~ Mine ~

You Lie

"I prefer iced." Reba whispered towards her daughter, who sat next to her on the couch, a warm full cup of tea in hand.

"I know you do, but your upset stomach calls for it hot." Shawna expressed softly, scooting closer and pressing her forehead lovingly against Reba's as she set the warm cup in her hand. Smiling in appreciation, Reba took a tiny sip of the tea once she had pulled away. Clearing her throat from the contact of the scorching liquid, she turned back towards Shawna.

"Thank you Shan." She said, mustering up a gracious smile. Her heavy eyelids very obviously beckoning for sleep. Shawna nodded sincerely in response, bringing her attention back towards the flat screen television. Shawna, Reba, and Chassidy, who was snuggled in on the opposite side of Reba, watched intently as Blake Lively, who portrayed Adaline, made small talk with Harrison Ford's character, William. Shawna and Chassidy had been staying with Reba in the wake of her divorce, from their father, Narvel, and had decided that tonight was a much-needed girl's movie night. The weekend had been as relaxing as cheering up a woman going through a painful divorce could possibly be, until Reba had gotten violently ill that is; causing Shawna and Chassidy to stay a few days longer.

"Savannah loved her in Gossip Girl and now I understand why." Chassidy mumbled as she took a small handful of popcorn, from the bowl, balanced on her lap, glancing momentarily in the direction of her step-mother and sister, before turning her attention back to Blake, and a very handsome Michiel Huisman. It had been nearly two weeks since the final divorce papers had been signed and just as they had vowed when they first heard the news, the girls had been nothing short of supportive and comforting to Reba. The divorce had weighed heavily on the entire family, as not only had it been a complete shock to Reba, but all members of the McEntire-Blackstock clan. Going from what Reba assumed was a happy and cherished Mother's Day vacation in May to a divorce from her long time husband just five months later. No signs of trouble, even just the year prior. An "unhappy" confession from her husband, left her heartbroken. Reba agreed to Narvel's separation and the inevitable divorce that followed, no therapist's involved. Their twenty-six-decade marriage and nearly three-decade partnership diminished in front of her eyes, she had never felt so helpless. Some days she wasn't even sure how she managed to get out of bed, putting one foot in front of the other had never seemed so difficult. Her children and grandchildren had been the only ones keeping her from going completely numb, their unconditional love and attention had been a tremendous help in getting her through this.

"Ba you okay?" Chassidy asked in concern as she rubbed Reba's back soothingly. Still clutching the cup of warm tea, Reba breathed in and out heavily. She had hardly eaten anything today, of course not by choice, and now the nauseous feeling that seemed to haunt her earlier had returned. Pushing it to the side she closed her eyes and focused back on the movie.

"I'm fine, just tired." She said trying to reassure them both and salvage what was left of their housebound day.

"You sure?"

"You don't look fine." Shawna intervened as she rested her hand on Reba's damp forehead.

"And you're burning up." She mumbled pulling her hand away, along with the enormous wool blanket that was still draped on them.

"Come on we're taking you to bed." The girls said in union, as they took the cup of tea from Reba's hand, each taking an arm, and pulling her up from the couch.

"Girls it really isn't necessary." Reba objected as she leaned into to Chassidy weakly.

"Right?...Okay." Chassidy mumbled as she felt the weight of Reba on her shoulder, sharing a glance with her sister, they preceded in the direction of the guest bedroom, nearest to their childhood bedrooms, located on the main floor. They had insisted that she was to stay in the guest bedroom, in order to be close to the two of them, and ensure that if she needed anything they were both just a call away. They had nearly made it to the entrance of the room when Reba quickly jerked away from them and headed straight towards the bathroom in the opposite direction, emptying everything her stomach could muster up once she hit the floor in front of the porcelain toilet. Right on her heels, Shawna and Chassidy kneeled down next to her, pulling her red locks out of the way, and rubbing soothing circles on her back. After a moment of letting her rest her head on the rim of the toilet, completely exhausted, the two helped lift her up, flushing the toilet, and heading back in the direction of the room.

"I thought you said you were at the end of your stomach fit?" Shawna wearily questioned, once Reba had somewhat regained control of her breathing.

"I hadn't been sick since yesterday mornin'." Reba defended weakly as she wiped her clammy face.

"If you don't get any better within the next couple of days we're taking you to a doctor." Chassidy interjected, turning into the guest room and pushing the door open, allowing them to make their way straight for the large king sized bed.

"I don't want you alone and sick while I'm in Texas house hunting." She added as they went to help her under the covers. Reba dazedly nodded back to Chassidy's request, not fully comprehending what she was saying, earnestly welcoming the soft silk sheets, immediately closing her eyes. Pushing her frazzled fringe to the side, Chassidy sighed sadly.

"We love you." She said bending down to kiss her on the cheek, Shawna who mimicking her sister's action, readjusted the plush comforter, before they quietly stepped away from the bed, shutting off the light. Closing the door behind them, the two sisters proceeded to head back to the living room, concern for their step-mother weighing heavily on them both.