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FF: Bo's Journey Home - Chapter 33   Bo didn’t realize when he decided to move in with Nora and Matthew what a life changing event that it would be for him. Bo’s normal routine of getting up in the morning, a quick shower, a quick shave, and a cup of coffee on the way to work had completely changed. His whole world routine had changed. He thought living together would be more like it was when he and Nora had been married. He forgot to factor in the life of a child. He never knew how drastically different but wonderful life would be, living with a small, but very active, child.   And that child’s daily life activities included just as much as his and Nora’s, starting with school. He and Nora both took turns dropping Matthew off at school each morning, but lately that daily task had fallen onto Bo. Since Hank had left the DA office, Nora was so overwhelmed with cases that she was barely home. When she was home, her head was buried in files, and she was short with him and Matthew if she spoke to either of them at all. Bo could tell Nora was starting to feel the pressure of working on so many cases. So Bo had taken on the added responsibility of keeping Matthew away from Nora while she worked.   Keeping Matthew away from Nora now included homework duties. Matthew was a good student but Bo still had to review each assignment with him. The real problem was finding the time to go over it with him. Bo first had tried stopping home at Matthew’s normal after school time, but they were constantly interrupted with Bo’s cell phone and police business more than they accomplished any homework business. They also tried having Maryann bring Matthew by the police station after school but that was worse. Bo and Matthew had finally worked out a schedule. Matthew would do his homework right after school and leave it out on the table. Bo and Matthew would go over it when he came in from work, or if Bo got in too late, they would discuss it over breakfast before work and school. It wasn’t the best plan but it worked, for now. School activities were the only thing that interfered with that plan.   And there were plenty of school functions. He and Nora tried to attend school stuff together, but some nights, only he could make it, other nights, it was just Nora. When neither Bo nor Nora could attend, Bo had Asa and Renee fill in. It was good for Asa and Renee as grandparents, and Matthew seemed to enjoy it when they attended a sports game or a school play. But Bo and Nora both knew that grandparents were merely stand-ins for a mother and father who were “parents” to a city as well.   So, as wonderful as it was to be living in the same house, it wasn’t quite working out the way Bo had planned. He thought the three of them moving in together would actually provide more time to be together; give him and Nora a chance to know each other again, find each other again. But the opposite had happened. Between his job, her job, and Matthew’s school, sports and social activities, it seemed like they were still single parents, crossing paths instead of traveling one together. Not since their one kiss on the day they had decided to give their relationship another chance and move in together, had they had one moment to call their own; one moment alone. That had been right at the end of the summer.   Now Thanksgiving was upon them, which included the holiday preparations and Asa and Renee’s wedding. Once again, he was going to be his father’s best man. Asa and Renee had wanted it to be just family this time. But the Buchanan family had grown over the years; from Asa, Clint and Bo; to wives, children and grandchildren. And all of them had come into town for the big event. It was a good thing they had, too. Renee had wanted all of the Christmas decorations up for the wedding. She and Asa were leaving for the ranch in Texas right after the wedding for a couple of weeks before coming back to Llanview for the rest of the holidays. Renee didn’t want to be bothered with preparing for Christmas when they got back from the ranch. So decorating had occupied much of their time before Thanksgiving; which included helping Renee pull all of the decorations out, organizing them, and setting everything up. Thanksgiving week had been spent between cleaning, planning and putting the Christmas Tree and Christmas decorations up in the mansion. Between the police station and Asa’s house, Bo hadn’t slept in his own bed in over a week.   The only good thing was that Matthew was with him. Matthew had really enjoyed himself during the decorating phase of the holiday. He had received his very own Buchanan Christmas ornament and Bo had enjoyed helping him put in on the Buchanan Tree for the first time. They had even put Drew’s ornament on together. It was a real father/son moment for them both. But he really missed Nora. They had seen each other briefly the night before, decorating the Buchanan tree. And then she and Renee had left for the barn house, not to be seen again until the wedding.   The only good thing that had really come out of their living together so far was that Matthew had adjusted well. He was happy with his life and seemed thrilled to have all three of them together in one house; to have both his parents in his life on a daily basis. Bo was enjoying it too. Matthew loved his new, extended Buchanan family and of course Asa absolutely adored Matthew. That was another task that had fallen onto Bo; running herd on Asa, and trying to keep him in line with all of the gifts he was trying to bestow on Matthew. Now, Bo and Matthew were spending what he hoped would be the last night at Asa’s mansion. Bo was performing his duties as best man, which included making sure everything was in place and ready for the noon service on Thanksgiving Day and keeping Matthew out of the way of the woman folk, namely the Buchanan women, who were across town at his and Nora’s house. The Buchanan men had all been here tonight, drinking bourbon, smoking cigars, and bombarding Bo with questions about Nora. He escaped from them by using Matthew’s bedtime as an excuse. He was glad he had Nigel take Matthew up to bed before all of that had started. He wondered if Nora had been grilled by the girls as much as the Buchanan men had grilled him tonight. Now he was hiding from all of them here in the sitting room, quietly sipping bourbon from his father’s wet bar. He wished he was with Nora right now, Matthew tucked away in his own bed, he and Nora on the sofa, working on their relationship. Bo heaved a sigh. Their life could not be worse when it came to finding any time for each other. A kiss good-night before each went to their separate rooms was not working for him. He wanted more. He needed more. Something had to give, and soon.   If they could just get through this wedding, maybe then he and Nora could really spend some quality time together. But that was a big maybe. With the holidays starting, there would probably be less time. Bo’s thoughts were interrupted when his father came striding into the sitting room, interrupting Bo’s attempt at a quiet moment.   “Bo, son, what are you doing in here, in the dark, all by yourself? Pour your father whatever it is that you’re drinking and we’ll have a toast to tomorrow and Lucky 13.”   Bo smiled at his father and did as Asa requested. “Where’s Clint and the rest of your legacy? Did they find someone else to fire pot shots at after I left?”   Asa laughed. “They just said good-night. I think they’re headed to Rodi’s. You can catch them if you hurry. I’ll keep an eye on Matthew for you. Where is my grandson?” Asa asked. “I’m ready to play him another game on that computer of his. I really think I can take him this time.”   Bo chuckled as he handed his father the glass. “Forget about it for tonight, Pa. I just got him to go to bed. I already lied to Nora and told her he was in bed an hour ago. I know she’s on to me.”   Asa took a sip from his glass, dismissing Bo’s comments with a wave of his hand. “Bedtime. The boy’s on vacation. Besides, I just picked him up another game; Amusement Park Tycoon. It’s all about building a business, my strong suit. The stakes will be even.”   Bo rolled his eyes. “Ah, Pa. Enough with the gifts. Nora will have my hide and yours if Matthew tells her you bought him one more thing.”   Again, Asa waved his hand to dismiss Bo’s argument. “I’m not afraid of Nora, and you shouldn’t be either.”   Bo nodded. “You say that now, when she’s not here in front of us. You’ll be singing a different tune when she bans you from seeing Matthew.”   Asa spun on his heel and looked at Bo alarmed. “He’s your son, too. You wouldn’t keep him from me, would you son?”   Bo nodded, smirking slightly, knowing he had won a small battle. Nora would kill him he she knew he was using Matthew as a pawn to threatened Asa and keep him in line. But Nora wasn’t here. Bo spoke aloud, trying not to smile so his threat would hold some credence with the King of Threats. “I will if you don’t back off and listen to me and Nora. I agree with Nora on this Pa. No more gifts. Matthew has enough.”   Asa shrugged, outwardly accepting defeat. “Whatever you say, Bo.” And then he muttered to himself. “But Christmas is coming.”   Bo rolled his eyes again, hearing his father’s comment. Asa continued. “Speaking of Nora,” Asa began. Bo rolled his eyes, knowing what was coming. “It’s just you and me now, son. Tell your old man, what’s going on with you two? How’s those living arrangements working out?”   Bo glanced up at his father with a scowl on his face. “Again with the living arrangements, Pa? Are you going to ask every time you see me? Because the answer is always going to be the same. I just went through all of this with all of you in the library. Weren’t you listening?”   Asa shrugged, pointing out to his son what he thought was obvious. “You and Nora belong together. Are you together or not? It’s a simple question, boy.”   Bo shook his head, responding with agitation. “And none of your business. Nora and I are living together because Matthew needs his mother and he needs his father. It’s strictly platonic.”   Asa chuckled sarcastically, noticing Bo’s obvious agitation. “Platonic for who?”   Bo was getting annoyed. “Pa, give it a rest, would you?”   Asa chuckled again. “Hit a nerve, did I son?”   Bo glared over at his father. “Keep it up and you’ll be minus one best man. I can take Matthew and go home.”   Asa downed his bourbon and poured himself another, filling Bo’s glass as well. “Oh, relax Bo. If you and Nora want to keep your living arrangements secret, who am I to pry.” He tapped Bo’s glass with his own. “Here’s to getting it right and marrying the right woman, no matter how many times it takes.” He made eye contact with Bo before downing the glass of alcohol.   Over at their barn house, Nora was sitting on their leather sofa, relaxing and enjoying a cup of tea. All of the Buchanan women had just left. It had been an interesting night with all of them alluding to her and Bo’s living arrangements, asking subtle questions that Nora didn’t really have answers to. It was almost three months now since she and Bo had moved back in together and it was going as well as could be expected, considering it was her and Bo. Between her job, his job and Matthew’s school schedule, they really didn’t see anymore of each other than they had before they moved in together. In some ways, they saw each other less.   She thought back to the day when he had kidnapped her in the limo, a small smile coming to her face. He had been right. Moving back here was good for them. She looked around the living room. She felt home. And having Bo and Matthew here with her made it feel even more right, more home. But she also knew something was missing. Not since that one kiss had there been any thing physical between them. She knew she was the one that had wanted to take it slow, but now she wanted something more, needed something more. Lately, she found herself thinking about him, and the memories of them together; their playful sexiness, their humor, the dancing, the junk food. Her memories of holding him and making love to him seemed to occupy her thoughts constantly until she found she ached for him. She shook herself from that thought as Renee joined her on the sofa.   “I really appreciate you letting me stay here tonight, Nora,” Renee said with a smile.   Nora returned her smile. “It’s was no problem, Renee.”   “I’m not usually superstitious but I didn’t want to take any chances of seeing Asa before the service and I really didn’t want to stay at the Palace by myself. I hope Bo and Matthew didn’t feel to put out.”   Nora chuckled remembering Bo’s face when she had told him Renee would be staying with her and he and Matthew would have to bunk at Asa’s one more night. “It’s good for the Buchanan men to spend some quality time together.”   Renee raised her eyebrows. “Even when one is a doting grandfather, ready to spoil his newest grandson?”   Nora nodded. “I’m trusting Bo to keep a leash on Asa.”   Renee still had her eyebrows raised. “We’re talking Asa Buchanan here.”   Nora’s eyes got big but she spoke with a little confidence. “Bo will keep him in line.” Then she added with a slight scowl. “I hope.”   Renee smiled. “And how are things going here with you and Bo?”   Nora shrugged her shoulders with a smile. “You’re fishing here, Renee. Not like you.”   Renee shrugged with her own smile. “You know I just want the three of you to be happy, be the family you were always meant to be.”   Nora nodded in understanding. “I know that, Renee. Like Bo and I told everyone when we decided to do this; Matthew needs both of us right now. It was easier for us to move in together than to try and shuffle Matthew between us.”   Renee nodded knowingly. “And it just so happened that this house was available?”   Nora shrugged with an innocent smile. “Wasn’t my doing. But it works for us.” Nora quickly changed the subject, standing and getting them each a glass of wine. “How about a quick toast before I tuck the bride to be into bed.”   Renee laughed. “You’re doing avoidance, Nora.”   Nora returned the laugh. “I know, Renee.” She handed Renee her glass. “I will say this much.” She tapped her glass to Renee’s. “Here’s to second chances.”   Renee added her own toast before sipping her wine. “For all of us Buchanans.”   To be continued…