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Bonds of Trust -- Part XI Lauren doesn’t say a word as Rex drives them home. They walk up to his loft in silence, he inserts the key and stands back to let her in. She brushes past him and walks into the kitchen, setting her purse on the table and continuing into the living room. Rex goes to the cabinet and grabs a bottle of wine and two glasses. He opens the wine, pouring them each a glass. He walks over to the couch, handing Lauren a glass and taking a seat beside her. He sips his wine, waiting. Finally, he can't stand the silence. “Are you going to say something?”   Lauren’s eyes fill with tears but she just shakes her head. Rex is frustrated. “Come on. You gotta yell or hit me again or do something. I deserve it. I screwed up.”   She finally looks at him. “Yeah, you screwed up.”   “That’s my MO. What were you thinking when you said you would move in with me? What was I thinking when I asked you?”   “Are you saying you don’t want me to move in?”   Rex looks at her cautiously. “Do you still want to?”   “Was this a message that you’ve changed your mind?”   “No!”   “Then I don’t get this, Rex. Is this the type of behavior I can expect from you?”   Rex shrugs. “Maybe. I don’t know how I’ll react the next time I get caught up in a case. I should have called. I know that. It’s just that…” He stops and shakes his head. “No, I won’t make any excuses.” He looks at her seriously. “I was wrong. I am really sorry. I can’t say that it will never happen in the future, but I don’t want you to worry about me so I’ll try to do better.”   Lauren gives him a small smile. “Promise?”   He pulls her into his arms. “Yeah, I promise. I’m sorry you were worried.” He kisses her. “But it’s nice to have someone worry about me.”   Lauren kisses him. “Nora was pretty worried too.”   He grins. “Mrs. B is a worrier by nature.”   “She cares about you.”   “I know. I’ll make it up to her. She’s a sucker for a home-cooked meal.”   Lauren kisses him again. “Hmm… How will you make it up to me?” He kisses her hard and then pulls back, jumping off the couch. “Hey! Where are you going?”   “Wait right there,” he calls over his shoulder. Rex rummages in a drawer in the kitchen before returning to the living room. “Close your eyes.”   “Give me a break.”   “Come on. Close your eyes.”   Lauren does as she’s told. “If this is your idea of making up, you are seriously out of practice, mister.”   He sits beside her and kisses her again. She opens her eyes and he playfully covers them with his hand. “No peeking. Hold out your hand.”   “Rex!”   He kisses her again. “Please.” She holds out her hand and he places something in it. “Okay, now you can open them.”   Lauren stares down at the key in her hand. “Are you sure?”   He grins. “Oh, I’m surely sure.”   Tears return to Lauren’s eyes. “So we’re going to do this?”   He nods. “If you still want to. I love you. Today should have been a happy day until I messed up – again. But this is what we had planned. It’s the key I was supposed to give you at the office. Better late than never, right?”   She wraps her arms around him, pulling him into a kiss. “Absolutely.”   Bo and Nora return home after a quick stop to get Bo some dinner. Matt marches into the house ahead of them and heads straight to his room to finish his homework. Bo tosses his keys on the coffee table and takes a seat on the couch. Nora sits beside him, watching him but not saying anything. He finally turns to her. “What, Red?”   She shakes her head. “I can’t believe Rex could be so insensitive.”   Bo shrugs. “He was working on a case.”   “Oh, come on, Bo! What could have been so important that he couldn’t pick up the phone and call? Or at least send a text! Instead, he lets all of us worry all day.”   Bo sighs. “I know. He should have called. But this is Balsom we’re talking about. He and Shaggy got a break on the Turner case. Not saying it’s right but it’s what happened.”   “What could have been so urgent that he disappeared like that?”   “He was about to tell me when you showed up at the office. That’s why I want to meet with him in the morning.”   Nora crosses her arms. “That’s good enough for you? He was working? You’re just going to let it slide?”   Bo smirks. “What do you suggest I do? Ground him?”   Nora’s voice starts to rise. “Don’t be a jerk, Bo. He has to understand that his behavior is unacceptable.”   Bo looks at her curiously. “He’s an adult, Red. There’s not a lot to be done about his behavior. What’s this really about?”   “It’s about your ‘boys will be boys’ attitude.”   “My what?”   “Just like you let Matthew get away with everything. You have to learn to put your foot down.”   Bo holds up his hands. “Slow down, honey. How did this become about Matthew?”   She glares at him, starting to yell. “It’s the same concept. You’re not going to confront Rex about his outrageous behavior in the same way you let Matthew walk all over you. Talking you into letting him date when you know I specifically forbid it because he’s too young!”   Bo’s voice rises to match hers. “Are we back to that again?”   “Yes, because I resent you undermining me.”   “Undermining you? He’s my son too and I get a say…” Bo shakes his head, trying to take a breath. “We’ve both had a long day. Why don’t we just table this for tonight…”   Nora is in no mood to let it go. “Don’t you dare try to just shut me up, Bo Buchanan!”   Now Bo is yelling again too. “That’s not what I’m doing! I just want…”   “Stop it! Stop fighting!” Bo and Nora turn to see Matthew standing behind the couch. They are surprised by his outburst. Nora gets up and goes toward him, but he backs away. “Stop arguing. I won’t go to the stupid dance if it’s going to make you fight.”   Nora shakes her head. “We’re not talking about the dance.”   Matt is near tears. “It doesn’t matter. If it’s going to make you mad at each other, I’ll skip it. Just stop fighting!”   Bo stands, facing his son. “You don’t have to do that, Matthew. Your mom and I were discussing Rex.” He looks at Nora. “This has nothing to do with Matt dating, does it?”   Nora shakes her head, near tears herself. “No. I’m sorry.”   Bo takes a deep breath. “Why don’t we all just calm down. Let’s sit down and talk about why we’re all so upset.”   Matt shakes his head. “I hate all this yelling. Can’t you guys just get along?”   Nora tries again to go to him. “We do get along, Matthew.”   He moves away from her and stands at the bottom of the stairs. “No you don’t. You’re always arguing about me dating. I’ll break up with Kallie tomorrow so you won’t have to worry about it anymore!”   Matt runs up the stairs. Nora goes to follow him but Bo catches her arm, holding her back. “Let him cool down. I’ll talk to him.”   Nora turns and puts her arms around him. “What was that? Why is he so upset?”   Bo holds her close. “I’m not sure. Come on. Sit with me.” He leads her over to the couch and they sit. He takes a deep breath. “So, you wanna tell me the real reason you’re so upset?” She buries her head in his chest, letting the tears fall. “Okay, Red. Let it all out and then you can clue me in on what I missed.”   Nora pulls back, shaking her head. “I’m sorry. This is all my fault.”   He kisses her gently. “Hey, I’m not blaming you. Just tell me what’s going on.”   “Lauren said something at dinner tonight.”   “About?”   “You.”   Bo is confused. “What about me?”   “It was nothing.”   “Obviously not if you’re this upset. Tell me.”   Nora looks in his eyes, taking a deep breath and trying to stop her tears. “She asked me how I coped with your job, knowing you could be in danger. It just brought back all the old feelings from when you were working with Patrick and at the station...”   “Honey, that was a long time ago. These days, my job is mostly pushing papers. It’s hardly international espionage.” He winks at her. “I’m too old for that now.”   She nods. “I know but when Rex was missing it just reminded me that it could happen to you, too.”   Bo smiles. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily, Red. I know you used to worry a lot about my job, but I’m semi-retired now. The cases I take are mostly to keep Balsom out of trouble. I guess that didn’t work so well this time.”   “Even though you’re just a PI, there is still an element of danger in your job.”   He pulls her close. “We’ve been through this. Dangerous is a relative term. These days, it’s not very safe delivering pizza or picking up garbage. Leaving the house can be an act of bravery.”   Nora gives him a small smile. “Lauren and I discussed tying you and Rex to the bed.”   Bo smiles big. “I think I might like that!”   She can’t help but laugh. “I love you, you know.”   “I know. I love you too.”   “The thought of losing you makes me a little crazy.”   He kisses her gently. “I know that too. I’m not going anywhere and I don’t take unnecessary risks. I can’t control everything but I am careful because I want to spend a lifetime with you and Matt.”   She wraps her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder. “I want that too. I need you to help me interpret teenage boys. What do you think that was about earlier?”   Bo sighs. “I wish I knew. His behavior has been rather odd lately but I haven’t a clue what’s going on.”   “He won’t open up to me either.”   “No one ever said it would be easy raising a teenager. Let’s go talk to him and see if he’s calmed down.”   Bo pulls Nora off the couch and they walk upstairs arm in arm. Bo knocks softly on the door and pushes it open slowly when he gets no response. “Hey, buddy.”   Matthew is lying on his bed, tossing a baseball in the air and catching it. He doesn’t acknowledge Bo’s greeting. Nora goes to the bed and sits beside him. Bo catches the ball in mid-air and sits beside Nora. Matthew slides to a sitting position, leaning against the headboard. He crosses his arms and waits for his parents to speak first. Bo glances at Nora before turning to his son. “Want to tell us what was behind that outburst downstairs?”   Matt shrugs. “I’m just sick of all the fighting, that’s all. If it’s such a big deal that I’m dating Kallie, then I won’t.” Nora shakes her head. “I think there’s more to it than that.”   “I know you don’t want me to date. All of the arguments started when I stayed at the mall on a school night. I don’t want to be the reason you guys fight.”   Bo stares at Matt, speaking evenly. “You’re not, son. And I think you know that. Something’s been on your mind lately. Care to tell us what it is?”   He shrugs again. “I guess when I hear all the yelling, I get scared, that’s all.”   “Scared of what?”   Matt can’t look at them. “That you guys are going to break up or something,” he says softly.   Bo shakes his head. “That’s not going to happen. Your mom and I disagree sometimes and we argue. It’s been that way your whole life.”   “Yeah, my whole life,” Matt replies sarcastically.   Nora watches him carefully. “So why would you be so upset now?”   Matt shrugs. “It just feels different.”   Bo doesn’t let him off the hook. “How? Your mom and I were barely raising our voices. I know I’ve yelled louder than that in the past.”   Matt continues to avert his eyes. “I can’t explain it.”   Nora touches his arm. “Sweetie, your dad and I had a disagreement, but it doesn’t mean we’re breaking up. In fact, our last big fight was much worse than this one and it led to us getting married. That’s hardly moving apart.” “I guess,” Matt concedes. “I still don’t want you to fight over me. I won’t go to the dance.”   Bo frowns at his son. “Have you already asked Kallie to go with you?” Matt nods. “So you’re going to tell her you’ve changed your mind?”   “I didn’t change my mind. I still want to go but I know you guys don’t want me to.”   Nora shakes her head. “No one said you couldn’t go, Matthew. Your father and I gave you permission – with conditions that you agreed to. We’re not going back on our word.”   “That’s right, son. If you decide not to go, that’s your choice but you have to let Kallie know it was your decision to take back your invitation.”   Matt sighs. “I guess.”   Nora looks intently at her son. “Do you still want to take Kallie to the dance?” He nods slowly. “Then that’s what you should do.” She pulls him into a hug. “I’m sorry our argument upset you. We love you. And I’m trying to cope with you growing up.” She pulls back, putting her hands on his shoulders. “You have to give your old mom some time, okay?”   Matt nods. “I’ll try.”   Bo stands. “We will too, son. We know it’s not easy having us for parents but we’re doing the best we can.”   Matt finally smiles. “I know you are.”   Nora leans in and kisses him on the forehead. “You should get to bed. We’ll see you in the morning.”   Bo takes Nora’s hand. “Sleep well, son.”   They walk out of Matt’s room and Bo closes the door behind them. Nora wraps her arms around him and he holds her close. “You buying that?” Bo shakes his head. “What’s going on with him?”   “I wish I knew, Red.” He nods toward their bedroom. “Let’s call it a night.”   “I’m going to need you to hold me tonight.”   He puts his arm around her waist. “I can do a lot more than that.”   She leans her head on his shoulder. “I’m counting on it.”   TBC