Countdown part 2
Nora: (kicking the covers form her feet) NO!!! NO!!! Get away from me!!!
Bo rolls over to see Nora kicking and flailing.
Bo: (gently shaking her) Nora….hey…come on honey…(he tries to hold her) come on Red…(she begins to settle) that’s it…
Nora: Oh Bo…I was so scared….so scared….(she pulls his arms tighter around her)
Bo: Wanna talk about it?
Nora: (nodding her head) I was soooo pregnant…and the baby…it was in me and it was convulsing…and I was all alone….and then the door opened and it was Sam…and he had Matt and he came at me saying the baby was his….he tried to touch my stomach….(she felt Bo’s body tense) and…
Bo: It was a nightmare…you’re here…in our bed…in my arms…. And we both know this is my baby…our baby…Sam’s been dead almost a year…(he kisses her temple) try and get some sleep…I’m here and nothing is going to hurt you….I love you….
Nora: (sighing) I love you too…but it was so real…
Bo: But it wasn’t real, it was a nightmare…now let’s get some sleep…
Nora: Ok…(she snuggles into Bo’s arms)
The next morning Bo gets up and quietly gets ready and heads into the office after dropping Matt at school.
Nora wakes and lies still in bed. She waits. And waits. Lying in bed almost an hour, waiting.
Nora: Nothing…(she gently rubs her stomach) gonna finally give up in there? (she reaches into her night stand and pulls out her journal and begins to write)
“Can’t believe it! I am awake for over an hour and I am not sick!!! Yippee!! I think I am going to go down and try to eat. Maybe some eggs…maybe some bacon…maybe I’ll go to the diner.”
Week 16
Nora couldn’t believe how great she’s felt the past month! The second trimester was really the best –so far. She had so much energy and was able to eat whatever she wanted. Almost. Spicy foods killed and that left out chilidogs.
One morning as she was straightening hers and Bo’s room she decided she felt good enough to finally clean under the bed. She knelt down and began to pull things out. A sweater. A balled up napkin, a few candy wrappers, a French fry? (Goodness, their room was worse than Matt’s!) She pulled out a book…then another and a third. As she turned them over she read the titles: “First time father, you can do it!”, “The journey to life, the first nine months” and the third, a journal that Bo had title “I can do this”. Nora smiled as she flipped through the first two, her heart melting as she gazed at the pictures and words of encouragement and even the “instructions” the first book gave on how to hold, feed and diaper a newborn. She hesitated on the journal, debating on the issue of invading Bo’s private thoughts. She knew how upset she’d be if he read hers. But then again, maybe he just got it and it wasn’t written in…maybe…maybe…
Nora: (pursing her lips) Oh! Maybe just a quick flip through….
She began to flip through the page, some were written on. Now she felt guilty. She looked around the room and went to close the door. She sat down and started reading from the first page, which had a big red heart drawn on it and inside written in red ink “Bo loves Nora Forever”. A smile spread across her face as she felt a tiny tear form in her eye. She turned the page to read the first entry.
“I still can’t believe this! I am actually writing in one of these things! A baby…no…A BABY!! (Nora smiled to herself) I am having a baby! I feel a million and one things all at once! Excited, nervous, ecstatic, afraid and a ton more! And Nora…I love her more than life itself! She’s so afraid, but so brave. This isn’t so bad this writing thing. I can do this”
Nora: (to herself as she turns the pages and reads the random entries) Wow…I never thought you had it in ya, Buchanan…you little sneak!
She turned a few pages read on
“She’s killing me! She is absolutely killing me! I just want to hold her and all she wants to do is pray to the porcelain goddess! (Nora chuckles) It has been almost two months since we did anything and frankly…I’m dying! Nah, it ain’t that bad. I watch her when she sleeps and try to figure out why something so wonderful as having a baby makes a woman so miserable. Ironic. That book says that the first three months is always the worst. When we pass that, I am going to love her and pamper her like no one’s business!”
Nora: I’m gonna hold you to that Commish! (flipping pages) No more Nora….Matt’s name written caught her eye…
“This thing with Matt is grating on my last nerve. This is a side of my son that I am not familiar and not happy with. He is so hostile. Stacy told me yesterday that he is getting in trouble at school. What am I supposed to do? Choose one child over the other? I can’t do that. I love them both. Maybe he should go live with Pa for a bit. Nah, then he’d think I was choosing the baby over him. I’ll call Clint in the morning, maybe he has a clue. Pa says I should switch Matt. Like we even have switches anymore. And like switching ever straightened me out. This is going to be a battle and a half, but I can’t let Nora get upset by it. I have to protect her at any cost.”
She figured a another page wouldn’t hurt, then she’d put the books away. She read on.
“Hank and I talked today. I never imagined all that will be involved when things really get going in this pregnancy. Ok, he honestly spooked me. I’ll have to see if I can find another book that will answer my questions, Hank makes everything seem so bad. Almost like we shouldn’t be doing this. But we want to do this. I think. Nora was afraid in the beginning. But I, oh God! This is what she was afraid of. All the stuff Hank talked about! I forced her to accept this pregnancy. (Nora slow shakes her head) She’s doing this for me! What have you done Buchanan? What have you done to her?”
Nora: Oh Bo…(she closes the journal and hugs it to her chest) You haven’t done anything…I was scared at first, but I want this baby as much as you…I have to let you know, make you realize…but I can’t tell you I read your private thoughts…subtle. I have to be subtle…
Downstairs Bo walks in.
Bo: (calling out) Nora!! Baby!! I’m home!!! Where are you sweetheart? (he throws down his coat and takes off his tie. Meanwhile Nora scrambles to kick the books and all the other stuff back under the bed) Red? You home honey? (He opens the bedroom door as Nora hops on the bed, trying to look innocent) There you are…
Nora: Here I am (she smiles as she tries to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes) you’re home early…
Bo: Yeah…being the boss has its advantages (he tosses his tie on the dresser and walks over to the bed where Nora is kneeling facing him) God, I missed you today (he wraps his arm around her and kisses her) How’s everything in the baby cooker today? (he touches her tummy) Hi baby…it’s daddy…
Nora: (she has her hands on his chest) Bo…can we talk for a minute?
Bo: Only a minute, cause I really want to change and…
Nora: We can talk while you change…
Bo (kissing her quickly) sounds like a plan (he heads off to the closet, taking off his shirt as he goes) what’s up gorgeous?
Nora: Bo…I was thinking…about the baby…and all…and…how silly I was…when I was so afraid in the beginning and if there is anything you want to talk about, like about the pregnancy or…or…the baby…or…well, I just want you to know that I am so happy to have this baby…I mean…I have no doubts that having this little miracle is the right thing…
Bo: (in the closet, to himself) she found my diary…
Nora: (still facing the closet) so I wanted you to know…that in case you thought…or I was acting like I was…
Bo: (walking out of the closet, zipping his jeans) acting like you didn’t want the baby?
Nora: Well…
Bo: (placing his hands on her arms) Red…I can tell by the way this is coming out of no where, you found my diary….
Nora: Diary? I don’t know….
Bo: Honey…I’m not upset that you found it…or that you read it…but I am a bit concerned that you’ve been tormenting yourself with what you read…
He sits down on the bed and sits her next to him.
Bo: Listen…I haven’t written in that thing in over a month (she looks away) seriously…I am fine with the baby…I know you are fine…(he places his hand on her cheek) I’m ok…really.
Nora: Really?
Bo: (leans in and kisses her gently) really…
Nora kisses him. He gets up and walks towards his dress
to pull out a tee shirt.
Nora sits on the edge of the bed watching him. Standing there.
In only his jeans. Nothing else. It hit her, just then. She had
to have him. The four months of not being with him registered
all at once. Her hormones were raging!
Nora: (to herself) Nora! Get a grip!
Bo: (hearing her say something as he turns and begins to put the shirt on) What’s that?
Nora: Bo…
Bo: (pulling the shirt over his head) Yeah…(he runs his fingers through his hair)
Nora’s breath caught in her throat. His mussed hair, the shirt stretch across his chest, if she didn’t have him now, she would explode!
Bo looked at her, waiting for some response to her calling his name.
Bo: Red…you o….
Before he knew what hit him, she was off the bed and pressing her lips to his with a genuine urgency. She ran her fingers through his hair trying to hold him as close as possible. Her insides were burning with desire for him. A feeling that had been void thanks to the combination of undying queasiness and perpetual grouchiness!
Although taken back at first, Bo began to return the kisses with an equally matched need. He placed his hands on her sides so his thumbs gently caressed the sides of her breasts. Even though his eyes were closed, he could feel them roll back as he let the pure emotion of the moment take over.
Nora began to trail kisses across his neck as she moved her hands down to the hem of his tee shirt and then slowly ran her hands under it to push it upwards.
Bo: (his head tilted back as she kissed across his throat) You’re killing me Red…
Nora: (pulling back enough to talk) that’s the last thing I want to do…(kisses his neck a few more times) I want you to make love to me Bo…
Bo: (quietly and broken) Now?
Nora: (pushing the shirt up towards his neck, kissing his now bare chest) oh…right now…right now Bo…
He kisses her lips as he takes a step towards the bed. All in one move, he scoops her into his arms and takes the last three steps to the bed. He slowly lays her down and lays next to her, kissing her neck as he unbutton her blouse. He kisses a trail down her chest and stomach as he opens the garment. He takes a deep breath.
Bo: (sighing) You are so incredible…(he moves down to her mouth and kisses her as he gently runs his fingers through her silky hair) I love you so much…
They continue to kiss and touch and remove clothing before satisfying a desire, a need that finally came to pass.
They lay together under the thick down comforter, cuddling and exchanging small kisses.
Bo: (playing with her hair as she rests her head on his chest) So…is it safe to assume the rough spot is past?
Nora: I feel great!
Bo: (kissing the top of her head) You feel more than great….
Nora: (looking up at him and smiling) You don’t feel so bad yourself…(pausing) Bo…
Bo: Oh no…you’re not gonna…
Nora: No! (laughing) no…I wanted tell you…I made an appointment today…
Bo: (exasperated) Another blood test?
Nora: (crinkling her eyebrows and frowning) You think I like being a human pincushion?
Bo: No honey…I just…
Nora: (smiling) I’m kidding…(she kisses his chest) I made an appointment for our first ultra sound…
Bo: (surprised and excited) You mean…we’re gonna get to see our little chief?
Nora: Yes….”little chief”?
Bo: (smiling embarrassingly) yeah…I sort have been calling him that…he’s gonna be the chief of police…when his big brother is DA…
Nora: And what if “he” is a “she”?
Bo: “Little Chiefess”?
Nora: (smiling) I love you…
Bo: Why don’t you remind me? (smiling and then kissing her)
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In the gym after school, Matt is leaning against the bleachers
waiting for Stacy to finish volleyball practice. She finishes
the huddle with her team and then walks over to Matt.
Stacy: I’m gonna go change…wait for me?
Matt: You got it (he smiles and gives her a quick peck on the cheek)
After changing, she heads out of the locker room and walks toward him. They give a quick hug.
Matt: I got a couple dollars…wanna go get a sundae?
Stacy: Before dinner?
Matt: (rolling his eyes) I forgot…you “normal” folks don’t see ice cream as a main course (smiling as he puts his arm around her) walk you home?
Stacy: Only if you carry my bag…
Matt: Deal.
He slings her back pack over one shoulder and his over the shoulder then he takes her hand in his as they begin to walk away from the school.
Stacy: So…how’s your mom doing…
Matt: Stace…you know how…
Stacy: Matt…you have to get past this…this whole thing about how they are having this baby to humiliate you…you should be happy that your folks love each other as much as they do….that they are so together and all…I mean…I think they did a heck of a job raising one kid (she smiles and rest her head on his arm as they walk)
Matt: I know…and as soon as I try to deal….something else comes up and….I dunno…its not that they are doing it to humiliate me…they are just so…so…all over each other….and this is like…like…its just weird…
Stacy: It’s weird that your folks are so in love? (stopping and looking at him) Matt…do you hear yourself? You’re a lucky guy….most of the kids in our school…their parents are split up…my folks can’t go twenty minutes without arguing…my dad spends all his time hiding in his workshop…we’re lucky we can make it through a meal without arguing! But you…you’re folks are so in love! You are so lucky…
Matt: I guess…wanna get a pizza?
Stacy: (rolling her eyes) They’re in love….but they are horrible when it comes to nutrition!
They laugh and walk toward the local pizza place. About a block away, their plans for dinner are about to change.
Tony: If it ain’t Puke-chanan…
Matt: Go to hell Rienwold…
Tony: Oooo….big words little man (he takes a step toward Matt) don’t you have to get home and give your folks their Geritol, oh wait…your grandma…oops…I mean your mom….
Stacy: (glaring at Tony) Don’t you have some flames to go dance around?
Tony: letting your girlfriend fight your battles, Puke-chanan?
Matt: (dropping the back packs and grabbing Tony by the shirt) Maybe you didn’t hear me…
Stacy: (taking a step back) Matt…
Before Stacy knew what was happening, fists were flying and insults hurled. Stacy covered her eyes for a moment when Tony threw Matt against a brick wall. Matt threw a punch that caught Tony square in the face causing his nose to bleed. When Stacy looked again, both boys had blood on them; they were still throwing punches, still kicking and still dragging each other around by the shirts .
Stacy was frantically shouting at Matt. She grabbed her cell phone and dialed.
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Nora: I can’t believe how great I feel! Almost like I’m
not even pregnant!
Bo: You are…and I couldn’t be happier
He leans in and kisses her gently. Within seconds things begin to heat up again. Bo’s phone rings.
Nora: No…(kissing his neck)
Bo: I have to….(answering) Buchanan….
Stacy: (hysterical) Mr. Buchanan….it’s Matt….Tony jumped him…they’re fighting….
Bo: (getting out of bed and trying to put his pants on while holding the phone) Ok, ok…where are you?
Stacy: A block from Sal’s…we were going to get a pizza….(she screams) Matt!
Bo: I’m on my way…(to Nora) Matt’s fighting…(putting on his shirt) call Antonio…a block away from Sal’s…
He rushes out the door.
To be continued
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