Surprise!

1

Reba was pacing up and down the floor in front of the couch in her living room and biting her fingernails. She couldn't believe it. Reba put the phone back on the charger when she walked past it. Her heart was racing. She could not believe what is going on. Reba had called Brock, but this was definitely not a social call. What she had to tell them could destroy both of their lives, not to mention his already shaky marriage with Barbara Jean. It had been weeks since he’d spent the night at the house. Why did this have to happen now?

"This can't be happening. This can't be happening to me." Reba said to herself. Just then Brock walked through the front door and looked at her.

"Reba, what's wrong?" Brock asked her. He looked at her and saw the look of concern written across her face. She had worry lines all across her forehead and her eyebrows were scrunched together. Brock could even tell that her hands were shaking.

"I am really glad you came alone. Sit down, we have to talk." Reba said. She sat down on the couch, and then he walked over to six next to her. He wanted to put an arm around her to protect her. Sure, they weren’t married, but she was his best friend and he wanted to do something to comfort her. He knew she wouldn’t want him to do that though, so he put his hands in his lap and looked at them before he looked over at her. He had been surprised by her phone call, and that’s why he rushed over as soon as he could.

"I have never seen you this jumpy. What's going on?" Brock asked.

"Do you love me?" Reba asked nervously. Her voice was shaking so badly that her voice came out barely above a whisper.

"Excuse me? What'd you say?" He asked her.

"You heard me… Do you love me?" Reba said again, but this time she cleared her throat and so she was able to speak.

"Of course I do; you’re my best friend Reba. As well as the mother of my children," Brock said staring at her, "why?" Reba sighed. She couldn’t look at Brock, but he could tell that she was breathing heavily and scared to tell him.

"Do you remember the night that Barbara Jean kicked you out, and you stayed with me?" Reba asked him looking down at her hands.

"Yes? What about it?" Brock said.

"You remember how we were together." Reba continued.

"Yes." Brock said getting annoyed.

"Well…" Reba started to say, but stopped to take a deep breath.

"What do you mean 'well?'” Brock asked imitating her on the one word.

"Well… I'm pregnant." Reba said finally spitting it out. Brock jumped off the couch.

"You what? You can't be… I got a vasectomy." Brock protested.

"Barbara Jean made you get it reversed remember?" Reba said.

"Oh boy." Brock sat back down on the couch. "I guess you want me to be with you to raise the child like I was for the other kids?" He questioned. Just then, the door opened and that caused Brock and Reba to jump up. Cheyenne walked through the door closing it behind her.

"Hi mom! Dad! How are you?" Cheyenne asked.

"Good! Really, really good!" Brock said wringing his hands. Cheyenne gave him a suspicious look.

"I am going to get Elizabeth and we are going to meet Van for ice cream." Cheyenne said.

"Okay." Reba said. Cheyenne went up the stairs and Brock walked over to the door.

"Are you going to be okay?" Reba asked Brock holding the door open.

"No! How could you do this to me?" Brock hollered.

"Do this to you! Excuse me!" Reba screamed.

“I’m happily married to Barbara Jean. Yes, we had an argument that one night and I came over here, but we’re back together. Why did you have to spring this on me now?” Brock asked.

 "Get out of my house right now until you can get your head straight!" Reba slammed the door on Brock.