At Last – Part 12
Last Time:
Matthew comes barreling down the stairs and jumps in Bo’s lap. Nora follows him down the stairs.
BO: Did you help your mom get unpacked?
MATT: Yep. I’m a good helper. Aren’t I mommy?
NORA: The best helper ever.
HANK: I’m going to leave you guys alone. (he kisses Nora on the cheek) I’m glad you’re home and that you’re all right. (to Bo) remember what I said.
BO (smiling): I will.
Nora walks Hank to the door and then comes and sits on the couch with Bo and Matt.
MATT: Mommy…when’s daddy coming home?
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Nora looks at Bo.
NORA (to Matt): Why don’t you scoot over here into my lap for a minute?
Matt moves over to Nora’s lap and she brushes the hair away from his forehead and kisses it quickly. She holds him tight. Bo takes one of Matt’s hands in his and holds it loosely.
NORA: Honey, when we were in California, your daddy was in a car accident.
MATT: Is he hurt? Is he in the hospital?
NORA: No baby, he’s not in the hospital. Your daddy was killed. He won’t be coming home.
MATT (crying): Daddy’s dead?
NORA (rocking him gently): Yes sweetie. I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry.
MATT: Is he in heaven?
Nora looks at Bo again and frowns.
BO: I bet he is. I know this is hard for you to understand buddy but it will get easier for you. You have a lot of people that love you.
NORA: Like Uncle Bo and Uncle Hank. Rachel and Grandma and Grandpa. They will all be here to help you and to love you. You’ll miss daddy and that’s okay. But you don’t ever have to worry about people loving you. Okay?
MATT (sniffling): Okay.
NORA: I love you sweetie.
BO: I love you too Matt.
MATT: I think I want to go to bed now. Uncle Bo, can you put me to bed and read me a story?
Bo looks at Nora who smiles and nods at him.
BO: Sure buddy. Come on. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen to Harry, Ron and Hagrid. How ‘bout you?
MATT (smiling a little): Me too.
Bo takes Matt’s hand and they walk up the stairs. Nora sits on the couch watching them go. She sits and quietly cries. About 45 minutes later Bo comes down and sees her crying. He sits down on the couch and wraps his arms around her.
NORA: Is he asleep?
BO: Yea…. We read a couple of chapters and he was out like a light.
NORA: Did we do the right thing? Letting him think that Sam was a good guy?
BO: Sure we did. He’s a five-year-old little boy. He doesn’t need to know what scum Sam was. Maybe when he’s older you can tell him but for now…it’s fine that he thinks his dad is in heaven.
NORA: Thank you for being here. I need it as much as Matt does.
BO: I’m glad I could be here.
NORA: Do you want to watch a movie or something?
BO: You sure? Aren’t you tired?
NORA: Not really. I think I just need to relax a little.
BO: Let me find something.
Bo puts “Adam’s Rib” into the VCR and Bo and Nora settle down for an evening of Tracy and Hepburn. Bo puts his arm around Nora and she snuggles in to his shoulder. About half way through the movie Nora is sound asleep… snuggled in Bo’s arms. Bo looks at Nora out of the corner of his eye and smiles to himself. All of a sudden Nora wakes with a start.
NORA: No Sam…NO!!!
Nora realizes that she is with Bo and she puts her head back on his shoulder as he pulls her closer.
BO: Hey Red….shhhhh. It’s okay. It was just a bad dream.
NORA: It was so real.
BO: You wanna tell me about it?
NORA: No….I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to think about him. (pausing) Did I fall asleep?
BO (smiling): Maybe a little bit. You must be more tired than you thought. Why don’t I let you get some sleep?
NORA: Do you really have to leave?
BO: I think it’s best. I’ll stop over and see you guys tomorrow. Okay?
NORA (smiling): Okay.
Bo stands up and Nora stands up with him. She takes his hand in hers as they walk slowly to the door. When they get to the door, Bo turns to face Nora.
NORA: Thanks again for everything that you’ve done for me and for Matt in the last week. I couldn’t have made it without you.
BO: It was truly my pleasure. I will always be here for you. Any time…anywhere.
NORA: Thank you.
Bo leans in and gently kisses Nora.
BO: Good night Red.
NORA: Good night Bo.
The next morning Nora is sitting at the table eating breakfast with Matt. He’s pretty quiet but Nora figures it’s just because of the news about Sam. He’s asked a few questions but otherwise had kept to himself most of the morning. There was a knock on the door.
MATT (running): I’ll get it.
Matt opens the door and jumps into Bo’s open arms. Bo holds him tight and gives him a quick kiss.
BO: How’d you sleep last night?
MATT: Pretty good. I woke up a couple of times but then I fell back to sleep.
BO: Good….you’re going to need your strength today.
MATT: For what?
BO: Well I brought you over your birthday present. (Bo reaches next to the door and grabs a wrapped present).
MATT: Can I open it now?
BO: Why don’t we go into the house and check with mom first. Okay?
MATT: ‘kay. (yelling) Mom….come out here!!! Uncle Bo brought me a present!!
Nora comes walking out of the kitchen. She smiles when she sees Bo and her son sitting on the couch together.
NORA: Matt honey I don’t think you have to yell quite so loud.
MATT: Sorry…I was just excited.
NORA: I know. (to Bo) good morning.
BO: Morning Red.
MATT: Can I open my present?
NORA: Bo….you didn’t have to buy him a present.
BO: It’s his birthday present. I never did have a chance to give it to him.
MATT: Can I open it ppppllllleeeaaaassssseeee?
NORA (smiling): Hmmmm I guess so.
Matt opens his present and just stares at the fishing pole.
BO: Do you like it?
MATT: A Trident TL864…with two tips. [Author’s note – I actually looked that one up!! It may be much for a five year old but Matt deserves only the best!!!] I love it. It’s just the one I wanted.
Matt hugs Bo.
MATT: Thank you so much uncle Bo. It’s the bestest present ever.
BO: I was thinking…maybe you and I could break it in today. Maybe mom will let us have a boy’s day and we can go up to the lake and see if we can catch some fish.
MATT: Can I mommy? Can I???
NORA: If uncle Bo is sure….
BO: I’m sure.
NORA: Then okay. Why don’t you run upstairs and get dressed and you and Bo can go?
Matt runs up the stairs as fast as he can.
NORA: You don’t have to do this you know.
BO: I may not have to do it but I want to do it. He’s going to need to keep his mind off of Sam and I thought this might help a little. Maybe when we come back you and I can go out to dinner?
NORA (smiling): A real dinner? At a restaurant? Like a date?
BO (laughing): I guess you’d call it a date. Maybe even a first date.
NORA: I’d like that. I’ll see if Mary Ann can stay with Matt.
Later that night Bo and Nora walk into the Palace. Renee seats them at a private table in the corner and sends over a bottle of her best champagne. Bo pours them each a glass.
NORA (smiling): Does this feel weird to you?
BO: Weird how?
NORA: You know…first date weird. It’s even worse with us because we know each other so well.
BO: It is a little weird but I like the idea that we’re dating again. We’ve been a lot in the past two months. Hell…we’ve been through a lot in that past four years. I think we need to get to know each other again.
NORA: We have been through the ringer haven’t we? I’m just so grateful that we have this chance. If you hadn’t saved me….
BO: Hey…hey…let’s not talk about that.
NORA: Okay. How was fishing with Matt? He was so wound up when he came home that he could hardly talk.
BO: He’s a natural. I love to go fishing with him. He’s always so excited. He has fun…whether he catches anything or not.
NORA (laughing): Unlike his uncle Hank and uncle Bo.
BO (laughing): We are not that bad!!! Matt just has that true love of fishing. Of sitting in a boat and just enjoying himself. I’m glad he’s given that back to me.
NORA: He adores you, you know.
BO (smiling): The feeling is mutual. He’s a wonderful child. You should be proud of him.
NORA: I am. He’s a good boy.
Bo and Nora spend the evening talking, eating, laughing, drinking. It was a wonderful “first” date. At the end of a fantastic dinner, Bo walks Nora to her front door.
BO: I had a wonderful evening.
NORA (smiling): Me too. I hope we can do this again soon.
BO: You can count on it.
Bo leans in for a kiss but Nora puts her hands on his chest and holds him off.
NORA: Bo Buchanan you should be ashamed of yourself.
BO: Me?
NORA: Just what kind of girl do you think I am?
BO (smiling): You’re beautiful and funny and brilliant.
He leans in for another try at a kiss. Nora holds him off again.
NORA (smiling): No kisses on the first date….goodnight Bo.
BO (smiling): Good night Red.
To be continued……
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