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- Bo and Nora
- Forever
Soulmates
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- THE PERFECT "MATCH"
-
- "So, Bo, if you could
actually get your hands on tickets to the Baxter- Garcia fight,
how much would you be willing to pay?" Hank asked with a
little boy gleam in his eyes.
-
- Bo, Hank and Lisa were sitting
at Rodi's talking about the coming weekend's matchup between
boxing's big two: Billy "Boom Boom" Baxter and Tomas'
"El Gato" Garcia.
-
- Bo gazed into the crystal
ball that was his beer mug.
-
- "Let's see. Considering
this is a once in a lifetime matchup, I'd go $750. No-- make
it 12- hundred."
-
- "Cheers!" Hank
clinked his mug against Bo's. "Me too, buddy."
-
- Nora walked up behind them.
"I get really worried when I hear talk like that between
these two." She leaned down and put her arms around Bo from
behind, hugging him. "What'd I miss Lisa?"
-
- As Bo got up to pull out
Nora's chair he and Hank gave each other looks that indicated
Nora and Lisa couldn't possibly understand the ramifications
of a sporting event of such global proportions.
-
- "They're still dreaming
about the Baxter-Garcia fight, Nora," Lisa said. "Tickets
have been gone for months, but these two think the ticket fairy
is going to fly in from Vegas with ring side seats just for them."
-
- "That would be the seats
next to Jack Nicholson, right?" Nora said. "Or would
you boys rather sit by Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno?"
-
- "Actually, Red, in my
dream it's more like this: Brad and Jennifer on one side with
Jennifer by me. And Ben and JLo on the other side with JLo by
my good buddy Hank."
-
- Nora and Lisa could help
but laugh.
-
- Hank continued. "Now
Bo, are you SURE you've called in every last friggin favor anyone
ever owed you?"
-
- "Weeks ago," Bo
said. "I even stooped so low as to ask Asa! And even he
came up empty."
-
- Later as they got up to leave,
Nora told Bo she'd meet him at home. She had one more errand
to run.
----------------------------------
- The newsroom at the Banner
had never been busier. Victoria Davidson was back. In the weeks
after she returned from Switzerland she realized how the paper
had languished with no one from the family at the helm. Being
busy also helped her deal with life without Ben.
-
- "Tell the pressroom
to expect a late run tonight. Above the fold is not a lock yet."
Viki turned around to see Nora standing at the door of the newsroom.
"Nora! Why are you standing there? Come on in."
-
- "I just wanted to watch
my beautiful and strong friend back in action. It's a sight I
haven't seen for a while."
-
- "It feels good, Nora,
it really does. Let's go where we can talk. What brings you by
so late?"
-
- Nora came closer to Viki
and whispered "Just wondering if you'd be interested in
joining me in a little conspiracy?"
-
- "Always! And who might
the victims be?"
-
- "Hank and Bo."
-
- Viki giggled as she closed
the door of her office behind them. She walked over to another
door and opened it. "Look Nora, Clint's old liquor cabinet!"
-
- "Viki, I always knew
there was something I liked about Clint."
-
- They kicked off their shoes
and poured a few while Nora explained the plan.
-
- "So you see, Viki, it
really all depends on a friend of your's."
-
- A smile spread slowly across
Viki's face. "Harry the Hook! Oh my gosh! I'll call him
immediately!"
-
- "There's just one thing,"
Nora paused. "I know Harry can get the tickets but we can't
send the police commissioner and the district attorney in there
with tickets that are... not legit... if you know what I mean."
-
- "Don't worry, Nora,
Harry would never do that to you, but I'll make sure he knows
the circumstances."
-
- Nora practically seethed
with excitement. "This will be the best girl conspiracy
yet if we pull it off. Hank and Bo have both jumped through hoops
trying to get tickets."
-
- "I'll call you tomorrow
so we can make plans for the hand-off. It's gotta be public because
I want to see their little faces!"
-
- They giggled and hugged each
other. "Thanks for including me, Nora. It feels so good
to laugh again."
-
- "I like seeing you laugh
again, too. Talk to you tomorrow."
-
- --------------------------
The tickets were delivered by Mob Express the very next morning.
Viki and Nora were sitting at the counter at Carlotta's diner,
having already made the hand-off when Bo and Hank came in for
lunch.
-
- "Hey, ladies, we'll
get a large booth!" Hank yelled out, fully expecting Nora
and Viki to join them.
-
- "Can't Hank." Nora
said. "Judge Fitzwater wants these filings by 2:00."
- "Viki, you'll join us
won't you?" Bo asked.
-
- "Gotta get back to the
paper. I'm just getting a cup of coffee to go."
- As she and Viki walked toward
the door, Nora paused at Bo and Hank's booth. In an almost absent-minded
way she fished around in her briefcase for the tickets, and nonchalantely
tossed them on the table.
- "I almost forgot, here
are those tickets you guys wanted for this weekend."
-
- Hank and Bo were dumbfounded.
They looked at the tickets and then at each other. They saw the
words "Baxter vs Garcia" and "Ring Side"
but for a moment they didn't quite comprehend it. They picked
up the tickets and just stared at them.
-
- Nora paused long enough to
see the recognition cross their faces and then she had to turn
around to keep from laughing.
-
- "Thanks for lunch, Viki!"
-
- "This is sooo much better
than you said it would be!" Viki whispered as they hugged.
-
- Nora and Viki tried to make
their escape, but didn't quite make it out the door.
-
- "Nora Buchanan! Stop
right there!"
-
- Nora turned around very slowly,
and Bo grabbed her in a bear hug.
- "Thank you, honey. Thank
you, thank you! How did you do it? How?"
-
- "I have a friend who
has a friend. That's the way it usually works... isn't it?"
-
- Bo kept kissing her, but
she finally pulled away.
-
- "I love you sweetie,
but I gotta go. See you at home tonight."
-
- Nora joined Viki outside
the diner where they laughed themselves silly.
- -----------------------------
- The next day was a blur.
The fight was all Bo could talk about. He and Hank had their
Vegas weekend all planned out. Bo got Asa's plane. They'd leave
Saturday morning and return Sunday afternoon.
-
- Nora, Viki, and Renee planned
a girls' night out Saturday.
-
- Nora was in her usual rush
to get paperwork to court by the 4:00 pm filing deadline Friday
afternoon. And she was looking forward to the romantic evening
she had planned for Bo.
Apparently one of the courthouse janitors was trying to get out
early as well. He left a long stretch of hallway floor wet with
no warning sign. When Nora rushed around the corner, she slipped
on the floor and fell. Her first and most immediate thought was
to be very glad she had on pants that day. Several people helped
her to a bench where she caught her breath.
-
- "I'm fine everybody.
Stop fawning! Only my pride is hurt," she joked.
-
- Mary Ann, Judge Fitzwater's
assistant, sat beside her on the bench.
- "Nora, I think you need
to have your ankle X-rayed. Look at it. It's already puffing
up."
-
- Nora rubbed it. "I know.
I just don't want Bo to get all hyper. He and Hank are going
to Vegas to that fight and I don't want anything to ruin this
weekend for them."
-
- But Mary Ann wouldn't budge.
"So what's it gonna be? Either I drive you to the hospital
or I sit here until you call Bo."
-
- "I'll call him. I'll
call him."
-
- Bo took Nora to the hospital.
After looking at the X-ray, Larry Wolek confirmed that Nora had
a small hairline fracture.
-
- "It's not bad, Nora.
It'll heal in six weeks with no problem," Larry said. "As
small as the fracture is, it'll probably be less than six weeks,
but I like to play it conservatively."
-
- "Goody, goody,"
Nora said sarcastically.
-
- "Just think of all the
sympathy you'll get in court, honey," Bo teased. "A
gorgeous attorney on crutches. What judge or jury could resist?"
-
- Nora rolled her eyes at him.
-
- "Actually, I don't think
you'll have to use crutches," Larry said. "With this
walking cast and the boot that goes over it, you'll be fine."
-
- Nora looked at him aghast.
"You mean I have to wear one of those humongous ugly blue
flotation devices strapped to my foot?"
-
- Larry was beginning to enjoy
this. "They come in black or green if you prefer, Nora."
-
- "Sure, Larry, I'll take
the blue for day and the black sequined version for night."
-
- On the drive home, Bo finally
said what Nora had been dreading. "Who do you think I should
give my ticket to?"
-
- "Bo Buchanan, you are
GOING to Las Vegas!"
-
- "No, Red, I'm not. Larry
said you needed to keep your ankle elevated this weekend... and
that means no walking. I'm going to stay home and make sure you
do what Larry said."
-
- "Bo, be reasonable.
I promise I'll keep it elevated. Renee will bring me dinner,
or I can order pizza. You'll only be gone one night. One night!
Please.. do this for me. Go to Las Vegas."
-
- "Not gonna happen honey."
-
- The argument continued all
the way to the house, and Nora began to get really upset.
-
- "You know, Bo, this
is stupid! Just stupid! It's not like I'm in intensive care or
something!"
-
- Bo remained calm but firm.
"Red, you aren't hearing me. It's not that I can't leave
you. It's that I don't WANT to leave you. Why can't you let me
have these feelings?"
-
- He carried her up the stairs
to the bed.
-
- "Bingo! Why can't YOU
let me have my feelings? You're taking away from me the joy of
seeing you go off to Vegas with your best buddy to experience
something that you'll talk about for years."
-
- Now Bo was pissed. "If
that's the way you want it, honey, I'll go to Vegas to that stupid
fight and, by golly I'll like it... if it kills me!"
-
- "Fine!"
-
- "Okay!"
-
- "The pain pills are
kicking in big time. I think I need to sleep."
-
- Bo arranged the pillows so
her ankle was elevated and kissed her goodnight.
-
- -------------------------
- The next morning Bo served
Nora breakfast in bed. He helped her in the shower and they talked
a while.. avoiding the issue of Las Vegas. Then he stuffed a
few things in a bag, kissed her goodbye and went to meet Hank
at the airport.
-
- When he got there, Antonio
was waiting. Hank arrived just in time to see Bo hand his ticket
to Antonio. He cut Bo no slack.
-
- "You're a wuss, Buchanan!
I never thought you'd turn into one but you are! A broken ankle
is no reason for you to skip the fight of a lifetime. Nora has
a hundred friends who can help her out."
-
- "Put a lid on it, Hank."
-
- But Hank's rant continued.
"Antonio, let this be a lesson to you, once a woman gets
under your skin, your brain turns to mush."
-
- Antonio wisely remained silent.
-
- "So, Bo, exactly when
are you planning to tell Nora you're not in Vegas?"
-
- "When I walk in the
house with her favorite foods and her favorite movies, she'll
be so happy to see me she'll forget all about the argument."
-
- Hank shook his head in disgust.
"You still don't know Nora very well, do you? Come on Antonio,
this guy is making me sick. We'll bring you a T-shirt, Bo."
-
- Hank stomped off to Asa's
jet still shaking his head. Right as he got to the door of the
plane he turned around for one last jab. "You're a wuss,
Buchanan!"
-
- ------------------------
- Bo picked up a couple of
movies, flowers, some ribs and ice cream and headed home. He
opened the door quietly in case Nora was sleeping. But she obviously
wasn't. There was a banging noise coming from upstairs.
-
- He quietly walked to the
top of the stairs and listened.
-
- "Too low." (bang)
"Too high." (bang) "Too low." (bang) "Too
high!"
-
- A shoe sailed out the bedroom
door and almost hit him. He backed into Rachel's old room and
closed the door. He called Nora on his cellphone.
-
- "Hey Red, how's it going?"
he said.
-
- "Great honey. Just great.
I took a nap and now I'm all rested. Couldn't be better."
-
- He came out of Rachel's room
and walked to their bedroom. Nora was sitting in the middle of
the floor by her closet with shoes and shoe boxes piled around
her.
-
- "So... if everything
is so great, why are you throwing shoes?"
-
- She slowly looked up and
saw Bo standing at the door. She started to speak, but then closed
her mouth.
-
- "You have the right
to remain silent... if you wish."
-
- He sat down on the floor
beside her and put his arms around her. They sat in silence for
a few minutes. Even though she didn't exactly feel like admitting
it in so many words, she was glad he was there. She reached up
to caress his face... kissing his chest, and neck. Then his face
and lips. Kissing him harder and passionately, she gently pushed
him to the floor.
-
- "Ouch. Wait, honey..
geez!"
-
- Nora looked at him, puzzled.
He reached behind his back and pulled out a shoe with a very
high heel. He started laughing.
-
- "Well how's this for
irony? Stabbed in the back by one of my favorites!"
-
- Nora tried to grab the shoe
from him but he pulled it out of her reach.
-
- "Your favorite? Bo,
you pay no attention to clothes... much less shoes!"
-
- "Wanna bet? The last
time you wore these shoes, honey, I couldn't wait to get home
and make love to you."
-
- She looked at him in total
disbelief.
-
- "Club Indigo... Rachel
threw a party to show us and Hank how much she appreciated us.
You had on a short black dress and these shoes. They made your
legs look... wow!"
-
- Nora was surprised and amused,
but flattered all the same.
-
- "Bo... (pause) why don't
you ever tell me these things at the time?"
-
- "I dunno. It seemed
goofy I guess. But I showed you... later."
-
- She smiled and kissed him.
"Yeah, you did. I remember very well now."
-
- They spent the afternoon
eating the ribs, watching movies, lying in front of the fire
and laughing. Bo waited on Nora non-stop... adjusting the pillows,
bringing her popcorn and Root Beer. She was beginning to feel
guilty until she realized how much he was enjoying himself. It
was the best afternoon they'd had together in a long time. No
rushing around doing errands, no work talk, just hanging out.
Bo never once mentioned the fight. In fact, Nora had to remind
him to turn on HBO when it was time. That's when she realized
the gift she'd given Bo was not the tickets, but allowing him
to take care of her.
-
- They snuggled up on the couch
to watch the pre-show as multiple cameras panned the arena showing
all of the celebrities who were there.
-
- "Hey, there's Nicholson,
just like you said!"
-
- "Oh my god, Bo, look!
It's Hank and Antonio!
-
- Just as the crane camera
swooped down from above, Hank turned and saw it was on them.
He looked directly at it and blew a kiss. Nora grabbed Bo excitedly.
-
- "Did you see that, Bo?
Do you think Hank was blowing me a kiss?"
-
- "Yeah I saw it, honey...
and I hate to disappoint you... but I think that kiss may have
been meant for me," Bo said with just a hint of a smile.
-
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