I don't think this chapter's gonna be as interesting as the rest of them, I'm afraid. I just hate it when things aren't played out realistically and I felt that there were a still a few loose ends that needed tying up to make it play true to life, thus resulting in a very wordy epilogue. Oh well, hope you still enjoy it anyway!
Reba took in a deep breath and inhaled the balmy late afternoon air as she sat back and watched her family frolic about before her. It was a Sunday and they had all decided to go on a family picnic right after church let out. The day was gorgeous, with the sun just peeking out from behind the clouds every now and then, making it the perfect temperature. The water in the lake they were picnicking by was cool and clean, perfect for wading in, and it was lined by beautiful trees and soft grass to sit upon. Up above birds were singing and butterflies danced all around. Reba couldn't have imagined a more ridiculously perfect day even if she tried.
She sat alone at the moment, on a blanket sprawled under a tree. In the distance, Van and Cheyenne played with Elizabeth by the lake, dipping her feet in and out of the water while she giggled with delight. A few feet away Kyra and Jake sat together, holding makeshift poles in their hands and studying the water intently. They had gotten into an argument earlier over what would make the best fishing bait: a Twinkie or a piece of bologna. Both too stubborn to give into to the other (they must have gotten that from their father, Reba figured), they quickly ran down to the lake to prove the other wrong. Brock was sitting off to the side of them, holding a pole of his own except without the interest of betting who would catch the first fish (though she had an inkling that if he caught one first with his piece of bread bait, he would never let their children forget it). They had all asked Reba to join them in their various activities, but she opted to sit it out, claiming that she had to gather up the leftover picnic stuff before the ants got to it. The truth of the matter was she just wanted to be alone for a bit, to soak up the moment.
Reba was still finding it very hard to believe that it had only been a month since Brock's accident; so much had already changed. They were the family they once were again….except with four new people added to the picture (soon to be five when Van and Cheyenne's son was born). She couldn't believe it had all worked out for the best. The man she loved was back in her life and she still go to keep the best friend she never knew she even wanted. How perfect was that?
Of course, transitioning to that perfect little life hadn't been easy. After things calmed had down following the wedding and the reception, Barbra Jean's absence hit everyone very hard, and all had wondered how they were going to be able to keep up that friendship with her without things being terribly awkward. It didn't seem possible at first, and as a result the kids took their loss and frustrations out on their parents.
"This is all your fault," Kyra had screamed at her mother after the second time Barbra Jean had refused to drop by. "If you hadn't seduced Dad, none of this would be happening right now!"
That had nearly killed Reba; she hated it when her children were angry enough to speak so coldly to her. Brock had been quick to his wife's defense, but it still hadn't kept her from feeling incredibly guilty all over again. She had thought for sure she had had her children's definite approval, but apparently she had been wrong. Obviously she hadn't betted on how hard it was all really going to be.
For days the kids had refused to speak to Brock and Reba beyond what was necessary, creating enormous tension in the Hart household, but fortunately Barbra Jean had dropped by later on to save the day. She had a talk with the kids, explaining that her absence was due to the fact that she had been hunting for a smaller house around the neighborhood (after all, why did she need that big ole four bedroom house when it was just gonna be her and Henry?) and that it had had nothing to do with their parents' remarriage. She went on to explain to them that she deserved better than to be in a relationship with a man who was clearly in love with another woman, and convinced them that Reba and Brock really did belong together if they were still in love. Barbra Jean assured the children that she was happy for the couple; and that she would be alright and would visit often. After a little more reassurance, the kids finally consented and their anger for their parents quickly dissolved. They had even gone so far as to apologize for their behavior later on, a rarity in Reba's book.
She had been glad that issue had been resolved nicely, but there had still been the matter of the one present between Brock and Barbra Jean. For a long time, they had avoided each other like the plague, probably to avoid the awkwardness that had settled between them. The only time they ever even met was when Brock went to go pick up or drop off Henry, and that was only for a few brief moments. Reba knew they couldn't continue to be a family that way. She desperately wanted to keep relationships with both of them, and she couldn't do that until they ceased to walk on eggshells around each other. She had finally decided to call an intervention.
She made them sit down in the living room one day and talk, just the two of them, and straighten out whatever tension had arisen over the whole mess. The end result was just what Reba had been hoping for: Brock and Barbra Jean agreed to remain good friends, just as Reba and Brock had attempted to do before they fell back in love.
"Not that that's gonna happen between us," Brock had quickly added when they were discussing his and Barbra Jean's conversation later that night in their bedroom. Reba had laughed dismissively.
"I know it won't, I trust you," she had assured him. At that, a tender kiss had followed, which of course had led to more rather quickly. Reba now smiled contently at the recollection. All the issues she had worried about before she and Brock remarried had been miraculously solved, and now there was nothing left for them to do but to love each other and continue on with the rest of their lives side by side.
Of course, she knew even that wasn't going to be without its problems. There would definitely come times in the future when she would doubt his faithfulness again; and there would be times that Brock would wonder if she truly trusted him. Bitter feelings would linger over the six years they lost and jealousy would probably arise easily on both their parts. But Brock really seemed like he wanted to make it work this time. They've only been remarried for a couple of weeks and he's already shown on several occasions that he was willing to communicate and put in the hard work to keep their relationship from falling apart again. And if he was willing to give it his all then so was Reba. Besides, she believed that if their love was strong enough they could work through just about anything….and she really believed it was.
Reba absent-mindedly twisted the band around her ring finger and stared at her husband. She really did love him so; even after all they had been through. She assumed that was perhaps the reason why she had been able to accept him back into her life and heart so quickly, he had never really left.
Okay, so it wasn't exactly a fairytale ending to a fairytale romance. Husband dumps wife for pregnant mistress only to win her back after freak accident didn't exactly make for a potential Disney movie, but Reba never believed life was supposed to be perfect in that sense. They had never stopped loving each other even through the pain, anger, and betrayal, and that was fairytale enough for her.
Brock caught sight of her staring at him and gave her a come-over-here smile. Reba gladly got up from her seat on the blanket and joined him by the lake.
"Any luck," she asked when she took a seat next to him on a soft grassy knoll.
"No, not really," he admitted. "Must be something wrong with the water; the fish just aren't biting today."
"Really," she replied skeptically as she leaned forward and glanced over at her kids. Kyra and Jake were holding two fish a piece in their hands, comparing sizes and trying to determine who won the bet. Brock followed her gaze and scoffed.
"I meant there was something wrong with this part of the water specifically," he added quickly as he gestured to the part of the lake before him. Reba laughed.
"Whatever you say, honey." A comfortable silence fell between them as Reba stared off into the rapidly fading sun. All of a sudden she was aware of how fast the temperature was dropping and she gave a little shiver.
"It's getting pretty late, maybe we should go," she suddenly told her husband.
"Aw, but we've been having such a nice day," he protested. "I don't want it to end just yet."
"But it's gonna get dark soon, and I'm getting cold," she argued.
"Let's just stay until the sun goes down," Brock pleaded. "Please Reba? I missed doing this with y'all for six years; I just want to enjoy it for as long as I can. Please?" He topped off his plea with big puppy dog eyes he knew Reba couldn't refuse. She sighed.
"Alright," she consented. "But just until the sun goes down! I'm gonna go get my sweater from the car." She made a move to get up but Brock stopped her.
"Oh you don't need that! Come 'ere!" He set his pole aside and opened his arms up to her. Reba smiled and scooted closer her to him, leaning up against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her tightly to keep her warm.
"Better," he whispered into her ear.
"Much better," she replied as she closed her eyes and soaked up the warmth of his body against her. He smiled and kissed her on the temple before resting his chin on her shoulder and staring off into the sunset with her.
Reba sighed contently as she leaned against him closer still, feeling his heart beat against her. That, wrapped up right there in the warmth of her love and best friend, was where she knew she belonged. And it was where she always wanted to stay.
THE END
Alright, so this last chapter really didn't have too much of a point to it, but you must understand. I have this obsessive compulsive disorder where everything must be as realistic as possible, so I just had to throw this dull one in! Hee hee! It's a problem, I know, and I'm thinking about seeking professional help, so no worries!
Anyway, that's it! That's the whole story! I hope y'all enjoyed my first full length Reba story as much as I enjoyed writing it! Special thanks to those who inspired the plot and ideas, and also to everyone who reviewed. You are greatly appreciated! Until we meet again!