At Last - Part 4
Last Time:
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.
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NORA: What do you mean, “I have to stay dead?”
BO: Just what I said. I don’t want anyone to know that you’re alive.
NORA: I think I should at least call Sam.
Bo gives her a look.
NORA: What? Sam is a suspect?
BO: Maybe. Right now everyone is a suspect. I just want you and Matthew to be safe. I am going to do everything in my power to make that happen.
NORA: Thank you. I do need to protect Matt.
BO: How about this? Tomorrow morning I’ll get Asa’s jet and we can fly to Chicago and leave Matthew with your parents. I trust Len, Selma and Rach to keep you being alive a secret.
NORA: He’d love that and I’d feel so much better knowing that he was safe and with people that love him and will protect him. But I need to come back to Llanview. I want to figure out who tried to do this to me. I also think I need to be here if the rest of my memories come back.
BO: Good. Then it’s a deal. Tomorrow we head to Chicago. Why don’t you try and get some sleep?
NORA: I’ll move Matt out of the bed and we’ll get settled in here.
BO: Don’t be silly. You two can have the bed and I’ll sleep on the couch.
NORA: We can’t kick you out of your bed.
BO: Yes you can. Now go to bed and I’ll see you in the morning.
Bo kisses her gently on the cheek as Nora gets up and goes into the bedroom. In the middle of the night Nora tries to sneak into the kitchen to get some milk. She smiles as she sees Bo sleeping on the couch. She comes out of the kitchen with some milk and Bo rises slightly on the couch.
BO: Can’t sleep?
NORA (slightly startled): Not really. I thought some milk might help. I want to thank you again for helping me. I couldn’t do this alone.
BO: Anytime Red. I will be here for you anytime that you need me.
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The next morning Nora wakes up as the sun peeks through the window.
At first she’s disoriented but then she remembers that she’s
at Bo’s apartment…in Bo’s bed. She smiles and she
reaches for Matt but he isn’t there. She panics and jumps
out up bed grabbing her robe as she goes. As soon as she opens
the bedroom door she hears Bo and Matt whispering on the couch.
Bo has Matt on his lap and they are huddled under a blanket watching
a football game. There are pizza crusts and empty glasses of milk
on the table. She smiles at the sight of them and eavesdrops on
their conversation.
MATT (whispering): Go Army. Beat Navy.
BO (also whispering): See…I knew you’d get it. This is the best college football game of the whole year. It doesn’t matter how many of games Army wins during the year, if they don’t win this game, the season doesn’t mean anything. You know the best part of the game?
MATT (snuggling into Bo’s arms as Bo pulls the blanket closer around them): What?
BO: At the end of the game, all of the players on both teams gather in the middle of the field and shake hands. And then they walk over and stand in front of all of the students of each school and sing that school’s alma mater.
MATT: What’s mater?
BO (smiling): It’s sort of like the school song.
MATT: Why do they sing?
BO: It’s a way of showing all of us that at the end of the game, they are all on the same team and that they are here to protect us all. If you’re a really good boy, I’ll teach you the Army song.
MATT: Cool.
NORA: Way cool. Do you think you can teach me too?
MATT: Hi mommy!
Matt jumps off the couch and into his mom’s waiting arms. Nora carries him to the couch and sits next to Bo. Bo smiles at the two of them.
BO: Did you sleep okay?
NORA: I did. Thanks for letting me sleep in and taking care of my little boy. I see that you had “breakfast.”
BO (laughing): Well I wouldn’t exactly call it breakfast but it was the best I could do on short notice.
NORA (Laughing): Well at least you gave him some milk.
BO: I’m sure there’ll be some real food on the plane. Pa always keeps it pretty well stocked.
MATT: What plane? Are we going on the plane again?
NORA: We are. Because you have been such a good boy you get to go see Grandma and Grandpa. And I bet Rachel will even be there to see you.
MATT (excited): When do we get to go?
NORA: As soon as we can get dressed.
MATT: Are you coming too Uncle Bo?
BO: I sure am so why don’t you run in there and get dressed quick?
Matt runs into the bedroom as quickly as he can.
BO (smiling): Where does he get the energy?
NORA (smiling): I really don’t know some times. Do you think we should call mama and daddy before we get there? I don’t want them both having heart attacks when they see us. And Matt doesn’t even know that we’re supposed to be “dead.”
BO: Why don’t we call them from the plane? They are going to be overjoyed. They were devastated at your “funeral.”
NORA: I can’t wait to get a hug from them.
Nora didn’t have to wait long. The flight to Chicago was uneventful. Matt quickly fell asleep so Bo took advantage of the quiet and called Selma and Len to let them know that he had a surprise for them. When he handed the phone to Nora and she began to talk, Bo was sure that people would be able to hear Selma’s cries of joy in Alaska. Len and Selma wrapped Nora and Matt in their arms when they arrived at the house. Bo stood back and watched the happy family reunion with a huge smile on his face. Rachel soon arrived and there was more hugging and kissing. The family made small talk until it was time for Matt to take his nap.
LEN: Okay…now that Matthew is asleep tell us just what the heck is going on?
NORA: Daddy, I wish I knew. There have been some weird things that have been going on in my life. And I’ve been feeling strange.
SELMA: Strange how?
NORA: I don’t know. Just uncomfortable I guess.
LEN (to Bo): Did you know about this? Why didn’t you do anything?
NORA (before Bo can speak): Bo didn’t know anything.
BO: If I had known, none of this would ever have happened.
LEN: So what are you two going to do about it?
NORA: I want to leave Matthew here…
SELMA: Of course.
NORA: Then Bo and I are going to go back to Llanview and try and figure out who is doing this to me.
BO: But no one besides you three and Susannah can know she’s alive.
RACHEL: Not even Sam?
BO: Not even Sam.
NORA: I know that Matt will probably ask about him. I’ve told him that Sam is working on a secret case outside of the country. Hopefully he won’t ask too much about that. I will call him every night. I’m sure he won’t even miss me. He’ll be having too much fun with you guys. I, on the other hand, will miss him like crazy.
LEN: Don’t worry ….we’ll protect your baby. (to Bo) Promise me that you’ll protect my baby.
BO: Len, I will protect her with my life. Nothing will happen to her. I promise.
Later that night at the garret Bo and Nora are sharing a pizza and rootbeer
NORA: I miss him already.
BO: I know but it’s best this way. It really is.
NORA: I know that you’re right but it’s still hard.
BO: Why don’t we try and take your mind off this stuff. How about we work together to figure out who is doing this to you.
NORA: Okay. I’d like that.
BO: I’ll bring the files home tomorrow night and we can see if we can figure this out.
Bo brings the files home the next night and they start going over them. Bo has also been able to get into Nora’s house to pick up some clothes and some of her case files. That way she’ll be able to keep her sanity when she is cooped up in the garret all day. They spend the next couple of evenings going over all of the evidence in Nora’s case without too much luck.
They also spend some close times just talking about anything and everything. Just like old times. A look here….a touch there. Both of them a little scared to think about what just might be going on between them.
About a week after they returned from Chicago, Bo comes home to find Nora looking through the mug shots again. There is music playing quietly in the background. Bo sits down on the couch next to her as he pulls off his tie.
BO: Anything coming to you?
NORA: Not really. I keep hoping that something will jump out at me.
BO: Why don’t we go over this all again? Let’s start with the most recent event – the fire. You’re sure it was a man?
NORA: Yes. Positive. Why do you ask?
BO: Lindsay is still a prime suspect.
NORA: I know but I’m positive that it was a man that started the fire and I’m almost positive that it was a man that almost hit me with the car.
BO: Okay….but I’m not going to rule out Lindsay. What else do you remember about the car that almost hit you?
NORA: Not much. It was blue.
BO: Do you know what kind it was?
NORA (smiling): Hello…Bo, this is me you’re asking. I’m lucky if I know where to put gas in my own car. I have no idea as to what kind it was. I’m sorry.
BO (smiling): Why did I even ask? Why don’t we go through the mug shots again and see if anything jumps out at you.
Nora and Bo spend the next two hours poring over the mug books without any luck. Bo orders some Chinese food when they realize that they haven’t eaten in hours. They keep looking but have no luck.
BO: Enough. Let’s just put these aside for now. We just need to relax. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks. (taking Nora’s hand) Dance with me?
NORA (surprised): What?
BO (smiling): Dance with me. I’m sure you remember how. If that doesn’t relax us nothing will.
Bo takes her hand and pulls her close. They fit together like two pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. They slowly danced around the small room…totally lost in the moment…totally lost in each other. Bo enjoyed the smell of her hair. He’d almost forgotten how great she always smelled. Nora felt Bo’s stubble against her cheek. How long had it been since he held her that close. Bo’s lips slowly kissed Nora’s neck. Nora gasped at the feelings she was having. She slowly pulled back to look in his eyes.
To be continued….
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