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- Bonds of Trust
-- Part XXI
Two weeks later…
Nora wakes in her bed, reaching to the other side, thinking she’ll
find Bo there. She sighs when she discovers his side empty and
remembers why. She sits up in the bed, grabbing her book off
the nightstand, promising herself she will relax or die trying.
She opens the book, trying to focus on the story but her mind
keeps wandering to the events of the past couple weeks.
- Stevie is keeping his distance
from Danielle. Her parents were extremely disappointed in how
she handled the situation and her mother insisted on counseling.
The Taylor family is also going to counseling 3 times a week
as part of the deal Hugh gave Nathan for his role in the machine
shop thefts. Nathan took the deal and helped John disrupt the
theft ring. The employees from the machine shop and pawn shop
were arrested in the sting and currently awaiting trial.
-
- The meeting with Kallie and
her parents hadn’t been pleasant. Kallie was very upset
with Matt for not telling her what he knew about Danielle. While
she understood that he was trying to protect Stevie, she was
unwilling to excuse Matt’s behavior. In the end, Kallie
told him that she thought it was best if they stayed away from
each other. She wouldn’t speak to him at school, so he had
been moping around the house, driving Nora crazy. She hated to
see her son so unhappy, even though he was dealing with the consequences
of his own actions.
-
- The volunteer work turned
out to be a terrific alternative to punishment in that it kept
him distracted and gave him something to do after school besides
baseball. Stevie’s parents had insisted he volunteer with
Matt so at least they were spending time together and Nora believed
it was good for both boys. It looked like the peer counseling
project was going to be a positive influence on the community
and Andrew was excited about the possibilities.
-
- Nora liked having Matthew
closer to her so she could keep an eye on him and make sure that
he was doing okay with the situation. She still felt enormous
sadness at the predicament her son had been put in and how it
affected his life. After all the mistakes she had made in his
early childhood, she had hoped for a better outcome once she
and Bo were raising him together. It pained her that no matter
how much she tried, she couldn’t shield her son from the
bad things in the world. As usual, Bo was much calmer about the
whole situation. He believed Matthew was doing just fine. He
knew Nora would over compensate no matter what he said, so he
just keeps his opinions to himself and lets her do her thing.
-
- As she thinks of her son
and Bo, she reaches over to the nightstand and picks up her phone,
dialing the familiar number…
-
- Bo groans as he is awakened
by a banging sound from the other room. He grabs his pillow and
covers his head, trying to drown out the offending noise. The
sound of his phone buzzing penetrates the din and he grabs it
up off the nightstand. “Hi, honey.”
-
- Nora smiles on her end. “Hi,
handsome. How’s it going?”
-
- “I'm listening to clanging
sounds coming from the kitchen instead of curled up with you,
enjoying our Sunday morning ritual. Guess where I’d rather
be?”
-
- She chuckles. “I don’t
need to guess. I miss you too. But I think it was a good idea
to take Matt away for a little bonding weekend after what he’s
been through lately. So how’s it going?”
-
- Bo shrugs. “Okay, I
guess. Matt’s still kinda pouty but having Rex here has
helped. Balsom is a horrible fisherman, so he’s provided
plenty of comic relief.”
-
- “I hope you’re
being nice to him.”
-
- “It’s Balsom, honey.”
-
- “I know but it was sweet
of him to join you. Besides, I know he’s the only one who
knows how to cook, so I’m sure those skills have come in
handy.”
-
- Bo grins. “Damn straight!
He has to be good for something.”
-
- Nora turns serious again.
“How is Matthew doing, really?”
-
- He shrugs. “He’s
really okay. You don’t have to worry. He’s enjoying
being out on the lake and you know he loves Asa’s lodge.
He’s a typical teen getting over his first crush. You know
how it is with teens.”
-
- “Well, in his case,
it’s a little more than that. It’s not like Kallie
broke up with him because he looked at another girl.”
-
- “No, but that will happen
one day and he’ll have to live through it. It’s called
dating, Red.”
-
- Nora sighs. “I realize
that, but it’s not so easy to be philosophical about it
when it’s my baby.”
-
- Bo smiles. “I know.”
-
- “I want to do something
to help.”
-
- He shakes his head. “I
don’t think that’s a good idea, honey…” Bo
is interrupted by the sounds of the smoke alarm going off. “I
gotta go. Looks like the boys have set the lodge ablaze. I’ll
call you later.” He snaps his phone shut, dropping it on
the bed as he heads into the den and pulls the battery out of
the smoke detector. He continues into the kitchen to see the
cause of all the noise. Rex is running water into the sink, trying
to dissipate the smoke coming from the toaster. “What the
hell is going on in here, Balsom?”
-
- Rex turns from the sink,
pointing at Matthew. “Your son can’t even be trusted
to make toast, for pete’s sake! I know he’s challenged
in the kitchen, given his parents’ genes, but I thought
he could handle toast!”
-
- Matt is standing off to the
side, grinning at Rex’s tirade. “I forgot,” he
says with a shrug. “I guess the toaster sticks. No reason
to pop a vein, Rex.”
-
- Bo can’t help but smile.
“We can pick up a new toaster on our way home and drop it
off with Nigel, so he can replace it.”
-
- Rex points to the door. “Get
him out of here before the whole place is destroyed.”
-
- Matt laughs. “Fine by
me. Call me when it’s ready.”
-
- Bo and Matt exit the kitchen
and head into the den. Matt drops into a chair, still chuckling.
Bo stops on his way back to his room. “It’s good to
hear you laughing again. It’s been a while.”
-
- “I’m okay, Dad.
I know Mom made you take me up here because she thinks I’m
depressed. She’s already called again today, hasn’t
she?”
-
- Bo grins. “I was talking
to her when you set the kitchen on fire. I have to call her back
and let her know we didn’t have to evacuate.”
-
- Matt rolls his eyes. “I’m
not a baby, you know.”
-
- “I know but you’ll
always be her son and she will always worry about you. Just ask
Rachel.”
-
- “I guess, but it’s
still annoying.”
-
- “She’s extra protective
right now because of what happened with Stevie. And breaking
up with Kallie. When you get a new girlfriend, she’ll have
that to worry about.”
-
- Matt shakes his head. “I
don’t want a new girlfriend.”
-
- “Breakfast is ready!”
Rex hollers from the kitchen. “Get in here while it’s
still hot.”
-
- Nora has showered and dressed.
She smiles when she picks up the message from Bo about the false
alarm. She stares at the picture of the three of them that she
keeps on her desk, missing her boys. She smiles as she gets an
idea and picks up the phone, dialing the number and waiting.
“Lauren, hi. How are you?”
-
- “Hi, Nora. I’m
fine – kinda bored with Rex away.”
-
- Nora smiles. “I miss
my boys too. I called to see if you were interested in taking
a little drive up to the lodge and bringing them a picnic?”
-
- “Aren’t they coming
home tonight?”
-
- “Yeah, but I thought
instead of sitting here all day by myself, I could spend the
day at the lake. It’s okay if you’re busy and don’t
want to come. I just thought I’d call.”
-
- “No, no. Actually, it
sounds like fun. I’m in.”
-
- Nora nods. “Wonderful.
Can I ask a favor? Since you're better in the kitchen than I
am, can you put together the food for a picnic?”
-
- Lauren laughs. “Of course.
I’ll take care of everything.”
-
- “Thanks! I’ll pick
you up in an hour.”
-
- Nora hangs up and gets up
from her desk, making her way out of the room. She turns and
looks back at the desk as she has another idea. She marches back
to her desk and picks up the phone again. She dials and waits.
“Hi, Kallie. It’s Nora Buchanan. Would you mind if
I stopped by your house? I’d like to talk to you.”
-
- Bo and Rex are relaxing in
the den. Bo has put Matt to work cleaning the kitchen after Rex
made them breakfast. Matt saunters back into the den and drops
onto the couch. “All done. Are we going out on the boat
now?”
-
- Rex groans. “I’ve
had enough of the fishing experience.”
-
- Matt chuckles. “That’s
because you suck at fishing.”
-
- Bo frowns at him. “You
know your mother doesn’t like you to talk like that.”
-
- He shrugs. “I know but
this is a guys’ weekend. Guys say suck. And Rex certainly
sucks at fishing.”
-
- Bo can’t help but grin.
“Okay, but just don’t use that word when Mom’s
in earshot.”
-
- “No problem. Let’s
get some fishing in before we have to pack up and go.”
-
- Bo nods. “Okay by me.
Balsom?”
-
- Rex sighs. “Fine. I’ll
give it another try. Maybe third time really is the charm.”
-
- Nora knocks on the door and
waits. Kallie opens it with a smile. “Hi, Mrs. Buchanan.
Would you like to come in?”
-
- Nora shakes her head. “No,
I can’t stay. I just wanted to talk to you about Matt.”
-
- “Oh.” Kallie joins
Nora on the porch, closing the door behind her. “Is he okay?”
-
- “Yes. No. Well, yes,
he’s fine physically but…”
-
- Kallie looks at her oddly.
“But what?”
-
- “But he misses you.”
Nora takes a deep breath. “He would kill me if he knew I
was here right now.”
-
- “Where is Matt?”
-
- “He went on a fishing
trip to the lodge with his dad and Rex. I just… Well, Lauren
and I are taking a ride up there to bring them a picnic. I thought
maybe you might like to join us?”
-
- “Mrs. Buchanan, you
didn’t want me and Matt to date in the first place. I didn’t
think you would be upset that we’re not speaking. Why are
you here?”
-
- Nora shakes her head. “I’m
not saying you have to date again… In fact, no, that’s
not what I’m asking at all… At least I don’t think
so…” Kallie watches as Nora talks, seemingly to herself.
“He is too young to date, I still believe that, it’s
just…” She finally looks back at Kallie. “He knows
he messed up with what happened with the Taylors and he’s
trying to make up for that. He’s working hard at the Center
to start the teen program with Andrew… And he’s still
playing baseball, so he’s busy enough, I guess… But
I think Matt really misses your friendship. If you could just
talk to him…”
-
- Kallie holds up her hands.
“Okay, okay. I see what you’re trying to say. I gotta
admit, I miss Matt too.”
-
- “Really? Would you like
to join us for a day at the lake? Matt will be thrilled to see
you.”
-
- Kallie nods. “Let me
ask my mom. I’ll be right back.”
-
- Rex is slapping at the mosquitoes,
trying to concentrate on fishing. “Can’t we go back
and just order a pizza and have a few beers? This ‘catch
your dinner’ stuff is so medieval.”
-
- Matt laughs. “It’s
supposed to be fun. You’re supposed to relax.”
-
- “How am I supposed to
relax when half the mosquito population in Pennsylvania is eyeing
me for dinner?”
-
- Bo chuckles. “I told
you to use the spray before we left the dock. They’re not
biting us, right Matt?”
-
- “Nope.”
-
- Rex rolls his eyes. “I
can’t stand the smell of that stuff.”
-
- Matt laughs. “Well,
if you smell good, the mosquitoes will bite you. Your choice.”
-
- Rex is slapping at the hungry
bugs when his pole jerks. “You got one!” Matt yells,
nearly sending Rex backwards off the boat.
-
- Rex grabs his pole. “What
do I do?”
-
- Bo picks up the net. “Reel
it in slow, Balsom. Steady on the drag, just like I showed you.”
-
- “That was three days
ago. I haven’t caught anything since then, remember?”
-
- “Just reel it in slow
and steady. That’s it, bring it up near the boat.”
Bo leans over the side, capturing the fish in the net.
-
- “I got one!” Rex
says proudly.
-
- Bo holds it up, trying not
to laugh at the scrawny little fish. “His mommy must miss
him.”
-
- Matt laughs as Rex glares
at him. “Funny. Can you just unhook him and let him go?”
-
- Bo shakes his head. “You
caught him, you free him.” He hands Rex the line.
-
- “Come here, little guy.
We’ll have you home in no time.” Rex tries to grip
the fish to pull the hook out. When the fish squirms out of his
hand, it falls to the floor of the boat. Rex jumps back, losing
his balance and tumbling over the side of the boat, into the
water. Bo and Matt are cracking up as Rex comes sputtering to
the surface, cussing up a storm. “Get me out of here!”
-
- Bo and Matt reach over the
side, grabbing Rex’s arms and hoisting him back into the
boat. “I think your fishing career is officially over, Balsom.”
Bo tosses Rex a sweatshirt from the front of the boat. He sets
the poor fish free as Matt pulls up the anchor. Bo starts the
engine and lets Matt steer the boat back toward shore.
- As they approach the dock,
Matt sees Nora’s car. “Dad, look! Mom’s here.”
-
- Bo smiles. “I see that.”
-
- Nora walks toward the dock,
waving as she sees the boat coming in. Bo secures the lines and
hops off, meeting Nora on the dock, pulling her into his arms
for a kiss. “Hi, beautiful. I wasn’t expecting to see
you up here.”
-
- She kisses him. “I missed
my boys.” She looks into the boat and sees Rex is soaking
wet. “Rex, what happened to you?”
-
- He jumps off the boat. “Don’t
ask.” Rex marches toward the lodge as Matt climbs off the
boat, giving his mom a hug.
-
- Nora nods toward the lodge.
“I brought a surprise for you.”
-
- “My iPod? I forgot mine
and I’ve been dying listening to Dad’s music.”
Matt rushes off before Nora has a chance to stop him.
-
-
- Bo stops her from following
him. “I’m sure he can find the iPod himself.”
-
- Nora shakes her head. “I
didn’t bring him an iPod.”
-
- “Oh?”
-
- Rex blasts through the front
door. He stops when he sees Kallie sitting on the sofa in the
den. “What are you doing here?”
-
- “I came to talk to Matt.
Lauren is in the kitchen.”
-
- Lauren wanders out of the
kitchen. “Rex! Omigosh, you’re soaking. What happened?”
-
- Matt comes through the door.
“Hi, Lauren! Rex caught a minnow and it knocked him off
the boat.”
-
- Rex glares at him. “Funny,
squirt. Maybe you could talk to your own girlfriend and buzz
off.”
-
- Matt hasn’t seen Kallie
yet. “I don’t have a girlfriend, remember?”
-
- She gets off the sofa. “Hi,
Matt.”
-
- He's startled to hear her
voice. “What are you doing here?”
-
- “Your mom invited me.”
-
- “She did?” Kallie
nods. “That’s a surprise.”
-
- Rex heads off to his room
to change, with Lauren right behind him. Nora and Bo walk into
the lodge, holding hands. She smiles at her son. “I see
you found my surprise.”
-
- Matt nods. “Thanks,
Mom.”
-
- “I thought you two needed
to talk, that’s all.”
-
- Lauren emerges from the bedroom
with Rex. “The food is ready. Let’s eat.”
-
- Rex heads toward the kitchen.
“I hope it’s not fish!”
-
- Everyone helps carry the
food out to the picnic table in the yard, to enjoy their meal
overlooking the lake. Matt enjoys filling the girls in on Rex's
ineptitude in the fishing arena. Nora is pleased to see her son
acting like a normal teen again.
-
- The men insist on doing the
cleanup. When everything is put away, Matt looks at Kallie. “Would
you like to take a walk around the lake?”
-
- Nora shakes her head. “I
don’t think you should go too far, Matt. It will be getting
dark soon.”
-
- Bo puts his arm around her,
squeezing her gently. “Matt knows his way around, honey.
The kids will be fine. Go ahead, we have time.”
-
- Matt gets up, holding his
hand out to Kallie. “Thanks, Dad.”
-
- Matt and Kallie wander off
past the dock. Lauren turns to Rex. “Can we take a spin
on the boat? I love the water.”
-
- He groans. “You would
want to try the boat.”
-
- “Go on, Balsom. You
should be able to handle it.”
-
- Bo takes Nora’s hand
as they watch Rex untie the boat and pull it away from the dock.
“Looks like it’s just you and me now, kid.” He
leads her back to the porch, taking a seat on the swing, pulling
her into his lap.
-
- Matt and Kallie are silently
making their way along the edge of the shore. He finally turns
to her. “I’m really sorry about what happened with
Stevie. How is Danielle doing?”
-
- Kallie shrugs. “Better.
She's doing good with the counseling. Her parents were freaked
because she let Stevie do that to her and she didn’t break
up with him.”
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