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Crisis & Catharsis -- Part IV Bo sat at his desk, staring blankly at the report he had been pretending to read for the last hour. Who was he kidding? He wasn’t going to get any work done as long as his mind kept wondering what was wrong with Nora. And what he was going to say to Matthew. His son was an intelligent little guy. Most of the time he was very proud of that fact, but in this instance, it would be easier to have a kid a little less aware than Matthew. What hurt the most was admitting Matthew was right. And Rachel had called him on it during her last visit too. He cared about Nora as Matthew’s mother, but did he really not care about her or her needs? He had to admit, he hadn’t given it much thought lately. He’d been too busy with Paige and too thrilled that Matthew liked her – or seemed too. He wasn’t sure about that anymore. He wasn’t sure of anything at the moment. With an angry sigh, he made a decision. Bo gave up the pretense of reading the file, grabbed his keys and left his office. Bo knocked on John’s open door. John looked up from the file he was reading. “Hey, Boss. Come on in. What can I do for you?”   Bo dropped into the chair in front of John’s desk with a heavy sigh. “I need you to take over for me.”   John nodded. “Okay, so you’re taking the day off? That’s no problem.”   Bo shook his head. “I mean indefinitely.”   John was startled. “Indefinitely? As in a leave of absence? Wow, I didn’t see that coming. Something wrong?”   “It’s Nora. She’s sick and I don’t know what’s wrong but I need to help her through this. It’s really hard on Matthew. He’s scared right now and really angry at me. I need to give him my undivided attention and I don’t need to be called away on police business at the wrong time.”   John nodded. “Sounds like you’ve got your priorities in order.”   Bo shook his head. “A bit late, but I’m getting there. I’ll talk to the mayor and let him know what’s happening. I trust your judgment so unless it’s a matter of life and death, you don’t need my permission to act on day to day problems.”   “Thanks, Commissioner. I appreciate the confidence. Please give Nora my best.”   Bo left John’s office and wandered down the hall to see the ADA. Hugh looked surprised to see Bo when he strolled through the ADA’s open door. “Commissioner, did we have a meeting scheduled?”   Bo shook his head. “Have you heard from Nora today?”   “No, I just got in a bit ago and when I peeked in Nora’s office, she hadn’t come in yet. Is something wrong? “Nora collapsed last night and I took her to the hospital.”   Hugh looked down. “Oh.”   “You knew about this too, didn’t you?” Hugh nodded. “And Nora asked you not to tell me, didn’t she?”   Hugh finally looked up and met Bo’s gaze. “Nora’s been having dizzy spells for months. She claims it’s no big deal and I know she has spoken to several doctors about it.”   Bo tried to keep his temper from showing. “And you didn’t think I should know about this?”   “With all due respect, Commissioner, you and DA Hanen aren’t married anymore. If she doesn’t want you to be privy to her medical condition, I expect she has her reasons and I have to honor that. She is my boss, after all.”   “Nora and I share a child. You didn’t think that made it my business too?”   Hugh shook his head. “That’s between you and Nora. Besides, you work here too. Are you telling me you haven’t noticed her symptoms before now?” Bo looked down. “I thought so. Look Commissioner, it’s no secret around here of the animosity between you and Nora. No one here is willing to get in the middle of that.”   Bo averted his eyes. Hugh knew he had hit home. Bo nodded at Hugh. “I can see your point. I’m here to let you know that it won’t be an issue anymore.”   “What do you mean?”   “Effective immediately, I’m taking an open-ended leave of absence. When I return, things will be different around here.”   Hugh nodded. “That’s probably for the best. Good luck to you, Commissioner. You have your work cut out for you where Nora is concerned.”   Bo offered a weak smile. “Don’t I know it. See you around, Hugh.”   Bo walked out of Hugh’s office, headed for the Mayor’s office. Two down, one to go…   Nora’s house… Matthew burst through the front door, leading Rachel and Nora. Rachel dropped her bag at the bottom of the stairwell and followed her mother to the couch.   Matthew plopped down beside his mom and Nora put her arms around both her children. “I am so happy to have us all here. Thank you, Matthew for calling your sister and thank you Rachel for coming. I feel better already, just having you here.”   Rachel smiled. “I’m happy to be here and I’m staying this time, no argument from you.”   Nora shook her head. “No argument from me.”   “So, you should go up and get some rest. Matthew and I will see to dinner.”   Nora smiled at her daughter’s take-charge attitude. “I am a bit tired. I’d like to lie down for a while.”   “Go mom. I’ll keep Matthew quiet.”   “Hey!” Matthew objected. “I’m not loud anymore. That was just when I was a kid.”   Rachel laughed. “Right, you’re much more mature now.”   Nora smiled, enjoying the banter. “I’ll leave you two to work this out.” She hugged them both before making her way upstairs to lie down.   When Rachel heard her mother’s door close, she turned to Matthew. “Okay, little brother, tell me what I’ve been missing around here for the past few months.”   Matthew was quiet, not looking at his sister. Rachel put her hand under his chin and forced him to look in her eyes. “Matthew, talk to me. I’m here to help you too. Tell me what you’re thinking.”   Matthew’s eyes welled with tears. Rachel took him in her arms. “It’s okay now, Matt. You don’t have to worry about Mom all alone anymore.”   Rachel held Matthew and let him cry. Finally, he pushed back from her and wiped his tears with the sleeve of his shirt. Rachel pretended to frown at him but said nothing.   “Mom’s been getting dizzy for a while now,” Matthew said haltingly. “It started after she found out about Mr. Colson. She kept saying it was just because she was tired. I know she’s upset about Mr. Colson and she is fighting with my dad, so I believed her. But it keeps happening. And last night, she fainted and we couldn’t wake her up. Dad took her to the hospital. When MaryAnn brought me home, I called you.”   Rachel nodded. “You did the right thing. She’s my mom too and if something is wrong, I need to know about it so I can help.”   “I know, Rachel. But you know how mom is. She kept saying she was fine and she would laugh about it. I didn’t know what to do so I didn’t do anything. But I got really scared last night, so I called you.”   Rachel watched Matthew carefully before broaching the touchy subject. “Where did all the anger at Bo come from? I thought you guys were getting along great.”   Matthew shrugged. “I don’t want to talk about my dad.”   “No way, little man. I heard the things you said about him at the hospital. I want to know what that was all about. Sounds like mom’s not the only one who has been hiding things from me.”   Matthew played with the hem of his shirt, avoiding Rachel’s direct stare. She sat quietly, waiting for him to respond. Finally Matthew looked up. “Ever since Mr. Colson’s arrest, mom and dad have barely spoken to each other. When dad picks me up, mom disappears into the kitchen. And we both know she hates the kitchen.”   Rachel chuckled. “Yeah, we both know why too.”   Matthew nodded. “Dad doesn’t say bad things about her but he doesn’t talk about her either. So I feel like I shouldn’t talk to him about mom. And I know mom didn’t want him to know about the dizzy spells but she had them in his office, so he DID know and he didn’t try to help. That’s why I’m mad…”   “And…” Rachel prodded.   “And when I’m with dad, we spend all our time with Paige. I told dad I like her because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings but she creeps me out. She’s always smiling, even at sad stuff. It’s like she’s happy mom’s sick so she can be my mother because she doesn’t have kids of her own. And she’s always baking cookies. She makes the kind I hate, so I give them to mom and she eats them…”   Matthew stopped, frowning at Rachel. She watched him, waiting for him to finish saying what was on his mind. He really was so much like his father – keep it all in until there is no option but to spill it.   “I need my dad, Rachel. But it’s strange being around him and not talking about mom and not telling him what I really think of Paige. I guess I’m mad he didn’t ask what was wrong and help before mom had to faint in front of him. I know he doesn’t love mom anymore because he has Paige but do you think he wants mom to die so we can be a family with Paige?”   Rachel pulled Matthew into her arms. “Of course Bo doesn’t want mom to die. I know they are mad at each other right now but your dad is a good man and he would never want anything to happen to mom. You can believe that.”   “I won’t stay with him and Paige if something happens to mom. I’d rather come live with you.”   Rachel pulled back and took Matthew’s face in her hands. “Mom is going to be okay. You are going to live with her, just like you always have, understand?”   Matthew nodded. “I’m so glad you’re here, Rachel. Mom needs you right now and I guess I do too.”   Rachel ruffled his hair with a wicked grin. “See if you’re still glad in a few days when I’m asking about your latest girlfriend.”   Matthew laughed. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”   “That’s what they all say. Why don’t you go upstairs and play your video games and I’ll get dinner started. Just keep it down while you’re shooting the monsters so you don’t wake mom.”   Matthew nodded and jumped off the couch, trudging up the stairs. Rachel headed for the kitchen but stopped in her tracks when the doorbell rang. She hurried to answer it, not wanting to disturb Nora. She pulled open the door and found herself face to face with Bo. She couldn’t keep the frown from her face.   “Hi Bo. This really isn’t a good time…”   Bo stepped into the entryway. “Can I see your mother?” Rachel shook her head. “Mom is resting and I don’t want her to be disturbed.”   Bo nodded. “Then can I talk to Matthew?”   “He’s upstairs playing but he’s not really in the mood to talk to you right now, Bo.”   “Are you telling me I can’t see my son?” Bo said impatiently.   “Don’t get an attitude with me, Bo. I’m just saying that Matthew is really upset with you at the moment and it may be best to give him some space.”   Bo hung his head. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I didn’t mean to take this out on you. I know Matthew is angry at me and I need to try to make him understand that he can count on me. Nora too…”   Bo looked so defeated that Rachel didn’t have the heart to rip him a new one, which she really wanted to do, but she wasn’t about to let him completely off the hook. “Bo, I know this is hard for you, but you brought this on yourself. I warned you last time I was here that you hadn’t treated mom right during the Daniel mess. She needed your support then too. From what I hear from Matthew, you’ve been giving mom the silent treatment.”   Bo tried to defend himself. “She’s not talking to me either, Rachel.”   “And that was perfectly okay with you, wasn’t it? And you didn’t give a second thought to how that made Matthew feel because you were too busy making sure he liked your latest plaything.”   Bo started to defend himself, but Rachel was in no mood to listen. “Don’t bother, Bo. I met your perky little girlfriend. You don’t stray far from the mold do you? Blond, chirpy, not too bright… Lindsay, Lanie, Gabrielle… Ring any bells?”   “Paige is not the issue here, Rachel,” Bo said calmly, refusing to take her bait.   “Isn’t she? Have you noticed that Matthew resents Paige because he thinks you want her to take his mother’s place? If you weren’t so busy fawning over your latest squeeze, you might have noticed that your son was bothered by what was happening in his home, with his mother. You’re a cop who prides himself on your unfailing ‘gut’ instinct. Where was that instinct when it came to your son and his mother?”   “Did Matthew tell you that he doesn’t like Paige? Because he never hinted at that with me.”   “I’m not going to disclose to you what I discussed with my brother. He is confiding in me and I have no intention of betraying his confidence. If you want to know what he is thinking and feeling, you’re going to have to ask him yourself. And you need to listen to him when he talks to you. Not just hear what you want to hear. I know you got a bum rap when it came to being a father to Drew. I would have thought you would have made the most of your chance with Matthew. I’m sorry I was wrong – for Matthew’s sake.”   “I love my son, Rachel,” Bo said defensively.   Rachel nodded. “I don’t doubt that, Bo. But what I do question is your interest in doing what’s best for him and not just what’s easiest for you. Was it really impossible to see what he’s been going through the past few months? He’s a pretty open little guy, if you really want to hear what he’s saying.”   Bo nodded in defeat. “I hear you, Rachel. You’re not going to let me see him, are you?”   Rachel shook her head. “It’s not my call but in my opinion, now isn’t the best time to push Matthew. Give him a little space. Let me talk to him and I will see to it that he calls you. You’re more than a little late on this one, Bo. But I am pleased you seem to be getting your head in the game. Remember, just because you want to be involved, doesn’t make the anger and resentment vanish for mom and Matthew.”   “I understand. Thanks for being here, Rachel. Your mom and Matthew need you. Tell Matthew I love him?”   Rachel nodded and surprised Bo by moving in to hug him. She wrapped her arms around him and whispered in his ear. “He knows, Bo.”   Bo pulled out of Rachel’s grasp, kissing her forehead. “Thanks, kid.” He gave her a rueful smile as he turned and left. When the door closed, Rachel heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Matthew looked at her cautiously. “Thanks for making him leave.”   Rachel nodded as she met him at the bottom of the stairs. “That won’t work forever, little man. You’re going to have to talk to him.”   Matthew sighed. “I know but I just don’t want to talk to him right now. I need to figure out what to say to him.” Rachel put her arm around his shoulder and steered him toward the kitchen. “You will. You just have to be honest with him. He’s a big boy, he can take it. If you’re mad at him, tell him and tell him why.”   Rachel could see that Matthew was still unsure, so she let it drop. “Come on, let’s see what we can scrounge up for dinner.”   Bo drove home after leaving Nora’s house. This whole mess was so overwhelming, he couldn’t wrap his mind around it. He needed to gather his thoughts and come up with a plan of attack. There were so many fronts to deal with. Matthew, Nora, Paige…   “Paige,” Bo said to himself in the empty room. “What am I going to do about Paige?”   No sooner were the words out of his mouth when there was a knock at his door. He opened it to the smiling face of ‘his latest squeeze’ as Rachel had called her. How had he never noticed that she was always smiling, no matter what the situation called for? She burst into the room and kissed him hard. Pulling back to smile broadly at him, she grabbed his cheeks. “How are you? I haven’t heard from you all day.”   Bo eased out of her grip and reached behind her to close the door. Paige noticed his reticence. “What is it, Bo? Why the gloomy face?”   Bo looked at her incredulously. “What is it? Where do I begin? Nora is sick. Heaven knows what is wrong with her. She is refusing to speak to me. And so is Matthew. How’s that for a start?”   Paige pointed out the obvious, with a smile. “Bo, she’s been refusing to speak to you for months. Why is that a problem now?”   Bo couldn’t believe how insensitive Paige was being. “Why is it a problem? Because she’s sick and Matthew is scared. He needs his mother. How am I supposed to comfort him if he won’t talk to me? And why the hell didn’t I see this before?”   Paige ignored his questions, holding up a bag with a smile. “I brought dinner. Why don’t we have something to eat and then I’ll see what I can do to erase that frown.”   Without waiting for Bo to respond, she marched off into the kitchen. Bo pulled off his tie and collapsed onto the couch. Paige returned and handed him a glass of wine. As he sipped at the wine, she set up dinner on the coffee table in front of him, humming cheerily as she worked. Bo decided to go with the flow. He was pretty hungry and it was obvious he couldn’t solve this problem tonight. Bo ate mostly in silence as Paige nattered on about nothing in particular. When dinner was finished she took his hand. “Come on, let’s turn in and I’ll make it all better.” Bo didn’t resist and they headed to the bedroom.   TBC