Katherine rose from her seat and walked to the window. Unsure of what to say she stared out to the ocean, now grey and foreboding with the threat of a storm. JR remained silent, waiting for her to speak.

She turned back to face him and noted that his story had taken its toll. "I understand" she told him finally. The simplicity of her response touched him- for the first time in his life he had been able to unburden himself, to explain and the sense of relief was enormous. He would never have been able to tell Sue Ellen, even though, on more occasions than he wished to admit, he had behaved abominably towards her. She had simply been expected to forgive and forget, as if it was her duty and his divine right, without ever knowing what lay behind his ill treatment of her.

"Thank you" he answered eventually, taking a slug of bourbon before looking down at the floor. Katherine sighed. "So, if I were to give you another chance what would make you behave differently?" she asked.

"I don't know, honey. All I know is that with you it is different. You are all I ever wanted. When I'm with you, things aren't as complicated. You get me and I get you. Please, Katherine, let me show you the husband that I can be, the husband that I want to be, to you?"

She shook her head gently making him fear the worst. Drawing her cardigan around her, she sat back down, facing him and stared into his eyes. "I must be mad, JR…" He jumped up and grasped both her hands, pulling her to stand. "Do you mean it?" he enquired anxiously, keen to seize the moment. "Yes" she answered solemnly, heart ruling head, no longer able to resist him. "But remember, you made me a promise and I expect you to keep it."

He nodded vigorously. "I will!" he declared earnestly before kissing her hesitantly. "We need to talk much more. There are practicalities that we have never even begun to discuss before. Your little boy for a start…" she began. "I know" he cut across her. "There's nothing that we cannot overcome together though, Katherine. You and I have to hold onto that."

She led him by the hand to the sofa, elated yet worried at the same time. Sitting down together she continued. "There will be opposition, you know, from your family and mine. Oh Lord! I can just imagine how Cliff will react to this, not that I care much for what he thinks. It's just, I don't know, I suppose what I'm trying to say is that it's not going to be easy."

Pulling her closer to him, he grasped her hand tightly and gazed into her eyes. "Whatever faces us we will overcome together. I agree, there will be hurdles to overcome but we're both strong and determined. We will make this work. Trust me."

She buried her head into his chest without replying. Make the most of this, she told herself as she snuggled into him, inhaling his smell, happy, relieved, in love . They watched through the window as the rain set in and the ocean began to swell. They didn't need words. Enough had been said already. Right there and then nobody else mattered.

Back at Southfork the family were gathering for dinner. Sue Ellen walked into the living room and greeted her relatives. "Did you have a good day?" Miss Ellie asked, attempting to scrutinise her daughter-in-law's demeanour, hoping against hope that her afternoon had not been spent in a cocktail bar.

Sue Ellen smiled. "I did, thank you" she responded. "I'll tell you all later." She looked pointedly at her son, signalling that what she had to say was not for his hearing, at least not yet. Miss Ellie poured a large glass of Scotch and took her seat, relieved. "Are you hungry, John Ross?" Sue Ellen asked. The little boy nodded but seemed unenthusiastic. "When will Daddy be home?" he asked worriedly. "I'm not sure" his mother responded. "It won't be long before he's back though." Sue Ellen's thoughts drifted first to the new home that lay in wait for her and then to her husband. His continued absence told her that he and Katherine must be working things out together. She wanted not to care but the reality was that she did. She and JR might be through but why should he get another chance with someone else?

Dismissing the thought, because it was nothing but destructive, she focussed once more on the future, her future, with a beautiful new house and enough money to keep her in the style to which she had become accustomed. Perhaps there was also someone out there just waiting for her, she mused, not that she would be ready for that for some time. The immediate future had to be about her and John Ross, she resolved quickly. However, the thought, one day, of remarriage to a man who could make her happy was one that she couldn't completely let go of.

"Dinner's ready" Theresa announced jolting her from her thoughts. As they processed into the dining room Clayton fell into step alongside her. "Are you sure you're okay?" he whispered. She nodded firmly. "Don't worry, Clayton. I'm better than that. Today I faced my future and it felt good" she replied cryptically.

After dinner, when John Ross was settled in bed and fast asleep, she re-joined the rest of the family downstairs. Clearing her throat, she began to speak. "I placed an offer on a house not too far away from here" she told them. "The purchase is to be expedited so that I can move as soon as possible." "Oh Sue Ellen!" Miss Ellie declared. "What's the rush? There's more than enough room here for you and JR to stay out of each other's way."

"I just need to leave. I'm sorry but that's how I feel. JR will be home very soon, no doubt having reconciled with Katherine and planning the future with her. The quicker and the cleaner the break the better, as far as I am concerned. Anyway, it's only about twenty minutes' drive from here."

Miss Ellie shook her head sadly. "It just all seems so final." "Now come on, Miss Ellie" Clayton interjected. "Sue Ellen's right. It's sad but she has to be realistic. Life must go on."

Tbc