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Bo's Journey Home - Chapter 37   Nora stood in front of her door hanging mirror, examining her chosen attire. It was simple but elegant. She was wearing a cream silk blouse with a dark green skirt. Her shoes matched her skirt. She turned slightly to her left and then to her right, making sure her lines were smooth. She looked back at her reflection, still not satisfied. Something was missing. She looked over to the bed, the skirt’s matching jacket and a sweater both lying there. She had tried both on but couldn’t make up her mind. Neither gave her that punch she was looking for. She looked back to the mirror. Why was she having so much trouble getting dressed? Why was she so nervous? She and Matthew were only going over to Asa’s with Bo for the annual Buchanan Christmas Eve gift exchange. She had done that plenty of times in the past. There was nothing to be nervous about.   And yet she was. The tingling sensation of nerves had her shaking her hands in front of her. She looked back to the bed, the jacket and sweater both waiting for her to decide which she was going to wear. Neither garment had screamed ‘pick me.’ She looked back to the mirror, slowly moving her hand to her throat, her eyes darting to the reflection of the small crystal dish on her dresser and then back to the hand at her throat. Was that what was missing? Was it time?   She thought back over the past few months, the past month especially. It had been another chaotic month for the three of them. If November had been about her work load and Bo taking care of Matthew, December had been about his work load and her taking care of Matthew. Bo was so wrapped up in a FBI/CIA case that there hadn’t been much time for her and Bo to explore the few steps they had taken towards each other on Thanksgiving. “Steps?” she thought to herself. Hell, they had almost taken the plunge; until Matthew had unknowingly interrupted. Had that been the fates again? Now it seemed the craziness of their life had rubbed off on Matthew. Ever since she and Bo had overheard his conversation with Nigel, Nora’s maternal instincts were on heightened alert. Since Thanksgiving, Matthew had seemed distant and preoccupied. Nora thought at first it was due to Bo’s inability to spend any time with him. Matthew had gone from spending every moment with Bo in November to barely seeing him in December. Every night, when Matthew would ask for Bo, Nora’s response was the same, “He’s working late or he’s on his way.” Matthew had heard those answers so much, he had stopped asking. That’s when his phone calls started. There were the not so secret phone calls to Rachel in Chicago; Nora knew this because she paid the bills; but there were other secret phone calls to and from unknown persons that Matthew refused to discuss or disclose to her. Her own calls to Rachel didn’t afford her much information either; not that she thought it would. Rachel wouldn’t break her brother’s trust; her only revelation to Nora was, other than missing Bo, Matthew was just fine. Nora believed that was part of Matthew’s turmoil, but not all of it. She wasn’t alarmed but she was concerned.   She had first waved off his behavior to the overwhelming holiday season he had been thrust into. Not only did she have to get him through the Chanukah rituals and mailing off of gifts for her parents and Rachel; but this year, Matthew would be celebrating Christmas with the Buchanans so there were those traditions and rituals to get him through. And the gifts. She had to admit, Matthew had done well choosing gifts for his new found family but Bo had become a bone of contention between them. Matthew refused to discuss a gift for Bo. Any time she brought it up; he became evasive and secretive, refusing her suggestions and her help. She had even asked Asa and Kevin to casually mention it to Matthew, maybe take him to a sporting goods store to get Bo some fishing gear. But Matthew had returned home from both outings empty handed and that ‘don’t ask’ look on his face.   Their last attempt at shopping together had been a disaster. Matthew hadn’t wanted to go but Nora had dragged him out anyway. That had been her first mistake. Once they arrived at Logans Department Store, they had circled the Men’s department three times with Matthew showing no interest at all in picking anything out. So Nora had casually suggested a tie, since Bo wore them all of the time. That had been her second mistake. Matthew had snapped at her, responding with “I’m not getting him a stupid tie!”   Between the crowds and Matthew’s attitude and apparent lack of interest in getting Bo anything, Nora had become so frustrated with him that she snapped right back, telling him if he didn’t pick something out for Bo, she would do it for him. He then became as defiant as his father, folding his arms across his chest like the Buchanan he was and responding right back with, “I don’t need your help, he’s not your father.” That comment had stopped them both cold and ended their shopping day. They didn’t speak the whole ride home and she hadn’t broached the subject with him again until last night. She had gone into his room to say goodnight and caught him hiding something under his pillow. She mentioned it casually, asking if it was Bo’s gift, but he dismissed her with “I’ve got it covered.”   Well, it was Christmas Eve and Nora still had not seen a gift for Bo from Matthew. So, Nora had taken it upon herself to wrap a tie and put it under the tree for Bo. She wanted this first Christmas for the three of them to be special. And if that meant she had to pull rank and cover Matthew’s back, she would.   She looked back into the mirror, her hand still resting against her throat. Through the mirror, she looked at her dresser in the background. She turned from the mirror, slowly making her way over to her dresser, picking up the heart shaped necklace from the crystal dish that had been its home for the past four months. She glanced up at her reflection in the dresser mirror, her eyes moving to her neckline, her free hand slowly moving back to her throat. She looked from her reflection to the necklace dangling from her hand. She wanted this Christmas to be special, she thought again. It was time. She fisted the necklace quickly, leaving the jacket and sweater abandoned on the bed, calling for their son.   “Matthew!”   Meanwhile, Matthew was in his room, sitting on his bed dressed in boxers and a tee shirt, his rarely used robe abandoned on the floor. He was holding a white envelope in his hand that he had just pulled out from under his pillow. His black dress pants were laid out on his bed, a white turtle neck and red long sleeve polo lying beside them. He heaved a sigh. He hated getting dressed up. But at least it wasn’t a suit. He lay the envelope on the bed, grabbing the black socks and pulling them on, pulling on the clothes his mother had picked out for him. She was always picking stuff out for him. It made life easy for him. But the one thing he wouldn’t let her pick out for him was Bo’s Christmas gift. He glanced at the envelope on his bed.   He knew his mother meant well. He remembered the day she had dragged him shopping, trying to force him to buy some stupid tie. How could he make her understand that that she couldn’t help him this time; that Bo’s gift wasn’t something he could buy at a store; that it had to come from somewhere only Matthew could go. He glanced again to the envelope on the bed, subconsciously moving his hand over his chest to his heart. This was something he had to do by himself. Well, not all himself. He had needed special help. His mother would understand tonight. At least he was hoping she would understand. Either way, this was about Bo and him. He picked up the envelope off the bed, tracing with his finger the letters he had printed across the white paper, letting his breath out slowly. He was nervous. He took another deep breath, looking back down at the envelope. He could do this. It was time.   He heard his mother calling him from the hallway and called back. “I’ll be right there, mom!” He slipped on his black loafers, stuffed the envelope in the back pocket of his pants and ran off to meet her downstairs. When he got to the bottom of the steps, his mother was waiting for him with his jacket. “Now don’t you look handsome,” she greeted.   Matthew rolled his eyes as his mother leaned in to kiss him. “Ahh, mom. You say that all the time.”   She quickly rubbed his cheek with her thumb, wiping off the small stain of lipstick she had left there. “I’m allowed. I’m the mother.”   Matthew looked around the decorated living room. “Where’s Bo? I thought he was picking us up.”   Nora held his jacket out to him. “He’s still at work so he’s meeting us at your grandfather’s.”   Matthew took the jacket from her, slipping it on. “He always has to work.”   Nora looked down into her son’s eyes. “He’s the police commissioner. There’s nothing we can do about it.” Nora grabbed her keys from the desk.   Matthew started to the front door slowly, stopping short, causing Nora to bump into him. He looked over his shoulder at his mother. “He is coming though, right?”   Nora nodded. “Yes. He’s running late, but he’ll be there. He never misses Christmas Eve at Asa’s and he won’t this year, being able to share it with you.” Nora pushed at Matthew’s back. “Now come on, let’s go. We’re late and your grandparents won’t miss this opportunity to harass me about raising another Buchanan who’s late for everything.”   Matthew looked at her confused. “Huh?”   Nora pushed at his back again. “Never mind. Let’s just get going.”   As Nora and Matthew were arriving at Asa’s, Bo was leaving the police station. Bo was on his way to meet up with them at his father’s for the annual Buchanan Christmas Eve gathering. He was looking forward to spending these few hours with his family. It had been a long month for Bo. It had started with the phone call from Antonio Thanksgiving night informing him that FBI and CIA agents were in his office, waiting to speak to him and involve his department in one of their joint cases.   But he wasn’t going to think about it tonight. Tonight was about Nora and Matthew. It was Christmas Eve. He reached into his inside jacket pocket, making sure Nora’s and Matthew’s gifts were still there. He wasn’t waiting anymore. It was time. He reached for his cell and called Nora.   Nora was standing alone by the fireplace, watching Matthew with the other “Buchs” opening gifts. The room was chaotic at best, having just survived a gunfight at the Buchanan corral, so to speak. Natalie and Jessica had gotten their brothers Nerf guns, including one for Matthew and suddenly a game of ‘tag’ was on, with foam Nerf balls flying everywhere. Thankfully, Renee, Viki and Nora had returned from the kitchen just in time to put an end to the inside game after a vase was knocked over.   Now the room had settled down some and the girls were comparing jewelry gifts with each other and their mother, the older Buchanan boys playfully tossing insults at each other. Asa and Renee were in the mix, Renee chatting with Viki while Asa held Matthew close to him on the sofa. She couldn’t help but notice that Matthew glanced to the door every few seconds. She knew he was waiting for Bo. She glanced down at her watch, wondering herself if Bo was going to get away from the Federal Agents long enough to make the party. If they worked Thanksgiving, she certainly assumed they worked Christmas and would probably expect Bo’s department to work right along with them. Nora’s cell phone rang just as Renee and Viki waved for her to join them. She smiled at them and held up her finger, looking down at the LED of her phone. She smiled when she saw the number on her caller ID. She answered with a playful threat. “If you’re calling to say you’ll be late, you’re in big trouble, Mister.”   Bo smiled into his phone. “No Ma'am. I’m in the car and on my way. I should be there in 20 minutes.”   Nora looked over at Matthew who was looking back at her with a question in his eyes. “Good thing. Your son has asked for you about one hundred times in the past hour.”   Bo’s smiled widen. “I’m glad. Tell him I’m on my way.”   Nora nodded. “I’ll see you soon.”   Nora ended the call, as Matthew came over to her. “Was that Bo? He is still at work?”   Nora shook her head. “Nope. He’s on his way.”   Matthew looked at her doubtfully. “I’ve heard that one before.”   Nora smiled at him softly. “He’s really on his way.”   To be continued…