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Bo's Journey Home - Chapter 7 Tuesday, June 24th, 2003 Nora’s House   Rachel arrived in the early morning hours of Tuesday. She barely hugged Bo before bounding the stairs two at a time to her mother’s bedroom. She flung the door open and rushed to her mother’s side, reaching for her and calling her. “Momma.” Nora sat up and pulled Rachel to her, the sobs that she had been holding pouring out of her. Rachel held her close, rocking her, as she might a small child. Rachel’s voice was soothing. “Shh, momma, it’s all right now. I’m here.”   Nora voice came out as a small wail. “I want my son back.”   Rachel nodded. “I know, mom. Bo will find him,” she said, still rocking her mother and repeating. “Bo will find him.”   Nora allowed Rachel to hold her for a few moments, trying to find some comfort in her oldest child’s arms. Nora suddenly pulled away from Rachel, placing her hand along the side of Rachel’s face. “How did you find out? How did you get here? You must be so tired.”   Rachel smiled, answering her question with a question. “Who do you think called me?”   Nora tried to return her smile. “Bo.”   “And Asa sent his jet,” Rachel added.   “The old coot,” Nora sighed affectionately.   “Asa loves you,” Rachel told her. And then she added softly, “Bo loves you, too.”   Nora pulled back from her slightly, correcting her. “He’s my friend.”   Rachel rolled her eyes at that remark but surprised Nora when she added quickly, “And Matthew’s father.”   Nora paled and looked at her suddenly. “What did you say?”   Rachel was a little disappointed when her mother didn’t confirm it right away. She shook her head slightly. “Oh, Mom, I’m not blind. I always believed the DNA tests were wrong. Matthew is the spitting image of Bo; and he looks a hellava lot like Drew. Am I the only one who sees that?”   Nora spoke quietly. “You’re right, Rikki. Bo is Matthew’s father. We just found out recently. We haven’t even told Matthew yet. So you can’t say anything about it to anyone.” Nora proceeded to tell Rachel all about Sam’s letters to Bo and her. Rachel was dumbfounded that Sam could be so mean, so callous, to keep that information secret, to lie for as long as he did. Rachel responded to this news angrily. “Bo stepped aside so Sam could raise the child he thought was his. And Sam couldn’t return the same courtesy?”   Nora’s eyes filled with tears again. “I can’t talk about this right now, Rikki. I just want my son found.”   “We will find him, mom,” Rachel said encouragingly. Nora nodded, wiping her eyes, sliding over in the bed. “Come on, climb in. You must be so tired.”   Rachel curled up next to her mother but Nora didn’t sleep at all that night. She heard Bo downstairs, talking periodically on the phone or to officers that seemed to come and go all night. She lay there in her bed, fresh tears pouring down her cheeks. She just wanted her baby boy back; Bo’s son. She heard footsteps on the stairs, followed by Bo at her bedroom door. He knocked on the slightly opened door. Rachel opened her eyes and saw him. She kissed her mother and rose from the bed.   Bo put his hand up, speaking quickly. “You don’t have to leave, Rachel.”   Nora reached for her across the bed. “Where are you going?”   Rachel got up from the bed, looking from Bo to her mother. “I need to get caught up on this investigation. I’ve rested long enough.” As Rachel passed Bo, she gave him a quick hug and kiss. Bo went and sat next to Nora on the bed, reaching his arms out to her. Nora sat up and hugged him to her. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to get lost in his embrace. She buried her face in his neck, taking in his lime scent and trying to gain some strength from him. They sat like that in silence for a few moments. Holding her so close brought back intense memories for Bo and he allowed himself to get lost in those memories for a moment. He could feel her heart beat against his chest and her warm breath against his neck. He was slowly rubbing his hands up and down her back. He turned his face towards her and kissed the side of her head softly. Nora spoke from his embrace, all ready knowing his answer, but asking him anyway. “No word yet?”   Bo pulled his head from her shoulder to look at her, shaking his head. “Nothing. Lots of people calling in, and we have officers following up on every sighting, every lead, and every call, but nothing concrete yet.”   Nora’s eyes filled with tears, resting her forehead against his. “Where could he be?” she whispered to him.   Bo swallowed hard, trying to hold back his own emotions, trying to be strong for her. “I don’t know, Nora. I just don’t know. Maybe he is asleep under some tree somewhere and he’ll show up today.”   Nora looked into his eyes. “Thanks for Rachel.”   Bo smiled slightly. “I knew she would want to know, I knew you would need her.”   Nora hugged him close to her again, resting her cheek against his. “You always knew what I needed. You know me so well.” Nora pulled back to look at him again, her arms still wrapped around his neck, not breaking physical contact with him. “Have you spoken to Gabrielle? I’m sure she was none to pleased you spent the night here.”   Bo suddenly became annoyed, remembering his brief conversation with Gabrielle from the night before. It wasn’t pretty. They had argued about his staying at Nora’s. And then she became distant when he tried to speak about Matthew, suddenly ending their conversation. He heaved a sigh just at the memory of that conversation but he spoke out loud to Nora. “I don’t really care what she thinks right now,” he said angrily. He looked into Nora’s eyes, softening his tone. “He’s my son, Nora, and you are his mother. This is where I need to be. End of story.”   Nora smiled briefly at him, again resting her head against his forehead. “I’m so glad you’re here.”   Bo returned her smile. “Me too,” he whispered, “and I’m not going anywhere.”   Nora lifted her head slightly from his forehead, looking deep into his guarded blue eyes. She could see past his guardedness, that war of raw emotion he was fighting to keep in check. “I know this must be so hard for you,” she whispered. “No one even knows you’re Matthew’s father. No one knows what you're going through, but me. I know,” she added softly, placing her hand gently on his cheek. “And I also know you’re thinking about Drew.” Bo pulled back and released himself from her embrace. He stood, putting physical distance between them, standing with his back to her. Nora felt empty outside his embrace and wrapped her arms around her body, hugging herself. “I’m sorry Bo.”   Bo shook his head, trying to find his voice, the lump rising in his throat. “Don’t be.” He glanced back at her over his shoulder. “I just wanted to come up and check on you. I’d better go back downstairs and see what’s happening.” He quickly left her room, not wanting her to see he was on the brink of losing it himself. He couldn’t lose another son, not when he had just found him. He knew he wouldn’t be able to bear it again.   Nora soon came downstairs. Most of the second day was spent waiting. Bo was either going or coming, or making and listening to phone calls. Nora noticed that there were fewer officers in her house and that Bo had changed into a clean suit. Rachel had gotten involved with the investigation and the feedback from the search parties. Renee had offered a ballroom at the palace to setup a central command for the searchers. Phones and computers had been setup there overnight. Renee and Vicki had returned at dinnertime with some food but Nora was having no parts of eating. Nora just sat on her sofa, having moved emotionally from distraught to numb. It had been 24 hours since Matthew had been missing and still there had been no word. She had been fighting a knot in the pit of her stomach all day, but it finally won and had her running to the bathroom, dry heaving into the toilet. With each passing hour, she felt her son moving further and further away from her. This was the fates, punishing her for the sin she had committed against her son’s father. It wasn’t punishment enough that she had lost the love of her son’s father; the only man she had ever truly given her heart to, but now she had lost his son as well. She collapsed on the bathroom floor. Bo heard the thud and was at the door in an instant. He forced the door opened and found Nora on the floor. Bo cradled Nora in his arms, yelling into the living room. “Rachel, get one of my officers in here.”   Nora was taken to Llanview hospital, with Bo and Rachel at her side. Bo paced in the waiting room, constantly running his hands through his hair, Rachel sitting in one of the chairs. Larry finally came out. Rachel stood quickly to greet him. Bo went striding over to Larry, standing next to Rachel. “Larry, how is she?” they both asked together.   Larry spoke quietly. “She’s okay; exhausted, but okay. ”   “Will she be all right? Rachel asked, her voice filled with concern.   Larry nodded. “Physically, she’s fine. Emotionally, well,” he paused, “her son is missing. That’s enough to send anyone over the edge.” He glanced quickly at Bo as he said that. “She’s walking a tight rope on that edge and there’s not much any of us can do for her except try and be strong for her.”   “Can I see her now?” Rachel asked.   “Sure,” Larry nodded.   Rachel went in and returned quickly. “Go on in Bo. I want to call my dad and give him an update.”   Bo walked into Nora’s room. Her eyes were closed. He walked to her bedside and lowered the bed rail. He leaned over her, pressing his lips against her forehead and closing his eyes, allowing his mouth to linger there for a few moments, then moving to kiss the side of her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open. Bo smiled at her gently. “Hiya gorgeous,” he whispered softly.   Nora let out a stuttered sigh. He hadn’t called her that in a long time. “Hi,” she whispered back.   Bo sat down on the edge of the bed, taking her hand in both of his, leaning back over her, his face close to hers. “What are you doing to me, Red?” It was the second time he had used her nickname and her heart gave a tug from somewhere deep within. “You need to be strong,” he continued. “Matthew needs you to be strong.”   Nora shook her head, crying. “I feel like I’m being punished.”   “For what?” he asked surprised, their faces still close. She turned from him, not able to look at him, not able to handle the closeness of him. When she didn’t answer, he asked her again. “Nora, punished for what?   “Us,” she whispered softly, still looking away from him. “You.”   Bo reached out to take her chin softly, turning her face back to his. “You are not being punished, Red. There is nothing to punish you for.” He moved his hand from her chin to cup the side of her face. His face was so close to hers, she could feel his breath on her lips. “I will find Matthew and bring him home to you. But I need you to be strong. No falling apart on me. Okay?”   Nora shrugged, closing her eyes, not able to look at him, his closeness overwhelming her. “I’ll try.”   Bo suddenly found himself leaning the rest of the way in to her and slowly touching his lips to hers. Her eyes opened quickly to lock on his and she could see her surprise mirrored in his eyes. He pulled back from her quickly, moving away from the bed towards the door. “Umm, I’ll check with Larry and see when we can get you home.”   “Bo,” she called.   “I’ll be right back,” he said, quickly leaving.   He stood in the hall outside her room, leaning against the door. He had no idea where that kiss had come from, he just knew when he had touched her lips with his, he had felt the sensation of it deep within his heart. He tried to convince himself it had happened out of his need to protect her, but he knew he was kidding himself with that explanation. It was definitely something more. Whatever was happening inside him, inside his heart, he couldn’t let himself go there right now. He had to find Matthew. He took a few deep breaths and went to find Larry. Larry let Nora leave the emergency room with Rachel and Bo a few hours later. Neither of them spoke about what happened at the hospital. Both of them were concentrating on Matthew. They arrived back at Nora’s house about 8:00 PM Tuesday night. Still there was no word of Matthew. To be continued …