Bo and Nora Forever Soulmates MESSAGE BOARD FAN FICTION VIDEOS & PICTURES FAVE SCENES ARTICLES HBS and NORA BIO RSW and BO BIO CHAT ROOM FAVE LINKS BO and NORA HOME PAGE E-MAIL US

Bonds of Trust -- Part IV Rex, Lauren and Matthew are standing in line, waiting to buy tickets to a movie when Kallie approaches. “Hey, Matt. What are you doing here?”   “Hi, Kallie. We’re seeing a preview of the new ‘Indiana Jones’ movie.”   She winks at him. “What a coincidence. I came here to see that too.”   Rex eyes them suspiciously. “Oh, so this was totally accidental, right?”   Lauren nudges him. “Leave them alone. Would you like to join us, Kallie?”   Rex buys tickets for all of them and they head into the theater lobby. The girls excuse themselves to use the restroom and Rex pulls Matt aside. “You invited her, didn’t you?”   Matt shakes his arm free. “Come on, Rex. It’s just a movie. There’s no harm in that.”   “No harm until your mother finds out and has my hide.”   “Relax, it’s her birthday. I’m sure she’s too preoccupied with my dad to care what I’m doing. Besides, you and Lauren can chaperone us if you’re so worried.”   “I don’t like being ambushed, squirt.”   “Nobody ambushed you. I mentioned to Kallie that we might be seeing a movie and she showed up. It’s no big deal.”   “Oh, you say that now. When Nora finds out, you’ll be singing a different tune.”   “Why would Mom have to find out? Let it go, Rex.” Kallie and Lauren walk up to them. Matt takes Kallie's hand. “Let’s go find seats.”   Matt and Kallie walk into the theater. Lauren turns to Rex. “What happened?”   Rex takes her hand, leading her into the theater. “Nothing. Let’s find a seat.”   Lauren stops him. “What’s going on with you and Matthew?”   He stares at her. “I don’t like him taking advantage of me, that’s all. He knows his mom would have a fit if she knew he was arranging to meet his girlfriend.”   “It’s just a movie, Rex. We’ll keep an eye on them and we’re bringing him home when it’s done.”   “That’s not the point.” He walks up the steps, glaring at Matthew before taking a seat a couple rows behind them. Lauren shakes her head as she joins him.   Kallie notices the exchange. “What is Rex mad about?”   “Nothing.”   “Did you tell him that I was meeting you here?”   “No.”   “Matt! Why would you do that to Rex?”   He shakes his head. “It’s no big deal.”   “It would be to your mom. It was a big deal when I ran into you at the mall.”   “Just drop it, okay? I can handle my mom. Rex just needs to chill.”   Kallie glances back at Rex. “He looks really mad. I’d say you have a problem.”     Nora and Bo are wrapped in each other’s arms, trying to catch their breath. He kisses her nose. “I should have gotten Little Richard tickets years ago. Hell, now that I know that’s the thanks I get, I’m going to have him do a personal concert every year.”   She laughs. “I guess you’ve more than made up for forgetting last year.”   Bo kisses her. “An oversight that will never happen again. In fact, I may start planning next year as soon as we get back from Atlantic City.”   “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Cowboy.” She pulls him back for another kiss just as the phone rings.   Bo groans, grabbing the phone off the nightstand. “Buchanan.”   “Hey, partner. Just a heads up that we are on our way home with your teenage son. You’ve got 10 minutes to get decent.”   “Thanks for the warning.” Bo hangs up. Nora gives him a questioning look. “Balsom is on his way back with Matt.”   “Oh!” Nora jumps out of bed, grabbing her clothes and disappearing into the bathroom.   Bo chuckles. “Honey, it wouldn’t be the first time we got busted.”   Nora cracks the door, “Get dressed, Buchanan!”   Bo reluctantly pushes back the covers and climbs out of bed. Ten minutes later, they are coming down the stairs when Matt comes through the door, followed by Rex and Lauren.   Lauren holds up a cake. “Happy Birthday. We picked up the cake Bo ordered.”   Nora takes it from her. “Thank you, Lauren. Let’s set this up in the kitchen.”   She follows Nora into the kitchen. Rex winks at Bo as they follow the women. “Have a good afternoon?”   Bo smirks. “Fine. How was your day?”   Matthew comes into the kitchen, quickly changing the subject. “Hey, Mom. Should we sing?”   Nora sets the cake on the table as Lauren sets out plates. “I think we can be spared from singing with this group. Will you get water for everyone?”   They all take their seats. Nora cuts everyone a piece of cake as Matt sets out a pitcher of water and glasses. “So, did you like your present, Mom?”   Nora smiles broadly. “You were in on this?”   Matt nods. “I reminded him.”   “Hey! I ordered the tickets BEFORE the reminder,” Bo emphasizes.   “Well, it was definitely a wonderful surprise!”   “What is it?” Lauren asks, taking a bite of her cake.   “Little Richard tickets.”   She smiles politely. “Little Richard? Oh.”   Matt laughs. “You don’t get it. Mom and Dad were married by Little Richard the first time.”   “Really?”   Nora nods, taking Bo’s hand. “Yeah. Our friends surprised us and got him to perform the ceremony.”   “That’s cool. I knew you guys like dancing to oldies music but I didn’t realize you were that into it.”   Bo squeezes Nora’s hand. “We like the oldies but Little Richard is special.”   “So when is the concert?” Rex asks.   “Tomorrow night.” Bo looks at Matt. “You’re staying with Grandpa and Renee.”   “Sweet!”   Nora smirks at him. “But no parties at Rodi’s this time.”   Matt grins. “No problem.”   Nora sets down her fork. “What were you boys up to today?”   Rex shoots a look at Matt. “We went to a movie,” he says sarcastically.   Nora notes Rex’s tone of voice. “No good?”   Matt jumps in. “It was great! Lots of action. Right, Rex?”   He frowns. “Right.”   Nora looks at Bo questioningly. He shrugs. “Well, I’m glad you had fun.”   Bo eyes his son. “Matt, you should get your homework done. You have school tomorrow.”   Matt gets up, looking pleadingly at Rex. “Sure, Dad.”   Nora glances between the boys. “Matt, you should thank Rex and Lauren for taking you out.”   “Thanks,” Matt says half-heartedly as he picks up his glass. “Talk to you later.” He tosses his glass in the dishwasher and hastily exits the kitchen.   Nora turns to Rex. “What was that?”   Rex pushes back his chair. “It’s nothing. We should get going. Let you two get back to celebrating.” He picks up his plate and Lauren’s, placing them in the sink.   Lauren gets up, embarrassed by Rex’s rudeness. “Okay. Thanks for the cake, Nora.”   Nora looks at Bo curiously. He shrugs again as she frowns at him. “You don’t have to run. Would you like some coffee?”   Lauren smiles. “No, thanks. I have an errand to run tonight.”   “All right. Thank you for picking up the cake and sharing it with us.”   Rex gives Nora a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’m glad you had a good day. I’ll see you soon.” He takes Lauren’s hand and leads her out of the kitchen. Bo and Nora follow. “See you tomorrow, partner.”   “Bye,” Lauren gives them a quick wave as Rex propels her through the living room.   “Drive carefully,” Nora says as Rex opens the door and they leave. She turns to Bo. “What was that?”   He shrugs. “No idea. Seems the boys are having a disagreement.”   Nora makes her way to the stairs. “Well, I’m going to find out what’s going on.”   Bo catches up to her at the bottom step, holding her back. “Honey, it’s between the boys. Let them work it out. If they want our advice, they’ll ask.”   She turns to look at him. “You want me to just let it go?”   “Yes, I want you to take your ‘mom hat’ off for tonight and let’s finish our celebration of your birthday.”   Nora smiles, taking his hand as they head upstairs. “Any other hat you’d like me to put on?”     Matt grabs his ringing cell phone off the nightstand. “Hey, Stevie. What’s up?”   “I heard from Danielle that you and Kallie went to a movie today. How did that go?”   “The movie was good.”   “Come on, man. Did your mom find out about Kallie being there?”   Matt glances at the door, making sure it’s closed. “No, Rex didn’t say a word.”   “Kallie told Danielle that he was really mad. What’s up with that?”   “It’s no big deal. He was just annoyed I didn’t tell him Kallie was coming. He’ll get over it and he wouldn’t rat me out. I think we’re cool.”   “That’s good. Hey, can you come over after school tomorrow?”   “My parents are going to Atlantic City to see Little Richard, so I’m staying with Grandpa and Renee.”   Stevie laughs. “Little Richard? Man, that’s lame.”   Matt grins. “It’s a long story but they have a special attachment to him.”   “If you say so. Maybe Nigel can pick you up at my house instead of after school?”   “That would be great. Then he won’t show up in the limo like the last time. I'll talk to my dad in the morning.”   “Okay. My mom can pick us up. I’ll see you tomorrow.”   “Later,” Matt says as he snaps the phone closed. He is about to toss it on the nightstand but he flips it back open and dials quickly, holding the phone to his ear. “Hey, can we talk?”   Rex sighs. Holding the phone away from his ear, he mouths ‘Matthew’ to Lauren. “What is it, squirt?”   “Are you still mad about the movie?”   “What do you think?”   Matt sinks back into his bed. “I think you’re mad.”   Rex doesn’t let him off the hook. “Wouldn’t you be if I took advantage of you that way?”   “I thought you would be on my side. Mom is completely unfair not letting me date.”   Rex shrugs. “Maybe she is but that’s your battle and using me to cover for you isn’t fair to me.”   “Are you going to tell them?”   “No, I’m not. But there had better not be a next time that you ambush me that way.”   Matt nods. “Sorry, Rex. I won’t do it again.”   Rex sighs. “Look, I understand wanting to see your girlfriend and if you had been up front with me, I would have told your mother that I asked Kallie to join us, since Lauren was there too. I’m sure it wouldn’t have been a problem. Because you did the underhanded thing, you put me and Lauren in the position of having to lie to your parents. That's not cool.”   “I get it, Rex. Tell Lauren I’m sorry too.”   “I will. Thanks for calling and apologizing. I’ll catch you later.”   “Bye, Rex.” Matthew snaps the phone shut and tosses it on the nightstand, picking up his Gameboy and switching off the light.   TBC