Choices....................part 2

 

...they made their way to an open field, sat down on the ground and watched the fireworks. Josh was pleased that when he put his arm around Nora and held her close she didn't pull away. But she did when he tried to kiss her.
**************************************
Josh: I'm sorry, it's just...
Nora: It's ok Josh
Josh: I guess I was just reading things a bit differently
Nora: You're very sweet, but I'm just not looking to become involved right now. Too many things have happened to me over the past couple of years - things that would curl your hair- and I just need to be on my own...you understand right?
Josh: My loss, but sure I understand. If you ever want to talk...
Nora: You shouldn't have said that. I just might take you up on it one of these days!
Josh: Well, good. Come on, let's go back.

The following week was full of meetings, some going on until the wee hours of the night. The case was building well and Nora felt that their chances were good, but it all depended on the judge and how she could dig at his or her emotions. They had a few proposals on how to improve the budget but most of the case was built on the family ties to the school and to the rig. One day Nora came running into Josh's office grinning from ear to ear.
Josh: Wow, what happened to you?
Nora: Great news...one of the school board members left a message for me. He's gonna vote with us and he says that he can probably get a few more to go along with him. He's sick of McDonald and something came up last week that sent him over to our side. He didn't elaborate. I'm meeting with him in an hour. I guess we've been going about this all wrong. We need to get to all the board members, with the help of the one who contacted me, and win this thing before we ever get to court. Josh, we can do it, I know we can.
Josh: The board turning against McDonald...I'm stunned
Nora giggling: Yes you are
Josh: Oh yea???? (he picked Nora up and twirled her around and as he set her down their lips met and they kissed...she pulled away)
Josh: I'm sorry
Nora: Don't be sorry
Josh: It was just that
Nora: Yea, I know
Josh: Now don't take this the wrong way, this isn't a date or anything, but would you like to make chaperoning the school dance on Thursday evening a little more bearable? Friday's a school holiday and the kids have picked Thursday for the Fall dance.
Nora: Ewww I'm having flashbacks of high school, Denny Masters and the back seat of his T bird
Josh: Lucky Denny Masters! So will you come if I leave my T bird at home?
Nora: Sure, but I'm being picked up very early Friday morning to go home for the weekend. I just can't wait to see the kids - Asa's sending his plane for me.

 

The school dance was a blast...for Nora and Josh anyway. They did their jobs as chaperones while getting in the odd dance. The disc jockey put on When a Man Loves a Woman and once again Josh asked Nora to dance. She froze.
How could she possibly dance to this song with any one but
Bo: I think this is our dance
Nora swung around: Bo, what are you doing here?
Bo: Pa's pilot was sick or something and he asked me to come down for you.
Nora: You flew down? You haven't flown in years, have you?
Josh clears his throat
Nora: Oh lord, sorry Josh... Josh Greene this is Bo Buchanan, Bo this is Josh, the principal of this school that we're trying to save.
Bo and Josh look at the floor and shake hands with a meek: Glad to meet you
Nora tried to take a reading on this situation and decided to sit them down at a table and finish out the evening on safe ground. At midnight they got rid of all the kids and tidied up a bit.
Bo: So are you ready to head back to Llanview now?
Nora: Tonight?????
Bo: Uh yea
Nora: But it's dark. Are you sure you can fly in the dark?
Bo: Nora! Of course I can fly in the dark. I can fly with my eyes shut.
Nora: Funny.
Nora walked over to Josh and explained what was happening. She wished him a good weekend and said she'd see him Tuesday then kissed him on the cheek. Bo clenched his jaw.
As Bo and Nora left the school they stood and stared with their mouths wide open. Unbeknownst to them, a snow storm had covered the ground with wet heavy snow and was still coming down furiously.
Bo: These fall snow storms never last. By the time you pack and we drive out to the plane, it'll be all gone
Nora: You're sure it's ok?
Bo pacing in the hotel lobby: Oh sure.
Nora came down 15 minutes later carrying her luggage. They opened the hotel door and instantly knew this storm wasn't going anywhere.
Nora: I'm not going anywhere tonight - especially in a plane, especially with you
Bo: Oh thanks for the vote of confidence...but you're right, I think we are staying here tonight.
Bo rings the bell at the desk. An old man reluctantly shuffles out of the back room.
Bo asks for a room and pulls out his credit card to pay
"Sorry, no rooms left"
"No rooms! Well where can I stay?"
The man shrugs and shuffles back to his room.
Bo and Nora stare at each other: Now what?
Nora: Maybe I'll call Josh and and see if he could put one of us up for the night.
Nora makes the call but there is no answer. She redials several times, but again no answer.
Nora: Well, we can't stay in the lobby all night. Come on upstairs.
They enter her room
Bo: Humm...a bed and a love seat
Nora: Oh I fell asleep on the love seat the other night while I was reading. It's quite comfortable.
Bo: Oh, I couldn't kick you out of your bed
Nora: I didn't mean for me to sleep there
Bo: Oh
Nora goes to the tiny closet and pulls out a pillow and blanket from the top shelf and throws them on the sofa. She grabs some stuff and heads into the bathroom meanwhile Bo strips down to his boxers and T shirt. Nora comes out of the bathroom wearing the very same boxers and the same T shirt. They shyly laugh as Nora sits on the side of the bed and Bo sits on the sofa.
Nora: This is so weird. In my mind this would be an ideal time for us to get all over each other. My memories of us together are so strong and my memories of us apart don't exist...This bed would have been more than enough room for us.
Bo: But I do have memories that I just can't erase, as much as I'd like to
Nora: Hmmm
Nora lies down on the bed and covers herself up as Bo throws out the blanket and slides under it.
1:00 am
Bo is grunting and groaning, turning from side to side, pounding his pillow and flopping down again. Nora watches this for a minute then turns over.
2:00 am
Bo is pacing the room, sitting down on the love seat, standing up, pacing again.
Nora sighs
2:30
Nora: Bo!!!!!
Bo: What???
Nora: Would you puleeeeze settle down?
Bo: Don't you think I want to. The sofa hates me and the floor is too cold
Nora: You can't sleep on the floor. Ya think your memories would let you sleep in the bed for just tonight?
Bo: What memories?.....(Bo jumps into bed beside Nora and pulls up the covers as he shivers)
Nora: Bo, you're freezing. Keep your icy feet away from me.
Bo: But if I put them on you they won't be icy anymore?
Nora: Well, actually they will. Cause if you put your freezing tootsies near me, you'll end up on the floor and they'll still be freezing.
Bo: That's what I get for being in love with a smart lawyer
In the dim light of the room they stared at each other
Nora: You're in love with me? But I thought...
Bo: Everybody knew it, except me, until now. Yes I love you and your warm bed.
Nora: Which do you love more?
Bo: Well let's see, the bed sure feels soft and warm under me, let's see how you feel
Nora: Bo, what about Melanie?
Bo: Aw Nora, we're just getting to the good stuff
Nora: I need to know how you feel about Melanie - the last thing I knew you were living together
Bo: I like her
Nora: And...
Bo: No ands- I just like her....and while we're on the subject, what's with this Josh guy
Nora: We've grown close over this case.
Bo: How close? This close? (he points to the bed)
Nora: No not this close - hey, that's none of your business
Bo: Is he a good kisser?
Nora: Bo!! How could you ask that? - is Melanie?
Bo: It's like this (Bo gives Nora a boring little kiss at the side of her mouth, almost missing her lips)
Nora: Oh you poor thing. See with Josh it's like this (Nora rolls on top of Bo and gives him a very long deep passionate kiss, deep enough to make his toes curl and his heart pound - she rolls off of him)
Bo: Geesh, he's good. But not as good as this...
Bo and Nora make love for hours and fall asleep exhausted. They wake up naked, in each other's arms. The sun is streaming in as they kiss each other one more time.
Bo: Let's get you home
Nora: I can hardly wait.

 

To Be Continued

 Previous Chapter

 FF Home Page

Next Chapter