A Night to Remember............a short story

Sam and his dysfunctional family never came to town

The converted barn

Bo: Nora! Matthew's gonna be late for school
Nora: Hold your pants on, we'll be right down
Bo: Come on already
Nora: Here we are, satisfied?
Bo: Finally... Let's go Matthew, daddy's got lots to do
Matthew: I don't feel well
Nora: Matthew, we've been all through this, you're just fine. After school Mary Ann is going to pick you up and take you to Stevie's birthday party. You're gonna have a great day.
Matthew: I don't like Stevie anymore
Bo: Why not?
Matthew: Cause
Bo: Matthew, let's go - we'll talk about it in the car
Nora: Give mommy a kiss.... bye honey have fun
Bo: I will mommy
Nora: I'll see you later big guy
Bo: Hmmm

Nora's office, noonish. Nora gets out of her chair and walks towards the door

Nora: Bo! What are you doing here?
Bo: I got to thinking
Nora: Yes yes...about?
Bo: Playing hookey
Nora: I wish I could Bo, I'm just so swamped here
Bo: But no appointments right. Kay told me you have a clear afternoon
Nora: But so much paperwork to catch up on
Bo: AND no appointments tomorrow. You have lots of time to catch up, right?
Nora: Well
Bo: Well nothing. Grab your purse Red, we're off
Nora: And where exactly are we going?
Bo: On a date
Nora: A date hummm. We haven't had a date in a long time.
Bo: Step this way, Mrs Buchanan

They find a limo waiting for them at the door of Nora's office building and Bo ushers Nora inside
Bo: Isn't this fun?
Nora: Ummm I guess - where are we going?
Bo: It's a surprise
Nora: Oh no no no...spill it Buchanan
Bo: But you love surprises
Nora: We're going towards the airport, aren't we?
Bo: Are we? I hadn't noticed
Nora: Bo?
Bo: Ok ok, here take this, you're going to need it
Nora: My passport? Bo honey, where are we going?
Bo: Guess... where do you love more than just about anywhere?
Nora: Guess? No, it couldn't be...could it?....no, come on tell me
Bo: Where?
Nora: We can't be going there, we don't have the time
Bo: Just one night I'm afraid
Nora: You're kidding me, right? Bo? Paris?
Bo: Yep, we're off to the city of lights - how about that?
Nora: Oh my word...but what about Matthew and what about the fact that I haven't packed a thing... and what about
Bo: Don't worry, it's all taken care of...by 8 o'clock we'll be dining in the finest dining room Paris has to offer, followed by a little dancing, followed by a little...
Nora: Paris and dinner and dancing and... again?
Bo: Well we don't have to go
Nora: Bo Buchanan, if you think that I'm going to pass on a trip to Paris with my best beau Bo, you've got another thing coming
Bo: How does Asa's jet sound - filled with champagne and lots of goodies to tie us over till we get there?
Nora: Oh Mr Buchanan, you spoil me
Bo: Cuz I love you, more and more each day
Nora: And so you should. I mean if it weren't for me you'd be all alone, drinking beer, hanging out at Rodi's every night, with no one to care whether or not you came home... you'd be
Bo: Hey, I get the picture
Nora: You're a lucky, lucky man to have me in your life
Bo: And what about you? You'd be in your office till midnight or later, going home to cold pizza and a cold bed
Nora: Hummm true, I do like the way you warm up the sheets

They boarded the jet and took off for Paris. After settling in they sipped the chilled champagne and fed each other chocolate covered strawberries
Bo: More champagne, my dear?
Nora is a little tipsy: I think I've had jush about enough thank you very much and I think I need jush a little nap (she passes out on the leather couch)
Bo laughs and pulls a blanket over her and kisses her cheek. He takes the other couch and before they knew it they were landing.

They are taken up to the most lavish of rooms at the famous Ritz Hotel and when the door opens, Nora is overcome by the sight of bouquets of flowers everywhere and a stack of boxes a mile high on the luxurious king sized bed. She runs over and leaps on the bed.
Nora: For me?
Bo: For you - my gown is in my suitcase
Nora: Oh Bo, these are too much
She opens them as fast as she can; a beautiful long deep purple Dior evening gown with a matching wrap, the latest style in evening shoes and an amazing beaded bag, a Chanel pant suit for tomorrow and another pair of shoes and bag - and lingerie, lots of lingerie
Nora: How on earth?
Bo: You like?
Nora: Oh you know I do. I love everything...and I love you (she draws closer to him and kisses him very softly on the lips) You were right before, I am the luckiest woman ever
Bo: And the most beautiful.
Nora: I'm going to take a bath and get ready
Bo: I'm right behind you
Nora: Oh no you don't. Later my dear, later
She grabs one of her gifts, a long black silky robe and throws it over her shoulder, giving Bo a big wink as she closes the bathroom door behind her.

They were sitting in one of the finest restaurants in Paris enjoying a very lavish dinner, Nora is staring out in space
Bo: Ok, I think it's time you told me
Nora: What? Tell you what?
Bo: Tell me what's going on with you. You've been a little down, a little quiet, a little grumpy for a few months now. It's time to spill the beans Red
Nora: Bo, there's nothing wrong. I may be a bit busy at the office but
Bo: It's not work, something is bothering you. Give me some credit for knowing when your not yourself
Nora: Really? Then who am I?
Bo: Nora, I think you know what I'm talking about
Nora: So this trip, it was to get the goods on me?
Bo: No, this trip was to spoil you rotten and to let you know that I love you so much and that you can tell me anything
Nora: It's nothing really. It's silly
Bo: It can't be silly if it's bothering you so much
Nora: But then if I told you it would bother you and then we would both be bothered
Bo: I love being bothered
Nora: Oh really!!
Bo: Come on tell me. I'll take you up the Eiffel Tower if you're a good girl
Nora: See, that's the problem
Bo: The Eiffel Tower is the problem
Nora: No, no, the good girl part
Bo: You're not a good girl?
Nora: I'm not a girl....that's my problem. Remember when I was seeing Larry for my perimenopausal problems - well the peri is gone, it's now full blown menopause
Bo: And...
Nora: What do you mean, and? That's it, I'm an old woman. Everyone around me is going to get sick and die. Rachel will marry and move to the other side of country. Matthew will be packing his bags for university soon and you are going to be stuck with a blithering old idiot or worse yet, you'll trade me in for a newer model
Bo: Whoa, whoa, whoa. First of all None of these things are happening now, and most of these things will never happen - or not for a long time. Yes in time Rachel and Matthew are going to find a life of their own but that's a good thing - they won't be leaving because of their decrepit old mom and besides, Matthew is only 5. I'm sure he'll be with us for another year or two! As for me trading you in, I really don't think so do you? I am so in love with you that I spend most of my day thinking about getting home and just being with you. Even sitting across the table from you having dinner is a big thrill, because I'm with the person I love most in the world. And the biggest thrill of all is that I know that you feel the same way. I know that you love me and that makes it all so much better. You have absolutely nothing to worry about Red, there will never be anyone but you in my life, ever. The best way we are going to get through all of this is to be open and honest with each other - we can do that can't we?
Nora looks from her plate up to Bo's eyes: How did I ever find you?
Bo: I think it was fate, and a little bit of club soda. Now, dance with me you fool

The dancing continued until the wee hours of the morning and eventually they walked out into the cool night air. Bo and Nora cuddled up together in the back of the limo as it drove through the amazing city, all alight, like something from a fairytale. At one point the car stopped at the top of Montemartre and they got out and looked down on the city
Nora: It's beautiful. I could stay here forever
Bo: You're beautiful and I think we should go back to our room
Nora: What did you have in mind?
Bo: To be alone with the most incredible woman on the planet
Nora: What about the other planets?
Bo: You know, three eyed women just never did anything for me
Nora: Huh, you learn something new everyday

They go back to their room, and, well, you know the rest. Let's just say they didn't leave their bed until it was time to head back to the airport, both with these immense goofy grins on their faces.

The End