Suddenly his office door opened, “Hey Dad, you were out of there early this morning – “

Cliff’s intercom buzzed. “Cliff, I’m sorry, I know you didn’t want to be disturbed; he just walked by and…”

Cliff quickly hit his intercom button. “It’s okay Jackie.” He turned back to Eric. “Yeah, I’ve been here since the crack of dawn, where were you?”

Eric was getting just a little tired of Cliff’s criticism, “I was where most people are at that hour, in bed! And, you know, I’m getting sick of you always riding me about not being here enough. I’ve been working here, what? Three… four days? And the only thing you’ve given me to do is read some papers on this Petrol thing and call my Mom!” Eric turned on his heels and headed for the door.

There was a mixture of surprise and confusion on Cliff’s face. He quickly got to the door just as Eric opened it. Putting one hand on Eric’s shoulder, he shut the door with the other. “Hey, Eric, look, I’m sorry, that’s just how I am, you know? I get involved in things and … well, that’s just me. In business, it’s an asset.”

Eric shrugged Cliff’s hand off of his shoulder, “Then maybe you ought to think of me more as your son instead of an employee.”

Cliff gave a small chuckle, “Yeah, I know… Hey, you want some coffee? Jackie makes great coffee.”

Eric sighed and eyed his Dad wearily; he supposed that was as close to an apology as Cliff could come. “Sure.”

Cliff asked Jackie to get the coffee and sat at his desk; Eric took a seat on one of the chairs in front of the desk. Cliff leaned forward on his elbows. “Have you talked to Marilee? Because we really need her, I mean, Stonehurst.”

Eric shook his head, “No, she still hasn’t called me back. Why don’t you try buying the oil from the guy who is running Stonehurst while she’s away? “

“No dice, I already tried, apparently he has orders not to deal with me.”

Eric couldn’t suppress a fleeting smile. His mom must really hate Cliff. “Dad, have you talked to Aunt Pam yet?”

Cliff looked surprised. “No, why should I?”

“I thought we already went over this. She has connections and she’s helped you out of tight spots before.”

Cliff leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. “Yeah, too many. Besides, we’re having a fight. I can’t call her for help, that would be like admitting I was wrong.”

“About what?”

“I’m not sure, but I know it was about the Ewings.” Then he mumbled, “Marrying into that family was the worse thing she ever did; screwed up her thinking… and all of those pregnancy hormones don’t help…”

Eric was exasperated, Cliff had him leaving calls for his mom all over Europe, and he wasn’t willing to make up with Pam over a fight that he couldn’t even remember. If Cliff wasn’t willing to do his part for the company, Eric sure wasn’t going to knock himself out. “Fine Dad, don’t call her. But I’m not calling Mom again until you call Aunt Pam.” With that, he quickly got up and went to the door. Jackie was just coming in with the coffee and he almost knocked her flat.

Cliff jumped up. “Eric wait!”

Eric turned, his hand on the doorknob, “No, you wait! I’m totally serious. Let me know when you’ve called her!” He shut the door hard on his way out.

Jackie stood in the middle of the office, holding two coffee cups, a look of confusion on her face.

The sound of the intercom made Pamela jump. She still wasn’t used to being back in an office. “Mrs. Ewing, there’s a call for you on line one. The man wouldn’t give me his name. Do you want me to get rid of him?”

“No! I’ll take it.” Pam eagerly picked up the receiver. She was sure it was Bobby surprising her with a phone call. The tension between the two of then was almost unbearable since she decided to go back to work. She was hoping he was calling for a truce. “Hello?”

“Pam!”

There was silence on Pamela’s end of the phone. Cliff was possibly the last person she wanted to talk to right now, with the exception of JR.

“Hello? Pam? You still there?”

“Yes, I’m here.” Cliff didn’t miss the icy tone in her voice. He was going to have to make this good.

“Do you know what I was just thinking?”

“About a trip to Siberia?”

“Hey, now, is that any way to treat your favorite brother?” There was more silence on her end of the phone as Pamela drummed her fingernails on her desk. “Okay, so I’m your only brother… But I’m still your brother, right? You have to love me. It’s in the rule book!” Still more silence, but Cliff was sure she was softening up. “You know sis, we don’t get to see each other enough. I was wondering if you wanted to have lunch?”

Pam looked doubtful, “You’re right Cliff, you are my brother, and I do love you. But the ‘rule book’ doesn’t say that I always have to like you or have lunch with you. Especially since the last time we talked you called me a traitor to my family!”

On the other end of the phone, Cliff lightly smacked his forehead. So that’s what they had been fighting about. “Come on Pam, you know I didn’t mean it. You’re the most loyal person I know.”

She wasn’t buying it. “What do you want Cliff?”

“I simply want to take my sister to lunch. My treat!” Surely offering to pay would convince her that he was sincere.

“I can’t eat Chinese. The MSG isn’t good for the babies.”

“Okay then, wherever you want to go.”

That did it, if Cliff was offering to pay and it wasn’t Chinese, he had to be sincere. “I don’t know Cliff, I have a pile of paperwork sitting in front of me and if I come home late again…”

“Paperwork?” Cliff was so surprised; he almost yelled the words into the phone.

“Yes. I’m working here at the Tool and Die now.”

“Working? I thought you were just going on a tour or something… Working. I’ll bet Bobby isn’t happy about that.”

Pam’s brow furrowed in a frown. “Not especially, no.”

“Well Pam, he’s got a point, you are pregnant.”

Pamela was annoyed and a little hurt. Why didn’t anyone understand! “I know I’m pregnant, Cliff. But I need to be here right now, and besides, Dr. Bader says I’m fine.”

“Still, you and Bobby shouldn’t fight.”

“Since when have you cared whether Bobby and I argue? I would have thought that would make you happy.” Pamela was getting suspicious. “This isn’t like you at all. What do you want Cliff?”

“Nothing. I just want you to be happy. That’s all.”

Pam relaxed a little and smiled for the first time during the conversation; maybe he really did care. “Well, don’t worry about it, Bobby and I will work things out. Now, I have to get to that paperwork.”

Cliff sat up straight in his chair. “No! Wait! There is one thing that I need to talk to you about.” Pam glanced at her wristwatch, “Okay, what is it?” “I have this great new deal with Petrol Refineries. Only the thing is, I kind of don’t have the oil on hand to meet the contract deadline… I mean, I have the oil; I just don’t have it right now…”

Pam sighed, so that’s what this was about, he wasn’t really concerned about her, he was in trouble again! “Cliff, I can’t believe you would call here and try to use our relationship to talk me into getting you out of a bind!”

“Look, all I need is some oil – not a lot, just enough to meet my deadline.”

Pam shook her head in disbelief, “Cliff, even if I wanted to help you, where would I get oil? The Tool and Die isn’t an oil company.”

“No, but you could ask Bobby to talk to Todd Foster… or even Sue Ellen.”

Pam leaned forward with her elbow on her desk and rested her forehead in her hand, “No, Cliff.”

“What?”

“I said no! I’m not going to use my relationship with Bobby to get you out of trouble. In other words, I won’t do to him, what you just tried to do to me!”

“Pam, I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important.”

“Huh! Like all of the other times you’ve talked me into saving you? No, Cliff, I’m done being your personal lifeguard. Learn to swim.”

The phone hummed in Cliff’s ear as the line went dead. He held the receiver out in front of him and looked at it, there was a look of surprise on his face. “She hung up on me!”

On her end, Pamela Ewing hung up the phone. Immediately, she picked it up again and buzzed her secretary to get her a file. She had work to do. But despite her best efforts, she couldn't get her brother out of her mind.

After talking to them, she settled back into her work at the hospital. She had forgotten how much she loved it. But there was one thing she couldn’t forget. Cole. She had never forgotten him. In all of the time since she had seen him, she still thought of him and wondered about him. She couldn’t get up enough courage to question the head nurse, Gretchen, about the fate of the little boy she’d grown so close to all those months ago. Was Cole still alive? Or had he finally succumbed to the cancer that he’d been fighting for so long?

In the end, rather than asking someone about him, Karen decided to walk over to Cole’s hospital room to see if he was still there. A nervous knot formed in the pit of her stomach when she walked to the door and peered inside the small window. But she was filled with hope when she saw him lying in the hospital bed. And though she’d only intended to look, Karen found herself opening the door and walking inside.

Cole’s pale face turned when he heard the door open. When he saw her, his face instantly it lit up like a Christmas tree. “KAREN!”

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Where have you been? We were supposed to go feed the ducks at the park, remember? You never came back and no one would tell me where you went. I thought you were dead like my Mommy and Daddy.” Cole was overwhelmed. He was almost in tears, torn between being angry with her and being thankful to see her at all.

Karen’s heart felt heavy and she wasn’t sure what to tell him, but she remembered very clearly promising to come back that afternoon to take him to the park to feed the ducks by the pond. That was the day she’d decided to fly to Pennsylvania to check on Austin… In all of the excitement that followed, a small promise to a little boy had been forgotten.

“I had some important stuff I had to do…”

“More important than me?” Cole asked innocently.

“No…I mean…it was a different kind of important. I didn’t want to leave you like I did, but I had to.”

“I was afraid I was gonna die before you ever came back.”

At that instant, Karen’s heart broke. “Oh Cole…” She didn’t know what else to say.

Gretchen suddenly poked her head in the door. “Karen, what are you doing in here? Didn’t I give you some work to do?”

“I’m sorry…I was just checking on Cole.”

“Well please leave that to the nurses.”

Karen turned back to Cole, she tried to smile and sound as reassuring as she could. “I don’t know if you’ll believe me this time, but I promise I’ll be back…and I’ll make everything up to you. ‘Kay?”

Cole nodded unenthusiastically and then turned away from Karen. She watched him for just a second longer and then walked out into the hallway to collect the cart of laundry that she’d left.

As she piled another stack on top of the rest, she became aware of two nurses having a conversation at the desk near her.

“Have you checked on Cole yet?” “No, I was just getting ready to go in there. Have there been any changes in his condition?” “No, none. It’s a shame…that poor kid. The state can’t afford to give him the treatment he needs…God, he was dealt such a bad hand.”

The second nurse solemnly nodded. “It’s unfair, but there’s nothing we can do but make his stay here as comfortable as possible.”

Karen couldn’t listen to anymore; she was already so upset. She rolled the cart down the hallway and then tears started to stream down her face.

Deep inside she wondered if someone was trying to tell her something. Was this strange twist of fate a sign that she should step in and help Cole? And if she did try something like that, how would Christopher react? They were already nearly over their heads with Megan and Austin. How could she add the strain of bringing a dying little boy into their lives too, even if it was only to care for his needs? The questions swirled in her head. One thing was for certain, she was going to find a way to make up to Cole for breaking her promise, he deserved at least that much.

She was tired of reading and tired of the long days. She put her fingers to her temples and rubbed them. As she did, her eyes fell upon a picture of Gracie that was sitting on her desk. Smiling, she picked it up and held it, gazing at the giggling little girl in the picture. Looking over at another picture on her desk, her smile quickly faded. Her heart ached when she looked at Bobby’s image. She missed him. She missed the closeness that they usually shared. Her job at Wentworth was twice as difficult knowing he didn’t support her.

“Buzzz.”

“Mrs. Ewing, Mr. Waterson is here.”

Pamela quickly set the picture of Gracie down on her desk. “Send him in, please.”

Sam Waterson walked into the room only seconds later. It was clear that he wasn’t happy to be there. Pam walked over and shook his hand. “Hello Sam, please have a seat.”

“I’ll stand if you don’t mind. I have only a few minutes to spare.” He was making it clear that he saw this as a waste of his time.

Pam bristled at the implied insult. She looked him squarely in the eyes. “Then you’ll need to make time.” She walked to her desk and sat down.

“Mrs. Ewing, I have to say that I was surprised to get your call.” He looked around her office, “I didn’t realize you were planning on attempting to run any of Wentworth industries.” He didn’t hide the annoyance in his voice.

“I didn’t think I needed to ask anyone’s permission. It is still my company. Which brings me to the point of our meeting. With the help of Don Richards, I have outlined some policies that I feel need to be changed immediately.” She held up some papers, which he reluctantly took from her. “There are others further down on the page that need to be implemented, but which can wait until we’ve made the other changes and improvements.”

Sam gave the outline a cursory glance. He knew two things for certain, if Don was in on it, he was bound to not like the ‘proposed changes’ and no woman was going to tell him how to run Wentworth Industries! “Yes, I see. Mrs. Ewing, I’d be more careful where I got my ideas and information if I were you. Don is a good man, but he has no idea what it takes to turn a profit, as you can see if you look at the record of the Tool and Die for the last few years.”

“You don’t seem to understand, Mr. Waterson, these aren’t suggestions. I expect those policies to be implemented right away.”

“That’s impossible. Even if I wanted to, you can’t keep all of these employees on and raise some of the salaries too! It’s nonsense. There simply isn’t the money to do it. The company would shut down in a week – if it lasted that long.”

“The money isn’t a problem. I’m going to make up the difference myself. As for the idea, I disagree. I think that the real problem here is morale. Wentworth isn’t paying enough to hire the most qualified people, and the ones who are here have no incentive to do a good job. That’s where my proposal for employee profit sharing will come in…”

“That’s fine, but there are no profits to share!” Then in a patronizing tone, “Really Mrs. Ewing, you don’t need all of this stress and worry in your life. You need to be taking it easy, getting ready to have your baby. Why don’t you just leave all of these problems and details to us experts? If you really feel strongly about your proposals, feel free to bring them up at the next annual board meeting. Now, if that’s all, I’ll be going.” He turned towards the door.

Pam was infuriated – how dare he walk in here and treat her like a little girl!! She took a deep breath, “You’re right Mr. Waterson, you will be going!” He stopped and turned around.

“What? Are you trying to fire me?” He said incredulously.

“Oh no, I’m not trying, I’m doing it.”

“You can’t do that!”

Pamela stood and walked gracefully to the door, opening it, she said, “I can and I did. Good-bye, Sam!”

“You’ll regret this!” He quickly walked out of her office. Pam shut the door and then turned and leaned against it. She smiled and then chuckled. She hadn’t meant to do it, but she had just fired Wentworth Industry’s Chief Executive Officer.

There was a fifty-fifty chance she’d get it right if she guessed, so that’s what Isabel did. She dumped in a tablespoon of vanilla extract and stirred the mixture, knocking over the bag of flour onto the stovetop as she did so.

She sighed as the Southfork kitchen began to look like a snow-covered prairie, but she was determined to make this cake and make it right, no matter how much of a mess she made doing it.

Isabel poured the batter into the cake pan and licked her lip as she slowly walked over and gently placed it in the oven, being careful not to spill it.

She eyed the pan of batter, but a burning smell wafted to her nose and she turned around to see the bag of flour blazing with fire. “Oh my God!”

Isabel went into a state of panic and stared at the fire, not knowing what to do. Suddenly, the kitchen door burst open and Theresa ran in. “Isabel! What have you done this time!”

The fire rapidly spread over to the counter as Theresa bolted over to the pantry and pulled out a fire extinguisher. “Move back Isabel…!” She aimed it at the fire and within seconds, it was reduced to nothing but smoke.

“Just what the hell is going on here!” J.R. stepped into the kitchen and his eyes went wide when he saw the melted countertop and the charred bag. “Good God, what’ve you done this time Isabel?”

“She didn’t do it Mr. Ewing,” Theresa said suddenly. “I did. I turned away for a second…the bag must have touched the hot stove-eye. If Isabel hadn’t come in when she did, the whole kitchen might have gone up…she saw it.”

“Hell Theresa, you could’ve burned the whole house down. Now call somebody to get that countertop fixed. I don’t want Momma to have to come home to such as this.”

Theresa nodded. “Yes Mr. Ewing, I’ll call someone right away. Can I get you any breakfast?”

J.R. glanced down at his watch. “No, no time for breakfast now. I’m expecting some big news at Ewing Oil and I need to get going. Just see to it that this is taken care of before Momma comes home today…and I mean it.”

Theresa said nothing until she heard the outer door shut. “Isabel! Do you realize how close you came to getting kicked out of Southfork? You will have to be more careful from now on!”

“I just checked with him five minutes ago, Cliff. He said he would let me know as soon as he heard from her.”

“I don’t care what he said! Check with him again!” Cliff wearily lifted his finger off the intercom button. The pressure was getting to be too much for him. He was beginning to feel like a death row inmate who had used up his last appeal… now he was just waiting for the ax to fall.

In a few seconds, Jackie buzzed him on the intercom again. “Eric still hasn’t heard from her, Cliff. He said to tell you not to bother asking for the next couple of hours, he’s going to lunch.”

“Well I hope someone else is buying.” Cliff grumbled as he stared out the window.

JR gave his mother a gentle hug and a kiss on the cheek. “It’s good to have you home, Momma. Come on, dinner’s gonna be ready any minute. I think Theresa prepared all of your favorites, by the looks of things.”

Miss Ellie nodded and headed toward her end of the table. “From the smell of things, Theresa must have been making some of my chili too.”

“Well, we all know the only person that can really make that is you, Momma.”

“If you were still younger, J.R. I’d think you wanted something from me, the way you are flattering me.”

J.R. laughed. “No ulterior motives tonight. I’m just glad to have you home.”

Miss Ellie looked around the dining room puzzled. “Where’s everyone else?”

“Well, John Ross called me today and said that he and Melissa were heading out to dinner. I guess that the two of them are getting back together.”

“Did I hear you right, J.R?” Sue Ellen asked, as she walked into the room.

For a moment, J.R. couldn’t respond, her beauty captivated him again. He hated to admit it to himself, but he was having more and more trouble thinking about anyone but her lately. He also had to admit that thinking of Iris lately, made his skin crawl. “Yeah, you did. Our son has reconciled with Miss McSween.”

“Well, I’ll say that it is about time for that. The two of them belong together.”

Just like we do, J.R. wanted to say to her, but he held his tongue. He wished he knew what his re-ignited thoughts about her really meant.

“Well, where are Karen and Christopher,” Miss Ellie asked.

“I saw Karen and Christopher this morning, Miss Ellie. They said they had some things to take care of, and then they were going to take Austin and Megan to dinner.”

“Well, it sounds like my homecoming wasn’t all that special,” Miss Ellie teased.

“You know that’s not true, Miss Ellie.”

A broad smile came across Miss Ellie’s face as she saw Donna and Ray standing in the entranceway.

“Well, by all means, Ray, come in and join us. Nothing like the “whole family” being here to welcome Momma home," J.R. snapped in his usual sarcastic tone.

Sue Ellen sensed hostility brewing, and she decided to stop them. She didn’t want anything to ruin Miss Ellie’s first night home. “So how are things at City Hall, Donna?”

“I guess they’re fine, Sue Ellen, Dallas is still standing.”

“Until some new scandal hits and y’all have to run for cover again..." J.R. chimed in.

“I’ve never run from anything in my life, J.R.," Donna said, “and I don’t intend to start now.”

Miss Ellie looked from Donna to Bobby. She noticed that the place next to him at the table was empty. “Bobby, where’s Pam?”

“She’s still at work.”

“Well, well, well,” J.R. taunted, “Pamela Ewing thinks she can make it as a businesswoman? She must be dreaming. She’ll never survive in the cut-throat world of Dallas.”

“Another comment like that, J.R., and I’ll cut your throat,” Bobby said angrily.

Miss Ellie chuckled, “Some things never change at Southfork, do they?”

The table broke into laughter at Miss Ellie’s comment. Theresa emerged from the dining room, carrying some of the plates for dinner. “Welcome home, Mrs. Farlow.”

“Thank you, Theresa. It’s good to be back. Where’s Isabel?”

“She’s in the kitchen preparing a dessert for tonight.”

“Crème-de-la-J.R.’s suit?” Bobby enjoyed a chuckle at JR’s expense.

Theresa was glad that Bobby had made that comment. She allowed herself to crack a smile as she headed back toward the kitchen.

“By the way, J.R., did you hear who’s working with Cliff at the Clifford Group now,” asked Sue Ellen.

“I can’t say that I have.”

“From what I hear, Cliff convinced Eric to join him there.”

“See what I mean? Anyone tied with the name Barnes in business is destined to be a loser. I’d love to know how in the world Cliff convinced Marilee to sleep with him and have that kid. I thought Marilee had more common sense than that.”

“That’s enough being negative for one night, J.R. I want to enjoy dinner without any snide remarks.”

“Yes, ma’am,” J.R. responded respectfully.

“Where’s Lucy,” Ellie asked Bobby. “I was hoping she would be here.”

“She planned to be, Momma. But everything with Neil has her upset, and Val is trying to keep her calmed down.”

Before anyone could say anything else, Theresa brought out course after course from the kitchen, and they all fed themselves with a hearty portion of Texas beef and other Southfork specialties.

A short time later, Theresa was clearing the dinner dishes as Isabel was bringing around dessert, a pudding pie. As she went to place a piece of pie at J.R.’s spot, he inadvertently moved his elbow and bumped her. She fell forward, spilling the pudding in his lap.

“Oh, Gawd, not again!”

“I think pudding is your best flavor yet, J.R., Sue Ellen teased.

Bobby didn’t try to suppress a grin. “I don’t know, Sue Ellen, that lemonade the other day matches his sour-puss attitude a bit better. He’s hardly ever as sweet as pudding.”

“Well, I’ve had enough of you, Isabel. I think I’ll drive you back to the border myself.”

“You will do no such thing, J.R. We will discuss this tomorrow. Just go change now.”

As they split from the dinner table, Sue Ellen decided to go get another piece of the pie from the kitchen. It was just a little sweeter knowing that J.R. was upset again. Ray joined Bobby for a nightcap in the living room, and Donna was surprised when she found Miss Ellie standing quietly out on the patio.

“Is everything all right,” Donna asked, “you seem upset, Miss Ellie.”

“I’ll be fine, Donna. I’m just tired, that’s all.”

“Well, if you need anything, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks for the offer, Donna. But I’ll be all right after I get some rest.”

Donna excused herself and headed back inside to rejoin Ray.

Miss Ellie looked back out at the expanse of Southfork. She was tired, but there was still work to do. The whole mystery of the cattle had yet to be solved, and she was still having those dreams from her past. There was a lot that had to be figured out yet, and something told Miss Ellie that she had to be the one to figure them out. She was the only one who would know what all the right answers were. She had to find them herself, without help from anyone else.

Fifteen minutes later, Pamela walked into their room, as quietly as she could. She turned to see Bobby and stood still as their eyes locked. She felt guilty for coming home so late, but there was a lot to be done after she fired Sam…

“Where were you? I heard your car almost twenty minutes ago?” There was unmistakable anger in his voice.

“I stopped in the nursery to look in on Gracie.”

A sharp reply came to Bobby’s mind, but he quickly forgot it when she stepped further into the room and he saw the tired look in her eyes. His anger melted away and was replaced with concern. She really was over doing it. Suddenly, winning the fight didn’t seem very important.

Pamela walked over to the dresser and set her purse down. As she began to struggle trying to remove her necklace, Bobby came up behind her and gently took the clasp out of her hands. He quickly unhooked it. She turned toward him, expecting to see hostility, but the look on his face was one of worry and concern. She almost wished he was angry, then she wouldn’t feel quite so guilty. He handed her the necklace and put his hands gently on her shoulders.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Just a little tired, that’s all.”

Bobby nodded his head slightly, “Okay, have you eaten dinner? I can have Theresa bring something up for you.”

“No, we ordered in.” She couldn’t stand it anymore. “I’m sorry I’m so late, Bobby. It was a really rough day and…”

“Momma’s home.”

“What? I didn’t know she was coming home today.”

“No one did until this morning, the doctor said she was doing fine and released her.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Pam felt awful that she had missed Miss Ellie’s first dinner back home. Dinners with the family were so important to Ellie. Bobby should have told her!

Bobby dropped his hands from her shoulders. “I would have, but it never occurred to me that you wouldn’t be home for dinner. Especially since you know how I feel about your working.” Now that he knew she was all right, the irritation was coming back.

Pam turned away from him and walked around to the other side of the bed. “Please don’t start that now, not tonight, Bobby.”

“I’m not starting it, Pamela, I’m finishing it. This nonsense stops here and now. It was bad enough that you insist on working while you’re pregnant, but now it’s interfering with our family and I won’t have it!”

“It’s always about what you want, what you think is best! Well I have a say in what happens in this family too!”

“It seems to me, you’re the only one who has had any say in this. I’m the one waiting around for you to come home every night.”

She knew he was right about that, she really hadn’t meant to be so late, but she was too angry to admit it now. “It couldn’t be helped.” She said the words with finality and sat down on the bed.

Bobby’s voice was heavy with sarcasm, as he spoke to her back, “Really? That’s the best you can come up with, ‘it couldn’t be helped’? I guess that’s what I’ll tell Gracie the next time I tuck her in at night by myself!” He turned and stormed out of the room.

Pam was angry, but part of her knew he was right. She was overdoing it and she felt horrible. She changed her clothes and got in bed, determined to wait up for Bobby. She intended to tell him that she knew she was doing too much and she promised to slow down. If only he would listen… Those were the last thoughts she remembered before falling off to sleep.

She heard the patio doors slide open and looked over to see Pamela emerge, dressed in a suit and headed for work. “Good morning Miss Ellie.” Pam came and stood before her. She pushed her hair back out of her face, as the wind swirled around her. “Welcome home. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to welcome you last night. I had no idea you were coming home yesterday.”

Ellie smiled, “No one did. The nurses weren’t happy about it, but I guess I raised such a fuss they were glad to get rid of me. How about you? How are you feeling?”

Pamela glanced at her watch. “I’m fine.”

“How do you like working again?” Ellie’s gaze was pointed and Pamela understood that she wasn’t asking about Wentworth as much as she was asking about how she and Bobby were dealing with her decision to go back to work. As for Pam, she didn’t have the time, or the inclination to answer the underlying question.

“I love it. In fact, if I don’t leave right now, I’ll be late for a meeting.” She bent over, with a little effort, and kissed Ellie on the cheek. “Good-bye, Miss Ellie.”

Ellie watched her go and wondered where her son was.

She didn’t have to wait long. A few minutes later, Bobby walked out onto the patio. He was dressed for riding, but when he saw his mother, he stopped and sat with her. “Morning Momma.” He said, kissing her on the cheek. “Why aren’t you dressed properly? I thought we were going riding today.” He teased.

Ellie smiled at him, “Not quite up to that yet. I think sitting and enjoying my garden is about as active as I’ll get today. Why don’t you take Christopher?”

“I’m not sure where he is. I was going to take Gracie, but Nelda caught me sneaking her out of the nursery. She said some silly thing about her having just learned to walk. I tried to tell her that Ewings are supposed to ride before they can walk.”

“That’s the boys, if Lucy is any example, the girls learn to shop first. At least it’s a beautiful day for a ride.”

Bobby looked out at the ranch. “Yeah, I thought the fresh air might help clear my head.”

Miss Ellie looked thoughtfully at her youngest son. Bobby obviously wanted to talk, but Ellie made it a point never to pry into her sons’ personal lives. So she patiently sat and waited for an invitation. Minutes went by. Finally, Bobby looked over at her, “I guess I’ll go saddle up that horse.”

“Aren’t you going to tell me whatever it is you want to talk about first?” Ellie gave him a small, knowing smile.

Bobby sat back, unsure of what to say. “I suppose you’re right, I guess there is something I need to talk about. I just can’t figure women. Why is it that once they get exactly what they’ve always wanted, they have to have something else? It just doesn’t make sense.”

Ellie chuckled, “I think you’re giving us too much credit, that statement could be equally true of every man I know, including you.” She goaded.

Bobby raised his eyebrows, “Not me. I’m happy. I have a beautiful wife, that I love, a wonderful little daughter, and twins on the way, who could ask for more.” But Ellie could see the sadness in his eyes.

“Bobby, why don’t you stop beating around the bush? You want to talk about Pamela, talk.”

“Momma, you are one of the most direct people I know. And one of the only people I could ever talk to except Pam, or Gary. I’m not sure I even know where to begin.”

“Then I’ll help. You think that Pamela should be happy with her life and somehow, you think she isn’t? Is that it?”

Bobby thought for a moment. Was it that simple? “Yeah, I guess that’s about it. She always wanted children – all of our lives together, we wanted kids. She missed seeing Christopher grow up and I missed sharing that with her. Now is a time when we should be relaxing together and enjoying Gracie and getting ready for the twins.”

“And not running off to work everyday? Is that what you mean?”

“It’s not good for her Momma. Have you seen how tired she looks? Don’t forget, she’s had two miscarriages, and carrying twins isn’t easy.”

“So now you’re an expert on pregnancy? Bobby, I think you have the answer to your question. You said yourself your family is very important to Pam. It sounds like you’re the one forgetting that.”

“Wait a minute, I’m the one who wants her to slow down and take care of herself.”

“Bobby I think you know in your heart that Pamela would never do anything that she thought would endanger your babies. I know how much she loves you and the children. If she’s tiring herself out, she must have a good reason.” Bobby looked down at the table. “Have you talked about it with her?”

“Well, we…” he paused, “no, not really. No matter how hard I try, every time we talk about it, we end up in a fight.”

Ellie reached out and patted Bobby’s hand. “Then maybe it’s time you did a little less fighting and a lot more listening.” Then she picked up her coffee cup and took another sip. “You’re my son and I love you, Bobby, but you have your Daddy’s temper.” Then with a smile, “And, unfortunately for you and Pam, she’s almost as stubborn as I am.”

Bobby smiled too; he was beginning to feel better. “Pam and I could do a lot worse than being like you and Daddy, even in the rough times.” He leaned over and took Ellie’s hands in his and kissed her on the cheek, “Thank you Momma.” Then he stood and began to walk back into the house.

“I thought you were going riding?”

Bobby turned and winked at her. “I have some things to do first.” Then he disappeared into the house.

Ellie smiled to herself as she took another sip of her coffee, it was good to know that her children still needed her.

J.R. looked up and noticed Sue Ellen. He quickly decided to break off his phone conversation. “Alright, thanks and I’ll be in touch.” He hung up the phone and folded his hands. “Didn’t that mother of yours ever teach you to knock?”

Sue Ellen wasn’t interested in mincing words with him at the moment. “What was that phone call about? You seemed awfully interested in it…and what’s this about getting away from Dallas?”

J.R. rolled his eyes and began to play with two paperclips, joining them together and then working them apart. “Nothing that concerns you Sue Ellen. You just mind your own part of the business and I’ll mind mine.”

Sue Ellen shook her head. “Un-uh…that’s not how we agreed to do things and you know it.”

“You mean there was an agreement to this little partnership? Could’ve fooled me…”

“We run this company together and that means we tell each other what’s going on. No secrets, JR. I don’t want to be kept in the dark.” Sue Ellen placed her hands on her hips and leaned against the door facing. “Now tell me what’s going on or else I’ll find out on my own…and you may not like how I do that.”

J.R. sighed, giving up. “I’m flying up to Alaska later this week to check out some cheap oil fields.”

“Cheap? Cheap usually means no good,” Sue Ellen pointed out.

“Maybe on a dress rack, darlin, but not in this case. They’re going cheap because of the legislature’s restrictions on pumping oil. I had the geological reports faxed to me and everything looks good.”

Sue Ellen grinned, slightly amused. “J.R. Ewing using a computer and a fax machine. What’s next? Voicemail?”

J.R. ignored her comment. “I’m leaving Wednesday afternoon and I should be back by Friday. I take it you can handle everything here at Ewing Oil while I’m gone…as much as I hate to leave it in your hands.”

“My hands are more than capable, but I won’t be taking the reigns while you’re gone.”

“What? I thought you’d be chomping at the bit to run Ewing Oil alone for a few days.”

“I would, but I’m going with you to Alaska.”

“You’re what?” J.R. wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly.

“I’m going with you to Alaska… I’m not going to let you keep your little secret deals secret anymore. I want to see for myself that those wells are good.”

J.R. shook his head but he knew it would be futile to try and change Sue Ellen Ewing’s mind. Besides, company on the flight over just might not be a bad thing—especially when it was Sue Ellen.