Coming Home Part 1
Nora sat on the plane waiting for it to begin its taxi from the terminal. Her mind was a million miles from where she was sitting. Not that this trip was any different from the countless like it she had made in the past year or so, it just that she never expected this to be the path her life was to take. She stared out the window watching the burly baggage handlers tossing luggage on to the conveyor. Her thoughts drifted to a far off time, when also she sat watching luggage ride up into the belly of the plane only back then she wore a huge smile and her life seemed full of anticipation, happiness was hers for the taking. Now she wondered if she would ever smile again, if she would ever feel content and happy, if she would ever feel loved again. The passenger who would be sharing the ride with her interrupted her daydreams.
Dorothy: (enthusiastic) Hello!
Nora: (quietly) Hi…
Dorothy: Name’s Dorothy (extending her hand as she settles into her seat)
Nora: (smiling weakly) Nora (shaking Dorothy’s hand lightly)
Dorothy: Fly often?
Nora: Yes…fairly often
Dorothy: Not me…only my second time…I’m going to see my newest grandchild…
Nora: (not really paying attention) How lovely
Dorothy: I have three now (taking her wallet out of her purse)
Nora: (looking at Dorothy) I’m sorry, my mind was drifting…you were saying?
Dorothy: Three, I was saying how I now have three grandchildren
(showing Nora her
pictures) this is my son Derrick and his kids Doug, he’s
seven, Deanna here is four and this is my newest…Davey he
just made a month…
Nora: (looking at the photo) Lovely family
Dorothy: How bout you?
Nora: Me? (pausing) I have two children (taking out her wallet) this is my daughter Rachel and my son Matthew…
Dorothy: Your daughter is beautiful…she has your eyes
Nora: Thank you (smiling as she gazes at the pictures)
A photo of Nora and Bo from their wedding falls out of Nora’s wallet onto Dorothy’s lap. Nora hasn’t noticed.
Dorothy: Your son looks just like his father..
Nora: (taken aback) Pardon me?
Dorothy: (holding up the photo) this fell out, your husband I presume? Your son’s father? Handsome man, your husband is…
Nora takes the photo back and stares at it.
Nora: (still looking at the photo) Ex…ex-husband, we’re not together anymore and yes, he is Matthew’s father
Dorothy: Is that your wedding photo?
Nora: (a bit melancholy) yeah…(she places the photo back in her wallet)
Dorothy: It’s a lovely dress…
Nora: Thank you
The pilot interrupts to notify the passengers they are about to begin take off. Nora put her purse away. Dorothy offered her some gum. The plane began to taxi and ultimately climb to the sky. Nora watched out the window as the city disappeared under a blanket of white fluffy clouds. How she wished she didn’t have to make this trip again. She and Dorothy sat silent as the plane climbed. Once it reached its flying altitude Dorothy began to chatter.
Dorothy: As I was saying, your wedding dress is lovely…different, but a lovely color.
Nora: (smiling) We had, I guess what you could call a non-conventional wedding…
Dorothy: Really?
Nora: Well, I guess it was conventional for us…You see, Bo and I…
Dorothy: Bo?
Nora: I’m sorry…Bo….that’s my hus…my son’s father’s name.
Dorothy: Bo and Nora (smiling) that has a lovely ring to it…
Nora: (looking at her hands) Thank you…Anyway, we had
what could be described as a rock and roll wedding…
Dorothy: How original!
Nora: To say the least! (pausing) Our friends put it together (beaming with pride as she reminisces) it really was wonderful…Little Richard was there…he sang and officiated…
Dorothy: Thee Little Richard?
Nora: Good Golly Miss Molly, thee Little Richard (crossing her heart and raising her hand)
Dorothy: It sounds wonderful!
Nora: It was…but…that was in the past…
Dorothy: But you still have your little boy…
Nora: We share custody of him…
Dorothy: So you still talk and share special things…
Nora: (her voice hushes) As long as it deals with Matthew…I’m afraid there’s too much water under the bridge for much else…
Dorothy: (pausing) you still love him…
Nora: I beg your pardon? (pausing and momentarily irritated that this stranger that she had only met moments ago could read her so easily) He’s my son’s father, naturally I care about him…
Dorothy: That is true (smiles as she touches Nora’s hand) but sweetie, anyone can see you still love him…my dear, Edgar and I (looks up and smiles) fifty seven years…
Nora: Fifty seven?
Dorothy: Fifty seven and through out we had many many trying times…but we loved each other…so very much…we weathered every storm…and always found our way back to each other…mind you, there were many times that one or both of us wanted to high tail it out of town…good heavens! We probably spent a good three years apart…give or take a month here and there…
Nora: Really?
Dorothy: Oh sure! A misunderstanding that got out of hand…I’d take Derrick and go to mama’s house and stay…
Nora: You left Edgar?
Dorothy: Mora than once! (chuckles to herself) and he did his
share of leaving too, oh yes he did…crazy times are allowed
in a marriage…as long as the love is there and it pulls you
both back in…no matter how stubborn I was or Edgar was…as
long as we remembered were home was (she touches her heart) we
knew we could always find our way back…
Nora: That is lovely…
Dorothy: It’s written all over your face (smiling) were your heart is…
Nora: That is really a lovely sentiment…but I am afraid that his heart has found a new home…he’s remarrying, actually as we speak…I’m flying out to get Matthew and bring him home…he was best man for his father (her smile fades) I’m going to get my son and then we are going home (her eyes begin to tear) If you excuse me…I’m going to rest my eyes, I was working all night and I am a bit tired. Every time I have to bring Matt home, its like pulling teeth. We’ve got it to were Bo brings him to the airport and we take the very next flight back…it was at one point were we had to carry him screaming from the house…He still throws tantrums till we get to the airport…doesn’t want to leave, tells me how our home is with his dad.
Dorothy: See there…he feels it too…
Nora: Maybe so…but it doesn’t matter now…his uncle is bringing him to the airport today, maybe it won’t be as bad.
Dorothy: Not his father?
Nora: (slight grimace) I don’t think I could handle (a tear runs down her cheek) seeing him (wipes eyes with a tissue Dorothy gives her) I’m sorry…I’m just going to rest.
Nora lies her seat back and closes her eyes. She drifts off to sleep. Her dreams take her back through flashes in her life, her life with Bo…dancing…walks along the beach, even when she woke from her surgery., how his face, his wonderful smiling face was the first thing she saw…his kisses… …their wedding…their honeymoon… when they found out she was pregnant…falling asleep in his arms…as she slept, small smiles crept across her face. Dorothy noticed and soon drifted off herself.
Both Dorothy and Nora awoke to the captain informing the passengers they were about to begin their descent.
Dorothy: You’ll be seeing your little boy soon.
Nora: Yes…and I have missed him terribly these past two weeks…
Dorothy: I’ll bet he missed you too.
Nora: I hope (smiling)
Dorothy: So are you catching the direct flight back or are you going to stay on a bit?
Nora: No, no…our return flight is in about three hours, we’ll be home by tonight…
Dorothy: That makes for a long rough day…
Nora: His father and I take turns…
The plane lands smoothly and Nora takes her travel bag from under the seat.
Nora: Dorothy (extending her hand) it was nice meeting you…enjoy your visit with your family (smiling)
Dorothy: Same to you Nora (shaking her hand) it was a lovely flight. you give that adorable little boy a hug for me and never forget…in here (placing her hand on her own chest) you’ll always know when you are home
Nora: Thank you.
They head through the jet way and to the gate. Nora anticipates Matt’s smiling face and excited behavior. She also keeps Dorothy’s words in mind. She walks out to the gate area and looks around. She doesn’t see Matt. She steps a few feet out of the terminal area and looks both ways. Other passengers from her flight are quickly dispersing. Couples embrace and children welcome parent home. Nora sees Dorothy and her grandchildren jumping excitedly and vying for her attention. Dorothy looks at Nora, waves and touches her heart. She walks off with her family.
Still no Matt. The gate is now empty. Nora looks down the long terminal for any signs of the little boy. She begins to feel nervous.
Nora: (to herself) maybe he had to go to the bathroom…
She turns to look the other way as she fumbles around her purse for her phone. As she raises her head she sees a lone figure leaning against a pole at the far end of her gate. She stands staring as he begins to approach her. She feels her breath catch in her throat.
Nora: Bo..
Bo: Hey Red…
He stops in front of her. His eyes sparkle as a small smile creeps across his face. He is still in a tuxedo. He looks into her eyes and slowly raises his hand to lightly brush her cheek. She leans into his hand, allowing herself to drift in his touch. He glides his hand along her cheek to the back of her neck.
Nora feels her heart beating wildly. She drops her travel bag and purse and stands with her arms at her sides. Her eyes glisten with forming tears.
He gently pulls her head toward his while continuing to look deep into her eyes and slowly brushes his lips against hers.
Nora was instantly pulled back to the familiarity of everything Bo was. His cologne, his touch, the warmth of his lips. A chill ran down her spine. She stood motionless, her heart telling her to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him with every fiber of her being, yet her head was telling her to remain cautious. She responded to him slightly, returning his kiss ever so slightly, remaining in control of her emotions.
The slight response was all Bo needed. He knew what he was feeling was more than mutually shared. He pressed his lips to hers with an urgency that seemed to be trying to peel away the pain of four long years. As the kiss grew deeper and more passionate, Nora’s arms found their way around Bo’s neck and she clung to him as if her very existence hung in the balance. She too was determined to erase all the mistakes of the past in that very moment. She never wanted the feelings to end, the kiss to end.
Bo broke the kiss but held her tightly.
Bo: (speaks as he kisses her cheek and neck) Oh Red…Red…welcome home…welcome home
To be continued
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