Lights: Calling Me Home (Parts 2&3)

[Jessie]

Great update poor Pam is going to be devastated when she finds out Cliff died.

[Lovely Linda]

I am wondering when (and if) Katherine's going to reappear...

[MrsSuperman93]

I am wondering when (and if) Katherine's going to reappear...

Am I that predictable?

[MrsSuperman93]

2

Bobby cringed and fumbled for some kind of response.

“You have plenty of time for that. Today, I would much rather focus on you and having you settled back home.”

She nodded in agreement, “Okay, you’re right. D’you still eat dinner at 7pm?”

“On the dot,” he confirmed.

“Like your daddy always expected,” she reminisced. “I bet the ranch is as beautiful as it ever was.” Her mind flickered over to the woman everyone connected with Southfork ranch, “And your mama…?” He sadly shared a look and Pamela knew she had missed her chance for a final farewell, “I’m so sorry, how’d it happen?”

“Natural causes. It was peaceful. Back in 2002,” he replied. “Clayton died in 2001 of a brain aneurysm.”

Pamela shook her head, “How awful…” she muttered.

Bobby swirled into the drive of Southfork. “They’re both buried here on the ranch. Next to Garrison.” He motioned off far into the distance and Pamela found herself hypnotised by the beauty of the ranch she once called home. “I’ll take you out to see them sometime.”

The car arrived at the entrance and Pamela climbed out, filled with excitement. Her mind span back almost 30 years and she felt like the newly-wed bride who arrived at Southfork for the first time again.

Before she knew it, Sue Ellen rushed out from the house. “Pam!”

“Hi, Sue Ellen,” Pamela accepted the embrace, rather overwhelmed by the whole experience.

“Come in, come in…” she ushered her friend in. Pamela admired the décor and scanned the house for the differences since the day she had last been there. “How’re you?”

“Happy to be back home.” She admitted, “It’s the first time in years that I really feel… peaceful.”

Bobby carried her suitcase upstairs, “Why don’t I show you to your room? And then Sue Ellen can give you the grand tour around the house to make sure you remember where everything is.”


Once settled, Sue Ellen showed Pamela around the house.

“And here’s the nursery for when the baby arrives…” Sue Ellen concluded, as they entered a half-painted bedroom with no furniture in. “Hannah’s barely two months but I’m already so excited. I want it all perfect.” Pamela nodded her head and Sue Ellen babbled on, filled with anticipation. “It’s only now that I’m a grandmother-to-be that I can truly appreciate how excited Jock and Miss Ellie must have been when I fell pregnant.”

“It’s a wonderful time for everyone…” Pamela murmured in agreement as she admired the room.

“Well, you’ll meet Hannah later on. She’s out for the afternoon with a few friends.” Sue Ellen replied, “And the boys are at work with JR, which leaves only the three of us. Would you like to rest or –?”

“Yes, would you mind?” She checked.

“Absolutely not.” Sue Ellen smiled back, “I’ll be downstairs if you need anything, there’s fresh towels in the en-suite if you want to take a shower and feel free to call Carmen if you’re hungry or –”

“Sue Ellen,” her friend laughed, with a hand on her arm, “I’ll call you if I need anything,” she chuckled and admired her familiar surroundings. It felt good to be back.

[Jessie]

Lovely update I'm glad Pam is finally home.

[Lovely Linda]

Very nice update! But is it me or is this pregnancy progressing in slow motion ?

As for Katherine: Since she's not dead and her first grandchild about to be raised by the Ewings...? Come on

[MrsSuperman93]

Very nice update! But is it me or is this pregnancy progressing in slow motion ?

No, of course not
I admit, I lost track of time a little in the midst of writing, so indulge me and pretend it's all working out? PUH-LEASE!

[MrsSuperman93]

3

Home later from work than usual, JR rushed in. “Sorry I’m late tonight. Traffic again…”

His surprise was evident to find the family huddled in the dining room with a Chinese take-out shared around the table. His younger brother grinned, “That’s alright, JR. You didn't miss too much.”

“Well, what the hell is this?” JR frowned.

“We ordered dinner in,” Christopher replied.

“Why the hell would you do that?” JR barked back, “What the hell do you think the help is hired for?” It had been a busy day at the office and both the boys had come home early for Pamela’s return, which only put JR in a worse mood. In fact, he did all he could not to notice her back in his house again.

Sue Ellen licked some sweet and sour sauce from her fingertips, “I gave Carmen the night off, JR. Her daughter flew in for a visit and Carmen hasn’t seen her in months. Why don’t you come and join us? There’s plenty left for you.”

JR snatched his Stetson from the table and snarled back, “Forget it. I’ve never liked Chinese.”

The entire family braced themselves as JR stormed from the living room and his car roared from the drive. “Well…” Pamela twirled noodles around her fork, “It’s a comfort to know some things will never change from the norm.”

John Ross chuckled, “Yeah, dad’s the same as he’s ever been.”

“You’re not though…” she softly replied and she looked between her nephew and son. “Neither one of you are the same.” It pained her to admit how much she had missed of her son’s childhood, “You were such tiny little men when I left,” she let a small smile lift on her lips.

“Well, now’s the time for you to catch-up,” Bobby comfortingly rubbed her back.

“Right.” She nodded, “Come on then… tell me what I’ve missed.”

John Ross motioned toward his cousin, “You take the stage first,” he offered.

All eyes fell on him and Christopher shrugged his shoulders, “I’m not sure where to start… I studied business economics and became an apprentice-type at Barnes Wentworth with uncle Cliff.” He noticed the smile form over his mother’s face, “And then I came straight to work with dad at Ewing Oil. It’s been that way ever since I left college.”

She pursed her lips, “No girls?”

John Ross chuckled his father’s chuckle to lighten the mood, “Christopher’s not really one for commitment.”

“I don’t think he’s ever brought a girl home with him,” Bobby teased.

“Well, that’s alright. You have plenty of time for that,” Pamela reassured, slightly relieved to know she hadn’t missed many major events in Christopher’s adulthood. “And I take it, no children,” she checked.

“No, it looks like John Ross beat me to it,” Christopher pointed out.

Everyone turned to John Ross and Hannah, who felt uncomfortable under Pamela’s spotlight. “Of course he has,” Pamela admired, “How far along are you?”

She looked toward Hannah, who placed her coffee cup on the table and thought, “Almost five months.”

The family smiled in anticipation of the new family member to their clan. “It’s a wonderful time in both your lives. I know you probably want to rush it through and have the baby here but to be pregnant…” her voice sadly trailed off. “Cherish this time because it flies by before you know it.” John Ross and Hannah nodded to take the information in. “Hannah, what about your family? How does your mother and father feel about all of this?”

No one found the courage to respond until Hannah filled the atmosphere, “My parents… are dead. They died in a car accident last year and I moved here to Texas with my aunt. That’s where I met John Ross,” she smiled at him.

“I’m so sorry,” Pamela sympathised with the young girl.

Hannah shrugged it off, “I have a family of my own now,” she pointed out, with a rub of her stomach.

[Jessie]

Another awesome update Lindsay.

[Lovely Linda]

3 She looked toward Hannah, who placed her coffee cup on the table and thought, “Almost five months.”

Time warp Thanks for the update!
Chinese??? Honoring the late Cliff Barnes.... - LOL

[MrsSuperman93]

4

“You didn’t need to lie like that.”

Hannah slipped underneath the duvet and shrugged. “Does it really matter?” It was highly unlikely either of her parents would ever make another appearance in her life or even attempt communication.

John Ross sympathetically looked in her direction. “Well, I mean…” he exhaled. He didn’t mean to sound ungrateful for the gesture Hannah offered, but he didn’t feel settled with the idea of Hannah cutting all ties with her parents. “I hope you didn’t feel pressured into it. We could have found another way to answer the question.”

She sniffed the emotion away, “This is easier for everyone.”

He climbed underneath the duvet and wrapped his arms around her waist, “I really respect you for that, you know?”

Hannah accepted his embrace. “Thank you. You’ll never know how much that means.”


As the family slept on, Pamela sneaked downstairs into the kitchen, where she found her son awake and alert.

Christopher smiled in recognition, “Not tired?”

“It feels so odd to be back here. The memories almost make it impossible to sleep when they’re all I can think about.” She confessed, as she plonked herself in the breakfast stool next to him. “What are you thinking?”

A breath escaped his lips and the honesty flooded out, “If I can ever move past the years I spent without you.” She looked somewhat startled and he carried on, “I know you planned to come back. And if weren’t for Katherine, you would have. But I’ve spent years, my entire childhood believing you left of your own accord and now I find it difficult to shove that from my mind and accept you back again.” He frowned, upset with himself, “I’m sorry…”

His mother nodded in acceptance, “Don’t apologise for that. I know how you must have felt and I understand better than anyone that that kind of bitterness doesn’t fade away simply because the facts have changed.” She clasped his hand in hers and the emotion cracked, “I know you may never forgive me.”

“I want to –” he cried out.

“Ssshh,” she soothed as she caressed his cheek. “Listen, if you don’t think you can. If you’ve done all you can to forgive me and your heart won’t let you, then I’ll leave and I’ll understand. I will,” Pamela promised him.

Christopher frowned, “That’s not…”

She tilted her head, “But if you need me to stay, then nothing and no one can ever move me.”

Her son wiped the tears from his eyes and sniffed to compose himself before he spoke. “Do you remember when you were in the hospital?” Christopher began, “And I think you had been in there for a couple days and no one would tell me when you would come home and no one would let me see you.”

Pamela nodded along, “I don’t really remember much. They kept me heavily sedated.”

“Well…” Christopher continued, “One day, I decided to visit you. I drove my bike out to the local garage and hitched a ride with someone to the hospital. But once I made it there and found your room, I was too scared to go in. And then one of the nurses found me and called the ranch.” He concluded, “A couple days after that, you disappeared and I wondered if it was because I had refused to visit you. Then, I wondered if it was because I had been adopted. None of it made sense, all I can remember was this surreal confusion.”

Tears watered in her eyes as she remembered the moment Christopher confronted her about the adoption. “I’m sorry, I know I didn’t handle that conversation very real when you asked about the adoption. All of this emotion hit me when you confronted me.” She shakily inhaled and exhaled, “And my worst fear was that you would resent me because I wasn’t your biological mother and I feared that so much… because I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you.”

He frowned, “What about dad?”

Pamela shook her head, “The strength of my love for you has always been stronger than my love for him.” She admitted, “I don’t know if that is the normal way for mothers to feel but, when your father and I divorced, when we hit hard times, you were the one I relied on. Without you, there wouldn’t have been any point for me to carry on.”

Christopher swallowed the lump in his throat, “Dad told me about the –” he paused, “Depression.”

“You were my heart. You were the only one who really mattered to me. And you still are to this day,” Pamela confessed. “I love you with all my heart, I always have and I always will.”

He nodded, “I love you…” Christopher opened his arms for an embrace, “Mom.”

[Lovely Linda]

Ahhhhhh....you almost had me in tears here - what a beautiful scene between mother and son. Wonderful writing!

[Jessie]

Beautiful update great scene between Christopher, and his Mom.

[MrsSuperman93]

5

Christopher flicked the page of another photo album, “And here we are again…”

“Oh…” his mother lost her breath, so overwhelmed with pride as she admired him and John Ross on their first hunting weekend with their fathers. “Look at you. You’re so small. And look at those freckles,” she smiled.

He shook his head at the thought, “Uncle JR and dad would take us whenever the office was quiet. John Ross was a real natural at it all. Probably because he tried harder than I did at it. He always felt like he had to prove himself, you know?” Christopher explained and Pamela nodded, fully aware of the pressure JR can lay upon someone.

She turned the page this time and stumbled across one picture of Christopher and a younger boy, “Is that…?”

Her son nodded, “Lucas. Lucas Krebbs.”

Pamela snapped her head in his direction, “Krebbs?” Again, she studied the photograph and instantly connected the similarities in appearance to the little boy and his natural father.

“Shortly after your accident, Jenna and Ray became married and left for Europe. Either we would visit them, or they would come here in the summer if business allowed it. Lucas is probably almost 2 years old there.” Christopher added.

“He’s adorable.” She replied.

And similar photographs continued to appear as the pages turned. Ones with Christopher and Lucas, ones with Jenna and Lucas, ones with Jenna, Lucas and Christopher and even one with Bobby, Jenna, Charlie, Christopher and Lucas. Pamela hated to admit how much they looked like a family unit. “Well…”

Christopher replaced that one and pulled another one from the shelf, “Here, I think this is the one with lots of you in it.” He sat back down on the sofa with his mother and opened it, “At night, I would creep down and find this album and stare at pictures of you for hours.” The admiration in his voice was more than obvious, “I used to think you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen…”

Pamela blushed and bowed her head, “Not anymore, eh?”

“You look no different from the pictures I would admire for hours,” he assured.

She brushed her auburn curls from her face. “Not that pictures were any good. You needed a mother that was here for you and I wasn’t.” When Christopher attempted to protest, she continued, “Even when I was, I didn’t put you first. I was always too self-centred. I mean, if I hadn’t run away from the hospital, Katherine would never have been able to take me.”

Christopher frowned, “That was not your fault.”

His mother shrugged her shoulders, “You know, all I have are these nightmares? It is almost like they’re memories. I can see her face. I can feel the fear and I can even smell her perfume. She must have hated me…” She shook her head, “I don’t understand why she changed, I mean, it wasn’t always like that. She didn’t hate me. Before our mother died, she was the normal one out of the two of us. She came to visit me in the clinic, before we adopted you, and she really seemed to care. I remember how happy I was to have a sister like I had always wanted and she said she felt the same.”

“Mom,” Christopher sighed in exasperation. “The woman was insane and she still is. I know you feel responsible for her because she’s your sister but you didn’t provoke her into any of this. It was never your fault.”

Pamela accepted his insistence and backed down, “I suppose you’re right.”

He nodded, “You look pretty tired. Perhaps you think you can sleep now?” She pondered the idea and nodded, “Good.” He took her hand and walked her back upstairs, “I’ll be in my room if you need anything, okay? Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, sweetheart,” she kissed his cheek.

[Jessie]

Awesome update poor Pam, I hope her , and Christopher can be close again, she deserves to be happy.

[Lovely Linda]

Another fine update!
But I feel it is time again for some real action very soon...

[MrsSuperman93]

6

Bleary-eyed with a yawn, Pamela inhaled the luscious aroma of French toast, smoky bacon and scrambled eggs carried in on the breakfast tray with a romantic red rose and glass of fresh orange juice on the side.

Bobby set the tray over her knees, “You never used to sleep in.”

She rubbed her eyes, “What time is it?”

“Almost 10am. Christopher mentioned a late night conversation between the two of you,” he added. “You don’t know how much it pleases me to see how easily he’s accepted you back.” His brow creased, “After you left, I used to imagine scenes of a reunion but none were as beautiful as this has been.”

In agreement, Pamela nodded her head. “He’s not the only one I need a reunion with.”

Her former husband appeared intrigued and leaned forward, “Oh?”

She munched from a slice of toast and chewed on it, “Well, I know you were never fond of him but I don’t expect you to have forgotten that intolerable brother of mine so soon,” she teased. “I have really missed him.”

Bobby instantly felt uncomfortable. “Honey, I don’t think you should overdo it. Why not concentrate on Christopher and the years you’ve missed with him? No one is more important than him.” He felt rather ashamed for playing on Pamela’s maternal instincts as she reluctantly nodded in disappointment, but Bobby knew it was far too soon for Pamela to hear of her brother’s death. “In fact, he has taken the liberty of booking the day off for the pair of us so we can spend the day with you. We could maybe show you around Dallas, see the changes since you’ve been gone.”

Pamela nodded, “Sounds wonderful.”

His hand caressed her cheek, “I have to leave for work. The house should be empty so feel free to nose around. I know it’s quite different from when you lived here. Have a nice day,” he departed the room.

As Pamela continued to devour her breakfast, a knock came at the bedroom door, “Come in…”

Her nephew appeared in the doorway, “Hi.”

She smiled back, “Hi. Please come in,” she ushered. “I’ve spent twenty years drooling like a dog and three months as a mental patient… it doesn’t concern me if you see me in my nightgown,” Pamela chuckled.

“Well, at least you never lost your sense of humour,” John Ross laughed back.

Pamela shot him an expectant expression, “Is there a reason you burst in here? I would expect you to be at the offices.”

He closed the door behind him, “Well, I’ve never quite been the workaholic my father was and still is. Christopher and I make a point of ensuring the balance between work and home. But I am headed there soon, which means you will be the only one home with Hannah.” He exhaled, “Can I ask you a favour?”

“Sure you can,” she accepted.

“Would you keep an eye on her for me?” Uncertain what he meant, Pamela tilted her head and prayed John Ross and Hannah were not round two of JR and Sue Ellen. “Only, I’ve promised to teach her how to ride but I haven’t found the time and I don’t particularly want her climbing on a horse of her own accord. I have asked the hands to check on it but I would really hope you two could get to know each other instead, I know you’re stuck here.”

Pamela shrugged her shoulders, “I’ll do what I can. If you return the favour for me?” He nodded in acceptance, “I really would like to see Cliff sometime. Bobby seems reluctant and I know there’s always been tension between the two of them. Would you contact him for me? Just to make sure he knows I’m back in Dallas,” she requested.

John Ross awkwardly inhaled a breath and repeated her response, “I’ll do what I can.”

A smile broke out, “Thank you.” Barring her reunion with her son, Pamela was most excited to see the look on her brothers face when he sees her for the first time after their 20 years of separation. It was that excitement that distracted her from the sad look on John Ross’ face as he left for work.

[Sarah13]

Great update

Not looking forward to Pam hearing about Cliff's death, that'll be sad

[Jessie]

Great update it will be sad when Pam finds out about Cliff.

[MrsSuperman93]

7

Days passed on and still no one contacted Cliff about Pamela’s return, much to her frustration.

All scenarios had passed through her imagination; perhaps Cliff had moved from America, perhaps he resented her for the years she spent absent or perhaps the Barnes Ewing feud had carried on and Bobby felt no obligation to contact Cliff.

Eventually, after feeling chained to Southfork, Pamela independently made her way to Cliff’s old condominium.

Her knuckles rapped on the door and a female answered, “Can I help you?”

“Hello,” Pamela attempted to identify the woman but failed and frowned, “I’m looking for Cliff Barnes.” The woman shook her head and Pamela exhaled, “He used to live here. Would you know where he lives now?” Once again, the woman shook her head and Pamela nodded in acceptance, “Sorry to have bothered you.”

She wandered back toward the taxi, which waited behind for her, and she climbed in. Instantly, a light-bulb flashed on and she directed the driver to an address she hadn’t expected herself to have remembered.

A twenty minute drive across town brought Pamela to the childhood home she had once known. No doubt, her aunt would have passed on but she hoped perhaps her cousin, Jimmy, would still reside there. It was her only hope left, Lord only knew Bobby wasn’t interested in helping her reunite with Cliff again. “Thank you,” she climbed from the taxi and rang the doorbell. It didn’t look much different from before, the paint peeled on the outside of the house and plants furnished the garden.

Once again, she rang the doorbell and relented when no one answered. Out of luck, she headed back across the road to the taxi when another one pulled outside the house and a blonde haired woman climbed out.

“Thank you!” The 5ft6 woman in her mid-twenties slung a duffel bag over her shoulder and rummaged in her coat pocket for a set of keys.

After a moment of debate, Pamela approached, “Excuse me, you live here.”

Startled and taken aback, the blonde nodded. “Yes, can I help you?”

Uneasily, Pamela admired the house. “I lived here once before. It’s been years since I visited Dallas and I had hoped that maybe one of my relatives still might. Did you know the owners?”

“You could say that.” The blonde opened the door and widened it to allow Pamela in, “Come on in… I’ve only just got home from a vacation.” She chucked her keys onto the coffee table and Pamela nervously followed the woman in, “I haven’t changed it much from the way it was when I moved in,” she commented. “You lived here with Maggie Monahan, right?”

Thrilled that someone had heard of her aunt, Pamela eagerly nodded. “Yes!”

The blonde nodded, “Lovely woman. I didn’t know her well but that much was obvious to me from the start.”

Pamela shook her head, “It’s odd. It feels so familiar to me here still.” Her eyes widened, “They left this behind?” She walked toward the mantle and reached for a picture of herself, Cliff, Digger, Maggie and Jimmy only one month after Jimmy had been born. “Do you know where Jimmy Monahan is now?”

“He’s in Houston, I think. A wife and three beautiful children,” the blonde replied.

“You knew my family well?” Pamela checked.

A smile crept upon the blonde’s face, “I should do, they’re my family too,” she chuckled. Confused, Pamela looked toward the blonde for answers and she stretched out her hand with a friendly smile to Pamela, “I’m Becca. Pamela Rebecca Cooper but most people call me Becca. And you must be the other Pamela, my aunt.”

Pamela took a deep breath, unable to prevent herself from returning the infectious smile of her niece. This was unexpected.