Deceived

Chapter Twenty-Six

Title: Deceived

Chapter 26: Still the one

Time: Fall 2008

No copyright infringement intended.

 A few days later, Reba visited Brock at his dental office. He was sitting at his desk, rubbing the back of his neck, like he also did before when he was stressed out.

“So, what do you plan on doing tonight? You look like you need a break,” Reba commented as she entered the room.

“I’m going to throw on my comfy sweats and lounge around on the couch, eating a whole carton of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.” He was down going over papers as he responded.

Reba walked over and put her hand on top of the stack that he was reviewing. “No, what you need is a fresh start. I’m your friend and I want you to be happy.”

Brock looked up at her. “I have a fresh start. Barbra Jean isn’t pursuing me anymore. She isn’t seeking me out with vengeance either. I have time to catch up on my children’s lives. I’m back to work. I’m getting to know our precocious seven year old daughter. I’m thrilled with my new life. Do I need to go back to singing in the shower to prove how okay I am?”

“You’re forgetting something.”

“I am?”

“I’ve been out there. You haven’t. We got tied down before either of us got a chance to shop around. Hence, the BJ problem. I think that you should start dating. It’s important that we explore every option this year. We have to decide if marriage is right for us. You can’t make that decision without the right information.”

“The woman I want to spend the rest of my life with is in love with someone else. How do I bounce back from that? I’m a little heartbroken. I’m not sure I’m ready for what you’re suggesting.”

“I understand. I’m currently dealing with heartbreak.”

“No, you don’t. If you understood, you wouldn’t be asking me to do this. Some people are irreplaceable.”

“I agree. We had something special once. After the divorce, it was hard, but I learned to move on. I learned to love again.”

Brock snickered. “You had a temporary loss of judgment when you fell in love with Jack Morgan.” He stood up to put some files in a drawer.

Reba pulled her angry glare. “Can you stop making fun of my boyfriend long enough to listen to me?” She walked over to him and turned him around to face her. “I know you loved me, but what we had is gone. I’m not sure if it will ever come back. It’s been eight years. I’ve learned how to live without you and be happy. I’m not sure we can ever go back to the way things were. You need to find out if you can move on.”

He returned her glare. “’Cause that’s what you did, right?”

“Not exactly. Technically, I’m still married, aren’t I?”

“Technically.”

“We’re not divorced yet. I mean, I have divorce papers... but they’re worthless now. We never got a chance to say goodbye.”

“I’m not convinced that saying goodbye is the way to go. Any guy would be insane to leave a woman like you.”

“You’re a good guy. It’s okay.”

“Obviously, not good enough. Nice guys finish last anyway.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “Tell me why you think that it’s finished. Why do you want me gone so badly? Why did it all fall apart for us?”