“Relax Sean! Everything will be fine!” Kyra hissed and Sean immediately stopped using the window as a mirror to fix his jet black hair. He turned to

“Fine!? I was completely fine, you were the one who was worried, but then you have to mention how your brother-in- law is very protective of all the women in your family. I’m in a band for goodness sakes! No family member ever trusts a guy in a band! Hey you’re still wearing your ring? I thought you didn’t want them to know yet!?” He hissed back and started to franticly fiddle with his hair again.

“Someone’s coming, so stop it! And thanks, I’ll just take it off for now.” She said and shoved her ring into her pocket just as Brock came and answered the door.

“Hey Kyra! Kyra’s boyfriend.” He said the boypart a slight stutter, but just barely so that Kyra was the only one who even noticed. Barbra Jean came right up behind Brock and started to ask one question after another without giving them a chance to answer even one.

“Hello. What’s your name? Kyra, where have you been? What have you been up to? Are you still in that band? How did you two meet? How-” She was cut off by Reba yelling at her to stop.

“Barbra Jean, will you at least let them through the front door before you start grilling them? Hi, I’m Kyra’s mom, Reba. Come in, come in.” She said and pushed back Brock and Barbra Jean to introduce herself.

“Sean Benedict, nice to meet you.” Sean said and he stepped in followed by Kyra.

“Hi Kyra honey, it’s so good to see you.” Reba said and pulled her daughter into a hug.

“Yea! Welcome home!” Barbra Jean said and put her arms around the both of them.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you Sean.” Brock said and shook Sean hand off to the side while Barbra Jean and Reba practically suffocated Krya. They finally let go and Kyra took a deep breath and went to stand by Sean.

“Kyra, will you come in the kitchen with me and help me with the drinks. Cheyenne and Van will be here soon. Jake is over there to baby sit Elizabeth and Chris. Oh, you haven’t met Chris yet have you, Cheyenne’s son?

“Sure, I’d love to help with the drinks, and no I haven’t met him. ” Kyra said trying to avoid the why to the reason for her not meeting her three year old nephew.

Kyra followed Reba into the kitchen and was followed closely behind by Barbra Jean.

“So he seems nice, and if he isn’t, I can always pick him out from a lineup.” Reba said and smiled.

“Don’t worry about him, he’s great, but at least you aren’t judging him by his looks.” Kyra said and sat down at the counter.

“He’s gonna cheat on you!” said Barbra Jean, then she sat down right next to Kyra.

“What!? No he wouldn’t! Where would you get a crazy idea like that?” asked Kyra

“She’s Barbra Jean.” Reba said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“His last name. It’s the name of a traitor. You know that Civil War traitor, Arnold Benedict.” Barbra Jean said.

“Revolutionary War, and it’s Benedict Arnold. Anyway, Sean would never cheat on me. I mean the only other girls he even knows are his mother and our bass player, who is already dating our drummer.” said Kyra.

“He still looks like a cheater.” Said Barbra Jean and began folding the corner of a napkin back and forth.

“You would know wouldn’t you?” said Reba.

“Well shouldn’t we be getting back in the living room. We left Sean alone with dad, who knows what kind of advice he’s giving him.” Kyra said.

“You’re right.” Said Reba and she grabbed the six cups of ice tea and they all filed back into the living room.

“So that’s how I ended up in dentistry, I would have stuck with the band but Reba wanted me in something more practical.” Brock finished just as everyone got situated.

“And I regretted it a little over nine years ago, now I just laugh and smile.” Said Reba.

“Well since Kyra started the band, I really doubt she’d be the one to tell me to get another job.” Said Sean.

“Unless of course, unless you two break up.” Said Barbra Jean.

“Well I doubt that’s going to happen anytime soon.” Said Kyra.

“Why not? Girls and guys break up all the time. Even more so when they’re in bands together. I mean you have to see each other all the time and never get a moment to yourself.” Said Brock. Kyra and Sean gave each other a quick glance and then Sean started to talk.

“Well……I…” He stuttered.

“Brock just leave them alone. They’re together now and that’s all that matters.” Said Reba, then the door opened and Van and Cheyenne came in.

“Welcome home Kyra! I’m so glad you came to your- who the hell are you?” Said Cheyenne as she came through the door and started to hug her sister before she spotted Sean.

“You never mentioned what your sister was like.” Sean said quietly and took a small step back.

“She’s not the one you have to worry about.” Said Van as he stepped up to his full height right in front of Sean. He was only about an inch taller so he had to stretch a bit to look even one bit menacing. Krya rolled her eyes and pushed the two apart.

“Van cut it out and leave him alone.” Said Kyra.

“You need your girlfriend to protect you. Ha!” Snorted Van, then Kyra glared at him and he immediately shut up.

“Man, she’s gotten almost as scary as your mom.” Van whispered to Cheyenne.

“So Kyra, why don’t you tell us about your band?” Reba cut in before anymore arguments started.

“Well it’s not really my band. There are four members; Sean who does back-up vocals and lead guitar, I do lead vocals and write most of the lyrics, Amber is our bass player, and Jess is our drummer. Pretty much we play late night clubs and we just recently played our first concert…..Mom? Mom why are you staring at him like that?” Kyra asked as she noticed that Reba had been staring at Sean for some time now.

“I’m trying to picture him with long hair and sideburns. He plays lead guitar you say? Are your sure it’s not bass?” asked Reba as she continued to stare at Sean with a growing intensity.

“No Amber plays bass, but I used to play bass, and have long hair. How did you know?” asked Sean as he began to stare back at her.

“Ah hah! I knew it! You’re that punk who was upstairs with Kyra that day three years ago weren’t you? The one who didn’t have time for pancakes.” Accused Reba as she shot out of her seat and pointed at Sean with her index finger.

“Wait, you remember that? You said she wouldn’t remember that.” Said Sean as he too shot from his seat and swiftly moved behind the couch.

“That’s what this is all about isn’t it? Why you even let me come back for a visit. You thought I would give up the rock star life and come back home didn’t you? Well, you’re wrong, and even without your support I have made a life for myself. A life I don’t want you to have any part of!” Kyra yelled and then she slammed the hard wooden door behind her as she left the room in silence.

“Well, I should probably get moving….” Sean said and started towards the door.

“Barbra Jean!” Reba yelled and Barbra Jean blocked the door before Sean even got his hand on the knob.

“You’re not going anywhere just yet. You’re the only one she’ll talk to right now and we need you. If you convince her to come home, then just maybe I’ll let you still date her.” Said Reba as she got right in front of Sean.

“There is no way I’m going to tell my fiancéto go home to her mother and give up a life she loves. Anyway she probably wouldn’t listen to me, she never does…..What?” Sean asked after he noticed everyone in the room was staring at him like he had five heads.

“Kyr….Kyra’s engaged?” stuttered Cheyenne.

“Wait, that’s impossible. She didn’t have a ring on her finger. How could she be engaged?” asked Reba.

“Well, she took it off before we came in of course. She didn’t want you to know until she was ready to tell you…oh shit. She is going to kill me.” Said Sean as he finally realized what he had done.

“I can’t believe this.” Said Brock as he sat down.

“I know, Kyra had the courtesy to wait until the perfect moment to tell all of us that she was getting married instead of just waltzing in here with a ring on and we just invited her over to make her give of everything that makes her smile. And making her smile, that’s not easy.” Said Van as he too sat down.

“I think what Brock meant was, he couldn’t believe his daughter is getting married.” Said Barbra Jean.

“Oh, there’s that too.” Said Van.

“What’s that?” said Cheyenne and everyone went silent, and then they all could hear a soft rumbling.

“Oh good you hear it too.” Said Barbra Jean.

“Oh that’s my phone.” Said Sean as he pulled out his black razor.

“Hello? Whoa slow down Jess, what is it? Uh huh. Okay. What? She’s actually crying, I didn’t it was possible. Okay, okay I know it’s no time for jokes I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Sean closed up his phone and looked up at everyone with a very serious face.

“I have to go.” He said solemnly and left without another word.

“Wow. You made Kyra cry. Wasn’t the last time that happened her fifth birthday? It’s been what, sixteen years now? You must have really said something there Mrs. H.” said Van and he then immediately socked in the stomach by Cheyenne.

“What did I do?” asked Van as he cringed in obvious pain.

“Shut up Van.” Said Cheyenne.

Everyone then looked at Reba who was wide eyed with disbelief.

That reunion definitely didn’t go as planned.