Dallas TNT - "Forgiveness"
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Karin Schill
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Thank you everyone for the feedback and ratings. 
@superman fan John Ross and Pamela Rebecca was my favorite Dallas TNT couple too. But I liked Elena & Chris and Bobby & Ann too and oh well JR/SE was my favorite couple of them all even though they were sadly not together on Dallas TNT.
@stevew yeah this baby is really important as it brings unity to the families.
@CeeCee72 you will find out the name of the baby in tonight's update.
So well now it's time for the final part of this story. Thank you everyone for reading it and commenting on it. I am glad that you have enjoyed it.
Do let me know what you think of the end, ok?
Also if you have read it and haven't commenting on it yet. Feel free to let me know what you think of it too.
*
Out in the waiting room was Afton, Sue Ellen, Bobby and Pam waiting for some news. They had been there most of the day and it had been a long day as the tension in the room was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. “Would you tell Sue Ellen to stop glaring at me?” Afton asked Pam.
“Why don’t you tell her yourself?” Pam asked.
“Yeah this is ridiculous,” Bobby said in an annoyed tone of voice. “I know the two of you don’t get along. But why can’t you let bygones be bygones?” He asked and when he got no answer he went on, “I mean like it or not you are going to become grandmothers any minute now and that baby is gonna need both of you to be there for his baptizing and birthdays so why don’t you just call it a truce?”
“But she slept with my husband,” Sue Ellen said bitterly. “In my bed on Lucy’s wedding.”
“Really?” Pam’s eyes widened, as she hadn't heard of that before.
“Yes but it was one of the biggest mistakes of my life,” Afton said.
“See that happened a long time ago and she’s had plenty of time to regret it ever since,” Bobby pointed out.
“I have,” Afton sighed. “But she tried to steal Cliff from me.”
“I did, but I also told you to take care of him,” Sue Ellen said.
“When?”
“At that lunch at the club,” Sue Ellen said. “Before I remarried JR.”
“Right,” Afton muttered, “I had forgotten about that one. So what do you say?” Afton reached out her hand to Sue Ellen. “Truce?”
“Yes truce,” Sue Ellen said, taking Afton’s hand just as the nurse came into the room.
“I’m looking for the mothers that bickers?”
“That’s gotta be us,” Afton laughed.
“Yeah but we’re not bickering anymore,” Sue Ellen said, as she let go of Afton’s hand.
“Well good, anyway your son wants you to know that you have a healthy grandson.”
“Well how about that?” Bobby smiled. “Congratulations Sue Ellen,” Bobby said, giving Sue Ellen a hug.
“I’m so happy for you,” Pam said giving Afton a hug. Then Sue Ellen and Afton looked at each other before they broke up in a smile and hugged each other.
“We have a grandson,” Sue Ellen smiled.
“Yes we do,” Afton smiled.
“Cliff would have been so proud,” Sue Ellen said.
“So would JR,” Afton said.
“I wish they were here,” Sue Ellen said.
“So do I,” Afton said, as they began walking towards the room where John Ross, Pamela and the baby was.
“You know I bet if JR had been here he’d insist on naming the baby John Ross Ewing IV!” Bobby said.
“God I hope they won’t name him that,” Afton wrinkled her nose, since she was none too fond of that name.
“Yeah one JR in this world is more than enough,” Pam said.
“Only he’s not really in this world anymore,” Sue Ellen said sadly.
“You still miss him,” Afton remarked and she could understand the feeling since she still missed Cliff too.
“Yeah,” Sue Ellen nodded before they walked into the room where Pamela and John Ross was sitting on the bed, looking at the baby that Pamela held in her arms.
“Look who’s here,” John Ross said when he looked up. “It’s your grandma’s and my uncle Bobby and aunt Pam too, you are gonna see a lot of them since they are living with us.”
“How are you feeling?” Afton asked, as she gently stroke Pamela’s cheek. “Are you tired?”
“A little but I feel fantastic,” Pamela said. “We have a healthy baby.”
“I told you it would be fine,” Afton said.
“Oh he looks just like John Ross when he was little,” Sue Ellen smiled, as she looked tenderly at the baby.
“So have you settled on a name yet?” Afton asked.
“Yes,” Pamela smiled. “Jacob Robert Ewing.”
Afton flinched when she heard that, “You’ve named him after your brother?”
“Yeah,” Pamela nodded.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea,” Afton said, looking apprehensive. “I mean what if the name will jinx him?”
“It won’t,” Pamela said.
“Besides he’s got uncle Bobby’s name too,” John Ross said.
“But his initials will be JR,” Sue Ellen put two and two together.
“Yeah but we’re gonna call him Jock though,” John Ross said.
“I think daddy would have been proud,” Bobby smiled.
“I’m not sure Digger would have approved,” Pam said.
“It means God is gracious,” Pamela said. “We thought it sort of fit since we rely on him to keep him healthy.”
“I like it,” Afton said.
“So I guess this means we know the answer to that riddle you told me all those years ago,” Bobby said, looking lovingly at his wife.
“Which riddle?” Pam asked not getting it.
“What do you get when you cross a Barnes and a Ewing?”
“Right I did say that,” Pam said wistfully. “I had almost forgotten about that. It was so long ago.”
“It was, still who could have guessed then that one day JR and Cliff would be having a grandson?” Bobby said.
“Definitely not them!” Sue Ellen laughed.
“So I guess this means that the Barnes-Ewing feud is finally over,” Pam smiled and the others nodded in agreement. This baby did bind their families together by blood. Now all they could do was hope and pray that he’d get to live until he was old and not die before he was two years old like Pamela’s brother had. But this evening they were all hopeful for the future. The new baby held such promise and had united the Barnes and the Ewings in a way they never had been before. Their families were now at peace and the Ewing-Barnes feud was finally over once and for all.
@superman fan John Ross and Pamela Rebecca was my favorite Dallas TNT couple too. But I liked Elena & Chris and Bobby & Ann too and oh well JR/SE was my favorite couple of them all even though they were sadly not together on Dallas TNT.
@stevew yeah this baby is really important as it brings unity to the families.
@CeeCee72 you will find out the name of the baby in tonight's update.
So well now it's time for the final part of this story. Thank you everyone for reading it and commenting on it. I am glad that you have enjoyed it.
Do let me know what you think of the end, ok?
Also if you have read it and haven't commenting on it yet. Feel free to let me know what you think of it too.
*
Out in the waiting room was Afton, Sue Ellen, Bobby and Pam waiting for some news. They had been there most of the day and it had been a long day as the tension in the room was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. “Would you tell Sue Ellen to stop glaring at me?” Afton asked Pam.
“Why don’t you tell her yourself?” Pam asked.
“Yeah this is ridiculous,” Bobby said in an annoyed tone of voice. “I know the two of you don’t get along. But why can’t you let bygones be bygones?” He asked and when he got no answer he went on, “I mean like it or not you are going to become grandmothers any minute now and that baby is gonna need both of you to be there for his baptizing and birthdays so why don’t you just call it a truce?”
“But she slept with my husband,” Sue Ellen said bitterly. “In my bed on Lucy’s wedding.”
“Really?” Pam’s eyes widened, as she hadn't heard of that before.
“Yes but it was one of the biggest mistakes of my life,” Afton said.
“See that happened a long time ago and she’s had plenty of time to regret it ever since,” Bobby pointed out.
“I have,” Afton sighed. “But she tried to steal Cliff from me.”
“I did, but I also told you to take care of him,” Sue Ellen said.
“When?”
“At that lunch at the club,” Sue Ellen said. “Before I remarried JR.”
“Right,” Afton muttered, “I had forgotten about that one. So what do you say?” Afton reached out her hand to Sue Ellen. “Truce?”
“Yes truce,” Sue Ellen said, taking Afton’s hand just as the nurse came into the room.
“I’m looking for the mothers that bickers?”
“That’s gotta be us,” Afton laughed.
“Yeah but we’re not bickering anymore,” Sue Ellen said, as she let go of Afton’s hand.
“Well good, anyway your son wants you to know that you have a healthy grandson.”
“Well how about that?” Bobby smiled. “Congratulations Sue Ellen,” Bobby said, giving Sue Ellen a hug.
“I’m so happy for you,” Pam said giving Afton a hug. Then Sue Ellen and Afton looked at each other before they broke up in a smile and hugged each other.
“We have a grandson,” Sue Ellen smiled.
“Yes we do,” Afton smiled.
“Cliff would have been so proud,” Sue Ellen said.
“So would JR,” Afton said.
“I wish they were here,” Sue Ellen said.
“So do I,” Afton said, as they began walking towards the room where John Ross, Pamela and the baby was.
“You know I bet if JR had been here he’d insist on naming the baby John Ross Ewing IV!” Bobby said.
“God I hope they won’t name him that,” Afton wrinkled her nose, since she was none too fond of that name.
“Yeah one JR in this world is more than enough,” Pam said.
“Only he’s not really in this world anymore,” Sue Ellen said sadly.
“You still miss him,” Afton remarked and she could understand the feeling since she still missed Cliff too.
“Yeah,” Sue Ellen nodded before they walked into the room where Pamela and John Ross was sitting on the bed, looking at the baby that Pamela held in her arms.
“Look who’s here,” John Ross said when he looked up. “It’s your grandma’s and my uncle Bobby and aunt Pam too, you are gonna see a lot of them since they are living with us.”
“How are you feeling?” Afton asked, as she gently stroke Pamela’s cheek. “Are you tired?”
“A little but I feel fantastic,” Pamela said. “We have a healthy baby.”
“I told you it would be fine,” Afton said.
“Oh he looks just like John Ross when he was little,” Sue Ellen smiled, as she looked tenderly at the baby.
“So have you settled on a name yet?” Afton asked.
“Yes,” Pamela smiled. “Jacob Robert Ewing.”
Afton flinched when she heard that, “You’ve named him after your brother?”
“Yeah,” Pamela nodded.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea,” Afton said, looking apprehensive. “I mean what if the name will jinx him?”
“It won’t,” Pamela said.
“Besides he’s got uncle Bobby’s name too,” John Ross said.
“But his initials will be JR,” Sue Ellen put two and two together.
“Yeah but we’re gonna call him Jock though,” John Ross said.
“I think daddy would have been proud,” Bobby smiled.
“I’m not sure Digger would have approved,” Pam said.
“It means God is gracious,” Pamela said. “We thought it sort of fit since we rely on him to keep him healthy.”
“I like it,” Afton said.
“So I guess this means we know the answer to that riddle you told me all those years ago,” Bobby said, looking lovingly at his wife.
“Which riddle?” Pam asked not getting it.
“What do you get when you cross a Barnes and a Ewing?”
“Right I did say that,” Pam said wistfully. “I had almost forgotten about that. It was so long ago.”
“It was, still who could have guessed then that one day JR and Cliff would be having a grandson?” Bobby said.
“Definitely not them!” Sue Ellen laughed.
“So I guess this means that the Barnes-Ewing feud is finally over,” Pam smiled and the others nodded in agreement. This baby did bind their families together by blood. Now all they could do was hope and pray that he’d get to live until he was old and not die before he was two years old like Pamela’s brother had. But this evening they were all hopeful for the future. The new baby held such promise and had united the Barnes and the Ewings in a way they never had been before. Their families were now at peace and the Ewing-Barnes feud was finally over once and for all.
The End.
Last edited by a moderator:
- Awards
- 8
Great story Karin. Thank you!
K
Karin Schill
Guest
Thank you everyone for the feedback on my story and for reading it. I am glad that you enjoyed it. 
Oh and some of your ratings disappeared when the board moved so I would appreciate it if everyone could go back and rate the first post of this story if you haven't already.
@CeeCee72 I'm glad that you loved the name.
@stevew you're welcome. I'm glad my story touched you. Thank you for posting so much feedback. I've enjoyed reading your comments.
@superman fan thank you for reading and posting feedback all throughout the story.
@Laurie! You're welcome about the story and thank you for leaving feedback on it. I am glad that you did.
There is actually a one part epilogue to this story so I will post that tonight. Then the story is complete.
*
After the dust had settled things had gone back to normal at Southfork. Five years had passed by since Bobby and Pam had gotten remarried and this time they had been happier than ever before. Maybe a part of it was because their brothers were both gone now, so without constantly being caught in the middle of the family feud their everyday life had gotten a lot less complicated. As the years had passed by Bobby had assumed a more passive role at Ewing Global and let the next generation run things for him. So these days a lot of time was spent on the ranch riding horses, swimming in the pool and looking after the grandkids. Like today, which was another quiet day at the ranch. They had played some board games with the grandkids before they’d all gone out to the stables to feed the horses. Drew was 5 years old now and had gotten a little sister. Nicole was 3 years old and both kids had big brown eyes and brown curly hair. Their 4 year old cousin Jock was also with them. He had blond hair and blue eyes. Both boys had a mischievous streak whereas the little girl was obedient and eager to learn.
Looking at his wife as she was trying to teach their three year old granddaughter Nicole how to feed a pony with a feeding bottle Bobby could feel himself getting warm all over. Pam was dressed in cowboy boots, jeans and a western shirt. She had an Aussie type of cowboy hat on, a souvenir from a cruise they’d made to Australia and New Zeeland two years ago. She looked every inch the cowgirl and watching her tend to the children and horses with such affection, knowing exactly what each horse needed she had never looked more beautiful to him. It was hard to imagine that when he’d first brought her to the ranch all those years ago she hadn’t even known how to ride. Because now horses were such a natural part of her life.
“That’s very good Nicole,” Pam complimented their granddaughter as she managed to give the bottle to the pony.
“See I told you I could do it,” Nicole smiled proudly.
“Yes you did,” Pam smiled back, giving the child a pat on the head.
The perfect moment was soon ruined by the boys though, as somehow five year old Drew and four year old Jock could never get along. They loved playing together but were always up to something that they shouldn’t be doing and most of the time it was Drew who came up with the dumb ideas and then let his second cousin Jock take the blame when they got caught with the hand in the cookie jar sort to speak.
“Look grandpa,” Drew came running up to Bobby, pointing towards his cousin, “Jock’s riding your horse without a saddle.”
Seeing that Jock was about to leave the barn on his horse, which was way too big for him and without a saddle Bobby sprang into action. “Whoa Jock! You stop right now!” Bobby called out to the boy, as he ran up to Jock, grabbing his horse by the reins before the child and the horse could disappear out on the fields. “Now you come on down before you fall off. What on earth where you thinking riding a horse without a saddle and a helmet. You could get hurt and you know your parents would never forgive me if anything happened to you.”
“I’m sorry uncle Bobby,” Jock apologized, as he let his great uncle lift him down from the horse. “Are you mad?”
“No,” Bobby said, as he held the boy on one arm and took the reins to the horse, leading him back into the stable with another. “Boys will be boys. But you know that horse is too big for you so why did you think it was a good idea to ride him?”
“I didn’t,” Jock said.
“Then who told you to ride him?”
Jock got quiet and since he didn’t want to rattle out his second cousin he just shrugged his shoulders, “Nobody.”
“Then why did you?”
“I don’t know,” Jock said.
“I think you do know,” Bobby said. “How about getting some ice-cream back at the house if you tell me?”
“Okay Drew dared me to do it!” Jock confessed.
Bobby sighed, as he put Jock down and turned to his grandson, “Drew!” Bobby called out for the boy. “Jock just told me that you dared him to ride my horse. Why did you do that?”
“I never did such thing,” Drew lied.
“So it’s not true?”
“Of course not,” Drew smiled sweetly. “I told Jock not to ride the horse, but he never listens to me.”
“He’s a liar,” Jock said, pointing his finger at Drew.
“No you’re a liar,” Drew said, “and a coward!”
“Am not, I rode the horse now, didn’t I?”
“Alright then you’re a snitch!” Drew said, giving Jock a little shove.
“Am not!” Jock called back, as he rushed up to Drew to punch him in the nose.
Realizing that the boys were close to getting into a fight, Bobby hurried to separate them before it could get uglier. “Hey break it off you two or there will be no ice-cream.”
“But you promised,” Jock said.
“We’re getting ice-cream?” Drew perked up.
“Yes, if you promise not to fight anymore,” Bobby said.
“Sure grandpa I promise,” Drew said.
“Good now let’s go,” Bobby said, as he took the boys by the hand. “Pam, I’m taking the kids back to the house now,” Bobby called out to his wife. “I promised Jock I’d give them some ice-cream if he told me why he’d tried to ride my horse!”
“Yeah ice-cream!” Nicole beamed, as she started jumping up and down.
“Bobby James Ewing, how many times have I told you not to bribe the kids?” Pamela asked.
“Too many,” Bobby said, making a face.
“Then why do you keep doing it?” Pam asked.
“Because it works every time,” Bobby smiled sheepishly.
“You know I don’t like it and neither does their mamas,” Pam said. “They think you are rewarding the boys for their bad behavior when you should be punishing them.”
“I don’t like punishing the kids,” Bobby said. “Let their parents discipline them. We are the grandparents so it’s our job to spoil them rotten.”
“What you really mean is let the women discipline the kids while you, Christopher and John Ross keeps spoiling them,” Pam said.
“What’s wrong with spoiling our grandkids?” Bobby asked. “You know daddy spoiled me and didn’t mama always tell you that I turned out best of us all?”
“She did but...”
“No buts,” Bobby put up one finger. “I’m taking the kids back to the house for ice-cream, are you coming or not?”
“I can’t, I’ll have to feed the horses,” Pam said.
“Fine, I’ll see you back at the house later then,” Bobby said before he leant forward and gave Pam a peck on the mouth. But as he was turning around to leave Nicole objected.
“No grandma come too?”
“Grandma will join you later,” Pam promised. “But the horses needs their dinner first.”
“Then we’ll help you and eat ice-cream later,” Nicole said.
“Yeah it goes faster if we all feed them,” Jock said.
“I’m not so sure of that,” Pam laughed, as she knew that it often went slower to feed the horses with the kids than if she did it by herself. But since she wanted to encourage good behavior in the kids, such as helping out, she agreed. “But alright you’ve got yourself a deal!” They then continued feeding the horses for another thirty minutes before they walked back towards Southfork, holding the children’s hands, as they were talking and laughing, just as the sun started to set over the ranch. Another day in their lives was coming towards an end and they both knew that life couldn’t get any better than this.
Oh and some of your ratings disappeared when the board moved so I would appreciate it if everyone could go back and rate the first post of this story if you haven't already.
@CeeCee72 I'm glad that you loved the name.
@stevew you're welcome. I'm glad my story touched you. Thank you for posting so much feedback. I've enjoyed reading your comments.
@superman fan thank you for reading and posting feedback all throughout the story.
@Laurie! You're welcome about the story and thank you for leaving feedback on it. I am glad that you did.
There is actually a one part epilogue to this story so I will post that tonight. Then the story is complete.
*
Epilogue
After the dust had settled things had gone back to normal at Southfork. Five years had passed by since Bobby and Pam had gotten remarried and this time they had been happier than ever before. Maybe a part of it was because their brothers were both gone now, so without constantly being caught in the middle of the family feud their everyday life had gotten a lot less complicated. As the years had passed by Bobby had assumed a more passive role at Ewing Global and let the next generation run things for him. So these days a lot of time was spent on the ranch riding horses, swimming in the pool and looking after the grandkids. Like today, which was another quiet day at the ranch. They had played some board games with the grandkids before they’d all gone out to the stables to feed the horses. Drew was 5 years old now and had gotten a little sister. Nicole was 3 years old and both kids had big brown eyes and brown curly hair. Their 4 year old cousin Jock was also with them. He had blond hair and blue eyes. Both boys had a mischievous streak whereas the little girl was obedient and eager to learn.
Looking at his wife as she was trying to teach their three year old granddaughter Nicole how to feed a pony with a feeding bottle Bobby could feel himself getting warm all over. Pam was dressed in cowboy boots, jeans and a western shirt. She had an Aussie type of cowboy hat on, a souvenir from a cruise they’d made to Australia and New Zeeland two years ago. She looked every inch the cowgirl and watching her tend to the children and horses with such affection, knowing exactly what each horse needed she had never looked more beautiful to him. It was hard to imagine that when he’d first brought her to the ranch all those years ago she hadn’t even known how to ride. Because now horses were such a natural part of her life.
“That’s very good Nicole,” Pam complimented their granddaughter as she managed to give the bottle to the pony.
“See I told you I could do it,” Nicole smiled proudly.
“Yes you did,” Pam smiled back, giving the child a pat on the head.
The perfect moment was soon ruined by the boys though, as somehow five year old Drew and four year old Jock could never get along. They loved playing together but were always up to something that they shouldn’t be doing and most of the time it was Drew who came up with the dumb ideas and then let his second cousin Jock take the blame when they got caught with the hand in the cookie jar sort to speak.
“Look grandpa,” Drew came running up to Bobby, pointing towards his cousin, “Jock’s riding your horse without a saddle.”
Seeing that Jock was about to leave the barn on his horse, which was way too big for him and without a saddle Bobby sprang into action. “Whoa Jock! You stop right now!” Bobby called out to the boy, as he ran up to Jock, grabbing his horse by the reins before the child and the horse could disappear out on the fields. “Now you come on down before you fall off. What on earth where you thinking riding a horse without a saddle and a helmet. You could get hurt and you know your parents would never forgive me if anything happened to you.”
“I’m sorry uncle Bobby,” Jock apologized, as he let his great uncle lift him down from the horse. “Are you mad?”
“No,” Bobby said, as he held the boy on one arm and took the reins to the horse, leading him back into the stable with another. “Boys will be boys. But you know that horse is too big for you so why did you think it was a good idea to ride him?”
“I didn’t,” Jock said.
“Then who told you to ride him?”
Jock got quiet and since he didn’t want to rattle out his second cousin he just shrugged his shoulders, “Nobody.”
“Then why did you?”
“I don’t know,” Jock said.
“I think you do know,” Bobby said. “How about getting some ice-cream back at the house if you tell me?”
“Okay Drew dared me to do it!” Jock confessed.
Bobby sighed, as he put Jock down and turned to his grandson, “Drew!” Bobby called out for the boy. “Jock just told me that you dared him to ride my horse. Why did you do that?”
“I never did such thing,” Drew lied.
“So it’s not true?”
“Of course not,” Drew smiled sweetly. “I told Jock not to ride the horse, but he never listens to me.”
“He’s a liar,” Jock said, pointing his finger at Drew.
“No you’re a liar,” Drew said, “and a coward!”
“Am not, I rode the horse now, didn’t I?”
“Alright then you’re a snitch!” Drew said, giving Jock a little shove.
“Am not!” Jock called back, as he rushed up to Drew to punch him in the nose.
Realizing that the boys were close to getting into a fight, Bobby hurried to separate them before it could get uglier. “Hey break it off you two or there will be no ice-cream.”
“But you promised,” Jock said.
“We’re getting ice-cream?” Drew perked up.
“Yes, if you promise not to fight anymore,” Bobby said.
“Sure grandpa I promise,” Drew said.
“Good now let’s go,” Bobby said, as he took the boys by the hand. “Pam, I’m taking the kids back to the house now,” Bobby called out to his wife. “I promised Jock I’d give them some ice-cream if he told me why he’d tried to ride my horse!”
“Yeah ice-cream!” Nicole beamed, as she started jumping up and down.
“Bobby James Ewing, how many times have I told you not to bribe the kids?” Pamela asked.
“Too many,” Bobby said, making a face.
“Then why do you keep doing it?” Pam asked.
“Because it works every time,” Bobby smiled sheepishly.
“You know I don’t like it and neither does their mamas,” Pam said. “They think you are rewarding the boys for their bad behavior when you should be punishing them.”
“I don’t like punishing the kids,” Bobby said. “Let their parents discipline them. We are the grandparents so it’s our job to spoil them rotten.”
“What you really mean is let the women discipline the kids while you, Christopher and John Ross keeps spoiling them,” Pam said.
“What’s wrong with spoiling our grandkids?” Bobby asked. “You know daddy spoiled me and didn’t mama always tell you that I turned out best of us all?”
“She did but...”
“No buts,” Bobby put up one finger. “I’m taking the kids back to the house for ice-cream, are you coming or not?”
“I can’t, I’ll have to feed the horses,” Pam said.
“Fine, I’ll see you back at the house later then,” Bobby said before he leant forward and gave Pam a peck on the mouth. But as he was turning around to leave Nicole objected.
“No grandma come too?”
“Grandma will join you later,” Pam promised. “But the horses needs their dinner first.”
“Then we’ll help you and eat ice-cream later,” Nicole said.
“Yeah it goes faster if we all feed them,” Jock said.
“I’m not so sure of that,” Pam laughed, as she knew that it often went slower to feed the horses with the kids than if she did it by herself. But since she wanted to encourage good behavior in the kids, such as helping out, she agreed. “But alright you’ve got yourself a deal!” They then continued feeding the horses for another thirty minutes before they walked back towards Southfork, holding the children’s hands, as they were talking and laughing, just as the sun started to set over the ranch. Another day in their lives was coming towards an end and they both knew that life couldn’t get any better than this.
- Awards
- 8
awesome story
- Awards
- 6
It appears the site switch over dumped me off getting notifications for this story. Thanks for the like on an earlier comment @Karin Schill I'll catch up sometime this week probably
I'll catch up sometime this week probably 
- Awards
- 3
@Karin Schill pleasure to read, great ending bravo! Better than TNT crap! 
K
Karin Schill
Guest
Thank you everyone for the feedback on this story. I am glad that you were able to read it until the end and that you enjoyed it.
Also if you haven't read my previous story "Dallas in the 90s" feel free to read that one as well. Even though it's quite different from this story as the characters are a lot younger.
@superman fan Thank you.
@CeeCee72 you're welcome. I am glad you found the story beautiful.
@Miss Texas 1967 I wondered where you went!
I'll look forward to hear what you think of the end of the story once you've caught up.
@Pammy P I am glad that you enjoyed the ending and that you thought it was better than what we saw on Dallas TNT.
I guess when you write you have the advantage of being able to include any character you want without having to depend upon if the actor/actress wants to reprise the role or not.
Okay that's all. Once again thank you for reading!
Also if you haven't read my previous story "Dallas in the 90s" feel free to read that one as well. Even though it's quite different from this story as the characters are a lot younger.
@superman fan Thank you.
@CeeCee72 you're welcome. I am glad you found the story beautiful.
@Miss Texas 1967 I wondered where you went!
I'll look forward to hear what you think of the end of the story once you've caught up.
@Pammy P I am glad that you enjoyed the ending and that you thought it was better than what we saw on Dallas TNT.
I guess when you write you have the advantage of being able to include any character you want without having to depend upon if the actor/actress wants to reprise the role or not.
Okay that's all. Once again thank you for reading!
- Awards
- 7
Thank you everyone for the feedback on my story and for reading it. I am glad that you enjoyed it.
Oh and some of your ratings disappeared when the board moved so I would appreciate it if everyone could go back and rate the first post of this story if you haven't already.
@CeeCee72 I'm glad that you loved the name.
@stevew you're welcome. I'm glad my story touched you. Thank you for posting so much feedback. I've enjoyed reading your comments.
@superman fan thank you for reading and posting feedback all throughout the story.
@Laurie! You're welcome about the story and thank you for leaving feedback on it. I am glad that you did.
There is actually a one part epilogue to this story so I will post that tonight. Then the story is complete.
*
Epilogue
After the dust had settled things had gone back to normal at Southfork. Five years had passed by since Bobby and Pam had gotten remarried and this time they had been happier than ever before. Maybe a part of it was because their brothers were both gone now, so without constantly being caught in the middle of the family feud their everyday life had gotten a lot less complicated. As the years had passed by Bobby had assumed a more passive role at Ewing Global and let the next generation run things for him. So these days a lot of time was spent on the ranch riding horses, swimming in the pool and looking after the grandkids. Like today, which was another quiet day at the ranch. They had played some board games with the grandkids before they’d all gone out to the stables to feed the horses. Drew was 5 years old now and had gotten a little sister. Nicole was 3 years old and both kids had big brown eyes and brown curly hair. Their 4 year old cousin Jock was also with them. He had blond hair and blue eyes. Both boys had a mischievous streak whereas the little girl was obedient and eager to learn.
Looking at his wife as she was trying to teach their three year old granddaughter Nicole how to feed a pony with a feeding bottle Bobby could feel himself getting warm all over. Pam was dressed in cowboy boots, jeans and a western shirt. She had an Aussie type of cowboy hat on, a souvenir from a cruise they’d made to Australia and New Zeeland two years ago. She looked every inch the cowgirl and watching her tend to the children and horses with such affection, knowing exactly what each horse needed she had never looked more beautiful to him. It was hard to imagine that when he’d first brought her to the ranch all those years ago she hadn’t even known how to ride. Because now horses were such a natural part of her life.
“That’s very good Nicole,” Pam complimented their granddaughter as she managed to give the bottle to the pony.
“See I told you I could do it,” Nicole smiled proudly.
“Yes you did,” Pam smiled back, giving the child a pat on the head.
The perfect moment was soon ruined by the boys though, as somehow five year old Drew and four year old Jock could never get along. They loved playing together but were always up to something that they shouldn’t be doing and most of the time it was Drew who came up with the dumb ideas and then let his second cousin Jock take the blame when they got caught with the hand in the cookie jar sort to speak.
“Look grandpa,” Drew came running up to Bobby, pointing towards his cousin, “Jock’s riding your horse without a saddle.”
Seeing that Jock was about to leave the barn on his horse, which was way too big for him and without a saddle Bobby sprang into action. “Whoa Jock! You stop right now!” Bobby called out to the boy, as he ran up to Jock, grabbing his horse by the reins before the child and the horse could disappear out on the fields. “Now you come on down before you fall off. What on earth where you thinking riding a horse without a saddle and a helmet. You could get hurt and you know your parents would never forgive me if anything happened to you.”
“I’m sorry uncle Bobby,” Jock apologized, as he let his great uncle lift him down from the horse. “Are you mad?”
“No,” Bobby said, as he held the boy on one arm and took the reins to the horse, leading him back into the stable with another. “Boys will be boys. But you know that horse is too big for you so why did you think it was a good idea to ride him?”
“I didn’t,” Jock said.
“Then who told you to ride him?”
Jock got quiet and since he didn’t want to rattle out his second cousin he just shrugged his shoulders, “Nobody.”
“Then why did you?”
“I don’t know,” Jock said.
“I think you do know,” Bobby said. “How about getting some ice-cream back at the house if you tell me?”
“Okay Drew dared me to do it!” Jock confessed.
Bobby sighed, as he put Jock down and turned to his grandson, “Drew!” Bobby called out for the boy. “Jock just told me that you dared him to ride my horse. Why did you do that?”
“I never did such thing,” Drew lied.
“So it’s not true?”
“Of course not,” Drew smiled sweetly. “I told Jock not to ride the horse, but he never listens to me.”
“He’s a liar,” Jock said, pointing his finger at Drew.
“No you’re a liar,” Drew said, “and a coward!”
“Am not, I rode the horse now, didn’t I?”
“Alright then you’re a snitch!” Drew said, giving Jock a little shove.
“Am not!” Jock called back, as he rushed up to Drew to punch him in the nose.
Realizing that the boys were close to getting into a fight, Bobby hurried to separate them before it could get uglier. “Hey break it off you two or there will be no ice-cream.”
“But you promised,” Jock said.
“We’re getting ice-cream?” Drew perked up.
“Yes, if you promise not to fight anymore,” Bobby said.
“Sure grandpa I promise,” Drew said.
“Good now let’s go,” Bobby said, as he took the boys by the hand. “Pam, I’m taking the kids back to the house now,” Bobby called out to his wife. “I promised Jock I’d give them some ice-cream if he told me why he’d tried to ride my horse!”
“Yeah ice-cream!” Nicole beamed, as she started jumping up and down.
“Bobby James Ewing, how many times have I told you not to bribe the kids?” Pamela asked.
“Too many,” Bobby said, making a face.
“Then why do you keep doing it?” Pam asked.
“Because it works every time,” Bobby smiled sheepishly.
“You know I don’t like it and neither does their mamas,” Pam said. “They think you are rewarding the boys for their bad behavior when you should be punishing them.”
“I don’t like punishing the kids,” Bobby said. “Let their parents discipline them. We are the grandparents so it’s our job to spoil them rotten.”
“What you really mean is let the women discipline the kids while you, Christopher and John Ross keeps spoiling them,” Pam said.
“What’s wrong with spoiling our grandkids?” Bobby asked. “You know daddy spoiled me and didn’t mama always tell you that I turned out best of us all?”
“She did but...”
“No buts,” Bobby put up one finger. “I’m taking the kids back to the house for ice-cream, are you coming or not?”
“I can’t, I’ll have to feed the horses,” Pam said.
“Fine, I’ll see you back at the house later then,” Bobby said before he leant forward and gave Pam a peck on the mouth. But as he was turning around to leave Nicole objected.
“No grandma come too?”
“Grandma will join you later,” Pam promised. “But the horses needs their dinner first.”
“Then we’ll help you and eat ice-cream later,” Nicole said.
“Yeah it goes faster if we all feed them,” Jock said.
“I’m not so sure of that,” Pam laughed, as she knew that it often went slower to feed the horses with the kids than if she did it by herself. But since she wanted to encourage good behavior in the kids, such as helping out, she agreed. “But alright you’ve got yourself a deal!” They then continued feeding the horses for another thirty minutes before they walked back towards Southfork, holding the children’s hands, as they were talking and laughing, just as the sun started to set over the ranch. Another day in their lives was coming towards an end and they both knew that life couldn’t get any better than this.
I love happy endings and happy endings with teasers for the future best of all. Thanks for this journey.
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Karin I love your story so much and I love happy endings. Thank you so much for giving us a beautiful happy ending for Bobby&Pam with their amazing family and their wonderful grandchildren at Southfork with some amazing teasers for their awesome new journey into their bright future.
Thank you so much for giving us a beautiful happy ending for Bobby&Pam with their amazing family and their wonderful grandchildren at Southfork with some amazing teasers for their awesome new journey into their bright future.
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I've just started reading again. I'm up to Lucas and Emma's wedding.
I don't like how cold Sue Ellen has been to Pam however I do understand her reasoning.
Bobby slept with Pam really easily however I can also understand those two.
Harris and Ann getting back together while Judith is still around just seems like a bad idea to me. I don't know if that's going to happen but it feels like it.
Bobby must have a huge boost of self-esteem sometimes when he realises just how many women are pining for him lol
I don't like how cold Sue Ellen has been to Pam however I do understand her reasoning.
Bobby slept with Pam really easily however I can also understand those two.
Harris and Ann getting back together while Judith is still around just seems like a bad idea to me. I don't know if that's going to happen but it feels like it.
Bobby must have a huge boost of self-esteem sometimes when he realises just how many women are pining for him lol
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@Karin Schill I have finished reading now I very much enjoyed how this all went. I might have missed it but did we not get closure on the Ann/Harris stuff and the Emma/Lucas stuff though?
That little scene with Katherine humanised her a bit which I liked.
The grandparent stuff with Bobby and Pam at the end was very sweet
Really nice story.
Now back to updating Dallas in the 90s?
I very much enjoyed how this all went. I might have missed it but did we not get closure on the Ann/Harris stuff and the Emma/Lucas stuff though?That little scene with Katherine humanised her a bit which I liked.
The grandparent stuff with Bobby and Pam at the end was very sweet
Really nice story.
Now back to updating Dallas in the 90s?
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I am on chapter 4 of your story. First of all, your Katherine/Josephine/Pam plot is pure genius! I found myself thinking that it should not have been that hard for the writers of TNT Dallas to come up with something similar. But then I thought about the reality of the situation. I don't think Victoria Principal wanted to come back and I have no way of knowing how Morgan Brittany would've felt either.
I had also forgotten about the 'JR's daughter' storyline that TNT Dallas ended on. I remember at the time, not feeling too excited about it. There are too many lost Dallas children I would rather see, like Lucas or even Val and Gary's twins, before someone new. But if that child had been revealed to have been Katherine's daughter, that would have upped things a bit.
I also like the fact that Pam was not a willing participant in her disappearance. Pam would have never just left Bobby and Christopher. Katherine being involved makes more sense.
Then there is Cliff. I will also say I had a real problem with his doing what he did to his daughter. I just didn't think that either Cliff or J.R. would have had someone bomb anything where a pregnant woman could be hurt. If Cliff was sick at the time he made that call, it seems somewhat forgivable.
I am eager to see where John Ross and Pamela are going to go in your story. I was ticked off by Pamela's conversation with Afton, where in which she kind of jumped down her throat about her involvement in jailing Cliff.
I had also forgotten about the 'JR's daughter' storyline that TNT Dallas ended on. I remember at the time, not feeling too excited about it. There are too many lost Dallas children I would rather see, like Lucas or even Val and Gary's twins, before someone new. But if that child had been revealed to have been Katherine's daughter, that would have upped things a bit.
I also like the fact that Pam was not a willing participant in her disappearance. Pam would have never just left Bobby and Christopher. Katherine being involved makes more sense.
Then there is Cliff. I will also say I had a real problem with his doing what he did to his daughter. I just didn't think that either Cliff or J.R. would have had someone bomb anything where a pregnant woman could be hurt. If Cliff was sick at the time he made that call, it seems somewhat forgivable.
I am eager to see where John Ross and Pamela are going to go in your story. I was ticked off by Pamela's conversation with Afton, where in which she kind of jumped down her throat about her involvement in jailing Cliff.
K
Karin Schill
Guest
Thank you so much to everyone who is reading this story and has left me feedback on it.
@stevew you're welcome about the story. I am like you in the sense that I also love happy endings!
@Mrs Bobby James Ewing you're welcome about the story too. I am glad you enjoyed Bobby & Pam's happy ending.
I wish the show could have ended like this. Then it would have come full circle.
@Miss Texas 1967 I agree with you that Bobby broke his marital vows real easy. But I think since it was with Pam it made sense for him to act that way. Also the Bobby we met in Dallas TNT wasn't the same Bobby as he was when he was younger. I think time has shattered some of his ideals from his youth and made him more bitter and understanding of JR's way of doing things. So him cheating might be plausible considering what he has been going through.
We sort of got closure for Emma/Lucas - they got married and we can presume they lived happily ever after.
Then as for Ann & Harris, they got back together and it was implied that they had eloped to get remarried in the final Lucas & Emma scene where Judith showed up. But we never got to see it. I guess with so many weddings between the younger characters Emma & Lucas and also Elena & Christopher I felt like I didn't need to show the weddings for the older characters Bobby & Pam and Ann & Harris. Since then it would have been like four weddings and a funeral!
Which I think was the title of a movie I watched way back in the 1990s....
Excellent question. Right now I am crazy busy with work again. So maybe after the assignments I am currently working on have wrapped. So hopefully you'll get an update of "Dallas in the 90s" before the year is out...
Thank you for your interest. It helps to know that people are still intersted in reading more of that story even after all these years...
@80's Cha Cha Cha thank you for the feedback on my story so far. I am glad to hear that you think it's the perfect plot for season four so far and that you enjoy the Pam/Katherine/Josephine plot.
I think Morgan Brittany did express interest in coming back to Dallas TNT.
Then as for Victoria Principal, she gave some interviews back in 2011 where she expressed some interest to reprise Pam if there was a way to bring her back but in 2013 she gave that statement where she said she wouldn't want to make a desperate return and tarnish the memory of Bobby and Pam's love story or something to that affect. So I guess then she had ruled it out.
I don't think VP was ever asked to come back for Dallas TNT so I guess nobody knows but her if she would have returned as Pam if asked. Personally I think she should have been asked to return since the potential for her character to return was definitely still there!
I agree with you that Lucas should have been on Dallas TNT too. Actually if you keep reading my story you might find out what has happened to Lucas, as without revealing the plot I can tell you that he will appear in this story!
Thank you for saying that the explaination I used for Pam's disappearance makes more sense than what we saw on the show. I felt like I needed to come up with a plausible explanation to be able to bring her back.
I'm also glad that you're looking forward to see where Pamela Rebecca and John Ross will go in the story as there's definitely a lot more of them to come too!
I really hated what they did to Cliff's character on Dallas TNT. I think it was completely out of character of him to order the bombing of that oil rig as that was not the Cliff we knew and loved from original Dallas. I didn't want to see Cliff end up dying in that Mexican prison. So after Ken Kercheval died I felt a need to try to redeem his character in this story since it could not be done on screen anymore.
So have you read anything more lately?
If yes I hope you have been enjoying it.
Also @Toni how far have you gotten so far?
Finally, thank you again to everyone who has read and left feedback on this story. I always enjoy reading your comments.
Oh and
@stevew you're welcome about the story. I am like you in the sense that I also love happy endings!
@Mrs Bobby James Ewing you're welcome about the story too. I am glad you enjoyed Bobby & Pam's happy ending.
I wish the show could have ended like this. Then it would have come full circle.
@Miss Texas 1967 I agree with you that Bobby broke his marital vows real easy. But I think since it was with Pam it made sense for him to act that way. Also the Bobby we met in Dallas TNT wasn't the same Bobby as he was when he was younger. I think time has shattered some of his ideals from his youth and made him more bitter and understanding of JR's way of doing things. So him cheating might be plausible considering what he has been going through.
We sort of got closure for Emma/Lucas - they got married and we can presume they lived happily ever after.
Then as for Ann & Harris, they got back together and it was implied that they had eloped to get remarried in the final Lucas & Emma scene where Judith showed up. But we never got to see it. I guess with so many weddings between the younger characters Emma & Lucas and also Elena & Christopher I felt like I didn't need to show the weddings for the older characters Bobby & Pam and Ann & Harris. Since then it would have been like four weddings and a funeral!
Which I think was the title of a movie I watched way back in the 1990s....
Now back to updating Dallas in the 90s?
Excellent question. Right now I am crazy busy with work again. So maybe after the assignments I am currently working on have wrapped. So hopefully you'll get an update of "Dallas in the 90s" before the year is out...
Thank you for your interest. It helps to know that people are still intersted in reading more of that story even after all these years...
@80's Cha Cha Cha thank you for the feedback on my story so far. I am glad to hear that you think it's the perfect plot for season four so far and that you enjoy the Pam/Katherine/Josephine plot.
I think Morgan Brittany did express interest in coming back to Dallas TNT.
Then as for Victoria Principal, she gave some interviews back in 2011 where she expressed some interest to reprise Pam if there was a way to bring her back but in 2013 she gave that statement where she said she wouldn't want to make a desperate return and tarnish the memory of Bobby and Pam's love story or something to that affect. So I guess then she had ruled it out.
I don't think VP was ever asked to come back for Dallas TNT so I guess nobody knows but her if she would have returned as Pam if asked. Personally I think she should have been asked to return since the potential for her character to return was definitely still there!
I agree with you that Lucas should have been on Dallas TNT too. Actually if you keep reading my story you might find out what has happened to Lucas, as without revealing the plot I can tell you that he will appear in this story!
Thank you for saying that the explaination I used for Pam's disappearance makes more sense than what we saw on the show. I felt like I needed to come up with a plausible explanation to be able to bring her back.
I'm also glad that you're looking forward to see where Pamela Rebecca and John Ross will go in the story as there's definitely a lot more of them to come too!
I really hated what they did to Cliff's character on Dallas TNT. I think it was completely out of character of him to order the bombing of that oil rig as that was not the Cliff we knew and loved from original Dallas. I didn't want to see Cliff end up dying in that Mexican prison. So after Ken Kercheval died I felt a need to try to redeem his character in this story since it could not be done on screen anymore.
So have you read anything more lately?
If yes I hope you have been enjoying it.
Also @Toni how far have you gotten so far?
Finally, thank you again to everyone who has read and left feedback on this story. I always enjoy reading your comments.
Oh and
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Yes I did. I got to the point where Lucy went to the doctor about her lump. I remembered Lucy being concerned when Miss Ellie went through her cancer. I like the fact that things did work out with Mitch.
I also read the chapter where Ann came over to see Judith and you know what? I just saw red! I hate Judith and I hated the way she spoke to Ann but that is also very real. There is no sugar coating the fact that they don't like each other. But what gripes me about that whole thing, is that all Judith and Harris had to do was go to a judge and say Ann was on pills, they didn't think she would be a good mother and Harris would have gotten full custody. What they did was vile. But I'll excuse Harris because the pain in his eyes when he told Ann WHY he took Emma, the night Ann shot him, was pretty memorable. He was hurt and he lashed out the only way he knew how.
I also read the chapter where Ann came over to see Judith and you know what? I just saw red! I hate Judith and I hated the way she spoke to Ann but that is also very real. There is no sugar coating the fact that they don't like each other. But what gripes me about that whole thing, is that all Judith and Harris had to do was go to a judge and say Ann was on pills, they didn't think she would be a good mother and Harris would have gotten full custody. What they did was vile. But I'll excuse Harris because the pain in his eyes when he told Ann WHY he took Emma, the night Ann shot him, was pretty memorable. He was hurt and he lashed out the only way he knew how.
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I have to say I have been reading your story, then going back and re-reading parts. You prove that there was still a lot of life in this show that should have been realized onscreen.Thanks @stevew . I think I've probably watched the first season of Dallas TNT about three times all the way through and then I've also watched some episodes more times. It was the season I liked best. Probably because it still had JR!
Also it resembled the original Dallas more than the third season with the cartel and all.
Anyway yeah I did interpret it like that John Ross knew that Pamela wrote the letter all along since he put her up to it.
I guess it's fair to say that Pam was fragile in that update, as she had a shock. Getting her memories back was traumatic for her. She has since then had some time to come to terms with it and she's been reconciled with her brother and then he died. Now she's also been reconciled with her son. But there's still a lot of unresolved things between her and Bobby that is lingering on.
But tonight's update is all about Cliff & Afton.
*
Chapter six
Afton was sitting in the bath trying to relax from the water massage but no matter of how hard she tried she couldn’t find any peace of mind. The conversation with Pam earlier that afternoon had made her think about her lost son and it had opened up a wound inside of her heart that she thought had closed a long time ago. There was no such thing as getting over the loss of a child. It was not something you got over. But it was something that you learnt to live with and on a normal day the pain wasn’t this intense. But tonight it was worse than in a long time. Maybe it was the grief over Cliff that had made the loss of their son feel more raw than usual. It made her heart bleed and there was nobody there to comfort her. Sure Pam and Josephine were downstairs but Afton didn’t want to impose on their mother-daughter time. So she stayed up here in the master suite alone with the ghosts from her past.
She had been working at a club in Florida when he had found her. It had been close to eleven and she had just finished her gig of the night and gone backstage to change clothes when there had been a knock on the door to her loge. “Just a minute!” She had called out, as she pulled the sweater over her head and then corrected her hair. She then went to open the door and her face dropped, as he was the last person she had expected to see.
“Cliff!” She exclaimed.
“Hi Afton,” he smiled at her.
“What are you doing here?”
“I had to see you,” he replied.
“Why?” She crossed her arms. “I thought we’d said everything there was to say three years ago.”
“So did I but I can’t get you off my mind,” Cliff sighed. “I’ve missed you.”
Afton made a face as she so didn’t need to hear this, “Cliff...”
“No Afton, I’ve come a long way to see you. So can’t you at least have a drink with me and we can talk?”
“I can’t,” she said. “I have to get home to my daughter.”
“I understand, but you know how persistent I can be,” Cliff said. “If you won’t see me tonight, how about tomorrow?”
Afton sighed again before she looked at her watch, seeing that it wasn’t quite as late as she’d thought she relented, “No then it’s better we talk now. But I only have a few minutes.”
“Alright,” Cliff said before they walked out of the loge to find somewhere to sit. “So how have you been?”
“Fine, you?”
“Better now but the last couple of years have been a bit of a roller coaster,” Cliff said, as they sat down at the bar.
“Yeah I heard you left Ewing Oil and went on another crusade against the Ewings,” Afton said.
“I did,” Cliff admitted. “But the feud is over now and I won. JR Ewing is catatonic in some home and I am running Ewing Oil!”
But Afton didn't look happy to hear that. Instead she crossed her arms, “Am I supposed to think that’s a good thing?”
“I know you don’t,” Cliff said before he ordered drinks for them. “But it feels great to be a winner.”
“Yeah, yeah because winning is all that matters to Cliff Barnes,” Afton said sarcastically, as she wondered why she’d even agreed to this.
“That’s not true,” Cliff shook his head. “I might have succeeded in business but it doesn’t mean much without a family to share it with.”
“Cliff...”
“I know little Pammy is not mine but it doesn’t matter. I want you Afton. So you have a child since before?” Cliff paused, “I am sure I could love her like if she was my own.”Hearing that Afton shifted uncomfortably. “Don’t you think the child deserves to have a father?”
“She already has a father,” Afton insisted, as their drinks arrived.
“An absent one,” Cliff corrected her. “But he won’t provide for her. I could give her all the things that your ex-husband never gave her. A home, stability and love.”
“What do you know about love?”Afton said. “You married a woman for business.”
“I know,” Cliff hung his head low when he thought of Jamie, “It was a mistake. I should have married you a long time ago but I took you for granted,” Cliff sighed. “I guess I had to lose you to realize how much I love you. Since I do love you, you know?”
“I know but it doesn’t change anything. I don’t need you in my life. Me and my daughter are doing just fine without you, okay?” Afton said.
“You don’t love me, is that it?”
Afton knew she should say it but no matter of how hard she tried the lie wouldn’t leave her lips, “No that’s not it.”
“So then you do love me and that means I have a chance,” Cliff said.
“You’ve already used up all of your chances,” Afton said in a tired tone of voice.
“No, everything comes in threes and I’ve blown two of my chances. But you know what they say, the third time is the charm so if you’ll just give me one more I’m not gonna blow it this time.”
“I’m sorry Cliff but I can’t give you another chance when I don’t trust you.” Afton said. “I mean you’ve lied to me before so how can I be sure you won’t do it again?”
“So you’ve never lied to me then?”
“What are you getting at?” Afton’s face paled. “Has Van Buren talked to you?”
“No,” Cliff gave her a weird look. “What could we possibly have to talk about?”
“Nothing. I was just wondering if he’d tried to hit you up for money or something.”
“He hasn’t,” Cliff said. “Anyway what I tried to say before is that trust goes both ways in a relationship. So unless you can honestly tell me that you’ve never lied to me about anything you shouldn’t judge me.”
Knowing that she had in fact lied to him about the paternity of their daughter Afton sighed heavily, “Alright then, I’ll give you one last chance. But you better not blow it this time.”
“Thank you Afton, I won’t,” Cliff smiled at her. “I promise, I will do whatever it take to make you happy this time.”
“I believe it when I see it,” Afton muttered, as a part of her already had a feeling that she was going to live to regret the day that Cliff Barnes had ever reappeared into her life again...
The memories of her life together with Cliff was still weighing heavily on her mind as Afton got out of the bath. She pulled on a robe before she put up her wet hair in a towel and walked into the bedroom to get herself a drink. Afton had never been much for drinking but tonight she felt like she needed a drink to steady her nerves a bit. She walked over towards the bed that she’d once shared with Cliff when they were married. She sat down on it and took a sip of her drink before she put it down. She then walked over towards the other side of the room and pulled a drape. But it was not covering a window, since as it went aside it revealed a framed family portrait that had been hidden from view. The photo used to be on display in their bedroom during the happiest time of their marriage but after Jacob had died they had put a curtain before it, since it hurt too much to look at it. But they also couldn’t bring themselves to actually take down the photo from the wall. So the curtain had been the solution.
Looking at their smiling faces now made her feel melancholy as it reminded her of what a happy family they had been once upon a time.
Afton was sitting in bed, holding her son who was just a few days old. The baby was cooing contently in her arms and she just couldn’t stop looking at him. He was such a beautiful baby. She had just fed him though so he was getting sleepy. The door to the bedroom opened and Cliff and Pamela Rebecca walked into the room. “Hi mom, can I hold him now?”
“Not now Pamela, can’t you see he’s about to fall asleep,” Afton replied.
“But mom he is my baby brother and it’s been five days already. Don’t you think it’s about time I get to hold him?” Pamela objected.
“We’d better let her hold him now or she’s just gonna nag us until we let her,” Cliff said.
“Please mom, I promise I’ll be real careful,” Pamela said and seeing the hopeful expression in her daughter’s eyes Afton finally gave in.
“Alright you can hold him, if you sit next to me,” Afton said.
“Okay,” Pamela said and jumped up on the bed, she then sat next to Afton who gently handed her the baby with the words, “Careful now, make sure to support his head.”
“Don’t worry mom, I’m not gonna drop him,” Pamela said.
“There good, now you’re holding him,” Afton said, as Pamela did as she was told and supported his head.
“Wow for being so little, he sure is heavy!” Pamela remarked.
“I think he’s perfect,” Afton said.
“So do I,” Cliff said as he sat down next to Afton and put his arms around her shoulders. They exchanged a kiss and Pamela giggled delighted.
“So what are we gonna call him?”
Her parents looked at each other then they said two different names at the same time.
“Willard!”
“Alexander!”
“Afton you know I want my son to be named after my father,” Cliff said.
“Yeah but our daughter is named after your sister and mother so don’t you think it’s my turn to have a name from my family?”
“That’s not fair, you were the one who named our daughter after my sister and mother without even consulting me.”
“So are you saying you don’t like the name of Pamela Rebecca?”
“I love it, it’s just that I’ve always wanted my son to be named after my father. It’s important to me.”
“I know but I don’t like the name of Willard.”
“Would you prefer it if we call him Digger then?”
“No!” Afton wrinkled her nose. “Digger’s a horrible nickname for a cute little baby.”
“Well he won’t stay a baby forever. One day he’ll grow up and take over my company.”
“Hey dad! Are you forgetting about me?” Pamela said. “I wanna work at your company too and since I’m the oldest don’t you think I should run it?”
“Sorry sweetheart, maybe you can run it together with Willard,” Cliff said.
“He means Alexander,” Afton said.
“Why don’t we ask Pamela which name she prefers?” Cliff asked.
“Good idea, let Pammy decide,” Afton said. “Don’t you think Alexander has a great ring to it?”
“No surely Willard is better,” Cliff said.
“Actually...” Pamela looked from her mother to her father and knew that whichever name she’d pick one of them would be disappointed. So she took the easy way out. “I prefer Jacob!”
“Jacob?” Afton asked.
“But it’s not a family name,” Cliff objected.
“Still I sort of like it,” Afton said. “Jacob Barnes.”
“It does have a nice ring to it too,” Cliff said.
“Good so then it’s decide, he will be a Jacob,” Pamela smiled sweetly and her parents smiled too since at last they were all in agreement. Finally their son had a name so now they could baptize him and watch him grow up...
Afton couldn’t hold back the tears when she thought of her son. Having another child had been a dream come true and it had brought them closer together. The time when she’d been pregnant and later on when Jacob had been a baby had been the peak of their marriage. But sadly all good things had to come to an end sooner or later.
Afton was standing in the door as she was about to head out. But she had a hard time leaving her young son behind. Looking from the sleeping baby in her arms to her husband she asked, “Are you sure you’ll be okay tonight?”
“Yes,” Cliff reassured her. “You’ll go back to work. I can handle the kids.”
“But isn’t it too soon?” Afton asked. “I mean the baby’s only nine months so he still needs me and...”
“Yes he does, but he’s been fed and you said you wanted to wane him off the breast milk anyway.”
“I do but I still feel guilty for going back to work this soon,” Afton said.
“You have nothing to be guilty about,” Cliff said. “I mean other women go back to work after three months. You have been home for almost a year.”
“Yeah but other families are dependent upon two incomes and it’s not like we need the money my job brings in,” Afton said. “So maybe it would be better if I was a stay at home mom?”
“Fine by me if I thought that would make you happy,” Cliff said. “But I know you Afton and you love to sing so if you’ll give that up you’re gonna end up regretting it.”
“You’re right,” Afton sighed. “I do love to sing and I love you for being so supportive of my work.”
“But?”
“I still don’t want to leave my baby,” Afton said, as she hugged Jacob tightly and rejoiced in the feeling of holding the baby in her arms. His skin was so soft against her cheek and his little hand held on so tight around her finger. He clearly didn’t want her to leave either. “What if something happens to him and I am not here?”
“Afton honey, relax,” Cliff said. “Nothing’s gonna happen to Jacob. Now you go to work and let me and Pamela take care of him.”
“Yes mom, dad and I can take care of Jacob,” Pamela insisted. “Now hand him over to me.”
“You do know that if you’ll give her the baby she’s not gonna let me take care of him. She's gonna wanna do it all by herself,” Cliff said.
“I thought you didn’t mind when I change the diapers,” Pamela said.
“I don’t and I know he’s your baby brother and that you love him. But he’s my son so I want to help too, okay?”
“Okay dad,” Pamela agreed before a shadow fell over her face. “So who do you love more, him or me?”
“I love you both the same,” Cliff said. “But I’ve missed out on your first years, so I don’t wanna miss a thing when it comes to Jacob’s first years. I want to savior it all.”
“I’m sorry Cliff,” Afton apologized as she walked up to him and handed him their son. She then leant down and gave the baby a kiss on his forehead before she turned to her husband with misty eyes, “If I would have known what a great father and husband you’d turn out to be I wouldn’t have walked out on you all those years ago.”
“Thanks, but it’s water under the bridge now,” Cliff said. “What’s important is that you’re here now and that you, me, Pamela and Jacob are a family. I’ve gotten a second chance now and that means everything to me.”
“I know,” Afton said softly and she did since she had never been happier in her life.
The tears were running down her checks when she thought back on her life together with Cliff. He had kept his promise to her in the sense that he had made her truly happy. But he had also made her really miserable. It was funny as there was no in between with her and Cliff. They had either been really happy together or completely miserable. But yes they sure had been happy when Jacob was a baby. But then it had all fallen apart.
Cliff was sitting on their bed just staring ahead of him, as he was unable to move. Having already gotten dressed Afton walked up to him and said in a pleading tone of voice, “Please Cliff, you have to go to the funeral.”
“I can’t,” Cliff cried, “They are gonna bury my son and it’s all my fault.”
Afton sighed when she heard that. They had been through grief together before so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to her that he blamed himself, as he’d been the same way when his mother had died. Yet this was somehow worse than anything they had ever faced before since the loss of a child cut deeper than any other loss.
“It’s not your fault Jacob died,” Afton said with all the strength she could muster, but the tears were burning behind her eyelids.
“Yes it is,” Cliff blamed himself, “I am the one who carry the disease so I passed it on to our son.”
“Yes but we couldn’t know that would happen. I mean Pammy doesn’t have the disease.”
“Just because she doesn’t display any symptoms of it, that doesn’t mean that she’s cured of it. She’s still a carrier of the disease and so am I!”Cliff yelled angrily, it was like he was blaming God for giving him this godforsaken disease in the first place.
“Yes but since Pamela’s healthy we had every reason to believe that our next child would be healthy too,” Afton tried to reason with him in a small voice.
“Not necessarily, I mean my parents lost two out of three children,” Cliff said.
“That’s awful, poor Rebecca!” Afton said, as the tears spilled over and started running down her cheek. She had always been the strong one of them, the one who picked up Cliff when he was down, but this time she was hurting too much to deal with this. She had enough with her own grief.
Hearing his wife sob he finally looked up, “I’m sorry, but I wish we’d never had another child,” His words felt like a stab right through her heart.
“No,” Afton whispered in disbelief, “You can’t mean that.”
“I mean it alright,” Cliff said. “In fact we probably never should have gotten married either.”
“I’ve never regretted that,” Afton said softly.
“What’s wrong with you woman?”Cliff yelled at her. “Can’t you see that I am damned?” He exploded. “Everything I touch turn into dust.”
“No we’ve still got Pamela,” Afton reminded him. “I am hurting just as much as you are Cliff. When Jacob died I felt like I wanted to die. But for our daughter’s sake we have to go on living. Because she needs us Cliff.”
Cliff looked at her with the tears running down his cheeks too, “Alright, let’s go to that funeral. But after today I don’t want anything in the house that reminds me of him. If we are gonna go on living we have to forget he ever existed.”
“But how could we do that?” Afton asked. “I mean he was our son and we loved him.”
“We have to or we’re not gonna make it,” Cliff said. “It’s always gonna eat us up inside. So we’ll have to forget.” Cliff had told her and although she found it hard to do she had followed his advice and banished all thoughts of Jacob from her mind...
Until today that was since tonight she couldn’t think of anything but Jacob and what could have been and that’s when she felt like life was not fair. Since surely no parent should ever outlive their child. Yet that was what she and Cliff had done and thinking about Jacob now she couldn’t help but wondering who he’d been today if he’d gotten to live. Jacob would have been 20 years old now and probably away at college. He would have been handsome just like his father had been. But sadly her son had never grown out of his diapers and now instead of mourning the death of his father, his soul was finally reunited with him instead. Cliff was with Jacob now and all she had left of her family was her daughter. Thinking about Pamela Rebecca and the way they had left things last night Afton reached for her cell phone. She picked it up and thought of dialing Pamela. But since she didn’t want her daughter to hear her crying on the other end of the line she opted for sending her a text message instead.
“I miss you. Can we please have lunch tomorrow and talk about what happened? Love mom.” Afton pressed send. There now was the first step towards a reconciliation taken. She knew her daughter was angry but since she was all she had left she hoped that Pamela Rebecca could find it in her heart to forgive her for keeping her father’s illness a secret from her. They just had to find a way to get passed this since she just couldn’t imagine living the rest of her life without her daughter being a part of it.
I always liked Cliff and Afton. And when they met, I remember him smiling up at her while she was singing in that club. I also liked the fact that she was not Kristin. She put her foot down about sleeping with J.R’s associates and saw him for what he was quicker than Kristin did. I could totally see him and Afton having more than one child. And Cliff would have loved having a son.