Deceived

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter 23: If loving you is wrong, I don't want to be right

Time: Fall 2008

No copyright infringement intended.

Reba knocked on the basement door and walked down tentatively. Brock was sitting in his chair, reading the paper.

"Hi," she said quietly.

"Hi. What brings you downstairs?" he asked.

"I needed to talk to you. It's important. It's about Kyra."

Brock put his newspaper down and looked at her. "Go ahead. You've got my full attention."

"I want to talk about Kyra's show tonight. We're gonna have to work on being civil. She doesn't need us to fight in front of her tonight. I don't want to embarrass her."

Brock looked offended. "Do you really think that I'd do that? I want a relationship with her. I don't want to alienate her. I've obviously alienated enough people in this house so far."

"I think that you've got a chance to work on relationships with everyone in this house. That is, if you want to." Reba raised her eyebrows at him.

"I think that you and I are just gonna have to get along tonight for the sake of our daughter, period." Brock folded his arms in front of him.

Reba sighed. "Well, I'm glad that we're on the same page about that. Cheyenne told me that Kyra is really excited about you hearing her sing tonight. It means a lot to her. Music is important to her. It's a good sign that she wants to share that with you."

"Our lives have certainly changed a lot over the past few months."

She nodded. "Yeah, it's been unexpected. I'm willing to work on things. How about we talk later tonight and sort some things out?"

"I'd like that. I'll see you later then."

"Sure. I'm just gonna go..." she stopped and turned around to walk upstairs. She didn't want to say too much right now.

After she was gone, he looked at the empty space where she stood before. "What I wanted to say to you was I love you always, and I always have, and I always will." His eyes filled with tears. Emotion was heavy in his voice. His mind ran over ideas in wooing his wife.

Later that evening, Reba walked down the stairs, dressed up to attend Kyra's show. Brock stood in the living room.

His eyes gazed over her. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you. I think that it would mean a lot to our daughter if we showed up together. How about I drive us there? Shall we?" He offered her his arm.

Reba smiled, linking arms with him. They walked out of the house that way with Maggie, Elizabeth, and Cheyenne watching from upstairs.

When they arrived at the club, Brock took her hand. They walked in, holding hands to Kyra's delight. Reba didn't pull her hand away. Barbra Jean walked into the club on Jack's arm. Reba flinched, turning her gaze to Brock.

Brock put a finger under her chin and pulled her eyes towards his. "Hey, don't you worry about a thing. That guy is nuts. Anyone would be for letting you get away."

Reba pulled away from him. "Thanks. I have to go powder my nose." She headed towards the ladies' room.

Barbra Jean rushed over to Brock. "Is this exciting?"

"Yeah, I can't wait to hear Kyra sing," he replied.

"No, not that. You're out with Reba and things look like they're going well." She grinned at him.