now we live just getting by. I don't need or want for much, so that helps. But he is always trying to make sure I have the best of everything. I try to tell him to slow down, but he won't. He's not well, and I can see it in his eyes."
She paused trying to regain her strength.
"He doesn't need me adding extra weight. I know that if my mother didn't have so much debt he wouldn't have to work anymore, and if I weren't around he would be able to just retire and live a little. I know he's not old, but he is very sick. I heard the doctor say his heart is weak and it can't handle too much stress or strain."
She started to get teary.
"He has already had four or five heart attacks and the doctor said it is unlikely he will survive another one." She sobbed quietly while Reba sat next to her and pulled her into her arms. "Oh honey, what are we gonna do about all this." "I'm so sorry to have to put this all on you both. But when Dad came home from being up here he just seemed so much happier. I hoped it was because of you two. I asked who you were and he told me you were his ex-wife and that he treated you terribly. He said I needed to learn how a man was supposed to treat his lady so that I never let any man treat me the way he treated you."
"I really think that's why he's changing. He wants to show me how a man should be so that I always know. He's trying to provide for his family, and treat women well. He just hasn't found anyone to help him fill that womanly role yet. He is always talking about how Narvel treats you, and if I ever wanted to see what a strong healthy relationship looks like, I needed to get on a plane to see you two."
"Is that why you're here?" "No I'm here because I really need your help. I need you to help me put myself into one of those orphanage places, you know the ones where all the children go." Both Reba and Narvel looked at her confused. "I don't understand? How would that help the situation." "Well If I'm not around then Dad won't have to work so hard to try and provide for me, he will be able to spend my college fund on himself and will be able to rest a little while. He won't have to worry about anything except himself, and he needs that right now. He has been neglecting himself to care for others and it's just not fair."
"I just don't want him to die. He's all I've got. I don't wanna be alone…."
She started to weep. Narvel passed her a box of Kleenex. "Sweetheart" Reba Rubbed her back. "We have far more options that are much better than that, and I'm sure your father will be fine for a while longer. How about you leave this whole mess with Narvel and I and we will try and think it over and come up with a better solution."
She cuddled her closely and whispered in her ear. "You will never be alone on our watch." She rocked her in her arms as Narvel went to get the two of them a glass of cold water. He picked up the phone "Carolyn, you saw the girl from earlier right?" "Kylie?" "Yes! Would you be a star and find her something to sleep in. I don't care if you have to beg someone to open a store with my credit card, or you dig something out of your suitcase, just please get her something and bring it to our room ASAP.." "Sure thing Narv." "Thank you, you're the best!" He walked back in with their water and settled it down in front of them. All that crying you two have been doing you're gonna need to top up your fluids.
"Kylie how about you go and take a shower in our shower here. Narvel said Carolyn is getting you something to wear to bed. I will knock on the bathroom door when it arrives." "Thank you so much Reba." "And thank you Narvel for agreeing to see me. Things could have been so different if you hadn't of." "You are more than welcome sweetie. Now go get in that shower and wash that day away, with all its tears."