At Last – Part 16
Last Time:
NORA: What if he doesn’t want to be a father? I hurt him so terribly when I lied to him about Matthew being his son before he was born. Could he really accept Matt as his own?
SELMA: Nora, baby, you worry too much. I’ve watched the two of them together. I don’t think there is anything that Bo won’t do for that boy. He loves Matt with his whole heart.
Meanwhile outside Matt is crawling all over his fort under the watchful eye of Bo and Len.
BO: Matt…be careful in there.
MATT: I will be uncle Bo.
LEN (to Bo): What’s going on with you and Nora?
BO (laughing): Still right to the point huh Len?
LEN: She’s my baby Bo. You know that I want only the best for her.
BO: Same here Len. I want only the best for both her and Matt.
LEN: That’s good to hear, son.
BO (taking a deep breath): To that end, I want to ask you for your daughter’s hand in marriage.
LEN: Bo…I’m not so sure about that.
**************
BO (stunned): What?
LEN: I said I wasn’t sure. What I’m not sure about is whether it’s me you should be talking to.
BO: Whew. For a minute there I was afraid that you’d say no.
LEN: And aren’t you a little old to be asking permission anyway?
BO: I just wanted to make sure that you and Selma were okay with Nora and I getting married again.
LEN: Nora loves you with her whole heart. I can see that every time she looks at you or says your name. Do you love her?
BO: With everything that I am.
LEN: Do you love my grandson over there?
BO (looking at Matt and smiling): Like he was my own son.
LEN: Will you protect them and keep them safe for the rest of your life?
BO: You never have to doubt that Len. Those two people are my life.
LEN: Then I think the next person you need to talk to is Nora.
BO (shaking Len’s hand): Thanks Len. I will. I’m glad I have your blessing.
LEN: Just know this Bo. If you ever hurt her, you will have me to deal with.
BO: I promise you Len…right here and now, I will never hurt her or Matthew ever again.
Later that day Bo, Nora and Matt arrive home. Matt’s upstairs unpacking his stuff.
NORA: Are you sure that you don’t mind keeping an eye on Matt while I meet with Rae?
BO: Nah…we’ll have fun. I’ll even make some dinner.
NORA: I’m not sure that I have anything in the fridge.
BO: Don’t worry. I’ll figure out something. If worse comes to worse I’ll go grocery shopping.
NORA (kissing him deeply): I love you.
BO: I love you too. Now get going before I don’t let you go.
At Rae’s office.
NORA: I’m glad you could see me on such notice.
RAE: I’m glad that you came to me. Now what seems to be the problem?
NORA: I’m really not sure. I keep having nightmares about Sam. There’ve been times that I’m working and he’ll just cross my mind. I want that to stop.
RAE: I doubt they’ll stop right away. Sam was a large part of your life for quite a while.
NORA: But I want to be happy with Bo. I don’t want Sam or even the memory of Sam intruding on that happiness.
RAE: Do you love Bo?
NORA (smiling): With my whole heart. And before you ask I know that he loves me. But Sam seems to still be there. Still invading my thoughts. I hate that.
RAE: Maybe you just need to eliminate everything that reminds you of Sam from you life.
NORA: That’s easier said than done.
RAE: Well start with something that you can control. You can move all of his stuff out of your office.
NORA (smiling): I could do that. That office was never really big enough for the two of us any way. I used to like it painted a bunch of shades of blue. I hated when he made me paint it beige. That was so boring. So not me.
RAE: That’s a good first step. Reclaim what was yours. Look around. I’m sure there are a lot more things that you can do to eliminate him from your everyday life.
NORA: Rae, I think you’re right.
Nora and Rae continue to talk for the rest of the hour. Nora promises that she’ll be back to talk again. Nora left Rae’s office feeling better than she had in a long time. She arrived home to smell Bo’s chili cooking on the stove and Bo and Matt watching television. Nora stands in the doorway and listens.
BO: There is no way that Hazard can beat Vladiator. Vladiator was last year’s champion.
MATT: But..but..but uncle Bo, Hazard is new and improved this year. It has a new cutting saw. And did you see that wedge?
BO: I’m telling you Matty, Hazard doesn’t stand a chance.
NORA (laughing): What are you two talking about?
MATT: Battlebots. Me and uncle Bo love ‘em.
NORA: You do huh?
BO and MATT: The doors are locked…the lights are on…it’s Battlebot fighting time.
NORA (laughing): You two are crazy!!
BO: How’d it go?
NORA (kissing him quickly): Really well. I’ll tell you about it later.
The gang spends the night watching Battlebots, eating chili and playing Chutes and Ladders. Matt starts to nod off.
NORA: Come on honey. It’s time for bed.
MATT: Can I sleep with you tonight mommy? I’ve missed you.
Nora looks at Bo who smiles and nods his head slowly.
NORA: Okay. I’ve missed you too. Why don’t you run up and get into your PJs and I’ll be up in a minute.
Matt gives Bo a hug and a kiss and then runs upstairs.
NORA (to Bo): I’m sorry about that.
BO: Don’t be. He’s a little boy that misses his mom. I understand that. We have plenty of nights for us to spend together. Besides….it’d be a little weird for me to make love to you in Sam’s house.
NORA (looking around): Oh. I hadn’t thought about that. I didn’t think about that at all.
BO: Don’t worry. We’ll figure something out. Come on….walk me to the door.
Nora and Bo walk arm in arm to the door. Stealing kisses along the way. When they get to the door, Bo kisses her deeply and holds her close.
BO: I love you Red.
NORA: I love you too Bo.
BO: I’ll call you tomorrow.
NORA: Promise?
BO: I promise. Goodnight Red. Sleep tight.
NORA: Don’t let the bedbugs bite.
His kisses her again and walks out the door.
Nora pauses for a minute at the door with a smile on her face and then she sits down on the couch and picks up the phone.
NORA: Asa? It’s Nora.
ASA: Hi honey. How are you?
NORA: I’m fine but I need a favor.
ASA: Anything for my favorite daughter-in-law. What can I do for you?
NORA: Can we meet tomorrow morning? After Matt goes to school.
ASA: Fine with me. Want to give me a hint?
NORA: It’s a surprise for Bo.
ASA: Well then count me in.
NORA: Thanks Asa. I knew I could count on you. I’ll stop by in the morning to see you.
Nora walks up to Matt’s room with a huge grin on her face.
*******
A couple of days later Nora walks into the police station and
knocks quietly on Bo’s door.
BO: Come on in?
NORA: Got time for me?
BO: Of course.
Bo gets up and kisses her passionately.
NORA: That was nice. I missed you last night.
BO: I missed you too but duty calls you know. I can’t really stop people from committing crimes just cuz I want to be with the most gorgeous woman in the world.
NORA (kissing him quickly): Thank you. Did you at least catch the guy?
BO: Antonio just brought him down to booking an hour ago.
NORA: Well than I guess us being apart was worth it. Do you have time for a long lunch today?
BO (smirking): A long lunch?
NORA (laughing): Not that kind of long lunch.
BO (disappointed): Oh. I suppose we can actually eat.
NORA (caressing his cheek): Oh…poor baby. I promise…it’ll be worth it. I have a surprise for you.
BO: I love surprises. Let’s go.
Nora and Bo are in the car with Nora behind the wheel. Bo is nibbling at her neck.
BO: I love it when you drive. Gives me plenty of time to look at you.
NORA: Stop it…you’re distracting me.
BO: No…you’re distracting me!! Where we going any way?
NORA: We’re almost there.
Nora pulls into the driveway of the old barn. Bo looks at her suspiciously. They get out of the car and they walk to the front door.
BO: What are we doing here?
Nora holds up the keys.
NORA: I bought it this morning. Surprise!
BO (smiling): How did you do this?
NORA: I had a little help. Are you happy?
BO: I’m ecstatic. I should never have sold this place.
Nora unlocks the door and they walk in. Things have not changed. Everything looks the same as when they first bought the house. Bo takes Nora in his arms and kisses her passionately.
NORA: I want us to live here together. You, me and Matt. I want us to get married and have our “happily ever after.”
BO: That’s suppose to be my line. I even asked your dad for your hand in marriage.
NORA (laughing): You did? What’d he say?
BO: That I was too old to be asking his permission.
NORA: So…does that mean the answer is yes?
BO (smiling): The answer is yes…definitely yes.
Three weeks later Bo and Nora are married in a private ceremony at the barn. They are surrounded only by family and a few very close friends. They decide to forego the honeymoon (for now) so that they can spend their time strengthening their family. Within days, “Uncle Bo” has become “dad.” Bo and Nora have never been happier. And everything is right in Llanview….
THE END
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