The Life of Reba McEntire Blackstock

Part 9

Reba's P.O.V.

After a short ride to the little café down the street, Narvel helps me into the booth arranged for our party of 3. He placed me closest to the wall, then sat down next to me. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and I nuzzled my head into the crook of his neck while we waited for Shelby. Shelby walked in obviously pissed and as he sat told us all about the "stupid Gallatin streets." He got stopped by every stoplight there was because of an "old Grannie who didn't know what the pedal on the right was." Safety never struck him as a necessity, whereas speed was. He had a hot temper like his Mama, so it took him a while to get cooled down, but once he did, conversation started flowing. The waitress came back, and we ordered. Shelby ordered a heaping portion of biscuits and gravy, while Narvel ordered for him and me. We got a stack of pancakes (with peanut butter, jelly and syrup on the side for me), four strips of bacon, a side order of hashbrowns and a bowl of fruit. I yawned a huge yawn, then was asked by Shelby why I was so tired. I couldn't avoid the topic anymore, because I knew it was eating Narvel up from the inside out. The information came pouring out of me like I was throwing up. Before I knew it, I was weeping silently into Narvel's shoulder, ashamed of the whole incident. He rubbed my back and told me it was ok. It got really quiet, and I looked up to see Shelby glancing nervously at Narvel. Narvel then looked down at me and saw my concerned look. He then looked at Shelby and said "tell her."

Shelby's P.O.V.

I drove myself to the little café in town, but I got stuck by every stoplight in those stupid Gallatin streets. I was driving behind an old grannie who didn't know what the pedal on the right was. I arrived at the restaurant to see my parents cuddling in a booth in the corner. I took my place opposite them then told them of my adventures. I could tell by the look in my mom's eyes that she was exhausted. We ordered our breakfast, then I finally witnessed a yawn from mom that confirmed my suspicions. I hesitantly asked her why she was so tired. She took a large breath then explained what had her up all night. She described what happened in the backseat and why dad had to sleep in the other room. She then explained her dream. The tears welled up in her eyes when she hit the part of her sweater snagging and dad falling. She finished, then silently buried her head in dad's shoulder. He comforted her then looked me dead in the eyes, signaling me not to tell mom what I knew. She glanced up at me, clearly confused, then looked at dad. Dad looked to me once again, then firmly said, "tell her." I took a big breath then started on my story. "Mom, there actually was a picture taken from paparazzi outside the car. It was posted in an article on People Online, but dad caught it before he came up to bed. There were a few fans who got the picture before the page was taken down, but they were absolutely in love with the fact that there was a *air quote* Narba kiss." Mom's emotion shifted from being flabbergasted to joy. "In fact, they are blowing up social media with it! They keep tagging me in those pictures saying, 'frisky Reba and Narvel = Shelby no longer an only child?'" She burst out laughing at my misfortune, then turned to dad and whispered, "In that case..." They started kissing for the second time that week in public, completely forgetting the rule put in place. When they finally come up for air, which was a while later, we came to a consensus that it was time to skedaddle.