At Last - Part 3
The family attends the memorial service at St. James Church. Andrew presides and gives a glowing eulogy for both Nora and Matthew. Rachel is beside herself with grief over the loss of both her mother and her baby brother. Sam isn't in too good of shape either. When the service is over, Bo takes a long walk in the park ending up at Nora's plaque. He sits down on the bench and stares at the plaque.
BO: Ahhh Red….I miss you already. Who am I going to have to eat chili dogs with? Who will I turn to when I need the answer to a music trivia question? I can't believe this happened again. We were just finding our way with each other again. We could talk to each other about anything. I don't want to lose my best friend again. Why wouldn't you tell me what this was about? I promised your dad and I will promise you that I will not rest until I figure out what happened. I love you Red. Don't ever forget that.
A week later Bo returns to the garret after another long, exasperating day at the office. They were still no closer to finding Nora's killer. As Bo locks the door behind him he feels a presence in the room. He turns slowly around.
NORA: Hello Bo.
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Bo (not really believing his eyes): Nora….Red…Oh Red.
He walks over towards her and pulls her into a tight hug as he spins her around. He holds her tight for a long minute.
BO: I want to hold onto this for a while longer. Catch a few more minutes of sleep. You're a dream right?
NORA: I'm not a dream. I'm here.
BO: If you're not a dream then you must be a miracle.
NORA (smiling): I'm not a miracle. It's just little old me.
BO (holding her tighter): I'll take little old you anytime. (remembering) Where's Matt?
NORA: He's asleep in your bed. Is that okay?
BO: Of course. Let's sit down and you can tell me what the heck is happening here.
Bo leads her to the couch and they both sit down. Bo immediately takes her hand in his and entwines his fingers with hers.
NORA (smiling softly): Bo…I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to hold my hand.
BO (smiling): Yea I do…just for my own sanity. So what is going on here?
NORA: About 3 weeks ago I started working with Troy to get my memory back.
BO: What?
NORA: There's a new treatment out and Troy convinced me to try it. I took one pill and I started remembering things. I remembered Matthew just after I gave birth to him and I remembered some times with Sam. I was so happy. That's what I've wanted more than anything. But then I also remembered bits and pieces of Lindsay and that really scared me.
BO: Like what kind of stuff?
NORA: I remember her and a syringe and she kept making all these threats about taking my memory away.
BO: Do you remember her injecting you?
NORA: No. I don't remember that. Troy wanted me to take another pill but I wanted to stop. I got back some of the memories that I wanted and I didn't want to relive any of the painful ones. I don't think I'll ever be ready to relive the pain that I must have caused you. I loved you more than life itself yet I slept with another man? I still can't get a grasp on that.
BO: Nora….we've worked through all of that. We've forgiven each other for all of that pain. And now I have my best friend back in my life. And she's alive!! I cannot tell you how great it is to see you. What else is going on in that pretty head of yours? I know there's more.
NORA: Ever since Sam and I got back together he keeps telling me how happy he and I were back then. But something doesn't feel right.
BO: Not right how?
NORA: I don't think I can really explain it. When you and I are together I know that I can trust you with my life and I trust that what you are telling me is the truth. I don't always feel that way with Sam. (pausing) There's some other stuff too.
BO: Like what?
NORA: Within the past two months a lot of strange things have been happening.
BO: What kinds of things?
NORA: A couple of weeks ago I was almost hit by a car when I was crossing the street. I can't tell you how many hang-ups I've gotten on my phone at home and at the office. I've also gotten a few threatening letters.
BO: Why didn't you tell me any of this? I could have helped you.
NORA: I felt silly coming to you about this stuff. You had just broken up with Melanie and I didn't want to add to that. I thought I might be being paranoid.
BO: Well obviously not. Do you still have those letters?
NORA: No. I tossed them out. I wish I hadn't.
BO: Me too. So what happened the night of the accident?
NORA: Obviously it wasn't me in that car. As I was driving, the car felt a little strange.
BO: Strange how?
NORA: The brakes felt a little mushy. That's not the right word really but they didn't feel right.
BO: That's probably because the brake lines were cut.
NORA: They were cut?
BO: Yea.
NORA: Oh my goodness Bo…who was in that car?
BO: We don't know but since it wasn't you I need to figure that out. Go on with what you were telling me.
NORA: When I picked up Matt I just had this overwhelming need to get away. So I drove to the airport. I figured we could stay with Susannah for a while. I was hoping she could help me come to terms with some of these feelings that I was having. But when I got to Switzerland, she wasn't there.
BO: No. She was here for your "funeral."
NORA: I have a key for her place so I just made myself at home. I knew that she would be back soon. Matthew had a great time. I did too for that matter. For the first time in a long time I finally relaxed a little. I had no idea that anyone thought I was dead until Susannah came back. (smiling) You should have seen the look on her face when she saw us. I thought she was going to faint.
BO (smiling): I can imagine. So why didn't you call Sam as soon as you knew?
NORA: I don't know. Things just felt weird. Just not right.
BO: So you came here instead.
NORA: I knew I would be safe here. Why would anybody want me dead?
BO: I'm trying to figure that out. And until I do, you're going to stay dead a little longer.
To be continued……
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