Countdown part 7
This is a little long...
Week 39
Everyone was anxious for the baby to be born. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, husband, son…everyone. But none more than Nora. She was sick of being pregnant. Plain out sick of it. She wanted to have the baby and move on. Last doctor’s visit was uneventful and she was now preparing for Bo to pick her up and go for this weeks’ visit later in the afternoon.
Matt was trying his best to remain up beat. No matter how many times he and Bo or he and Asa or he and Clint, Kevin or Joey no matter how many times they all reassured him that things were only going to get better, inside he still felt bad. Bad that he was pretending to put on emotions that should be natural, bad that he felt jealous of his expected sibling and just not right in general. Stacy told him once the baby was born things would change and he clung to that for all it was worth.
Bo was running late picking up Nora. He dreaded going into work that morning because he had a feeling that it was going to be today that the baby decided to come. Nora had been telling him for days to tie up loose ends before his last day, but did he listen? No. He waited ‘til the last possible minute and now here he was, stuck in his office with a million and one files awaiting his signature and less than five hours to get it all done in. If he could just shut out the racket in the main office he could logically get through it.
Bo: (looking up at the door) What the heck is going on out there?
He gets up and walks to his door. As he approaches the door
he hears a chorus of shooshes and whispers. He opens the door.
Crowd: Surprise!!!
Bo: What the heck?!!
Hank: (walking over to Bo and handing him a cup) Hey buddy!
Bo: Hank! What the heck is going on?
Hank: We’re throwing you a daddy shower!
Bo: (looking around bewildered) Hank!
Antonio: Congratulations Commissioner! (extending his hand) so...are we sure what that lil Buchanan is?
Bo: (shaking his hand) Thanks Antonio…Well...
Hank: He's sure...and he's not allowed to talk about it!
Bo looks around to see the outer office decorated with pink and blue streamers and tiny umbrellas…
Bo: Guys…ladies…thank you…and if Nora was here, I am sure she would thank you also….
Hank: We have a surprise for you…
Bo: Not a stripper I hope…
Hank: (chuckling) No…not a stripper…
One of the officers wheels out a beautiful baby carriage filled with baby blankets.
Bo: Oh man! Nora is gonna flip! Thank you…thank you all so very much!
The next couple hours are spent munching on sandwiches and snacks and talking about the latest standings in the Baby Buchanan pool.
Bo: Hey Hank…I gotta run…Nora’s doctor’s appointment is in a half hour and I still have to stop and get gas…I will pick up the carriage on the way back…I want Nora to see all this. (talking to the group of officers) Listen up! I just wanted to thank you all, from myself and Nora…you guys are the best…
Bo makes his way out of the station and heads home. He’s in such a hurry and still on a high from the party, he forgets to stop and get gas. He pulls up to the house and bolts in the door. Nora is sitting waiting. She looks at her watch.
Nora: (shaking her head) I told you to not wait til the last minute to finish…
Bo: That’s not it…honey…(walking over and kissing her before helping her stand) the guys at the station…they gave me a baby shower!
Nora: What?
Bo: They…(waving his arms) they decorated the squad room…they had sandwiches…and…they gave us that baby carriage we were looking at…
Nora: They didn’t…
Bo: They did!
Nora: Well…where is it?
Bo: I left it at the station for now…(looking at his watch) come on…I still have to get gas…
Nora: Bo! We are going to be so late!
Bo: Honey…every visit we’ve had, we get there in plenty enough time and we always end up waiting for forty minutes!
Nora: Well…maybe this will be the time they call us on time…
Bo: (shrugging his shoulders) Fine, but if we don’t make it there…
Nora: Fine…fine…just don’t go to that disgusting little station across from the station…
Bo: I like that place…
Nora: They give you free candy…
Bo: At least they appreciate me…
Nora: Bo…if I wasn’t carrying this eight hundred pound gift from you (she pats her stomach) for the past ten years…
Bo: You’re almost done…(they’ve walked to the car and he helps her in) maybe they’ll admit you today…
Nora: I go any longer and they’ll have to COMmit me!
Bo: I love you…
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They sputter into a gas station with barely a drop to spare.
Nora: (as Bo gets out) Remember to get nine cents over the dollar…
Bo: (stopping in his tracks) What?
Nora: The gas…it’s point nine…see (pointing to the sign) a dollar seventeen point nine…to make it even in the tank make sure you buy…how much are you getting?
Bo: Twenty dollars…
Nora: Get twenty oh nine…
Bo: Nora…
Nora: Bo…please…just go pay for the gas!
Bo: Whatever…
He walks into the gas station and tells the attendant he wants twenty oh nine…
Attendant: Oh nine?
Bo: Twenty oh nine…
Attendant: I got a penny here if you want to make it an even dime…
Bo: Listen…my wife is out there in the car…she’s nine months pregnant…I don’t question, I don’t argue…I just do…(pushing the money across the counter) twenty oh nine…
Attendant: You got it…good luck with your baby…
Bo: Thanks.
Bo goes out and pumps the gas. He gets back in the car.
Nora: You smell like gas.
Bo: (a bit irritated) I just pumped twenty oh nine worth of gas…(sarcastically) dear.
Nora: Thanks….
They pull out of the station.
**********************
They get to the doctors office, Nora manages to arrange herself in the waiting room chair as Bo chooses a couple magazines.
Nurse: Mrs. Buchanan…
Nora: Great. (she struggles to her feet and looks at Bo) You gonna sit here and go in with somebody else?
Bo: No…I was….(he stands and follows her into the examination room) nevermind
Nurse: Ok Mrs. Buchanan (checking Nora’s weight as she stands on the scale)…how are we feeling today?
Nora: You look like you’re feeling pretty good…me…on the other hand…I feel like a walking blimp, I am probably going to be this way forever…
Nurse: (looking at Bo) All the mommies feel that way into the home stretch…(to Nora as she checks her blood pressure) the doctor is going to want to check your cervix…(she hands Nora a gown) she’ll be right in…
Bo: (watching as Nora slips into the gown) so…(getting up and walking to the table) like…you have nothing on under there? (he raises his eyebrows)
Nora: Yeah…it’s a real turn on…you three hundred pound wife, as big as a house…in a paper nightie…
Bo: (placing a hand on her lap and the other behind her neck as he nibbles her ear) you…are incredibly (kissing her neck) sexy…
Nora: Bo! I’m a nightmare!
Bo: Red…I don’t know what it is…but since you’ve been pregnant…you have driven me mad with desire…(he turns her head and kisses her)
The doctor walks into the room looking at the chart and at first oblivious to the mini make out session.
Doctor: Ok…Nor…(looking up) now that we all know just how you got into this situation…Mr. Buchanan…(pointing with her pen to the chair) if you could take your seat…
Bo: Right…(Bo sits across the room near Nora’s head)
Doctor: Now…Nora…how are you feeling?
Nora: Like I should have had this baby last month…
Doctor: Really uncomfortable?
Nora: Extremely
Doctor: Well, we are entering the final countdown…lets take a look…
She gets Nora positioned into the stirrups and turns the light on. Bo reaches forward and takes Nora’s hand.
Doctor: (after a few moments) Well…we’ve got some signs of the beginning stages…. you seem to be effacing…no dilation yet…but that could happen at any time…
The doctor stands and removes her gloves and raises Nora’s shirt a bit then begins to feel her abdomen.
Doctor: Baby feels lower…have you noticed any dropping?
Bo: Actually, I have…. her belly seems lower…I thought I was just seeing things…
Doctor: That’s fine…it would go along with the effacing…all right, I want to see you next week…unless we have a baby by then.
Bo: (excited) You think we could doc?
Doctor: Mr. Buchanan…at this stage of the game, anything’s possible…(turning to Nora) Ok…I want you to stop driving…do not over extend yourself…rest…plenty of rest…
Bo: What about sex? (Nora rolls her eyes)
Doctor: I wouldn’t exactly recommend it…but if it happens, what can I do? (smiles at Nora)
Nora: (inhaling deeply) thanks doctor…see you next week…(smiling) maybe sooner…
The doctor leaves and Nora begins to re-dress
Bo: What’s the hurry?
Nora: What?
Bo: (walking up behind her as she sits on the table and wraps his arm around her front, gently touching her breast) What’s the hurry (nuzzling her neck) getting dressed?
Nora: God Bo! It’s not a hotel room! (she pushes his arm away)
Bo: (rebuffed) sorry…I’ll go make your appointment…
Nora: Sorry…I didn’t mean to make you feel bad…
Bo: It’s ok..
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Week 41
Matt walks into the house to find his mother crying on the couch.
She’s dressed pretty nice to just be sitting around the house.
Matt: (rushing to Nora’s side) Mom! Are you ok?
Nora: (wiping her nose) Oh…Matt…(touching his cheek) I’m fine…I’m just a bit down…
Matt: What’s the matter?
Nora: I just feel like I’ll never have this baby…I sit here…day after day…and each day may as well be a month…
Matt: Mom…(sliding onto the couch next to her and holding her hand) you’re not going to be pregnant forever…
Nora: (crying a little as she rests her head on Matt’s shoulder) Matthew…I have to ask you something…
Matt: No T-M-I, nothing regarding hemorrhoids, blisters, calluses or stretch marks…no personal information about dad…no questions about me and Stacy…
Nora: Well…why don’t you narrow it down…
Matt: Hey…I’m trying here…
Nora: I know…(kissing him on the cheek) I know…thanks…no…what I wanted to talk to you about is…how would you feel about being in the room when the baby is born?
Matthew sits quietly for a few minutes.
Matt: How would you feel about it?
Nora: I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t want it…
Matt: Do I have to watch? (pausing) I may be scarred for life…
Nora: (smiling) You don’t have to watch…I just want you there so you can hold the baby and bond instantly with it…
Matt: If its important to you…
Nora: Thanks…
Matt: No problem…let me know when…
Nora: Trust me…you will…you will…there’s some sandwiches in the oven if you want to eat now…
Matt: Where’s dad?
Nora: Ran to the store…I had a taste for corn chips…
Matt: We had a whole bag…(Nora is shaking her head) we don’t?
Nora: Uncle Hank’s picking me up…(a horn honk) I’m planning one last dinner out with your dad before the baby…
Matt: Hence the dress…
Nora: Hence the bed sheet…
Matt: Stop…you look beautiful…if you weren’t my mom…
Nora: You are your father’s son…
Matt: Go…have fun…can Stacy come over?
Nora: If you promise to stay down here…
Matt: (blushing) Mom!
Nora: (as she walks out) You are your father’s son!
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At the Palace…
Renee: Are you sure you’re ok out here?
Nora: I’m fine…did you call Bo?
Renee: I told him he has an order to pick up for you…he said he had one more stop and he would be right over…
Nora: I sent him on a wild goose chase for some chili flavored corn chips…Renee, the balcony looks beautiful…thank you for getting this together on such short notice…
Renee: My pleasure…you enjoy what could be your last night alone with your husband!
Nora: (smiling) Thanks…
Renee: Ok…I am going to send him back here when he shows up…
Bo: Hey Renee!
Renee: Bo! Hi! Bet you’re about ready to become a father…sweetheart…you look exhausted…
Bo: I’m ok…I can’t believe she’s still having these cravings…what is it tonight?
Renee: Some avocado spread…why don’t you go sit on the balcony…it’s a beautiful evening…I’ll bring the order out when its ready…
Bo: Can I get a drink?
Renee: Can you get a drink…get outta here!
Bo walks out to the balcony and sees someone out there. He doesn’t notice its Nora at first.
Bo: Oh! Excuse me!
Nora turns around.
Nora: Hey handsome…
Bo: Nora!
She smiles.
Bo: Honey! What…you didn’t drive here did you?..you’re ok, right?
Nora: (patting her tummy) Best can be expected…Hank brought me…
Bo: I don’t understand…
Nora: (walking over to him and kissing him) I wanted one last night alone with you…soon…we’ll be a little pre-occupied…
Bo: Honey…
Nora: (sighing) Dance with me?
Bo: With pleasure…
They begin to move slowly around the private balcony.
Nora: I asked Matt to be in the room…
Bo: And?
Nora: He said yes…
Bo: He did?
Nora: Yeah…he’s come a long way Bo…
Bo: With a lot of people to guide him…a lot of people I could never thank enough…
Nora: Stacy…
Bo: She’s pretty high up on my list…
Nora: They’ve been together for over a year…I never thought it would last this long…
Bo: She may very well be the one…
Nora: Bo! He’s fourteen!
Bo: I know…but you never know what the big guy up (glances upwards) there has planned for us…I mean…look at us…(he kisses her and they continue to dance) who’d have thought we’d be having a baby?
Nora: Who’da thought…I am glad we are though, Bo…
Bo: I am too…I love you so much Red…
Nora: I love you too…
They hold each other and enjoy the music and the closeness.
Nora: Bo…
He’s deep in his own little daydream as he glides her around in a small circle.
Nora: Bo….
He turns his head and kisses her neck gently, moving slowly towards her lips.
Nora: Bo…my water just broke…
To be continued
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