Bonus Chapter

"What exactly am I supposed to tell this man? 'Hey, good to see you after fifteen years, your brother's my guardian angel now and he says hi'? What was I thinking?" Reba paced around the living room, tapping Mike's card against the palm of her other hand. Brock, Barbra Jean and Adam waited with her for moral support. The kids all had their own activities and play-dates on this Saturday afternoon. Normally she and Brock would love to reminisce with their old friend, but under the circumstances...

Reba doubted this would go well.

Why did she invite him to the house? Technically she didn't even have to call. She should've just put Mike's card in a bigger envelope and mailed it to him – Terry gave her the address. But she still called Mike first. They exchanged the latest news, then had a long chat about old times. She'd invited him for lunch without thinking. Mike accepted because, as fate would have it, he needed to pass through Houston anyway to pick up his wife from a nearby airport. He offered to drive in early to have lunch, so how could Reba say no?

How could she say no?

"I shouldn't have broken the rules," Reba continued. "That's why Mike's coming here, you know. I'm being punished. Figures, the one time I break a rule, and it's a heavenly one! Shouldn't I have learned by now not to ask for trouble? Especially from The Big Guy Himself?"

While she meant every word, her family tried desperately not to laugh. "Well, I mean, people do say 'go big or go home,'" Brock teased through his chuckles. "You went really big."

Since Reba looked ready to slap Brock with Mike's card, his wife intervened. "Will you relax, Reba?" Barbra Jean replied. She sat on the arm of the couch, worried for her best friend's mental state. It seemed par for the course these days. "For the record, I think you should tell Mike. Terry's his brother. I'm sure he'd love to know Terry's at peace – for the most part."

Brock shook his head in disbelief. "Honey, she can't tell him. He'll think we're all lunatics!" With a sigh he added, "Sometimes I wonder if we are."

Stepping in front of his wife, Adam put his hands on her shoulders. "You're overthinking this, babe. Just stick with the original plan. Tell him you found the letter in the stuff Terry left you. It was your first instinct and it's the best solution."

"But is it wrong?" Reba argued, panic clouding a plan that felt foolproof hours ago. "What if Barbra Jean's right and Mike deserves to know?"

"If he was supposed to know, Terry would've visited Mike long before now."

Reba's shoulders sagged at her husband's calm logic. "Yeah, that's what it comes down to, doesn't it?" Exhausted from stress, Reba sat on the edge of the loveseat closest to the door. "I just feel bad about this. It'd be like...like..."

"My son's mother being a guardian angel," Adam finished quietly.

Everyone gave him sympathetic looks. Reba had been too distracted to think of it, but all this recent talk of death and angels probably stirred up painful emotions for her husband. "Oh God, Adam, I'm sorry, I..."

"No, I didn't mean for you to apologize," Adam insisted. "I just meant I know what Mike went through, in a way. And I've given this some thought since finding out about Reba's destiny. I hope Melinda's a guardian angel now. She'd be perfect for the job."

Reba put her arm through her husband's, pulling him closer towards her. "I'm sure she would, honey," Reba said. Adam remained standing and wrapped his arms around Reba's shoulders, his thoughts wandering for a minute.

Meanwhile, Brock cleared his throat. "Would you want to know for sure?" he asked tentatively.

"You must want to see her," Barbra Jean added.

Fighting off strong emotions, Adam finally sat down on the loveseat, still holding Reba's hand. "I do, of course," Adam said in a soft voice. "But I think...I think it would be too hard. Seeing her for only a second, then never again for the rest of my life. Knowing she's out there in the universe but out of my reach. It would be too much." He gave his wife a reassuring smile. "I'd love for her to meet you, though. She'd be happy I found someone."

"I'd love to meet her too," Reba replied, kissing the top of his head.

They all shook off the moment and refocused on their impending visitor. "That settles it, then," Brock said. "We don't tell Mike."

"No, I guess not," Barbra Jean muttered.

Adam squeezed Reba's hand. "It'll be fine, babe."

The doorbell rang a few minutes later. Bracing herself, Reba went to the door, Brock trailing behind her. Despite the situation they were both eager to see their old friend. Reba opened the door to find a man with greying brown hair, and more of a gut than he'd had fifteen years ago. "Mike!" she exclaimed happily, trying to hide her anxiety.

"Reba!" Mike greeted, wrapping her in a bear hug that lifted her off her feet. "Damn, it's good to see you! And Brock! What are you doing here? Aren't you two supposed to be divorced?" Mike hugged Brock as well, which Brock returned with equal enthusiasm.

Laughing, Brock explained, "Reba and I divorced, but we're still family. She invited me over since she knew I'd want to see you. Mike, this is my wife Barbra Jean."

"And this is my husband, Adam," Reba said, rounding off introductions. She'd been afraid to invite Mike to the wedding, worried things would be awkward given the Terry situation. Mike probably hadn't expected an invitation anyway.

After everyone shook hands, they all took seats in the living room. "Ya'll could've knocked me over with a feather when Reba called me last week," Mike said. "I gotta ask, how the hell did you get my home number? It's not listed."

"Um, I called the bar," Reba lied. She began tapping the card against her palm again, nerves emerging now that she was no longer distracted. At least Mike seemed to accept her excuse easily enough. Forcing herself to hold the card steady with both hands, she began, "Here's the thing, Mike. I contacted you for a reason."

Mike nodded. "You didn't give me any details on the phone, but I figured it had to be something. Is this about Terry?"

"Yes," Reba answered, her voice even. She tried not to get too paranoid that Mike knew something. Of course it would be about his brother, why else would she reach out to him like this? "Um, I was going through the stuff he left me. I'm not sure if you remember..."

"The records, yeah, I remember." Mike grinned. "Carole King was one of your favorites. Loved when you sang 'So Far Away' at the bar, and I'm so glad to hear you're a pro now. Always seemed like a bunch of wasted talent when you didn't pursue it back then."

Reba's knew her face must have been red from embarrassment. "Oh, thank you, that's really sweet. You see, um, when I found the records a while back, a card...slipped out. I guess I never noticed." Reba held up the silver envelope with Mike's name on it. "This is for you."

"Oh my God, another letter?" Mike whispered. He gingerly took it from her, as if he didn't want to mess up the envelope. He frowned when he noticed something. "This paper looks brand-new."

Not expecting that reaction, Reba exchanged nervous glances with her family. "I guess the record sleeve kept it well-preserved." She grimaced at the weak lie.

"Must have. This is Terry's handwriting." Mike shook his head and offered them an apologetic frown. "I'm sorry, I'm not accusing you of anything. Of course you'd have no reason to write a fake letter. It's just...not like the others he left. For one thing, the paper's much fancier than I would've pegged him for, you know?" Mike shrugged, fortunately oblivious to the increased tension in the room. "We'll never know, I guess. Not like we can ask him."

The way he said it made something inside Reba snap. He knew. She didn't have any proof, but she couldn't shake the absolute certainty. "Mike...you've seen Terry too, haven't you?" Reba asked, shocking her family.

"Reba!" Brock exclaimed.

Mike was so overwhelmed he couldn't speak for a second. "Y-you've...you've seen him? H-how?"

"Reba didn't mean it like that," Barbra Jean blurted. "S-she meant, uh...she meant..."

Ignoring her family's efforts to prevent disaster, Reba looked directly at Mike. "You first."

Mike put his head in his hands, still holding the unopened card. "I can't. Ya'll are going to think I'm a total nutcase."

"Try us," Adam replied.

Lifting up his head, Mike stared at the people around him, noting their eager, interested expressions. He relaxed just enough to begin his story. "Okay, but remember ya'll asked. The truth is...I've seen Terry's ghost. More than once." When no one laughed, or accused him of needing medical attention, he gathered enough courage to continue. "I've never heard him say a word, but once in a rare while...he's just there. And at key moments too. I don't even know how to describe it, but I'll be struggling with something, look up...and see him there. Then all of a sudden I'll know what I'm supposed to do." He let out a long sigh. "I realize I sound crazy, but in a weird way it's nice to get all this off my chest. I haven't even told my wife."

"We don't think you're crazy, Mike." Reba wasn't sure how much to share, but she had to tell him something. "Terry is...around. I've seen him too."

"So have I," Brock chimed in. Adam and Barbra Jean kept quiet, recognizing it would be even stranger for a "ghost" to haunt someone he never met during his lifetime.

Mike stared at his old friends with wide eyes. "You're both serious about this. Don't take this the wrong way, but why the hell would my brother visit the two of you? Didn't you dump Terry for him?" Mike asked, pointing to the respective parties. "Unless maybe he's out for revenge."

Reba laughed, maybe a little too hard. She found the irony more amusing than the actual joke. From the way Adam, Barbra Jean and Brock hid their laughter, she knew they felt the same way. "You'd think so, wouldn't you?" she finally said. "Um, why don't you read the card? Unless you'd rather wait until you had some privacy."

"I think I'll hold off for now." Mike put the card in his pants pocket and resumed staring at his old friends in awe. "I don't know what to make of this, Reba. What does it all mean?" He sighed again, talking more to himself than his hosts. "I wish I could talk to him, you know? Just once. Ghosts haunt you because of unresolved issues, right? I wish he could tell me what all this is about and we could both move on."

"You do, huh?" Reba muttered, wondering if this was a sign. The fact that Mike made a wish to see his brother...it had to be. "Well, Mike, I wish he could too."

Barbra Jean gasped, realizing what Reba intended. Adam and Brock struggled to hide their nerves. "Do you think that'll work, Reba?" Brock asked without thinking. "Don't you need, uh..."

He meant the star. Honestly Reba wished on instinct and forgot she needed it. Meanwhile, Mike was very confused by the adults' reaction to a wish. "What are ya'll talking about?" he asked.

"Me, if indirectly."

Terry's voice came from behind the couch. Mike jumped up, looking around wildly for a second before seeing his brother by the kitchen door. Everyone stared in amazement while Mike processed his brother's appearance. "Oh my God...how..." Mike finally settled on one thought. "You spoke this time."

Suddenly anxious about her abrupt decision, Reba ran over to Terry. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't even sure it would work without the star. But Mike literally made a wish to see you and I just..."

"Acted on instinct. About time." Terry gave her a brief hug, gratitude in his expression as he pulled away. "As for the star, consider this a freebie."

Glancing at shell-shocked Mike, then back to Terry, Reba teased, "Break any other rules lately? Mike here says he's seen you quite a few times."

Terry laughed. "Hey, you can't judge me now when the letter was your idea."

"I think I'm gonna pass out," Mike blurted as he fell back down on the couch. "Somebody tell me what the hell is going on here. Preferably Terry. I...I don't understand this, have you been alive this whole time and checking up on me? But no, that can't be right, you were sick. I saw you fade away."

Reba moved to the side while Terry sat down next to his brother. No one else said a word. "You did, Mike," Terry said. "A miracle happened when I died. I became an angel. Specifically, Reba's guardian angel."

"W-who grants wishes, apparently?" Mike blurted in complete disbelief.

"It's a long story," Barbra Jean offered.

Brock nodded. "A very, very long story."

Mike stayed quiet for several more minutes, unable to take his eyes off his brother. "So you're not haunting me. You're guiding me."

"Tryin' to," Terry agreed. "Not a lot of wiggle room with the rules and all, or I would've said 'hi' long before now. This is really pushing it but I had to take the chance." He glanced at Reba. "You might not see me for a while if They put me on probation."

Adam raised an eyebrow. "There's probation for angels?"

"What's more shocking," Reba added, "You haven't gotten it before?"

Mike couldn't help bursting out laughing. "Maybe I wasn't so far off track with my revenge theory. Terry, have you been driving Reba crazy this whole time?"

"Yes!" Reba and her family exclaimed in unison. When the brothers started laughing again, Reba motioned for everyone to join her in the kitchen. "We'll let you two have a moment while we put lunch together. Mike, we'd love for you to stay...and Terry, you're always welcome."

When the group stood to move towards the kitchen, Terry held up a hand. "Wait, I need to go soon. Having a long talk with Mike would be way too far over the line." He stared at his brother for a second, different emotions competing for room in his expression. "Everything I wanted to say is in the card. I love you, and I'll always watch over you – for as long as I can get away with it. I don't know why you've tortured yourself wondering if you could've been a better caretaker. You did everything right in those final years. I couldn't have asked for better, Mike. Now I want you to finally enjoy your life while you still can."

Watching the brothers hug for the last time, Reba felt tears in her own eyes. Barbra Jean was crying next to her and the guys looked emotional. Reba would've liked to give the brothers privacy, but at this point, she couldn't turn away.

"T-thank you," Mike whispered, struggling to speak. "I love you too, goes without saying. You always had my back when you were here, and you still do even...even after. I won't be greedy and say I hope this can happen again some day. I'm just grateful. This was a miracle I never could've expected." He glanced at Reba, directing that gratitude towards her. "I'm not sure how it works, but I know you played a role in this. Thank you, too. Terry, give her a break, will you?"

As everyone laughed, Terry prepared to leave. "Alright, now I really have to go..." He turned to look at his brother one last time. "It's tough on this end too, Mike. At least now you know I'm here."

Mike nodded, his eyes still full of gratitude, too emotional to say another word. They all watched as Terry disappeared. No one broke the silence at first. Adam wrapped his arms around Reba, while Brock hugged Barbra Jean.

"How about that?" Mike whispered finally, holding back tears. He turned to his old friends. "This happen a lot? You didn't seem surprised at all. Reba, you in particular act like angels pop up around here all the time."

Reba laughed as she went over to Mike. "Well, if it helps, I've only met the one angel..."

"Two for us, including you," Barbra Jean pointed out. She cringed when Mike gave her a surprised look, realizing too late she'd opened up a can of worms.

At Mike's curious look, Reba hastily said, "Um, speaking figuratively of course. Thank you for that nice compliment, Barbra Jean." She let out a nervous, fake laugh and changed the subject. "So, um, after everything, I'd still love for you to stay for lunch."

"Oh, right, lunch..." Mike said, sounding like his thoughts were miles away. "Um, can I take a raincheck? I want to drive around and clear my head before I go to the airport. I gotta at least seem like my regular self when I pick up my wife."

The others nodded in understanding, though Adam asked, "You're not going to tell her about this?"

Brock shook his head in response. "She'd never believe him."

Mike pointed at Brock. "Got it in one. Nobody would believe this."

"Now you have an idea of what I've been living with," Reba joked.

"Look who you're talking to, Reba. I lived with him my whole...his whole life." Mike meant it as a joke, but it became bittersweet when he realized the implications. He gave her a pleading glance. "Watch out for him, alright? I know he's the guardian angel here, and I'm still wrapping my head around that one. But he needs someone watching his back too."

Holding back tears again, Reba nodded. "I already am, I promise."

Mike hugged her tight to express his gratitude. "I'll never be able to thank you enough, Reba. I swear I'll honor that raincheck. We're gonna keep in touch this time, and not just because I wanna hear all the Terry stories."

"There's plenty of those," Reba assured him. "Not sure how many you'll believe."

"After today? Every, single one."

They all said their good-byes, with Reba and Brock walking him to the door. "Great seeing you, Mike," Brock said. "Even under the strange circumstances. I also have regrets about letting so much time pass, and not making amends with Terry before he died. After a certain point everything should've been water under the bridge."

Mike nodded in agreement. "I might start with that charity Reba told me about over the phone. Unfortunately I'm always busy with the bar, but I know a bunch of people who'd love to help. Let me know when the charity's up and running."

"Thanks, Mike. I will." Reba smiled after he left, amazed at how everything worked out. She'd reconnected with an old friend, and possibly recruited new volunteers for her charity. Maybe she didn't break a rule after all. "How about that?" she whispered as she closed the door.